Legend of Ransera

As Laveriel spoke, Senator Khijata gave the Dawnmartyr her full, unyielding and intense attention. In response to Laveriel's first questions, "We have known nothing but enemies from this northern continent. Every age that passes, another empire, another kingdom, another country decides to paint our shores with our blood. Not once has our people invaded across the Crystal Sea. We have come carrying the banners of the Dawnmartyr to purge the world of the Menders and we have come to keep Sangen from falling to the Imperials. No more, no less."

A scowl, "We have only known enemies from the North, and we do not know your God-Prince nor your new King."

As Laveriel continued to question, "If we die on this mission, so be it. We chose that destiny the moment we decided to travel north. If we die by this God of Justice, that is his choice, the blood will be on his hands. And if he does intervene, if it does embolden this alliance of smoke, then at least it will become known and certain, and the Commonwealth can be prepared for it."

But as Laveriel began to provide her own solution, an eyebrow raised in interest from the Senator. As Laveriel spoke of the hope she carried for justice for what happened to her and all of her Dawnmartyr companions, to all of Ecith, a small nod was given from the Senator. As Laveriel shared her conviction to her choice, Senator Khijata made her own.

"And you shall have the help of the Commonwealth."

With that, Khijata dropped the illusions hiding her companions from Laveriel. Senators Firich and H4R0LD were now standing behind Khijata, the human seeming man and the Avialae behind them. They knew what Khijata would choose for they would choose the same after hearing such words. Khijata continued, "We do not have much time, when the Imperials depart, so shall we. You will have to accompany us if you wish to capture Talon's son, we cannot spare anyone for such an endeavor."

Khijata waved over the remainder of Laveriel's growing group of companions, so that she wouldn't have to say everything twice. "Our plan is as such. Jevra here," she indicated toward the Dragon in human form, "He will provide our transport and entry to the ship. He will remain outside to keep their attention."

The man chuckled a bit at that.

Gesturing to the other Ork and the Avialae, "Firich and Toka here will be seeking out the high value targets for assassination. This includes the Princess, the ship's Captain, and the Avialae Irdan. I recommend that you, Laveriel, and your Mesmer, join them in search for Talon's son. If you find him, it will be up to you to capture him, as Firich and Toka will be hunting their prey."

"H4R0LD and myself will be seeking out the ship's engine core. When we find it, H4R0LD will manipulate the aetheric pathways in it to cause an unstable chain reaction that should explode the entire ship."

She paused, looking at each of Laveriel's team in turn, "I do not know the capabilities of your people, so you should probably assign them either their own teams and missions, or designate them to join one of our three teams. There will be a signal once we've started the reaction in the core, so once you see it, you will need to escape as far and as fast as you can."

Toka took his turn to speak, "A dozen Kalzasi soldiers were seen flying toward the Imperial ship and will arrive there momentarily. I suspect that they were tipped off by something." His dark eyes glowered, "If any of you attempt to betray any of us during this, I will flay the skin from your flesh and feed it to you."

Khijata nodded at that, "If you have any questions, concerns, now is the time to give them. We will soon be moving." She looked around at the rest of the group, "And the time to back out is now. This attack will be outside the diplomatic protections of Kalzasi, so it will not be in violations of your laws, but that does not mean it will be without repercussions afterwards. Prepare yourselves to accept whichever path of destiny faces you in this. Or make your peace now and leave."

---

龍 Hearing what the plan was he sighed heavily. It wasnt what he had signed up for, but he had given his word, and he knew there was no turning back now. He turned to the elite guard under his command. "I know this isn't what you all were expecting, but I can't in good conscience put you in this level of danger. If you don't wish to continue that is fine." he instructed, though the six of them couldn't hide their amusement.

"We didn't come all this way to turn back now." Hebi snickered, the shadow simply bowing before looking up at him. "Your orders my lord?" he inquired, Hikami sighing as he could see there was no convincing them otherwise. Given the situation, he decided to split them up. "Hebi, Hashin, and Takami will provide support to the senators going after the airship's core. Dushal, Akira, and Lysima will protect Veriel and her group as they go to grab the Taryn. In the meantime, I will be dealing with the Airship." he ordered, the six nodding as they prepped for what came next.

When it was time to depart both groups saddled up onto the Ecithian Dragon, and when they went, Hikami departed himself, diving into the lake. Propelling himself through the lake he envisioned himself as a dragon, one as large as the Ecithian, allowing the lake to influence its appearance. Soon if anyone was watching from above, they would have seen a shadow, first as big as person, soon grow and expand in size before the semblance of wings and a serpentine body would have appeared in the silouhette. 龍

---

And so, final preparations complete, the group departed, Hikami by sea, the rest by air. Jevra was massive, scales of shining metal, glistening in the sun, carrying the entire team that could not fly themselves. As they flew, Khijata wove a complex illusion around the flight group, disappearing them entirely from detection on the approach. To any semblers studying the area, they were no different than the cold wind and weak sunshine. However, once they left the divine aurora of Arcas, it would begin to fade.

Meanwhile, as they flew, IAF Umbra Cavea began to move. It started to fly north, preparing to leave Kalzasi territory. As it did, ten Kalzasi Avialae took flight, leaving the ship, heading back to the city. Minutes passed until the Avialae came into view of Laveriel and her team, Khijata gave a headnod to the member of Hikami's team that could fly. Laveriel had asked for a distraction, and this is how it would be provided. A basic illusion was woven over the individual to look like Toka. Once they were ready, she dropped them out of the invisibility illusion, and they flew off in the opposite direction, catching the immediate attention of the Kalzaserns. They raised the alarm and gave chase.

And the team kept pressing on without them.

They continued to travel unbothered until the airship came into view. It was a huge ship, equipped with heavy guns and armaments and a host of soldiers at the ready. The Senator spoke, "We've lost the element of surprise. Something tipped them off, they are combat ready."

A feral smile grew on her face, her sharp teeth revealed. "Good."

She watched as the ship crossed the boundary of the diplomatic protection and they continued after it until the marks of diplomacy faded from their skin as well. Khijata dropped the invisibility illusion. A spotter called out from aboard the ship, "Iron Dragon!"

The negators on deck began adjusting their shields, familiar enough with iron dragons to know how to protect against them. A dozen Kathar took flight from the ship, spreading out and coming in on an intercept approach. The large cannon shifted and pointed at them, and there was a buzz in the air as it began to charge a shot.

It fired.

A blast of Fire charged aether came racing towards them. H4R0LD raised a hand and snuffed it, letting the shot drop down into the lake below. "Nearing the shield, roughly 100 meters out from the ship," muttered Firich. Khijata dropped another illusion, this one she had been casting on Jevra. His scales lost their shininess, exchanging for rust, tarnish, exposed bones and muscles. He was no Iron Dragon, but rather, one of Rust.

He unleashed his Dragon's Breath upon the shield, swirling clouds of browns and crimsons that almost instantly corroded the shield away. The entire shield of the ship glowed, flickering, before fading away. Shots began to fire from the small guns upon the ship as the large gun was recharging. They were racing in a downward angle toward the deck, as the first of the Kathar neared with a great axe glowing with purple energies, ready to strike.

A pillar of sunlight crashed down, appearing between the dragon team and the airship's forces. As dragon breath touched the light, the breath was dissipated, as elemental shells were shot, they were burned away. Jevra came to a sudden stop, having to flap his wings painfully to do so in such a quick manner. The shelling from the airship also stopped.
The light dissipated, revealing several dozen Dawnmartyrs flying on wings of light, with Neverfall on wings of Shadow. Among them were Torchthief and Tukor, and the rest were the highest ranked forces from Dawnhold. A shield of pure light was cast between the Dawnmartyrs and the airship, as well as the dragon team.

Neverfall's voice boomed throughout the sky. "Stop this, now." She then drew her famed blade, Shadow Shrike, a Relic of Ecith, "Or we will stop it for you." The Dawnmartyrs with her all drew their weapons, pointing them at both the Ecithians and the Imperials. Neverfall gave both sides a long, tense moment to comprehend her words before continuing.

"I call forth the Captain of this ship and the Imperial Princess, as well as Senator Khijata and Captain d’Revrinti to come to a parlay, overseen by the Order of the Dawnmartyrs. End this violence now and we will help you both find a way to end this for all moving forward." She pointed her sword down to a nearby rocky island, where a light began to glow. "If you accept, send your leaders there with two guards and we will meet you there. Continued violence will be accepted as refusal and there will be swift reprisals."

And so, the Paladins of Light waited, ready to defend both sides from one another, in the name of peace.

---

龍 The waters around the form that was growing under the lake's surface continued to grow more and more until it matched the size of the rust dragon. In an eruption of water and ice Hikami had come into full force. A coiling draconic form of water and ice began to encircle below the airship as it rose up to meet it.

Hikami was sitting within the center of its form, a catalyst for its power as he moved it at will, the draconic form letting out a mighty roar causing the Lake to swell and rage. He was about to begin his assault on the airship's engines when a beam of light interrupted everything. From it a heavenly host of figures appeared, warning both sides against any further aggressions towards another. He watched carefully as Veriel descended to the Island, and one of her comrades waved him over. It was requested that he join her.

For a moment he wondered why, but then it made sense to him, as he was connected to the lake, and would be the best defense should nothing be resolved and conflict ensued. Nodding he slithered the water dragon form over to the Island and coiled around it. Coming to a halt, the head of the dragon tilted down resting behind the woman and the blue ecithian. He rose from out the crown of the dragon's head, his draconic wings stretching out before resting against his back, his draconic scaled arms folded as he awaited what was coming next. 龍

---

Two words were whispered through Laveriel's linkshell, "Trust her."

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As the Laveriel's senses appeared within her dagger, she would see that she was in the bridge of the ship. After some orienting, she would be able to see the Imperial Princess staring down a man in an Imperial Officer's uniform with a large number of medals upon his breast. He was graying of beard and tired of eyes, his hands bearing many scars of burns. While the Princess' face was perfectly impassive, her voice did sound to be perhaps an octave higher than one might think from her.

"I command you to destroy them all!"

The Captain's piercing blue eyes sidled over to her own. "No." He then turned on heel to face the shields that served as windscreens, "The Emperor ordered me to escort you and this crew on a peaceful diplomatic mission and to keep you safe." He stepped closer to the screens, studying the Dawnmartyrs floating there in the sky, "You are too young to know the war, but several of us were there. We drove those terrorists out of their rat nest of an island and buried many of those that sought to hide them from us." He turned back to look at the Princess, "But we suffered horrible losses in doing so. Generations upon generations of young men and women were simply gone."

He walked back to his post next to the fuming princess, "I served His Word in the war. I serve His Word every day in my life. And I serve His Word now." He side eyed her fiercely, "And if you suggest I break my oath to the Emperor, I will return your head to him in a box and offer my own to ease his sorrow over your heresy." At this Taryn stepped forward, gripping the pommel on his hip.

"Easy lad, she can shout all she wants, but every soldier on this ship answers to me and I to Him."

Taryn relaxed a bit, but kept a suspicious gaze on the captain. The man continued, "Now, let us take this opportunity our enemy has given us to gather intel on them. We will see their leaders, evaluate their strength, the state of them, their desires and goals. This will not be a fruitless mission. So, Princess, we shall go with the boy, and Mr. Irdan can serve as my guard." He turned to his first mate, a fierce woman with hawkish features and a scar running diagonally across her face. "The bridge is yours. If we or the ship is attacked, empty the arsenal into them all."

She saluted the captain, "Sir."

And with that, they walked out of reach of Laveriel's senses after which she recalled them.

------------------

As Laveriel spoke to Senator Khijata, the woman nodded. "We would never ask nor expect that of you. We know the pain of killing our own kind far too well. A lesson to never be forgotten." She cast a nod toward the rest of the Ecithians, and H4R0LD magicked them into floating off of Jevra's back, leaving only Laveriel and Khijata there. "If they attack..." She sighed deep, "Retreat, fall back with the Dawnmartyrs and head home. This mission of ours is over, one way or the other. Perhaps something good may still come from it." Firich, H4R0LD, and Toka all nodded at her. They all extended out a palm towards her, tightened into a fist, and thumped against their hearts in unison.

She smiled at them and returned the gesture.

Her eyes watched as Laveriel chose to fly herself down, appreciating the gesture. Let the enemy know that none of them were helpless. Still, riding in on massive rust dragon should also help. Jevra soared down fast and landed upon the island. There, he shifted back into his mortal seeming, and he and Khijata walked up to join Laveriel, soon accompanied by Hikami.

It wasn't long until four figures flew down from the UAF Umbra Cavea. The Princess and Captain on wings of metal and clockwork, Taryn and Irdan on the wings of Avialae, they all flew down, landing softly. The Captain stepped forward, the clear leader of the group, his grizzled face sizing up each person there. Taryn stepped forward and just to the side of the Princess, presenting himself as a shield. Irdan, however, was staring directly at Laveriel.

They were ten feet apart and at this close range, Laveriel could feel... something. It was like... the echo of a voice, a faded memory, the 'I love you' on the tip of the tongue that never got said. And it pointed directly at the black winged man. His eyes were studying this woman and then a slow smile grew upon his face. With that, he shifted a bit, hands in his pockets now, eyes always upon Laveriel.

With a swell of brightness there upon the island, Neverfall appeared, with the other two Knight-Marshals from Dawnhold. Neverfall's weapon was holstered on her hip, which it normally never was. In fact, it was almost never normally visible, but here she kept it, and upon it, one very tightly gripped hand.

"This must stop here and now. No casualties have been caused, no diplomacy has been broken."

Both the Imperials and the Ecithians were looking at her, unsure of her position, or why the intervention. Neverfall looked at the Captain, "I am sure you will not believe this parlay to be unbiased with the Dawnmartyrs presiding over it." And she looked over at Khijata, "Just as I am sure that you counted on us as silent allies in this plot of yours." The grip on her sword tightened harder.

She took a deep breath, "I know none of you may make decisions on the magnitude of your nations now, but you can stop this conflict here." She looked everyone present in turn, "The Order of the Dawnmartyrs is declaring full neutrality from any and all nations and any and all conflicts." She looked over at the Captain, "We have no enemies." Then she blinked, and her eyes opened, watery, as she looked at Senator Khijata, "And we have no allies."

She swallowed hard, bringing her gaze back to the front. "Part of this parlay is to open communications between your two nations. To do this, I ask that each of you share your grievances toward one another. It is the only way to move past your pains, your desires for vengeance, and to find a place for peace."

She looked over at the Captain first, who was standing at attention, his shrewd and careful eyes searching all of the Ecithians and the Dawnmartyrs, trying to find the trick, the catch. But he was on a mission, and the more he could get them to speak, the better. But he did have a way to test this neutrality of theirs. His eyes sidled over toward Hikami, as he pulled a Lorestone from his jacket pocket.

"Diplomacy has been broken, just not by the barbarians. You invaded the UAF Umbra Cavea while we were under Kalzasern diplomatic protection." He activated the lorestone, showing recordings from within the airducts of the ship, one of which clearly showed his face, albeit a bit gaseous. He tapped another rune on the stone, and it showed an auraglass reading of Hikami's aura. "Your aura glows like the sun after the clouds of a blizzard have broken. It is unmistakable and is the same aura you carry now." The captain took a breath, pocketing the lorestone, "Under the diplomatic agreement with Kalzasi, I demand that you surrender yourself to us for arrest. We will send word to Kalzasi through the appropriate diplomatic channels, but you will be held to await trial." A bit of a smile, "Unless you deny the claims or refuse to cooperate peacefully?"

He tucked his hands behind his back, indicating he was done speaking, and Neverfall nodded toward Hikami, giving him his chance to speak.

---

龍 There was no denying what he was seeing before him, seeing Taryn for the first time and seeing Talon in him. Now that all parties were on the island he watched as the Orkish woman spoke, commanding the conflict to end. He was certain no one here could defy her even if they wanted to.

His mind played the different scenarios in the event that they had to come to blows. He knew he could swallow this whole little inlet before the imperials within the waters of Udori with just a hand gesture. He would save that as a last resort. The mediator woman made it very clear that she and the Dawnmartyrs were to be neutral, asking both sides to air their grievances so that some sort of accord could be struck.

His eyes shifted to the man who seemed to be decorated with medals, carrying an air of importance yet arrogance as well. From his pocket, he pulled a dragonshard and showed them an aura, one that was his own. The living elemental's eyes narrowed at him. The coiling dragon Hikami was apart rose from the sands of the inlet, dissipating and melting back into the waters of the lake as he floated back down next to Veriel.

The waters of Udori swelled and rose to meet him as he landed. His wings, a rich blue covered in prismatic crystals flexed and folded as he folded his scale covered arms. "Invaded? I wouldn't call it an invasion...." he began, his tail swaying behind him. "If I had waited to get approval to board your ship things would have become worse. I was simply checking your ship to ensure no foreign entities were aboard. I am after all the Hero of Udori Lake. I was acting of my own accord, ensuring no harm would come to Kalzasi and its borders."

He looked towards Veriel and the Blue Ecithian. "But if it appeases you, I will happily go to the Imperium and stand trial. It will be nice to see my father's birthhome before I face whatever punishment your.....Emperor decides." he gave a dismissive gesture, the lake water receding, his connection to the lake peacefully broken between them, the Lake having waves crash next to him one last time.

His eyes fell on Veriel. "Dont try and stop me either. I knew the risks when I accepted." he whispered, looking to the Imperials and sizing each one up. 龍

---

The captain watched and listened, and he knew the Princess was paying even closer attention. The Emperor would require every detail from this interaction. At Hikami's dismissive gesture, jaws clenched and grips tightened but discipline was maintained. However, when Laveriel spoke, all eyes were upon her. And when she spoke about her item planted on the bridge, the Captain touched a glyph on his lapel.

"Bridge."

He seemed to hear a response no one else could hear.

"There may be an item smuggled into the bridge by the invading mage. Locate and confirm."

A couple of moments passed, and then a few more. Then the Captain nodded just as the knife returned to Laveriel. "It's dangerous to leave such weapons just lying about. What if someone were to get hurt?" His eyes glinted, a hunter who had his prey cornered. However, that... lethal playfulness faded just a bit, as she reinforced her desire to take responsibility. There was something there, some surprise, some respect perhaps. He steeled his emotions, returning back to the disciplined face of an officer such as himself.

"I, Captain Shorzcik of the IAF Umbra Cavea, accept your surrender to trial, Knight-Captain d’Revrinti."

He touched the glyph on his lapel once more, "Send a prisoner escort team to the island, double the security."

Within moments, a team of a dozen Kathar flew out from the airship and down toward the island. The Ecithians tensed at the approach, sure that this was simply a trick in order to sneak reinforcements in. The Kathar landed behind the Imperial group, and a pair of mage cuffs was handed to Irdan. He walked five paces forward, standing in the middle of the two groups, smiling his little smirk that was saved just for Laveriel, and he made a display of opening the mage cuffs, awaiting her to surrender herself.

Senator Khijata interjected, staring up at Neverfall, "You can't! She's one of your own, how can you let them take her? She will be lucky if all they decide to do is execute her!" The Senator's gaze grew fierce and angry, "You abandon your friends and refuse to protect your own? What good is peace if you're alone?!"

Through gritted teeth and watery eyes, Neverfall replied, "This is the path we must take, and if we must take it alone, we shall."

"Laveriel, do not go with them. Come with us, you're Ailosian. You know the Commonwealth will protect you, will fight for you, as we always have for Ailos," the Senator pleaded.

All the while, Irdan waited, idly tossing about the cuffs like a simple child's toy.