Skirmish struggles.

((Crippling start...))

It had been one month since a defensive line had been formed for the safety and vigilance of the borders under Nuria's rule, once the threat of war had been made by greedy dragons and allied forces seeking to take the mineral rich land by force. Some small skirmishes had occurred which were mostly easily dealt with, but that didn't fully prevent damages and small casualties. With the constant state of alert and danger, many of the citizens had been growing weary with the looming danger. Fortunately, troop morale was fine so far.

That would all change abruptly, however, when a pair injured of kirin soldiers would be seen arriving frantically very late at night towards the Queen's chambers. Regardless of whether or not she wished to be disturbed at the late hour was unimportant to them as they had an urgent message to give. Their message would be relayed as follows as soon as she came to listen in for herself:

The High Commander has been near-fatally wounded in battle and taken to the medical quarters in a comatose state, and a larger than normal force had broken through the position he was personally inspecting. Many soldiers and supplies were lost, battalions from other close sectors are busy handling a fierce simultaneous but so far unsuccessful push on their sides, and reinforcements are not likely to come from any place other than the Queen's castle itself for immediate protection.

As it were, only the soldiers really knew what was going on so far, but it was easy to see in their eyes that the loss of their highest military authority next to the Queen was a deep blow to their morale. The decision on how to proceed dealing with the matters and chain of command fell upon the Queen herself...

Nuria's head jolted towards the two intruding soldiers. They looked bad, but the news was somehow worse. The High Commander had been... It was a blow to her heart that almost left her physically reeling. The Commander had been close to her. Perhaps even closer than a friend. Nuria struggled to find words for the two soldiers. "... G-Begon from her and seek aid for yourselves..." She commands them. She hoped no one had heard her stutter. These greed filled dragons and their ilk were tormenting her country. Tormenting her soul. "Rally the commanders and have them ready to depart. We leave to reinforce the High Commander's position immediately." She said, moving off to prepare herself.

The soldiers would salute and make their way towards the medical facilities themselves, meanwhile, word of rallying the troops would spread as soon as possible, and gathered in an opening with their collective positions at attention. Rows of soldiers, led by their respective commanders up front. Among the ones also present, were a few advisers and tacticians, as well as one large unicorn stallion wearing full plate steel armor over his body; Ruby red, and mostly undecorated except for a single emblem at the chest that seemed to be a heart with writing over a cutlass and surrounded by blades and wings. This stallion in particular was not one of Nuria's regular forces, but an allied mercenary that joined recently, waiting for orders to proceed along with the rest...

Nuria met with her commanders and troops, clad in her own armor made of hide and fur. She somberly stood before them, no words of encouragement, just a few words to her top commanders to make sure everyone was ready to move. She tried to hide her uneasiness, for morale, but in reality she had to hold back the her shudders. Her High Commander and possibly her greatest friend was comatose. Aside from herself, he was possibly the most battle capable kirin she knew.

"You! Mercenary!" She addresses the unicorn as he catches her eye. "Come here."

While the rest of the soldiers remained alert for Nuria's orders, the stallion looked right over to her and trotted over quickly. He'd stand by her side, salute to a hoof to his chest, and make his introduction. "Mercenary Market, ready for duty Ma'am! What do you need?" While his approach was a tad peppy and informal compared to her regular soldiers, there was no hesitation in his approach nor his question. He had a job, and he'd see it through.

"You will remain with me at the front." She instructs him. "We're going to drive these vermin back and maintain a hold on the forward position. I'm counting on you to be worth your pay." She pulls a strap on her armor, then addresses the commander beside her.

"We move now. Send the advance company ahead of us and have them hold until the main force arrives."

The Commander would salute and immediately order for his troops to advance. With it, a large fraction of the gathered soldiers would march and take off in flight in rows one by one, soon to disappear into the darkness of the night.

Market would nod and remain by Nuria's side for the time being as he saw the others leave. He'd make a comment he felt would be worth her time. "Ma'am, what else are we waiting for here? Should we not march along with them if we're to be up front? The enemy's breakthrough was... heavy to say the least." He was ready to follow orders, but he had to make sure the Queen was alright in the head at the late hour.

Nuria looked at Market with an unamused expression. "A small reaction force will be able to get there faster than the main one." She explained. "We're not just carrying our weapons and armor. We have to bring rations, spare munition for the archers, tooling and repair equipment. It's just all around smarter." Another lieutenant came and explained the readiness situation. They were just about ready to leave as a whole and make their first assault. "I hope you're prepared. This will be a bloody battle."

Market half-expected the reaction he got from Nuria, so he simply nodded. "Good to hear. It's sound strategy, Ma'am." There was still a nagging feeling in the back of his mind though, despite the fact he agreed with her approach. "The question is... Can the ones sent ahead manage better than the ones who were beaten? The enemy still pushing towards us... Let's hope they can hold out as well as she thinks..."

As soon as he was asked about being prepared, he began to light his horn with a soft pink color as he looked to the horizon. "Ready and willing. Let's just make sure all the blood spilled is theirs and theirs alone!" From that point on, the troops gathered only needed the command to set out and follow their leader.

Nuria nodded. "We should be on our way soon, then." She went back to talking to her next highest commander about the situation on the battlefield and going over a couple of quick drawings for reference. After the next few minutes, she was informed that everyone was ready to go. It was time to march out.

"Move out!" She commanded, causing the sum of her army to march out by company. They were now underway, but Nuria couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Right after Nuria's command, the respective team leaders echoed her orders all throughout as the main force marched and took flight. Unlike the first group however, their advance would be somewhat slower by comparison due to the extra supplies. Nonetheless, they moved as swiftly as they could. As it were, as soon as Nuria took flight, she'd have Market by her side as he floated on a magical cloud he had made with his spell. With it, he had just as much a high view as she did...

For a time, there would seem to be an air of unrest as the troops moved. There was much anticipation for what was happening up ahead... And in time, they would see it for themselves. The force that had broken through the defensive line had been intercepted, but just barely successfully as they were only being slowed down by the first wave sent to stop them. Easily by far the most formidable force since the skirmishes began as three giant dragons leading a dozen smaller but still large ones, and numerous allied enemy griffon and minotaur troops formed the bulk of their forces in the air and the ground. The dragons were flaunting their might with little trouble, especially after their victory over the defensive line. They were all carrying the high and lust of battle fiercely with them still. The griffons were swift and cunning in the air, and the minotaurs kept moving along the ground in a stampede with several long range weapons at the ready.

The force that had been sent ahead to intercept them, however, were not faring so well as they were slowly losing and being pushed back roughly. One of the main reasons as to why would show itself as the three large dragons all simultaneously shot fire breath at them in a wide area, taking down and burning up several that weren't able to doge in time from the fierce attack. Nuria would bear witness to their foes resolve the hard way... "Ma'am!? It's looking bad up ahead, what are your orders?" is what Market would say if she were actually stunned and hesitating at first...

This was far worse than Nuria had anticipated. Three dragons, griffin, and minotaurs. This was more than just a skirmish. It was a full on assault. "Sp-Split the formation!" She commanded. "Alpha through Delta press the front! The rest will flank from the left!" Either fortunately or unfortunately, Nuria would lead the frontal assault. She signaled a dive, leading her troops to a steep drop onto the battlefield. She landed and gripped her spear tightly, grabbing the nearest shield from a fallen commerad.

She let out a sound that was like a roar, fierce and aggressive. Then charged the line of minotaurs with her warriors behind her.

The army under Nuria's command did not hesitate to move swiftly into their respective formations and carry out her orders as they let out battle cries of their own. Now that they've caught up to the advance force, the fight could be turned in their favor as the enemy had that many more warriors to face in the air and the ground.

Nonetheless, the foe was a difficult one. As soon as she landed and the rest of her own formation followed behind her, the minotaurs were already in waiting. It would not be easy to see them under the moonless night, and the flurry of hunting spears they threw from large quivers on their backs would only be harder still to spot. Even Market's footing was briefly interrupted upon landing when a spear nearly hit him square in the head as it grazed his helmet and another abruptly bounced off his armored foreleg, which would delay his intended spell for assistance...

Nuria wasn't bothered much by the dark. Her aura sense helped for the most part to see the enemy line and charge for it. She held her shield in front of her, deflecting any spears that came her way and finally reached the first of her victims.

It was as easy as thrusting her spear forward. Momentum did the rest, driving the steel tip through the heart of the minotaur she had met. A quick jab with the edge of her shield and her spear was returned as her slain foe fell.

Nuria would be alright for now, though she only succeeded in in taking one down, and angering the rest to aim for her as she led the charge. Fortunately for her this time around, Market was nearby as he galloped while focusing his magic, and shot a bright and constant beam of light from behind her and several others by her side, blinding many of the minotaurs up front and forcing them into closing their eyes or swinging wildly.

Aha! That mercenary Market was proving useful. Blinded enemies were much easier to kill. She stayed behind her shield, blocking any spears coming her way. She stabbed, bludgeoned, and burned her way through foe after foe, choosing spear, shield, and her fire breath all as weapons. He warriors following her example and fighting with the same ferocity. "Push them back!" She shouts as she leaves a trail of bodies behind her.

The push against the minotaurs was going very well, but soon some of the griffons and one of the dragons would come downwards on them fast. Before any of the troops on the ground could come up with a chance to counter though, the dragon had the confidence to believe its fire breath would go far from the sky... and it did as wind was in his favor, even going so far as to spread a bit on the way down.

Market could see the dragon and the fire well enough, and hurriedly did his best to charge up for a barrier over him, Nuria, and the closest warriors. But even he could not protect the entire force from rocks being tossed from above by the griffons as well. Fire and stone would rain upon the careless before they could get close...

Nuria instinctively put her shield up at the sight of dragon's flame rapidly approaching her. She hid behind it for a second, almost not wanting to look. But she soon put the shield down as she saw Market's. It made her remember why dragons were so terrifying, seeing nothing but a wall of flame all around her. She physically slumped, suddenly feeling how heavy her weapons seemed... No, that was just fear trying to take hold of her. She was a master of her own fear, and she would not let it stop her now.

"We need to hurry and push to the flanking force." She stated to one of the commanders she was nearest to.

The commander closest to her nodded and quickly began to spread the word. That would be of little comfort however, as the griffons were advancing towards them further while the dragon would actually attempt to land on top of the barrier to crush it down by sheer force... and between the firebreath and the griffons pelting it from above, the barrier would only last briefly as Market warned the rest. "S-Scatter! I can't keep pushing them back!!" Nuria and the troops had better act fast, as mere moments later, the barrier would break, and the dragon would bear its full weight upon the field and soldiers with a frantic roar.

Nuria dropped her shield and wielded her spear with both of her front claws. "This ends now." She said to herself, backing up only enough to be stood below the dragon's neck. She drove one end into the ground, allowing it to stand on its own, and jumped out of the way at the last second so as not to be crushed under the dragon's weight. The spear would grate against the dragon's scales as it dropped, but soon found a gap and slid between them into the flesh.

The dragon was actually more alert than it seemed; Its lust for battle did not blind it to oncoming armed foes big or small. Good thing Market had time to see the way both the dragon and Nuria moved, as he could tell the dragon was aiming right for her as it raised a claw to swipe her away. With a quick burst of magic, he stomped the ground, and with it came a pillar of hard soil rising up to meet and parry the dragon's arm just enough to allow her to land her blow and harm the dragon safely.

However, the blow to the dragon was not lethal as it now angrily began to flail. This was both good and bad as now the enemy morale was suffering from one of their lead fighters being actually injured, but that still left an angry dragon and more griffons coming their way. Before Market could reach Nuria's side, she'd have to fend for herself against one griffon coming from behind, and another from right above as the dragon stood before her.

Nuria stood and nearly grinned at the angered dragon. She should have been paying more attention to her surroundings as she was suddenly struck in the back. She let out a yelp and lurched forward, only just in time to avoid the griffin above her.

Now caught without a weapon or even a shield, she took a much more feral stance, growling at her two attackers. She huffed a few balls of flame in preparation to breath death upon them.

Market was attempting to move to Nuria's side, but he was suddenly flanked by three griffons and a minotaur. He would be busy protecting himself for a counterattack before he could continue.

The griffons would attack from two sides afterwards. One moved straight and fast from the left, lance fully extended and wings tucking a bit for top speed, while the other zigzagged somewhat, holding a shield and ready to sling a rock right at her.

Nuria let loose a breath of fire to keep the spearman two at bay. She really needed a weapon if she was going to continue fighting on this battlefield. When her fire was through, she turned and ran, looking to grab the nearest weapon to her. She picked up a Minotaur's spear and threw it at the unshielded griffon, then grabbed a sword and a burnt, slightly melted shield that was still warm to the touch. She could feel something damp where the pain in her back was, but didn't bother looking at it.

Meanwhile, the other kirin were making an advance on the dragon, assaulting it with spears and fire and their own claws if they needed. They were also starting to finally close in with force that had been sent to flank.

The dragon would actually attempt to attack Nuria again, but its efforts would be thwarted again as Market very literally tossed the minotaur out of the group that attacked him with powerful levitation into the dragon's gaping maw, after he used the victim like a ragdoll against the others surrounding him and bludgeoning them away. The minotaur would be instinctively crushed in an audible crunch and confuse the dragon as to what had happened, leaving it open to attack from the other Kirins further.

The griffon that lunged right at her would burn up with a scream, not used to knowing that Kirins could breathe fire very well, before being struck down by the spear. The one with the sword and shield was attempting to tackle her with a shield bash as it shrieked in anger with sharp eyes.