Overview
The Battle for Cyndarel is the confrontation around Cyndarel where Garrik traps Raphael's faction, Aldar seals the city beneath a spiral-shard darkness storm, and Raphael is brought down near Cyndarel Lake. The victory costs Garrik's side Khoradyn and Zhang, leaves Cyndarel damaged, and overlaps with Azarion's uncontrolled hurricane across central Valrindor.
Course
Cyndarel becomes a frontline after Rahmavir uses the city as its forward position against central Valrindor. Garrik enters with Khoradyn and Zhang, and the city contains a missing regent, a foreign airship like the one used in the Attack on Kaldaryn, Raphael, and another immense power. Garrik mobilizes around Cyndarel. Raphael's side brings in mages and skyships. Civilians remain inside the shielded city.
Aldar reaches Cyndarel after intercepted messages cut off contact with Xalmyrra. With the spiral shard, he creates a dense darkness storm and cycle-like veil around Cyndarel, trapping Raphael's coalition inside. Crossing the veil can cost even shard wielders their memories, spells, or identities, and the sealed city begins to run short of essence cores, water, and food.
Gabriel descends outside the city to break the trap, freezes the terrain, and raises ice from the lake. Garrik, Virel, Astheron, Zhang, Khoradyn, and allied mages hold him away from Aldar. Combat around Cyndarel's hills, lake, and surrounding country spreads as Raphael's allies try to escape.
Raphael eventually leaves the darkness and clashes with Aldar near the lake. Aldar uses fire, air, and spiral-shard power. Khoradyn and Zhang help keep Gabriel separated from him. Raphael is reduced to defeat and asks Aldar to take care of Valrindor before a strange explosive device detonates above him, killing Khoradyn and Zhang and leaving the battlefield in ruins.
Aftermath
Raphael's defeat breaks the position at Cyndarel. Garrik's side loses Khoradyn and Zhang, Cyndarel remains damaged, and Azarion's hurricane pulls in the darkness over Cyndarel. The hurricane devastates much of central Valrindor, scatters survivors, and forces allied leaders to regroup. Afterward, Garrik mourns Khoradyn and Zhang, Aldar travels to Thalassai to consult Cassian, and Virel argues for striking Zain before Rahmavir can recover.
The missing Malverand heart becomes an immediate strategic concern. Aldar's public victory over Raphael masks a darker secret outcome.
Secrets and Mysteries
Alistair creates the final detonation, retrieves Raphael's Malverand heart, takes Aldar's spiral shard, and transforms into Aldar to impersonate him after the Battle for Cyndarel.