Well. That happened. Not quite as planned, is this the real life equivalent of a nat 1? But I can work with that. Also, what was that about a Worldwalker? Is that what I am now? Cool.

"Lady... Woman... Female entity of Light, not sure how you prefer to be addressed, but if I get through this night, I'd like to see about having a discussion, possibly about a working relationship. Also, please don't take this the wrong way, but unless light magic also includes color magic, I've got some other elements to speak with, zombies don't stop themselves."

====You get the feeling that as long as you're not working with the Shadow or Chaos she's okay.

I look up as I speak, feeling what I do.

If this was Dungeons and Dragons, I'd swear it was a being of earth speaking Terran. No Lady or Lord of Fire, unless the Lady of light is also the Lady of Fire. Fire magic does share a border with light magic, after all. Earth is on the opposite side of fire, where it borders earth, so to get through this, I want water, but I don't have the control for it, and I'd rather not drown. Air or wind counters earth, but I don't know the dao of wind, and lack the magic necessary to react quick enough.

What to do, what to do...  Shamans and Druids channel the elements, Mages go elemental, wizards arcane, cultivators go for daos, priests for the divine. I really need non-specific elemental shields covering the city to protect it from whatever I just summoned, as well as shooting fireballs to just wreck zombies.  Of course, I could go for control, but necromancy is generally frowned upon and zombies are icky.

If magic is non-specific or all encompassing, then I could ask assistance from a being of light, as I had, but I could also try to control or channel the elements. If it is only the type of calling for assistance, then trying to channel it to be according to my will is terribly insulting, but if it can be done as well, then I'd be stupid not to try it.  I just don't know enough.

"I don't know how magic is handled. Do I always need to ask for help? Do I need to make a pact with an elemental being? Does magic or mana just flow through the air waiting to be called upon or channeled?  I just, I don't, I don't know, and I don't want to insult y'all. So let's just chalk this all up to me being new, ignorant, and uninformed, and I would gladly speak to everyone's representatives after this night so I don't behave improperly."

As I start this monologue/speech with the unknown/newly known, I turn around (180 degrees) and then start walking at an angle in the 2 o'clock direction. I continue walking as I talk.

"The goal is to get rid of the zombies. The walking dead. That which walks the night past its time. Undead. My limited understanding, from books and web novels suggests that light magic would be best to purify them, or fire to cleanse, but I figure any element has their own ways of handling problems. Water can wash away, earth can bury, darkness can devour/drain, wind can slice into pieces or blow away. If I just caused a volcanic eruption, then I'll leave it to lava to handle the zombies, but I'd rather not kill all the townspeople.

====You feel as if multiple Powers are listening, but none replies.  +@1 to Commune.

"Being of Earth, thanks for the volcano, I'm sure it suits the spirit of what I asked, if not really the letter, and it should take care of the zombs, so thanks. I'd thank you in what I assume might be terran, but I don't know the elemental languages, or whatever passes for them on this planet.

====You see a vision of a volcano, but its not the city-destroying thing you thought.  Its more of a street destroying thing.  But it will shoot magma into the air that will fall down and spread fire.

"Spirit or spirits of Water, after the volcano does its thing, after it spews lava and removes the zombies, I humbly request a torrential rain in this region for 2 days. Let's cool the area down and wash away the bodies.

====Many voices answer, twisting together until they come into harmony.  "We are the Naiads. We are bound in chains of stone by the Mages of the City. Free us, and we will aid you."

"Spirit of Air or Wind, I don't know who or what governs this element, but I request that you safely whisk away the townspeople, that they might escape from this danger caused by whatever raised the dead, as well as what I have inadvertently caused to happen to their town.

===="You ask without understanding, Worldwalker." The Voice booms through your head like thunder.

"Spirits of the Elements, I don't really expect this to be done for free or just because I ask, but if I make it through this night, then I'll gladly be your representative to work with you or to repay whatever amount of effort or work my requests have caused you to do or go through until such a time as my efforts have repaid you.  I may not be able to work with all of you at the same time, but I'll go in order of response for as long as it takes, starting with the Lady of Light."

====Many voices speak, and then a cool, distant voice speaks, and the others fades.
"You who walk worlds
Who dies and dies not
Art made First Wielder
Strike down the Chains
Take from the Dead Hand
The Key to the Many
And Open the Door Again."

I keep walking to escape what I assume will be a burning hell in the very near future. If I see them I'm actually going towards danger, I'll turn in whatever way seems safest and away from everything and jog in that direction.

---

It's k. Happens.

Once I get far enough away, I watch the destruction, and ponder the Words.

I mumble a bit to myself, "Walk worlds, dies and doesn't... so this isn't just a one or two time thing? Still new at this. If I knew last year that I'd die and become this world walker thing, I would've probably expanded my knowledge a bit."

I look around.

"First wielder, chains, dead hand, door, key.  Sounds good, don't know what any of it means. Is there a guide I can read? Or talk to? A few months ago I didn't even know magic existed. Though I generally fall into the category of freedom for everything magical, I've got a few problems. I don't know the local language fluently, or where to find this key and the door it opens.

"So, if at all possible, could someone impart upon me the language of the locals, or denizens of this plane, or at least the ability to read and understand the languages? Once I know that, I can get to work striking down the Chains and freeing whomever needs to be freed aside from the Nai... the spirits of Water."

====No one is listening to you now.  Its a lonely feeling.  Deep in the dark, and then light flares behind you with a boom.

You go on further, and find a place to wait.  By morning light, you see that the City still stands.  But several hundred houses have been burnt.

Walking in the cool, smoky morning, you see a few large men attempting to buy a widow's husband's body from her.
"Look. He died. He does you no good. Sell him for a gold." One of the men says to the widow who is trying to ignore them.

A bard in bright green and red striping comes by with a mandolin and a flute and a trumpet.
"Thanks to the Tower of War, we are saved.  Thanks be to the Nobles Brave we are saved.  Thanks be to the Militia Many we are saved. The Uncontrolled Dead outside have been destroyed."
He yells in a loud tenor that is clear and carries well up and down the cobblestoned street.
"The Masters of the Dead, the White Lords, have cause to worry.  The fire last night was an act of Wielding the Elemental Powers.  Such Treason against the City and its Benevolent Rulers will be put down.  But speak now, and you will be well rewarded.  Also, if you see a spirit of mischeif, speak and a silver will be yours."
"Sell the unblemished dead. Make them of use to the Living.  See your friends walk again.  Profitable and pleasant and pleasing to the Great. How can you resist?"

He walks on, shouting, occasionally ryhming...

Man, magic is so cool. Need work getting the result I want, but still super cool. Freeing spirits of the elements, does that make me a shaman or a druid? Probably a druid. Not really my thing, would definitely prefer chantless magic; think of what I want to happen and have it happen. Quicker that way, but if I've learned anything from Child of Light, it's always super helpful to have the spirits of the elements as your friends.

Of course, being able to chant magic or just cast it as I please would also be super cool. I wonder if this world has a magic library with some conventions for normal magic use.

---

Child of Light:  http://www.wuxiaworld.com/col-index/

Also, finding out about the versing thing by context instead of a chat with another verser is an interesting route so far.

====Thx.  :)

On the topic of magic, there's an anime I saw 4 or 5 months ago called ROKUDENASHI MAJUTSU KOUSHI TO AKASHIC RECORDS aka Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor. In the show,
 all magic is 3 verse chant by standard, but changing the chant to 2, 4, 5, and so on verses, same words, changes the outcome of the spell. Instead of flying straight it might curve, or hover, or travel then shoot off in a different direction.

Cool stuff. I mention this so there's some context, as I'll probably try it out in the future.

Here's the reference (4 min 30 sec long) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Lr-o6YvNM