the dragons and the Elderlings etc who were like the 'protectors' of the realm in the days of the Old Empire. Once the defenders of the realm were done away with, a true takeover of the world could begin. It was the Elderlings/Skilled Ones as simulacra dragons etc who rid the shores of the Red Ships and also did much to prevent further Forging (though ultimately the PW and Kebal Rawbread did have to be done away with in the end). Possibly this was once the role of true dragons as well. With the true dragons gone and without these defenders of stone, or at least someone able to wake them (Changer), the world would hurtle to a state of total debasement and destruction (the stain down the shirt of the world which began with the Forged Ones).

This takeover and destructive process was going along quite nicely until Changer came into being and created far-reaching consequences, and others worked their own changes right along with him eg Wintrow etc.

Now that dragons have come back into the world, they may join forces with each other and the humans/Elderlings (and possibly even the simulacra dragons) to rid the realm of elements that work against the good of the world...something along the lines of things discussed in the war with Chalced thread. Possibly they will all converge on Chalced and this is the operation that someone will "command" or be at the head of.

This taking on Chalced would not only be based on the need to halt slavery (as happened in Bingtown) etc, but because Chalced has history and boundaries that are shared with the Rain Wilders etc. Their tapestries feature Elderlings in the same way that other tapestries throughout the realm do. There is something there, and it may be time that it is unearthed...? War may not be required as the simple presence of true dragons on the side of other humans/Elderlings may be enough to promote diplomatic bargainings from the Chalcedeans?

Of course, possibly it may even be an operation that goes further north into the icy lands north of the Mountains (that we learn of in Farseer and TM) but, being the Rain WIld Chronicles, it will most likely be concentrated more around the Rain Wild region and include Rain Wild concerns, as the previous books have been. Maybe Chalced and other things will be left for another time/book...and maybe the focus now will be on rebuilding Kelsingra (possibly via Skill-imbued hands once they discover the Skill River or well, and maybe even with Rapscal at the lead, though I have been kind of hoping it was always going to be Fitz there during rebuilding) and the unearthing of Cassarick, this time with the assistance of dragons.

EDIT: I still haven't discussed this as part of my Rooster Crown Theory but there was also, at least in history, a "Ruler of all the River Lands". Though the wizardwood for the feathers was given as a gift by a dragon, it was the Ruler alone who declared who may wear the Rooster Crown and sing with the voice of the past minstrels. Given that Fitz chose to place the crown on his own head made me wonder if Fitz were not that destined new Ruler, but then Fool gave it to Girl-on-a-Dragon so that got me thinking it may be him (or even 'her' given that the first ruler of the Mountain Kingdom region was a female judge and so possibly this Ruler was also female, if not even Sa in earthly form)....not to mention that the woman Fitz saw in the plaza was wearing a crown of vines on her head, which suggets she had a ruling title, or the ruling female who was depicted in 'Homecoming' as being carried in a basket from a dragon's mouth. Possibly we may see someone be given that title of "Ruler of all the River Lands" once more? eg Malta "Rule" and "command" seem fairly close in definition?