A few hours later, the Eternal Legion had arrived in front of Mantarys which had already closed the gates to the city in preparation for the battle. Garrisoning the city was no more than 5k slave soldiers mixed with some of the Master's elite soldiers to keep the slaves in line.
On top of the wall, looking down on the Eternal Legion, Commander Tychyrio, the one in command of the entire Garrison force wasn't shocked at all seeing the enemy army already surrounding the city. He heard the stories from the passing merchants about how advanced the Imperials were and how powerful their military was. Then you add the stories about how they possessed dragons and other flying creatures, and one had to think to themselves, 'How can we win against that?'.
As he looked over the massive Imperial Legion, he gestured for another soldier to approach, "Go inform the master's that the Imperial army is here." he ordered. The soldier quickly descended from the walls, disappearing into the crowded city.
Turning his gaze back to the Imperial forces, Tychyrio took a deep breath, preparing himself for what lay ahead. He had no illusions about their situation, they were certainly outmatched and outnumbered. If he wasn't a commander, then he would have certainly fled in this situation.
He wasn't born in any of the cities of Slaver's Bay, instead he was born in the Far east, in Qarth. Now how did he end up in Slaver's Bay? well, he had crossed the wrong person back in Qarth. As a young and ambitious man, he'd made alliances with powerful women from Xaro Xhoan Daxos's household to Kojja Mo, the head of one of Qarth's powerful merchant families. From these alliances, Tychyrio had gained incredible influence and power; too much, perhaps, for his own good.
Eventually, Tychyrio's ambition had led him to attempt a plot against one of the Thirteen, the ruling class in Qarth. The plan was uncovered, however, and Tychyrio was seized and sold as a slave to a master in Slaver's Bay. His gift for strategy and his ruthlessness caught the eye of his master who used him to command his personal guard until a few months ago when he was appointed as a Commander due to the current war that was going on.
That's how he ended up in his current situation. Leaving the past behind, he took one last look at the Imperial forces before he himself got down from the wall.
The city was buzzing with activity as slaves and soldiers hurried to prepare for an onslaught, they knew they couldn't win. Tychyrio had begun issuing orders to prepare for an unwinnable battle. As he was doing this, he saw a massive shadow pass by him causing him to look up and see the cause of the shadow.
Flying above the city as a form of fear tactic was Nyxara who caused some soldiers to start panicking seeing such a massive creature flying over the city. Of course, everybody heard that the Imperials had dragons, no one truly believed it until they saw it with their own eyes. And now that they have, fighting against something that can just bypass their defenses was useless.
Outside the walls, Maximus stood at the front of his legion as they were lined up in front of the city ready to take it over. But they had just won a victory a few hours ago and had to march another 12 hours to reach the city. As much as he knew they were eager to fight, he also knew the advantages of having a well-rested army.
But if his plan was successful, then they might not need to fight any battle.
"Set up camp," he ordered as the legion began to unload their supplies from the carts and set up their camp. Appearing next to him was a Shadowhand agent who was tasked with infiltrating the city, killing the masters, and throwing the defenders into chaos.
"Your excellency, we have successfully infiltrated the Master's manor and will wait until morning to kill them." Maximus nodded, gazing back at the city walls. "Very well," he replied. "We will wait until dawn before launching the attack. The master's will likely expect us to act immediately, and we will use this to our advantage."
A few hours later it was well past midnight, and the slave soldiers had kept a tight watch on any movement outside of the wall. The master's didn't believe that the Imperials would wait until morning to attack, so they forced the soldiers to stay on guard for the entire night, depriving them of the much needed sleep that they would need for the morning battle.
Tychyrio tried to tell them that they should have soldiers' man the walls on shifts to ensure that everybody got enough sleep, but the master's ignored his suggestion and simply said that if the soldiers want to eat, then they can stay awake protecting the city for as many hours as they need them to.
Tychyrio was used to this type of response from powerful people who didn't know the limits of a person or the effects of the conditions that are thrust upon them. And there were too many of the Master's spies within the army for him to take matters into his own hands, so all he could do was obey them.
As dawn broke, shadowy figures were sneaking around the Master's manor as they enjoyed their breakfast with their families. One Master was in the middle of talking with his wife as their very throats were slit. This scene occurred at each of the Master's manors until all of them were dead.
Within his tent, one of the shadowhand agents appeared in front of Maximus kneeling, "Your excellency, the mission is complete. All the master's within the city are dead."
"Excellent," replied Maximus standing up from his chair and proceeding outside of his tent. Everybody was already lined up and ready to take the city with the defenders already in position ready to repel the Imperials despite their fatigue. Tychyrio was already on top of the wall preparing for a battle that he knew they couldn't win.
Once Maximus ordered the attack to begin, the Cannons were the first things fired, striking the walls of the city. The Imperial Airforce flew above, taking care of the soldiers on top of the walls while the Elf Spearmen moved forward protected by a barrier which deflected the enemy's arrows.
Tychyrio was actively shouting orders amidst the battle when he heard the news. One of his lieutenants, face ashen and voice trembling, reported the slaughter of the Masters. The realization hit him like a punch in the gut, and he nearly fell to his knees due to a nearby explosion that rocked the wall.
The Masters were dead and the chaos that would follow once the slave soldiers found out would be anarchy. So, he decided, "Raise the white flag," he ordered his voice loud and clear.
His lieutenant hesitated; his face frozen as he looked at his commander.
"Raise it!" Tychyrio yelled again. The lieutenant nodded grimly, grabbing a nearby white cloth, hastily tied it onto a spear and raised it high above the city walls. They were surrendering. With the Masters dead, they no longer had control over the slave soldiers, and they couldn't stop him from doing the right thing.
As soon as the white flag was raised, the Imperial cannons ceased fire while Nyxara and the Imperial Airforce hovered over the city as a reminder of their capabilities.
Maximus watched as the white flag waved atop the city walls. A victorious smile appeared on his face as he turned to his legion, raising his hand signaling them to hold their positions. He watched as the city gates slowly opened allowing him access into the city.
Inside the city, Tychyrio descended from the wall and walked towards the open gates. His soldier's parts before him, their eyes wide with fear and uncertainty at this decision taken by their commander.
As he neared the gate, he saw a group of people approaching wearing full plate dark armor. These were the Black Guard of Naggarond who sent chills down Tychyrio's back.
"I have been sent in place of his excellency to discuss terms," said the lead figure. Though his voice was muffled by the metal helm that obscured his face, there was an inherent authority to it. The man was tall and imposing, his armor adorned with intricate symbols of power and prestige. "My name is Raelor Blackthorn."
Tychyrio swallowed hard. It was an effort to keep his voice steady as he replied, "I am Tychyrio, commander of the city's army. I... we...surrender."
Raelor nodded as he knew that they stood no chance if they continued to resist, and with the Master's dead, there was nothing forcing them to fight, "Very well then, his excellency will offer mercy to every soldier and civilian within the city, except for slavers. Anybody considered a slave will be put to death no matter their excuse, and all slaves will become free hence forth, do we have terms."
While it sounded like a question, Tychyrio knew that it was more of an order, and he was in no way going to refuse this offer for him and the other slave soldiers to live another day. "Yes, we have terms…"
Though as he said this, some lieutenants who were not slaves and loyal to the Masters had walked out of the gates behind Tychyrio screaming and shouting, "HEY WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!" shouted the first one.
"Negotiating our surrender," Tychyrio replied, loud enough for all present to hear.
"You're betraying the Masters!" screamed another lieutenant, his voice filled with disbelief and indignity.
"The Masters are already dead," Tychyrio stated coldly, shooting the man a hard glare. "Or have you not heard? As of now, I am in command. Anyone who opposes it can step forward now."
"We don't take orders from a mere slave!" one lieutenant exclaimed; his voice desperate. "We are the freemen, and you are the slave, so you will follow our orders!"
Raelor chuckled under his helm. "Well then, lads," he said sarcastically, "Looks like you've got three choices, join your dead Masters, become the slaves you scorned or accept this deal. Remember," he pointed at the Imperial troop formation behind him, "we have cannons ready to fire any time."
Seeing the massive army behind Raelor, the protesting lieutenants' faces paled at the sight of the Imperial Army. Their gazes looked over the massive formation of soldiers, then up in the sky at the strange flying creatures which started to get rowdy because they couldn't feast on their prey below.
There was nothing they could do but to surrender. They weren't masters anyway so they could still live on, but who knows what their future held.
With that out of the way, the Eternal Legion marched into the city and started to secure all the former Master's possessions, arrest the remaining soldiers, and start integrating the city under Imperial rule.
Maximus had his army rest for a few days before they set off to attack Tolos. Alexander would lead the army to take Tolos, while Maximus would head to the Imperial fleet to help them in attacking Elyria which was situated on an island off the coast of Tolos.