[@bloonewb]

"I'm under no such illusions. This is only until we've dealt with these monsters. After that, there's gonna be a reckoning" Adykon turned his attention back to the abomination which was once known as Meerat, as he had little time to waste on Rughoi under such dire circumstances. Combat made for strange allies, and peace could make for new enemies. Shoving aside any lingering philosophical points, the dracon lifted his blade and began to hack at the limbs within reach. The magical field was cracked and failing, and the feedback from the damage caused to it knocked out a couple of the mages who had been supporting it. The remainder of the field flickered and failed, leaving Meerat free to move around again.

Adykon heard the sound of kobolds marching behind him in large numbers, easily identifiable by scent and their more frequent footfalls. Loathe to run but eager to get out of their way, he ran away from Meerat for a moment, making his way through gaps in their lines, and rejoining Mazdak some distance away, still well within eyeshot of the abomination. 

"Well, Maz, now what?"

"We wait. I'd like to see what the kobolds are going to do, and my cavalry is still reforming. When they do, we can charge again."

"Can anything we have here beat this thing?"

"Given enough time, yes. Ophion will think of something if we can't beat it by sheer force."

"And if he can't?"

"Then at least these monsters will do our job for us and kill the kobolds." Adykon wasn't sure what to think about that one.

"I-I still believe we should help them. They're not all bad, and many of the kobolds are understandably upset after being mistreated in many of our cities and realms."

Mazdak gave Adykon a rather quizzical look before replying. "I didn't think you'd go soft on 'em. I know you're a very prolific father and they must remind you of your children, and frankly, they're only as smart as children at best, but that's no reason to let them off the hook for seizing Traeton."

"Maz, this- this is why these kobolds revolted in the first place. This attitude. We'll kick them out of the city, but they'll be treated fairly."

"I- if you say so" Mazdak replied, noncommittally.