Activity

It goes even deeper than that, because when the remnant survive the plague, they purge the city by burning the outer rings, and courtyards, and they form a bi-monthly ritual where the city’s hidden inhabitants ritually cleanse the city gutters with pole weapons called monk blades, which become deadly poisoned weapons they can use against enemies.  These blades cleanse the under pavement gutters until they reach a reservoir in cavity in the lower dead city’s outer wall.  If the wall is ever breeched again by an army they are in for a nasty surprise.  The “black tongue” of the city will literally deluge the field of battle and infect the assault groups with plagued filth. spilling toxins down through the surrounding trees and yellow grasslands.  The ritualistic cleansing is symbolic of the city’s confession and commitment to never let their sins and neglect overtake them again.  Confessed sin then becomes an asset, because it falls back on the accusers and condemners that besiege the city.  Chapter 22 – “The Black Tongue of The City” in my WIP covers this aspect.