Despite the refusal by both the Low Governor Karthon Kuronon (Outer City) and High Governor, and brother Mattius Kuronon (Inner Hive), the uprising of the Genestealer Cult, has now reached the Capital City of Ieaid itself. Word had reached the Low Governor, that a group of lower strata citizens were planning on massing in the Square of Freedom, outside his personal mansion, to complain about the food shortage. Despite some reports that the recent and numerous violent actions throughout Ieaid were tied to a suspected Genestealer infestation, Karthon refused such pessimistic theories. He believed that if he made an appearance before the crowd, it would quickly disperse.
View of the Square of Freedom, as a large crowd gathers. The personal residence of the Low Governor with its distinctive bronze spire. The Hall of Commissioners (Legislative body lower left edge; High Court above; Cathedral of St Eustatious at bottom; Inner Hive Wall on right edge. Note: The white picket fence actually represents a Power Fence, a deadly barrier...
The Low Governor himself in blue preparing to address the crowd...
The chant 'food', 'food', 'food to live' rings out across the square. Low Governor Karthon pleads with the people to return to their homes. Suddenly, a shot rings out and one of the crowd drops to the stones. Then a second shot and another person falls. "They're shooting at us! They are killing us! Kill the murderers someone cries"(hint: they are Acolytes within the crowd)...
But this IS a Genestealer Cult inspired crowd, and perched in the spire of the Cathedral, is a sniper who has deliberately targeted innocent individuals to incite the crowd to riot and cover the movements of the Cultists in the crowd...
An additional Arbites detachment had been called for, and it approaches the square but has to fire on the now dangerous crowd...
The Arbites detachment in front of the Mansion has lost a member as well as their Sanctioner to both incensed rioters as well as Acolytes within the crowd...
And now, according to the Cults' planning, Hybrids and Aberrants burst out from part of the Cathedral buildings, and race towards the mansion...
From the other side, Hrybrids and a Abominate make for the Inner Hive wall, where the local PDF troops (in red) are engaging the riots...
The approaching Arbites have intimated the rioters after inflicting numerous casualties...
The Arbites lose another man as the rioters have breached the gate although the Arbites drop each rioter who did...
At the gate, the PDF has withdrawn inside while its defenders on the wall inflict heavy losses on the rioters/Cultists...
As the Cultist reinforcements approach, three Hybrids armed with hand-flammers, burn down nearly all the PDF troopers on the wall...
Back at the Mansion, Karthon"s personal bodyguards step out to support the diminishing Arbtes forces. The charging Hybrids gather up screaming rioters (they start to realize maybe they are being used!) and throw them on to the fence attempting to short it out. (right side of gate)...
The race is on! Will Cultists get inside the wall before the gate closes?
A Hybrid has breached the gate as his fellows are rushing to join him...
The Hybrids and Abarrants begin tearing up the unfortunate Arbites and bodyguards...
The reinforcements are now met and at least slowed by Hybrids and rioters...
The Inner Wall Gate closes, but there are Hybrids on the inside, and even a reinforcing PDF squad turns out half of the squad are Cultist supporters! Following the slaughter of his bodyguards, Low Governor Kathor Kuronon is tossed bodily from the high parapet!. The Inner Hive City is now under siege?
