[IC] FIre Emblem: Order of Pharasma

[Rogue Colm]

Location: ???

The Goddess sits in front of a handful of regular people. Each person just as confused as the next. Behind the Goddess was a spiral that started from the floor and continued into what looked like a mirror, simply showing a reverse image of the area they're in. She addresses you all:
"I am Pharasma: keeper of the balance. I have been tasked with keeping Light and Darkness, Good and Evil, Yin and Yang, in balance. I care not for your trivial thoughts or beliefs, just that you assist me. You will learn that not all balance is kept for the heroes. No task will be to simply aid heroes to their end goal. You will be asked at one time or another to hinder the progress of a heroic party. Possibly kill a member of said party. This is all for the greater balance. Trust in me as my missions always will keep the balance. Whether or not you recognize the area you are sent to will matter little. The parchment will guide you to a location and point in time. Once there, it will give a target and highlight it, so you don't miss. Trust the guide I give you. I will not lead you off-balance."

Cecelia looks at the other chosen few. Seeing the confusion, Cecelia listens to the Goddess and thinks of how she could have been so "balanced", but nonetheless likes the idea of seeing so many different places. With the Goddess' last words, she started walking without thinking down the spiral, which was turning from a mirror into something. It was changing into a place that seemed very different from her home land. The Goddess transports her newfound Guardians to this realm:

Location: Archanea; Kingdom of Altea

Parchment's writing

Assassins have come for the Prince. You must keep them from reaching the castle. If they reach the castle, all hope is lost for this kingdom. There are 2 assassins, but be warned: they are greatly trained.

[LadyTale]

Enarrion followed the other girl down the spiral, paying little mind to her new companions. Once she reached her destination, she read the words written on the parchment. "Assassins, hm?" She frowned slightly, having a great dislike for assassins. "Tch. Cowards." She drew her sword, testing the edge. As always, it was razor sharp. "We'll take care of them."

[Rogue Colm]

Cecelia took in her surroundings. They were atop a hill that overlooked the castle, though they could see only two sides, it wasn't but a few yards from them. The other side of the hill that faced away from the castle could view two horses galloping towards the castle, but headed for the second side they could see, meaning it had to be the assassins. In front of the castle was a huge mob of people, both defending and defying the castle. Cecelia estimated the distance the riders had to go and figured wind strength and direction. "Five minutes before I could shoot them off their horses." Cecelia mumbled her calculations' results as she started examining her equipment: first the bow, then each arrow. All the while talking to her new... coworkers in a quiet, yet steady voice. "So who are you? Not many swordswomen in Tellius, and even fewer dragon riders. Two major wars wiped most of 'em out. We have five minutes before they are in my bow's range, and at that, it'd take us a good... three or so minutes for you to get into slicing range, and would take your wyvern at least two to get to the assassins, with them running in terror from the huge lizard; no offense, Mr. Dragon. May as well strike up a conversation with you lot. Names?" Being straightforward, she asks her fellow Guardians of Balance their names.

[Phaesaris]

Elanzo felt Yorke shudder anxiously from beneath him as they and their companions entered the spiral. The wyvern didn't take too well to new surroundings, and even less so to new people. He petted the dragon's scaled head calmingly, staring curiously at the people around him. "Easy, buddy..." he whispered. "You aren't the only one who's alarmed..." He glanced over to the parchment and nodded understandingly. Defeat the assassins. The rider rested a hand on his axe, a small bit of comfort at the familiar grip. It was a simple enough command. But writing was never as easy as action.

Elanzo turned his attention to a girl asking for introductions and bobbed his head in greeting. "My name is Elanzo," he greeted, careful to keep his voice formal, "and 'Mr. Dragon' here is Yorke." The Wyvern gave a small growl as his name was called and gave the unfamiliar companions a suspicious glare.

[LadyTale]

"Enarrion of Jehanna." The swordmaster in training gave her name, but did not turn to look at her companions. She sheathed her sword, waiting patiently. "Remember, these assassins are well-trained. It might take more than a single arrow to kill them. If they come closer, I can take them."

[Phaesaris]

The rider hefted his axe into his hands, the heavy weight fitting satisfyingly in his hands. "Hopefully they won't get that far, then." Elanzo's eyes lingered on the assassins before shifting to his companions. "As much as I'd like to burst in and knock the bronze out of them, what we need is a plan. And fast."

[LadyTale]

That caused Enarrion to turn her gaze to her dragon riding companion. "Do you question my skill?" Her words were impersonal, cold. She was proud of her prowess with the blade; implying that she was unskilled was a quick way to gain her ire. "Feh. It matters not." But I will show you later. "As for a plan... if archer-girl here doesn't kill them, get me close. I'll take one, you take the other."

[Rogue Colm]

"Two minutes. I'm aiming for the horses, not the people, Enarrion. I'm aiming for what I know I can hit. It'll give you two more time to swoop in on Cuddles and eliminate them." Cecelia takes aim and comtinued as she sighted. "also not sure if they're our mark. No highlight... still gonna shoot the horses down, but question before killing." With that, Cecelia put all her focus on her shot, waitong for them to dare enter her range.

[Phaesaris]

"W-what?" Alarm flashed through Elanzo's eyes at Enarrion's tone. "Oh, no! I-It's just that there's two of them and one of you and I didn't--" He grimaced as the swordswoman cut off his rambling with a cold dismissal.

'Cuddles' growled as Cecelia laid out her plan, but was quickly silenced by a hard nudge from Elanzo. "Yes, Ma'am," the rider confirmed. The wyvern spread his wings and Elanzo glanced back at Enarrion. "It'll be faster if you get on. Don't worry -- Yorke know's better than to buck off friends."

[LadyTale]

"All right." Enarrion had no clue how to mount a dragon, but she did her best, and made it up with little trouble. "Ready when you are, Elanzo."

[Rogue Colm]

Hearing agreement with her intuition, Cecelia gives a verbal timer for them. "Shooting first horseman down in three... Two... One... Fire. Go now. Second target in three... Two... One... Fire." Shooting an arrow at each "fire", Cecelia hits each horse, knocking it over. Throwing in the command to start flying, Cecelia figured the two horsemen would care to stick together rather than abandon the other in the confusion. Still seeing no highlight on them, she grimaced. Had they gone for the wrong people...? Hopefully not.

[Phaesaris]

As Cecelia released the second arrow, Yorke took to the sky with a flap of his wings. He wobbled slightly at first, unused to the weight of two people, before steadying and soaring up. Elanzo guided the dragon to the sky before steering him in a dive bomb towards the horsemen.

[Rogue Colm]

The Horsemen

As the wyvern rider descends, he begins to hear the horsemen talk. "... and we'll never reach the castle in time. All the fighting will be over and all this ride will be for nothing! Dammit!" The man on the forward horse exclaims his anger of the situation. The second man adds blandly, "great. Now we're going to be attacked by Twin Riders. Just our luck, Cain. Looks like we'll have to wait on the Prince." Both men, boasting armor that looks as though they're used to horseback combat, bear no crest or insignia. They draw their swords as they see an impending foe drop from the skies atop a wyvern. The one who, you can now tell, rode a white horse, cries out, "Have at us, fiends!"

[LadyTale]

When they were close enough to the ground, Enarrion vaulted off Yorke, landing in a crouch. She stood and drew her blade in the same quick movement. "State your names and intentions." She said, little emotion in her voice. Her sword was currently held to the side, the tip of the blade hovering just over the dirt. The swordswomen was ready to counter whatever action was made by the horseless men.

[Phaesaris]

The human-wyvern duo circled the horsemen before landing behind them. Yorke snarled and snapped, while Elanzo twirled his axe with practiced grace. "We don't want an unnessecery conflict," Elanzo readied his weapon, poised to strike, "but that doesn't mean we're not ready for one."

[Rogue Colm]

Horsemen

The horseman who was in the lead, and obviously in charge between the two, sheathed his weapon. "Hold, Cain. They don't seem to be after us." Turning to the group before them, the man explains, "I am Jagen. This is Cain. We're Prince Marth's escort out of Altea." Seeing the younger rider about to protest, Jagen raises his hand to silence him. "When there's a sword at your neck, simply do as the wielder asks, and maybe death may be avoided. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to double-time it to the castle to get Prince Marth from any Gra soldiers who've made it inside." Bowing formally to the two, the horsemen start off towards the castle.

[Phaesaris]

Elanzo stared at the two horsemen for a moment, weighing their words. "I guess that explains why you don't have highlights," he mumbled to himself as he lowered his axe. "If you are with Prince Marth, then allow us to help."

[LadyTale]

Enarrion hissed between her teeth, sheathing her sword. If what they say is true, we have messed up, big time. "You can be of more help than I, this time, Elanzo." WIth that, the swordswoman bowed slightly and started walking back towards their former vantage point.

[Rogue Colm]

The horseman Cain snorts. "Yeah, well, I doubt three of us could fly on a wyvern in time to save the Prince. Thank you, O helpful ones." The horseman walks double-time alongside the now-silent Jagen as they head towards Castle Altea. Cecelia sees two more horsemen in the distance, glowing this time. Unable to holler to her allies, she simply takes aim as they approach, seeming to draw weapons.

[LadyTale]

Enarrion looked back towards the horseman who complained, catching a glimpse of the other two horsemen in the process. There. They must be the assassins! Without a word, she took off, running towards the castle, hoping to intersect their path. She knew she couldn't run as fast as a horse. Her only chance was to get between them and their target.