WELCOME TO "AWAKEN"

Part 13 - Elemental Wisp Infestation

previously in

Part 12 - Ancient Kaoj'kah Magic

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“I know!” chimed the old man excitedly, “we should bring some of the Ormus with us to Verlys Valley.” Orvus' eyes brightened, he looked at the old man with delight. “You're right!” said Orvus, “they could study the stone and gold Ormus together.” “Merobaku, may we take some of this Ormus with us?” asked Orvus. Merobaku helped the old man stand while Orvus brushed the dust off his faded blue cloak, then she gestured them towards the chamber. The two old friends removed their packs and opened them. They each took the belongings out and made a pile of cured fish, meats, a few fruits and pouches of berries, and a sheathed iron dagger with a dark wooden handle. Orvus held the bag upright and open while the old man heaped in handfuls of gold Ormus. When it was full enough they filled the old man's pack too and then replaced their items on top with no room to spare. “Well I suppose we better get out of here and find passage to Verlys Valley,” said Orvus, lifting his surprisingly light travel-pack onto his shoulder. The old man chuckled, “I suppose we'll have no trouble paying for the trip with all this Ormus.”

Part 13 - Elemental Wisp Infestation

The old man, Orvus, and Merobaku exited the chamber within the pyramid and entered into the massive room which contained it. The wide, opulent stone steps which had kicked into place up the centre remained providing the way back down. Orvus made his way onto the first step, and then down to the edge of the second step. Orvus stepped out with his left foot and placed it onto the smooth, polished surface of the pyramid. “What are you thinking, Orvus?” spouted the old man, “You're not actually considering sliding...” It was too late, Orvus had already sat down and removed his right foot from the safety of the step. Orvus slid down the smooth face, picking up speed. “I see his sense of adventure is still intact,” Merobaku laughed. The old man had begun sprinting down the stairs, calling after Orvus over the reverberation of his cries of excitement. “Wooo!” shouted Orvus one last time before reaching the base. He used his forward momentum to right himself, and jumped lightly into a dampened run.

“You're lucky you didn't break a leg, Orvus!” shouted the old man, catching his breath at the bottom moments later. Merobaku followed shortly there after to an elated Orvus explaining how much fun it was to the old man. “Here, you must carry this,” said Merobaku as she placed the stone in the old man's hands. His body was charged with its' energy once more and the feeling of magic potential swayed within him. The trio reached the distant wall together, where Orvus and the old man made their desperate entrance. “Okay, we'll do it in a brisk walk from the start this time,” the old man reminded Orvus, “and don't forget to take in enough air with you!” he finished, hoping not to have to pull Orvus out of the passage way. Orvus grabbed hold of the old man's shoulder and walked into and through the wall. Just as the cold feeling became familiar and their breath began to waver, they both emerged safely into the plain large and barren room.

They each passed through the next wall without incident, and ascended the spiral stair case which was cut into the stone. The way up was long and the stairs were many on the way. Merobaku waited stoically at the top of the spiral stairs. The way out was clear to her eyes as if the passageway was not filled with stone, and movement for her was easy even without the stone in hand. Unlike Merobaku, the two old friends grew tired passing through the multiple walls, but soon enough they made it back to the hallway at the entrance. Orvus and the old man entered the final hallway to the stone elevator. Merobaku waved them into the elevator shaft and set her hands on the bee statue that laid in the centre. The old man squinted up at the point of light where the surface waited, and wondered what Kogg was up to. A click sounded when Merobaku rotated the statue back into position. The large stone platform ascended back towards the surface at a brisk speed, a few times faster than it's decent speed. “Ah, fresh air here I come,” sighed Orvus, eager for a breath of the island's cool, fragrant air.

The scent of flowers danced lightly on the pollen-heavy air of the surface. Then the old man heard the concerned caws of a frantic Kogg. The stone platform clicked into place once again at the top of the circular set of steps. Kogg was flying circles above the opulent stone arches unable to leave the area of the tomb in a wide radius about the bee statue. Their attention was drawn to the wall of gold, transparent energy all around them. “A barrier has formed and enclosed the tomb grounds,” exclaimed Orvus with widened eyes. Merobaku broke her stoic silence and spoke casually of the barrier being a defense mechanism built into the Ausolgæta and faithfully powered by the flow of energy through the pyramid below. Then, Merobaku's tone changed from casual to stern and tense, she pointed somewhere beyond the wall of the barrier and said, “The elemental wisps have awoken.”

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Orvus and the old man stepped forward to get a closer look, and through the golden wall of energy they could make out orbs of coloured light floating carelessly about the island. Blue, red, yellow, and earthy green orbs had populated the island. The elemental wisps dripped water and made it rain, kissed the air with fire and lighting, pulled minerals and salts in the soil and rocks to the surface, and scorched the earth beneath them as they coughed up raw elemental magics. Kogg landed on the old man's shoulder, tired from flying and visibly shaken by the situation on the surface. “Rest up, Kogg. Save your strength,” the old man patted Kogg lightly then turned to Merobaku for their next move. “Once I get us through the defensive barrier of light,” Merobaku started, “the elemental wisps will be attracted to any magics cast by us, and the energy within the stone.” “Great, that makes me a target,” lamented the old man, “I think it best you take the stone, Merobaku.” Merobaku agreed, took and stuffed the stone into her armour. With one fell swoop of her arm, she locked her wrist in position and manifested her spear, Wasp Nettle, from thin air in a brief flash of light. She rested the base of the spear on the ground firmly, looked directly at both Orvus and the old man and asked if they brought weapons of their own. The old man took from his pack his dagger with a dark wooden handle, unsheathed it and held it up for Merobaku to see. Orvus whipped out a handful of elemental prime magic spell scrolls. Merobaku frowned at the both of them, “Stay behind me and I'll cut us a path.”

Awaken

Part 01 - Message to Orvus
Part 02 - The Lake Beckons
Part 03 - Night of Rest
Part 04 - The Tomb's Secret
Part 05 - The Deep Gouge
Part 06 - Dismay Down Deep
Part 07 - Orvus Restores Order
Part 08 - Magic Sans Scroll
Part 09 - Clear Path Provided
Part 10 - Trace The Key
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Poem 01 - Immortals of the Aegis
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Part 11 - Eigin Rooted Magic
Part 12 - Ancient Koaj'kah Magic
Part 13 - CURRENT