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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 23, 2017 20:07:22 GMT -5
Leo, still with snow over his armour and in his hair, continued their little story.
"We got surrounded. Odin, the overdramatic one here, triggered that... snowball... which got us all out of trouble for the moment... I still can't believe that actually worked..." The dark prince paused at that, his breathing finally stable.
[Leo
HP: 14/29
Status: Altitude Sickness -> None]
Their peace was short-lived, however, as a spectral pegasus rider rode in, its lopsided flight and the Killer Lance indicating that it had been the same one shot at by Niles just minutes prior...
Before it could extract its revenge, however, Eirika had jumped into action, guessing at where their attacker would be...
There was a collapsing sound as the invisible rider fell off her equally-invisible horse, dissolving.
"I can assume those are the invisible soldiers you spoke of, good sir?"
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on May 23, 2017 20:10:56 GMT -5
Takumi just blinked. "Y...Yeah. That was one of 'em... that was impressive."
Ephraim chuckled. "Eirika is no slouch with a blade. And I..." Feeling a prickling on the back of his neck, Ephraim quickly turned, thrusting Reginleif forward, impaling a Samurai on its tip. "...I prefer the lance, myself."
Oboro grinned a bit, taking her Naginata in hand again, readying herself. "My kind of guy. Looks like we've got more company."
Takumi took a slow breath, readying his bow. "Seems like it. At least we're in a better position now."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 23, 2017 20:26:21 GMT -5
"We can't fight them all. Just get them out of our way, Prince Ephraim, Lady Eirika," Leo stated, gesturing to the point of light down below, although brighter and more visible than it had been on the higher altitude. With that, a stronger evergreen tore its way out of the ground, knocking a Fighter into the air.
While it was in the air, two successive bursts of light bombarded the axeman, its body dissolving upon impact with the ground. "Ha-ha! My darkness was darker than your's!" Odin said, although he seemed to be slightly tired from the Lightning spell.
Niles rolled his one eye, although his usual taunting smirk was present. "Odin, you're by far the weirdest person I've meet... And I've met quite a few colorful characters..." Switching back to his Steel Bow, an enemy Diviner recoiled before it could cast its spell on a target.
Distracted by Niles, the Diviner found itself lunged at by Eirika, its body dissolving, but the scroll remained in place. "Hmm..."
[You got the Sety Scroll]
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on May 23, 2017 21:34:58 GMT -5
Ephraim took a position ahead of the group, grasping his lance tightly. "Allow us." The lord swung his weapon with quite a bit of ferocity, carving through a few more invisible soldiers on the path.
Takumi stayed a bit behind, covering Ephraim as best he could with arrows.
Hinata just chuckled a bit in response to Niles' comment. "Our army's got quite a few oddballs in it, huh? Guess it's not all bad though. Let's just hope we get outta this alive..."
Oboro frowned. "Don't get cocky. We're still in danger and that place down below looks pretty far away still."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 23, 2017 22:06:32 GMT -5
The flapping of wings could be heard. More Sky Knights, accompanied by Wyvern Riders and lead by a rider on a strange, long-necked wyvern, flew in.
At this, one unlucky rider found itself on the receiving end of an evergreen tree, two quick bursts of light, and an arrow. "Damn it! We'll have to go further down!"
A quick glance down the mountain revealed no easy paths. Leo hoped nobody heard him gulp. This moment of distraction allowed one of the wyvern riders to cut into his shoulder with its axe. "A-Aurgh...!!"
[Leo
HP: 14 -> 2]
Stumbling back, Leo saw his vision fade, and a warm fluid run down his shoulder. "D-Damn it all... I refuse to die here..."
A look of sheer anger flashed in Niles's lone eye, spinning his bow and pointing a docked arrow at the offending rider. "Time to suffer...!!"
The arrow found its mark, the unfortunate wyvern sent tumbling down the mountain. "Milord Leo, are you still capable of fighting? If not, allow me to handle the rest from here..."
"Nrgh... augh..." The outlaw supported the dark prince, placing one of Leo's arms over his shoulders. "I can... still cast... But I'd say I'm not too far from death..."
A thought came, and the pair glanced at Odin, who had switched back to Fimbulvetr, knocking a Sky Knight out of the air after Eirika's rapier nailed it in the neck.
"Be careful, brother," Eirika said, returning to a ready stance. "I think we're about to experience what they did earlier..."
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on May 23, 2017 22:28:20 GMT -5
"...I fear you're right." Ephraim had doubled back to cover Leo better, as had Hinata, and the teal-haired Lord just braced himself. He was sure it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience.
Oboro grit her teeth. "I swear, you owe me clothing materials after this, you crazy Mage!" She glanced down, seeing something shining in the snow, pocketing it quickly before bracing herself as well.
Takumi said nothing, only letting out a resigned sigh. "I'll be thankful if we make it out of this alive."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 23, 2017 22:42:38 GMT -5
"Odin." Despite the dark prince's weakened state, he was able to keep his voice clear and steady. The dramatic mage went at attention.
"Yes, milord Leo, what do you ask of your humble servant, Odin?" That earned him a cough from Niles.
"Trigger another snowball. From what any of us can tell, that's the quickest way down... And we're surrounded again..."
A salute from Odin. "Then it shall be done!" He half-walked, half-strutted towards the nearest overhanging cliff...
"Mighty Freyja, lend me strength..."
Once again, a blue magic circle surrounded Odin. There was another rumbling noise as a snowball picked up size and speed...
Before once again swallowing the group, this time with two new passengers.
Amidst the muffled, mixed sounds, the snowball tumbled further down, the air thickening...
Before it gave way off a cliff, dropping its eight passengers. An exit was in sight...
"Oh, come on."
But said exit had a spectral Paladin on it, a Killing Edge in hand. The phantom horse gave a cry as it reared up on its hind legs, challenging them to go further.
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on May 23, 2017 22:58:05 GMT -5
Ephraim had been right. It was not a pleasant mode of transport. He thought to himself just how little he wanted to do that again. The lord dusted himself off, groaning slightly. "Urgh..."
And then he saw their last challenge. "A Paladin... lovely. And that is a dangerous-looking sword, from what little I can see..."
Takumi grit his teeth. "That's a Killing Edge. And we're seriously outmatched against a Paladin right now..."
Oboro shook her head in response. "I have a Swordcatcher. I could probably..."
"Maybe, but I don't want you to risk getting struck by a critical blow. That would certainly be deadly. We should try to hurt it from afar first..." At that, the Archer pulled back an arrow, letting it fly at the Paladin.
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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 23, 2017 23:14:59 GMT -5
When the arrow of wind struck the rider, it raised the shield on its arm, a blue barrier summoned...
[Vallite's HP: 44 -> 42]
There was a quick gasp from Leo. "Something's not right..." Brynhildr was cast... But the blue barrier came up yet again, blunting the impact of the blow...
[Vallite: 42 -> 40]
An arrow was launched from Niles's Steel Bow, followed by a burst of Fimbulvetr from Odin...
The blue barrier came up. The arrow and spell both seemed to dissolve upon impact.
Aegis+
NO DAMAGE
"It's... it's using Aegis... Ranged weapons aren't going to be effective...!" Leo gasped out, taking several steps back...
"... Hm..." Eirika glanced at the spectral Paladin, then at her Rapier...
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on May 23, 2017 23:39:45 GMT -5
Takumi grit his teeth. "More than that... Aegis is activating every time. We..."
Ephraim looked at Eirika. "I believe this is our time to shine, dear sister. Shall we?" He grasped Reginleif tightly, grinning just a bit.
Hinata blinked in confusion at that. "What do you mean?"
"Well..." Ephraim started. "My lance, Reginleif, is... special in a way."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 24, 2017 9:42:27 GMT -5
"And this rapier," Eirika explained, holding the narrow sword up. "Our weapons are designed to be effective against those in heavy armor or those on horseback. Mind if we attempt to bring this rider down, Prince Takumi, Prince Leo?"
"I suppose. If anything else, because they're melee weapons, you won't set off Aegis..." Noticing the curious look the twins were giving him, Leo explained. "It's something top-level Paladins can do. It reduces the damage from ranged sources."
"I see... Let's go, brother..."
Eirika was the first to step up. She held the rapier in front of her, jumped back slightly, and then lunged at the Paladin.
"I will give it my all!"
A strange sound came from the horse, both it and the rider recoiling. The thin blade had slipped through its armour and found a weak spot on the horse's neck...
[Vallite: 40 -> 22]
Jumping back to a safe distance, Eirika waited for her brother to make the hopefully-fatal blow...
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on May 24, 2017 9:47:37 GMT -5
Ephraim nodded, grasping Reginleif, spinning it in his hand before leaping forward. "Coming through!"
A loud sound came from the rider as Ephraim's lance struck through the plate armor it was wearing.
[Vallite: 22 -> 1]
Ephraim got knocked backwards from the horse's flailing. "Ah! He's not..." His eyes widened. The Paladin had its blade raised, preparing to bring it down on him. "Agh!" He raised his armguard up, attempting to protect himself.
"Damn it!" Takumi cursed. "Ephraim!"
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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 24, 2017 10:04:02 GMT -5
"Brother!" Eirika rushed to Ephraim's side, taking a defensive stance. "How... How strong is this...?"
But before the serrated blade could bring down its fell judgement on the teal-haired man, a shout was heard.
"Eldritch smackdown!"
A ferocious gust of wind and ice slammed into the weakened Paladin. The blue shield appeared again, but even with that, the spectral rider had reached its limits, falling from its horse, both bodies dissolving...
[Vallite: 1 -> 0]
There was a soft noise as the Killing Edge fell onto the snow. Odin, taking a deep breath, walked over, picking up the blade.
"You will do no more harm with this blade, fell cretin! I, Odin Dark, shall ensure that nobody has to feel the fell sting of your former weapon!"
Everyone else blinked. Eirika broke the silence. "So... You're claiming the Killing Edge as your own, Sir Odin?"
"That would be the sane version of what Odin just said, yes," Niles replied. He gestured to what appeared to be the entrance to the trail down the mountain, no longer blocked by the Paladin. Over his shoulders was Leo, red stains starting to show on his black armour, eyes almost shut. "Let's get down before any more of its friends arrive."
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on May 24, 2017 10:10:30 GMT -5
"...Thank you..." Ephraim took a slow breath as the impending doom of the blade was no longer a factor. Getting to his feet, he dusted some snow from him. "Let's go. I've had my fill of that experience for one day..."
[Stage Clear!]
Takumi wasn't much better off than Leo; the white-haired prince's shoulder was dripping blood into the snow as he walked; Hinata and Oboro were supporting him as they went down the trail.
Ephraim glanced at the others, then at Eirika, the teal-haired twins in front of the group. "Sister, I get the feeling we've gotten ourselves involved in something dangerous here... I've never heard of either kingdom they talked about. What do you think we should do?"
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Post by DanteMGalileo on May 24, 2017 10:18:22 GMT -5
"I propose we stay with them, if only for the time being," Eirika replied, glancing back at the wounded princes being supported by their retainers. The very act of walking seemed to be draining what was left of Leo's strength.
"We can't just abandon them. They don't appear to know any more about this area than we do. No, I think it would be best to stay with them."
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