Blessed be the Storm [Hard|Event]

Kessler had been spending a great deal of his time with his mother when the rain started falling harder, he didn't invest too much time, thinking that his Goddess must be out doing some sort of errand. She was usually out and about making some kind of effort to lend him a hand, knowing how much he was dotted on though still made him a tad worried about disappointing her. It was a pressure he felt all too persistently during peaceful times, but swallowing it down, he turned his eyes away from his worries to his mother's withered face. "A-Ah, hold on Ma, I'll get the window--" He spoke, but even as he began to lift the glass, he heard the chaos outside that made the color drain from his face. For a moment, he panicked, flustered, he slammed the door shut earning some concerned words from his troubled parent. His mind raced, but after a while, his expression grew bitter knowing that he couldn't be idle any longer. "Ma-- I'm gonna go outside for a bit. If Kami-sama comes back, let her know I'm helping people in town okay?" He spoke mid-dash from the room. Forcing himself not to hear his mother's concerned cries about the recklessness he was no doubt going to display.

It took only a flash for him to get his equipment ready, his gauntlets and grieves were the highest quality on the marked, lined with fancy etchings here or there that made them seem sleeker and more stylish. While these things didn't matter much to Kessler, his goddess thought they looked nice on him which was reason enough to keep them when paired with their performance. He stifled the unease that came with standing out as he pulled his jacket up to protect his head from the rain as he stepped out from the front door, but the weight of the rain was different from what he expected. Catching him off guard, he caught himself staring up at the clouds "This isn't right-- Quality or Quantity-- It's artificial--" Was the conclusion he came to, but he didn't know it was the work of a god's power, believing it to be a rogue spell, he hoped for the best, but would no doubt come to be disappointed. He tried jogging to the closest patrol building, but the one guard who remained to turn others away caught him quickly calling out. Stunned by what he heard, the guard wore a bitter expression that matched his own, something he was unused to seeing on the confident captain's face as he explained bits and pieces that he knew. The information was scattered, as if there were unconfirmed troubles coming from all locations, if it weren't for Kessler working as a watchman during the night with them, he might even be lost on what to do first.

One task stood out from the others, rioting criminals, people trying to escape from prison during a tragedy that effected a whole town looting and raiding? Unreasonable! The very thought alone was enough to make Kessler clench his fists, the grinding of his armored hands rang but he caught himself when asked by the guard where he wanted to be stationed. "... I'll-- I'll go to the local businesses, those criminals can't be allowed to harm the civilians. I... I have to..." He spoke, a weary smile being flashed, he was scared-- scared and even awed but there had been times when he couldn't turn away before. He found himself once more bitterly adding things to that list. Gritting his teeth, he received some kind words from the captain as well as a firm pat and shake on the shoulder. The man certainly didn't envy Kessler for his decision, but there was also a measure of pride that could be gleaned from his gaze that was filled with pity. The man had watched Kessler grow through his time as a guard, and all the mistakes he's made along the way. Even though Kessler had to clench his teeth to stop them from chattering, he once more saw this small boyish man rush into danger for the sake of his own personal code. "Take care captain... If you find others-- Try to send me some support!" He spoke turning to head towards the crowded prison in question.

Unsure of the market's condition, he could only hope the stalls and merchants were at least still in good shape. The thought of the innocent having been killed by desperate convicts was one he didn't want to see enacted before his eyes. As long as the gates of the garrison were still holding, as long as they couldn't scale the walls... Kessler would be able to feel some false hope or maintain some baseless confidence. "At least let it be contained... Wait for me!" he grit his teeth harder with that thought surging through him, pacing himself as he turned down the street to get his first look at the market from a few blocks down. It was being looted, people with stolen or improvised weapons shoving people out of the way. Innocent people storming and fleeing for their lives as some bandits were catching and dragging away the occasional person by force. The pained screams and wailing as people were being dragged off every once in a while as the thugs and bandits were trying to drag victims or hostages away. The very sight made Kessler's brows furrow, trying to close the distance in hope of saving everyone even a second sooner.

@Emeline Arliette Fabron

 

Kessler had thought about how he intended to stop the chaos developing in the small market square carefully. While his thoughts raced though, he felt the hand on his shoulder making him stiffen briefly. Initially he intended to step back into the perpetrator and use that get ready to fight, but hearing the voice made him hesitate. Hearing her introduction and explanation, he flashed a weary smile to Emeline wondering exactly how he should respond. He'd intended to protect civilians, but one stood up to join him it seemed. "This is going to be tough, I'm sorry about dragging you into it." He made an effort to apologize earnestly believing that Emeline was taking an unnecessary risk for the town. Turning away help would be foolish though, it was only for that reason that he didn't try to say to warn her superficially.

Glancing towards the chaos unfolding in the square though, he felt a plan unfolding in his head, if one watched for a short time, they'd see the bandits and criminals focusing on two buildings, going in and out between them as if trying to fortify them. They were occasionally smashing out windows visibly suspicious of everything around, there were still occasional cries of hostages within one of them, while the other seemed to be where they were collecting loot. It made Kessler's brow narrow before lowering his stance and turning back to Emeline with a great deal of concern and worry.

"It looks like we'll have a hard time stopping things but... If we can just free the people and then recover the supplies that should be enough to help the guards get things back on track." He explained with a wry expression knowing this would be difficult. He wasn't certain what his supporter was up to, but he couldn't help feeling this would be a place where healing magics were helpful. "I... I can take the brunt of their attention but... how should we get to the hostages?" He asked Emeline clearly open to suggestions. Kessler himself hadn't really fought many fights like this where lives were at risk with his action. He simply wasn't sure about how to get the best results without hurting people.

Naturally even as he asked the first floor windows were being knocked out by the thugs who were already visibly suspicious. There was a second floor where the shouting was coming from but reaching it seemed difficult without tools or equipment. The thugs themselves seem poorly equipped, it was a saving grace, they'd escaped but didn't seem to have time to find proper weapons to fight with. Instead they were armed with clubs or other blunt improvised tools giving them a chance at taking them down despite being out numbered. There were some tools around that could help the pair reach the second floor, such as ropes that were meant to tie things down during the storm or boxes that could be stacked up, but they needed a method that would be fast or subtle!