The day is still fresh in my mind. Lord High Regent Rothgar had just been confirmed as the leader of the empire and had been elected with great support. He lead the procession of assembled Lords through the streets of the Capital, rallying their support and readying the defense of the City against the insurgents. Fighting and uprisings were happening all around us throughout the city, but with the army of the rebel Baroness attacking the walls there were more pressing issues. I myself was trusted with relaying messages between several important stations of which (Transcript edited for Imperial Overwatch security.) As such I was nearby when Lord High Regent Rothgar made his declaration to the assembled insurgents outside the city walls.
Lord High Regent Rothgar offered a more than gracious deal that if any of the insurgents would lay down their weapons and surrender they would be accepted back into the arms of the Empire. He swore before a servant of our Lord Sullum that he had nothing to do with the death of General Strauslaun and also made the aforementioned offer before the Judge. He gave the rebels one hour to decide. As we watched the troops retreat, seeming to regroup, and there was a definite movement by the leaders of the rebels toward the command tent and it seemed for a moment that they were considering the offer.
A half hour passed before there seemed any further action in the camp of the insurgents, and when there was action it surprised us all. Shouts and alarms were raised within the insurgent camp and we all saw the smoke and then flames of the command tent alight with fire. When the tent was fully downed some of us could make out five figures each of which appeared to be a man dressed in black, wielding a pole arm of some sort and surrounded in a nimbus of flames. Later this was revealed to be one Father Korin Aphard of the Church of Khadina (See further Imperial Overwatch Archives for further information). He seemed to be intent upon someone or something within the camp, and ignored the other soldiers in the camp. Eventually he burst up and out of the cloud with some sort of flight and descended on a target. The events that then transpired are as of yet unclear. When he reached his goal a considerably high and thick wall of pure steel arose around him.
Minutes passed... the wall dropped and Father Aphard was alone in the center of the wall. The surrounding soldiers attacked. He flew away and out of their reach shouted something we could not make out. Later we found he said "The Baroness has deserted you, she has bewitched you into loyalty, any man with a clear head please believe this to be so, I will swear this in front of every Judge within the Empire." The soldiers did not halt their attack. Eventually a mage in the insurgent camp dispelled his flight. The father fell a short ways then seemingly disappear from our sight. As a cloud of smoke approached the city walls it became more apparent what had occurred. Still not knowing, at this time, who he was or what his intent was one of our mages dispelled his smoke form. Again he fell, again moments later he hovered in mid air and then called out.
"Rothgar! I have a message for you." Lord High Regent Rothgar then demanded he identify himself. "Korin Aphard, Loyal citizen of the Empire, and Servant of the Lord of Ultimate Mercy." came his reply.
After this exchange he landed and explained to Rothgar that the loyalty of the rebels had been commanded by magic and the Baroness had fled and was an elven agent. He mentioned a co-conspirator named Lu'Sung but appeared confused as to whom this was. He also said that he did not kill the Baroness and would gladly submit to Trial to prove his innocence. He also stated he would not stand against the rebels as they were not responsible for their actions. Father Aphard then surrendered his weapons and was taken into custody.
Lord High Regent Rothgar listened and appeared to believe all that Father Aphard said without question, then sent emissaries to talk to the rebels and most graciously gave them extra time. Once the rebel forces regrouped after the chaos they summarily surrendered.
As of the time of this debriefing all efforts were placed into crushing the resistance inside the city and Father
Aphard is awaiting trial. Not accounting the internal resistance, there were few casualties on either side and the
rebellion was calmed with surprising ease... All Hail the Lord Regent.
End Transcript.