Downtown Noxus

Rose flinches as the axe whistles through the air, standing back on the stage behind Riven and Sivir as the scene unfolds before her.

This... they just killed a man, but he was trying to kill the Master Tactician; it was a response to violence... She's lived in Noxus her entire life, but has never seen a man die before- only heard it happen in alleyways.

"I'm sorry I failed you, Riven..." chokes the man, as life leaves his body.

Would she... but she just gave a speech about wanting to restore the honor of Noxus! This isn't honorable- but maybe he acted on his own? Rose slips a hand into the pocket of her coat, reaching for her dagger; it's the only weapon she has.

As the six men approach the stage, she begins to panic somewhat. Had I known that Swain would show up, I don't know if I'd have come up here... She grips the handle of her knife, hoping it'll be enough.

My magic- I could certainly make a few explosions out of failed spells, but- Nearly shaking in fear, she looks over the faces of the assassin, the jester, the Battlemistress, and the Exile. Would they be enough to protect her if a fight broke out? She'd never seen them outside of the Fields of Justice, where their powers were restrained by the summoners... more to the point, she'd never seen Swain's power outside the Fields.

She steps a little closer to Talon, though she remains back a few feet, not wanting to provoke anything just yet. There's going to be a riot...

When Riven speaks, she feels a little of the tension relax in her chest- though not much of it. I knew she wouldn't have called on someone for an assassination, she thinks, and loosens her grip on her dagger.

When Riven turns to face her and the assembled people on the stage- champions and citizens alike- she nods, just once.

"I stand with you," she says, her voice quiet.

The conflicts below were impressive ones. Everything that happened, she drank in and set to memory. Every word she heard, every movement and body language. She had grown to be a fine assassin, trained to the point of exhaustion and teetering towards the faces of death that stood over her. Particularly his face as she was pushed to and beyond the capabilities of her body, mind and soul. Every bit of her changed forever by the days spent in the mud, under heavy rain and threatening cold. His blade flashing ever so slightly in the light, that constant thread of death ever present under his instruction. A Master and his student. It haunted her still, but its effects had dulled and left her refined in her skills, and far more dangerous then she had ever imagined.

The origami felt alive pinched between her fingertips as plans played out in her mind. Would it come to it? She questioned inwardly as she felt the chill of the air glance against her skin with the smallest gust of wind. She'd remained otherwise still. The rise and fall of her chest and the occasional blink pulling her from being nothing more then a statue on the roof. For now, she was an observer, and would take action when action need be taken.

Vladimir. Whatever respect for him Talon had, she did not share. Her thoughts floated to the house, and the woman that tried to treat her. She wondered if she was even alive anymore. A cold stare lingered upon him longer then it should have. He knew her secret. This could be a potentially devastating problem especially if another plan were enacted. Had he sided with Swain? Did he really go against his ally? Her jaw tightened, releasing the origami long enough to start moving closer to the edge of the roof. Just a little. Knelt down and readying for what was likely to come.

"But you see, Exile,," the general began, punctuating Riven's title with apparent relish. "Noxus is my state. And there will be peace within her walls, precisely because I demand it. You come here preaching openness and honor, the value of the common man, yet you have the audacity to sacrifice your disciples in a foolish attempt on my life?" His eyes narrowed to blazing slits, lingering just a moment over Riven's shoulder, upon the Blade's Shadow, before they returned to meet her amber ones.

"Don't be a hypocrite. If you agree with me that Noxus' citizens are not expendable, then do not bring civil war to my streets." He clenched his teeth behind his shroud as he uttered these final words, his voice dripping with contempt.

"This city is under my rule and my protection. And so it shall remain." Then he turned to the crowd, one arm thrown out in amplification of his commanding presence. "If you would follow this woman simply because she spouts empty words at the feet of a national memorial, then follow her now as she departs the way she came, to quietly resume her exile. If you instead desire prosperity, power and peace for our great nation," the Grand General paused, lifted his chin, trained his eyes back upon Riven as he finished pointedly, "Then demonstrate your loyalty to our country now."

((Okay, so awkward 5 AM has struck. I'm going to sleep. So this will happen))
Adeptis walks to the back of the group and somehow manages to dissapear within despite his outfit and gear.

Astrid did not wait for Riven to speak. She eyed the crowed that she stood in-front of. Her weapon held in both hands out front, as a sight of control.

"Do you not see what he is doing to you?" She called out to them. "They yell forever strong, but are they truly strong? Relying on deceit and underhanded tactics! That is not strength! That is not what Noxus stands for!" She hoped that the crowd would listen to her.

"Riven is the epitome of Noxian Strength and Valor! Someone who was betrayed by those in charge, but continues to fight for her home, for it's people. Selflessly! Just as you too could very well be betrayed by him!" She turned and pointed at Swain. "He dictates who lives and die. You may become strong, raise up and out of the poor masses as Riven, as Talon have. But do not be fooled, you are nothing but mindless pawns to that man!" She cried out again.

"Listen to Riven, my fellow Noxians." She said softer now. She called out to those who once slandered her for being birthed by a Freljordian woman, hoping they would heed her words. "This is not right."

She smiled inwardly, though it did not show upon her determined face as some of those who shouted with Vladimir, and kneeled began to second guess their decision, and rose to their feet.

"And what makes you think that Riven has the strength to lead us?"

An old man hobbled into view. Rickety with age, he shook with every step as he walked out from the crowd. "What makes you think this person has the strength to lead Noxus? The intellect?"

He rubbed his face, and let out a sigh. "I was born under Boram Darkwill's reign. Under his reign, one could never guess what he was to do next. I remember the poster child, Riven. All praised Riven, for her Noxian spirit. She was the face of Noxus...and then the Ionian War happened. Darkwill had effectively destroyed the poster child, and as such, lost the war. What High General Swain...Did..."

The old man started to violently cough. He composed himself and pointed at Swain with his cane. "What he did, was restore Noxus to a time before Darkwill, to what Noxus is truly meant to be. Darkwill had waged war against Demacia in the exact same manner, time and time again, and only failed every time. Darkwill performed the same experiments and expected different results. He was a madman, and no one could stop him, it took the efforts of our esteemed generals such as Darius, and Swain when he was younger, to ensure any sort of success for Darkwill. It was only because of Swain that Darkwill ever saw true success in his endeavors. The civil conflict that occurred because Darkwill's unexpected death were ceased because it was Swain who rose up and took the reins of power. Swain's accomplishments in his efforts, have all led to his complete success. The one time Riven was sent somewhere...she failed. In the same war that our High General was excluded from, Riven failed and the Noxians lost the war. This is no coincedence. She exiled herself, she deserted her army, her country, and now she comes back, thinking she can spout this...this drivel. She has not been a citizen in Noxus in more than a decade. She has not been here alongside us, she has not experienced what we have experienecd, I have been through seven campaigns, and I can say that I served my coutnry well. I love Noxus, with all of my heart, and all of my soul, and I tell you this: Riven, your heart is in the right place, but you are a child. You are a soldier, you have no capability to lead. You know not of politics, not of bureaucracy, you know not of what it means to lead people when you could barely lead your own squadron. They are dead, and you are not. That is the fate of every Noxian if they follow you. If they follow Swain, look at his supporters. Look at his campaigns, look at who has survived and who he has paid back more than double for their support and loyalty. A man who is seasoned, who has fought against the foul Demacians and the barbaric Freljordians..."

The old man looked over at Astrid and shook his head, "Though he may have missed one or two of them...He has only led us to success. Why should Riven's winged words hold any sway over us? What will become of us, if we are in the hands of a child, compared to the hands of a leader who has lived in Noxus all of his life? Of a man who was born a Noxian, lived a Noxian, fought as a Noxian, and never...never lost its spirit? Never questioned himself, he knows the country he serves, he knows the people that he rules, and it is through them that he is granted power, and they are granted protection and peace of mind."

No one could pierce the illusion of the old man, save for the careful eyes of a raven. This was LeBlanc's move.