Midian explains that he has heard of “Malkuth” before. It’s a word that refers to real-space in certain occult philosophies. Doubt (to put it mildly) is expressed at the ritual’s ability to “conquer” all of real-space, but Midian at least is determined to see it through.
Mordecai, on the other hand, is far more interested in the revolution. He seems genuinely interested in the welfare of the people – though only, he claims, because it seems possible that he could make Vinh a safe haven for himself. So while he doesn’t accept the “Kingmaker” role that the confused, daemon-haunted witch had labelled him with, he is willing to perform the role’s duties.
He will not choose Grigor Orlac, which seems to leave Hala Chen as the only viable candidate. He prudently decides to investigate further, first.
Grigor’s place is a bust. He lives poorly, in a workman’s dormitory in the lower reaches. Those who live there know him to be a tough, resolute figure and respect him for it. Even the most runtish of the residents – the butt of all jokes – holds grudging respect for the man. Grigor’s locker holds nothing too incriminating. Midian sees nothing psychically active among the clothes, tools, revolutionary pamphlets and battered, recovered xenomesh.
Hala is more uplifting. She works more hours than she is paid for, seeming to genuinely to care about the people. But if Mordecai was to choose her to lead these people, she’d need a little more steel.
When she leaves the clinic, exhausted, it is the dead of night. She wanders through the dirty streets oblivious to her surroundings and the denizens that lurk within them. She is too tired for caution and too at familiar with her environment to consider the danger…
The dreg approaches stealthily. He holds the voices at bay because his is stronger. But the darkness is there, rotting his resolve, and all it takes is a more coherent voice in his head to push him to act. But as he raises the knife and moves to grab the pretty lady, a different monster steps out of the shadows! Midian’s bleached white skin reflects the meagre street lighting, making the liquid opal orbs of his eyes all the more threatening. The lunatic flees into the night.
The protagonists escort Hala home. She lives in something not dissimilar to a prison cell, but at least she has privacy. Without asking, she shakily pours them all a drink and, her defences well and truly down, the protagonists begin their inquiry. Scanning her mind (the strongest he’d encountered so far) Mordecai learns much about who she is. And she’s genuine. She genuinely cares about people, genuinely wants the best for them. She knows the revolution will be bloody, knows people will suffer and deeply regrets the necessity. She won’t shy away from it, however. She dislikes Grigor and his methods, but believes the people won’t continue to follow him once the oppression of the current regime is removed. The way she sees it, she’s using him – nature will take its course afterwards.
After using his now quite extensive knowledge of her psyche, Mordecai plants the seed that Grigor may have sent that psycho to “martyr” her – a not ineffective tactic, if it could be used for good…
It was time to push the revolution forward.
Midian began by organising some arms shipments; then intimidates Enforcers (when they back down, it not only demoralizes them, it shows those who see it that they aren’t to be feared); and convinces Hala that Xanatov’s eventual execution must be public, or justice won’t have been seen to be done (though it means some of her best people will die, she agrees). He draws the attention of Enforcers, but flees into the crowds.
Mordecai coaches Hala into becoming a better figurehead; steals secrets from the minds of corrupt officials and exposes them; and spreads occult-laden rumours about the noble classes (the superstitious masses start labelling them as touched my Menqual). He draws the attention of an Ecclesiarchy “purge” squad but, like Midian, loses them in the sprawl.
Fifteen days later, Maya Zin calls them to a meeting with Grigor, Hala and the other leaders of the revolution. Midian reads them and sees that no less than one-in-seven are dangerously corrupt. The revolution begins in two days.
Mordecai, on the other hand, is far more interested in the revolution. He seems genuinely interested in the welfare of the people – though only, he claims, because it seems possible that he could make Vinh a safe haven for himself. So while he doesn’t accept the “Kingmaker” role that the confused, daemon-haunted witch had labelled him with, he is willing to perform the role’s duties.
He will not choose Grigor Orlac, which seems to leave Hala Chen as the only viable candidate. He prudently decides to investigate further, first.
Grigor’s place is a bust. He lives poorly, in a workman’s dormitory in the lower reaches. Those who live there know him to be a tough, resolute figure and respect him for it. Even the most runtish of the residents – the butt of all jokes – holds grudging respect for the man. Grigor’s locker holds nothing too incriminating. Midian sees nothing psychically active among the clothes, tools, revolutionary pamphlets and battered, recovered xenomesh.
Hala is more uplifting. She works more hours than she is paid for, seeming to genuinely to care about the people. But if Mordecai was to choose her to lead these people, she’d need a little more steel.
When she leaves the clinic, exhausted, it is the dead of night. She wanders through the dirty streets oblivious to her surroundings and the denizens that lurk within them. She is too tired for caution and too at familiar with her environment to consider the danger…
The dreg approaches stealthily. He holds the voices at bay because his is stronger. But the darkness is there, rotting his resolve, and all it takes is a more coherent voice in his head to push him to act. But as he raises the knife and moves to grab the pretty lady, a different monster steps out of the shadows! Midian’s bleached white skin reflects the meagre street lighting, making the liquid opal orbs of his eyes all the more threatening. The lunatic flees into the night.
The protagonists escort Hala home. She lives in something not dissimilar to a prison cell, but at least she has privacy. Without asking, she shakily pours them all a drink and, her defences well and truly down, the protagonists begin their inquiry. Scanning her mind (the strongest he’d encountered so far) Mordecai learns much about who she is. And she’s genuine. She genuinely cares about people, genuinely wants the best for them. She knows the revolution will be bloody, knows people will suffer and deeply regrets the necessity. She won’t shy away from it, however. She dislikes Grigor and his methods, but believes the people won’t continue to follow him once the oppression of the current regime is removed. The way she sees it, she’s using him – nature will take its course afterwards.
After using his now quite extensive knowledge of her psyche, Mordecai plants the seed that Grigor may have sent that psycho to “martyr” her – a not ineffective tactic, if it could be used for good…
It was time to push the revolution forward.
Midian began by organising some arms shipments; then intimidates Enforcers (when they back down, it not only demoralizes them, it shows those who see it that they aren’t to be feared); and convinces Hala that Xanatov’s eventual execution must be public, or justice won’t have been seen to be done (though it means some of her best people will die, she agrees). He draws the attention of Enforcers, but flees into the crowds.
Mordecai coaches Hala into becoming a better figurehead; steals secrets from the minds of corrupt officials and exposes them; and spreads occult-laden rumours about the noble classes (the superstitious masses start labelling them as touched my Menqual). He draws the attention of an Ecclesiarchy “purge” squad but, like Midian, loses them in the sprawl.
Fifteen days later, Maya Zin calls them to a meeting with Grigor, Hala and the other leaders of the revolution. Midian reads them and sees that no less than one-in-seven are dangerously corrupt. The revolution begins in two days.