The Fall of Liaris
Disaster / Destruction
The floating elven city of Liaris becomes a battleground for two city states in Merriby West. The people of the city escape thanks to the heroics of the city's leadership, but both armies, as well as the entirety of the city, are destroyed.
The Battle of Liaris was a deadly one. After the armies of Dragongarde entered the city, Liaran forces scrambled to drive them back. It became clear that they were woefully unprepared for such an assault. Captain Forbes Goldgrain took charge of the air unit, mobilizing the cities airships with the help of Quirek. The ships had not been used in many years and were hardly a match for the draconian forces that were assailing the city.
In the waters below, the ramshackle pirate navy of Duskgarde fought the Valient Crusade, who had allied themselves with Dragongarde to take down one of the biggest threats in Merriby West. The pirates were greatly outnumbered, but managed to put up a decent fight and bought time for the forces above.
The Liaran Defense held the line in the city itself, fighting their way through the streets as they led the citizens to safety. Meliodas and Saelethil found themselves in a standoff. Saelethil had seen enough destruction to know that he had made the wrong choice. Meliodas convinced him to fight for Liaris again, but it was too late to save the city. Together they decided what the right choice was: to sacrifice themselves to save their people. They fought their way down to the Lacrima crystal facility beneath the city. Saelethil created a powerful magic rune that would explode on his command and trigger a colossal series of explosions that would destroy the city in its entirety. They made their way to the throne room. As they passed through the city, they saw that Liaris was losing badly. The airship fleet was reduced to just one vessel. The pirates had been circled together and were being bombarded by the Valient Crusade, who would soon focus their fire on the city. The Liaran siblings sent word for their sister to be released and meet them at the palace. The remaining forces began rallying the citizens to escape the city via a portal on the southern side. The process was slow, and time was running out.
Meliodas communicated his plan to Quinn as the final citizens fled through the portal. Quinn simply nodded. He directed Captain Goldgrain to lead the airborne dragons to the city to land. Forbes and Quirek set the ship to crash into the palace and jumped, while Quirek carried Forbes safely to the ground below.
Quinn stood by the portal. Aside from the Liaran siblings, he was the last of the known living still in the city. He shook Meliodas' hand. Saelethil nodded to him. Quinn held back tears as he stepped back, just before Saelethil called out to him. Quinn turned in time to see him remove the crown of Liaris from his head. He walked to Quinn and placed it upon his. Saelethil shoved him back through the portal. He stumbled back and landed on the grassy cliff-side that looked out over the sea. He watched from the ground as the glowing circle closed.
The people of Liaris looked up to see their home aflame. Dozens of dragons began landing. The Valient Crusade opened fire on the supply chains that held the city in place. Wordlessly, Saelethil, Meliodas and their sister Rose met in the throne room. Meliodas slashed through the crowd of Dragonborn that had invaded as Saelethil blasted them with psionic energy. When the path was clear, Saelethil walked to the throne. He took his seat upon it, Rose to his left, Meliodas to his right. In the doorway of the chamber stood the Chieftan of Dragongarde. Through the stained glass windows of the chamber, the siblings could see dragons closing in. A wide grin spread across the Cheiftan's face. Saelethil calmly traced the rune in the air. The smile faded from the face of the Cheiftan. Saelethil looked to his siblings. The Cheiftan began running desperately towards him, sword drawn. With a wink, Saelethil closed his fist, activating the rune and sealing the fate of Liaris.
A thunderous blast erupted from the city center as a wide ring of purple energy burst in a wide radius out from the city. It began to fall. Hundreds of explosions ruptured it from within until finally, one single burst of light and sound emanated from it as it hit the water, sending a tidal wave that capsized the Valient fleet. Everything went silent. The people of Liaris were now safe, and while a great sacrifice was made, the battle was won.
