Doomed to Die in 3 Minutes

Planning with Compassion

Vis unfurls a map of the city. It’s rather standard of what you’d expect, slums, a marketplace, a few residential districts, a red light district tucked away, proper industry for workshops. The noble’s estate is literally dead in the centre of the city propped up on a hill, defended by stone walls and towers. It’s practically a castle. Anyone trying to take it head-on would be suicidal. 

“Lord Phonom always personally takes a ride with his entourage through the city to take tribute. He likes looking into the eyes of the common folk when they bow their heads and present their takes for the month. He always makes his route different every day to keep everyone on their toes. He sometimes even changes what time his march starts, it could be at the break of dawn or the middle of the night. Maximising the panic and fear on the day he takes more than 50% of their profits. They have just enough to make it to the next payment but not much else of themselves. Tiny little luxuries for them are like an oasis for men in the desert. 

“Luckily, I do know he plans to leave tomorrow morning before the sun rises. The hour before there’s even a drop of daylight. We’ll take our positions near the workshop districts. We’ll launch some attacks at him from the shadows and get his attention. We’ll break off and escape through the alleyways. Then Corai will swarm them with ghosts and spectres of the dead and from there we start to make sure the city never sleeps. It’s unfortunate but we’ll need to spread some fear among the citizens too. Build up panic and try to break down the will of Phonom day by day. 

“If we get chased by his guards specifically well, we can inflict some serious injuries or try to convince them to abandon the lord and remove them from the equation for the foreseeable future. Like I said, no killing, but if you break some bones and have to cut a few nerves, so be it.

“...If he doesn’t fold to this then well,  I have the assassination plan ready too, I’ll reveal that though if we make it back here alive.”

Olivia rose her hand as if it were a fired arrow the moment he stopped talking. 

“Why don’t we start a fight near the slums. There’s a lot more alleyways, hiding spots, and even sewers we could use to distract and lose them. The workshop area has a few good locations for sure, but I think if we get spotted it’ll be rather difficult to shake them off. It’s a location with a bit too much order. I have no idea why you’d choose it over… so many more favourable locations.”

Corai put his right hand under his chin and scanned the map with his eyes.

“I’ve got to agree, hell, even an empty marketplace might be better, we could make a mess with flour and products, cause some chaos to make things hard for them while having plenty of space to run. By splitting up from the centre of the area we could go in three directions and divide their forces this way and increase our odds of success.”

Vis smiled rather sadly at the reactions of his new comrades.

“I think so too, without a doubt. However, if we attacked from the slums and use the place for our escape, our pursuers would likely not care about the damage they inflict while they chase us. These poor beggars with nothing else but broken buildings over their heads would come under attack and be under immediate suspicion of collaborating with us. The ruins would become nothing but scrap and dust. I won’t do that to them.”

Olivia looked shocked by the response but seemed to be more ashamed of herself for not thinking about it herself. Her mind had automatically thought about the best way to succeed in the mission without considering the consequences it’d have on others. She cursed internally. That was what the elves of her village had taught her when conducting actions outside the woods she was raised. That success for the elves and just the elves was the only factor that mattered when they were forced to step into the impure world outside the forest.

“As for the marketplace…” Vis began but Corai’s face quickly became coated in a pained expression. “These people are barely making ends meet already. If we trash their produce and everything they’ve built up, especially before the day starts and not the end of the day; we’ll ruin their odds of survival in the situation we fail at worst and put heavy pressure on them in the time it takes for us to succeed at best. The workshops are the most financially and structurally stable. I doubt the lord would damage or destroy his most profitable area of income for a few rats. At least not until he thinks we’re too big a threat. Which gives us time. You’re a real… compassionate guy, and here I thought you were just some flirt.” 

Vis shook his head while laughing. 

“Not at all. This is the least I have to do. Alright. We have half a day before this all goes down. Feel free to look around the building and help yourself too whatever you need. All the orphans are off on vacation with most of the staff so you won’t have to worry about awkward conversations in the hallway about why you’re here. The old man hasn’t been around this part of the orphanage for a while, can’t seem to stand my guts, but if you do see him, explain and it’ll be fine. Also, it’s pretty obvious but please let me state, do not leave the building no matter what happens. Whether you need something, hear something, see something, do not go outside. Unfamiliar faces not accounted for will ruin our element of surprise. No one who isn’t down with this assassination can know. 

“My friend, you need to go to the observatory above. You’ll understand when you see it.

“Adieu, for now, madam and good sir.”

With that Vis bowed and then walked down the stairs while waving back to Corai and Olivia. Olivia grumbled something about needing herbal tea and headed towards the kitchen.

Corai sighed. He did as he was told and walked upward until he found the uppermost part of the location. The scent of oil and paint assaulted his nose. His pupils dilated as his eyes welcomed an insane and obsessive sight. A wonder that made him realise how frightening a man Vis really was. He had some homework to do.