War of Dragons - Mac Anu III - Retreat

With Mac Anu taken over by a small group sneaking down beneath the city, and having taken down the Crown that was keeping the Kunie under Palace Land control - things have changed.

With the 11th Wave of Calamity still remains over the city - the moment the Kunie returned control of the city, the Yamato armies moved upon the city. Or rather, upon the wave. Adventurers and Landers joining forces to the east of Mac Anu to drive away the monsters, and create a direct line for the Landers to return to their city to take it back from the invaders.

The Palace Landers, seeing the problem this creates, have called for a retreat. The various Palace Land ships, which had been used to blockade the harbor, are being filled with more and more Palace Land forces. Of course, there's not quite enough ships for a full retreat. But they clearly are not unprepared.

Multiple vessels are already moving out no more than an hour after the Kunie was given their 'mind' back, and are splitting in multiple directions in order to avoid the Leviathan issue.

This is where the rest of the team comes in. A trap had already been set, expecting this exodus of the Palace Landers. And the first signs of that trap is when the Fourland Dukedom's fleet begins to move in from the South and North of the region. Aiming to pincer the Palace Landers.

However, there is a rather tricky part to it all. There's a request from one Baroness Wake to 'save' the Queen of Rosenheim Kingdom from being killed amongst all of the chaos. And right now, all of the departing ships look the same.

The Yamatoan ships are using specific deployment patterns in order to create 'gaps' for the Palace Landers to get through. However - the first ship using one of those gaps immediately finds out that the /fleet itself/ is not the only way in which Yamato had prepared...

As an enormous eruption of waves and stone shatters beneath the wooden vessel, causing something akin to an explosion, shattering the ship's hull and starting to sink it!

The team is spread out across multiple ships right now, along the north side of Mac Anu. The initial operation requires an inspection of the ships coming through, triggering water mines, and using magical shields to protect their vessels from being assaulted by the Palace Land vessels! While the Palace Landers are trying their best to avoid getting their ships sunk in turn.

While Mikage usually prefers to be on the front lines in a fight, she has been set into a very unusual position during the Mac Anu conflict. The Were Fang has both the ability to create a mini-map of the area using one of her relics, as well as to sight and communicate with her Oracle abilities. This allows her to be far better put to use as a logistics and communication hub.

This feels very out place for her. Even now, her mind isn't set on the fight against the Palace Lander ships. No, she's been requested to help figure out which ship a particular individual is on so that it doesn't sink to a murky grave at the bottom of the ocean. Saving Palace Landers was not high on her priorities, but...

Her head throbs. She has been at this whole 'magical power' thing for a while now and it is really starting to shoot like ice-picks behind her eyes. With a groan, she places a hand on the ship mast, as if she were using it to retain her balance. Slowly, she opens her eyes, shading them from the light as even that seems to give her a migraine. "You're looking for the one with the blue emblem on the bow." She reports to those who are working on behalf of the Baroness Wake.

"That's it. I'm tapped out. My head is going to explode." It's possible that Mikage is exaggerating, but... no one really knows the full negative effects of overuse of such powers.

Daiyu is a strategist, planning for such scenerios 'just in case' is part of her job. What threw her off was that the Yamatoans made their move during one of the Wave of Calamity that they so much hated. Yet were willing to use as a diversion. None the less her having some form of plan ready for needing to make a mass retreat were handy in getting as many people as possible onto the ships to leave Mac Anu behind.

Only to be confronted by the enemy's fleet. A blockade with gaps? No, that can't be right, it's got to be a...

An 'explosion' rakes one of the first ships to get out of port before the matter can be considered farther. Daiyu cursed under her breath. It was a trap. The enemy knew they had no where else to go, and instead of cutting them off completely was forcing them into a dangerous anti-ship gauntlet.

Recovering from the moment of surprise, the Hulijing Were Fang lept into action. "Alter course! Alter course! The waters are trapped!" Somehow. They'll worry about how they managed to pull that off later. "Avoid the open spaces. Run the blockade itself if you must to get through!"

Navigation really isn't her thing, so she's just trying to alert people to the danger as she charges across one of the ships, hoping the experienced seaman can figure out where to actually go.

    This is, of course, only a withdrawal.

    The Palace Lands have suffered a setback, that is all. The cursed Yamatoans were lucky, not skilled. They took advantage of a natural disaster and, while Shiyang credits them with the brilliant act of taking advantage so quickly, the warlord doesn't expect that to mean they will continue to be so lucky. The Palace Landers have to regroup, to preserve their Lander forces as best as possible, to return and finish the war. Today's task: to break through the trap that has somehow been sprung on them.

    Again at this point, Shiyang has to wonder at the foresight being shown by the Yamatoans. Somehow knowing they were withdrawing and having a single point of momentarily-overwhelming force in an area the Yamatoans were normally weaker - sea-going forces - when it was most needed. Almost like they knew, somehow, where and when to commit so heavily. Another coincidence, but one she can worry about for another time. For now, she commands her strike troops.

    "Prepare flame. Strike the rigging and rake the oar decks!" she bellows, and her group of adventurers respond. A directed assault of elemental flame lashes out, tearing into the blockading fleet. The goal, in this case, not so much to do damage but to disrupt the blockading fleet's mobility, to open up lines for the Palace Landers to run the blockade.

Goldenblade is, temoporarily, at the helm of Boaty McBoatface, the strangely named Olympus steamship fresh out of refit. And what a refit! Scale's Bunker Shields along the gunwhales, NWA's spell cannons on deck, it's quite a potent thing. Goldenblade is on deck, directing the spellgunners' fire, pointing the direction and waiting until the wave has the ship properly level. Or just before properly level, so by the time the gunners hear the command and fire, we're level.

It's Goldenblade's first at sea command, but how hard can it be, right? Well, truth is, for a Legend who can teach any skill, even to herself, it's actually fairly straightforward. There's a mate who knows most of the minutiae related to the boat, he handles those details, Goldenblade's more of a strategic commander. Boaty McBoatface has another advantage - with steam propulsion, none of the wizards messing around with winds has much of any effect on them. Control of the seas is still a thing, but at least they're not at risk of being becalmed.

They have the Palace Landers on the run for the moment. She does not like the idea of leaving the Queen alive, still if someone has a plan fine. As far as she was concerned the rulers of the Palanders had the souls of Goblins. For now, though there are Palace Lander ships to deal with. She's not even going to hold back right now as she draws the Nightstalkers bow.

"Archers ... ready...."

Along with any other archers present on the ship she will draw and then she gives the order.

"FIRE!"

How many deaths have stained the doctor's hands?

This operation is, technically speaking, already a victory. The city has been reclaimed. Adventurer forces are moving in to deal with what's left of the Wave while clearing a way for the Landers of the Dukedom to reclaim their city. The Guardians have turned on the invaders, leaving him to walk amidst the war-torn canals at an almost leisurely pace.

How many lives will his hands claim? How much death will come from his machinations?

In the distance, a deafening explosion splits the air. The first of the Scale Emblem's naval mines has found their target. It will not be the last time. The doctor sighs and hops into a waiting vessel, sailing out into the bay by a previously agreed upon route. He clasps tight to his staff and bids the winds to stir, setting the clipper into rapid acceleration, and into the bay...

By the time he makes it out, the situation is... chaotic, to put it lightly. As prepared as Fourlands is, a cornered rat can nevertheless blind the cat. Flame arcs towards the Yamatoan ships, only for a curtain of winter to fall across their bows. Fire flickers and dies to dwindling embers before the raging blizzard, which inexplicably does absolutely nothing to impede the Fourlands vessels.

"Mm," the doctor murmurs as his ship sails over to join the others, "Not today. I'm afraid we can't let you escape so easily."

On the deck of one of the Fourlands ships, Kaydon wanted to do a boarding action, he's a Marine it's what he does. But this wasn't about boarding, or capture. It was about harassing the Palace Landers as they flee and reduce whatever numbers they could. It was the kind of tactic one did when they were planning on pushing after their opponents. War in the Palace Lands wasn't an optimal option, but it had to be done until the threat of the Crowns was dealt with once and for all.

Standing on the deck near the helm, he has his arms folded across his chest as he watches the lead Palace Land ship explode, making a mental note to himself about wishing New World could have invented magic sea mines, and how the Hellreaver will be able to shatter a ship like that with a single strike.

He shakes his head and gets his mind focused on the threat at hand, "All hands, general quarters. Man your battle stations!" He calls out, quickly moving and directing traffic as crew run around the deck of the ship, adjusting rigging, "Get us along their port side! Archers, ready!"

Several archers are ready nearby, each drawing back their bows. Kaydon holds his hand up, waiting until the ship is in range, and then a little closer, before throwing his hand down, "FIRE!"

The archers release their volley, multiple arrows lancing across the deck of the Palace Land ship, as Kaydon scans the deck for signs of the VIP they're after.

    The Priestess Wake is here. But not for war. She's on a ship that is not formally part of the fleet, but from her own friends. They are not here to give chase or make war, but to save any who can be saved. There's no telling who might end up in the sea, after all.

    She keeps her eyes alert, looking for any sign of which ship might belong to the queen. It does very little good to exert every effort to have her spared if nobody knows which ship not to fire upon. What if she hit that damned mine already!

    There's little for it, really, but to hope and pray that someone spots her.

    And someone does. Wake lifts her voice in as booming a shout as she can. It's hard to compete with the sea, of course. "Let the Queen pass!"

    And she hurls all her power of light forth, not to strike the ship, but to make it blindingly clear which one must be set free.

Soujiro Seta is situated on a boat and prepared to defend it. "I'll handle the defense," as he is a bit of a tank. The defenses are raised anyway as he stands on the edge of the ship. A good sea wind against his long hair. He repositions to the other side of the ship, hauling over provisions for the artillery fire that would do more good than if the swordsman grabbed a bow and started plucking. He keeps his eyes on the primary ship in the engagement, preparing for a boarding arrangement when the naval battle gets to a closer skirmish.

With Mikage managing to identify the information on the Palace Land ship containing the Queen of Rosenheim, the Yamatoan ships quickly communicate the information outwards. Largely through the use of the Raid System. But due to the large area involved, there's a small ship that gets set out southwards to ensure that the other teams get hold of the same information.

A slow process. But even communication with Chimlinks is not without its limits.

On the opposing side, Daiyu picks up on what is going on and sends the lead series of boats to close in on the enemy ships, rather than using the big gaps in order to 'avoid' getting bombarded. This most certainly doesn't mean they are safe, but the initial group is managing to avoid the first layer of mines quite well!

This allows Shiyang to start assisting as well - as they get closer to the Yamato vessels. Massive elemental flames being set up at the edges of the ships, quickly starting a bombardment of some of the fleet! Only for a smaller vessel to intercept, Prophylaxis putting up quite the brave barrier to halt the incoming damage! However, the people on Shiyang's side is emboldened by the Palace Lander, and more and more flame begins to pile on. A rainbow 'lensing' effect beginning to form, before some of the flames push through past Prophylaxis' vessel, devastating one of the Fourland vessels!

---

When Erufu commands the archers, some of the Palace Lander vessels pull out of the way /just barely/ enough. The arrows splashing into the waters, or coming on against the side of the hull. Not many of them reach the enemy it would appear. Especially as some mages start using wind magics.

But those same wind magics are unable to interfere with the approach of Goldenblade's vessel. Never before seen in battle, the steam ship does manage a few well placed shots. Shattering the hullside of one of the vessels. Though the initial barrage does not get through to the bottom of the vessel - allowing it to keep sailing for the time being!

Kaydon's group of archers has more luck however. Even with Daiyu directing the various vessels through the Palace Land Raid Communications, it seems that there's only so much she can do. The previously damaged vessel finally gets hit, as the archer's flaming arrows make impact. Some of them catching the sails on fire. And soon, the vessel ends up listing, slowing down enough that the Fourland Dukedom forces can take it out!

There's a few posted on the ships who would hear, when Baroness Wake's allies arrive, that the captains are... not too happy about this alliance. While most of those ships after all show no flags of allegiance - it's clear that most of the captains know exactly who they are.

And the frowns continue when light appears on one of the vessels. The one with the blue symbol on the bow. The Palace Landers quickly scramble, thinking the light is an attack. And there's confusion and concern as they vessel starts being let through as well. It even takes some caging, to make sure that they don't pass over one of the mines.

But eventually, that particular ship passes.

Leaving many more to come!

    Merek is on one of the ships with the Mages, wearing his dark attire with the beltcape that adjusts about his waist, whipping along with the wind. The man takes the time to approach the side of the ship while he pulls back the hood of his, spiky ponytail lifting up with a hand pointing right towards one of the ships not marked with that signal that the Queen is on it. "On my mark! Get ready! Fire!" He then sends a powerful fireball right into one of the ships along with the team of mages.

Once the ships are on the move to try and avoid the mines to charge the blockade proper Daiyu takes pause by the deck railing to regauge the situation.

Well its a good thing that particular ship got through. But... something seems off slightly about it doing so. Considering there's a considerable deterrence upon the rest of the retreating fleet. Two tails lashed back and forth with the frustrated thought. Something was off about that.

But again, there wasn't too much time to dedicate to the matter, as clearly whatever their reasons were the Yamatoan blockade wasn't going to let the rest of them through unaccousted. They would have to weather through to break the blockade, which meant trying to cut down how much of an assault they were taking. Daiyu frowned more, then gestured to one of the sailors. "Ranged weapon, now." Dutifully he complied, handing the fox woman a bow and arrows. "That will do." Daiyu takes something out and ties it to the arrow, then pulls it back in the bow, takes aim towards one of the Yamatoan ships as they approach the blockade, and fires the projectile in a high arc to make sure it hits on the deck.

When it strikes the ship's deck the vial she tied to it shatters, releasing one of her personal alchemical creations. Burning caustic fumes spray from the broken vial in multiple directions, threatening to reduce sailors to fits of choking breaths and burning eyes to make it more difficult act. Or fight.

Sometimes the best defense really is going on the offensive.

In the aftermath of returning to her own senses, the glow from her earrings seem to subside and the faint crackle of lightning that had lingered around Mikage's fingertips fades. True to her word, she seems done breaking the Laws of Alba in this fight, and instead she reaches for the rod that is strapped against her back.

As Dawnbreaker is pulled out, she thumbs over the blue crystal currently slotted into the weapon, causing it to extend as the Elemental Machine parts power up. There is a faint hum and a shifting glow that seems to radiate along the electrical lines up through the bow and then down along the string.

"Finally, I'm able to shoot something." The Ranger may have been feeling a little left out up until this moment, as she nocks an arrow. There is a flicker of light along it before it fires. The projectile shoots up into the sky and seems to absorb moisture from the sea and air, drawing it in until it seems to become one massive sphere of water.

When it impacts, it explodes across the surface of one of the ships, sending out a wave like a Tsunami, aiming to push Palace Landers overboard and do damage to their vessel.

    Shiyang roars with frustration and anger as Prophylaxis singlehandedly disrupts her attempts to burn a path through the blockade. Her adventurers, taking this to be as much a roar of aggression as one of frustration, double down on the attack. With Shiyang's own considerable fire magic added into the assault, some of it breaks through the cloud of chill energy and actually strikes one of the blockading ships, causing its defenders to have to worry more about saving themselves than enforcing the blockade. The opening allows ships, or at least one Palace Lands ship in particular, to slip through. Shiyang doesn't seem to notice that this is due to the intent of the Yamatoans as much as the power of the Palace Landers, but it is nonetheless encouraging.

    It would be quite worrying indeed if Shiyang realized this was playing into Yamatoan plans... but that's a worry for another place and time. Instead the Salamander warlord encourages her forces to continue their strikes. "Continue firing! Shift targets. We must break their positioning to escape!" she roars, directing the flame brigade against another blockade vessel as they continue their run. Their fleet is beginning to fall apart, and Shiyang begins to consider shifting from an escape posture to an attempt to do as much damage as possible in the hopes of turning the sea battle into one of attrition. But that moment has not yet come.

Flame penetrates the doctor's barrier, earning a quiet grunt of distress. Again, Prophylaxis' ship swings around, his robes shining and... acting like a veritable vacuum, drawing in hostile spells-- but it's no easy task. There's a lot of offense flying around this way and that, and the doctor is but one man-- in spite of the magic imbued into his robes...!

Immediately after the archer strike, Kaydon has his ship break contact, "Shields up!" He calls out, archers stepping back and shield-bearing sailors stepping forward. Kaydon remains standing on the deck, as he scans for the next target.

Spotting the Palace Land ship coming across on an attack angle, he calls out to the crew, "Brace!" Those shield bearers hunker down, providing extra armor for the crewmen, as arrows rain down on the ship from their opponents. Kaydon himself doesn't brace, instead swatting down a pair of arrows with his gunblade as they sail over the deck.

He so wishes he could leap across and strike at them, but there's no chance as the ship brakes hard, "Hard to port, get us back in range!" He calls out, trying to get the ship to pursue the one that had just shot at them.

Goldenblade's steam ship makes better headway than the sailing vessels in the complicated winds, but she's not the most effective person at ranged attacking, and the spell gunners do their best to hit the targets she calls out. She got the word to let Wake's target go, but she'll prosecute the hell out of the other tergets, spellguns slamming for all they're worth, churning up water as much as striking hullsides.

She shouts encouragement to the crews as the froth and waves churn at the paddlewheels, trusting the fleet's defenders and the ship's own bunker shields to ward off the worst of the incoming damage. She's not sure who from the fleet is where, and it's a bit hard to keep track, but right now, it seems like a free for all, and so she will do what she can to hurt the bad guys as hard as she can.

Soujiro Seta finishes up front-loading the heavy munitions for the vessel he is on, running and hopping to a second and a third ship to do the same by providing support for the ranged warfare. He is both fast and strong, fulfilling a support function over the more mundane crew while taking directions from the experienced sailors on how to get things going. When a hail of arrow and cannonfire heads towards the ship, he puts his arms out in a cross block as a shield of light appears to soak up the small fire before the cannon hit. It is enough to save some crew but in a large scale battle its questionable on the overall impact to the fleet.

Erufu is not having the best time of it but she'll make ready to ready another volley it's the best option she has at the moment right? She will avoid the Queen's ship but only due to Wake's plan. As for that she readies more arrows as she draws the Nightstalker's Bow again. She line up another follow and calls out.

"ARCHERS READY!"

She gets ready herself then calls out again.

"FIRE!" There goes another volley of fire.

The devastation quickly grows. It's almost like the Fourland Dukedom had been waiting with baited breath to assault the Palace Landers. There's no doubt a great deal of stress and feelings of anger aimed towards them and those retreating boats. Each one carrying who knows how many soldiers! How many of those, were the ones who placed Crowns on friends, allies. Killed people in the Churches of Mac Anu - or captured them?

It almost seems like both sides give up on defending, and start doing as much damage to one-another as they can. It's is such a bombardment, that even the great Aegis erected by Prophylaxis can't quite halt what comes next! There is no doubt that he's protecting the vessels, that he's staving off the worst of it...

Bursts after bursts of flame slam into the shielding, as another Fourland vessel pulls closer. The Palace Land ships are starting to converge on a few points to try and break through, Leviathan risk be damned. Another Fourland vessel is about to shatter to Shiyang and his team's efforts, while Daiyu's team manages to get some arrows through, shutting down some of the mages aiding Prophylaxis with enormous waves of arrow showers - hiding the alchemical bottle. Soon, they are choking up. And in their confusion, with defenses lowered. Light shatters as their lives are cut, and small 'gravestones' take their places! Far more would have lost their lives were it not for Prophylaxis.

At the last second, Kaydon's team gets in place before the Fourland Vessel sinks. Just in the nick of time, shields come up and protect it, allowing it to retreat without being quite sunk.

Radiant waters then suddenly capsize a Palace Land vessel, as Mikage's Tsunami-like magic wave erupts against its side. And the moment it lists enough over, a large series of tendrils grab around the sinking hull, as one of the Fourland Navy's large monsters cracks the rest in half, grabbing some of the falling Undine and begins to eat them!

Merek's vessel pulls up close to another one coming thorugh, bombarding its position, blowing out its hull, while Goldenblade and Erufu are aided by Soujiro's previous preparations. Getting a few ships protected and into formation allows two more Palace Land vessels to be pulled into range of the Olympus Alliance's steam ship. Devastating it. All while Erufu's vessel gets near that of Shiyang and Daiyu, arrows raining down on their decks, taking out some of their allies. Shattering light, followed by a few Gravestones here and there. But others... simply shatter.

    The Palace Lands navy is getting cut to ribbons. Some ships are making it out, but the majority of the forces aren't making it out of this trap. The Palace Lands have done some damage, and the adventurers at least can make it back here on other ships from a fresh wave, but the time for damage has passed. Now, Shiyang decides to switch tactics. To permit as much of a retreat as possible under the circumstances.

    "Their blockade is as broken as it can be!" she cries out encouragingly. "Flame and smoke! Cast a shield to prevent them from targeting our vessels. They can't stop us now!" Shiyang claims, bold in the face of evidence to the contrary.

Soujiro Seta remains on the defensive as the fleets exchange powerful blows to each other. He has an even measure of priorities between keeping the Landers/Adventurers alive, reducing damage to the ships themselves, and dissuading any potential boarding amongst the ships. The later is fortunately not needed either by position or by the current naval tactic. It frees him up to focusing on reducing losses by the thunderous back and forth on the open seas.

Another shooting spike of pain seems to echo around Mikage's skull, causing her to step back after her last shot, rubbing at her head. The Were Fang seems ever so slightly off-balance as she leans against the edge of the ship and takes a few deep breaths. It would take a while for this to fade, and trying to fight through it only seems to make the pain worse.

And yet, there is damage being sustanied, both by Fourland ships and enemy Palace Land vessels. Until there is breathing room, she would have to continue to rain down damage to help support the others. Defensive shielding has never been her strong point.

So, another arrow is nocked, but this one seems to charge up force even before it is fired. She squints over the edge of the arrow, trying to keep her vision straight before firing. Rather than impacting the ship itself, this one explodes above one of the Palace Land vessels, turning into a massive, small-area storm cluster that starts to rain down hail and lightning from that vantage point.

Ships could get through, but it was coming too little too late. Even disabling several of the enemy forces, they were in a really bad spot. It was getting harder and harder to hang on long enough to break through...

Vulpine ears snap upright, and reflexively at the sound of incoming arrows Daiyu dives and rolls to the side as several riddle the wood where she had been standing a moment before. Other sailors are less than lucky, including some of the valiant Landers who braved fighting in the invasion despite their mortality compared to Adventurers.

Another curse escaped the foxwoman's lips as she got to a knee and traced back the arrows' trajectories, only to see the enemy ship approaching close with it's contingents of archers. She spun on her heels, raising her voice to be heard over the chaotic din of the fight. "Pull away! Turn so we're not a broadside target to them! We need distance!" This was escalating well beyond her calculating capacity, and she's left with little else to do but yell orders to the help and hope it's enough.

Getting the bunker shields turned up against the incoming fire as the spellgunners recharge, Goldenblade calls out the orders for one thing and another. Shouting out to her crew, she harries them to work as fast as they can, recharging the spell cannons so they can fire again, to smash the Palace Landers' ships.

Goldenblade strikes a defensive stance, calling the commands for the bunker shieldsmen to pull their weight as the flames fly and the spells rocket across the sky. The ship powers against the waves, kicking up froth as the paddle wheels churn, pushing the ship into the thick of battle to lay out as much smackdown as the spell cannons ca lay out.

Erufu knew many of the fleet were Palace Lander Adventures but there was little that could be done she feared. She hated that part of it, and it's about as close as Nao has been to the surface more or less in a long time. She's not in command of the ship as well. She will sign at the carnage she just wanted to adventure, to slay monsters that needed slaying. Not this she didn't want something like this. She still radies another volley to keep firing, trying to pull fire off some of the more waylaid Dukedom ships but it may not be enough still it's better than doing nothing.

    Merek draws up a shield about him and the people with him to protect. Then he swings about forward. "Keep firing!" Meanwhile, he will begin to press both hands together, before he presses one of them to the ground. "Blind Goddess! Listen to my prayer, I call upon the ancient power from the time of the War! BITH! GRANT ME POWER! Healing Force Field!" Then an entire sigil will begin to appear in the sky, it covers multiple ships, and many people will feel the defense power of Sanctuary and its healing coming upon them to protect them. That is pretty well beyond any range that a Mystic Arte should have.

One man can't stop a naval bombardment. That's just common sense-- and it applies even in this fantasy world. But just as the damage falling across the fleet is real, so too is the guilt and the knowledge that lives are being lost. The doctor grits his teeth and stares into the rolling bombardment.

If trying to deflect an entire naval bombardment-- or even a fraction of it-- is impossible even in this world, then all that he has to do is draw upon power that reaches beyond even this world's limits. Prophylaxis sucks in a deep breath. When he releases, his words emerge as a deep, melodious song: "PROPHYLAXIS_HAGALAZ_DRAGON_OPAL." A wave of crystalline light radiates out from an amulet resting atop the good doctor's chest, expanding in a rippling, aurora-like curtain. Overlaid atop the light are enormous walls of shining light, each one intercepting dozens of incoming attacks...

For as long as Prophylaxis can maintain the barrier, that is.

...But even if he has to strain, even if he has to push himself, he will not stop. How many lives have his hands claimed?

How many have his hands saved?

The balance, here and now, must be rectified-- if even by a little bit...!

"Follow my lead, we're going to protect everyone that's falling back!" Kaydon calls out to the crew on his ship, stepping towards the middle of the ship.

This is getting out of hand. There's no point in driving the Palace Land forces out of their lands if everyone dies in the process! Kaydon's left hand comes up to the crystal on a leather chain around his neck, fishing it out from under his armor as he grasps it in his hand, eyes closing as he focuses on the crystal, and more importantly, the shield he wants to form to protect the ship. "KAYDON_HAGALAZ_ENDLESS_DEEP."

From where Kaydon stands, he is able to project a shield of glimmering deep blue, rising up between his ship and the Palace Land forces. While he knows they won't be able to attack, with the shield in place, Kaydon's ship can maneuver to protect other retreating Yamato ships.

Shields come up heavily on the Palace Lander vessels. Having broken some of the blockade, the majority are managing to get around the mines. Though the Yamato group is no fool. And some of the 'retreats' are more tactical than anything.

Even now, there's the occassional detonation of Magic tearing through the ocean, catching some of the Palace Land vessels.

One of the vessels, a Monk steps out on the deck and begins to charge up an attack as the Blockade and Palace Landers start a more passive pass. With healing passing over as Merek casts out a massive healing and protecting technique that expands throughout a large part of the entire northern battle.

Mikage's storm cluster assault tears into another Palace Land Vessel, before a sudden corona of light appears from one of the Palace Land vessels. The one with Middray on it. Staring them all down, his fist reared back. More and more light growing upon it, before it suddenly gets /PUNCHED/ forward!

A few vessels are trying to follow Daiyu's ship, but her defensive tactics are enough to keep it alive for just long enough, for that flame to come outwards.

The flame comes, and all Goldenblade and his team can do in that moment is get out of the way just in time. The vessel fast enough with its Steam Boat features to not have to rely on the wind direction!

Erufu manages to get her team to bombard another Palace Lander ship, tearing down some of Shiyang's men personally! One of the sniper shots slices right across Shiyang's cheek! Just a few inches to the left and Shiyang's health...

But then, the flame comes. Prophylaxis catches part of it first, bringing his hands to try and catch it... he holds it in place for a few moments at the edge of the ship. Enough time for people to move! But then, he is literally be taken for a ride. Protecting some of his vessel with his literal body. Some of the flames lick along his ship. Luckily, with the healing technique of Merek's spreading out, it's keeping his team capable of keeping up the defenses as he's blown to the next ship! Slipping right through a white transparent field for just a moment, before the enormous flame ERUPTS almost like a small nuclear blast against an invisible barrier.

Prophylaxis ends up slamming down onto the deck of Kaydon's vessel, caught by a mage's cushion of air.

Then, just when it looks like it's over, Kaydon's barrier shatters, and a remant of flame comes their way...

When Soujiro Seta jumps up and into the way, and cuts the remnants of the magic apart with their blades, and then lands down below on an Undine Beast Handler's shark!

More Palace Land vessels get through, but the blockade was not fully broken. But they will at least be happy to know that the Palace Landers will be feeling these losses!

But then...

So will Yamato.

    Merek stands up from what he was doing after he's exhausted all of his mana. He takes a look around, taking in stock of the people that survived. He nods a bit, grateful that Prophylaxis, Kaydon, and Soujiro all have managed to protect people as well. The man is also glad that Prophylaxis has discovered the Yamato Space Program and managed it. He watches to see the ships on the horizon that managed to get away, then he takes a look along to all the ships, noticing that the Blockade actually managed to keep.

With that second powerful spell cast, Mikage sinks down along the side of the ship until she is sitting on the floor. Rama is nowhere to be seen, likely left land-side where he would be safe in case there was trouble at sea. The girl seems absolutely wiped out, closing her eyes and holding her head in one hand while the other holds Dawnbreaker at her side.

The bow retracts into itself as she slides it into a secondary holster along her thigh. There were losses on both sides, but with this one move, Yamato had taken back their holdings and shown taht they were strong enough to stand up to the Palace Landers. But this is only just one step. There were more that still needed to come.

But not today...

Mikage groans. "That damn cat better have one heck of a good headache potion." Poor Cyrus, he's going to have a very grumpy, headachy Were Fang to deal with in short order.

Erufu now will find the enemy out of range she gives Shiyang a look but at this point their ships are out of range to attack anymore. They done some serious damage yet the Dukedom has paid a heavy price for this. There would be many funeral for the crews of the lost ships. Their might be hope to save some and pull them from the water if the act quickly and the elf will start barking out the suggesion to the captain they seek out surivors of the downed ships while there still is time.

Soujiro Seta is happy to see that many lives were saved that could have been lost by the end of it all. Yes, ships were lost on both sides and yes there were people that did not make it. Souji is the type to focus on the positives here. So the smile on his face is genuine during the final sailing away after sailors overboard have been returned to their ships and cargo returned to stable vessels. He will be busy for a while yet with mundane things that contribute in non-mundane ways to lives and livelihood. Not above getting his hands dirty shoulder-to-shoulder with Adventurer and Lander alike.

Goldenblade nearly loses her footing on deck as the helmsman spins the wheen hard over to avoid incoming attacks, which smash into the water just where they were a moment ago. She, and many of the spellgunners on deck, are soaked. But soaked is far better than incinerated. And then the enemy has pulled out of range. She could, maybe, pursue it, with her steamship's superior powerplant, but she's not sure sje could take the Palace Landers on single-handedly, which is how that would wind up. The helmsman and mate have reached this decision independently of her, but she nods as she gets back to the helm, verifying their decision and looking around for anyone that might need rescue from the water.

Kaydon focuses on keeping the shield up as long as he can, even as Prophylaxis slams into the deck of his ship, thinking it's over when the shield shatters, only for Soujiro to leap in and save the day.

Once things seem to have settled down enough, Kaydon glances at Doc, "I'll forgive you not asking permission to come abord this time."

That was... very much too close for comfort. They're lucky they got through with the ships they did still intact against such a heavily orchestrated effort.

Daiyu stared solemly in the wake of her ship as it sailed on, though not without it's share of damage. The Yamatoans were much more cunning and shrewd than they had been given credit for...

And to a limited degree, she could sympathize with their desire to reclaim and protect their Root Town. After all, it was a similar sentiment towards Lumina Cloth and the attempts to upsurp it's stability that got her involved in things. Still didn't change that it now put them at a tactical defecit with no terrestrial holdings in the enemy's lands.

"Lady Daiyu." One of the sailors spoke, stirring her from the contemplation. "The captain wants to know what next."

"Continue as intended. Make sure we are not being followed." Daiyu paused to adjust her spectacles with one hand. "Though, they still have the city and the Wave to contend with. We will hopefully not be harassed farther if they truly care about it and the people still there."

    As the Palace Lands fleet sails away in retreat, Shiyang looks back on their attackers with a literal thousand-yard stare. Their luck, their *foreknowledge*, bothers the Salamander. These Yamatoans have been excellent fighters but generally ill-organized and ill-prepared. The Palace Lands had their way largely because of this, and the signs that this situation is beginning to reverse itself are a bit disturbing indeed.

    Abruptly Shiyang stirs. "Air and water." she directs, actually somewhat vaguely. "Wind and wave. We must make speed and put distance between our fleet and theirs. Fire, Dark and Earth stand by to defend, though I believe the enemy is going to be licking their wounds. Light, begin healing." she directs her casters. They too will be licking their wounds, and there will be a lot of healing needed. Less on this one ship than some, no doubt. But this is a Rosenheim fleet, primarily. There is no shortage of healers. A small mercy on a dark day, that.

Defending against such an onslaught-- is insane. A madman's errand. To try and deflect firepower of such terrible magnitude is... impossible, even by the best of mages. Even so, Prophylaxis throws himself into the inferno, his body blazing with flickering red light and /actual/ fire. He's forced back, blasted clear over to another ship...!

And that's-- the full span of what he's capable of. The flame still rages on, even past his desperate defense-- but not past the others'. Powers combine to defend what's left of the fleet, but...

So much has been lost, even so.

Including--

Prophylaxis coughs, rubbing his throat. His poor, sore, sore throat...