Tides of Intrigue (FEFD)

[ShadesofGrey18]

In the sky, a light voice rang out. "Hmhmhm... what a beautiful death. It's good that these invisible soldiers go down just as well, does it not?" The flapping of feathery wings sounded as the figure appeared in the sky nearby. Reina chuckled lightly as she gave Camilla a little wave, smoothing her Kinshi's feathers down slightly. "It's nice to see the others survived here."



As Selena prepared to jump-attack her opponent, a club smashed into the Fighter's back, ablaze with flame, making them reel and opening them up for the swordfighter's strike. Rinkah stood, wiping her forehead slightly. "Guess we came just in time. Would've been hard to miss the chaos in the village at least..."

Hinoka flew down lower. "Ah, Rinkah! Lady Reina! It's good to see you again! Is this..."

"Where we wound up after diving into the Canyon? Yeah. We've been around this area for a bit, looking for others. You're the first we've seen, though..."

Azama cleared his throat. "Much though I'm enjoying the reunion, we are on a battlefield..."

Setsuna glanced off to the distance, eyes focusing briefly. "...Not alone, either. Someone else is coming. Not an invisible person."

[DMis]

Beth looked in the direction of the rustling. "They're a friend... I think..." She offered before looking to the pair of newcomers. "Welcome to the world of chaos. Sorry this is the first impression."

[ShadesofGrey18]

(Silves asked us to skip 'em this time, so I'll just post now)

Rinkah just waved a hand dismissively. "Eh... this whole situation's been 'chaos' from the start. This is just more of the same. Just gotta fight, same as before." With a shout, the Oni Savage swung her club, braining a Spear Fighter that had gotten too close.

Reina nocked another arrow into her yumi, taking aim at another Sky Knight. "That is perfectly agreeable with me. Let's carve a path through these invisible soldiers." With a moment's hesitation, the Kinshi knight called out in the direction of the other newcomer in the distance, raising her voice a bit. "You may join us too, if you like."

[DMis]

Beth nodded to her companions before going after another Lancer Knight with her rapier. She kept her eyes focused a head of her.for the most part. She could still make out bits and pieces of this army coming towards them.

[DanteMGalileo]

One of the group felt a shudder run through her body. Why does this presence feel so familiar, she thought.

Selena rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a fire spell. "Introductions later, everyone! We can chat and all once they're all- augh!"

An arrow was launched from the bushes, burying itself into the mercenary's unprotected shoulder. "N-Nrgh..."

[Selena's HP: 27 -> 20
Status: Poisoned

Poison slowly saps HP...]

A Fighter began to run at Selena, its cruel axe raised, the mercenary's hand shaking as the poison worked its way through her system...

But the axe never struck the redhead. Instead, it made a strange gargling sound, a silver blade sticking out of its chest.

"I believe if you're looking for a fair fight... You'll want me!" The blade was pulled from the Fighter in a slice, its body dissolving as the blade was removed.

There was several seconds of silence as Selena took in the newcomer, and Lucina took in the mercenary, an unspoken conversation.

The two women nodded in silent understanding.

[ShadesofGrey18]

"Excellent form..." Hinoka mumbled to herself before cutting through another Sky Knight, with Reina aiding her. "Azama, help Selena out!"

"Right, right." The Monk hurried over, waving his Festal to restore the Mercenary's health. "I don't have a means to cure the poison, but I can, at the least, limit what it does to you until it's passed. Is that agreeable for you?"

Setsuna didn't speak, focusing on shooting down incoming aerial threats. She seemed a bit more focused than usual... just a bit, anyway.

Rinkah jumped to Lucina's side. "I'll give you a hand." The Oni Savage shifted into a Guard Stance with the newcomer, club at the ready.

(Pair Up: +4 Str, +2 Def)

[DanteMGalileo]

"Nrgh..."

[Selena's HP: 20 -> 27
Status: Poisoned]

"I can live with that... Just try not to get killed, you hear that?!" Selena seemed to be examining the newcomer, as if she recognized her...

A Sky Knight was engaged by Beruka, having just swooped into the fight. "Careful. Reinforcements."

Lucina nodded at Rinkah, a very slight smile visible on her face. "Thank you... Beg pardon, I do not know your n-" The Parallel Falchion parried an Iron Sword, Lucina gritting her teeth slightly. "Ah, I'm afraid introductions will have to wait."

If one looked closely, Lucina shot a wink at Selena.

"Oh? And who is this cutie, Selena?" Camilla swooped down to ground level to finish off a strange, axe-riding pegasus rider she had been chasing.

[ShadesofGrey18]

"A friend, maybe?" Hinoka offered, before yelping as an arrow whizzed by her head. "Okay, regardless, she's right. Fight now, talk later!" With a shout, Hinoka spun her naginata around, burying it into a Samurai's chest. "Gods, it feels like it's neverending..."

"Perhaps not, Lady Hinoka." Azama gestured ahead. "I can see their commander... I believe, anyway. At the other end of the village. I believe if we capture that position, we'll be able to break their attack."

Rinkah grit her teeth, hoisting her club up. "Then what are we waiting for? We've got our target!"

"Stay close, everyone," Hinoka said. "It'll only get messier from here!"

[DMis]

"Need me to do something?" Beth asked looking to the group. At this point, she seemed to just hover and catch her breath for a brief second before running some poor Axe Knight through with her rapier. "Because if we need a diversion I can do that. Or I can try something I recently learned."

[DanteMGalileo]

There was a roar, as a wyvern rider clad in fancier armour than its comrades flew out of the sun, causing Marzia to issue her own roar. Camilla picked up on her steed's warning, and maneuvered to the side, dodging its strange axe. "Let's go, darling!" The purple wyvern roared in agreement, charging at its counterpart, Camilla's Bolt Axe prepared to strike...

[Mirror Stance!]

Although the spectral wyvern growled in pain, it quickly recovered, raising the strange axe again as Camilla pulled out of the attack.

[Vallite's HP: 55 -> 40]

"Nrgh!!"

[Camilla's HP: 28 -> 14]

"Lady Camilla!"

Beruka was silent and scowled, raising her Killer Axe. "You won't survive this...!"

[Mirror Stance!]

Beruka's axe dug into the enemy wyvern's hide, but it was not enough, and the lord returned fire.

[Vallite's HP: 40 -> 28]

[Beruka's HP: 25 -> 12]

"How... what... power...?"

"It's hitting harder than it should..." Lucina said, getting in front of the wounded fliers. "Hmm... Beg pardon, milady, but I see you carry a tome of fire magic..."

[ShadesofGrey18]

Hinoka grit her teeth as she moved besides Lucina and Rinkah. "Look... it's tough to tell but their stance..."

Rinkah frowned, staying guarding Lucina's flank. "...Looks like they're expecting to be hit. A stance to make counterattacks stronger?"

Setsuna turned, shooting down a Sky Knight that had gone after Azama, giving the Monk time to work on healing Camilla and Beruka. "I'm... a little occupied... lot of enemies coming from behind..."

Hinoka cursed under her breath. "Gods help us... Camilla, we're counting on you... you too, Beth. If you can attack from range, do it!"

[DMis]

Beth nodded. "I can assure you Lady Hinoka that the prayer didn't fall on deaf ears and that this group has the favor of at least one deity," she offered before sheathing her rapier and raising the book. Beth took a breath and opening the book. "Bolganone!" she called before fire erupted around the foe.

[DanteMGalileo]

As the ground erupted below it, the spectral rider took to the sky, but it could not escape the flames and lava erupting from below. It braced itself...

[Mirror Stance!]

[Vallite's HP: 28 -> 1]

The mount let out a cry of pain as the flames burned at its body. Despite this, it charged from the inferno, body burning, the rider's axe raised, aiming for the source of the spell...

[Change the Future!]

"I'll keep you safe!"

But before it could strike a blow, Lucina jumped into action, Parallel Falchion drawn. As the mount and rider descended on Beth, Lucina stood firm, jumping at the flaming rider.

KKKKCCCCHHHH!!!

There was a moment of silence, as the lord and the rider held still. Then, the wyvern dissolved.

[Stage Clear!]

[ShadesofGrey18]

Once the leader had been defeated and they'd seized the exit of the village, what invisible soldiers still remained fled, and Hinoka breathed out a sigh of relief. "...Glad that's over with. Well fought, everyone. Now..."

She turned to Beth. "...Did I hear you right earlier?"



The redhead seemed really perplexed. "You're... actually a goddess?"

Azama chimed in afterward, still finishing up healing the injured. "...Pardon my skepticism. You certainly don't carry yourself how I would expect a deity to."

Setsuna just shrugged, looking around the village as the residents started to come out of hiding.

Rinkah folded her arms. "I mean, you definitely are strong. No questionin' that. But... seriously?"

[DMis]

Beth touched down to the ground after she was certain that the soldiers had fully fled. "I've always been a terrible liar, Lady Hinoka. And thank you for the save, Lady Lucina," her attention turned to the cleric. "How would you think a deity would carry themselves? Full of pride and standing tall at the cost of ignoring the world and those that need their help?"

It seemed that Azama had struck a chord before Beth took a deep breath. "I've been that kind before... And I regretted that decision. A few of my siblings know I am here. I asked one brother to strip me of a good chunk of my power and I have no intentions on gaining it back... I showed most of what I could do against the rider that earned me this tome." She held up the book.