Fall of Rift - 1

§l The Fall of Rift §r Volume I §o by §r SomethingSaucy

Will was becoming worried. It wasn't the first time he or any of the other scouts had found signs of activity in the jungles outside of Rift. Will was finally able to convince Tux and Liam that there were indeed people hiding in the jungle for the past

week, maybe even longer. "It's probably one of the statists from the far West," Liam said, "heard tales of the thriving Ancap cities of the positive, negatives." Will was less convinced. The statist cities were far away, and contact had already been

made between Rift and Aristopolis. "You're saying they're jealous of our hole in the ground?" Tux jested to Liam. "Aye, tis such a pretty hole," Liam retorted, as the trio entered the grand city of the Rift.

The city was buzzing with life. Each level, from the top melon farms, the trading post, apartment rooms, all the way down to the depths of the earth itself, Rift was thriving. Will decided to go to his friend Matticus about his recent findings. "I'll

meet you guys in The Hovel later," Will mumbled as he made his way to Matt's wool shop. He found Matt talking with Carl outside of the wool shop. Carl and Matticus were hands down the best fighters in Rift, possibly best in the whole region. "Hey Matt,

got a sec?" Will asked nervously. Carl looked to Matticus who simply nodded his head. Carl headed off to the armory to sharpen some blades for the civil defense system. "What's up, Will?" Matt asked. "I've been finding... some things in the

jungle." Matt thought for a second. "What kind of things?" "Activity. I'm convinced there's at least thirty people out there." "Will," Matticus started as he took Will by the shoulder and walked the walkways of midlevel Rift. "The world is young. New

people are stumbling into Ancap cities by the day. Cressmopolis is no longer a tradepost, but a full fledged city." "I know, but-" "We can't jump to conclusions. All I can say is to keep an eye out on the jungle." Matticus saw Bio and left Will to

contemplate his words. Will then decided to go get shit faced with his friends in The Hovel. "The city is built into a ravine. There's two entrances from the surface, probably more underground. Josh can tell you more," DC started. It

was a chilly night, and the dampness of the jungle wasn't helping anyone's attitude. "Josh, you actually been in dis' ere place? What's it like?" Scope asked, huddled around the pitiful fire. Josh stood up. "A hole in the ground. A hole filled with food,

diamonds, supplies, and people who think their position in the world is much more table than it actually is." "That's what she said," someone blurted. The group gave out a chuckle as someone retorted, "only your mother, Carter!" and the group laughed even

more. "Silence" The group became silent. Micheal stood up, "You think shivering in this fucking jungle is funny?" The smiles faded. "B-boss, we was just-" Josh started. "Just what? Laughing that the Ancaps have

everything? The fact they have had everything handed to them?" The group looked around, silent. "We're riding out. Dead of night. Take the first floor, they'll have nowhere to run." The smiles returned. "To war!" "TO WAR!"

It was that dream again. The sun setting on the city of towers, gold, obsidian, diamonds everywhere, and crops he didn't even recognize growing in massive gardens. The city went on beyond the horizon. It was beautiful yet

terrifying. Will awoke in a sweat, with a massive headache. He sat up in bed and fought to withold the liquor trying to escape his stomach. In the midst of it all he thought he heard a noise coming from outside his door, in the city. A scream maybe? But

the punding within his own head proved to be stronger as Will stumbled into his washroom. As he splashed his face with water, his door bursted open with a crash. "Ttk almighty, who the hell is there?" Will questioned. There was a silence, and then

footsteps on the floor. "I said who the hell is there-" as he turned the corner to look, a man in full armor was upon him. The stranger swung his sword which Will ducked under and pushed himself into his attacker's legs, both of them tumbling onto the

floor with a loud crash. Will heard the armored foe's sword land behind him as they fell so he struck his enemy in the head, helmet and all. As the stranger was dazed, Will turned to grab the sword and swing it into his foe's head just as he lifted his

head forward. And with that it was over. The armored stranger didn't move anymore as a puddle of blood formed underneath his neck. Will grabbed the sword and his boots and headed for his door. The first thing he felt was the heat. Somewhere something

was burning. The second thing he noticed was the fighting. Everywhere on his floor people were fighting. More armored strangers chased around Will's fellow citizens of the Rift. And he watched them die. "Lookout!" Someone yelled to him. Will

ducked and turned to see someone charging at him recieve an arrow to the visor of his helmet, and tumble backwards. "Will! Are you alright?" Matticus asked him as he approached him. In tail with Matticus was Carl and Grezz, each firing arrows across the

ravine onto the other side of the walkway. "What's happening?" But Will already knew. "We're under attack, Will." Matticus started. "The upper level has already fallen." It was then Will looked up and saw where the intense heat was coming from. Above them

all, the top level of the Rift was ablaze. Pieces of flaming wood and cloth rained around them, as the top level was reduced to nothing but an inferno. "There's no way out," Carl said. "We're gathering who we can and heading to the bottom levels." Matt

finished. "Any sign of Tux and Liam?" Will asked. "Tux and I excorted the first few to the bottom level. I came back up to fight, he stayed down to help evacuate," Carl informed Will. Just then, four of the raiders grappled down right on top of the

group. Matticus pulled out his sword and struck down an attacker, "Will, get out of here!" Will stood, not able to move himself to abandon his friend. "Will! Over here!" It was Liam. Will ran to Liam who was at the top of the stairs leading to the level

beneath them. Will made it to Liam and looked back, Matticus and Grezz fought on, as Carl was knocked over the balcony and tumbled all the way down the four stories of inner Rift. "Will, come on!" And so they went down the stairs. Around them, Rift was

collapsing. "Where's Tux?" Will finally asked. "At the bottom still I assume. We got seperated on the above levels where the fighting was thickest." "How did this happen?" "They came in the front doors." The two made their way to the bottom levels.

Mineshafts and planned housing projects littered the walls around them. "Stay under the walkways. Flaming debris is constantly falling down." As Liam finished his sentence, several arrows were loosed from the darkness of the mineshaft in front of

them. Will fell to the ground, struggling to unsheathe his sword. He was able to see Liam charge forward, several arrows embedded in his chest. As they engaged eachother, the balcony above collapsed, sending an inferno of fire, wood, and bodies onto Liam

and his attackers.

§o Copy by §r §lMaester Flaminius §r§o of §r§l The Assembly §r §o on §r February 19th 2014

§l Maester Alliance §4§l The Assembly Scriptorium