A Dragon's Last Breath

[Thatpyrodude 2008]

A tired Philip stood in his room, handing finishing his final letter and handing it to his courier

“‘Tis time.” He muttered as he sent the courier off, rallying the men to the palace. As he moved onto the dias, his gaze fell upon the final group of men, before his gaze fixated onto Ser Maric.

 

 

An idea quickly took hold “Ser Maric, you shall knight all those that remain with me.” And so he did, and the Empire's last line of defense become Knights of the Imperium.

 

As Philip revealed his plan, many of the group become shocked that it would end in such a way, and Ser Maric spoke up “Sire, let me lead a group of men out to fight them in the field, to die with a sword in our hand.” And the loyal knight did, a group of men lead by Ser Maric and Ser Baldur rode out of the palace to face the Courlanders in the field of battle.

 

The remaining group of men, lead by Ser Walter gathered around the Thanium pit, knowing what awaited them. The Emperor ordered his men to state a few final words as he held two bottles of alchemist fire over the bit, allowing the men to finish before saying his own "I have lived steadfast and fierce, I will not kneel to the dogs of war, and my wings shall not be clipped by greedy paws of Staunton. I live for the Empire! Ave Oren! Ave Horen! Long live the Empire!"  With that the bottles slipped from his hands, crashing onto the thanium and marking the end of Philip Frederick.

 

The letters sent out to a namely few:

 

 

CHARLOTTE SOPHIA:

Spoiler

Dear Sweet Sister,

 

It pains me what occurred on that fateful day, and I apologize for my actions. If I could undo one action in my life, it would be that. I hope you’ve the heart to forgive me, if not then only remember the good times between us, the times when we screamed at each others in the halls of the palace, calling each other babies. You do what you must, I shall not judge you.

 

Until we meet in the seven,

Philip

 

 

JULIA ADELHEID:

Spoiler

Mother,

 

I am sorry your last son had to depart you so soon and I know it pains you to walk another day, but you must continue to do so. Do not forget your promise, for I intend to hold you to it. There will be a day when we are re-united but it does not come soon, you’ll live a long life, one where I hope you’re able to find a shred of Happiness.

 

Love,

Philip

 

 

 

CAIUS SIGISMUND:

Spoiler

Brother,

 

I know you did what you thought right, while it pains me for my closest friend to betray me, I pay it no mind. Do not act rash, for there is a future for you in the Empire, as the next King of the Westerlands. In my dying breath, I will say a prayer for you. One day we shall meet in the seven, and we’ll have that rematch. I know I’ll not be bested again.

 

All the best,

Philip

 

[Mabah 156]

Aereis Raemonn Bruins at the hearing of the Emporer's death, standing up from his chair and walking over to his huge unfinished book and starting to scribble the information down.

[marilka 552]

Charlotte floundered away from Ostwick, isolating herself from the crowds. All esperance for reconciliation came to an end. She lamented her brother, immersing herself in desolation as she pined after her lost brother.

[seannie 7443]

"Good." states a snarky dead Andrik.

[MunaZaldrizoti 8037]

Anna Sophia Amador and Julia Adelheid would light candles for the dead Emperor, the Dowager of Mondstadt doing the best she could to comfort the grieving mother.

 

Looking over several relics together, the pair would reflect on the days when the Empire was blissful, and their lives seemed perfect. The food fight in the Imperial dining hall, where John Augustus and Julia Barbanov had been throwing cakes and salad bowls. The times when one Mr. Benjamin Kalehart would take Anna, Charlotte, and Philip on trips around the city. The times when all of the children used to spy on John Owyn with Julia, and the passionate moments they bore witness to. Reflecting on the good times seemed the best thing to do, and Anna could only hope that the cousin she had loved so dearly, despite their fallout years later, would rest peacefully at last. 

[L0rdLawyer 2272]

Richard Allen Horen kneels near the edge of the ruins of J-burg. He mutters to himself, "Brother, it was never too late. Oren lives on, no matter what anyone says. Renatus, Skravia, Hanseti, and every other kingdom are remembered, yet Oren shall live on" Richard stands before walking off, making his own plans. 

[Mj. 697]

(( [*] ))

 

Rowyn slowly walks through the ruins, reaching the edge of the massive crater. He closes his eyes, kneeling for a moment, forming the Lorraine Cross on his chest. "Dear God forgive me for my sins." He stands up, leaving the area. He would begin to plan for the funeral of Philip Frederick.  

[Pureimp10 5691]

"Why is it that the young always go first?" asks Lukas, sighing as he receives word of the Emperor's final act.

[El Ricktador 1394]

A Warhawkian chieftain sits at the base of his forest. He sniffs the winds as they pass over him. It was a smell of a sudden and massive shift in the world. It was as if there was a massive void in the world to be filled.

 

He rises and continues working alongside his brother and other Warhawkes to set up the tents of their new home.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Eandyil 92]

A young boy stood near his father and their teacher, looking over fair Linandria across the lake. The sound of the explosion was heard even there and the sight of smoke and fire rising from across the far mountains would be with him forever... yet the boy didn't know that the world had changed again, that day, only that their lessons in alchemy were cut short and he was rushed into the city.

[oblivionsbane 714]

"Well, at least the empire went out with a bang."

Says Mark Lander, remembering the disappointing last stand of the Orcs at the taking of their capital.

[colovian fur 8360]

 

The youth sunk into his chair, blowing out the candle on his desk as his eyes finished scanning the letter. It was over, the Dragon hath been slain. Was this truly the end to this story? Caius stood, closing his eyes as he would sign the Lorraine cross upon his chest, plucking a single eyebrow hair and letting it drift to the floor before muttering:

 

"Your legacy doesn't end here, Philip. I will pray for you, everyday I live and breathe. You were more than I could ask for in a cousin, a brother. We will see each other again, when God calls for me as he has you. When he does call for me, I'll best you once more; as I always have."

 

The youth stood there in silence, a melancholic smile falling to a familiar frown; pressing a closed right fist to his heart and mourning the death of an Empire.

 

 

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

"Perhaps the world will remember a tyrant, but I will remember a young boy who once barged into my home, crying because the girl he loved had been promised to his brother. It was hard to see him as a tyrant in that moment. But such is the world we live in. We must either sacrifice progress for humanity, or humanity for progress. As the flexio saying goes: Homo Homini Lupus." Artimec mused solemnly to himself in the confines of his home and immediate friends and family.

 

 

[CelestialMochi 580]

"He is finally free now." Katherine mumbles a she goes to write a letter.

[AGP 3169]

"That was a damn good blast," says Constantine to Philip in the Seven Skies.