The Fall of Everything [Rewrite]

The soldiers at the city gate first saw a cloud of dust approaching in the distance, and then a black flag caught their eyes. The sight of this symbol sent a shiver through them, for the waving of the flag meant that Rhazgord was at war. The realization that Corvus had come as a leader carrying this flag sent a chill through their veins. The soldiers hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do.
Corvus was approaching the city gates as if racing with the wind. The clouds of dust he left behind, rising up the road with his speed, looked like a storm approaching the entrance to the city. The black flag he raised in his hand waved like thunder, bearing the sacred symbol of Rhazgord, sowing fear and respect in the hearts of the soldiers guarding the city gate. Even though these warriors were from Tanar's tribe, they were overwhelmed by the magic of Corvus and the flag he held.
As Corvus approached the gate, he fixed his hawk-like gaze on the two young warriors at the door. His voice boomed like thunder as his horse's footsteps echoed like heavy blows on the ground:
"Do you heed the call of this flag!"
Corvus' question was clear and brutal. It was clear that he was not waiting for an answer. If the two warriors had answered in the negative, he would have torn them to pieces without blinking an eye. But the excitement in the hearts of the warriors was so overwhelming that they did not even notice the threat Corvus posed. For them, gathering under the banner was both an honor and a sacred duty. They both raised their axes and shouted:
"To the last drop of our blood!"
Corvus was pleased by the warriors' enthusiastic response. Clearly not everyone from Tanar's tribe was part of the treachery in the city. The two young soldiers in front of him were probably not even aware of the situation. The two young soldiers had made their loyalty clear. Recognizing the determination in their eyes, Corvus took a deep breath and spoke with a serious expression. His voice was as harsh and resonant as a battle bugle:
"Listen carefully to what I have to say! The enemy is now approaching Bahoz from the north!"
This news came as a shock to the fighters. There had been no word from the scouts on the border and they did not expect an attack any time soon. But the flag in Corvus' hand looked just like the stories they had heard, and Corvus could not be lying. As the warriors were caught up in the excitement of battle, Corvus seized the opportunity to give his orders:
"Not a single man is allowed to leave the city! Gather all the troops in the city to the north side of the city! I will explain the situation to everyone there."
As soon as the soldiers heard the orders, they scattered left and right like arrows. The city gates closed with a loud bang, and footsteps echoed through the streets, signaling that the alarm had spread. Corvus had deliberately asked the warriors to gather in the north. That way the warriors, most of them loyal to Tanar, would be concentrated on the walls to the north of the city, giving Corvus time to gather the loyal Rhazgordians and a chance to pin down any potential enemies. Meanwhile, Kragan and his three thousand warriors were stationed at strategic points around the city, watching the city to make sure no one escaped.
As he plunged into the city's main street, Corvus marched forward, waving his flag in the air. The streets narrowed and narrowed, opening towards the square, the heart of the city. With each step, more soldiers rushed to the false threat to the north, preparing to defend the city. Corvus' plan was working; the square was almost empty and only the footsteps of civilians echoed through the city streets. They too were arming themselves to fight if necessary. Now he had only one goal: To unfurl the flag in the town square, rally the people around him and recruit everyone to take the city.
The footsteps of Corvus' horse echoed across the floor of the square as the dust rose like a shimmering curtain in the sun. It was as if the square could not wait to witness one of the greatest moments in history.
When Corvus stepped into the city, carrying the black flag, those who saw him followed him as if under a spell, filling the square one by one. As he walked through the streets, the dark but majestic waving of the flag drew the crowds after him. In a few minutes the square was filled with the roar of an enthusiastic and agitated crowd. Everyone was eagerly awaiting orders from this young leader of the Rhazgord.
When Corvus reached the center of the square, he dismounted and stepped quietly but firmly to the ground. As his gaze scanned the crowd, he slowly raised the trumpet to his lips. When Corvus blew on the trumpet with all his might, every sound in the city suddenly fell silent. It was as if the echo of the trumpet dominated even the streets of the city. Nothing could be heard in the whole city except the sound of the trumpet. This shrill and powerful sound, the harbinger of war, instilled both fear and courage.
Corvus sounded the bugle three times. This, according to the customs of Rhazgord, signaled an emergency gathering and danger. Every soul in the city heard the call. The crowd surged into the square in a mass wave of thousands. Eyes were on Corvus; breaths awaited the words that would come from the mouth of the banner's owner.
Corvus thrust the spear bearing the flag into the ground with all his might. The flag danced with the wind, waving like a dark storm behind him. The sight cast a shadow over the crowd in the square, adding to the heaviness of the wait. Corvus looked around with red eyes and spoke in a voice as resolute as the flag behind him:
"I am Corvus Tiamat, son of the great Sanguinar Sakhaar Tiamat! I have something to say to you, proud sons of Rhaz! Our country is at war!"
These words instantly ignited the crowd. The holy war had once again brought them excitement and adrenaline. Several people raised their weapons in the air, shouting war cries. Corvus' speech created a wave of excitement, just like the people in the city of Sorbaj. But Corvus did not let the enthusiasm get out of control; he raised his voice and continued:
"But I have not brought you good news! The enemy is here! In Bahoz! Tanar sat and watched while the enemy infiltrated Bahoz!He is accused of betrayal and that is why he is under arrest and will remain so until the truth is known!"
These words shocked the square. Some in the crowd, some from Tanar's tribe, began to grumble in annoyance. Some murmured, others looked around nervously. Tension poisoned the air. Corvus noticed that people were getting restless. His brow furrowed, he turned to the crowd with a threatening look. His voice was sharp as a dagger:
"One way or another, the Black Flag has been given to me! All who see it must come under it, which means they must obey my orders! This is the ancient law of the Rhazgord and anyone who disobeys will be punished by the Tiamats!"
His voice grew in volume, echoing off the walls of the city's buildings. Silence fell in an instant. Even those of Tanar's tribe stopped grumbling, feeling the weight of this sacred law. Corvus' eyes traveled over the crowd gathered in the square, taking in each and every one of them. The determination and leadership in his eyes intimidated everyone in front of him. Then, over the silence that filled the square, he called out once more, this time with a deeper echo:
"Do you heed the call of this flag?!"
Corvus' voice fell like a thunderbolt on the crowd filling the square. His eyes pierced each and every member of the crowd, his gaze sharp as a sword, waiting for a response. The sudden silence was almost suffocating. This was not a warning, but a moment of decision. All the people of Bahoz looked at the black flag in Corvus' hand, feeling the weight of Tiamat blood and the shadow of Rhazgord traditions. Everyone knew that if they refused to come under that flag, they would betray not only the Tiamats, but the ancient heritage of the Rhazgord. And the price of betrayal could only be paid with blood.
At first no one moved. Eyes turned to each other, faces tense, hesitant. There were many who didn't like Tanar or thought he was up to something. But betrayal had never occurred to anyone. Betrayal was almost unheard of in Rhazgord's history. Whispers rose, but no one dared to take the first step. The growing unrest was a rebellion over Tanar's arrest, but the flag was there. Corvus was a Tiamat and the country was at war. A young warrior shouted in a shaky voice, "To the last drop of our blood!" It was like the first drops of a great river, and the crowd erupted in a wave of shouts. Even members of Tanar's family reluctantly raised their voices. There was no turning back now; united under the black flag, victory or death awaited them.
"Everyone! Follow me!" Corvus ordered, his voice still echoing. The huge crowd instinctively followed him. The people of the city moved like an army behind the determined steps of their new leader. Some wielded swords, some spears, most were simply filled with rage and anger. Perhaps they were not professional warriors, but their determination made them dangerous. Corvus' strategy began to work. If things went wrong, he could hold Tanar's men for a while with these people in Bahoz, and with reinforcements from Rhazgord he could see his plan through to the end.
As Corvus swept the crowd behind him like a whirlwind, the soldiers gathered in the north grew suspicious. The echoes of the horn from the heart of the city and the sounds of the roaring populace drew them to the center. Each step seemed like a trap, but the soldiers were unwittingly heading towards Corvus and his new army. On both sides, they were heading towards their own fate.
But the city was not just Corvus' theater of war. Shadows stirred in the dark alleys and treacherous plans continued to be hatched. In hidden corners of the city, masked men gathered in panic. Months of labor, deceit and intrigue were for this moment. Every effort, every gold, every plan they had spent to capture Bahoz was now about to crumble to the ground. Corvus' sudden intervention had upset all their calculations. But all was still not over. Like a dark shadow, the leader of the masked men continued to work his insidious plan.
"Send the messenger birds! Get the troops waiting at the border here now!" the leader ordered. His voice was dark, cold and cruel. The orders were swiftly carried out and the birds, with small letters tied to their feet, were quickly released into the sky. Even though Corvus had given the strict order, 'Not a bird shall escape from the city! ', the birds soared free and soared towards the horizon. Even if their plans had been thwarted, he could have turned the situation around by calling in their troops. Still, it would take at least six hours for the troops to reach here, and the only way to withstand Corvus' pressure was to use Tanar's loyalists and the nearly two thousand soldiers hidden in the city's inns. A race against time had begun.
The leader of the masked men moved swiftly across the rooftops like a hunter. He watched the echoes of Corvus' horn and the movements of the soldiers gathered to the north. In the midst of the chaos, he was looking for an opening for himself. A cruel and treacherous idea swirled in his mind. If he made the right move, he could upset Corvus' plan and get one last chance to capture Bahoz. But it was a big risk. Either the whole city would fall into Corvus' hands, or his.