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DM Brainiac's Age of Worms (Mostly Restored 5/12/06)
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<blockquote data-quote="ltclnlbrain" data-source="post: 2821419" data-attributes="member: 12882"><p><strong>Chapter 14</strong></p><p></p><p>With Keira's lighted glove and Sardonic's everburning torch providing illumination, the barbarian and wizard dove beneath the water's surface. The pair made their way down the submerged stairs and into a large, cavernous chamber. Four columns made of tan stone were spaced around the room, surrounding a large central structure. Investigation of these structures revealed numerous shower spigots about eight feet off the ground, all non-functional. A door was set in the north wall, and two open halls lead east and west.</p><p></p><p>As they got their bearings, their attention was drawn by a whirling vortex of water quickly slicing toward them from the west. Two malevolent orbs reminiscent of eyes peered out at them, and two wavelike appendages emerged from the vortex, prepared to strike.</p><p></p><p>The water blurred in front of her, a whirlpool of swirling water, with eyes and limbs. Keira's face would've looked shocked to those that would see it, but Sardonic did not see her as she turned away. The creature approached and Keira closed the gap. With one arm she waved Sardonic away, a signal to get out or get help, while she moved forward, her lungs burning in her chest.</p><p></p><p>She covered the gap easily, half-swimming, half-walking under the weight of her armor. Reaching towards the creature she swung clumsily, unused to the water terrain and the nature of it. She had to buy Sardonic some time, until she herself could do what was needed. Holding onto the internal rage, the injustice of being called lepsha, and the humiliation of it, she braced herself on the floor, hoping to survive and live.</p><p></p><p>The creature seemed to falter a bit. With Keira's feet touching the ground, it seemed unsure of itself, as if anything but water was anathema to it. Nevertheless, it lashed out at the barbaric woman, but she twisted aside and the strike went wide.</p><p></p><p>Sardonic's eyes bugged out as he saw the dangerous creature. He lifted Tash's crossbow and let loose a bolt, but the water interfered with its momentum and it didn't come close to hitting the creature. The mage quickly turned around and swam for the stairs to seek further aid. He tugged on the rope to alert the others of the danger.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Keira remained focused on the elemental, striking out with her spiked gauntlet. It was difficult to tell whether she had hit the elemental or just water, but the creature made no indication of pain, so it was safe to assume that she did not hit. The watery creature flailed wildly at the barbarian, lashing out repeatedly with its fists but not managing to connect to Keira's benefit. However, the stalemate wouldn't last forever, as Keira's lungs continue to burn in protest.</p><p></p><p>The rope around Sardonic's waist tightened as Carpal pulled him up, and the wizard broke the surface of the water, gasping and spluttering. "Sardonic! What is it?" asked Tash.</p><p>"Elemental...fighting Keira...needs help..." the mage panted.</p><p></p><p>Ju'lindra did not hesitate. "Pyrius, quickly. Tie your rope around my waist. I'll go and see if I can help Keira. Perhaps I can get her some relief by distracting whatever might be facing her." As the priest complied, the monk dropped her backpack and tonfas tonfas to the ground. She drew her siangham and kicked off her sandals, then took a deep breath and plunged into the cold water.</p><p></p><p>Keira glanced briefly backward to see Ju'lindra coming to her aid. She turned again to the elemental and smashed at the water. This time she could tell that she'd only hit water as the creature pressed the advantage. She forced her open hands into the water, lifting herself up slightly and moving a little bit closer to the others on the shore. But the barbarian's luck ran out, and the elemental slammed a powerful fist into her chest. She felt something give way, and a cloud of pain danced before her eyes.</p><p></p><p>She remembered. A young warrior, from a quiet family in the tribe. He'd valiantly fought alongside them as they stood to hold off yet another attack. He'd been dragged under the water, taken down. It was a cunning tactic used by the lizardfolk. She remembered it clearly. She would not let herself be similar to that. Another failure would not do.</p><p></p><p>Help was clearly arriving around her, and so she timed her retreat more slowly, punching again before moving closer to the steps. It was a particularly weak effort. Part of her was enjoying the challenge, but part of her was not relishing it. Ju'lindra arrived at her side, and Sardonic fired some sort of missile of cold energy that looked like it had been wayward. It left only a trail of ice in the water, not hitting its intended target. They needed to retreat, slowly, to make sure that survived this.</p><p></p><p>Ju'lindra's feet settled on the floor as she struck out at the water elemental. The weapon sloughed off its syrupy hide, doing no damage. The creature fixed its gaze on Ju'lindra, choosing her as its new target. The half-elf ducked as the elemental's fist passed over her.</p><p></p><p>The two women turned as the water shimmered beside them and a sleek, silver porpoise appeared. Summoned by Davi, the animal let out a trilling call as it swam at the elemental, slapping it with its heavy tail. The sturdy creature seemed unfazed by the blow, but it was enough of a distraction to provide Ju'lindra and Keira with an opening.</p><p></p><p>Ju'lindra flicked her wrist out again, a well-aimed blow that drove the siangham deep into the elemental's body. It punctured the syrupy hide, and the monk was rewarded by a blast of steam from the wound. She moved back away, leaving an opening for Keira to step back into melee range. Finally getting a feel for the aquatic surroundings, the barbarian drove her spiked fist into the wound that Ju'lindra opened. Another blast of steam rocked the barbarian backward, and the elemental seemed to deflate in on itself. In a few seconds, all that remained were ripples in the water to mark its previous existence.</p><p></p><p>Smiling grimly to herself, Keira kicked upward and broke the surface of the water, drawing in a deep breath to ease her burning lungs. She saw Sardonic stumble out of the water, dripping wet and grinning broadly. "We did it! We're alive!" he cried, and before she could protest, the mage gathered Davi into a big, wet, sloppy hug. The halfling stiffened in his embrace, thankful for her thick robe to keep his moistness at bay.</p><p></p><p>"Yes, well, that's delightful. Bravo. Ahem."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ltclnlbrain, post: 2821419, member: 12882"] [b]Chapter 14[/b] With Keira's lighted glove and Sardonic's everburning torch providing illumination, the barbarian and wizard dove beneath the water's surface. The pair made their way down the submerged stairs and into a large, cavernous chamber. Four columns made of tan stone were spaced around the room, surrounding a large central structure. Investigation of these structures revealed numerous shower spigots about eight feet off the ground, all non-functional. A door was set in the north wall, and two open halls lead east and west. As they got their bearings, their attention was drawn by a whirling vortex of water quickly slicing toward them from the west. Two malevolent orbs reminiscent of eyes peered out at them, and two wavelike appendages emerged from the vortex, prepared to strike. The water blurred in front of her, a whirlpool of swirling water, with eyes and limbs. Keira's face would've looked shocked to those that would see it, but Sardonic did not see her as she turned away. The creature approached and Keira closed the gap. With one arm she waved Sardonic away, a signal to get out or get help, while she moved forward, her lungs burning in her chest. She covered the gap easily, half-swimming, half-walking under the weight of her armor. Reaching towards the creature she swung clumsily, unused to the water terrain and the nature of it. She had to buy Sardonic some time, until she herself could do what was needed. Holding onto the internal rage, the injustice of being called lepsha, and the humiliation of it, she braced herself on the floor, hoping to survive and live. The creature seemed to falter a bit. With Keira's feet touching the ground, it seemed unsure of itself, as if anything but water was anathema to it. Nevertheless, it lashed out at the barbaric woman, but she twisted aside and the strike went wide. Sardonic's eyes bugged out as he saw the dangerous creature. He lifted Tash's crossbow and let loose a bolt, but the water interfered with its momentum and it didn't come close to hitting the creature. The mage quickly turned around and swam for the stairs to seek further aid. He tugged on the rope to alert the others of the danger. Meanwhile, Keira remained focused on the elemental, striking out with her spiked gauntlet. It was difficult to tell whether she had hit the elemental or just water, but the creature made no indication of pain, so it was safe to assume that she did not hit. The watery creature flailed wildly at the barbarian, lashing out repeatedly with its fists but not managing to connect to Keira's benefit. However, the stalemate wouldn't last forever, as Keira's lungs continue to burn in protest. The rope around Sardonic's waist tightened as Carpal pulled him up, and the wizard broke the surface of the water, gasping and spluttering. "Sardonic! What is it?" asked Tash. "Elemental...fighting Keira...needs help..." the mage panted. Ju'lindra did not hesitate. "Pyrius, quickly. Tie your rope around my waist. I'll go and see if I can help Keira. Perhaps I can get her some relief by distracting whatever might be facing her." As the priest complied, the monk dropped her backpack and tonfas tonfas to the ground. She drew her siangham and kicked off her sandals, then took a deep breath and plunged into the cold water. Keira glanced briefly backward to see Ju'lindra coming to her aid. She turned again to the elemental and smashed at the water. This time she could tell that she'd only hit water as the creature pressed the advantage. She forced her open hands into the water, lifting herself up slightly and moving a little bit closer to the others on the shore. But the barbarian's luck ran out, and the elemental slammed a powerful fist into her chest. She felt something give way, and a cloud of pain danced before her eyes. She remembered. A young warrior, from a quiet family in the tribe. He'd valiantly fought alongside them as they stood to hold off yet another attack. He'd been dragged under the water, taken down. It was a cunning tactic used by the lizardfolk. She remembered it clearly. She would not let herself be similar to that. Another failure would not do. Help was clearly arriving around her, and so she timed her retreat more slowly, punching again before moving closer to the steps. It was a particularly weak effort. Part of her was enjoying the challenge, but part of her was not relishing it. Ju'lindra arrived at her side, and Sardonic fired some sort of missile of cold energy that looked like it had been wayward. It left only a trail of ice in the water, not hitting its intended target. They needed to retreat, slowly, to make sure that survived this. Ju'lindra's feet settled on the floor as she struck out at the water elemental. The weapon sloughed off its syrupy hide, doing no damage. The creature fixed its gaze on Ju'lindra, choosing her as its new target. The half-elf ducked as the elemental's fist passed over her. The two women turned as the water shimmered beside them and a sleek, silver porpoise appeared. Summoned by Davi, the animal let out a trilling call as it swam at the elemental, slapping it with its heavy tail. The sturdy creature seemed unfazed by the blow, but it was enough of a distraction to provide Ju'lindra and Keira with an opening. Ju'lindra flicked her wrist out again, a well-aimed blow that drove the siangham deep into the elemental's body. It punctured the syrupy hide, and the monk was rewarded by a blast of steam from the wound. She moved back away, leaving an opening for Keira to step back into melee range. Finally getting a feel for the aquatic surroundings, the barbarian drove her spiked fist into the wound that Ju'lindra opened. Another blast of steam rocked the barbarian backward, and the elemental seemed to deflate in on itself. In a few seconds, all that remained were ripples in the water to mark its previous existence. Smiling grimly to herself, Keira kicked upward and broke the surface of the water, drawing in a deep breath to ease her burning lungs. She saw Sardonic stumble out of the water, dripping wet and grinning broadly. "We did it! We're alive!" he cried, and before she could protest, the mage gathered Davi into a big, wet, sloppy hug. The halfling stiffened in his embrace, thankful for her thick robe to keep his moistness at bay. "Yes, well, that's delightful. Bravo. Ahem." [/QUOTE]
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