The nine days after King Tilsio-VI's arrival in Sensasperan were spent marshaling their resources. Citizens, artisans, their families and supplies were gathered from the surrounding estates during that time. In total he'd manage to gather up about 13,000 people (more than four time's the town's initial population) with some 4,800 men fit to fight. The Militia was drilled, though less than half of them had guns and many of the guns they did have were old matchlocks and similar. Those that had any skill in metalworking were put to work making weapons. Women and slaves made powder. Some forces were sent to scout things out, harass the invaders and to relieve those towns and estates under attack. Few who left on such missions returned and those that did brought news of hordes of rebel slaves, ransacked estates and Infrastructural Soldiers that could cut you down if they even got a glimpse of you. Doing so was costly, but if nothing else it would slow them down and thin out their ranks. He hoped that this would be enough to let them weather this storm until aide arrived to turn the tide.However on the tenth day they made their march on the small mountain town. Infrastructural Soldiers came up the passes in neat ranks backed by a rabble of armed slaves, camped along the western front of the city. The Infrastructurals gave their terms: all citizens were to stand down, surrender their weapons and renounce all titles of nobility and claims to human chattel. All slave drivers over the age of 40 and torturers were were to be executed by firing squad while the rest would be Relocated. There were a few who advocated taking this offer and in truth he seriously consider it for a few seconds. But ultimately that fear could not overcome his hope that the Drow would come and he refused their offer. Most said that his refusal was stirringly passionate and dramatic, which he took as a complement to his acting skills. Even if the effect was spoiled a few minutes latter when the bombardment began.For the next day and a half the Avesian defenses were pounded with rockets and shells that blasted apart stonework and men. They had only a few guns and a limited supply of ammunition, but they had enough to tear defenses asunder from over a mile away. They also had a few marksmen which further thinned the Avesian ranks. There was a big initial salvo, a few shots afterwards on a regular schedule and then a second salvo once additional supplies had arrived at night, which came with a charge. They still had enough gunners to inflict some losses on them, but that was nowhere near enough to stop them.He'd attempted to stir his defenders on against these impossible odds, but that had ended badly. Being out and where he could be seen by his men meant that the the enemy could see him and by extension, shoot him. Even with runic plate that was tempting fate and so he was forced to retreat into the bombed out warren the town had become. After that, things got chaotic as Avesians clashed with the waves poured in. Some panicked, but most (and in particular his body guard) fought to the end. Which was admirable in a lot of ways save of course for the 'end' part.The town was not laid out with any major plan and shanties and rubble simply made things more confusing. For a few minutes he wandered effectively blindly through the chaos until a small group of Janissaries came in to bring him back to the Count's mansion. However a group of Rebel Slaves also found him and began to pour fire into him. His armor held up pretty well against the fire and he was confident that he could get to safety before the strengthening spells forged into the steel failed. However by sheer luck one round managed to find it's way between his helmet and his breastplate and went through his neck.Previous- Infrastructure: Part Two Hundred and Sixty Six Next- Infrastructure: Part Two Hundred and Sixty Eight