Rikkira dragged the Imperial by the collar, lifting him up as Dragon wings unfolded from her back, though keeping her humanoid appearance. She gently took off, her wings elegantly providing the lift needed to carry herself and the Imperial across the battlefield, making sure he could get a good look at the chaos beneath his feet, dangling several dozen feet off the ground. A few arrows tried to hit her and him indiscriminately from time to time, however they simply stopped in mid air and gently drifted off the side or upwards, almost as if gravity itself had completely ceased around them. Then, just as she was about midway the army above the Typhonus lines, her arm raised, before throwing the Imperial back to the ground and descending after him.
This time however, the battle would be somewhat different on the ground. While the Imperial continued to crash to the ground, Aeawynne Hállëvandëia summoned a vast array of plantlife, great blooming flowers with soft petals and leaves that formed a cushion, enveloping the Prince and saving him from a fatal fall to the ground. Out from these bushes and flowers leaped Azelloa Hallevandeia, in bramble beast form with the Imperial on his back, laying with his eyes to the sky. Aewynne cast her spells on Azelloa's bramble and bark form, enlarging his size and entwining the Imperial Dragon's human form with the plant life in an embrace, while Aurienne Decker jumped on the back, before being encased in the twine. She cast forth her Healing Grace to sustain the wounds of the Imperial as best she could, while Aeawynne's Evergrowth spells fused Azelloa's bear-shaped and antlered beast with the Draconic energies of the Imperial Dragon.
The predator beast changed as a result, its head shaped like that of a dragon, the plants and brambles turning purple and lightning arcing from its leaves that glowed a gentle blue. Rikkira's expression turned sour, a first, into one of vague disgust and sneer at what she no doubt perceived as a dimensional perversion of Dragon powers. Azelloa's Idol form had encased the Imperial and Aurienne who was healing him, while Aeawynne empowered him to continue the fight against Rikkira as the Prince recovered from his wounds. Mateo Silva stepped forward to challenge Rikkira as bravely as he would have any other time, unfortunately, Rikkira's anger was becoming more physically manifested now. She turned to Dragon form, and immediately slashed her claws at Mateo, just barely avoiding decapitating him on the spot, but certainly knocking him away and shredding his armor, while also knocking him out of the fight before he had any chance to achieve anything.
Qalhata 'Cal' Sarnai quickly rushed to the scene, doing some quick thinking and choosing the elemental opposition of lightning in her Elemental branding spell to fight the Dragon from behind, trying climb up the back and stab the Dragon in the back while the Predator Idol Azelloa fought from the front, the beast charging at the Dragon's head and chest, trying to claw its way up to her neck. Aeawynne continued to cast her magics, the Dread Dragon too distracted with both Qalhata and the Predator Idol to try and dispell her magic. All manner of plants grew around the Dragon, far more powerful than the sorcery spells brought against her before, shooting all manner of pollen, vines and spit at the Dragon in attempt to subdue her.
For a while, it seemed like they were actually winning. Using the Draconic power from the gramble suit, Azelloa was able to get the Dragon on her side, while Qalhata continued to avoid swipes of the Dragon and stab her where possible to distract her. The Dragon screamed out in agony several times as Aeawynne's plants started strangling her, and were it not for the sudden rush of Witchbloods that came to her aid, they would likely actually have won with this combination of healing, Evergrowth Magics and Sorcery, while the Dragon was already worn from fighting the Imperial Dragon on the past battlefield and above. The arrival of the Witchblood was swift for the Battle Mages and Sorcerers, green fire flared all around them, spells undone and magics unwound.
Aeawynne's flowers and plants withered where they stood, turning to ash and disappearing in the wind, while Azelloa's idol exploded into a rain of shredded plants and driftwood, unceremoniously dumping the Prince on the ground again with Aurienne. Aurienne tried to stay with the Prince while Rikkira reared her head, surrounded by the Witchblood who formed a wall around them to keep the others out, having forced the Typhonus regiments to form up around them and the Mages to pull back. All that remained in the ring of Phantasma now were the Imperial Dragon, half bludgeoned and beaten, Aurienne and the Dread Dragon. The Prince crawled to a stand, slumping in front of Aurienne while he snapped his fingers and muttered "Eyes here, eyes here" to prevent Rikkira from turning on Aurienne as she turned back to a Human form.
There was a draw of silence, the once proud Imperial Dragon hunched over like a wounded soldier, half his face bandaged and holding onto his arm, while Rikkira's unwavering poise had maintained itself, yet somewhat disheveled in the single flow of blood that had appeared from her mouth, and the torn state of her dress deep to the ground. The two stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, until the Imperial Dragon spoke in Wyrm-Tongue:
"Avazh Yu'zhu K'heel Gahvon. Nuz Gazaak Fen' Gohblaar." - These words carried in the wind all the way to Regalia to all those who could hear Wyrm Tongue, along with the sad tone and spirit of utter defeat.
The Kathar swiftly claimed their rising advantage and pressed the Regalian forces, with Harhold and dei Termini crumbling under the pressure. Both of their lines were being forced into a wedge, right into von Drachenburg and the Typhonus line as well. It didn't take a martial expert to see just what was unfolding before the eyes of the living: the Regalian Defence was shattering and falling apart at the hands of the savages the Regalians swore to defeat. General von Drachenburg ushered into the last resort, the most feasible solution there was left that he could provide. With swift commands, his cavalry charged, hoping to make up for the failing defense that degraded all around them. Severiia Nuszarok took charge, situating atop their horse and loading their bow before firing into the enemy lines, landing a few initial shots as first blood. The volley rained over the storming cavalry force, including several in the mix. Karp Kippings, Novellia Fristadvlom and Eric Fischer joined in a line together. The Kathar were quick to retaliate. Karp suffered a solid cut to one of his legs while passing by an array of Kathar swordsmen, but Eric Fischer was swift to take to his side and sever the heads of two aforementioned Kathar. Novellia Fristadvlom held her own atop her horse and managed to cut down some of the Kathar that lagged behind in the fray. Anthony Falke was joined with Hel-Elvhii Eyllisinddar in their attempts to fend off the rising Kathar forces, but both met a terrible fate as they were sent flying from their horses from a surprise wave of magical projectiles. Anthony took the lesser damage between them, a stab into his shoulder which would inhibit him from riding decently or using the limb, but it was Hel-Elvhii who took the majority of the blow. He fell from his horse, his torso punctured by several needle-like projectiles, and to make matters worse, he then had his hand partially trampled by a soldier's charge. As Zzickar ran in to save Hel-Elvhii's life, he was knocked into here and there by shoulders and shifting frames alike. By some luck, he made it to the brutally injured man and began to drag him to safety. Darkwald Knights also fell in with von Drachenburg's orders. Serlida Bermot and Estlin Gileenard intervened as a group of Kathar sought to prevent Zzickar's safe transportation, with both fighting fervently. While Serlida clashed with them, the Kathar knocked her down a peg with a swift punch to her torso. It was Estlin's quick thinking that saved them both however, for she used the Kathar's lack of attention on her to tear into them and bulldoze them into other Regalians' weapons alongside her own. Both fighters managed to earn their victory from the confrontation, but Estlin's fervent fight would not go unnoticed by those who witnessed her shining moment. This small win was just that, however: small. It was not enough to warrant a full victory or re-stabilization of the Regalian Defence, which proved to keep crumpling against the Kathar's push.
Von Drachenburg's forces proved to be one of the only remaining pillars left to offer a last resort of stability against a guaranteed loss of defence. The General refused to waver, nor did those under his banner. Audric Kraus took charge of the Dragenthal Riders and sought to take the place of the fighting, falling, and injury-sustaining cavalry with whatever force he could muster. The thin sliver of morality left kept his head clear even as everything around them surely fell apart. Fudail Bashshar took up what mantle there was left to hold as a Tenpenny Field Commander and charged into the restless chaos. He cut down Kathar where he could, careful not to strike his allies despite the clusters. Supporting him was Ewin Braunschweig who, though fighting with what they could, could not endure as much as Fudail and earned a fair few cuts and bruises from the fierce Kathar that assured the Regalians could not break through them. Mila Braunbecker remained at General von Drachenburg's side and lunged into action with the threat of nearing Kathar. They leapt and sent a killing blow to one and fought off another with parries and deflections until they could finish the Kathar off from its exhaustion. Damon Slumberwood and Gael of Jakair stood together as some of the soldiers left with fight in them. Though both aggressed the Kathar warriors with their might, Gael suffered a terrible hit to the face which sent him off his feet, and a puncture wound to the arm that could have been far worse were it not for Damon's interjection. Damon managed to sever the arm of the Kathar attacking Gael, then fight off the others that joined the Kathar so Gael could be gathered and pulled away from the fight. This was a losing battle, and the General knew this. However, for the sake of keeping the Kathar at bay for however long they could earn, he and his gathered men assured this and stood against them still.
All eyes at this point were on Field General Reimar Typhonus. The Military prodigy needed to hold, otherwise the von Drachenburg, nor the Howlester columns would no longer be able to maintain stability. Reimar sent all he had at the Kathar, Dwarven and Tenpenny units alike. Field Commander Sigmar Falkenwrath pushed forward alongside fellow Field Commanders Alberic Typhonus and Valarosta Baal'ial. Despite the latter having performed well in previous battles, she could not cope with the pressure and pro-conservative soldiers berating her for not acting quick enough, and eventually could not prevent the Kathar from breaking through the Men-at-Arms shield wall she tried to establish. She took a stab wound to her right leg from a Kathar warrior and had to be pulled out of the fight by her own men. The Digmaan and Sigmar however picked up the slack of the Manathar woman, rallying more men to the defence of the line despite being continuously being pushed further and further back. Miraculously, Alberic Typhonus was the light that shone through the dark onslaught. Grabbing a nearby Typhonus banner and lighting it aflame, he hoisted it high to signal to the Howlester column. Aldwyn, upon seeing the banner and the Kathar pushing the Typhonus line, ordered the archers and artillery he had to open fire on the Kathar advance, decimating the Shenath push.
With the Typhonus column in tatters, and hope of victory dwindling, the Imperial Marshal William Howlester issued the official order for all Generals to stand their ground for a last ditch attempt defence. In attempting to bunker down against the odds, Vivana Avalorn took multiple arrows to her abdomen in the defence of Gwenyth Zylmoira, who had been attempting to aid others in pulling back. The Isldar looked on in horror, just long enough to be struck by an arrow in the side herself. Both had to be dragged back to Merkars'arh and out of further harm's way. Field Commander Eldradon Deredda flung himself into the terror with the single dim hope of earning some morale back for the troops, but his ambitions were soon depleted. While making his attempt to save what lives he could, Eldradon became the body shield for another, a random Typhonus soldier, and took a gaping slash to his side which sent him to his knees immediately. Nayasol Iraluv was one of the swiftest responders who entered the field upon witnessing Eldradon's fall. He wove through soldiers, Regalian and Kathar alike, to gather the brutally injured Eldradon and tugged him back out to safety. There he treated the Silven's wounds expertly, definitely saving him from graver harm or death itself. Back at the Typhonus Column, Field General Reimar Typhonus and the elder war veteran Ulric Typhonus were inside the tent with the Duke-Regent of Calemberg, Elros Typhonus, when Kathar soldiers broke through the defence and attempted their lives. However, despite Reimar's status in Regalia for his victories, the Kathar were not aware that he himself commanded the Typhonus host. Instead they beelined for Ulric, raising a sword overheard to strike the old Calemberger down. He gasped for air, unable to move from the swiftness of the events that were unfolding. Everything flashed for a moment until Ulric was brought back to what was going on by an agonizing scream. Beforehim stood Elros, who in Ulric's defence dove in front of the Kathar soldier and brought his hand up to catch the blade. By now the steel had sliced through his ring finger, cutting it from him completely, before sinking down between the groove of his fingers and into his hand. The bone stopped the blade long enough for Ulric to reach behind himself for his sabre which he promptly ran the Kathar through with. Reimar drew his weapon also in his defence but fell to the floor after losing his scuffle and having the tendons on his right leg severed. Despite this, he did his duty and rallied the remainder of the Typhonus troops to push back in the absence of the golems that had majorly assisted the Kathar's advance.
Back to the encounter between Rikkira and the Imperial Prince still surrounded by fierce fighting between Kathar and Typhonus levies, Rikkira's eyes squinted if just for a moment. She slowly walked closer to the Prince who had fallen to one knee meanwhile, too weak to properly stand, her wary movements making place for grander sways of pride. She extended a hand to the Prince and perhaps to the surprise of Aurienne, who he had just whispered to not move a muscle, accepted that hand. Rikkira raised him up, and drifted into the sky, both of them turning to their Dragon form mere moments later, and ascending into the clouds. Halfway up the clouds, the Dread Dragon started glowing an intense violet and blue hue, sending out gentle rippling shockwaves of white light. As these shockwaves washed over the battlefield in rapid succession, all the Witchblood who were present before her spell returned to their senses, and the Witchblood who were made during the battle slumped back to the corpses they had been the moment they died. The ring of Witchblood around Aurienne, who was left behind as the Dragons ascended, slumped, and were quickly washed over by Typhonus soldiers who picked her up and brought her back to the medics to tend to her wounds.
In the sea besides the battlefield, the Kraken produced one last shuddering roar, before all limbs and parts turned to stone and quickly turned to fine dust, drifting off into the air and mixing in with the sea water below. The constructs started failing, while the Kathar Mages lost control over the harpies. The battle did not suddenly come to a halt, but many magical constructs which had relied on the ancient benediction of the Dread Dragon suddenly ceased, and the things that plagued the Regalians in this battle, the treason of the Witchbloods, and their own dead turning against them, abruptly came to an end. Both Dragons then flew up into the cover of the clouds, not fighting each other and with a sense of serenity, the Imperial Dragon looking back and down at the toy-soldier sized warriors below, before disappearing into the cover of the clouds. What had exactly occured dumbfounded the generals on both sides, though both quickly came to the conclusion that both the Imperial Dragon and the Dread Dragon had seemingly abandoned the battlefield, and their duty to their respective armies. The Dragons were no longer there to aid either the Regalians or the Kathar, and that fact quickly left its mark on both armies.
With the Kraken gone, Wing Admiral Christopher Black ordered the Division Admirals to turn all ships to starboard and follow the Howlester Artillery's lead in bombarding the Kathar troops. With the Golems gone, the Kraken vanished and Rikirra retreating, the Kathar lost significant morale. Field Marshal Viduggla used the momentary lapse in Kathar progress to push back with his host, while the dei Termini army displayed their crossbow and archery prowess in peppering the Kathar lines with arrow and bolt fire. Suddenly, the advantage shifted. William Howlester issued orders for all Highlanders to charge forward and, simultaneously, so did his son Aldwyn. The two were practically synchronised, barking out orders and pushing the Kathar back with the assistance of Viduggla and dei Termini. Von Drachenburg played his trump card at this instance, signalling to his remaining troops to draw their Puretek weaponry and fire upon the mages that remained. With magic weakened, the remaining cavalry practically slaughtered their lines. The combined prowess of all Generals combined, pushing forward in a single instance and putting everything behind their last ditch attempt at victory, appeared to be succeeding. Typhonus, despite his injuries, refused to succumb, being propped up by Ulric and Klaus Typhonus, who brought him out of the tent into the view of his men. They eyed him not with pity, but with Calemberg pride. Giving the orders to push back, Squad Commander Alexander Vauclain brought to his side Amaranthae Venberos and Lilianne de Blanc to provide assistance to the troops in chasing the Kathar back in their retreat. Amaranthae Venberos smashed through the Kathar retreat like they were shortbread biscuits with her Atraves, knocking Kathar to the floor for Lilianne de Blanc to end with her sword. Noting the Kathar's retreating direction, Alexander relayed the information that the Kathar were making for the Black Mountain Pass.
The Generals gave the order for the Field Commanders to continue harrying the routing Kathar host. Thousands and thousands of Regalians and Kathar lie dead upon the battlefield. Roars and battlecries harmonized with screams across the Moors until eventually, after hours upon hours of fighting, Merkars'arh went quiet. The force had retreated far enough away that it became obvious that this, for Regalia, was a bittersweet victory. Ania Howlester, Rodrigo Peirgarten, Faraine Olawenys, Frejnir Viduggla and Arquinius dei Termini reconvened with the Generals, informing them that the Kathar had retreated back behind the Black Mountain Pass and the Regalian force was returning. The battle had been won, but many questions remained unanswered. What happened to the Witchbloods, Rikirra and the Imperial Dragon, and where did they go? Or why did they leave? Nevertheless, the victory was solid enough for the Altalar Princes to the North and the Lampero Host to the South to rendezvous with the Marshal Cabinet. The Kathar's attempt at forcing the Regalians into a full retreat had failed across the board. The war had practically been won, but with major losses. Nevertheless, the war was over and rejoicing could begin.
In the aftermath of the Kathar retreat beyond the Black Mountain Pass, the favor brought to the ruling Pathar Empress was ground to dust. For as long as the Kathar were seen winning the war, the Pathar Empress was able to keep the warlords in line. With some of the warlords slain now however, the Empress's sisters unfolded their schemes and plots to take over the throne, by contracting champions of their own to destroy the Empress's champion. With warlords turning against her, blaming the Dread Empress for the abandonment of the Dread Dragon, most of the Kathar army disintegrated and returned home with the intention of securing a new ruler to the throne as the Dread Empire had always been prone to during times of succession. The Empress was personally blamed for the Dragon's departure, and her throne became untenable.
An outsider might be forgiven to think this would be the end of the Kathar Empire, but this was far from the truth. Cyclical short civil wars occurred frequently throughout Kathar history, and no doubt a new Empress would rise, and no doubt she too would seek out confrontation with the Regalian Empire to cast dominion over the Altalar. For now however, the Kathar were defeated and in retreat, and the war was over, effectively establishing a victory for Regalia in name, but not one on paper. The state had suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties over the years, an Imperial Dragon having gone turncoat, and minimal landmass having been conquered from the previous Kathar occupation zone.
The war was declared done, but with a shroud of pessimism. Not many citizens could call the end of the war a victory for the Empire, and while many of the conservatives tried to dress it up as the umpteenth sign of providence for the cause of Unionism, the vast majority of the people had simply grown weary of the war's heavy cost on the people and the State. Many subjects would soon be tabled to the state: The repayment of the war bonds, what to do about the military who joined with the Altalar in Teled Methen, and the upcoming table discussions between the emissaries of Perfwellen and the state regarding the inclusion of the Elven Princedoms into the Regalian Empire, officially ending the Magic Covenant as a major political rival of the Regalian Empire.
No doubt, a small respite of peace would befall the Empire and its people, but war was never too far away, and strife could even be seen building at home. With the war between Vlissinghelm and Rourke intensifying in Dragenthal, and macho language being exchanged between Calemberg and Northland, the Sendrassian skirmishes in the south and the continued Isldar occupation in the north, a certain sense of helplessness started dawning on the Regalians. It was almost like the common people started feeling that at this point in time, the Empire had folded itself into the position where there was a guaranteed continuation of war into perpetuity into the future, whether it be against upstart contestants of the Empire's hegemony, or fractures from the inside.
The Regalian Era of Pessimism had long passed, and while some might have speculated a second Pessimism Era was about to begin, the mood of the people was far more sour. It wasn't mere pessimism, it was borderline apathy and defeatism. Many started wondering whether any of these wars were actually achieving anything. Many started wondering whether the staggering costs to maintain the Empire were practical, or whether the constant drive behind dominance would only spread the Empire thinner until it would break. Many started wondering whether the Empire had seen the best of its days, and had now started its inevitable decline, a zenith after its 300 year meteoric rise, brought about by changes in the world that it could not properly adapt to, or respond to. Some yet were hopefully that unexpected politicians, scholars, warriors, and perhaps even Mages and unknowns would rise to the forefront to offer the solutions and answers everyone was too blind to see. Some yet held out hope that the tides could be changed, that technology would be the answer, or faith, or just a government that would work for once. Only time would tell where the winds of change would carry the tale of this Empire and this city towards.
Note: All Witchblood affected would be released following the Army's return to Regalia, but would be notably subject to abuse by soldiers along the way and informed by Military heirarchy that tabs would be kept on them moving forward for their actions on the Moors.
