[center][h1]2nd Battle of Ceboyan[/h1][/center]
[hr]
[hider=Preparation]
Tired and battered from his battle at Reed Hill, Tku had a delusional hope for some respite. Even a day would suffice to settle his mind and body. But his imagined reality was starkly different from the reality of the situation. They had a monumental force coming to lay siege to the capital, and every moment was precious. He never even set down his satchel and he was already discussing fortifications of the city with Dani and the other strategists. Food, water, defenses, medicine, supply lines: all of the things that could be produced to resist the siege were being discussed. It was absolutely dizzying for Tku but he stomached through it, knowing this was a matter of life and death. 

Plans to harvest what food they could or general plant life to transform into food were underway. Any animal that could be harvested from mushroom to thresher was slaughtered and stored away. The Virangish effort in the hinterland had slowed down or halted harvest in some areas and the last of the summer and fall crops could not be collected. The merchants that still dealt or could send aid were called on to help provide some more dried stores. Tku had the not so pleasant job on top of everything else he was doing was showing how to make food to some of the binders and blood mages who were nearing the level to do so. Anything to extend the amount of food they had would be a necessity while the Black King did his best at Reed Hill.

A jagged moat was carved around the city to cut off certain straightforward attacks while giving more opportunity to defend more critical situations. The storehouses needed constant protection, so deterrents were placed to lessen how enticing a target it was. Ballistas and cannons that they could produce or had were placed and fortified for the coming siege. It was no exaggeration that the city gave the night to Eshiran during the 2 weeks they had to prepare. Any moment of rest was brought with the anxiety that the Virangish were going to show up at the walls of the city. 

New messengers were trained to create a warning system as their tethered system had been compromised by Dalisay going missing and Marci’s personal struggles. Bells, whistles, pigeons, were all set up to alarm us before the Virangish could arrive. Stone towers for vantage were raised in moments by Tku as he stressed his mana to the limit. Walls that couldn’t be built in months sprung up underneath the watchful eyes of architects and strategists. What felt like hundreds of calls were made to coordinate with every person to construct the city faster than what could be imagined. 

Unlike what was expected, the structures formed hastily on the back of dozens of binders did not lack beauty in their need for function. Purpose of mind and use were always the core of Tku’s art, and he had finally found himself in the chaos of Palapar. He would not let this struggle claim his smile or self, for what was he fighting for if it was not to give hope and choice to the people that come after him? He had made his decision long ago to fight against oppression and the only difference is that he now knows the beauty and the ugly side of freedom. 
It was this change that infected others. Seeing the man who spoke to all gave hope that they could survive this battle. It emboldened the soldiers and citizens within the city to help with the task at hand. New strategies and commands were distributed to the people to prepare for the well-armed force coming at the city. How to deal with binders, arcanists, dragon riders, trebuchets. Each thing that needed to be accounted for needed at least a semblance of a plan. How often to check the walls, where did the populace need to gather in case of an emergency and it was chosen that the large church was a good place to go in case of an attack. 

Those were the things that traditional defenses to sieges were capable of here. However, the main thing that kept the city safe was decent mages that could man areas to enhance the fortifications. That was something Ceboyan lacked immensely. Tku didn’t have many options for it, but the strategist from the natives of Ceboyan was of a different mind. Explode the outer city, but save some that can be created into a fake bank. The wet season is coming, and with a little coercion, the mages here could speed up the time for it. Set up a fake bank that can be used to cause a flood of the Virangish settlement and offset their offense for a few more days. 

It was ather outside the norms, but Tku could see the merit in such an idea. Being the extra man that Tku was, he proposed an auxiliary plan to modify it. He could create golems of kelp and whale trees that could float on the water in prep for the flood. They wash into camp and cause havoc for a few days as the Virangish mages try and deal with them. The generals had never heard of such magic but they trusted Tku, for it didn’t hinder their plan. He got the idea seeing young children make little friends on the beach with washed up seaweed. They were rather innocuous looking, but the kelp gave the limbs flexibility and healing capabilities, while the whale tree’s trunks gave it heft and strength. It was a rather devilish idea, Tku admitted to himself. He was making a weapon to murder, the same as the mushroom beast he made many nights ago. But his mind did not ail at the thought anymore. This was a necessary step if they were to win a war.

The last and most serious thing to plan for was Zarina, the Temporal wildblood with the sole power to crack through any defenses they could raise if cared to discard her thought for the city. The fifth moon was coming and she would need to leave during that time. Tku knew her too well to believe she would let that side of her run free among her own and the city. But Tku knew as well then the 4 moons would rise and the strength that gave her. They needed to prepare for that day, specifically if the showboater that Kashani was to try and make a powerful move. They would have to use ‘that’.
[/hider]
[hider=The 2nd Battle of Ceboyan]
[i]Carles 10th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

I was on the outside of the city, setting plans in motion, when we received word of the Virangish approach. Even with all the planning, fear still hung on people’s faces but it would be wrong for them not to when even I fear for the future here. I spent the majority of the time confirming people were in and checking for any Virangish scouts that may have been trying to slip into the city. 

After that, I only got bits and pieces from the command. Little could raise more feeling than a marching army to your city. It was a beautifully terrifying thing. I found myself taking peeks, looking for a little dragon girl among the ranks, but sadly my eye has failed me in this task. 

Luckily, the Virangish want to control the city, so they didn’t come at us with force, instead, they came to us with an olive branch, as the Thalosioans would say. It was a small envoy of mixed company. Maybe they think familiar faces could weaken our defenses? It isn’t for me to think on, for I am too narrow to consider such tactics. I need to be heading to bed now. I have too many duties to listen to Ipte tonight.

[i]Carles 11th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

We received better numbers on them from spotters and the numbers are hopeful. Reed Hill had really impacted their numbers. I find myself uplifted that those brave souls' sacrifice actually impacted them in a visual way. Each one is a hero in my heart. I can only carry on for the people that had already passed and drive for a better future.

[i]Carles 12th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]


The day was rather windy and ominous; now that the envoy sent by Kashani was heading back to their small encampment outside the outskirts, they must have figured it was trapped. Well, they were correct, but it would be so nice if they walked with Ashanaz. Oh well, they will either risk it or spend time destroying the outskirts before approaching.

I spent some time refining the defenses of the internal walls and making some food for myself and others. Every meal saved is helpful. For the future. Especially with the increased hunger from the population, doing something rather ingenious but I do have to hope that the plan comes to fruition sooner rather than later. 

[i]Carles 13th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The siege had finally started, and much to our hope, Kashani was sending some men to tempt us to use whatever trap we had. With that, though, the dragons have been coming in closer to the city. I think they are testing our range and seeing if we can stop them before committing. That or they are just trying to scare people. Honestly, it is working on me. I didn’t know I could be so specifically afraid of dragons until I saw them sneering at the city with me in it. 

Some damage was done to the walls but I repaired it quicker than they could do damage. Frankly, I hope that they keep trying these weak attempts that covet the city.

Oh yeah! There was an archer on the wall today. He has great eyes and skill and struck someone dead from nearly a mage’s range. It was quite a sight to see. If I get a chance, I would have wanted a bow made by Marz made for him just for how much he boosted morale. 

Well, it is night and I need to keep alert, more coffee in the morning for me. I think I might be Zarina addicted at this point.

[i]Carles 14th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

Today was hard.

The Virangish had started to push a little more aggressively with their men and dragons. A few dragons were able to fly over the wall and start some fires, but we could suppress them for the most part. It was worrying how hard it was to deal with them, but we were lucky the wind picked up into strong gusts that stopped them from flying past noon.

The real victory is that we could set off the explosions on some of the outskirts, but the ones near the harbor survived and let them set up base there. It had some structures and was in a better area for the siege. Not perfect, but better than how far they were currently. 

I could imagine they see this is going their way but I dare them to think that come tomorrow.

[i]Carles 15th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

Today was a good day! The storm we were whipping up finally took shape in the mid-hours of Shune. Even if Kashani was a fool, his men wouldn’t try and march in the rain. They held out in their recently claimed area as we prepared some form of long ranged attacks for the night. 

The 5 moons may have been pretty tonight if they could push through the typhoon that was whipping up to full speed. It was remarkable how high the tide could rise here, and it seems the typhoon was only making it worse, all the better for us in the city. The fake bank broke around the mid hours of Dami, and the entire outskirt they had set up as their base was suddenly swept away downstream. It was a catastrophe for the Virangish.

[i]Carles 16th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The morning brought excellent news. The area had flooded and displaced or destroyed a good amount of supplies. Not only that, the field was now covered in seaweed, whale trees, fish, and general debris. I even got to see some of my kelpy little golems starting to harass the Virangish in the rain. 

Hopefully, this will keep them busy for a few days. In the meantime, we have to keep the storm going and keep up the offensive while they are recovering. The little golems are creating quite a ruckus.

[i]Carles 17th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

Rain is still pouring and the Virangish are working on licking their wounds and recovering what supplies they can. No dragons have come due to the rain and only small attacks from specifically brazen soldiers. We haven’t been able to retaliate and some are thinking of doing an offensive. It’s been hard to keep some of them silent. 


[i]Carles 18th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The rain still continues. The Virangish have set up a little further and I think they finally finished off the last of my little golems though I doubt they have gotten rid of all of them. I have had some more time for food preparation and rebuildings roofs to keep rain out. It was rather calming if I forget about the Virangish.

I been talking to Keearah pretty often, normal things mostly now that I don’t feel a pit in my soul. She’s rather pleasant to talk to.

[i]Carles 19th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The rain lightened and with it came a renewed effort to take the city. It wasn’t the most difficult day as their fire had a hard time catching with everything being thoroughly soaked but some people of the wall did get killed and injured with a fireball. 

That bowman, the one who sniped the man, his name is Abel. In the last offensive he was able to land a shot on a 3 mages and a dozen or so soldiers. I think he killed one of the mages. He has risen in ranking because of that and people are starting to follow him because of how effective he was. I think I may give him some Monarch poison to help his arrows finish the job on mages.

Maybe. I still have reservations on being too violent or hostile. It feels hypocritical after what I helped do in Reed Hill but I still find myself thinking about stuff like this. I’ll probably still give it to him because as much as things have been going easily so far, this is a fight for the survival of this nation. 

Oh, I also sketched a flower today, it was particularly odd so I outlined it to fill in the details if I ever get a chance. 

[i]Carles 20th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The rain was more of a misting today and with that the Virangish came in with force. Their land offensive was off set until the sun could peak through to dispel the mist. If I had to guess… They didn’t want to deal with fog krackens and threshers that want to feed on the free buffet the outside of the city was. 

For once, I think Kashani made a smart decision. Well, second, the first was leaving that one mistress of his that seemingly was pushing for something a little more substantial. It wouldn’t have ended well for any party but I could make some money off the drama that spills from the pages of their letters.

Ah yes the offensive. The fog lessoned them trying to breach the walls by land but some mages tried to fly over and dragons supported them. Maybe 37 odd people died today and they scorched one of our supply houses. 

I stayed out of it to protect the supplies and heal people but if the rain doesn’t come back tomorrow, I will have to make it known I am here. 

I pray for the rain to come back. 

[i]Carles 21st, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The weather had seemed to repeat since yesterday though the fog cleared out earlier today and the Virangish could make a greater ground battle today. We poured hot oil and flaming tar on them  but it only fueled some of the chemical and arcane mages they had.

Abel had fought more today, he seemed to grow more brazen as his legend grew. He didn’t make it today. He had sniped 4 mages today but he couldn’t stop a mage from incinerating the very air around him. I tried to save him but my gift can only revive someone only so far gone. They burnt him to the point I could see his bones. They were blackened with ash and slick from what little fat the Abel had. 

I still remember him so fondly. He had taken up a roll desperately needed and was a home grown hero and with Abel, the had it. I can only hope that his death emboldens the others.

The dragons struck again today, this time completely burning a storehouse and damaging some of the balistas. They would have done more if it wasn’t for my interference. I knew I was going to fight together but I didn’t expect my own brutality. I abused my strength and plucked lifes weaker than mine that couldn’t resist my draw or dark magic. A few dragons fell to a darkbolt and even more mages found themselves unable to survive my gaze.

I felt so strong, so absolute in my actions. All the time I felt sickened to my core. I feel weak after taking head after head. My blood hurts from the fighting. I hate this feeling but I know I find solace in my journal where I can dump my woes. I’ll be medicating tonight to sleep well. 

[i]Carles 22nd, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The storm came back and put a halt to their growing offensive and I cried tears of joy. I spend the day healing wounds and repairing what was damaged. Salves for burns was starting to grow low so I created some to make up for the supply lost. 

Other than that. I spent the day talking to friends and calming my mind of what I did yesterday. Against my best interests, I find myself thinking of Zarina when my mind wanders. Did my medicine help her. Did she recover from the damage we did? Does she find herself ragged at the end of the day to just put on a face for the next?

I accepted my humanity back into my heart and now I can’t help but remember my friend and her charm instead of her strength and indifference to the plight here. It’s good, I think. I remember myself thinking I hated the Virangish instead of what is being done here. I don’t think I’m ready to talk to her, not yet.

I might be a fool for wanting to speak to her over some coffee again. Well, maybe tea.

[i]Carles 23rd, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The rain has held steady in the morning, let’s see if it holds for the day.

I am at the end of the day now and little has transpired on the siege, thank Eshiran. But what I did do to day was brush up on my palaparese. So that’s it. Odd how little I have to say today but I guess that is a good thing.

[i]Carles 24th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The rain is still here and I can see the Virangish getting restless. Or at least that is what I hope. I imagine being stuck in the rain is always terrible. Even I am starting to get sick of it! But please stay for a long while. 

On the bright side. Some people were able to sneak some more food into the city which is good considering on how much was damaged only a few days ago. They said they will try tomorrow and we can only hope they succeed. 

[i]Carles 25th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

I have cursed the rain because it is definitely lighter today. Not light enough for another massive siege but enough to get some mages to try and attack. The losses were more severe than the other times. One mage snuck in and caused what could only be called a catastrophe. The worst part is they got away. I fear that this is going to bite us later down. 

[i]Carles 26th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

It bit us immediately. The mage poisoned some our stores. I can clean them of any contamination but it takes time and when the rain lightens I won’t be able to do so anymore. If only I had been more vigilant, I could have stopped it. Some of the populace already seem sick or it is just the worry and strain finally coming out. 

To make it worse, the people we relied on to bring in food got caught and executed by the Virangish. It wasn’t much food but it provided a sense of security and now it was gone. Most of our binders take there time to rebuild damaged walls and can’t clean and make food like me. 

But with the Virangish learning how to harden their defense in the rain to apply pressure, I am needed as a field medic and general fighter if another mage tries to enter. 

[i]Carles 27th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The rain lightened and the Virangish striked. More fires and attacks on our stores and walls. I know help is on the way but we need to hold them off for the time until then. Worst I think they know. 

The 4 moons are coming. I feel I might get that conversation with Zarina before I am ready. I haven’t even a single piece of fine tableware for a guess to come around. I only jest but we need to be ready for our rain to end and them try another large offensive. May Oraff have mercy so we can survive for just another week or 2.

[i]Carles 28th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

The rain kept up it’s rate as yesterday so no dragons however a flaming rock came crashing through a shelter and killed more people than it should of. They have started setting up walls to counter ours. They are hard to remove from where we are and they know it. 

They have finally gotten use to targeting me. I had a firebolt sent at my side and it singed me to the bone. I thought my disguises would hold but that won’t work anymore. I need to carry myself with more purpose and awareness. 

[i]Carles 29th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

We are out of bandages and I have resorted to drawing loafs of bread and potatoes instead of arrows and cannonballs. The rain was just light enough for a dragon run. It spread fire across the streets before riding high in the sky, just outside of my reach. The wall nearly fell as the binders were trying to save the wounded. 

Some people have started to consider abandoning Ceboyan but I won’t run. 

[i]Carles 30th, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

Today was calm. The rain was more of a drizzle and little was seen of the Virangish mid way through the hours of Oraff. I found out later that relief aid are coming from the islander and our fleet survived. They must be preparing for the 4 moons and lining up a larger attack. 

I cried tears of joy for the first time in awhile. We just have to make it past the 4 moons. It won’t be easy but I swear I will stay and hold this city for their arrival. I just hope I will be able to see their arrival myself. 

[i]Carles 31st, Dami-Zept 55[/i]

I write this in the early morning. Today will undoubtedly be the hardest day the city has taken. Despite my boasting I have done in front of people, I am not sure I will live through this fight. I find myself thinking of all the things I should have done if I am to die today. 

I am afraid but I am not shaking. I am as resolute as a man can be when facing down what could be his last battle. I have a few possession and a will. I don’t know who to send it to. Marci feels obvious but she is struggling, and I wish not to burden her more than I already has. She’s smart, smart enough to know what kind of battle I will be in. There is Desmond but it would only slow him down.

So it came to the obvious answer, my closest friend.
[/hider]
[hider=One Last Phone Call]
Tku closed his journal, placing a small ribbon where it he left off his writing. He looked around the medicine tent established far from the wall. Throwing a cowl over his head he walked through the rain to an abandoned alley that was burnt by a dragon not to many days ago. He pulled out his banana and called his closest friend.

[color=734960]"Hello,"[/color] Tku greeted almost jovially, [color=734960]"I know I haven’t spoken to you in awhile but I just wanted to let you I been doing well."[/color] There was a short pause followed by a snort, [color=734960]"Who am I kidding, we have had a terrible time here, haven’t we?"[/color] his question seemed posed to make sure. [color=734960]"I don’t call to harass you or to convince you. Just to ask a favor. If I don’t make it out of today, I have my journal hidden in my room. It’s on the corner of that pastry shop near the palace. You should be able to tell from all painting at the windows. Take care of those things for me if you can."[/color]

There was an uncomfortable pause. [color=734960]"I have thought long on my feeling towards you. They were complicated and painful. But I am past the painful part at least. I just want to say through all of this, I still care for you. You are still my friend and I will continue to believe that."[/color]
[/hider]
[hider=Attack of the Virangish]
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[center][color=CD5C5C]“Men and Women of the motherland,”[/color][/center]

Ertan Kashani rode on his magnificent white horse before his army - the army that had been besieging Ceboyan for almost a month. An army that, upon the loss of Piyale Karga, was relegated to the command of the viceroy himself. 

[center][color=CD5C5C]“tonight we dine in our rightful homes, stolen by the ungrateful savages that have and would still slit the throats of your wives! Twist the necks of your children when they sleep! And take all that you hold dear.”[/color][/center]

Behind him was a dark and hulking creature hunched into all fours and clad in dragonscale armour - a redundancy given she was already mostly scales in this state. Four Moons shined upon Sipenta, and progressively brought light to that monstrous form. Once a devil to be feared, now one of Virang’s living hopes for the future. 

[center][color=CD5C5C]“No more. I say, NO MORE!”[/color][/center]

The man drew his ornate scimitar to wave it in the air. The dragon behind him remained stoic, eyes directed to the troops like they were being scrutinized. Others drew their blades, many inspired, some pressured to by either their peers or that reptilian, amber gaze. The conspicuous absence of Ren Baykara still left some wondering what could be going on to warrant his absence. 

[center][color=CD5C5C]“Ceboyan. Will. Return. To. VASHDAL!”[/color][/center]

And with these words, Zarina vanished in an instant. 

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Intelligence had inevitably reached the occupiers of the capital regarding the imminent invasion. Kashani’s speech only confirmed it. They had guards at the ready, from the ramparts to the gates. Ballistas were trained to the skies and civilians hid in their homes. Perhaps the latter was why a surprise attack was foregone. 

The anti-dragon ballistas were the first targets, long since identified during the many prods from the Virangish side. They weren’t directly destroyed - no, binders would easily remedy that problem. Instead, the ghoulish animals patrolling the borders of the city were commandeered and dropped onto the defenses by the temporal dragon. There was little chance of tactically rebuilding when a dangerous animal was thrashing the place, at least for a brief time.

The dragons could begin their assault unmolested for a vital window. The ramparts were torched quickly and towers mowed down with very little to defend them. Mages that showed themselves too early were instant targets for the black wildblood dragon. 

Kashani assaulted the main gate with most of Ceboyan’s towers and ramparts in flames. Tariq and Fatima accompanied him. With the might of a dozen men plus the previous three mentioned, the gate was easily torn apart and a bridge created. It wasn’t without potential recourse from the rebels as blood mages fought back, but it’d be a short lived resistance when Zarina made her rendez-vous with Ertan’s group. The mages died to a murderous glare of the beast.

Multiple other gates were being breached. Some were more successful than others. The aerial assault was meeting resistance again, but the city had already been impregnated from multiple sides. The rebels fought hard, they even maintained a strong stalemate to the East. But then came the ships. Naval assaults, cannon strikes on the walls and oceanborn mages slithering through the cracks, although they then had to deal with the seaweed constructs. 

One group was, in no exaggerated terms, unstoppable. It was Ertan Kashani’s. A squad with a noticeably lesser number of soldiers, but with the finest in its vanguard. The dragon, the rookie with the raw power and the swordswoman strategist. And, of course, the Viceroy himself and the grand reputation he had garnered.

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Zarina’s scales were impenetrable, and when they were harmed, they restored themselves. A calamity in a mortal form, the scourge of Southern Palapar. She was the reason most resistance had been directed to other parts of the city. It was a waste of lives to fight her head-on.

Tariq’s raw power could be felt with his leveling of barricades without even needing to get near his capacity. Unsure of himself normally but emboldened by where he stood, the boy was as much of a menace as the dragon to most soldiers.

Fatima was the brains behind a lot of their tactics. Swordswoman by tradition with both a Scimitar and a Katana, though she favours the former for most warfare. No slouch in raw power, but her skill and wits were what made her deadly.

They marched through the main streets, clearing ambushes with the dragon making it a completely one-sided massacre to those who believed themselves to be safe with range. Death was gratuitous to all those who produced a weapon against Kashani’s group, and the heavily mutated form Zarina wore did wonders in dampening her conscience. A shape tailor made for war, truly.

The rebels had learned, however. They experienced many losses because of the dragon. They knew they couldn’t duel it or take it head on. There were also rumors about her. A bleeding heart despite her position. The more unscrupulous tacticians of war were keen on taking advantage of this in spite of Tku Pictor’s probable fury. Some wanted to win this no matter the cost. A church near the center of the city housed many noncombatants. Children, the elderly, women, men who needed to provide for their own. There was many injured, too.

It also housed a group of mages that used their collective magic to stifle the approach of the group. Powerful binding sealed every passage, strong mortar shots were beginning to chip at the men and women they had filling their numbers. 

[color=CD5C5C]“We can’t keep this up!”[/color]

Kashani yelled through the gunshots and explosions. Tariq struggled to maintain holes on the powerful barricades. Fatima combined her strength with many others, including the aforementioned rookie, only to be repelled by a myriad of kinetic strikes. 

[color=#739c4e]“They might have a tethered in there too. That may be why they’re so accurate.”[/color] remarked Fatima.

[color=#4e9c96]“No way. We know they don’t have that many!”[/color] reminded Tariq. [color=#4e9c96]“An Icevein or Blackrot. That’s probably it.”[/color]

The Viceroy gave little consideration to their theories. [color=CD5C5C]“They are a [b]problem.[/b]”[/color] he turned his horse to better face his black dragon. [color=CD5C5C]“Zarina!”[/color] at least he remembered her name.

The wildblood turned her head to meet his eyes. The uncanniness of her appearance was off putting - she still had a mostly human face, but the bone structure had been change enough to approach a dragon’s, and while her hair remained, her now large, twisted horns had consumed the entire front portion of her hairline.

[color=CD5C5C]“Obliterate that church.”[/color] he commanded with an air of authority.

The dragon blinked and then made a double take between the church, hidden behind defenses, and her superior. The furrowing her of scaly eyebrows suggested uncertainty.

[color=CD5C5C]“It’s our only way forward. They’re KILLING our comrades! Do you not care?”[/color] he gestured toward the back where casualties had began to mount.

[color=#000000]“People.”[/color] Zarina pointed to the church. [color=#000000]“Not. Fighters.”[/color] her voice held aspects of the human she usually was, and that of a dragon’s. An almost distorted and unpleasant sound. [color=#000000]“Not. Fighters.”[/color]

[color=CD5C5C]“But here ARE fighters!”[/color] corrected Kashani. [color=CD5C5C]“They are using the defenseless as shields. Monstrous savages, all of them. There is only ONE play here.”[/color] he raised his pointer finger and directed right to the heavens. [color=CD5C5C]“Let the Gods sort the cowardly murderers to the innocent. We have a duty.”[/color]

The wildblood stood there, expression blank. She made a few other double takes, like a confused animal that had just been bamboozled by a simple trick. 

[color=#000000]“B-”[/color]

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They all felt the change. It was the exact same feeling they had experienced in the Royal Palace. Tariq began to panic, Fatima was quick to find cover and Ertan Kashani reeled in his horse.

[color=CD5C5C]“The Gift is gone!”[/color] the viceroy shouted. [color=CD5C5C]“Get to cover, the Gift is GONE!”[/color]

The Church was no longer a barrier. Nothing was a barrier anymore. Not to the abomination of Virang. All the beast could recall, now subject to this feeling meant to disarm her, was the feeling of getting shot and the helplessness toward the massacre of her own people. 

Gunshots came their way, the rebels had prepared for this.

But most bullets still ricocheted off the monster’s hide and scales. Magic or not, the remark of ‘calamity’ was not an exaggeration.

[color=#000000]“Should keep magic.”[/color] Zarina uttered with a low growl. Her hind legs flexed and her front claws onto the paved ground under her. In a blink of an eye, her immense strength and agility went into full force. The gunmen in her way were ejected into terminal velocity if they weren’t obliterated from the get-go. [color=#000000]“Would save more lives.”[/color] 

The dragon could jump high, glide, crush, bite, burn with a searing breath. The device weakened the overall Virangish force, but rebels’ trump card did seemingly little to Virang’s. 

Zarina was practically frenzied, driven by the memories of that one, horrible night. She was not going to be helpless again. No longer a cornered animal. 

Snipers did not relent. They had to slow her down. Whittle her until she stopped. Her healing was still there, slower but there. Many ran away, picking other, easier fights. 

Those that showed courage were subject to an earth-shaking roar from the transformed girl. A roar that had many hold their ears as their very cerebellum was shaken by the screech. 

As an hour passed, the rebels were on the clear back foot with the dragon threatening to flank them while aerial assaults resumed by genuine dragons that did not require the Gift to fly. 

The beast was panting. Covered in blood, still unfazed by all the damage she had taken, few would notice the abnormal exertion affecting her. 

[color=#000000]“Guh …”[/color] it got exponentially worse. Shots on her scale affected her footing more and more. Something was wrong. More than once she’d be seen falling briefly onto one knee. 

Everything was getting blurry. With this came a wildness to her that was even worse than her enraged state. She started biting off limbs, cruelly stomping on corpses and breaking structures where civilians could be hiding. Utterly animalistic. Control was almost entirely gone, as was her vision. All around her burned, even a couple of unfortunate soldiers on her side. 

Slowly but surely, she slowed to the point of sitting down. Still dangerous, but her progress had stopped, much to Kashani’s chagrin. That said, the damage had been done and the Virangish had not been repulsed yet. They knew that, in time, the weapon would run out of power too. The question was which trump card would waste away first.

[color=CD5C5C]“She’s finished.”[/color] said Kashani to Fatima. [color=CD5C5C]“When she fully stops, gather her quickly before they get to her.”[/color] to which she nodded. 

Deep in her mind, Zarina was still there. Only memories. In the end, she felt as helpless here as she did in the Palace.  As a passenger with a fogged up windshield. Only feelings. She recalled her latest, pleasant recollection. How she wished this all could just blow over.

[indent][hider=One Last Memory]Zarina had been as far away as possible from her post when she received the call. All the way in Sawand, after diffusing a dire situation with that very country. She needed a break.

She flinched. The voice of Tku incited different things in her. The first was that she had to think of Palapar - Frustration.

Memories of their past encounters - Anger.

Knowledge of his past action - Confusion.
What could have been - Sorrow.

She only listened. Quiet, watching the sunset by the peaks with Biby by her side and curry rice still too hot to eat. Every word spoken by that man elicited something in her. A movement, a thought, a different cadence in her breathing. 

She closed her eyes. She contemplated. She decided.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Don’t die on me.”[/color][/hider][/indent]

A memory riddled with emotions. A memory filled with humanity, the antithesis of the shape she leveraged. A good feeling to check out on - it could be her last one. The beast, with this morsel of humanity, was laid to rest. 

An easy target for the rebels. 

An alternative Fatima had prepared for. 

A whistle from the forward thinker and a very specific stomp to the ground, had the earth shake below them. Before any coup de gras could be performed, a Virangish Mountain Wyrm, a far smaller variant to the Eskandish variant, emerged from the ground below Zarina to ensnare the beast. Shots fired at it were generally unsuccessful in peeling quickly enough through the scales before it dove back into its hole with its prize.

Virang’s asset was secured, and Kashani’s assault continued against a crippled rebellion force. 

Until, of course, the maritime front came into play.[/hider]
[hider=Daybreak][i]Faster... Faster.[/i]
Mahal hung tightly to the waka's mast. She twisted the sail to catch the wind and push her small boat along the curve of a wave. The hull skimmed the water before it dipped down, catching more speed with the fall. She adjusted her balance to ride the path toward her destination. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Apoy. The dark color of his carapace plowed through the curl of the waves with a powerful enthusiasm.

The sight of him made her smile for a moment.

She twisted around and glimpsed the seeming thousands of boats following her wake. Each held the same fondation, but differences decorated their hulls and forms. Warriors, painted and ready for war, chanted endlessly. Their paddles hit the water together and pushed themselves along with surprising speed. A few larger ones brought up the rear while they all headed to one place: Ceboyan.

Virangish ships had set up a blockade to prevent outsiders from. While smoke and gun fire erupted on the land, they stood guard over the waters. In the dim light of Ipte passing her hours to Shune, a sailor squinted and called out shapes in the distance. Before long the ships came alive with men scrambling to their positions. Fires illuminated the remaining darkness as shouts broke the stillness. Cannons were loaded as they whipped around to point at the incoming boats rushing at them.

The first iron ball plowed into a large boat to Mahal's left. Warriors howled and splash into the water, wood sent splintering from the force. It wasn't the only one. Another two fell victim to the blockade's attempt to deter them.

Fearing she would be next, Mahal tossed a rope out with a bright red flag.

[color=#B8860B] "Kumuha! (Fetch!)" [/color]

With surprising grace for a volcanic thresher, Apoy surged from the water and caught it in his claw. The beast's momentum ripped her small boat forward. Mahal hung on tightly to the mast, her feet threatening to slip from beneath her. Another ball splashed behind her as it narrowly missed. Others managed to evade their own attacks, the number slipping through the blockade growing.

Eventually, the ships ceased their fire and gave up pursuit. A few unlucky wrecks of larger boats floated in the wake of their charge, unable to escape the assault. Meanwhile, the rest rushed to the harbor then into the fray of battle.

The moment their feet hit solid ground, war cries erupted from the islanders' lungs. Virangish soldiers turn to come face to face with a fresh wave of violence. Arrows, stone clubs, spears and more found soft flesh. Gun fire and sword returned the favor from the Virangish side. Sparks of the gift surged in the air as Mahal countered some of the mages, weakening their attacks.

The islander's numbers charged into the rear flanks of the Virangish army. Arrows flew from those back at the boats, whittling at the enemy army. Blood, both ally and foe, bled across the city's broken stone. As bodies piled up on the battleground, the Rebels saw the tide turn in their favor.

The days of siege and struggle had been rewarded at long last.[/hider]
[hider=tl;dr] The Virangish launched a 22 day siege of Ceboyan. On the 32nd of Carles, the Virangish made a strong push on the evening of the 4 moons and broke any defenses the city had, and it was conquered. However, a magic nullifying device slowed their complete seizure of the city. They later retreated as islander allies had broken through the Virangish blockade and entered the harbor. The City remains under the control of the Republic of Palapar, though it suffered heavy losses from holding out against a superior enemy.
[/hider]