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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 21, 2017 19:49:11 GMT -5
Given what he'd been told, this was definitely not what he'd expected. Ryoma had just barely managed to avoid crashing headlong into a sand dune by tucking his body. As it was, the impact was rough, but far from the worst thing. He just knew that sand was going to get in his armor... that was uncomfortable.
"Urgh... now where did I wind up? This... was this the place that Corrin and Corrinne mentioned? ...Oh, dear..." He sighed softly. Saizo and Kagero were nowhere to been. And it wasn't just because they were ninjas, this time. He was wholly alone in the desert. Lovely.
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Jun 21, 2017 20:03:47 GMT -5
Xander's eyes squinted in response to the sudden change of scenery below him.. he just about avoided a rather... awkward collision with a sand dune by throwing his trajectory off-centre. This still earned him a face-first crash into the sand, but not as bad had it been if he had actually hit the dune. Groaning, the prince slowly pulled himself to his feet, feeling sand shift about in his armour... That would be a pain to get rid of later.
"Nrgh... Can't say this is what I expected... But no matter... Hang on." A quick examination of his surroundings revealed what seemed to be a never-ending ocean of sand, a red sky with a setting sun, and several rock formations across the sands. ... But not a single living creature in sight. "Laslow? Peri? Camus? ... This can't be right..." Drawing Siegfried with a sigh, Xander figured that moving would be better than remaining in place.
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 21, 2017 20:06:07 GMT -5
At least with the sun starting to set, it wasn't too hot. That would've been the worst in all that armor. Ryoma trudged along the path... though he quickly realized that he had no idea where any civilization was. He stopped for a moment to think his options over. "...If nothing else, it'd probably be best to keep the sun out of my eyes... east it is."
With that, he turned, starting to walk east. He kept a hand on Raijinto's grip, just in case... after all, if this was where that 'true enemy' was, he couldn't lower his guard for a moment.
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Jun 21, 2017 20:16:39 GMT -5
Xander kept his head bowed low, trying to keep the sun out of his eyes as he walked along what appeared to be the most stable ground...
And then, without warning, the sand below his feet shifted, causing him to sink. "Argh...!" With some difficulty, the blonde prince was able to escape, poking at the ground with Siegfried. Not the way he'd rather use the holy sword, but it would have to do. "How infuriating..." Using the sword to test for more solid ground, he continued on his path... But he caught something in his peripheral vision...
On instinct, he held up Siegfried, a dark beam firing from the sword, although it seemed to be more... indistinct than he was used to. Looking up, nothing except a cloud of purple mist was visible to Xander. "Why do I get the feeling I've seen such as thing before...?" he wondered out loud.
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 21, 2017 20:19:22 GMT -5
"...What in the world was that?" Ryoma turned... before hearing footsteps behind him. Turning, he struck a pose, a bolt of lightning firing from Raijinto, striking... then again, purple mist slowly vanishing. "...Strange... what was that...?"
With that, he continued to head east, mulling over what he'd just witnessed in his mind.
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Jun 21, 2017 20:28:45 GMT -5
His poking had lead Xander to climbing up a surprisingly stable dune. He paused at the top, trying to make out anything resembling civilization...
A large, indistinct mass could be seen. "Perhaps," he simply said, and started to make his way over to it...
Only to stop when he felt a surge of electricity to his back. He actually fell down at this, yelping as he tumbled... But before he could fall completely, he raised Siegfried, and another dark beam was released...
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 21, 2017 20:30:27 GMT -5
"Agh!" Ryoma jumped as he heard the beam coming, dodging and firing a bolt from Raijinto in return, rather blinded by the sun's light. He screwed his eyes more shut, standing with Raijinto drawn. "Show yourself!" Even though he was alone, he wasn't one to back down if he believed he could win.
He was fairly confident.
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Jun 21, 2017 20:37:58 GMT -5
That voice...
Well, it certainly explained the electric strike, if it was who he suspected. Xander raised Siegfried, firing another beam, which collided with the next bolt, creating a small display upon impact. Making his way up the dune he had stumbled, his hand didn't leave Siegfried for a moment.
Standing atop the dune, Xander gave a command.
"Stand down."
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 21, 2017 20:43:23 GMT -5
"...Ah..." Ryoma lowered his stance, though he kept Raijinto in his hand for the moment. "Prince Xander. I didn't expect to see you here... I had thought I was alone out here."
"...At the least it's good to see a familiar face. I thought you were one of... whatever that thing was with the purple mist."
He slowly, warily, resheathed Raijinto. "Are you unhurt? I take it you fell in same as I?"
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Jun 21, 2017 20:56:34 GMT -5
"You wouldn't be amiss, Prince Ryoma." While Siegfried was held in a lower stance, Xander had no intentions of loosening his grip. "Unhurt, yes, but I can't shake this feeling..."
The purple mist began creeping up... "... I suspect that this may not be the correct location..."
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 21, 2017 21:02:32 GMT -5
"...I suspect you're right. And we were separated from the others... my retainers aren't here, and I suppose yours aren't, either?" He frowned slightly, shaking his head. "Either way... we probably shouldn't stick in the desert too long. I believe they get incredibly cold at night..." Ryoma closed his eyes a moment, in thought. "...I've been heading east, to keep the sun out of my eyes. I don't know where anything would be around here, but I figured it was my best bet. Shall we join forces?"
As the mist started to get more dense, Ryoma drew his blade again. "...I suppose we'll have to fight our way out first, though."
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Jun 21, 2017 21:23:37 GMT -5
"Let's go. The sooner we can reunite with the others, the better."
---
[Chapter 24: Scorched Sands]
[Select Units]
*Ryoma
*Xander
[Support]
[View Map]
[Equip Skills]
Ryoma: Bushido, Duelist's Blow, Vantage, Astra, Rally Speed
Xander: Chivalry, Elbow Room, Shelter, Defender, Rally Defense
[Inventory]
Ryoma: Raijinto
Xander: Siegfried
[Save]
You used up your last chance some time ago...
---
[Objective: Escape while sandstorm is up!]
"That large formation on the horizon seems like our best bet for the time being," Xander said, using Siegfried to point it out. "But it would be best if there were none of these... things trailing us."
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 22, 2017 0:16:11 GMT -5
"I would agree." Ryoma took his stance, eyeing over their opponents as best he could... he could faintly make a few forms out. "...I'd offer to take point, but I'd rather not insult a fellow prince. Best we stick side-by-side for this, perhaps?"
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Post by DanteMGalileo on Jun 22, 2017 11:39:38 GMT -5
"That appears to be the best course of action. After all, if this land is strange, there is no guarantee that they will carry conventional weaponry," Xander replied, trying to get a better footing. Off his horse, he seemed a bit less steady on his feet, and he wouldn't admit it wasn't just from the sands.
The first challenger came from the sky- a spectral wyvern, strangely without a rider. It reared back its head, and from its mouth came a stream of red flames. Xander swore and attempted to roll off to the side, but he was too slow, and the flames burned at him. "Argh...!!"
[Xander
HP: 34 -> 19]
Groaning, he raised Siegfried, and a dark beam was fire at the wyvern, who, while recoiling slightly, didn't seem too phased. Gritting his teeth, Xander attempted to fire off a second beam... Only for darkness to merely form around the blade...
"Something isn't right here..."
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Post by ShadesofGrey18 on Jun 22, 2017 19:54:14 GMT -5
"That's strange... my turn!" Ryoma shouted, following up on Xander's strike with a bolt of lightning from Raijinto. The wyvern seemed barely fazed by it as well... and when Ryoma swung Raijinto with greater force, launching another bolt... nothing special really happened.
"Very strange. This is no mere wyvern... ...Do you think it's an actual dragon?" He was grinning a bit despite himself. The idea of fighting an actual dragon and not a tamed wyvern was making his blood boil in excitement. "Well now... what a challenge." He took a breath... then charged. "YAAAAA-"
Before, suddenly, the red-armored man had vanished from view, having suddenly disappeared beneath the sand.
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