#s:lloyd

Elincia heads to the field of battle once more, a spring in her step. The number of competitors had thinned out considerably and she considered herself blessed to have made it this far. For the third time that day she fought alongside Caspar, his cheer infectious and enthusiasm boundless.

"I couldn't ask for a better partner. Shall we try and make it three for three?" Elincia asks him as they approach their opponents. It will be a hard fought battle, of that much she is sure before they begin. Yet the pair had made a fantastic team so far. "No matter what happens, I'm proud to have fought by your side today."

She stands across from Princess Céline of Firene and a knight named Lloyd who appeared somewhat familiar. Humming, she tries to put her finger on how so whilst she assesses the battlefield before her, searching for an advantageous opening move. Elincia makes her decision, grabbing the bow strapped to her back when it hits her. "Lloyd Reed? As in Linus' brother? He's a lovely fellow, isn't he? It's a pleasure to finally meet you!" Perhaps some may titter and say this was hardly the place for pleasantries but Elincia did not care. They were not enemies in war but rivals in a friendly competition, hardly a reason not to be polite and amicable to their opponents. Her smile is broad as she turns to Céline, inclining her head to the young royal. "You must be Lady Céline, it's lovely to make your acquaintance too."

"Shall I get us started then? May we all have a fair fight, in the spirit of good fun!" She draws her arrow back, allowing it to fly towards Lloyd. The knight, armed with only a sword, will have to make a choice of his own - to forfeit his turn or move into Caspar's line of attack. Either way, this should secure them an advantage, albeit briefly. If her arrow lands, that is.

Elincia 5/5 HP attacks Lloyd 5/5 HP with Steel Bow Roll d20: 15! Hit -2 damage Lloyd has 3/5 HP remaining

A sigh of relief escapes her lips when the point of her arrow finds it's target. She'd been far too inconsistent for her own liking today, relying far too much on Caspar. After all - they were supposed to be a team and she was determined to pull her weight.

A strange sensation begins to overwhelm her. Surely, just moments ago she was enjoying the Rusalkan sunshine and the warm sand beneath her feet. Or had she been at the inn, sipping a hot cocoa in her nightgown and preparing to fall into a plush, comfortable bed. The roar of the crowd reverberates in her ears, so loudly it’s almost painful.

How did she get here?

A glance around her shows that she isn’t alone. She even recognises a couple of these faces - it’s hard not to remember Ophelia’s presence after all. Andrei too, looks frighteningly like his son Scipio. Hesitantly, she shuffles closer to the rest of them, taking in the sight of the vast arena. There’s something odd about the crowd, how the people’s eyes lack any light, any spark of life. Her fists curl around the... syringe she found in her hands upon awakening here. It’s vastly oversized and filled with a strange liquid.

“What should we do? I don’t know how I’m even here,” Julia laments, but she doubts she’s the only one with such questions. A bird caws at them from across the battlefield - huge and seemingly made of fire. Her mouth falls open in awe at the creatures majesty and the crowd cheers once more. Chants of “fight! fight!” fill the colosseum, making her head spin. It’s clear there will only be one way out. Julia steels herself, she will be brave and strong today, just like Seliph. “I-I’ll go first, please? I think I might be able to weaken it for the rest of you.”

Syringe held like a lance, Julia charges forward tentatively. Far too hesitant in the presence of such a fierce foe. The crowd and it’s deafening cheers disorient her. The moment she breaks out into a run, she trips, tumbling gracelessly to the ground in a heap. Her right ankle twists awkwardly but it isn’t pain that brings tears to her eyes. It’s shame. The mighty beast roars in rage and in an instant bears down upon her with it’s sharp, piercing beak, tearing into her shoulder as she lays face down in the dirt.

Julia uses Shatter Slash against Sun Form.  Roll d20+2: 1 (+2) = 3! Miss. Sun Form takes 0 damage. Sun Form counterattacks with Sharp Beak. Roll d20: 15! Hit. Julia takes 1.5 damage. Sun Form has 10/10 HP remaining Julia has 8.5/10 HP remaining.

It hurts. Yet it compares nothing to the pain of letting the others down. Failing her allies so early in their trial. Her arms quiver and shake beneath her as she tries to support her weight and get back up again.

She cannot fall here.

Anxiety claws it’s way out of Elincia’s stomach, burning her throat as she tries to push it down. Something is very wrong in Rusalka. That much is certain, no matter how much the ‘locals’ insist otherwise. Orders from the church had them separated into groups, set to throw themselves headlong into a world where dreams could become reality just as easily as nightmares. For the sake of their mission. To rescue those lost. A noble endeavour but one that would take fine-tuned teamwork and proper planning to pull off. So Elincia did the one thing she knew she could before they started.

She threw a tea party.

Inside her tent, cushions placed around a pile of books upon which a single teapot lay. A far cry from the gardens of the monastery, or Castle Melior’s tearooms. Today was less about charming guest though, so the sparse surroundings seemed to imprint a level of spartan practicality to the occasions.

“Thank you all for coming at such short notice. And my apologies if the tea is not to your liking,” Elincia begins, keenly aware of the eyes upon her. Bowing at the waist, she forces a smile to her face. One that does not reach her eyes but masks her anxiety at least. No matter how strange and uncomfortable this feels, she has dealt with far worse. Had to command the respect of people who longed to see her downfall. She could surely encourage a group of students and fellow faculty members. “I am Queen Elincia of Crimea, but I would prefer you all do away with formalities when speaking to me. We have to rely on each other no matter what foes and dangers may find us after all. It would not do to let anything get in the way of that.”

“To those I’m well acquainted with, it’s wonderful to see you all! To those I have yet to meet, the pleasure is all mine. You may wonder why I’ve called you all here when there are preparations to be made,” Elincia let’s her smile fall slightly, expression more serious. Arms relaxed at her side, she casts her gaze over her guests. All so talented, so cherished by people waiting for them at home. It’s her duty to protect them, as a leader, as a teacher and more importantly, as a friend. “I felt it important we all speak to each other beforehand. Know the names and faces of the people we work and fight alongside. It’s also an opportunity to assess what we need to bring and do to best work as a cohesive unit, should we find ourselves entangled in battle.”

Garbed in the robes of a Saint feels sacrilegious, but with both staff and tome in hand, her weariness starts to fade somewhat. It has been a long, drawn out nightmare but at least she is equipped to be most useful to her allies. The quietly hopeful hint of a smile is painted across her face as both Andrei and Ophelia rise once more. Both radiant and glorious in their power, risen like the legendary phoenix. With both of them blazing brightly, surely there was nothing to fear.

Their foe, shaded and indistinct has other ideas though. There is nary a moment to catch their breath, to ask after everyone’s health and prepare to attack. In an instant it’s right up in Ophelia’s face and, panic ridden, Julia rushes over to his side too.

“Don’t you dare! Not my dear friend--” she shouts, clutching the Luce tome to her chest. Their is no time to call upon illusory warriors, or to prepare much aid. Julia comes to a halt, transfixed in horror. Ophelia isn’t under attack, thank whichever gods and goddesses have chosen to answer her prayers, but the vague form of their foe warps into a disturbing deconstruction of her friend. An arm here, an eye and smirking mouth over there... none of it connected, all of it lacking the bright, divine spark that makes Ophelia so wonderful. Rather, it dissects and scatters the heroine of Dusk, so terribly that if Ophelia wasn’t stood whole right next to her, she thinks she might faint from the implication. “I can hardly bear to look at it. Ophelia, is it hurting you?”

There are no wounds or marks of which she can see, but pain can be inflicted in the strangest of ways. Julia is careful and cautious to focus only on the real Ophelia, rather than the abomination before them. Something stirs though, she can feel it as she turns her head to call out.

“Everyone, be careful! It’s about to try something, I’m sure--”

Before she can finish her sentence, it’s myriad of eyes (except Ophelia’s) appear to shoot at them. Glowing light bursts from it’s eyes and whilst she, Nyna and Lloyd are able to jump out of the way in time, the same cannot be said for Andrei and Ophelia. Both frozen solid and Ophelia - her own gaze appears a million miles away. Their connection, severed abruptly, makes her wants to weep in despair. Julia takes a shuddering breath to steel herself. She must stay strong, must be brave if she wishes to be of any aid to either of them. Instinctively, she steps between the enemy and Ophelia, knees knocking together but refusing to tear eyes away from the many cold, unfeeling compound eyes that dot it’s ambiguous form,

“Nyna, Lloyd, please watch out for Andrei too. I’ll keep guard here,” and it is to her great relief that this creature without form chooses her as it’s prey. At least the others will be safe and unharmed. At least. It strikes without mercy, hitting her square in the chest with a ball of light. Almost knocking her off her feet, she adjusts her stance and balance before fighting back. What a fool she was, not to simply take Ophelia’s hand and run. Like her friend it is swift and relentless, unlike Ophelia it is determined to choke out her last breath.

Mimic attacks Julia with Luce Roll d20: 5! Hit. 1 damage to Julia Julia counterattacks with Luce Roll d20: 9! Hit. 2 damage to Mimic Julia takes 2 damage from Thorny Hide Mimic follows up with Luce Roll d20: 12! Hit. 1 damage to Julia Mimic has 38/10 HP remaining Julia has been defeated

It’s knocked out of her by a blow to the chest as her skin loses any hint of colour or life beneath it. Light, her birthright, finally brings her down in a way even the flames of chaos could not hope to. Her knees buckle beneath her as she falls forward, terrified and desperate - she had to stay on her feet, had to fight and protect her precious friends. Black tendrils dance across her vision, she cannot fight it much longer. The abyss calls out and pulls her under. It takes the last, fading morsels of her strength to please.

She expects to stir awake slowly, taking in her surroundings. Needing a moment to remember where she is. Safe, not in that blasted colosseum, battling monsters and watching her allies crumple beneath talons and beaks ripping into their skin. It’s a rather rude awakening.

She is still here, standing in the arena. The terrifying bird they faced off against is replaced by a metallic behemoth, dwarfing all five of them, and three smaller monsters. Would this nightmare never end? Julia clutches the shield the adorns her closer to her body and feels warmth emanate from it. How very strange, but certainly not an unwelcome boon.

Seiros Shield restores 1 HP to Julia Julia has 7.5/10 HP remaining

Garbed in the robes of a priest, Julia slinks over to where Andrei and Lloyd both struggle to stand. She’s hit by the crushing realisation she can only heal one of them. It leaves a bitter taste in her mouth but -- “Andrei, sir? Could you please heal Lloyd for me?” The lord of Yngvi would not be able to heal himself, but he could help relieve her burden. Choice made, she calls upon the light, warm and familiar. Yet her hands still shake - desperate to escape. Her unease is palpable and it limits her capabilities, even at something so natural to her as the healing arts.

Julia cast Recover on Andrei. Roll d20: 4! 5 HP recovered Andrei has 6.5/10 HP remaining.

He looks sturdier on his feet at least, although she had truly wished to do more for him. No longer on the brink of fainting though, she steps back and notices he carries a shield of his own. Perhaps it will be of aid to him, too.

“Oh, sir? Your shield... it may gift you yet more vigor and vitality!”