#t:there are lines on the floor

[amitieos]

"Caeda, don't talk like that." Her voice comes out harsher than expected, and it's an effort to lift her arms at this point. She fixes her gaze on Caeda. Truth be told neither of them can take much more punishment but now is not the time for giving up. "You're still on your feet. You've been so brave, let's not give up until the very end, okay?"

Elincia steps over to the younger woman, offering her arm to help support Caeda. It makes swinging her lance a little harder but there's more to gain in camaraderie than the glory of battle. Surely, Elincia thinks to herself, surely this round of the training simulation can't last much longer...

Elincia 5/10 HP attacks Prima Materia 44.5/50 HP with Wishblade Roll d20: 2! Miss. Artist of the Beautiful triggers. Roll d6: 1. Sin counterattacks Elincia. Roll d20: 11! Hit. -2 damage, mitigated by Elincia's +3 defence. No damage taken. Furor Poeticus roll: 2! Elincia is unaffected.

Be it exhaustion, encumberment or trying to shield Caeda, Elincia isn't nimble enough to dodge the retaliatory attack. The blow dents her shield but it remains intact, as does her resolve.

"You're not hurt, are you Caeda? That's all that matters to me right now." Elincia turns her head to Ratatoskr and waves her spare arm. "Hey, think you can take one last shot at it for us? Show it the strength of our courage!"

@ourdivinehands

there are lines on the floor — team 3 ; silver round

[amitieos]

"Excellent work, Caeda! It's an honour to fight at your side," Elincia can't help but feel a great deal of pride, watching the young queen stand tall and continue the fight. Lance in hand, Elincia follows suit, swinging at the Prima with all her might. Still unaccustomed to heavy armour however, her attack is clumsy and graceless.

Elincia 5/10 HP attacks Prima Materia with Wishblade. Roll d20: 4 Miss. Artist of the Beautiful triggers. Roll d6: 6. Nergal counterattacks Elincia. Roll d20-2: 3! Miss

"Well crackers, that didn't go to plan," she mumbles, managing to at the very least sidestep the counterattack. At least it could still be worse, Elincia reminds herself, as she prepares herself to keep going. "Sorry about that! I'm not used to all this heavy plate... still, let's give it our best shot, Caeda!"

@arcaeda

there are lines on the floor — team 3 ; silver round

[amitieos]

Shamash takes a swing for her, one she manages to side step in spite of her armour. Unfortunately she isn't quite quick enough to move out of Nabu's range in time but her shield soaks the blow for her. Her mind stays calm, collected as she assesses the battlefield - that is until she sees Byleth fall to the ground, eyes fluttering shut in exhaustion. A scream tears itself from her throat, an equal mix of fury and terror. It almost overcomes her but the red mist dissipates when she hears Caeda's voice. She's not alone in this.

"You did great, By. Let me take it from here." Elincia whispers, kneeling by her friends side as she tries to keep track of how far they've come. How much longer they have until Prima Materia unleashes another attack. "I can try and break it once more but..."

But Caeda was already unsteady on her feet. Both herself and Ratatoskr could easily weather another blow but could the same be said for Archanaea's queen?

"Caeda, get behind me and brace yourself. This is going to get ugly," yet the Prayer Ring on her finger might just be enough to keep her standing, as long as they remained alert and prepared. Lance aloft, Elincia steps forward ready to strike, turning back to her allies once more to strengthen her resolve. "Ratatoskr, hold on tight. It's about to unleash another attack."

Elincia 8/10 HP attacks Sin with Wishblade. Roll d20: 7! Hit! Sin is broken for one turn. +1 stack of Divinity to all players (Total: 4) Prima Materia unleashes Chrysopoeia. All players take 7 - Divinity damage. (7-4=3 HP damage taken) Elincia has 5/10 HP remaining, Ratatoskr has 7/10 HP remaining. Caeda's HP is reduced to 0; Prayer Ring's Miracle procs, Caeda survives with 0.5/10 HP. Prima Materia is now vulnerable to damage.

It feels like a storm sweeps them up, a raging tempest that refuses to relent. An eternity passes, at least in Elincia's mind, before calm returns to the world. All three of them are looking a little worse for wear but they're still able to fight on. She offers her arm to Caeda, a weary smile on her face.

"Are you feeling okay, Caeda? If we can just hold out a touch longer, I think..." her gaze finds Byleth, still out cold on the floor. She's not taking that lying down. "Our enemy is vulnerable, let's give it all we have!"

I'll make you proud, Byleth!

@arcaeda or @ourdivinehands

there are lines on the floor — team 3 ; silver round

[amitieos]

Furor Poeticus roll: 3 (From Inanna Counter) Elincia is unaffected.

Her heart catches in her throat as once more, the sombulon's focus down Camilla. They pay herself little to no attention, perhaps aware of the fact their attacks will do little to break her defences. Watching her fall however is painful, it awakens the same panic, the same fury she felt watching Lucia prepare to sacrifice herself. Her hands tremble - though she knows that Camilla will be fine, that this is nothing but a training exercise, it does little to quell the anguish in her heart. She strikes out blindly, recklessly and with little regard for who she hurts.

At least it isn't an ally.

Elincia 8/10 HP attacks Sin with Wishblade. Roll d20: 12! Sin is broken for 1 turn. All players gain +1 divinity (1 stack)

But foolishly, she wastes the opportunity to strike the Prima Materia itself. Instead she takes her anger out on Sin, driving her lance through it in frenzied acrimony. It breaks, buckling under the strength of her blow. Elincia bites her tongue to hold back a curse, how could she let her frustration get the better of her. Let old wounds reopen and control her actions even years later. It's utterly shameful.

Yet she still trembles like a child, terrified, heartbroken and devastated. A dry sob is choked from her throat as she tries to pull herself together.

"I'm sorry, I--" Elincia stops herself, there's no excuse for her actions. For her selfishness. Instead her head hangs low, staring at the ground. She swallows the lump in her throat. "We need to work together, I know. I'll do better, I promise - for Lady Camilla's sake."

there are lines on the floor — team 3 ; silver round

[amitieos]

"Lady Camilla, are you al--" her call of concern is cut short as Prima Materia launches an assault on all five of them. Elincia's armour provides no protection against the wave of energy that surges forward. She can do little more than grit her teeth and bear it.

Prima Materia unleashes Chrysopoeia. Inflicts -2 HP on player and all allies. Elincia has 8/10 HP remaining

Their foe leaves itself vulnerable and open to attack however and with only a lance in hand to support her allies, Elincia's grip tightens around it's shaft. Her steps forward are lumbering and indelicate, encumbered by the weight of the very shield that protects her. After a long, drawn out breath to gather her courage and bolster her defence, Elincia raises the lance, swinging it in a wide arc. Yet she has no practice manoeuvring weaponry around shields and plate; the strike misses as it's momentum throw her momentarily off balance.

Elincia 8/10 HP uses Glowing Ember with Wishblade against Prima Materia 50/50 HP Roll d20=2! Miss! Prima Materia 50/50 HP cannot counterattack. Prima Materia is vulnerable for three more turns.

"How is it so agile?" Elincia grumbles under her breath. Neither herself nor Caeda had managage to even graze the wretched thing. "Perhaps we should adjust our strategy? Better to land one solid hit rather than none at all."

there are lines on the floor — team 3 ; silver round

[amitieos]

“You’re right, La— Caeda, Camilla will be fine. We all will be, and every mistake is a learning opportunity,” Elincia follows Carda’s lead, dropping formalities in exchange for camaraderie. As teacher and ruler she still had much to learn. There was ever room to grow, which was to be cherished. She offers a relieved smile before turning to see Ratatoskr raise her staff to aid Byleth. “Take care you two. I believe in us. I’m going to try and draw its attention my way!”

What else were shields and armour for, if not to protect? Elincia tightens her grip on the Wishblade, stepping forward and squaring her shoulders as she faces the behemoth before them.

“Hey you! Yes, you! I will not stand for your villainy and violent acts any longer,” Elincia bellows in an attempt to ‘trash talk’ her for. With a furrowed brow, she charges forth, lance swinging. “Your skills are lacking and your battle stance clumsy and uncouth. You cannot hope to prevail!”

Elincia 8/10 HP attacks Sin with Wishblade. Roll d20: 6! Hit!

Sin is broken for one turn!

Her lance skewers through Sin. Elincia pulls it back out, triumphant and proud. It reels backwards, away from her teammates.

“That’s right! Cower like a child against our might!”

there are lines on the floor — team 3 ; silver round