Journey of the Elementals RP (Pm if Interested, Started)

[UnusualStranger]

The Earthshaper regarded Silvana a moment as she spoke, before going back to putting a hand on the walls to see if he could accomplish....something. He gave a small push, and groaned as it seemed the earth didn't shift in the slightest. "Hmph. Guess we won't be able to take the underground route to the ritual. Should have thought they would make it so that wouldn't be an issue...." He turned and leaned back against the wall, regarding the Nightshade.

"Perhaps you are one of Seth's 'sparring buddies', as he puts it. Odd fellow that he is. But the trick is up there is damned dangerous. I'm not sure who you plan on saving, because the airships will likely be here soon to try and rain death down on us. This time though....won't be quite as nice for them. Be torn from the sky, and shown that it isn't as much fun as they think to rain death down on those who actually give a damn to fight."

As Nydia came to from her awkward fall from before, the Earthshaper regarded her alongside Silvana, shaking his head slightly. "That is the final card. Masters didn't feel a need to explain it, and I didn't care to ask. What I do know is that it's going to end this war, one way or another."

The storm continued its rage, this time throwing a few bolts of lightning down, causing some eruptions of flames and ice to show where they struck. One of which struck near the chasm knocking some sizable boulders loose. What was obvious that the storm was not going to stop. In fact, it seemed to be expanding up above, enveloping more of the surrounding area. Above Drew, a familiar sound started to thrum through the air. The sound of Airships, which sounded slightly different. Heavier, better armed, and more of them than might be imaginable. There were already the sounds of cannons and explosions a short distance away, blasting away demons who had been trying to run before.

And in the unfortunate destruction, Phebe found herself finally being claimed by the storm itself, with lightning striking around her and seeming to vaporize everything. As the white flash faded, Phebe found everything fading to a complete darkness once again. This time, the card dealer was joined by a constantly shifting figure. The figure seemed to make a shape of a chair as it regarded the fallen mage, as well as the still demonic shadow next to her. The voice of the figure for now seemed to be cocky, mostly condescending.

"Well....seems it took a while, but here we are yet again. Seems you decided to make some...modifications. Tell me...did it work as you expected?"

[hr]

The Prime Minister laughed as Alexander voiced small objection to wanting to be a leader. Though the conversation about the rivalries was somewhat concerning, the Prime Minister seemed to show little concern for the problem in particular. In fact, he largely seemed confident in the abilities of Alexander to handle the situation.

"Honestly, being a leader is something that one does not exactly step into. Though its probably hard to imagine, I didn't exactly want to be the Prime Minister. But here I am, and here you are as well. Though I know you don't have total control, or even official rank, but I would like you to try to temper your comrades if you can. I am not sure how often you mages have gone out and about, but people still remember the war long past. It makes them panic, and in a city like this, panic spreads destruction rather quickly."

As Alexander asked about what could possibly be lurking in the future, in the darkness, and more likely through the portal, the Prime Minister gave an odd half grin.

"I have a handle of things because a city like this requires one to know and control all he can. But, if there is one thing I think you should know that you haven't asked, it is something relatively simple. Whatever you will face in the portal, or around this city, you must know that this has all been built on the ruins of another. A lot has happened here, a lot of it buried or closed off, either on purpose or on destruction. I feel that we can learn from these relics, but as the current situation shows...these same relics could also be the reason that the city was made a ruin in the first place. With that in mind...learn from all the past that is here. If you can find a reason not to even touch that portal, then I would like to know."

The Prime Minister noted something about the elevator, and turned to be prepared for whomever was coming up it. "Seems that someone has decided to come pay me a visit. Has your shadow's condition improved? Wouldn't want him to be stepped...on or something of that nature. And it is likely either...Minister Ivan, or our local underground King Devon."

[hr]

Seth felt the grip on his hand tighten, the warmth seemed to intensify as she did so which made Seth feel...different. It felt better, like someone at his back, someone at his side. Seth couldn't help but smile as he came to realize the simple idea that had started back at the Academy. Someone much like Raven who had stood at his side during the contest, who walked with him as he ventured around the Academy before moving onward. Whom he had walked with into these trials.

"Then..." Seth paused to look into Raven's eyes, noting her smile. "...I guess you'll just have to come with me, partner. Lets go finish whatever this is...and get some mages out of that mess." As Seth began to make his way forward, he heard a distinct call to himself. It came from the Warlord Vassar, who had noted the pair walking towards the edge.

"You damned mages don't be heroes out there! Get those mages, and get back here! This shield won't last forever, and we won't be here for long!" With her piece said, the Warlord seemed to go back to directing the mages to reinforce the barrier in particular spots, trying to get things organized.

Seth simply gave a small wave with his one free hand as they got to the edge, which got slammed with an exploding boulder as they got close. Seth gave one last squeeze on Raven's hand as they prepared to make the last move. "Well partner, as good a time as any to change your mind and get away from my foolishness."

C'mon Jenn....We both know this is a bad idea. I picked the End, and you picked Death....I want these trials to be done, and for all of us to be out of here. Before....whatever this finally plays out to.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

It all happened in a flash to Cale. First the fighting, then the bright light followed by a monstrous wolf and the next thing he knew, he was being shielded by the same Earthshaper he was fighting before. He didn't seem encouraged to fight Cale anymore and that was a lifesaver. Up above Cale could hear the storm even past the Earth. He couldn't just hear the storm, he could feel it. The intensity above was overwhelming but before Cale could just sit there and feel it, he heard a familiar voice in the darkness. Nydia greeted them and Cale turned his head for his eyes to meet hers. Before he could respond, the Earthshaper answered her questions.

"What I do know is that it's going to end this war, one way or another."

"That's it then?" Cale rose from his seated position as did his voice. "We're just going to wait... as the world up above collapses and destroys itself."

Cale ran a dirtied hand through his hair and paced with an obvious lack of words to describe his emotions. Cale wasn't tired from the fight and in fact far from it. He was trying to calm himself, listening to the battle above him.

"How... why are we here?" Cale leaned on the wall that surrounded them. He turned for a second, feeling the earth with his hands only to sense the poundings of explosions going off on the surface. The earth itself was shaking by the second.

 

[Lambi]

Silvana watched as the Earthshaper walked over to the wall and tried to do something. She wasn't sure what, but whatever it was, it hadn't worked. If he'd been trying to get them up, at least now he'd tried, and they were stuck down there. She listened to what the Earthshaper had to say, but she just sat down with her knees to her chest and her arms wrapped around her feet. They couldn't get out of this pit, so there wasn't anything else to do but to sit there and wait.

At the mention of her possibly being one of Seth's 'sparring buddies', it only made her think again how stupid she'd been to attack him earlier. She didn't mean to be hung up over it, but it just showed her how little she trusted these people that she'd met not too long ago. She couldn't really help it. They were new people and she didn't really know much else about Seth besides his name and what magic he used. He'd tried to convince her to battle with him, not against him, but she hadn't listened. And now she was in a pit, unable to do anything but sit and wait. If she'd been overly emotional, she might have been at least shedding tears right now, but as was, she just stared at nothing in particular while she listened to what the others were saying. She still kept the roof of darkness that protected them above their heads up just in case, but it was a little weaker now that she wasn't focusing as much on it.

 

[Mr. Omega]

Drew's search had yielded no results when a familiar sound assaulted his ears. He looked up to see many airships above him. Airships. Airships in the middle of a storm. Airships in the middle of a storm where every force of nature rains down the heavens. This can only end well. He started descending, hoping to get better results. Better find someone before it starts raining ships as well...

Suddenly he noticed something. It was small and hard to see, but it stood out from everything out. It vaguely looked like the outlines of people. There we are! Still, who is it? Might be friendly, might be one of those mages picking a fight earlier. He then got an idea. He held still for a moment, focusing a gust of wind before shooting it towards the figures he saw. Hopefully this would get their attention. If they're hostile, I'll have some distance to react...

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

Phebe had come to terms with how she had no escape from the storm, as much as it hurt her to admit a failure. She did not try to fight it much, maybe it was part of the test, maybe it wasn't. She hoped it was, but it turned out that she was wrong.

The new figure next to the carddealer mocked her, and asked if it had worked as she had been expecting it too. No, it had not. Her shadow still had the demonic shape, but that seemed to be the only thing that had changed. She had not.

"No, it did not. Although, I'm not sure what I was expecting." Though she had been wanting to change herself, not someone else. That was why she had gone alone. "What happens now?"

Would she get another chance? Was he going to ask her to pay a price? The shadow was certainly useful, but did she really want to pay for someone to protect her?

 

[CounterAttack]

"Gabriel, don't you think the weather's being funny? It's like someone's using magic on it, but I don't think anyone is. Because the Masters don't make big storms and wind and stuff. If they want it to rain, it just rains."

The weather outside had turned to hell. At least, that was what Gabriel had picked up on. Joining Fei at one of the open windows, it looked pretty much like it sounded out there. A lot of lightning, black clouds and rain that sounded about as heavy as physically - or magically - possible. Gabe ran through the possibilities as to what was causing it. Perhaps some Hydromancer was out there, long since gone crazy with power and reveling in the chaos they had created. Or something else was going on that had nothing to do with them.

Or this was another part of their trial.

"Do... do you think it's something to do with us? The trial? Should we go out there?" Gabe queried. "We can't stay here if there's something we're supposed to do." Finally. By Alainia's tears, that took far longer than it should have. Proper coherent sentences.

 

[Fragrance of Mtn Dew]

"That is the final card. Masters didn't feel a need to explain it, and I didn't care to ask. What I do know is that it's going to end this war, one way or another."

Nydia could not help but feel a sense of dread upon hearing the mans response to her question. Had the humans truly pushed the mages so far that they had no choice but to unleash that abomination upon the world? She had witnessed first hand how despised their kind was but it still seemed so extreme to her. Was their truly no other way?

She had no answers for Cale's question of why they were there either. This was obviously a part of their trials but what were they supposed to do? Was their goal to prevent this sort of catastrophe? If so they had obviously failed and curiously enough others would have been placed on the opposite side with a goal contradictory to theirs. Or perhaps this was inevitable and their objective was something else entirely. That thought appealed to her much more than the idea that they had failed and were now doomed so she decided it best to operate under that assumption.

But now what? Cale seemed to be pacing back and forth, pondering that very same question. The Nightshade though seemed to have given up and merely sat down looking a bit dejected. To be honest, Nydia wanted nothing more that to sit down and wait all this out herself. But as she gazed up at the darkness that shielded them, listened to the chaos that reigned beyond it and thought of their fellow mages who were still out there, she knew that she could not simply stand idly by if there was another option. Perhaps there wasn't much she could do on her own but the effort needed to be made all the same.

Though if the two Earthshapers had no way of escaping than perhaps there truly was no way out for them. And that idea was beyond frustrating to Nydia. "So we must simply do nothing as the world crumbles around us....?" Her fists clenched tightly at her side in irritation as she muttered the question to which she already knew no had an answer she would like.

 

[NeoAC]

The explosion that the large rock created shattering against the force field was shocking, but for some reason it didn't have the kind of effect that Raven thought it would. She didn't even flinch as it impacted in front of her, she just stood there, still holding the hand of the Pyro that was leading her back into the battle.

Wow, that was huge...but I can do this. I can handle this. We can handle this. Me and Seth. We can get some of them out to safety. Even the Sunsuckers.

"Well partner, as good a time as any to change your mind and get away from my foolishness."

Raven felt a squeeze on her hand, and that warmth still circling through her body. Even if this is going to be the death of me, I think I'm all right with that right now.

Seth's hand got a squeeze back. "After all the stuff I did back in the academy, I think I'm ready for some foolishness," she informed him. "Let's get in there."

 

[blaze96]

"He is stable, not fading and not growing. For the time being that will do. I shall try to learn as much as I can about the history of this place. Though I ask to be directed to a historian so that I might gain a bit more perspective than if I am just thrown into a library." Then two names were mentioned, names Alexander had obviously not heard before.

"Who are these two men, and why would they be coming here?" He asked, more curious than anything else.

 

[UnusualStranger]

The Earthshaper barked a laugh as it seemed that everyone had started to give up, with Cale suggesting that they had to simply sit there and wait for it all to come down to them.

"As a Blade of Darius I'll be damned if I just sat here and rotted away. Earthbrother, I will need your assistance. We need to launch this rock to the opposite side of this cavern. I can't move the earth on this side.....too close to the ritual. I imagine better luck on the other side, but as you can see....bit of a jump, and I figure it would take a lot of work to just manage to move us like that. If you are...." He paused as a gust of wind struck nearby, causing the Earthshaper to again bark a laugh.

"A wind rat underground? That is a sense of humor fate has right there. FOOL OR FRIEND?" He challenged, chuckling as he brought a stone out of the platform, obviously planning to do some damage with it.

[hr]

"A pity." The cloaked figure over Phebe said, still sitting and awaiting for Phebe to rise once more. "What happens now is simple. You ask for what you seek in these trials, and I will tell you the price. Quite simple, isn't it? Some would say too simple! But, I hope you are not quite as foolish to think so...." Behind the shifting cloaked figure, the dealer continued to shuffle the cards, and spread them out once more. Looking them over, he seemed largely unhappy with the dealing, and redid the cards once more.

The shadow next to Phebe rose, and offered a hand to assist her in standing. As always, it regarded her silently, but seemed to at least want to be of some assistance.

[hr]

Seth nodded, and with one last jump, the pair were through the barrier, and into the hellfire outside. As they did so, it became obvious that while the world did fall apart, some things did not change. Some demons still lingered about, some of them falling to their knees and chanting, and others still trying to bring down some mages that had yet to get past the chasms that now had opened, or at least get past the demons that lingered, or the humans now fighting for no other reason than vengeance.

As they stepped into the fight, Seth released the hold on Raven's hand and let his flames fly about, instantly burning a demon who had thought to catch them unaware as they stepped out. As a fireball flew towards them from the sky, Seth did what he could to redirect the blast away with a grimace. "Damned....strong...." Seth muttered as he turned towards the sound of airships, only to see something...unexpected. The creature that had come from the sky had turned its attention towards the airships, and prepared to release its terrible power.

[hr]

As the many Airships came, with their hundreds of crews all seeming to be intent on cleansing the area like they had done many times before, they saw what they had begun to always expect. Mages, demons, and all manner of a mess. Destruction on a more massive scale, but the crews had done it to towns and mages before. As some of them began to turn their guns to blast down both the barrier and the odd creatures around it, the energy beast struck.

A flaming stone was suddenly grabbed by the beast, and launched towards an airship. It effectively ripped through the airship, but the many others were undaunted as the ship came crashing into the ground nearby, soon being swarmed by demons to collect what they could, while meeting with the surviving crew. To the creature, it decided that it was not happening fast enough as some ships released a volley of blasts upon the creature. As it bounded away from the blasts, the form shifted, this time to a dragon. Rearing its head back, it opened to release a multitude of bolts into the sky, striking down many ships. The storm itself also seemed to get in on the destruction, with boulders slamming into some ships and crippling their flight. For many of the crews, the shock began to sink in.

No longer were they the great equalizers of war. Now, they were nothing more than birds to be brought low by magic. The survivors might carry this lesson....if they survived the crash and demons trying to loot, as well as mages left outside trying to get to the barrier.

[hr]

"Minister Ivan is...well, to put it plainly, he is my political problem. I would say be wary of him, but I get the feeling he is here more about security at this point since he will have heard of the assassins and thought to have gotten information...." The Prime Minister shook his head now. "Much more likely, it is...'King' Devon. He's....a scoundrel, to put in an overtly generous sense. Likely here to either brag, or express his distaste that I won't allow his assassins to roam the upper courtyards after this particular attempt on the lives of those living here."

As the elevator gave sounds of it slowing down, it was somewhat plain to see which it was, as a man carrying a small set of knives across his chest, as well as wearing some kind of combat boots, with a metallic gauntlet covering his right hand. The man looked very little like the many cleaner folk of the upper areas, instead looking much more like a man who had fought enough battles to have earned his spot. With his grizzled beard, less than properly cared for brown and grey hair, and a scar notably on his cheek, the roughly dressed, armor wearing individual seemed to smirk as he opened the elevator doors.

"Ya know, these damned elevators are a hell of a security thing too. Long ass climb up here. Howdy mage, ya arn't one of them testy ones, are ya? Regardless....Primey, I need to talk with ya. Bout them...problems ya been havin. Scuse me son, but we more powered individuals have big business to discuss....unless ya want part? Its not too excitin, not like cards or fightin or....whatevar ya mages tend to."

 

[blaze96]

Alexander made a small bow to the man before speaking.

"I'm not one of the angry ones, I'm a healer. As for your business, I don't think it is any of mine. So with yours and the prime minister's permission I will leave the both of you to it." He at that point got his permission and made his way to the elevator. Making his way back to the previous area full of scientists to find Joseph and ask if he knew of any historians specializing in the more ancient history.

 

[UnusualStranger]

As Alexander made his way down to the area where the scientists where, his sleeve was suddenly grabbed by a familiar looking woman. She had been working on the crystals of light before, and had recognized Alexander rather quickly. It seemed that she had set up something rather complex with all of her crystals bouncing light one way or another. They all seemed to be aimed towards a particular rock.

"Excuse me....could I kind of...borrow you for a second? I need you to try and do something for me." Without waiting for an answer, she tugged him back towards her experiment. "Ya see, I'm seeing how different kinds of light will effect different things. However, when I try to put this type of stone here when it bounces this many times, it seems that the light has no effect at all. I was wondering if it was maybe a power thing for bouncing the light around too much, or maybe it was something in particular you knew something about?"

The woman stepped over to a few of the crystals, seeming to turn them and focus the light in different ways, changing the color in some instances, and changing the direction of the light for others. "Since I figured you an expert, I thought maybe you could show me something different? Maybe a new way to do these things? Or maybe supply some extra power so I can do this stuff....well, differently!"

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

"A wind rat underground? That is a sense of humor fate has right there. FOOL OR FRIEND?"

Cale shook his head before going alongside the Earthshaper. "Friend..."

Cale focused his energy to help bring the platform up. The Earthshaper was right, the platform was indeed more than one Earthshaper could manage unless they were a master. Together, though, they raised the platform just as he intended but as they did, Cale could hear the commotion above increase. He could hear the thunderous booms of the cannons, the roar of the beast above but most importantly, the grind of the earth platform above them.

"You know..." Cale said while bringing the platform up. "I never caught your name."

 

[blaze96]

"Oh yes, of course. I'd be happy to help. Perhaps you can help me in the process. I'm looking for a historian specializing in ancient civilizations for the region. Do you know anyone who may be in that field, or at least some books on someone who is?" He tried to shoot light through the malfunctioning rock and saw that indeed nothing happened to it. He began to look over the apparatus and once again had to admit he had never seen anything like it.

"So what exactly is this meant to do? I'm not very up to date on non-magical ways of experimenting with light." He said jokingly.

 

[Mr. Omega]

Drew kept his guard up upon hearing the unfamiliar voice. "I'm whatever you make of me. I'm not here for a fight, in fact I'm here seeking help. But if you want to go at it, I'm happy to oblige!" he shouted back, rising along with the platform. "But I'd wait a little bit before going up! It's gonna be raining several tons of wood and steel for a couple minutes!" As soon as he said so, he saw the first couple ships get ripped from the sky and crash miles away. Like fucking clockwork...

 

[NeoAC]

As Seth let go of Raven's hand, the weight of exactly what she had stepped out into hit her like a demon. Or like a demon was about to before Seth blasted it. OK. Don't panic. You can beat them if they come at you. Seth can help. Together we can do this.

Raven moved off to the side. The few poor soldiers still above ground were at the mercy of the beasts, getting toyed with like mice in a cat's paws before being ripped apart. Fuck where are they? I know they were out here, and I don't think they would be stupid enough to be caught like the meat shields out there. The noises weren't helping matters. There was booming sounds above and the weird grinding tone from below. What the hell is grinding? I can understand the booms at least. The sounds appeared to be coming from a chasm about twenty feet away. Well, I can at least blind the fuck out of whatever pops up.

As the noise got louder, human looking figures emerged from the ground below. Raven was ready to fire, until she made out the identities of the risers. "Earth mage?" she asked, recognizing her fellow combatant from the Grand Hall again. "You're alive! Come on then! Are there any others? We have to get back within the barrier before it collapses back to the portal." A loud bang erupted above the field as another airship took a direct hit from a demon, explosions riddling the vessel as it started to plummet towards the earth. "Right now! Let's go! Seth!"

 

[SkyeNeko]

"OHMYGOSH LOOK!" Something big had appeared out of the sky. She couldn't tell what it was, but it was massive, hovering near the horizon. It was... blowing fire, and blowing tornadoes, and... magic things. "What are you talking about, Gabriel! We NEED to go over there! We need to find out what's happening!" Her shadow hovered over her shoulder, nervously staring out as well. How are we going to get out there? We could... swim, I guess, but that would take a lot of energy especially if we used out powers to help us out. And the waves are getting bigger...

When she looked up, they were alone in the classroom. The bowls of water were toppled over, and there were books and chairs strewn all over the place. "Gabriel! Where did everyone go?!"

A pair of large red eyes rose in the windows, flooding the room with red light. A deep laugh echoed through the empty halls. The eyes disappeared, replaced by rows and rows of jagged teeth. "RUN GABRIEL!"

The teeth parted, and they were swallowed into darkness.

[hr]

Fei opened her eyes. It was all dark. Were they... dead? Was this how it ended? It wasn't bad. She was still kinda sore all over though. This had to be hell, because heaven wasn't dark and gloomy, and you always felt good in heaven, and happy. Wait, was she in hell!? She wasn't a nightshade! SHE DIDN'T BELONG HE-

The mage jumped up. Wait... I know where this is...

"Hello, young ones! It is a pleasant surprise to see you making it here! Been a long time since I had such...spirited people make it through....So, now the real question is, what did you try to get through all that for? Just remember that there is a small price for what you wish, as nothing is as free as it seems, as history is more than willing to show us..."

The card place! Fei scrambled up to the table where the cards were before, but this time it was only the dark figure. Lame. Did they fail? Did they have to take the test again? Did they have to pic a different card? Oh no, wait, he was asking them what they wanted for a pri-

"WINGS! I WANT WINGS!" Fei demanded, practically getting up on the table.

 

[UnusualStranger]

The Earthshaper gave out a laugh as Cale asked for his name as they proceeded upwards, glancing back at Drew as they did so. Shaking his head, he gestured upward before going back to helping push the stone slab up the side of the wall.

"And when those airships come down, where do you think they'll be going, wind rat? Back into the sky? I'm pretty sure they'll end up on top of us down here, so might as well see it coming!" As they proceeded upward nearing the top, he gave Cale a small look.

"Not as easy as you thought it would be huh? I had to work fast to get this set up...so I didn't quite pay attention to what I was grabbing....Though if you want a name, you'll have to do more than help get out of a hole to get that. Pretty sure we were on opposite sides a tiny bit ago, trying to smash each other." He replied with more than a hint of sarcasm. As they arrived at the top, they were greeted by a ship slamming into the ground relatively close behind them, sliding off into the pit with the surviving crew shouting and attempting to escape.

"Well Shadow Raven! Didn't expect you out here, though I see Blade Darius has made himself at home!" The Earthshaper said with a laugh, stepping forward bringing his stony armor back around himself. "Guess its time to let this all wipe the slate clean...."

[hr]

"History? You'll probably want to meet up with...Jebb? I can't recall his name. J-somethin. He looks into all that old stuff, and tends to keep it all stashed in his private library. Doesn't even let the Prime Minister in there, the stuffs so damned old...." The woman said, watching with some small fascination as Alexander tried to make his own light work before going back to her crystals.

"Well, this is actually some ancient stone stuffs that supposedly dark magics made or...something. Said to do something with the power of light. I am not....exactly sure what it is, to be honest. What I do know is that this stuff was supposedly made into a legendary armor. Anti-magic stuffs. But in order for that to work, it had to be cut in a very particular fashion. So far, its been tossed off to me, and a few others around here. So, I'm seeing if I can focus the light to shape it in some way...or at least dent it. So far, stuff seems pretty indestructible...." She adjusted another crystal, and for a moment light seemed to pass through the odd stone before going solid again.

"SEE?!? You see that? That is exactly why I asked for your help. Could you mimic that?"

[hr]

Seth had taken it upon himself to step about, clearing away any lingering demons, or humans that survived and still thought a parting shot at a mage was a way to go. Seth was more than happy to prove that it would have been better to run as he let his flames fly forward, practically consuming whatever wreckage was left as the humans tried to scramble to use a cannon or whatever they could grab against him. He felt....different out here. His flames burned brighter, he was more dangerous, making waves of fire which before he would not have considered.

"Right now! Let's go! Seth!"

Seth turned back to see what Raven had found, noting that the other mages that had apparently come along were up from the pit...as well as his earthy ally. Leaping to the side as some ice spikes slammed into the ground where he had been standing, skidding to a stop as he watched the storm now intensify. Turning to get going as Raven had said, he paused as soon as he saw why the storm had gotten worse.

Another energy....thing. This one was shaped mostly human like. Except for the wings which seemed to be made of fire. Seth made a quick run over to Raven, shaking his head as he did so. The storm had intensified, and now the other energy figure didn't even need to direct the storm to strike, it was throwing so many elements down on the ships they were going down to the dangerous bolts alone.

"Well...Think its possible for me to keep him busy while you jump through the shield? Cause it looks like that works..." Seth said, looking back over at the group of mages as they made their way away from the pit. "Nice of ya to join us...too bad its a little late now." Seth toned his flames down...slightly. Still, an inferno seemed to circle around him, largely just to from time to time throw flames up to blast an icy ball from striking too close.

[hr]

"Wings? That is quite the interesting ordeal....I think wings would suit you nicely...something feathery like your company has?" The dark figure made some angelic wings fly about, giving a small flap here or there to stay in the air. "Well, you can have the wings, but unfortunately those wings are going to need some time to catch up with you. And that is time you'll have to give up. Say about....five years should be enough. After those years are passed, you'll have some fine wings for yourself! Shouldn't take too long....do you find that agreement acceptable, or are you more attached to those years than the wings?"

The shadow figure made a bit of a show now, seeming to chuckle as the wings came to themselves and showed as a large leathery type. Giving them a small flap, he looked back at Fei, seeming to shake his head.

"I must warn you, young one. These wings will hurt when they first start. But after a few minutes pass the years...they'll grow to a better size and state. Much more fitting for your form at that time, to be sure...."

 

[NeoAC]

The sense of relief that Raven felt upon discovering the presence of other mages was somewhat swept away with the emergence of a second threat that was sending ships crashing down with twice the efficiency of the previous attacker. The one that crashed at the other end of the chasm will live in the Nightshade's memory for a while.

"Well Shadow Raven! Didn't expect you out here, though I see Blade Darius has made himself at home!"

"I am a mage after all, Earth Shaper," Raven commented, trying to cover the fact that despite being on the same side, she never got the other mages name. "I won't be contained to the protective circle like a newborn buffalo, especially when my brothers," she spotted Silvana and the Light woman behind the Earthshapers, "and...sisters are in peril. Come now, let's make haste back to safety."

"Well...Think its possible for me to keep him busy while you jump through the shield? Cause it looks like that works..."

Raven jolted her head at Seth's latest declaration. Seth, why? Do you need to keep it busy? We have some of the mages, the shield's close enough, we don't have to do this... The Pyromancers' look was steely, his mind was already up. As sure as the flames that were rising around him, he was set to test himself against whatever the abomination wanted to throw at him. Seth, I don't understand...are you actively trying to make that card shark's prediction come true by ending yourself? ...I guess that's kinda hot, but still... She looked back up at the figures flitting around the sky, still swatting vessels like flies. Damn it, Seth.

"Earthshaper, take the rest of your party up to the circle where the ritual was performed. Get them to that safe harbor. Myself and Blade Darius will buy you time to do so."

Raven moved back over to where Seth was still cranking out the heat. Well, we might as well make our predictor two for two on the record then. She waited for a break in the inferno to get in close quarters with the Pyro. "You're making it very difficult for me to see this partnership lasting more than a few minutes, you know."

 

[Lambi]

It sure was chaos up there once they arrived out of the pit. Silvana stood up, and she hadn't done so sooner before demons and humans had noticed them and attempted to attack them. She started with creating many large hands of darkness that rose from the ground to grab her opponents and crush them to death. For some of the others she used darkness spikes on that popped up out of the ground and stabbed through them. And for anyone else who got close, she would use her draining ability to drain them off their energy, leaving nothing but clothes and bones from them.

"Earthshaper, take the rest of your party up to the circle where the ritual was performed. Get them to that safe harbor. Myself and Blade Darius will buy you time to do so."

"I'll assist you two." Silvana said. She couldn't just leave the two of them out there to give everyone else time. Perhaps they were strong enough, but she felt having a third mage attack would still be better. Perhaps she only did it because she felt she had to make up for what she'd done earlier by attacking Seth, but it was still better to be three than for there to be two. Seth's flames were getting too bright for her, but she would still help them.