Everything around them shook and little bits of rock and dust began to fall from the ceiling. Geodane stood perfectly still as if it were only a splash in a puddle.
"It...has begun. More than....your companion....this sorcerer is a threat to...us all." Geodane said in their minds.
"Lady Serenity.....and the others can...help us.....but we must fight....our way...through."
"I'm going off the fight with our brothers and sisters, Geodane, hurry!" with that, the wind elemental soared off past the group with great haste.
Geodane began to walk towards the wall in a steady pace, stopping short of touching the rock.
"My...sister....wants to see you....please do before joining...our cause. Lady Serenity....and the others....cannot wait...much more."
As he said this, the giant earth elemental pointed Marg in the direction he intended them to go, just beyond the passage Geodane came from before. Afterward the earth elemental melded with the rock wall, becoming a part of it before his figure was gone completely.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dominic swallowed as much fear as he could, as much shame and pride as he could too. He felt it all settle like a ball of frozen mud in the pit of his belly. He kept it off his face as best he could.
"Okay, Margrett...lead on to his sister then? We'd best get a shimmy on if we're to be of use." We. Hah. The only reason he was going forward now was because there was no going back. His back felt far too light. Prudence was still topside and in what condition he didn't know. Either that or it had fallen too and was lost forever. That hurt to think of, but he swallowed that too and fell in as best he could behind Marg.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
She gave a small annoyed groan, giving Dom a look over her shoulder.
Just...follow close. I'm not sure why they didn't just lead us there directly. She put a hand to the dark cave wall, trying to feel her way down.
Be careful, it's dark in--oh. Ah. Umm. She blushed a dark blue and faltered a bit. Then she cleared her throat and kept moving.
Sorry.
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom stepped up closer and placed a hand on her shoulder, finally feeling a tiny bit of usefulness coming back to him. His voice was soft and even.
"Howbout I walk up front. I got plenty of practice walkin' without eyes. Just tell me which way to go and I'll make sure you get there without breakin' anything." He smiled in the dark, a friendly little smile.
The path was actually not dark at all, as the way was still illuminated by the mysterious crystals and strange fungus growing out of the rock wall.
Margrett and Dominic didn't have to travel very far it seemed, as they walked down a slope that led into a chamber. The room seemed the most illuminated as the light reflected off the surface of a crystal clear pool of water in the center.
Without creating a ripple, a form began to rise from the water and shape into something that resembled an intelligent creature.
"Welcome, humans," the voice was clear and very bright like a soprano, "You've come to us during a time of war against heretic magic."
The water elemental glided to the edge of the pool near Dominic. It's figure seemed that of a woman, as did it's voice. Margrett could see through her 'body' with ease.
"We are a solitary race and prefer not to meddle with mortals, but when they choose to face us in this way, we must act. This sorcerer has taken a few of us as slaves to fuel his power and mutated many humans to serve as his warriors. His foundry of war is deep within the ground as he prepares to take the surface with his dark magics and brutes."
The chamber shook around them as the water elemental spoke.
"It has already begun, Geodane and the rest of my kin have begun to fight. My sisters and I will join as well when my brother earth elementals have created a path for our pool to follow. This fool has been using our water at his leisure for far too long. I, however, have a different task ahead of me."
The water elemental turned her head from Margrett and Dominic.
"I being what I am," the elemental said almost as if embarrassed, "I can't leave far from a source of water, my source of power, I'd like one of you to be my vessel so that I may heal Lady Serenity and any other humans who are possibly injured."
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dominic had heard stories of vessels and posessions and all manner of odd interactions between the natural and the supernatural. His milky eyes opened, expression serious. His voice was a cautious, level tone, covering the apprehension he felt.
"What would the vessel need to do, and how would it affect them?" he asked plainly. Part of him wanted to bravely bark out he'd gladly do it to save an innocent. Part of him thought that he'd just make a botch of it and cost more lives. Yet another still hammered at the walls of discipline for him to turn tail and find another way out. That voice was quietest, but even whispers are damn persuasive.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Margrett smirked, already trying to work through what "vessel" could possibly mean.
Oh, the jokes I could make... Dom had already asked the pertinent questions. She still smarted a little from his slight condescension, as justified as it was.
The water elemental seemed to giggle, before placing a hand on Dom's cheek. The sensation against the musician's cheek was very cold, at first, and yet it became oddly relaxing.
"You should feel honored, human, none of my kin would belittle ourselves in such a way for any of your kind, unless you were a servant of Yggdrasil. I only require one of you to carry me, I needn't manipulate your bodies further. I would simply join my life water with yours. You will feel heavier, and rather cold at first, but the sensation will pass."
She glided back a bit from the both of them, "I can also help protect one of you should any among you lack experience in battle, though to be quite frank, none of you look equipped for war."
Last Edit: Feb 10, 2012 20:00:41 GMT -5 by Serenity
I'm fine, hun. I can be pretty resourceful. She look to Dominic.
You okay with carrying her around?
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom tilted his head and shrugged slightly. Protection sounded wonderful about now, and he tried to keep the elation off his face. He bowed deeply to the elemental, the gooseflesh still rippling out from where he'd been touched.
"It would be my honour to carry you then. Anything to help the lady."
Anything. Yes. He desperately needed to rid himself of another wave of guilt for not being more effective at helping. That happened to him quite a lot, guilt coming unbidden to him. Perhaps he'd be absolved of this particular sin, percieved or not, by doing this thing.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
"Very good then, mortals." it looked like the water elemental was smiling, it was difficult to tell with her form.
"Please step into the water."
They did, slowly sinking into the pool as they progressed. Suddenly, another quake, it sounded very close.
"Ah, good, Geodane has always been one for perfect timing. Our way is clear," she turned to Margrett, "You will need to take a deep breath."
More water elementals began to rise from the water, "My sisters will carry you through the waterway into the heart of this battle, be prepared."
Looking back to Dominic, the water elemental placed both her hands on his face, "Water is life, it sustains and nourishes ourselves and our world. And so drink of my life water, so that it may keep you from withering."
Dominic felt a very cold sensation on his lips, at first, that's where the melding began. Margrett, on the other hand, saw that the elemental had given him what looked like a kiss.
Suddenly she lit up brightly, and the water she was made of began to line Dominic's entire being. The water wrapped around him, then in an instant seemed to be absorbed by the musician. Dominic felt a cold rush throughout his body, and he indeed felt slightly heavier than before, like if had just drunk gallons.
"So dramatic that one. We must go." said one of the other elementals.
A whirlpool slowly formed in the center of the pool, and it drew both Margrett and Dominic in while the other water elementals stood perfectly still in their place. They were sent spiraling under the water and suddenly were carried by a strong current. It all happened so fast.
Moments later, they came to the other side, running though a large metal pipe first and then landing in a man made pool of water. When they recovered, the smell of sulfur filled their lungs, along with iron...and blood.
It seemed like they were in a hellish place, a large red cavern lit by the fires burning for miles it looked like. Crude looking buildings and tents crowded the interior, all made of metal and wood. Fire pits for heating metal and smelters could be seen littered about.
A large crash caught their attention, to their left Margrett saw three of the brutes being handled by a single large golem. The earth elemental crushed one with his large arm, hammering him over the head. Margrett and Dom could hear the sound of bone breaking from where they were.
Another one of the deformed humans came from behind and, with an overhead swing, brought down a large hammer to the back of the elemental, forcing it on it's knees. Another came, and seemingly with all it's might brought another hammer across the head of the elemental, breaking it apart.
Last Edit: Feb 11, 2012 6:29:34 GMT -5 by Serenity
Margrett kept near Dom for the moment, looking around to see if there was any cover she could use to sneak up on one of the mutants or ambush them. Their equipment looked shoddy, but it was better than her fists.
Dom...are you alright by yourself?
Dominic [M:123:1420:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=382&page=1#14144][b]Let me tell you a story...[/b][0:No encore today][1:You have my attention]
Dom breathed in hard to get air back into his lungs and for just a moment he paused before stopping Marg from leaving just yet.
"Wait. Here, take this." He reached into his pocket and withdrew a coiled piece of thick steel wire, a lute string he had in his pocket. "Get this around one of their necks and pull hard. I don't care if you're a giant. If you need air to live then you'll be on the floor in seconds if you're without it."
He steadied himself with his staff, trying to get used to being so heavy, and having that odd cold about him. It felt really strange and not entirely pleasant.
"What now? What should I do?" he asked, white eyes open.
Love, like Hope, has too few letters for a word so powerful.
Dom heard nothing for a moment before a mellow ringing sensation filled his ears.
"We search for the mages, and avoid danger if we can." the elemental inside him said simply as if it were an easy task. "Look for a spire within this cavern, a large ghastly thing..."
Then she remembered, "Oh right, you lack sight, forgive me mortal. I'll direct you as best I can, I sense the others are near. Move eastward from where you are, and avoid any loud, obvious signs of battle. My brethren are everywhere."
The remains of the earth elemental sank into the ground as if it were being swallowed up, the event catching the attention of the hulking humans as they stared on.
"Sees dat! I clobbered it good I did, deze magik things ain't so tuf."
Almost on cue a sink hole formed under the three brutes and swallowed them whole, taking them in almost instantly. Soon after the earth elemental revived and rose from the earth to fight again.
A bolt of electricity shot seemingly out of nowhere and struck the elemental, making it stumble back on the ground. Margrett could see what caused it, a strange hulking man in ragged robes holding a crude staff.
"Yous ain't the only one who can dos magik, rocky." he said in dunce voice.
With him, three other brutes with clubs ran after the elemental to beat it to pebbles. The caster seemed preoccupied with the elemental to notice Margrett or Dom.
This was not the only sign of chaos, throughout the huge cavern, explosions, cries, and fighting could be heard all across the crude fortress, and at it's head was a large spire at the end of it all that seemed to reach the ceiling.
Last Edit: Feb 14, 2012 21:30:10 GMT -5 by Serenity