Rumors flew around town after that tense meeting with the Blood Serpents. While Aeron and the group had emerged unscathed, the threat of this underground faction was far from buried. As the violent, secretive faction made it clear, they were merely waiting for that one critical moment of weakness.
Aeron sat in his room, staring out the large window that looked out onto the city. This skyline that once was a beacon of hope had slowly morphed into a symbol of imprisonment. The game was no longer to make friends but to survive. Every action and movement became significant. One step in the wrong direction, and the anger of one or another of the numerous groups lurking in the shadowy parts of town would fall upon him.
The knock at his door broke him from this reverie.
"Enter."
Serious, Lira entered the room. "We have a problem," she said, her voice full of trepidation. "The Vallians are getting cold feet. They're wondering if it's worth the danger to ally themselves with us.".
Aeron looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "What happened?
Lira blew out a breath. "The Red Dawn, a newborn organization looking to hold the city's underlife hostage, had gotten in contact with some of the older leaders, promising to give the Vallians a better deal: more land, more resources, and most of all, a direct line to some of the key players in this city.
Aeron made his fists tight and his thoughts were moving fast. "I should have realized. It's always like this. When you show any weakness, they come crawling back."
She nodded and furrowed her brow. "If we do not move at a very good pace, then the Vallians might leave us. The Red Dawn is known to be cruel. If they manage to convince the Vallians, that would just be the end of our hold in the city.
Aeron paced before a map of the city, thinking aloud about what could be done. "We have to strengthen our position. And we should show them that the Vallians will not make an easy decision. We must have an advantage."
Lira hesitated, eyes turning uncomfortable with the suggestion that came next. "And what would that be?
Aeron's gaze returned to her, cold. "We strike first. We find one of the major leaders of Red Dawn and send them a message. If they want to play games, we shall show them what it's like to trifle with the Aetherborn.
Lira frowned. "It is perilous as well. If we choose the wrong person, then we may well start a war.".
Aeron's lips curled into a confident smile. "We'll be careful. We'll make sure it's someone important—someone they can't afford to lose. And we'll make it public. That way, the Vallians will see that we're not afraid to make the first move. If they want to align with us, they need to prove their loyalty. The Red Dawn won't just waltz in and take control."
Lira thought about it for a little while, but eventually she nodded. "Okay. I'll get the information you need."
Those were the few days of undercover movements, spies infiltrating into the group called Red Dawn, and careful planning. Aeron and Lira knew they had to act quick, lest the Vallians make up their minds.
The nights found Aeron's circle of companions in a dark warehouse, shadowy dimness concealing the details of their features. The target was one Rogar, a high-ranking member of the Red Dawn and notorious for his stringent methods of keeping tight reins on the minor factions. He was rumored to have ties with some of the most feared felons the city had ever known, making him the just candidate to send a message across.
"You sure about this?" Kara, the soldier for hire asked, cleaning her knives. "Rogar's not just a bully. He has connections to important people."
Aeron stared at her, oozing cool confidence. "That's why we are doing this. The Red Dawn isn't just another gang. They grow stronger, and once we let them get too comfortable, we will have let the moment pass us by. This has to be clear and final.
Kara fixed him with a strengthened gaze. "Okay. Let's make sure it matters.".
It was swift and merciless. Employing stealth in the cover of surprise, Aeron's group infiltrated a Red Dawn safe house where Rogar was to meet with his associates. It was a building full of many guards, but the Aetherborn knew just how to be quiet. Past the guards, they disappeared into the shadows, ghosts among men.
They entered the great hall where, seated at a table, sat Rogar and several others discussing plans for the continued expansion of the Red Dawn. The room was silent as Aeron and his companions entered, the dancing torches which lined it cast long flickering shadows across.
Rogar sprang to his feet, his hand darting toward the dagger in his boot. "Who are ye?" he growled. Aeron stepped forward, his voice calm but filled with authority. "I'm the one who's about to make your life a lot more difficult."
Before he could even respond, one of Aeron's most elite assassins struck explosively quick, relieving him of his sword and forcing him to his knees; the rest of the Red Dawn rose to defend him, but Kara and Lira's party subdued them with great haste.
Aeron knelt before Rogar and looked right into his eyes: "You have wrongly thought I am weak. Now you will have to bear the consequences. And if you want to keep up with this game, then let you be reminded who's running it here.".
Panting, Rogar tried to show no fear: "You will pay for this, Aeron. The Red Dawn doesn't bend their knee before anyone.
Aeron's smile was cold, calculating. "You're right. But the Red Dawn doesn't control the city, either. You're a small piece in a much larger game. And now you've crossed me."
In but a second, he gave a signal to his men. Then they were gone in the night, leaving behind them a burning safehouse-a message to the Red Dawn not to fiddle with the Aetherborn. By the next morning, word had spread throughout the entire town: Red Dawn had been defeated. The safehouse was gone, and the body of Rogar was found discarded in an alley-a message to those crossing Aeron's growing power. It spread through the factions like wildfire, and indeed, many began to second-guess themselves. In this light, the Vallians sure were between a hard place and a rock. For sure, having seen the first Aetherborn assault, they could not claim that these fellows were afraid of breaking the rules. They wouldn't be the only faction tasting Aeron's ire-Red Dawn wouldn't be. Lira sought out Aeron later that evening, her face still twisted with stress. "It worked. The Vallians are reconsidering their options. They're not sure if they should risk crossing us now." Aeron just nodded, turning to the next challenge in his mind. "The game just got started, and if we want to survive this, we need to be ahead of everyone. And we have to show the Red Dawn that we are not scared to do whatever it takes." Lira's eyes flashed with her strong will. "We left the mark, and now for the solace that they remember it forever. As the Aetherborn grew in power, so too did the attention they received. The other, larger factions were beginning to take notice, and they were mobilizing. But Aeron wasn't one to go down without a fight. Up until now, he had certainly made his presence known, and now he would forge further on his quest for control. It was now that the actual tussle of power had started.