Horrified gasps and screams erupted throughout the crowd at this announcement, and intensified as troops began to pour in from the streets leading into the plaza. These soldiers were not clad in black like the Noctem troops, but rather in a light grey.
“The people of the Greater Mushroom Tribe,” said Spyro affectionately, gesturing to the troops now encircling the population of the city, “have been instrumental in the agenda of the Noctem Alliance, and we are now amiably considered mutual allies. In repayment for their help, the Chief of the Greater Mushroom Tribe has requested just one favour for his people. Therefore, in fulfillment of this favour, the Lesser Mushroom Island is now, and forever shall be, under the rule of the Greater Mushroom Tribe.”
Although Stan could not see the expressions on the faces of the crowd, he could imagine that they looked absolutely terrified at the implications of this turn of events. Stan felt his heart clench. A conversation came flooding back to him… a secret talk between Blackraven and the Chief of the Greater Tribesmen while he himself had been feigning sleep in his jail cell on Mount Fungarus. He had to let the people of the island know of the incredible danger they were in. His mind immediately went into scheming mode as he tried desperately to think of how to warn the Lesser Tribesmen in time.
“The people of the Greater Mushroom Tribe,” continued Spyro in an almost casual manner, “feel that you, the people of the Lesser Mushroom Tribe, have betrayed the sacred ideals of the Mushroom Tribe by living in the way that you have for the past six months. Therefore, under the new mandate, the Greater Tribesmen will see that you are put firmly back into your place.”
Spyro gave a smug little chuckle, which caused another collective outburst of terrified cries as Stan’s stomach flooded with acid. Spyro merely continued, “The second announcement regards a matter of national security. It has come to the attention of the Noctem Alliance that Stan2012, President of the Grand Republic of Elementia and Public Enemy Number One, has escaped Fungarus and is now in hiding on this island.”
The crowd was silent. Stan knew they must have been shocked but were far too terrified to speak out.
“As I am sure you are aware,” Spyro continued, malice dripping from his voice, “the Noctem Alliance does not take kindly to any who work against us. This island is, as we speak, being surrounded by a heavy blockade by sea. Escape from the island will be impossible. Therefore, if anybody has any information regarding the whereabouts of Stan2012, you are to deliver it to a member of the Noctem Army immediately. Should you carry information regarding the president’s location and fail to report it, you will receive a punishment that fits your crime.
“And now I am instating a curfew. All citizens are to return to their dwellings and are not to leave until sunrise.”
Immediately, the citizens filed out of the plaza with surprising speed. As a wave of people filed back towards Olea’s store and towards their own houses, Stan could practically feel the cloud of dread wafting off them. Stan saw Olea break from the rabble and re-enter the front door to her store. Stan turned around as she clambered up the stairs, looking disgruntled.
“How much did you hear?” she demanded.
“All of it,” Stan replied. “Olea, I…”
“Don’t say nothin’,” Olea said, speaking quickly and with an urgent look on her face. “You gotta wait for an opening, and then get off this island. It’s a hazard to you as well as the people living here the longer you stay.”
Stan nodded, his breathing shallow, as he walked back over to the window, looking out the corner. Olea walked over beside him to view the scene on the streets as well, and Stan could almost hear her racing heartbeat, which matched his nearly perfectly.
The roads were now cleared. Not one person could be seen in the streets, illuminated by the redstone lamps even as the sun was vanishing behind the skyline. The only forms of life remaining outdoors came in the form of the mass of grey-armoured troops standing in rows in front of the fountain and staring up at the Chief of the Greater Tribesmen.
“The time has come, my brothers and sisters,” the voice of the chief rang out over the plaza. “Our evil brethren have desecrated these sacred islands with their heathen ways for the last time. It is time for us to finally rid this server of the barbaric savages once and for all. We have long prepared for this day. You know what to do.”
The Greater Tribesmen cheered and pumped their fists into the air, some empty and some clutching bows. Then they dashed out of the plaza, flooding the streets. What happened next made Stan’s stomach drop in horror.
Half the Greater Tribesmen were sprinting down the streets, throwing small black objects into the windows of some of the street-side stores. The objects shattered the windows and were immediately followed by a burst of fire and light from within the store. As the blaze from the fire charges intensified, players burst out of the doors of their burning houses and into the streets. There they instantly fell dead to the ground, with arrows sticking out of them courtesy of the Greater Tribesmen, who were armed with bows.
Stan whipped around to face Olea. “What in the… what the…,” he sputtered, his mind unable to grasp what he was seeing.
“It’s the Great Purge,” Olea breathed, glancing in awe at the fires now erupting all around them, and the countless civilians being shot to death in the streets. “They talked about it for months… but I never thought it’d actually happen…”
“What are you talking about?” Stan demanded.
“The Greater Tribesmen are killing all the Lesser Tribesmen,” Olea said, her voice quavering with fury. “They talked about it before, called it the ‘Great Purge.’ We’ve always known that the Greater Tribesmen hated the Lesser Tribesmen, but we never figured that they’d go through with something like this…”
“We have to stop them!” cried Stan, looking around frantically at the carnage in the streets and drawing his sword.
“Put that away,” growled Olea, grabbing Stan’s sword out of his hand and tossing it to the floor. “There’s nothin’ you can do to stop this, and you know it.”
“But… I have to…,” Stan stammered, unable to accept the truth of what she was saying.
“Whatcha gonna do?” spat Olea cynically. “March out there by yourself and fight the entire Noctem Army? Listen, Stan. I hate what’s going on out there just as much as you do, but I know there’s nothin’ I can do to stop it.”
“Well… well, what about you?” Stan shouted, trying to get her to see reason. “Won’t they come after you, too?”
“No,” Olea replied bitterly. “They only attack the places where the Lesser Tribesmen live. They’re ignorin’ the citizens of the mainland and lettin’ ’em be. Though if they want to destroy this city in the first place, I’m not sure what the point of that is…”
“I know why,” answered Stan as the conversation in the jail cell rushed back to his head. “The Greater Tribesmen made an agreement with the Noctem Alliance. They’re going to take the republic citizens as hostages and then destroy all the buildings on the island.”
Olea’s eyes widened and then glazed over for a moment, and Stan could see the gears whirring behind them. Then she pulled herself together and looked at Stan.
“Stan, you gotta get out, undetected and fast,” Olea said quickly, glancing nervously out
