Your head spinning, you look up and see painted horses on a carousel that is running rather too fast as you lay on your back on the spinning wheel of the floor.

This is not too bad.

And then you notice the painted wooden horses are moving, and they have sharp teeth, and they are starting to kick you...

And you smell hay, and do hear horse whickers.

You open your eyes to see yourself laying in fresh hay in a stable with a horse.
This would not be too bad, but the horse looks like its made of metal.  It turns and breathes out steam.

"The Child of Prophecy has returned. Oh, great. What did I do to deserve this?"

It begins to softly, for a metal horse anyways, bang its head on the stable wall.

PT

"What the...?" I murmur as I look around the stable.  "You!"  I say as I cast my gaze over the horse, recognizing him.  "Am I... in... Lakraine?"  I ask it slowly, not really believing what's going on.  Does this mean the prophecy can still be fulfilled?  This is... a little... much...

I sit up, rubbing my temples.  "I didn't know this was possible... if I am where I think I am."

"Yup, its Lakraine all of it.  But things have changed since you'were last here six months ago.  The assasins addmitted to magicking the air elemental  to trick you.

In fact they trumpeted their victory over the "Impostor Herald."  You're getting killed made a lot of people los efaith."
PT

Ah, yes, that blasted air elemental.  Memories of it run into my head, and I quickly force them out as a rather unfortunate incident.  "Well, in that case," I say slowly as I stand up.  "I suppose my return will restore some faith.  And, wait, six months?"  I half-close my eyes, trying to think how long it has been for me.

"Hmmm... I suppose that's around the right time.  I guess time passes at the same speed on other worlds as well.  So, do you mind explaining who the assassins are?  Oh, and how can I get in contact with the Librarian?"

"Never can tell with Humans.  You sort are a messed up species." Says the metal horse that you've never met before a few minutes ago.

"It will be hard to reach the Librarians.  They got attacked by the some of the Core Lords, the richest of the Lakrainians, in a group that claimed the Librarians were reviving an ancient religion, and causing disharmony.  More than a few Librarians were killed, but Talanday has survived several assasination attempts.  So, they've pulled themselves back toward the Eastern edge.  There's rumors of some nasty things happening out that way.  The assasins call themselves the Minstrels.  They say 'Party on, the end of the world is not nigh, and pass me a mug"

The horse sighs.

"Plus theres the group that went hard core in believing you.  Inspired by your girlfriend.  There's lots of them scattered about."

PT

"Elle?"  I ask, raising my voice.  "She's alive?"  I begin pacing slowly.  "All right... good... good... that's good.  Do you know of any way I can get in contact with her?"  Yes... contacting Elle would be the place to start.  Most definetely.  Once I find her again, hopefully she'll be able to guide me to Talanday.  Hopefully.

"Or, I suppose, at least one of those groups."  I could probably get in contact with Elle from there.

OoC: Oh, whoops, I thought it was the horse from the start from the last time.  XD

"The Lady Elle is in the Outer Rim in a fortress is what people say.  A number of the Minstrel Lords have promised to kill her, and there's talk of a war fleet going to do it, but I don't know how serious that is."

He sighs like an old steam radiator, and then kneels.

"Get on my back.  I'll take you to where some Heralders meet."

After you get on his back, and at his insistence put on an old robe that covers your head, he takes you out into the city which is in some sort of deep bowl with hills rising all about it.  Soon enough, he walks to the edge, and you can see the thirty acres of the city is floating in hot magma.

PT

"So now what?"  I ask him.  I'm grateful for how far he's taken me, undoubtedly, but the task of meeting with the Heralders (And it's still quite hard to believe there's a whole cult worshipping me!) was important now.

"I'm assuming we go in there, but how exactly?"

He clatters his metal hooves on the granite rock of the road a bit nervously.

"Its supposed to be a ford, but its higher than I remember.  I can't burn from this heat, but you can.  I don't know if it goes over my head or not, and no, I can't swim."

He pauses.

"Now there is a bridge out of the city, but its liable to be guarded, and the lord of this domain is not your friend.  Although he's not a committed enemy either.  He like many is skeptical, and like many great magicians is dedicated to the current order."

PT

"I suppose it would be best to attempt the bridge," I reply, sighing.  I must remember how many people don't really like me here.  Despite those who do... there are many who are far more powerful and do.

"We'll get past them one way or another."  If they wouldn't just let me straight on through, I would simply have to fight my way through, plain and simple.

OOC: Time for a GE roll...20. Not so good.

IC: You ride down the street at the edge of the magma as it curves around to the right, and spot a black basalt bridge without rail across the magma.  Its wide enough to take a carriage across, but thats it.

In the center of this seventy foot span that goes from city to the near vertical wall of the volcano, and a tunnel through that wall, stands two men, guards who are checking passerbys on a somewhat infrequent basis.  They're eating lunch as they stand there, and it seems obvious they're paying more attention to checking out the validity of the passage of any attractive females than they are doing their job.

One is leaning against a horse made of fog.

PT

OoC: Well, shucks... I just can't leave.  :P  If you're willing to put up with me some more...

IC: I decide to approach the men cautiously yet authouritively.  "Good day to you both," I greet them pleasently.  I try to make my way across brashly, hoping that it would be enough to get across but doubting that it would be.

They nod, although one gives you a curious glance, and you can tell he will remember your face.  But then he, at least temporarily shrugs off his concern, and they let you through.

On the other side of the bridge, you take a tunnel through the throat wall of the volcano, and out to the slope of the volcano which looks down on the Purple Sea.

A small port village with a dock and several ships sits on the beach edge a couple miles away.

PT
OOC: No problem, and welcome back.

I make my way to the village quickly, not really having anywhere else to go.

"So where now?" I muse, more to myself than to the horse.  I begin making my way through the village slowly.  "I suppose I'll have to be careful here... being outright blunt would be ridiculous.  Hey, who knows, maybe I'll just run into Elle."  I shake my head slowly at my own projected thoughts, knowing that it's ridiculous.

Deciding I should start somewhere, I head towards the dock to see what's happening there.

"You could take a boat to find Elle or the Librarians.  Or you could track down those who persecute your followers.  Or maybe, a grand arrival at a big party--tell everyone that the Chosen One is back."

The horse replies to you anyways.

PT

I ponder to myself for a few seconds, trying to think what would be the best option.  "All right... I'd rather keep my return quiet, judging from what you've said and the attacks I experienced on my last visit here.  Going on that, then, a boat would be the easiest option."

I make my way further onto the docks, trying to find a boat I could rent or simply borrow.

You do find a tall, red-bearded man who is missing his left ear, and quite bluntly states that he could use another hand.

"I don't need money as much as I need someone not afraid of work.  Its hard work making the run to the East and the Amber Sea.  Especially now that most magicians are more interested in the war than in making an honest living.  But I'll be glad to take you and your metal friend if you both agree to work."

This direction he cites would take you closer to the Librarians, but not Elle.

PT

Well... it's the best chance I've got to get somewhere on this blasted world.  It wouldn't be the first time I've ran to a Librarian for answers, either...  I smile at the man.  "No, I'm not against hard work.  I'll come along if you'll will it."

Within the hour, you and a crew of ten others and the Captain who you had just met are hard at work on the small schooner.  Since you're not afraid of work, they cut you some slack, but still you find yourself stumbling over your shoelaces, and getting in people's way as you try to maneuver the sail, and scrub the deck with a brush.

Blisters rise and then pop on your hands, and a couple of the sailors next to you chuckle unkindly about the "lily-white hands" of the noble.

PT

OoC: Lily-white?  o_O  How the heck are Mal's hands not tanned to the extreme yet?  Or doest that not change or something?  :P

IC: Idiots... all of them idiots.  I shake my head slowly, not having my usual patience for these men for some reason.  However, I was stuck with them for the next while, so I figure I might as well make friends with them.  Or, I could not make friends with them and stay away from them and not draw attention.  Yeah... that's a better idea.

So, in the end, I decide to generally stay away from the other men as much as possible, but it's not like I'd run away if they came up to me... I just wouldn't instigate the conversation.

Your hands are indeed tanned, but compared to men who have spent their whole lives out on the waves with sharp-finned fish, and crude rope, you have the hands of a sheltered child.  Their hands are covered with scars and callouses thick enough that they slide down a rope at a speed with bare hands that would burn your hands through leather gloves.

They let you be, and soon enough they are giving someone else a hard time.  A fellow forgot to tie off a rope, and it ended up trailing into the water which slowed the ship,and now means they have to dry that rope.

He responds by cursing them back, and reminding them of times they messed up.

They just yell back louder at him.

And so the day passes with hard, muscle straining work, and you soon find that the men of the boat treat you with a mocking courtesy, but also as one of them since you're willing to work hard.

You've been tagged as "Your Lordship" which is a better nick than some have on the boat.

As the night comes, you see clouds building on the horizon.

PT

OoC: I'm starting to notice a similar pattern as the last time I was here... that is, a slight lack of "hey, I can definitely respond to this and do that!"  No biggy, just noticing a trend.

IC: Despite my willingness to work, the day has definitely taken a toll on me physically and mentally.  Deciding to get some privacy (as much as one can have on a ship such as this), I walk as close to the edge I can going forward.  There, I spend a couple minutes looking at the clouds.  "Anywhere else I would simply assume it to be the weather," I mutter to myself.  "Here... I don't know if that's the weather or something trying to stop me."

Shaking my head slowly, I head to the inside of the ship to grab some supper.

"You could try to dispel the weather." Your horse murmurs from next to you.  "I'm pretty sure the Captain is worried by that line of clouds.  It looks like a growing thunderstorm to me."

Inside, you find a spot at the bench.  The food is salted pork, an apple with spots, and some sort of citrus juice that is tart enough to make your eyes water.  You're eating this not appetizing meal when a worm like thing crawls out from between the two slabs of heavily salted pork.

You hear titters from one guy down the table.

PT
OOC: Noted. I'll see what I can do.  I think I've given you two problems here.

Raising an eyebrow at the worm, I decide this may be one chance to gain even a bit of respect from the men.  Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my pocket knife and jam it into the bug.  Forcing myself, I grab the worm from the knife and swallow it whole.

Ugh... now why did I do that again?  I force it to go down, feeling it make its way down my throat.  I wash it down with some of the juice, wincing at its sourness but knowing that it's at least relatively clean in comparison.  Grabbing the pork that's left, I stand up and chew on it slowly as I walk out of the eating area.

Back outside, starting to feel a bit better from the worm, I decide to try what the horse said.  Walking to the front of the boat, I summon my water sprite and pixie.  "Hey guys," I greet them when they appear.  "Been a while, huh?  Well, it seems I should try to flex my muscles while I'm here and have a chance.  All right, let's start."  Closing my eyes and concentrating for a minute, I try to use my sprites to force the water in the growing clouds to move out of the ships' way.

It seems to wiggle just a bit in your throat, and you wonder if this was a good idea.  It hits your stomach which roils unpleasantly.  The men stare at you with jaws dropped, and making no motion while you walk out.

You throw out your magic, and feel nothing but insensate forces opposing you.  Still, its like trying to benchpress a mountain, and for a while, you're not certain you can do it.

You create strong, warm winds which hammer into the clouds, and suddenly the clouds break, and sun pours down onto your winds making them even stronger.  Swaying, you drop to your knees, covered with sweat from scalp to heel.  You're aware that if you had messed this spell up, you could have created a tornadic wind, a waterspout, and potentially sunk the ship.

"Here, there, lad." You feel a strong arm under yours lift you to your feet, and the Captain takes you to his cabin where he gives you something better tasting to drink.

Sitting down across from you, he looks carefully at you.

"Now I wonder why a mage wouldn't tell me he was one since such make far better pay than a sailor.  And the hair....who are you hiding from?"

pt

I take a gulp of my drink, washing away the taste of the worm and bitter juice.  "More pay?  Well, it's not that big of a deal.  If you want to give me more, well, it doesn't make much of a difference.  I never stay in one place long enough to use very much of it, anyways."  Thinking of that, I finger the few bills that are left in my pocket from several worlds back... all the way in Motown, in fact.  Why am I keeping these?  Bah, whatever, I don't throw anything out now do I?

"As for hiding, well..." I lower my head for a second, thinking of how to reply.  I look back up at the captain and wait another second before replying.  "There are a lot of people who don't like me, let me say that.  In fact, they all think I'm dead.  I prefer it to stay that way as long as possible, although I know it's only a matter of time before they find me."

The Captain leans back, crosses his legs, and sips his drink as he thinks.

"Well first thing I'd do is either shave that hair, give you a nice cueball, and then stain your eyebrows, or just go whole hog and stain everything.  That hair really stands out, which I suppose you know since the Prophecy.  But you don't want to be going for shock effect when you're hiding.  Too bad they killed that guy six months ago.  Maybe if people had been willing to talk like reasonable people we wouldn't be heading toward this stupid war over pride."

He sighs.

"There is a reason why I like the deep sea.  It gets you away from the stupidity of people. Now, if you want, we have a tattoo-ist on the ship.  He can put something on your neck or face.  It changes one's look a lot if you do it right."

He then turns hawk-eyed.

"Now I do have one question.  Is this group of hunters likely to show up on my ship?"

PT

I lean back slightly, taken aback by the Captain's sudden violent nature.  I then lean forward again, resting my chin on my hands.  "I cannot lie about that, and I have to say that it's a possibility.  More likely than not, no.  Only a couple other people have seen me around here, and it's impossible they knew I was coming onto this ship.  If something does happen... I'll jump overboard.  My sprite and pixie are more than capable of carrying me safely through the water."  With that, I rub the heads (as much as one can) of the two ethereal beings which I then dismiss, giving them a word of thanks for their service and companionship.

"Shave my head?"  I ask the Captain, raising my head back up.  "That I'm not going to do, I like my hair thank you very much.  Dying it... well... once I get to my destination it's going to be fairly obvious that I'm back anyways.  Word will spread soon enough and I doubt it would be worth it."  Plus it would look weird once the normal colour starts to grow back... although... my hair hasn't really seemed to change much if at all... bleh.

I sigh, realizing the inevitable.  "All right, well, what do you have to dye my hair with?  And a tattoo... hmm... I suppose we could go for that."

He grins, takes you down to the cook's galley.
And then leaves you with the jowl slabbed face of the sweating cook who feels like a thorougly villainous sort, the kind of person who you wouldn't trust with a half-dollar, let alone anything more substantial.

"Cookie, this man needs to look different, dye his hair, and give him whatever tattoo he asks for, and put it on my tab."  The Captain says.

Cookie grins, and pulls out a bag with white bone needles in them, and a leather strap with a gag in it.

"This may hurt a bit." He says with a wide grin.

PT
OOC: Why don't you tell me what you think they would have for coloring since I forget your hair color, and I'm not sure what color you want it to be.  They have enough stuff on board that Cookie will be able to manage something.  And, yes, I need what tattoo you're wanting, and what color hair you want.

OoC: Currently blonde.

IC: I look at the needles apprehensively, starting to think it may not be such a good idea.  "Well..." I start to say slowly.  "As far as hair colour goes I think jet black would be about as far as possible from my current colour."

"As for a tattoo..." I pause to think, looking warily at the needles once more.  "I suppose something along the lines of a dragon would look good.  Decent size... starting around the base of my neck going up to my eye on the right side of my face.  Yeah... that'd work."

He tosses a few things, some nut shells, some black gunk, into a pot, and it begins to bubble after a few minutes.
It stinks, and once it reduces down, and cools, he pulls you over, and begins to slather it on your hair.

He then takes you out to the ship 'shower' which is a bucket on a pole.

Sploosh! Cold salt water hits your head.

A check in a mirror assures you your hair is as black as pitch.

"Now for the fun part." The cook grins, and gets out his needles.

With trepidation, you let him begin.  His needles are not all that sharp, and you're on a pitching surface....but he does work skillfully as he can.

And you find yourself elsewhere like in a dream as the pain drives you from your body.

You're surrounded by flashing balls of light that jump suddenly from one location to another through the air.

"The One is here again."
"Yes, but he will be too late."
"Care to wager on that?"

PT

"What the heck?"  I ask, bewildered at what was happening.  The One?  Are they talking about me..?   They must be.  "What do you mean too late?  What's happening?  What are you?"  A year ago I would've been shocked speechless, but this was only one of many strange things I had now seen.

OoC: The One?  Been watching the Matrix again, PT?  :P

"He can sense us."
"Nonsense. No human has managed the Fourth Level in centuries."
"I tell you, he sees us."
"Care to wager?"
"Certainly."

One ball floats in front of your face.

"For the answer to your three questions, what would you wager, Child of Destiny?"

"Bah, he's unawares. You're a hopeless optimist."

PT

"I see you," I respond, trying to keep up a level and steady voice.  "Wager what?  I don't even know exactly what's going on besides what little I remember about the prophecy.  So wager, I don't know, my life?  What little that matters for me, I suppose."

"Yes, your life will do. Wager that you can master the Fourth Level in a month's time."  This is the skeptical one's voice.

"That is too harsh.  He is only a master of the Second Level now."

"Accept and we will answer three questions that we already know the answer too."  The skeptical one continues, and you sense he has the authority in this group to be the final word, and that he's just used it.

PT

"Wager that I can reach the Fourth Level?"  I repeat, slightly bewildered.  I don't even properly know what that is...

I rub my temples with one hand, trying to decide what the best course of action would be.  "Fine... but one more thing I want answered: can you tell me exactly where to find the Librarian?"

"We will show you to Librarian."  The kinder one replies.

"And now, your questions?"

PT

I sigh, deciding what questions to ask.  "All right, first of all... who or what exactly are you?  Secondly, what is the Fourth or Fifth or whatever Levels all about and how do I acheieve them?  Finally... is Elle safe and can I get in contact with her somehow?"

"We are the elementals of the Fourth Level.  We are the sun that is orbitted, and the planet that spins.  We are less than pure metal, but without us, metal is not. We are in you. This is your first answer.  You achieve the Fourth Level by surpassing the great arrogance of the Third Level, by understanding how small you are in the universe, and what the universe is. This is your second answer.  Elle is safe for now, and you have the tools already.  This is your third answer."

And suddenly you feel a sting, and the scent of alcohol in your nose.

"Well, me hardy, you passed out on me.  Probably for the best."  Cookie grins at you with his gap-toothed smile that does not reassure. "All done,and it should be right pretty.  Almost as pretty as Cookie himself."

The balls of light are gone.

PT

"Passed out?"  I ask, rubbing my neck and sitting up slowly.  "Well... yay.  I didn't think I couldn't stand needles... haven't had many in my life, though, I suppose."

Looking around, I try to look at the tattoo before remembering where it was located.  "You got a mirror something so I can see?"  I am small compared to the universe... well no duh, that's a given.  What the universe is?  Pfft... I dunno that one.  Elle is safe... that's good, but as for getting in contact with her... I suppose the Librarian will know more.

He shows you the work.  It winds from the side of your forehead, down your cheekbone, with one wing extending behind your ear, and then the legs with visible claws on your neck, and the long tail wound up in a spiral on your shoulder.

The colors are clear and vibrant, and many scales are well defined.

Of course, you're also dripping blood from dozens of holes.

"The traditional way to celbrate is to ride the waves behind the ship.  It helps heal the wounds, and some say it makes the colors brighter."  Cookie says with a challenging smile.

PT
OOC: Well, there's two points to the needles.  One, you might have been 'interfered' with.  After all, you are the Chosen One.  Two, these are whalebone needles.  They aren't the skinny little needles of the modern day.

And oh yes, no, I didn't get "The One" from the Matrix so much.  The Matrix was dipping into a well-used well of cultural myth and legend.  Actually, I might have been more influenced by what CS Lewis calls "the Monomyth", and others call the Messiah which if I'm remembering right means 'the Promised One'.  Keep in mind, the idea of the Chosen One, the promised deliverer who is the instrument of divine will is very old indeed.

"I... don't think I'm going to celebrate the traditional way," I stammer out, putting one hand on my neck to stem the bleeding.  "One too many ways in which that's a bad idea to try that.  Although... it would be a good idea to pour some saltwater on my neck to clean the holes."

OoC: Well, yeah, I understand that.  Meh... I've just watched The Matrix myself one too many times.  Such a good movie for testing out a new surround sound system.  The scene where he dodges the bullets just sounds so incredibly good.  *huggles speakers*

Cookie gathers the crew together, and then the Helmsman pours a bucket of salt water over your head.  You stand there, gritting your teeth as the wounds burn, with your fingernails driving into your palms, and then someone is wiping you dry.

From there, its on to a party in your honor.

Darts, throwing daggers, sailing songs bellowed out, cider and cheese, and dancing on the tops of tables and the tops of rolling barrels.

It seems that the worm and the tatto have confirmed that 'you have guts' which is the primary requirement in their rather rough life.

You get challenged to games of darts, which get more silly as the party goes on.  Can you throw a dart while being held upside down by your ankles?

And they ask if you know any good sailing songs.

PT

"Well... I know one," I admit, getting rather stoked for the moment.  "If I rembmer correctly, it goes something like this:

'Way,  hay,  an'  up she ris-es!   Pat-ent blocks o' diff'rent siz-es,
'Way,  hay,  an'  up she ris-es!   Ear-lye in the morn-in'!
What shall we do wi' a drunk-en sail-or?   What shall we do wi' a drunk-en sail-or?
What shall we do wi' a drunk-en sail-or?   Ear-lye in the morn-in'!

Put him in the long-boat, til he gets sober
Keep him there an' make him bale her
Trice him up in a runnin' bowline
Tie him to taffrail when she's yardarm under
Put him in the scupper with a hawse-pipe on him
Take him, an shake him, an try an wake him
What'll we do with a Limejuice skipper?
Soak him in oil til he sprouts a flipper
Scrape the hair off his chest with a hoop-iron razor
What shall we do with a drunken soldier?
Put him in the barrack-room til he gets sober
Put him in bed with the captain's daughter
Give im a taste of the captain's daughter
Make im sleep with the captain's daughter"

OoC: Ah... such an awesome song.  XD  There are a couple more verses, but no need to post 'em.  FYI, "captain's daughter" refers to the cat o' nine tails.

Its three more days of hard work, and your callouses are coming along, and you're getting used to the heavy labor.  The crew calls you 'Your Lordship', but its with a smile.

And then the Captain wakes you from your sleep in the hammock under the deck.

"Come."

Once upon the deck, he points off toward the port where you see billowing black clouds rising from the sea to the heavens.

"Out there is the Castle of Markos, an Elemental Master, who is continually conjuring.  Now before he built his castle there, it was the best passage between the islands to our port.  Nowadays, we rarely can take it, and even then tis scary.  But otherwise its a week more to take the Outer Passage which also brings us close to the city of Van Rogan which I don't like to visit as its lord is a plain and simple crook."

PT

"What exactly do you mean by crook?  What does he do?"  I ask the captain.  I'd prefer not to have to take the week's detour, but at the same time I would prefer not to have to face an Elemental Master.  I suppose... the detour would be best, as at least then I hopefully wouldn't be chancing death.

The Captain frowns.

"He keeps inventing new tarriffs and duties for the shipmaster to pay.  He imprisons crew for made up offenses, and then either keeps them leaving the captain short, or makes the captain pay a large fine to get them free.  And anyone who steal from your boat is almost never caught, and if they are caught its only after they 'lose' what they stole, and then they are 'punished' by some work in the fields toting rocks...and as soon as the captain leaves, the punishment ends."

The captain slams his hand on the railing.

And then he looks over at you with a not quite serious grin.

"You wouldn't happen to be interested in setting up court there, would you?  After all, he's not an elemental master."

PT

"Are there any that work for him?"  I ask.  It's basically already been decided that I'm going to go and screw over the lord of Van Rogan, but I want to at least be sure I'm not getting too over my head before I go off.  Although... it wouldn't be the first time I've bitten off more than I can handle.  Heh.

I shrug after asking my question.  "Either way, that sounds like the better option.  He gives us any trouble I'll deal with him so much as I can."

The Captain studies you to be sure you're serious, and then he nods his head.

"All right.  No, no he has no elemental masters working for him.  Such masters are invariably arrogant, and would not bend the knee to someone who did not hold as much or more power than them."

With favorable winds, and a crew enthused about kicking Van Rogan out, you find yourself three days later entering the small harbor that is overshadowed by a black hill of obsidian, and a village of perhaps a thousand people.

The palace looks to be about four thousand square feet, and more of a fortified manor than a castle.

What preparations and plans have you made, and what do you do now?

PT

I've practiced summoning my pixie and sprites and beginning fighting quickly (i.e. they expect a fight and are ready to react instantly).

As far as plans go, I'm planning on pretty muhc winging it.

They go with the most obvious plan then.

You and the rest of the crew get off the boat with a few swords, and some more oars and other chunks of wood, and a harpoon, and clamber onto the dock.

The dockmaster says something about fees, and suddenly two sailors lunge forward, and push him back against one of the dockposts which rises above the planking.  They then take some rope, and tie him up to it.

He starts to threaten the crew, and one of them smiles.

"I don't think so. Say hello to your new lord."  The sailor points at you, and the dockmaster gulps.

PT

Well... this is a bit different than I imagined.  Deciding it would be best to go on scare tactics and try to possibly save lives, I summon both my sprites and my pixie.  "This is it, guys," I say to them.  Turning to face the man on the dock, I try to lower my voice slightly, hoping for a menacing effect.  "Don't struggle.  No lives need to be lost in this as long as you comply.  Do you know where the lord of this port is right now?"

He breathes in deep, thinks, and then nods slowly.

"He would be in his manor, probably on the Captain's Porch up top for his breakfast of oyster and fried squid, and pakci sauce.  I get to share his breakfast twice a year, while he  eats like a great lord all the time.  Everyone thinks I get a big cut of the goodies, but he takes almost everything I bring in.  Barely leaves me enough to support my wife, children, and my mistress.  And I have a bunch of greedy relatives who always want a 'loan'."

There's a bit of sullen resentment there to his erstwhile Lord and Master, and general whininess about his life.

PT

"I'll leave it to those gentlemen currently holding you to determine if you're telling the truth about your cut or not because, well, quite frankly... it's not like I've ever met you before.  As for the rest of us, well... I suppose it's off to to the manor."  And, with that, I begin making my way to the manor.  Once I get there I'll decide what to do.

You walk through the town with the merchants, and out to market ladies ducking into stores, or into alleys as you pass, and the kids just staring at you in disbelief until their mothers appear to drag them off.

Soon the streets are deserted.  It takes another quarter of the town through empty streets for you to get to the manor.

Its got stone walls fifteen feet high with minor ramparts, and a 'tower' in the center.  The door is heavy wood, and iron-banded.  There are no windows, at least on the bottom.  There are windows near the roofline in the center from which grows the tower.

And to the left there is a porch on the roof of this rectangular building.

You can see several men up there.  One is well-dressed in light armor and has a longbow in his hands held easily.  Another is trying to get his leather armor on.  And the fourth has silk of red and purple covering his expansive stomach.

The last holds up a golden horn.

"You there, retreat or my man here will puncture you with arrows while I call forth the town's militia to have you scurvy lot hung."

PT

"Amorphiciss, burn the door down," I order my fire sprite.  I know he can start it on fire without too much trouble, the only question would be how long it would take.

Looking back up at the lord of the town, I judge the man with the bow and he good he was.  I had a fair bit of training dodging and blocking projectiles at The Academy, and in preparation for his arrows I pull out two kunai from my ankle holsters.  "I highly suggest you rethink your plan," I say to the lord, holding one kunai like a normal dagger and the other in a reverse grip ready to block any arrows.  If there's a sign he'll actually fire an arrow, I'll throw my kunai at him.

"Epotus, Metaquifer," I say, my voice hurrying.  "Make some steam using the fire.  Don't slow it down too much but make enough cover that it'll be hard for the archer to aim at us."

The archer looks relatively dangerous.  The rest of the men not so.

Van Rogan turns to you as the steam begins to rise.

"Can we come to some sort of arrangement?

PT

"What kind of arrangement are you thinking of?" I call back.  "I'm perfectly willing to talk if you'll kindly order your men to stand down and open the gates."  I'm not going to trust the man any time soon, but accomplishing my goals without death would always be the better option.

"Well, that I can't do, Master Magician.  But what I could do is lower a chest full of gold and mother of pearl over the wall, and in turn, you and your crew go on your way with nary a problem from me."

He smiles his best ingratiating smile, the one that says "I'd really like to help you, but I simply can't."

The crew with you, they perk up when they hear this offer.

PT

I shake my head slowly.  "Do you realize the power I wield compared to you?  If I really wanted, I could simply come and take the gold from you.  In fact, maybe I'll just do that."

I laugh for a couple seconds before continuing.  "I'm not talking about some one-time deal here, my good sir, I'm talking about forever.  With all ships that ever come through here.  In fact, just from what I see right now, it's fairly obvious the only way to accomplish that would be to change the order of power here."

"Kill him! Kill him!" Van Rogan shrieks to his archer who instantly pulls his arrow back, and almost brings it into line with you.  "What are you waiting for?" Van Rogan yells again.

And then the archer steps back, and points his arrow at Van Rogan.

"Safe passage for me and the other soldiers, and the payment of our salary, and I'll send him down to you." The archer calls out.

"You rotten traitor..."

"Should have paid us what you promised." The archer snaps back.

PT

"Haha!  Done and done!"  I respond to the archer, enthralled.  "You can stop now," I tell my summons.  No need for them to do any more work, as it seems as though the situation had quickly shifted in my favour.

Van Rogan draws a jeweled dagger, so his once soldiers grab him, and toss him over the edge, and down to you.

You hear something go <snap> when he lands fifteen feet down on the stone road.

He leans back and howls.

"My leg, my leg, you ungrateful curs, you broke my leg!"

The soldiers on the roof stare, shrug, and one of them enters into the building. The Captain claps you on the shoulder.

"Hail the new Van Rogan! Master Magician and Lord!"

The sailors cheer.

PT

A feeling of pity comes over me as I look at the man, but I quickly shake it away, knowing it had to be done.  "I'm not the master of this town," I say somewhat quietly.  "I can't stay here.  Someone else will have to take charge."

I walk over to the ex-Lord slowly and stand over him.  "Do you repent?"  I ask him.

The Captain looks startled at you, and then with a thoughtful glance. "Well maybe my first mate would do?"

You know him as a quiet, occasionally sullen man who gets his jobs done, and then checks on the crew before going to sit at the railing and look out over the sea.

Van Rogan is frightened of you when you approach, but when you ask him if he repents, he begins on a long line of complaints on how rough he had it.  How the villagers conspired against him to deny him his lawful rents, and taxes, and that he needed the fees to make up for all the extra work he had to do.  And it was only fitting that he wore velvet considering how stressful his job was, and didn't you think it was unfair that he had such a small town to run instead of a large city which was his right and due.

This goes on for nearly five minutes, before he stops to take some breath.

PT

"I gave you a chance, but you chose not to repent," I say to him coldly.  I push his leg with my foot and then turn and walk away from him.  Thanking my sprites and pixie I send them away for now.

"Do what you want with him," I say to everyone else.  "Quite frankly I'm not sure if he has any morals left.  Now... let's get into that building to see what we can do with the money he left."

You hear a grunt from behind you, and you see him raise up to try to stab you in the stomach with the dagger he had drawn on the roof, and hid under a leg.

"You ....!"

And the First Mate flings a knife that spins under your crooked right arm, buries itself shaking all the way up to the hilt in Van Rogan's throat.

The former lord falls over, and his eyes glaze. He's dead.

PT

I shudder slightly, having been forced to watch death yet again.  "Thanks," I say to the Firt Mate as I continue walking away.

"All right... I want to get out of here and continue on as quickly as possible.  Let's sort the money out and see how much this guy really was keeping for himself."

His treasure room is bolted with a huge key which one of the soldiers gets from around the body's neck.  It opens easily since its well maintained and oiled.

A soldier confirmed that the former lord spent at least an hour every day in the room.

Inside the hundred foot square room, you see several treasure chests with their own locks, and a stack of copper bars twenty worth, and a tapestry of the village with rental or ownership agreements post around it.  The lord seemed to have outright owned about a fifth part of the village, and had designs on the rest.

There is also a gold cup with gems on its top edge, and a bottle next to it.  Both these sit on a small shelf.

Last there is a wooden chair in the corner.

PT

I make my way around the room slowly, my eyes widening at the sight of all the wealth.  "Man... if only I needed the money," I chuckle before heading over to the wooden chair and tapping it a couple times with my foot.  "I figure he'd have a better chair in here, but whatever."

Looking back over at the room, I realize there's a distinct lack of true wealth.  "Hey... where's all the gold?  The really plush chair?  This seems kind of... off... to me.  I dunno, it might just be me."

"Maybe its in one of the treasure chests."  One of the sailors says, a bit eagerly.

"This is but a small village.  Even as tightly as he was squeezing it, there's only so much one can get from it."  The Captain explains local economics.  "Those copper bars represent a fair bit of wealth, enough to buy my boat, I'd say, easy."

You sit down in the chair.

PT

I shrug.  "Heck, it's not my money anyways.  Pay the guards and then let your first mate do what he thinks should be done with the rest of."  I stand up slowly, stretching my fingers out.  "I'd like to get going as soon as possible, if that's all right with you," I say to the captain.

Captain nods, and you step out with him as the First Mate arranges to take some of the copper bars back to the ship via telling the sailors what to do.

And then you hear a small pop!

And then yells and near shrieks of consternation.  The sailors boil out of the room filled with fear.

"He...he.."
"Vanished, sir. One minute he' slooking at treasure chest, and next...."
"Gone like worse than that guy I saw burnt to ashes. Nothing left, Isay."
One of the sailors gives you a dirty glance, suspicious that somehow you knew this was going to happen.

PT

I don't even bother looking at the sailor looking at me (OoC: grammars? >_<) and instead look at the room carefully.  I begin making my way back in slowly, looking around for any trace of the first mate.  "Did he touch anything?"  I ask the sailors behind me.  "What did he touch?"  It has to be the treasure... some... some part of this treasure must have done it.  It must be booby-trapped like I thought.  Gah!  We're fools!

It takes a bit of cross-talk back and forth, but they decide that the First Mate was probably reaching down to handle the brass padlock on the treasure chest in the corner.  Inside it, you can hear a thump, a little one.

OOC: Me? Grammar problems? Um, possibly.  I'll keep working on it.

PT

"All right, then," I say to myself as I pull out my combat knife from its sheath and crouch down in front of the chest.  "What's the best way to open this?"  Deciding that it would be best to test some random item first, I grab a copper bar and throw it at the chest.  If it seems to be okay, I'll open the chest with my knife.

OoC: I meant me and the sentence preceding that statement.  XD  You write fine, man.  'tis all fo rizzle in the hizzle meh dizzle.

<_<

>_>

The copper bar hits the brass padlock, there's a small pop, and an immediate sound like a coin dropping on coins from inside the the treasure chest.  The copper bar is gone.

PT

I stand up slowly, backing away from the chest.  "All right..." I say to myself quietly.  Trying to think of a different approach, I sheath my knife and begin pacing the room once more.  Grabbing a rock this time to not waste any of the copper, I approach the chest once more.  This time, before throwing the rock, I close my eyes and concentrate, trying to put an aural shield around the rock before throwing it.

You throw your aura around it firmly, and fling the rock at the padlock.  For a second, there is a fearful struggle, and lights flash in the room, and the ground shakes, and then the rock dissappears and you are flung back against the wall...hard.

You feel like you almost had it, but whoever maged that lock is a better magician than you.

PT

"Okay, then!"  I say slowly as I push myself up to my feet.  "I think we're going to leave that chest alone for a bit," I say to everyone gathered there.  Coughing and dusting off my clothes, I look to the captain.  "Anyone else we could leave in charge?  Or, heck, why don't we just get a town meeting together with the villagers.  That might be a better option."  And I gotta figure this freaking chest out.

"Let the villagers decide?  How would that work?  Who would tell them what they needed to do?" The Captain is a little baffled.

PT

"In my experience, when needed, people are often able to decide for themselves.  But, hey, if you think otherwise, it's your call.  I'm not too familiar with this area."  Or most of Lakraine for that matter.  "Now, let's get this sorted out so we can move on.  And maybe check the previous Lord's room for some sort of idea about this chest.  Maybe a key or something.  He has to have one."

The Captain rubs his chin, and then shrugs.  He sets out to do just that.  And you take a couple sailors to search the former Lords rooms.  You find the key quickly enough.  Its hanging on a hook next to his bed.

And with that in hand, you are able to open the box, and see inside a garter snake that looks full and somnolent.  It lays on top of a pile of gold coins, twenty-five in all, and there is a very small bar of copper in there as well, and once everything is empty you spot a pebble as well.

PT
OOC: One of my favorite traps.

"Well hello there snakey," I say to it, petting it a couple of times.  "Well, at least this stupid chest is dealt with."  And then I leave to get everything else sorted out.

OoC: Yup, very neat little trap.  And, if you can't tell, this is getting annoying at this town >_< unless you got something planned it would be nice to move on :P

The Captain gives you five gold coins, and two copper bars, and after initiating a Council, he makes them vote first thing on a set of rules to govern the polite treatment of merchant ships.  And then he leaves them to argue about whatever else, and the sailors make their way back on board.

From there, its a mere three days to your destination, a much larger city which floats upon the water due to the magic of its master.  Several dozen pillars of water rim the edge of the city, and hold the rock foundation so that it floats, or so it looks like.

  Although you are aware that the month granted by the strange little balls of energy is creeping away...

"Are you staying with us, or going ashore?" The Captain asks you.  "Mind you, I could use a new First Mate."

PT

"I'm sorry," I responded solemnly.  "I have very important business to conduct here, perhaps more important than even I realize."  That and those funny little energy balls that I made the bet with... I better not mess up... and man am I going to have to learn fast.

"So, while I appreciate the offer very much, I'm afraid that I just really can't afford any time away from my original task.  Thank you very much for assisting me in getting here, your help won't be forgotten."  And, after a polite handshake and any further goodbyes, I set off to find the Librarian.

You head to the palace, and see that it is guarded by columns of sentient fire, and that it floats in the air above the city by about twenty feet.

One of the columns of fire turns to you, pauses, and then bows.  Soon all the other columns are bowing as well.  Everyone in the street, soldiers, merchants across the road, passing shoppers, and a couple street kids playing 'kick the rotted fruit' stop what they are doing and stare at you.

PT

"It seems as though I'm remembered... or at least simply very strange," I mutter to myself as I continue walking.  I raise a tentative hand to those staring at me, giving a short wave as I move onwards towards the palace.  Let's just hope I get in to see the Librarian before anyone stops to talk to me... I really don't have a clue what I'd say to any of them if they did.

You enter even onto the steps leading up to the floating palace even as people start to raise their hands, and try to call your attention to themselves to ask you a question.  You ignore them, and walk on down the causeway between two reflecting pools filled with floating lilies, and up to the door.

The door opens, no bangs wide open, and the Librarian is there, a bit of breath.  He grabs you around the shoulders, and picks you up, and spins you around.

"My boy, my boy!  I knew you would be back. I just knew it.  The Prophecy has to be fulfilled.  I just told the others, have a little faith."

He lets you down, and red-faced pants a bit.

"Not as young as I used to be."  He coughs up some phlegm, and pats you on the shoulder, as he straightens up and his face smooths.

PT

"It's good to see you, too, my friend," I say to the Librarian.  Happy to finally see a friendly face that I recognize, my lips spread into a wide smile.  "Do you know how Elle's doing?"  I ask him, desperate for an answer to that regard.

"Nevermind that," I quickly hush him before he speaks, remembering my talk with the elementals of the Fourth Level.  "I need to talk to you about the Fourth Level," I say, my face becoming serious.

"I talked to the elementals of the Fourth Level.  I'm not exactly sure how or why, but I did.  They led me to you and explained how to reach the Fourth Level.  Problem being... I've only got two weeks or so to reach it or... well... I'll die.  Again."  For the umpteenth time.

He starts to speak, and then listens as you plunge onward.

"Fourth Level, my boy?  You're not even to Second Level yet, much less Third, and no mage has gone to Fourth in centuries."  He looks dreadfully concerned.  "Fact is, many think that the levels above third were merely amplifications of Third.  That Third got you your first Elemental Lord, and Fourth your second, and Fifth...you see?"

He pauses, and breathes deep, and focuses.

"All right. How can I help you?  Oh, I will have news for you, but later."

PT

"Apparently I'm already second," I say to the Librarian.  "I don't know how exactly, but somehow I managed to summon a nameless pixie and name him."  To prove my point, I summon Epotus in front of the Librarian.  "But... well.. if the spirits weren't lying, then the Fourth level is nothing more than understanding something that many don't due to ego and self-gratification.  But... what I want... do you know where Elle is?"  I ask him, no longer able to resist the urge.

"Interesting.  Well, it does seem clear that each level of magic requires greater and greater wisdom or knowledge, or perhaps both."  He says, and then he turns a bit pensive.  "Last month, I checked, and was told by her protectors that she is fine, but tired from her labors raising support and speaking to people.  However, there have been attempts on her life, and so they allow no magic in her vicinity, but what they control, and so I was not able to see for myself, but had to be told."

He then ushers you in to a giant table laden with a map of the world made from sand and stone and water, and populated with stick figures.  He points out where you are, and where she is, out near the Outer Rim Islands.

PT

"There's not enough time, then," I say sadly, shaking my head.  "Is there any way at all you could contact her and let her know I'm alive?  If there isn't... well... I don't really have much time to waste."  Running my hands through my hair, I suddenly realize the dire straits I have put myself in.

"Is there some way we can barrel forward to the Third level and just try to get there.  Once we get there, I don't think it would be incredibly hard to reach the Fourth... or... maybe it would.  Oh crap I don't know."

"I could send a sole water sprite to sneak through the enemy pickets, or I could send a flying wedge of fiery elemental lords to smash through, and deliver the message....?"  He raises an eyebrow and waits for your answer.


He takes you into the palace, and to a room of Working.  There he has you toss dried wood and charcoal and then place tinder carefully in the central pit.  This he lights after he summons a fire sprite with a word and a gesture.

"Come."

And suddenly there is a column of fire twenty feet tall in the room, almost grazing the stone ceiling.

"You should start with fire.  You have to master such a being with charm and with force.  Have you ever fought a guy, and then after you beat on each other, you became friends?  It is so with Elemental Lords.  They respect strength of magic, and will, and courage, and enjoy conflict.  And if you fail their test, you may well die."

He bows to the being.

"Old friend, I don't want you to kill the Chosen One, but don't let him out of the room either."

The being chuckles as your master takes a seat in the corner.

"THIS WON'T HURT..........ME."

PT

In response to his question, I tell the Librarian to not bother with sending a message if it's that much of a hassle.

As the fire elemental appears, I swallow hard.  I quickly summon my two sprites to join Epotus and then begin mulling over in my mind as to how I should approach this.

These Elemental Lords are strong, and I know that.  I'm not going to beat him outright through brute strength, but I'm going to aim on wittling his strength down as much as possible while trying to protect my own hide.

As an opening move, I decide to combine the power of my water sprite and pixie and send a large jet of water at the Elemental Lord.  While really only enough to stun and annoy a human, I'm hoping it will have more of an effect on a creature of fire.  As well, I use my own ability of water manipulation to further assist the jet.

After that, I plan to take a step back and see what happens.  I will prepare my aural guard to ward off his attack and wait for an opening.

You throw your water into him, and steam boils off filling the room like a hot sauna with dense fog.  And then lunging out of the fog, you see an arm of fire to your right and your left.

The heat rises, and your shield comes up and pushes it back to a more bearable level, but you can see the arms of fire moving together with you still between them.

PT

I hold the block up as much as I can, suddenly wondering how the heck I'm supposed to beat this thing.  Looking around, I realize I'm not going to last much longer here.  Knowing that it's a long shot, I decide to try anyways.

Looking off to the side of the Elemental Lord, I concentrate for a few seconds before trying to teleport there.  If I make it, I'll send another jet of water towards where I hope the Elemental is.

You try to teleport, but the mental focus is not there.  Nothing happens except the arms of fire sweep closer.

BOW TO ME, HUMAN.

The words sound like a blast furnace talking to you.

PT

"Amorphiciss," I say to my fire sprite hurriedly.  "Get over there and try to distract the Elemental Lord.  If you can distract him long enough, I may be able to do some damage to him.  Go!  Run!"  I continue holding the guard up, waiting and hoping that the Amorphiciss will distract the Elemental long enough so that I can try another water jet.

Amorphiciss does just that.  He dives headlong and then skims the floor and pile drives into the pile of wood and charcoal that the Elemental Lord was standing on, and scatters the burning chunks about the room.

"My fire!" The Elemental wails, and he seems to diminish, but then he stabilizes as your water jet slams into him, and knocks him into the far wall.

He seems to be waiting...

PT

So he needs fire to keep his strength up... interesting.  "Amorphiciss, knock the fire away from him again!"  I shout to the elemental.  Once Amorphiciss is out of the way I'll send another water jet, this time aiming at the ground where there is anything burning.  If I can get rid of the natural fire, perhaps the elemental will be weakened.  Or at least that's what I hope.

"Enough!" The Librarian bellows.  The smoke is sucked up into a spinning whirlwind of air at his right hand, and the fire is likewise taken into another elemental lord of fire.

The one you've been battling bows and dispapeares.

"Good. You've discovered how to defeat them.  You've seen they draw strength from fires about them.  They have their own connection to their world, and so they do not lose everything, but every additional mass of fire adds strength and energy to them.  Without that, they are less formidable.  But you forget that there is more to becoming a master of the Third than sheer power."

PT

"So... what?"  I ask the Librarian as I dust my clothes off a bit.  "Am I supposed to just... well... what exactly, then?  Am I supposed to convince the Elemental to stop fighting me or... well... what?"  I'm not afraid of admitting to the Librarian that I really don't know what else I'm supposed to do.

"It is, as I said, a matter of power and of charm.  You must make the Elemental Lord respect you, but he also has to like you.  You accomplished the first, mind you, I told him to go at half-speed, and you looked to be keeping on trying to do more of it, when you needed to have him like you.  Which is not the same as 'befriending' him.  That comes later.  Its a matter of style, of charm, of some kindness yes...you have to find your own way.  And Elemental Lords are not impressed with displays of excessive humility."

PT

I try to... OoC: ah, screw it.

I'm lost.  100 percent lost.  I spent a good deal of my time away trying to think this through and I'm still totally lost.  I have no idea what to do whatsoever.

>_<

Maybe I'm an idiot, I dunno, but I have no clue what to do.  Do I talk to the frekaing thing?  Kick its butt again while making jokes?  *smashes head against wall repeatedly*

All right... umm... yeah......... I duinno............... I request a hint! >_<

Your teacher thinks that talking to it or beating it up while making jokes are excellent ideas.

So after giving you a few minutes to recover, he summons a water elemental.

PT

"Well all right, then," I say slowly as I look at the newly-summoned water elemental.  Great... what can I do to this thing?  I suppose I could try... ummm... I don't know, maybe I could try drinking him?

"So what's up?"  I ask the elemental as I begin circling him and pull out my knife.  Thinking of nothing else but deciding to try a direct approach, I attempt to get in close and slash the elemental to see if some sort of seal breaks and he gushes out.  Ah, if only it was that simple... meh, who knows?

"Your imminent defeat, magician. Water cannot be stopped.  It destroys rocks and mountains.  What are you to it?"

You slash it, and there is a splash on your hand, and then a curling band of water wraps about that arm like a python.

PT

Feeling the water surround my arm, I quickly try to force it away by putting up an aural shield around my arm.  "Water takes too long to destroy the rock.  By the time it gets somewhat close the fires have already gotten rid of it.  And, in the process, the water leaves behind even more rock to rebuild the wall."

And, with that, I attempt to get away in whatever way possible.  If my hand gets free I'll roll away, if it doesn't I'll try teleporting.  Either way, once I've put a bit of distance between me and the elemental, I'll attempt to throw a fireball at it with Amorphiciss' help.

OoC: I think I forget to mention fireballs when I sent you my char sheet last, PT, but if you want to check Academy of the Arts I did manage to throw a few of em.

You push out the aural shield, and the water elemental pushes back.  Your shield pops like a balloon, and you get a sense of enormous strength held in check, and then it clamps onto your arm.

"I can grind your arm to dust, magician, although you do raise good points."

And then you try to teleport.

<Poof>

<Fireball>

The room fills with choking hot steam.

And then you hear a weakened voice.

"I submit, magician. You are wiser and more powerful than I."  It pauses. "Or I would, if this had been a real test. But my true master compelled me to go at halfspeed."

PT

"Well shucks," I say back to the elemental in a slightly cocky voice.  "If you had been going all out what do you think would have happened?"  I quickly shake my head as I realize the answer.  "Errr... never mind, don't answer that."  And, with that, I turn to the Librarian and raise an eyebrow questioningly, as if to ask what now?

He dismisses the creature with a word of thanks and a command.

"Well done. Power and style wins the day.  You startled the creature badly when you teleported.  They know of no one who can do this.  It intrigues them, and makes them respect you at the same time."

He takes you out, and sets lunch out for you.  There is a lot of meat, and some tough vegetables in a medley.

"This is to make you strong.  Make you fierce."

Over the next several days you practise over and over with the elemental lords of all four kinds until you are able to conquer them all, at half-speed, most of the time.

You take ice cold showers and wear the finest silks with a sword at your side at all times.

"You must be fierce and yet charming.  Power and grace. Now, ordinarily, this process goes on for another half-year.  Tell me, Chosen One, what next."

PT

After thinking for a few minutes, I decide quickly on a course of action.  "I don't think I'm quite up for taking an elemental on full-hilt just quite yet.  However, if I remember correctly," I pause here, ensuring my recollection is correct.  "I had almost-if not totally-completed my training towards air.  If possible... I'd like to recieve an air sprite.  And, if we can do it quickly, an earth sprite as well."  I shrug.  "I just think whatever help I can get will most definetely help when I try to master an elemental lord."

I pause, trying to decide if I should also ask to try my hand at getting more pixies, but then decide against it and figure getting the sprites will be enough... for now, at least.

And, of course, I dig right into the food.  Popping a couple small veggies into my mouth, I quickly get through the "balanced" portion of the meal and start stuffing my face with the meats.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:01, Mon 05 Feb 2007.

It takes two days for you to acquire Oerther, an air sprite.  You had a number of failures that made the Librarian suspect someone was trying to mess with you magically, but he could find no evidence of this, other than your faults at naming.

PT

I decide to spend a day or two with my new sprite trying various things to see if I can do any new spells with it (or enhance other ones such as my fireball).  After that, I'll attempt to fight a fire elemental lord.

You learn how to do Giant Step which multiplies your leap or step by X7, but its kind-of unpredictable as all air spells are, and vulnerable to your getting hit by air effects.  Its not good for leaping down.

You also practise combining air and fire magic to make a Raging Fireball....which sets the walls and doors of the practise room on fire, all of them, and then rapidly sheets the ceiling in flame as well, and continues to build as you're sucking in bellows like blasts of air from some far place....the magic is raging all right, out of your control, and despite the fire protection spell on you, you're blistering on your arms and face...The Librarian is elsewhere.

PT

"Oh crap!"  I shout, realizing what I've done.  Quickly summoning Epotus and Metaquifer, I begin dousing myself with summoned water (using Academy magic) and then start pouring as much water into the room as possible; preferably making a path to the door so that I can escape.

If that doesn't become an option, I will try to teleport my way out of the room.  As a final contingency plan, I'll simply try using Giant Step to leap out of the room.

You cool yourself off with sheets of water that quickly turn to choking steam as the fire rages higher as if its insulted.  But for the moment Epotus and Metaquifer are able to keep you cool in the equivalent of a continuous shower.

BOW TO ME MAGICIAN!  Roars out of the flames as you make ready with the teleport.

And <Poof> you're out of the room, and in the hall as the doorto the room shakes under the fury of the fire inside.

PT

"Was that..." I ask myself.  "An elemental?"  Turning around, I kick the door of the room open.  "Show yourself!"  I shout into the room, hoping to get the elemental concentrated in one spot.  This is bad... he's got a lot more fire than the last time I fought one... and this won't be half strength.

If there is an elemental, I'll stay outside the room and start pouring as much water in as possible, starting with the cieling and working my way down.

The fire surges back and about half of it collects into a column of fire in the center of the room.

You begin throwing water, and it throws fire at you.  Your clothes burst into flame as one, and you're hurled back into the wall behind you.

YOU AMUSE ME MAGICIAN THIS IS WHY YOU LIVE NOW BOW TO ME

PT

I quickly douse myself with water, hopefully putting the fire out (or else it's nekkid time).  "I amuse you, eh?"  I ask as I try to rethink my strategy.  "Why don't we play a little game, then?"  I begin walking towards the door slowly; cautiously.  "Why don't we play cat and mouse?  Normally, of course, I'd be the cat, but why don't you be the cat this time?"  I shift my stance slightly to the left.  "Well, are you game, or are you just going to sit there for me to destroy you?"

If the elemental accepts my challenge, I'll teleport down the hall.  If I can get it somewhere where there's nothing flammable (or even some water), then the odds would start shifting more towards my side.

You put the flame out, but your clothing is smoking and charred, and you are breathing a bit hard as you try to focus past the first degree burns on your forearms.

The elemental rumbles in laughter and agrees to your game.

It launches out a strand of fire to curl about you, and you teleport away.
It follows like a moving avalanche, setting doors and torches and rugs aflame as it goes, and then you find yourself in a large hall with little more than stone.

There are a few flags high in the air, and about twenty feet of trestle table dragged against a far wall, and perhaps ten people planning something.  They scatter.

PT

This will do, I decide as I stop in my tracks and turn around to face the elemental.  "Come!  Let us dance!  The ballroom floor has cleared for us and it takes two to tango."  Looking over at Oerther, I wonder just how much of a connection I have with him.  Either way, I refocus my attention towards the fire elemental and call up my academy training regarding wind.  I had created a decent gust there and was now hoping to do the same here.  However, with the help of Oerther, my plan was to force the air to rush past the elemental extremely quickly; like blowing out a candle.

OoC: I apologize for using the phrase "two to tango," but I couldn't think of anything else.  :P

The elemental rolls out into the stone floor, and pauses.  Its a mass of flames over man-height and in the same rough shape as a Humvee.  It slithers and sways, and you hear stones cracking underneath it.

And then you draw upon your connection to boost your magic, and send a gust that rips flags from their poles overhead, and slams into the fire.  Half of it disappears in a moment, and the rest is pushed back several steps.

And then your gust is gone, and its still here.

"Cute. Please try that again.  This time I will be ready, and will eat your air."

It throws sparks all over the room, and some land on you, and some on the tables behind you.

PT

"This is getting ridiculous," I mutter to myself as I pat the sparks down until they flare out.  What do I do now?  Ah freaking frickity frick frick.  Besides my standard water spell, that was really my only other option.  Unless... maybe... just maybe.  As a creature made purely out of fire and magic it should be merely a contest of wills if I were to attempt to control it.

"Cute, eh?  You hitting on me now.  Well, you'll have to buy me dinner first."  Reaching my hand out, I attempt to take control of the flames of the elemental themselves.  By forcing his flames to bend to my will, it will give me an easy opportunity to further attack it.

"Dinner? Hmmm....good idea.  How about we have roast magician for dinner?  Its a bit on the scrawny side, needs fattening up, but twill do...." He laughs back at you even as you reach out and feel the cords of magic wound up in its being.  You begin to grab on to them with will and strength, and it shudders.

"Wha-what are you doing? You can't do that."

It tries to pull away, and its dragging you across the floor like its a pair of Great Danes.

PT

Yes! I think joyously, now seeing that I can gain the upper hand in one way or another.  A smile spreads across my face and my gaze focuses intently on the elemental as it pulls.  "Oh no you don't!  You forgot to buy me desert!"  I say, feeling the tension in my body as I try to mentally pull the elemental towards me.  It seems there's a lot of magic these beings are unaware of.  Well... all the more power to me.

Now that the Elemental is more or less constricted, I attempt to keep hold of the Elemental and fire a water jet at it at the same time.

It screams in pain as the water hits it.

And then its crying out.

"Mercy, master. Mercy! I will serve you a year and a day, only show mercy and let me go."

PT

"Then I shall hold you to your word, noble friend," I reply as I stop the stream of water and then let my grip go on his flames.  "You may leave, but first... what is your name?"  After finding out, I stop to rest and dismiss my other summons.  It takes a few seconds, but elation soon fills me as I realize that I have just defeated an elemental.

Jumping up, I scream for joy and then begin pumping my arm.  I quickly go off to find the Librarian after my quick celebration.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:18, Wed 14 Feb 2007.

It gives you its name, and then takes its leave.

The Librarian is rushing about trying to find you.  It seems he sensed something.  When he sees your burnt, but happy face, he breaks out into applause.

"Ah, excellent, excellent."  He encourages you to tell him every detail even as servants get you new clothes, and he uses his magic to heal your arms.

"This will silence many.  You have conqured an elemental, out of control, and in ways that none of us knew.  Many will now realize you are the Chosen One of the Awe. Praise be to the Awe."

PT

I tell the Librarian of the fight as he heals me, albeit in quite a rushed and still adrenaline-driven voice.  "We don't have time to slow down yet though," I say once I've begun to calm down myself.  "There's not much time left until my bet will be up with the..." I quickly stop, trying to think of what they are.  "The elementals of the Fourth Level, that's it.  Yeah... I don't have much time and I haven't reached the Fourth Level yet."

I sit down against a wall, rubbing my temples with one hand.  "They told me I need to understand how small I am in the universe... insignificant... or something like that.  Greater level of understanding of something... I forgot exactly what."  I bury my head in my hands.  So close to my goal... yet still so far.  I don't even rightly know what to do.  I mean... I think I realize that I'm insignificant... but... maybe not.

OoC: So does he get a random name or should I come up with something?  I'd prefer to actually have a name for him, so meh.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:51, Wed 14 Feb 2007.

His name is Flrio.

"Yes, I agree with you, but you are in no condition to take on another elemental right now.  But what greater levels of understanding is a master of the four elements required to have?  This makes no sense.  If you master fire, earth, air, and water, you have the universe in your hand.  How then are you to find yourself small, and insignificant?"

He rubs his face in tiredness, and you realize he's been putting in long hours helping you.

PT

"It's..." I stop before continuing and smile at the Librarian.  "You should get some sleep.  I'll think about this, that's my job anyways, and then we'll talk more tomorrow."  I utter a short laugh before continuing.  "It's almost as though you've been doing as much work as I have, or even moreso."

Before heading to bed, I decide to spend some time thinking about the energy beings which I made my deal with.  Perhaps if I concentrate hard enough on them I'll 'summon' them somehow.  Really, though, I'm just hoping for some more guidance on what exactly I'm supposed to do.

I mean... there are higher beings than the elementals.  There are those energy beings that control them.  And if they control the elementals, and the elementals give us at least a portion of our power, then those beings in a way control us and our power.

"A lot of research looking for clues, diving into ancient archives, and translating from eccentric dialects.  And then of course, I'm helping run the war.  We're isolated from it here, but the enemy would love to break our line and burn this town to ash just to get rid of me, thee, and all the low-level mages that are summoning new elemental beings every day to send out and fight.  Any one of those would make us a target."

He yawns a bit, and nods in aggreement.

You study the problem a bit, and you feel as if you are heading in the right direction but at a wrong angle.  Its frustrating because those little fuzzy balls remind you of something, something you've seen on a page...

And during the night, you find yourself dreaming.

Your elemental lord is chastising your pixie for some pixie-ish mischief.  It says its planning to take the pixie's power from it, but the pixie laughs.

"My power is my power.  It is less than yours, but it is mine.  I only give some of it to the magician in exchange for my name."

The dream rouses me out of my sleep violently, throwing me awake.  I shoot out of bed, jumping a couple of times while shouting "Why didn't I see it before?"  After a good few seconds of this, I pause and sit back down on my bed.  "Of course... we never gain all the power.  Only ever a portion.  The elementals are still the ones controlling the elements."  I laugh once again.  "Without them we are nothing but a collection of fools."

Is this what those beings were talking about?  The fact that we aren't the ones with the power but that we're merely leeching off of the elementals?  And then it hits me: all this work, all of it, will mean nothing once the time period is up and I've lost my summons.  Right.  First thing tomorrow I'll have to ask the Librarian about summoning unnamed sprites, that and working towards another elemental.

You talk a bit about your dream the next day with the Librarian.  He explains that the magic we use is part of the magic that powers their bodies, but that we can do magic with it whereas elemental beings cannot directly do magic.

"There are theories that elementals lack imagination, or that they are so full of magic and all additional magic just makes them bigger than what they are.  But, except for the perhaps mythical beings that created the curse we labor under, I've never heard of an elemental being doing a spell."

And then he asks you a question.

"Why you, Malachai, why are you the Chosen One?"

PT

"Why me?" I reply slightly incredulously.  Bemused, I grin and shrug my shoulders.  "I can't rightly say.  Why should it have been me?  Why not someone else?  Why not one of the billions of other people living in all the millions of universes?  Hmm?  I've met other people like me, so it could very easily have been one of them."

I lower my head and shake it, pondering his question further.  "But if I would say a specific reason as to why I was chosen... I think... I think it would probably be the fact that, despite the powers I've been given, I still try to help others wherever possible.  Many a time I've helped despite being able to pick another path which would result in more power."  Heh, reminds me of Star Wars.

"Am I incorruptable or merely noble?"  I shrug once more and steady my gaze on the Librarian.  "Either way, I've been chosen, and that's what matters to me."

"I do not contest your choosing.  I would not place my advice above the Awe.  Its simply that perhaps if we can find what qualities you have that are different, then we can perhaps find what lack in ourselves that you have to make up."

He sits back, and closes his eyes.

"Your point about helping others is well-taken I think.  Its something a Librarian might say, but most of our people think the Librarians are religious fanatics.  After all, one is supposed to be concerned with the furtherance of one's own glory and power, and with defending one's honor, and making a dashing appearance at the right parties.  In fact, many others would think you a disgrace or a dupe, and perhaps that is what you are here..."

The contemplative voice fades away to be replaced by the buzzing of small balls of light.  And you're struck by the notion that you have seen these before, but in another context.

"Chosen One, you jump ahead to the end which is not bad, but the water is shallower at our end of the pool."
"Stop. Stop right there. Quit giving him hints."
"Hints? Me? I'm positive that I'm not. You need to quit being so negative.  We are all quite negative.  If because of our presence the spark of inspiration strikes him, what did I have to do with it?"
"Quiet!!"
"Besides he's earned something with his wisdom, or did you forget the point of this whole exercise?"

"Malachai. Malachai, are you okay?"  The Librarian is shaking your arm, and the fuzzy balls are gone.

PT

I shake my head, clearing it of the remnants of the vision.  I smile at the Librarian and nod.  "Course, when haven't I been.  Er... don't answer that."  I lean back and ponder what the fuzzy balls had said.  "I might be misinterpreting, but I think I won the bet I had.  Heh..."

I try to think of what the riddle might mean, but draw a blank for now.  Positive... negative... electricity?  Are they merely electrons and positrons?  "I have a question to ask you, more scientifically oriented."  I clear my throat before asking: "what do you-and not just you but your people-know about how matter is constructed?  I mean, have you heard of electrons before at all?"  It's a long shot and I will probably gain nothing, but it's worth a shot.

"People are made of water which is the blood, air in the lungs, fire which is the mind and the soul, and earth which is the muscles.  As to 'electrons', I do think I came across that term once in an old archive...talked about the Tower of the Spark.  But it was cryptic."

He leans back again, and closes his eyes.

"And in the Tower of the Spark shall he stand the electron to command unless he wishes to throw his heart upon the land."

He shrugs.

"Some say its prophecy, but of what I know not.  And others have searched for this Tower, and we've seen none on the old maps.  Its thought the 'elect-ron' is some sort of elemental being, perhaps a new type of pixie, that 'elects' to serve a magician.  But again, thats speculation."

PT

"Not quite," I reply, instantly going back to my knowledge of electrons from Earth.  Of course, I then realize that laws from there don't quite apply in this place.  "Well... perhaps... perhaps you are sort of right.  This tower you speak of."  I lean closer to the Librarian as I talk.  "What do you know of this tower?  Anything, anything at all."  Controlling more than the elements... the forces behind the elements... perhaps that's what I'm supposed to do to fulfill this blasted prophecy.  And, at the same moment, Elle crosses my mind.

"Or... Elle... do you think I could go and see Elle?  Would that be at all possible?"  My voice begins to hurry slightly and my pulse quickens.

"Nothing.  Really, I only read it in that possible prophecy I just quoted you."  He looks baffled.  "Its one of the mysteries of the past."

"Yes, as I told you before, stealth or in power, I can get you to see Elle."

PT

I shake my head slowly, still dissapointed besides knowing that the Librarian knew nothing of the tower.  "Elle... yes... I would like to go and see her.  Power is unnecessary, so... in stealth, I suppose."

He is pleased when he finds out you can breathe under water.  You and he go to the edge of the island, and he summons a water elemental lord.

"Take the Chosen One by secret ways and quiet to his love."

"Yes, master, it will be my pleasure."  And then it turns to you. "If you will step inside me, and then I will take you beneath the waves.  You have only to speak to guide me if you wish, but remember sound carries well under water.  And we have enemies."

PT

Still slightly wary from the last time I trusted an elemental with my life, I take solice in the fact that I have at least defeated one of these at half-strength before (that and the fact that I can survive underwater) and step into the elemental carefully.  "Very well, I shall be quiet... let's go as quickly as possible, however, at least without drawing attention to ourselves."

You go with the elemental into the water with it surrounding you as a kind of clear shell between you and the outer water.  Its very fast underwater, and the reefs are fantastic with thousands of blazingly beautiful fish and other creatures flickering their way through the shallow waters.

And then after some time it pauses, and hangs over a deep slit in the ocean floor full of darkness in the water below.

"Shall, I continue as I have been, or should we take the Visconti Trench deeper?  There is the danger of being spotted if we go on, but in the deep, there are wild elementals, and if we get dragged too deep, I will not be able to protect you from the crushing pressure. In either case, I shall likely survive, but you won't.  So it is your decision."

PT

It takes only a split second to make my decision: "Let's stay up higher," I respond to the elemental.  "I'd rather risk being seen than risk being dead."

You zip along near the surface, and the water starts getting shallow as you approach an island.  And then suddenly there is a bright light overhead, and the waters bubble, and you can feel them suddenly warm a bit.

Then the light retreats.

"A fire lord spotted us, but we're too deep for him to reach.  However, he will summon help.  We are near the planned landfall."

PT

"That's all right," I respond to the elemental.  "They'd probably find out I'm coming soon anyways, and at least I'm getting here alive."  I sigh and shake my head slowly.  I had desperately wanted to get in without a fight, but who knows what would happen now.  Most I can do is get as far in as possible and then try and talk my way out of a situation.  I'm not a god, no matter if it sometimes feels that way.

"Let's go, I want to see Elle."

You get to the beach, and come up halfway out of the water.  Two magi are duelling with  spells and a fire and earth elemental.  There's another earth elemental with a magi waiting for you at water's edge.  He's working his hands in some form of spell...

PT

Not good... not good at all.  I raise my arms, preparing an aural shield in case what I hope won't happen does.  However, I do greet the magi, and attempt to explain that I'm not here to hurt anyone and I just want to see Elle.

"I don't think so, liar.  You've caused enough strife.  We were all set to have a string of parties for the End of the World, and you have to touch off a war with your lies."

You throw up your aura shield in time to block the gobs of mud the earth elemental flings at you.  But, the magi completes his spell, and suddenly another elemental of earth reaches up from the sea floor beneath your feet, and starts to wrestle with your water elemental.  The fight spirals off down the beach leaving you without a companion for the moment.

PT

"I haven't lied!"  I shout at the magi in fury.  "Not once!  I don't want to fight you and I don't need to fight you.  Goodbye."

Staring down the magi for a second, I quickly turn to the side away from the beachead and attempt to teleport.  The farther I can get, the better, and I'm perfectly willing to teleport multiple times.  If that doesn't work, I'll summon my air sprite and use giant step to move quicker.  I don't especially want to summon my sprites here, as that would move me one step closer to using far more force than I need to.  Right now my goal is to find Elle and that I'm going to try to do as quickly as possible.

The magi is shocked to see you seeming to be sincere.  It seems he never considered that possibility, not really.

Three teleports later, and you're on the far side of the hills near the beach, and out of sight of your pursuers, at least currently.

You can see a town with a castle amidst it across a forrest of oaks.  There is a huge and heavy cloud in the sky.  And you can see fire elementals soaring about.

PT

I stay low near the base of the hills, preferably sticking in-between two of them whenever possible.  I decide to advance slowly at this point, since they more likely than not have no specific idea where I am.  However, I do make my way towards the town and the castle.

Once I'm in the forest, it will hopefully be easier to avoid pursuit.

You're walking toward the forrest, and then amidst its trees when you come face to face with a woodsman.  He stares at you with his axe in hand, and his mouth gapes open.  Then he touches his hair, and looks at yours which by this time has gone back to normal while you visited the Librarian.

You hear a whooshing sound from behind at least a hundred yards away, and he starts in fear.  He grabs your arm, and points at a fallen log behind some brush.

"Hide, quick. Quick."

PT

Initially I'm suprised at the man grabbing me, but quickly realize the logic behind his words and duck behind the tree he pointed at.  I stifle the brush as much as I can and then slow my breathing until it's barely audible.

And, then... I suppose I have to wait.

OoC: Darn the hair colour! now I gotta change my picture again XD

Two men on a small sled made of brass pulled by a goat made of fire come zipping into the clearing just behind you.  They quickly question the woodsmen with your description naming you a 'notorious revolutionary', 'religious fanatic', and 'disturber of the peace'.  The woodsman denies ever having met such a person, but promises to look out for one, and report such a one immediately.

They leave.

He chuckles.

"Ah, Chosen One, if I ever do meet this crazy man they were describing, a dreadful fellow, I'd be sure to report him."

PT

I smile at the man as I push myself to my feet.  I quickly dust off my clothes before replying.  "I owe you my life," I say to the man earnestly.  "But why did you help me?  I've gotten the feeling that it's only the Librarians who still believe I'm trying to help this place."

"Never believe it, Chosen One.  There are many I've heard, even in the Inner Isles and the Westward Archipelago that follow you, but here in the Outer Isles, more often than not, you'll find someone who is for you."  He pauses.  "We've always been the unrefined sort, not as wealthy, and not as much parties or as much magic, but I don't think thats a bad thing.  I always thought there was more to life than how you looked at a party."

He bows.

"Besides, my family has served Elle's family for five generations.  I'm a woodsman, and my brother is a master carpenter.  We work together.  Much of the tables and cabinets in her father's palace was made from this forrest right here."

PT

"You serve Elle's family?"  My eyes widen and I take a step forward closer to the man; at that moment it's taking all of my willpower not to reach out and shake the answer I seek out of him.  "Do you know where Elle is right now?  Can you take me to her?"  Any other words he has spoken have virtually flown past me and my mind has become focused entirely on this one thing.

"Yes, yes."  He points to the cloud.  "She's up there in that cloud castle.  She got driven out of her cousin's castle on the ground there. Treachery.  And she escaped to the cloud. I guess she's still there, but you have to understand, I'm not in the war councils. I'm just a simple man, although I'll help you as I can."

You can't see a palace on top of the cloud, but you met Elle first at a party on top of a cloud...

PT

So back to the clouds I will go... interesting.  I stare up towards the clouds for a few short moments and then look back to the man.  "So how do I get up there, friend?"

"Well, I always heard ancient stories of Vray the Magister.  He could ride a lightning bolt."  He chuckles at his joke.  "But seriously, my cousin has a silver sled with a pair of giant bunnies to pull it.  He's a low level magician, and he owes me a favor.  All we have to do is sneak into town."

He points at the small town at the base of the castle.  The small town with a wall about it.

PT

I gaze off towards the town, trying to gauge their defenses.  Quickly realizing my eyes aren't that great, I turn back to the man who I just realize is still unnamed to me.  "So... do you foresee any difficulty in getting into the town?  And what's your name, by the way?"

I intend to make my way to the town as quickly as possible as well.

"My name is Brinn, milord.  And your hair might give you away.  They will certainly have guards backed up by at least one elemental at the gate.  However, if you can climb a fifty foot wall, I know of one route in.  Or I could put you in a cabinet I'm bringing to the town."

You and he walk through the woods with him leading the way, and choosing the smoothest, yet most concealed path he can find.  While you see other searchers looking for you, none come near you.

PT

"I can't climb a fifty wall in the traditional sense," I respond.  "But, aye, I have a way to get around it."  I plan on simply teleporting past the wall, hopefully ending up not too far from it so that it will be easier to get past.

You and he walk  up to the wall.  You arrange to meet him inside underneath the clock tower.

And you port flawlessly.

Right into the midst of four guardsmen who are leaving a bar.  They're relaxed, but not yet drunk.

Now they're startled and reaching for weapons.

PT

It takes me a second in my shock, but I quickly manage to regain my composur (sp? >_<) at being surprised by the guards.  "Sorry, gentleman," I say to them, smiling.  "No fight today."  Looking off towards a section further down the wall, away from the clocktower, I quickly teleport over there.  I plan on continuing to teleport until I'm alone and then head off to the clocktower.

Several get their short swords out, and the most quick-witted one lunges at the first target in front of his sword.  He pierces your right thigh, and you teleport, taking the sword with you, but not him.

A white wash of pain roars through your head, and you see the sword stuck through your leg muscle.

PT
OOC: We'll count that as a new use and raise your Teleport skill by one mark.

Screaming out an expletive (which shall never be uttered here), I rip the sword out of my thigh and fall to the ground kneeling.  Stay focused, stay focused.  Biting hard on the cloth of my left arm, I hold my right hand over the wound and try to summon enough concentration in order to perform the basic healing magic I know.  Any sort of pain relief would help at this point.

Afterwards, I plan on continuing on as quickly as possible, as the guards undoubtedly know where I am now.

The blood clots, and the pain diminishes to the point where you can think clearly, but the pain is always present.

You continue onward even as you hear shouts and outcry being raised against you from a street or two over.

PT

Yup... I'm screwed.  Muttering incoherently, it only takes a few seconds before I've reached the point where I come to one of the sanest conclusions I have in the past year odd or so: I can't win this fight by running and I can't win this fight by fighting.  "Therefore... hiding!"

Hobbling as quickly as I can, I search for a building that looks relatively unnocupied (hopefully entirely).  However, I don't spend much time looking, and will attempt to force my way into the nearest semi-available building just to recieve even a moment's requiem from the battle and a chance to gather my wits.

You hobble into an alley, and see a door half-open and slip in.  Then once inside a dark hall, you smell and hear noise from the room next door in the sturdy stone house.  One door is shut and the other is cracked open to show...

  The kitchen is full of fog from steaming potatoes in great buckets, and you see a number of workers making bread, turning chickens on a spit over a fire, and a huge woman standing surveying the efforts, and occasionally grabbing an undercook by the ear to redirect their efforts.

PT

No point in going in there, I think to myself as I study the ape-like woman.  Taking a moment to ponder who they're possibly making all that food for, I decide to check the closed door carefully.  If it seems safe, I'll take a moment's solice in there.  If it's occupied, I'll move along till I find a storage room or the like.

You step in, and see a ten-year old girl practising rapier moves by sticking her practise sword into a target.  She stares at you wide-eyed as you leave.

It takes you a few more minutes, but you find a storage room.

PT

Deciding it would give me an opportunity to rest, I find a corner in the storage room to sit for a few minutes.

After I feel more up to snuff, I plan on heading back out and going towards the clocktower.  If the coast is clear I'll walk, but if it looks dangerous I'll simply teleport.

It looks dangerous with a serious search pattern being set up.  Magi are summoning elemental lords to help in the search while some others argue that their time would be better spent with summoning more pixies to flood the area with watchers.  However for now, the 'lets use really big and powerful units' idea seems to be winning as some faction leaders argue twenty feet from your door as magi summon behind them.

You teleport.

And again.

And again.

You see a small boy playing with a top.  He looks up at you and smiles with perfect sweetness and innocence as he offers you the top to play with.

You're near the tower now.

PT

I bend down, smiling at the boy.  Looking at his top as he offers it to me, I take it willingly and study its harsh lines for several seconds.  Widening my smile slightly, I put it on the ground and spun it.

I stand up and pat the boy on the head.  Giving a cautious look, I quickly take off running towards the tower, trying to stay out of sight of the elementals.

You slip into the tower just ahead of the roaring noise of a fire elemental as it rounds  a corner.  Panting, inside  and shielded by a thick door, you recover your breath.

Now what?

PT

Closing my eyes, I sit down against the wall and cup my face in my hands.  Oh man... oh man... how did this happen?  This was not a good idea.  Not a good idea at all.  Leaning my head back against the safe and thick walls of the tower, I concentrate my healing energies and direct them into my leg once more.

Afterwards, I plan on ascending the tower to see what's going on.

You start ascending the stairs, and are up to the third floor when you hear the door at the bottom open, and someone call out something soft and indistinct.  Looking up, you think there is four more stories above you in this broad-based, but increasingly narrow tower.

PT