Heroes of the Red Labyrinth! // Red Labyrinth standoff broken by adventurers

[Seriphyn]

[[in reference to

Nald's Rescue]]

 

 

[align=center]A city crier for the illiterate masses...[/align]

 

"People of Ul'dah, our adventurer class prove their mettle once again! The band of ne'er-do-wells led by the dastardly slaver Rissen have been cut down in their evil plans to sell innocent captives - good, honest-working cityfolk no less - in the dark depths of the Red Labyrinth! 

 

Our brave Flames, having kept the cretins holed up in the Labyrinth for almost an entire week, found themselves too stretched to commit to their own rescue, bound to their duties in fighting the Amalj'aa of Zanr'ak. Instead, they entrusted loyal adventurers to the task, and by Nymeia's grace, was that trust well-founded! 

 

A bold assault of heavily armoured fighters into the Labyrinth from Nald's Reflection saw the villains divide their attention enough for a group of more dextrous adventurers to sneak into the south entrance from Minotaur Malm. This ingenious pincer attack was a glorious success! Two slavers were captured alive, and are now being held by the Immortal Flames to face judgement! The rest are condemned to rot in the deepest of the Seven Hells for their crimes.

 

The rescued citizens are grateful! Above all, they are unharmed and well, thanks to the splendid efficiency of those valorous adventurers. But who are these adventurers? We know them to be from two free companies; the Order of the Sword & Rose and the similarly floral Phoenix Rose. Lady Songstress Ciel Wulfe and fellow Elezen bard Vaughn Antain, not to forget his mysterious and dark-skinned companion! A Hyuran lancer with a spear of a wyrm! A man in the armour of elder primal Odin! An energetic young lady and her blind Highlander friend! A fierce marauder and her fiery axe! A prospective Seeker woman and a Elezen gladiator with the hair of a pink rose! Not to forget the leader, Ul'dahn man of war Kale Aideron!

 

Though we can spell the names of only a few, surely their great feats means we will come to know the rest of them in the coming moons! Praise the Twelve that those kidnapped are safe, and praise the Twelve for our loyal adventurers!"

 

[align=center]A written parchment of the events for the precious few educated enough to read...[/align]

 

Yestersun, a party of adventurers operating on leve from the Immortal Flames were able to break the standoff between the Grand Company and a band of slavers who had hid themselves inside the Red Labyrinth along with wealthy captives from Ul'dah, southwest of Little Ala Mhigo. An earlier confrontation outside Nald's Reflection between an East Aldenard Trading Company sipahi and two hired Elezen fighters against a small number of the slavers saw the rest of the group secure themselves deep within the Red Labyrinth. Detachments of Immortal Flames from the Little Ala Mhigo and Forgotten Springs garrisons were able to siege the north and south entrances respectively for a period of six suns, before adventurers were given leve to enter the Red Labyrinth on behalf of the Sultanate.

 

Flame Commander Gisilbehrt of the Southern Thanalan forces stated that "Our ongoing conflict with the Amalj'aa in the region means that it proved logistically difficult for us to provide spare soldiers to enter the Red Labyrinth. Instead, we handed out leves to adventurers from two free companies, the Order of the Sword & Rose and the Phoenix Rose. They proved themselves more than competent"

 

It is understood that a frontal assault was launched from Nald's Reflection, which allowed a second party of adventurers to enter the Red Labyrinth undetected from Minotaur Malm. This occurred while the Flame detachments kept an eye on the southern and northern entrances for stragglers. All of those kidnapped were rescued unharmed, while two slavers were captured and handed over to the Immortal Flames, who are detaining them for interrogation before the prisoners will be handed over to the Order of Nald'thal for judgement.

 

Significant intrigue surrounds the events of the south. Rumours are abound that the deceased leader of the slavers, known as Rissen, may or may not have connections to a wealthy Ul'dahn merchant. In addition, it is believed that the name of EATC sipahi is Kale Aideron, a veteran soldier of the Sultanate known to the adventuring community. Aideron was seen departing the Hall of Flames this sun in the distinctive overcoat of the Immortal Flames, which raised many questions.

 

In addition, many cityfolk have criticized the decision to use adventurers rather than professional soldiers to rescue the captives. Emir Ququledji Zazaledji, a merchant noble related to one of the former captives, said that "They're just a different type of mercenary! What image does it paint of the Sultanate and the Immortal Flames that they need to rely on outsiders to do their job? I heard one of them was blind, and another was said to be wearing the armour of that Shroud primal! What kind of outrageousness is that?". Similarly, a Flame soldier from Forgotten Springs (who preferred to remain anonymous) said that "These adventurers are usurping our duty. It is our job to rescue our citizens and vanquish the enemy on our land, is it not? And they can't be trusted; they don't have the discipline and sense of higher purpose that we soldiers have. They're only after their own glory and telling their own stories"

 

However, High Flame Commander Swift, commanding officer of the Immortal Flames Free Brigade, assuaged concerns by vigorously defending the successful efforts of these adventurers, as well as the work of the Adventurers' Guild as a whole. He said that "whatever motivates adventurers and how they dress or conduct themselves is secondary to what they can achieve for the Sultanate. The end result is the same. By utilizing the willing services of adventurers, we can preserve the crucial lives of Ul'dahn soldiers to focus elsewhere, especially on the Amalj'aa and the resurgent Garlean threat"

 

The former captives are recovering from their ordeal in Ul'dah, and are said to be currently considering a suitable reward for their rescuers. Investigations into the slaver Rissen's connections are ongoing.

[DreamedReality]

Jaques takes another bite of eggs and shoves the paper away from himself with a snort and a look of irritation. He continues to eat his breakfast as Ojune slides into the seat across from him at the table with his own plate of breakfast.

 

The lalafel's green gaze scanned over the article to give it a quick read. "Oh, the Rose has made the papers. Why so glum? Won't this show that the Rose is able to give back to Ul'dah instead of... well... be a drain like so many view us as?"

 

Jaques just gives a shake of his head, "Maybe. It is too early to tell. But there is no mention of the refugees. Most of the captives were refugees from the camps outside Ul'dah. The -only- reason anyone gives a Twelves-damned thing about this is the fact that Rissen got greedy and took a few rich city-folk."

 

"Probably so. But that doesn't change the fact that a menace was ultimately taken care of. The refugees have their allies. They have been taken care of since they were freed, right? Returned to -their- families?"

 

"They have..."

 

"Then celebrate the victories! I don't think I've seen you so much as crack a smile since you returned last night. It isn't often that such things go so well!"

 

Jaques shoots Ojune an annoyed glare.

 

With a sigh, "Truly you are impossible. What of Rissen's connections? I know you aren't going to leave that up to the Flames to track..."

 

And so topics turned off the article.