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Message: <blockquote data-quote="VicsHacienda" data-source="post: 9807118" data-attributes="member: 6965574">I aim at the elemental between Fafnir and a large dead tree. I pin it to the trunk with an arrow, and it vanishes into a cloud. I hit the other. "Pay attention to the nice keyword, next time," I grumble.Trevor slashes and thrashes without success at the remaining air elemental. Osnald mocks it, but we're not even sure what an elemental would consider insulting. However, it flies up and away, vanishing into the distance.<h3>Into the Monastery of the Two Winds to Get Out of the Wind</h3>[ATTACH=full]423147[/ATTACH]We climb and reach the outer walls of the Monastery of the Two Winds. It perches atop the peak, and is comprised of many wings and walls. A small bell hangs next to a pair of double doors. Fafnir dings it with a knuckle. "Eshu," he states for good measure. "We're here to see Pilus."A slit opens, and a woman's masked face eyes us. "What business do you have with Pilus, Master of the East Wind?"[ATTACH=full]423144[/ATTACH]We tell her of Castle Korstull and the Torch of the Burning Sky, and our need to acquire a blessing to get it, to stop the Ragesian invasion. I mention we are The Quell. Her eyes narrow, but she seems impressed."Oh, yes. The Ragesians threaten our way of life. The master has spoken of them, and I am sure he will see you." The door opens. "You may enter. I am Zyreth Windtide."We introduce ourselves properly, except for our wizard. "I am Horatio Velvetine."Stepping forward into the courtyard, we see a number of robed individuals practicing some form of unarmed combat and exercises. I observe the monks going through their forms, intrigued with their style. Zyreth goes to inform Caella of our arrival.Long minutes pass, then a wiry, muscular woman in white robes steps out. Osnald immediately walks up, readying his charismatic grin.[ATTACH=full]423145[/ATTACH]"Greetings, warrior," she says to him. "I understand you see my master, Pilus. Perhaps I can aid. Please follow." We do, and find ourselves in a tile-floored room with a shrine and benches for contemplation."We have been sent to retrieve the Torch of the Burning Sky. We understand it's near or in Castle Korstull, and that Pilus may know a way to get to it," explain Osnald and Trevor."I am Caella, apprentice to Pilus. I understand you introduced yourselves as The Quell. Who are you all?" Osnald presents each of us with his usual flourishes."If you have not heard of us, the Ragesians have. We have thwarted many of their plans, aiding Seaquen, Gallo, and Dassen in fending off their advances," says Fafnir grandly. We mention having rescued the dancer of Sagorpur. Trevor speaks somewhat rudely."I believe I have, even in this distant land," she smiles. "But Pilus is deeply involved aboard the Tempest. He is preparing it at the request of Khagan Onamdammin of Ostalin, and cannot be reached."We get the sense that each time Trevor speaks, she visibly widens her eyes. He seems to make her nervous."He is very busy. He prepares it for when its use is required. It is currently in the Valley of Storms." Is she stalling us?"But we were sent here by Khagan Onamdammin," Trevor protests. "If this ship is at his behest, perhaps that is our passage to the castle.""You cannot simply walk to him. You must wait until he comes down. That will be hours, or tomorrow. He is aware of the problems below. It affects the winds as well, and it upsets him. Pilus wants balance. He may see you as a threat to balance. Let me speak to him.""All right. Perhaps you can tell us of the torch and castle," Fafnir says. She shrugs. She knows the torch was Coaltongue's and that the castle is where he fell, but knows not of the castle's location. She has heard it is surrounded by fire. "What of the followers of the West Wind? Do they know anything of what we seek?" She says no.We have little time to waste. Balance has tipped the scales of life too far in one direction, and the army waits."I can try to reach out to him in hopes of granting an audience. I will show you a place to rest, and inform you of his words," Caella offers. She leads us southward through a narrow passage. The walls are thin here, and it is breezy and cold. We emerge into a smaller room.Trevor edges close to her. "Why do I make you so uncomfortable?"She stammers. "You do not. Why would you say that?"[ATTACH=full]423146[/ATTACH]"You avert your eyes when I speak. You do not look at me. You are sweating.""It is... I have heard of your family."Trevor frowns. "What can you tell me of that?"Viggo feels odd here. When Trevor speaks to Caella, the wizard feels a shimmer, a disturbance in reality. Is Caella under control, or is she a strange being like Balance?Another woman enters as we rest. "I am Morin Jadebreaker. Meals are available. Join us."<h3>Meals with Monks</h3>We are led into a large dining room with a central table. Others are present, seated. The food is vegetarian, to Fafnir's dismay, and lacks alcohol, which dismays Trevor. I shake my head, having lived off the land before. There is rice, carrots, potatoes, beans.A monk of the West Wind whispers to me, "Master Longinus says peace is fracturing. Even the calmest currents have teeth tonight." I grunt noncomittally, disturbed by the recent vision of my uncle. I don't like crowds, and don't love being surrounded on all sides, even for a quiet event like a meal.Some of the monks glance at empty seats intended for Pilus and Caella. "Normally they join us. Longinus does not, engaging in meditation.""Well, she's off to ask him about our mission," Fafnir says. "We're trying to keep the Ragesians from crushing this temple."The monks suggest that Pilus is kept away by the wind, but seem to be deciding whether to say anything further. "Well... Caella was seen near the cliff stairs earlier, trembling. She seems to be avoiding Longinus.""Your temple is in much danger," Fafnir grumbles. We feel like we are being delayed.Suddenly Longinus enters. "How may I be of assistance?"Osnald tells him we are here to halt the suffering of those in the valley below, and of our goal to stop the Ragesians, and of our need to find the Torch."You have met Balance, and you know of their power. But it has also kept peace," says the master monk."Peace to the point of death! What kind of balance is that?" I say."We share a burden," he admits. "Master Pilus is at his work above, and has not yet descended. He feels the disturbance of the winds is external, but I am unsure. As you know, the Valley of Storms is a day away. Pilus must bring the Tempest here.""But Caella just left to ask his decision, as if she could reach him," I point out."I have not seen Caella for days," he admits. A monk whispers in his ear. "I am being told that the Tempest has arrived. If you wish, we can approach.""Yes. Now," Fafnir says. We leave our vegetables behind.<h3>The Sky, Shadowed by A Living Ship</h3>Longinus leads us back up to the courtyard and up narrow, icy steps in the mountainside. We can see against the night sky, silhouetted against lightning-lit clouds, a colossal shape swims through the sky like a manta ray. Crackling blue white wind whips around it, and amber veins pulse through its hull. The master looks upon us. "He is more than just a monk."Viggo recognizes it as biomantic energy, and that the ship is made of living tissue. Pilus must be a biomancer."Caella told us not to mention Balance to Pilus," says Fafnir. "And that he would see us a threat.""Balance has suppressed emotions, and that is not his wind, but he does not wish harm on Balance," Longinus muses. "I am not sure why she would say that. Here is my brother Pilus now. We can ask him."A sudden spiral of cold air bends lantern flames. Monks fall to a knee, not in worship, but almost as if in response to a force. A lightning column slams into the courtyard stone. A figure hangs suspended: Master Pilus. He steps on the air itself, each footfall sending a ripple of wind. His voice is calm and clipped and edged. "Enough!"He sends a razor glance at us. "The winds scream of chaos. Currents break like waves against rock. And now I find strangers walking my monastery, spreading half-truths. The tempest answers to me. You have come into my domain in a time of imbalance, but you know this. The air burns with questions. Ask them! And the wind may deem you worthy of answers."Fafnir nudges Osnald, who again recites our mission."Castle Korstull lies within a firestorm, a prison of flame for centuries. No creature may walk to it." He paces slowly. "The fire storm burns flesh and intent. But there are ways. The monks of the East Wind once mapped the way." He steps before Trevor. "Those paths must be opened anew."It's not like we haven't been through a massive firestorm before, and stopped it."The Orb of Storms will do it. But it is lost."Trevor leans over. "The Orb of Storms. We've seen it. In Seaquen. We gave it to the mages of Lyceum." To Pilus: "Let's say we could get that orb for you.""You... gave the Orb to the mages of Seaquen?""We had just aided them against the Ragesians, who had summoned a storm. They would gladly give it to us, for they also tasked us with finding the Torch. And asked us to seek your help. Perhaps we can take the Tempest to Seaquen.""Perhaps this is not the disaster I assumed. The Ragesians cannot reach the firestorm, and neither can you." Pilus raises a brow. "Someone has taken pains that the monastery could not provide you with help.""Has Caella been to see you?" I ask. "She said she was coming to speak with you.""She has not." Pilus looks around. "Who has seen her last?""She said you hated Balance and wanted them dead," says Fafnir."She is going to the Valley of Storms. She has lied about her meditations," says the master. "The Orb disappeared, we do not know how, but we now wonder if Caella was behind its disappearance."We explain about the biomancer in Seaquen, who was manipulating the storm and working with the Ragesians. He had called someone "master" when fighting us. Who knew about the Orb and what it could be used for? Is Caella working with the Ragesians?"If she is in the Valley, she has become a threat to the Winds and to everything I have built. No one travels, not even I, lightly to the Valley of Storm.""If we stop her, will you help us?" Osnald asks."Yes."</blockquote>

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