The Phoenix Wedding (IC/FanT/Signups)

[Kalmarnavia]

Styrax screeched with fury as she swung round from the airship, her massive wings swatting several of the small rotary craft out of the sky. Argalaic gripped on to the saddle for dear life. He tried soothing words to gain control of his dragon, but Styrax was overtaken by her wroth. She arrowed upwards, then outstretched her enormous wings slowly kept herself stationary by rotating them. A net fired out from a cannon, spread wide spinning... And bounced harmlessly off. Argalaic threw his head back and laughed.

"She's this big and you think some finishing net will contain her?? Pathetic."

Styrax roared deafeningly, and pitched forward. She was right above the envelope of the airship. Right above its bulging gasbags, out of reach of its guns. She opened her jaws and roared forth flame right onto the envelope.

Argalaic shielded his eyes. A heat that intense would surely blow the gas...

Inside the Palace

It was so bright.

So clean.

So tranquil.

He heard her calling him.

"Dontas?"

"Mother."

"Oh my sweet boy. My sweet lovely boy. You're safe now. We're safe now. Come to my son. Be with me, Dontas. You're at peace now."

He went to move forward. And. Couldn't. He felt a stiff wind, or some force, pulling him backwards.

"Dontas?"

"Mother?!"

"Dontas!"

The light vanished. It was dark. He could smell the smoke and hear another voice.

He opened his eyes. He was still in the Palace. He felt no pain. He saw a woman staring down at him.

"Who in Twelve Hells are you?" he croaked.

[Phaenix]

Styrax screeched with fury as she swung round from the airship, her massive wings swatting several of the small rotary craft out of the sky. Argalaic gripped on to the saddle for dear life. He tried soothing words to gain control of his dragon, but Styrax was overtaken by her wroth. She arrowed upwards, then outstretched her enormous wings slowly kept herself stationary by rotating them. A net fired out from a cannon, spread wide spinning... And bounced harmlessly off. Argalaic threw his head back and laughed.

"She's this big and you think some finishing net will contain her?? Pathetic."

Styrax roared deafeningly, and pitched forward. She was right above the envelope of the airship. Right above its bulging gasbags, out of reach of its guns. She opened her jaws and roared forth flame right onto the envelope.

Argalaic shielded his eyes. A heat that intense would surely blow the gas...

Inside the Palace

It was so bright.

So clean.

So tranquil.

He heard her calling him.

"Dontas?"

"Mother."

"Oh my sweet boy. My sweet lovely boy. You're safe now. We're safe now. Come to my son. Be with me, Dontas. You're at peace now."

He went to move forward. And. Couldn't. He felt a stiff wind, or some force, pulling him backwards.

"Dontas?"

"Mother?!"

"Dontas!"

The light vanished. It was dark. He could smell the smoke and hear another voice.

He opened his eyes. He was still in the Palace. He felt no pain. He saw a woman staring down at him.

"Who in Twelve Hells are you?" he croaked.

Off the Coast of Phaerix

Captain Stormblade looked at Styrax in awe. Such a magnificent beast of war could turn the tides of the war against the false King Orizzirlin Mountainmane. Seeing it about to destroy his ship brought him great sadness, but he decided that if he could invent a metal dragon, it would be a fair sacrifice. Jumping into a spare copter, Stormblade spoke over the radio.
"Aw copters, distract 'at dragon at aw costs! Airship, attempt tae flee towards th' carrier!"
The copters immediately moved from the ships to the dragon, but Stormblade knew it was hopeless. He managed to land on the carrier just as the airship, along with all the copters, exploded. Stormblade rushed to the carrier's captain and spoke.
"'at dragon will turn thes boat intae a bleedin' candle if we bide haur! We main retreat!"
The captain, a grizzled Rhodari. nodded.
"Aye, I've already sent out some boats as a distraction. We'll be able to return to Stormport immediately. The Sayoni have also left on their on airship, so any troops left in the city will die honorable deaths!"
The carrier then began to leave, letting the ten small boats act as distractions.
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Grand Foyer, Imperial Palace

The magus sighed with relief, then answered Dontas' question.
"I am Magus Alina Carr, and I just saved your life, sir knight."
The fires had finally been extinguished, with only minimal damage to the palace. Alina spoke once more.
"I believe you have yet to tell me your name, sir knight. Tis a bit rude to not tell your savior your name, is it not?"

[Shwe Tu Colony]

Titus awoke with a start, the poison being purged by the Dolls and his amplified healing...

"Always welcome, emperor." Mirror gave a slight nod as he put away his tablet, and he looked towards Prince, who gave a clumsy, mechanical bow that nearly caused him to fall.
Elsewhere, a slice at Domain would have been a difficult endeavor, what with how close she was to the Ken-nushi's throat and the speed at which she whirled around her opponent. Still, at that final attempt, some updraft or mistake or another led to her spinning just enough off course to be grazed, though not substantially torn. While Elijah whistled from back on the ground, Domain flew in front of the Ken-nushi, slowing down just a little so that she showed off the appearance within her postcard vessel. Then, she fled back to her Dollmaster, who stretched out his palms as gleaming strings formed between his fingers, which Domain flew into and around, healing the tear within her vessel. "Let's try to avoid too much damage, my dear Doll," he said, his voice like a concerned father's.
Once she was healed, she flew out of his hands and in front of Elijah, slowing herself. "I'm well aware that we can sustain such activity, but who knows—"

"Elijah, the airship's under attack by a dragon," Scout interrupted. "I don't know enough to confirm anything on the sea, but I think the dragon and the naval ships are allied."
"My Dear Scout, might I see for myself?" She nodded, and her hat fired out a scaled rod of paper, which Elijah touched; from there, he saw the dragon's fiery breath scorching the airship as the ghost-dolls drew away from the panic, until eventually the entire thing burst. Elsewhere, they watched as Klolfur tossed his building, and the Dollmaker's usual smile became a mere straight line as he withdrew his hand with a flourish of his wrist. "Well, that is unfortunate, isn't it?" He tapped his umbrella-cane on the floor, and most of the Dolls still present in the courtyard turned to him; Wishes remained outside, still engaged in battle with the fleeing enemies, and King's enormous golden body was not mobile enough to turn to face him.
"Emperor Titus," he began with another flourish of his hand, "tell your injured soldiers that they are free to ask for healing from My Saccharine Prince and My Soul's Infinite Mirror, as you yourself have benefited." He gestured towards the two of them, both offering characteristic bows. "Though the magic here is not usable by us, I am certain that what we have will be enough for us to work with. As for me..." He snapped his fingers, and Caleb's back ribbon wrapped around Elijah's lower torso, while others gripped onto the courtyard's walls as one of Scout's dolls came close.

"There's trouble elsewhere. The Fragrance Series and My Glorious King will be staying behind in case to protect My Scout — do protect her, her intel-gathering is valuable — as will My Father's Suspended Wishes, though he's outside." He looked towards the postcard flying in front of him. "Now, come along, My Endless Domain. And Caleb, you know where to go."
"Got it, Mr. 'lijah sir." A hopped salute, and Caleb pulled himself over the courtyard wall with his ribbons, Elijah carried behind him with his umbrella opened, as though pretending to be floating with it, while that ghost doll and Domain. Once over, Caleb pulled his Dollmaster in close as the back ribbons wrapped around buildings and maneuvered across the city. "Mr. 'lijah sir, I don't think we'll make it in time." His usual chipper mood and excitement had shifted as he looked at Klolfur, who by this point would have long since thrown the building.
"Well, we best make our attempt nonetheless, my dear Caleb. If nothing, we can see if we can rescue someone from the rubble."

[Kalmarnavia]

Styrax roared in triumph as she swooped over the burning, sinking airship. Argalaic looked down as the enemy beat a steady retreat with their massive carrier and its escorts. He was confident the Empress's remaining ships could beat the force the Union had abandoned to its fate.

Hr focused firmly on the massive carrier. It was well armoured, but its deck was vulnerable. Set it alight and it would be useless, out of the fight and likely out of commission for sometime. Letting it get away was not an option. He gave high, long whistle.

Styrax pitched down with a growl, and soared through the air above the surface of the water. Spray kicked up from her sheer force and she glided after her prey. She swooped sideways occasionally to avoid the steady gunfire as the crew of the carrier saw her hulking mass close in. She pulled upwards with a flap of her wings, craned her neck as she swooped over the carrier, and brought forth flame onto its deck and superstructure.

Inside the Palace

Dontas slowly got himself to his feet as he looked at the magus.

"I am Ser Dontas Greenbow, grandson of Lord Euston Greenbow of Oakdeep, and I am in your debt."

He scanned the room, and found his broadsword laying on the floor ahead of him. He picked it up and looked at his saviour.

"I trust Emperor Titus is well served by his forces and the dollmaker here. Now tell me... Where can I find the Empress and Crown Princess?"

He picked up his fallen helm, ready for a fight.

[Phaenix]

Styrax roared in triumph as she swooped over the burning, sinking airship. Argalaic looked down as the enemy beat a steady retreat with their massive carrier and its escorts. He was confident the Empress's remaining ships could beat the force the Union had abandoned to its fate.

Hr focused firmly on the massive carrier. It was well armoured, but its deck was vulnerable. Set it alight and it would be useless, out of the fight and likely out of commission for sometime. Letting it get away was not an option. He gave high, long whistle.

Styrax pitched down with a growl, and soared through the air above the surface of the water. Spray kicked up from her sheer force and she glided after her prey. She swooped sideways occasionally to avoid the steady gunfire as the crew of the carrier saw her hulking mass close in. She pulled upwards with a flap of her wings, craned her neck as she swooped over the carrier, and brought forth flame onto its deck and superstructure.

Inside the Palace

Dontas slowly got himself to his feet as he looked at the magus.

"I am Ser Dontas Greenbow, grandson of Lord Euston Greenbow of Oakdeep, and I am in your debt."

He scanned the room, and found his broadsword laying on the floor ahead of him. He picked it up and looked at his saviour.

"I trust Emperor Titus is well served by his forces and the dollmaker here. Now tell me... Where can I find the Empress and Crown Princess?"

He picked up his fallen helm, ready for a fight.

UNS Alnaazir

The gun crews, upon realizing the target of Styrax's wrath, began grabbing fire fighting gear until a man dressed in all black with a silver face mask, raised his hand.
"Stop, my brothers and sisters. I will deal with the demon."
The crews, confused, listened to the strange man, who began chanting and gathering power into his hands. Once he was finished, he heaved at Styrax. The spell would disable the dragon's fire breathing abilities and it's will to do violence for a short time. Long enough for the carrier to flee and return to Stormport.
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Grand Foyer, Imperial Palace

Alina sighed and shook her head.
"You mean that arrogant prig and her daughter? I'm glad their gone. The Empress seemed disgusted by our culture, and her daughter seemed about ready to fight everyone in the palace!"
After regaining her composure, the magus looked at Dontas.
"The two royals and their retinue left a while ago. Didn't even bother to help drive back the Usurper's Bastard and her Union force. Luckily for us, the Great Phoenix blessed His Imperial Majesty and granted him His blessing. Emperor Titus succeeded in routing the Union forces, and your friend and his beast destroyed the Union airship."
Alina frowned and crossed her arms over her admittedly large bosom.
"Though I haven't the faintest idea where he is now. He flew off to sea on his dragon after destroying the airship."

[Kalmarnavia]

Styrax shrieked in fury as she suddenly pulled left in an effort to avoid the glowing ball that came streaking towards her. Argalaic clung onto his saddle for dear life, as he was almost thrown clear. He tried hard to regain control but could do nothing as the glowing mass hit his mount in her right hand ribs.

Styrax howled in anguish, letting out a roar of flame. Whatever the intention had been from whomever cast the magic at her, they had succeeded in driving her off the carrier. Arge soothed her fury as she pulled up and away, turning back towards land and the city.

Smoke billowed from sites across the city. Clearly the Emperor had put down most of the attackers, and any intervention from Argalaic and Styrax would likely only result in far greater civilian casualties. Instead, with a sharp whistle Arge had Styrax make for the Palace yard. She set herself down with an earthquaking thud, and roared.

Dontas smiled as he felt the earth move.

"It appears dear lady he has returned. We shall set out to find what has become of our friend the Empress, and leave you here to your slave holding strangeness. Thank you again."

Don sheathed his sword and set out into the yard.

"Oh, very bloody nice of you to come back!... Your Grace!"

[Zhenshiwa]

The Imperial Fleet

"The savages flee before us in defeat!" Declared one of the watch officers aboard Enduring Dawn, peering out of the conning tower through a pair of binoculars. This news earned a resounding cheer from the other officers, but Captain Isoroku remained ever stoic. There were still the smaller ships that still needed dealing with. The secondary batteries were gradually trained downwards to target the smaller vesses, unleashing withering fusillades of High Explosive shells. The smaller vessel's main armaments presented some danger, at first, but angling the Cruisers' hulls to better deflect their Armor Piercing rounds had mitigated a fair amount of damage. Numerous Anti-Dragon guns were meanwhile being rapidly reloaded with 'Net Shot', rounds that would propel a net outwards, typically used to snare feral dragons... It was hoped that ,in addition to the flechette rounds, they'd be effective in downing some of the hostile flying machines. The main batteries meanwhile moved to begin hammering away at the enemy's fleeing surface fleet, adjusting the angle of their shots to better make use of plunging fire...

"Have the Mage signal the Carrier fleet..." Isoroku ordered one of the communication's officers, the man nodded and waited expectantly. "A hostile force is fleeing the battle. Our Naval Dragons will be in a far better position to pursue and destroy them from afar, this is an opportunity for Admiral Wahn to prove the worth of her 'Naval Aviation'." The comm officer nodded and moved to one of the speaking tubes, relaying the information down to the control area within the ship's citadel. "Afterwards, signal Divine Spirit to return to the dock and await the Empress' arrival. We will chase the remnants from this place and secure the harbor mouth..."

The City

Ozymandias and the other Honor Guards heeded the recommendation of the reformed demon, gathering up whatever rope they could from the surrounding area and rapidly setting to work binding the beast's arms against its sides. The Empress, meanwhile, found herself tugged along the line left before them by her daughter. Shikinami had a look of determination in her eyes that Fuyutsuki recognized as belonging to her father more than anything else, it was a look that suited her daughter... If only it didn't scare away so many of her suitors. The Empress shook her head, sighing through her nose as she watched Ozymandias and his men continuing to battle the beast.

There was an uproarious bellow from ahead of them in the street, not long after a blood covered horde of ISLF troops came into view. Their numbers were considerably less than the sixty or so they'd started out with, but they were nonetheless in apparent fighting condition. Spotting their Empress and Crown Princess, the group quickly converged on the pair to begin the arduous journey back to the relative safety of the docks.

[SF n F]

Damnage was proud. Never before had he rated having an entire building thrown at him.

Fortunately, it was thrown at him and not the Empress and her daughter.

The only thing left for him to do was get out of there before he was completely crushed. Given the undemon's lack of magical skill, this was much easier said than done.

The only thing left that he could do was pop open a random short-range portal and hope he didn't end up in the middle of a wall somewhere. So that was what he did. He spread his hand, opened the portal and ran right through it--

SPLASH!

--and right into the middle of the bay.

This wasn't funny! Damnage didn't know how to swim! Fortunately, as he floundered, one of the Empress' troops must have noticed him and come to his rescue--somehow, they knew that he was supporting them. The man reached down and pulled the undemon back to his feet. The water was only about a meter deep--up to Damnage's shoulders. Maybe it hadn't been the middle of the bay after all.

"'Ere ya go, landlubber," the man said with a smirk.

Damnage could only laugh. In the old days, he would have been angry, but one thing he had learned from the Angels was that some kinds of anger were a silly waste of effort. So...

"Thanks," he said.

"Yer welcome," the sailor replied, still smirking.

"How do we get--."

"Fer a pampered diplomat such as herself, I would be recommendin' the warships at the docks."

Pampered diplomat? This guy had no idea how many 'noids Damnage had literally eaten alive before he had turned--but he wasn't going to find out today.

"Could you lead the way?"

"Oh, I imagine so, yer grace."

Fortunately, the battle had moved elsewhere by the time they reached the shore. A quick look gave Damnage the information that he needed: the invaders were making a pitched effort, but it looked like the forces of the two Empires were slowly beating them back. And that building--it had been a small tavern--was now a mound of rubble just visible from the bay. The giant still skulked the scene, but our man Ozzy had more than listened to Damnage's advice. It was taking heavy fire from cables, nets--anything the defenders could find.

This was good, because with his wet clothes weighing him down, Damnage couldn't fly.

As they walked toward the docks, Damnage made them invisible and had an illusion that looked just like them walk a few paces in front of them. That way, stragglers from the battle would find themselves shooting at the wrong targets.

[Alegeharia]

Malik:

Malik sighed, he was tired, and the battle was long he had met up with Aither and Vin who were busy finishing with healing different people. Their healing magic was nowhere in par with Maliks, but it gets the job done to fix wounds, and turn fatal injuries to less lethal at least. He touched Aither and Vins shoulder as he kept walking indicating to follow. With his family in tow, he started looking for the others that had come for the “party”. He surveyed the damage of the area, it was incredible; the destruction was equivalent to 5 wars spanning over 10 years, but it was only a few days…

He huffed, today alone has been a long day with all the expelling of magic, and stamina in various fights, he started walking to the docks, tilting to see the glow of different amulets as Aither and Vin vanish from this realm. He chuckled, they used the amulets power to go back home, he figured Aither would come back as he continued walking and stretched, flexing all the sore body parts. A fight is a fight, and it was still good to get a chance to stretch out in such ways. He found himself at the docks and started to look around, so much destruction here too…

[Kalmarnavia]

Argalaic embraced Dontas.

"My friend! I feared the worst. The knights?..."

Dontas shook his head.

"Ser Jace and Ser Trevyn were slain. Ser Gerold... He went missing in all the maddening chaos. I dare say he too fell, or was capture. Either way, he is lost to us."

Argalaic felt a pang of sadness. He had liked Ser Trevyn. Ser Jace had been a truly fine knight. And Ser Gerold... Well, no harm no foul. He gazed around the smoke and ruin of the courtyard. This wedding had erupted into more than he anticipated.

He considered going searching for the Empress and Crown Princess, but he knew it would be a futile endeavour. Their ships would be at the harbour ready to whisk them home. He prayed they would remember his offer of a visit, and that their gods and his own would see them home safe.

He could not see the Emperor, but he knew he must make good on his earlier promises. He spied a slaveboy dashing across the yard.

"Boy! To me!"

The boy, obviously startled, timidly approached.

"Find your master, the Emperor. Tell him Prince Argalaic of House Wend salutes his triumph here today. Tell him that he merely needs to send me a messenger, or a telegram, and I shall beseech my father the King and my kin, and our Lords great and small, to grant me an army to command. Kalmarnavia will stand by His Majesty, we shall fight with him against his enemies. Go now!"

Dontas looked aghast as the boy scampered off.

"Arge, you cannot be serious?"
"But I am, Don. Glory, honour and a new alliance to pursue. All for Kalmarnavia. Now I fear our ship will not be the best route home for us. Climb aboard."
"Styrax? Seriously? Will she take us both?"
"... She'll take me..."

Dontas swallowed hard as he followed his Prince to his mount. Styrax whickered and growled, but made no attempt to offload the extra passenger. A whistle from Argalaic prompted a great flap of her wings, and she was aloft, making for home.

[SF n F]

Damnage stood with Titus and his entourage in the Grand Foyer. Word of his performance during the repelled invasion had spread, and he was starting to get just a little bit of respect. He could get used to this.

He had made it to the docks without incident. Mind you, a mere diplomat like himself was too low in station to speak directly with the Empress, but she had been impressed by the way he had protected her. This got him a dry set of clothes and a message to the dragon rider.

The dragon he was so afraid of turned out to be on his side of the battle, and even covered him as he flew back to the palace. That was when he learned that the old girl was named Styrax. But with things having turned so bad--it looked as though a Royal Wedding was turning into a war--his assignment would be over soon.

Which was pretty much the situation that the demon-no-more found himself in standing next to Titus with the pouch he had originally put his wedding gifts into.

He skipped the formalities and gave Titus a quart bottle of the whiskey whose flavor he so enjoyed.

"I'm sorry," he told the emperor, "that things went so horribly wrong. I'm also sorry that I can't do more to help. I've taken a vow never to kill again. If you see me out there helping evacuate refugees or give aid to the victims of this conflict, you can be sure that my assignment here has changed. Until then--."

A golden light came down from the ceiling, illuminating a circle on the floor. In a moment, Brother Flatus stood in the center of it.

"Damnage," he said, "it's time to go. Emperor, if you need our help, you need only pray to your Phoenix. He and our leader are together in most things."

That said, the Angel turned to face Damnage. They spread their wings, joined hands and portaled away as the most unlikely of brothers in a beam of golden light.

[Phaenix]

Imperial Throne Hall, Imperial Palace

Emperor Titus sat on the black steel throne, fingering his sword. He was overseeing the execution of the Union prisoners, and at the same time hearing of the Union and their allies, the Sayoni, South Durikadi, and the Jotur, declaring war on the Empire and its allies, the Nrali and North Durikadi. Eventually, Titus turned to a scribe and spoke.
"Write this down."
The scribe nodded and began to write.
"I, Emperor Titus Helvius Venatius, Emperor of Phaenix, Holder of the Mandate, Lord of Fire, Marshal of the North, General Excelsis of the Sixteen Legions, and the Phoenix Chosen, hereby humbly asks His Majesty, King Jaeharys I of the House Wend, King of Kalmarnavia, for assistance in maintaining order and the rule of law on the continent of Aurania, your kingdom's Eastern neighbor. Surely a prosperous and unified Empire will be a staunch ally to your kingdom, and an even more able partner in the trade of spice, silk, and gold. I also wish to extend my thanks to your son, His Highness Prince Argalaic and his retainer, Ser Dontas Greenbow, for their assistance in defeating the Usurper's Bastard. If the promise of order and trade is not enough to convince His Majesty, the Rhodar-Gozari Union and their allies, the Sayoni Shogunate, the Jotur Clans, and the rebels of Southern Durikad, have repeatedly denied souls their place in the afterlife, along with their strange custom of denying those of noble blood their rightful tithes.
Ut in Perpetuum Regnetis Imperii!"
The scribe then handed the message to a mage, who summoned a portal and stepped through it, arriving outside of the gates of the Great Keep, scroll in hand and using his magic to amplify his voice.
"I, Magustyr Laetorio Corbulone Certaret, humble servant of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Titus Helvius Venatius, come bearing a message for your sovereign lord, King Jaeharys I of House Wend! It is of utmost importance that His Majesty be alerted at once!"
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Off the Coast of Phaerix

The Union ship had not escaped, as the First Imperial Fleet had arrived ahead of schedule due to good weather. The flagship, the Aurora Mane, opened fire with its batteries, ripping the carrier to shreds, before leading the Imperial Fleet into harbor.