The Ranger, the Nixie, and the Elemental
A nixie and an elemental swam into this lake and go up to biggest fish.
The nixie and the fish chat for a few minutes and then the nixie tells the fish that this is the best looking lake that she has seen in some time.
The fish puffs up with pride. “Yes it is. He exclaims. “By the way,” asks the fish, “Who is the elemental?”
The nixie looks a little offended. “That’s no elemental that is my wave!”*
It was the next morning and it had been a short trip to the lake known as the Eelhold. Originally somewhat smaller, the locals from Milbourne had erected a dam some fifty years earlier in an effort to expand the lake and control the spring flooding that happened every year. The lake had expanded as expected and the Carman family had further invested in hiring a wizard from the Corlean Library to summon a water spirit to further aid in controling the lake.
The wizard had shrugged and performed the summoning and binding, then took his payment and left. The elemental was left with orders to protect the dam and to prevent any flooding from rupturing the damn. A pleasant side-effect of the summoning was that a number of fresh water eels migrated into the lake from somewhere else (no one knew from where). The eels were big, tasty, and stupid – ideal for the local populace who quickly took up fishing in the late fall.
Unbeknownst to all but a handful of people, a member of one of the Forest Courts, a nixie named Shenjirith had also made her home in the area. Shenjirith was initially curious about the human construction and then amused and then pleased with the increase in her home’s size. The binding of the water elemental both pleased and offended her. On the one hand she now had a companion to talk to, on the other the elemental was bound to such a small area. Still, there was nothing she could do about it so Shenjirith accepted the situation the same as she accepted the falling of night and the rising of the sun.
Now, a little over five decades later, the magics were starting to slip. Fifty years of confinement to a lake only a few miles across could not compare to the scope of the Great Sea. Fifty years of confinement with only stupid, flesh-bound eels and a flighty water-fey for company. It is not a wonder that the elemental was going mad, it was a wonder it took so long.
Kellron, Ashimar, Kestral, Jallarzi, and Shiraz stared out across the expanse of the Eelhold. In the distance, perhaps a hundred yards away, a waterspout was starting to form.
“The folk are going to start fishing for the eels soon.” Noted Shiraz, as the waterspout reached a height of thirty feet. The spout began to move about. Unsaid was the amount of damage the elemental could do if it got angry while the fishermane were boating about.
Shiraz, also called ‘Garyld’s Legs’ because she wandered for the lame former scout, had lived within Haranshire her entire life. Related by blood to Northel, the same druid that had raised Oleanne, Shiraz grew up with a deep abiding respect for Sheelegra’s bounty. When she was younger, Shiraz had made three trips with her uncle to the Forest Courts and had her own adventures there. What was happening out on the lake was not right. Garyld and Kupier both spoke highly of this group. They had proven themselves capable with words when talking with the goblins and with arms when attacking the orcs. Having been to the Forest Courts, Shiraz appreciated that it was rare for anyone to exhibit both traits. Still she couldn’t see what this group would do.
Shaking her head, the young ranger looked around and then called out in a loud, clear voice. It was light and clear and reminded the listners oddly of rippling waves and whispering leaves. Kestral’s eyes gleamed in the warm autumn sunlight.
Shiraz waited a few moments and called again. She looked to the four friends and shrugged. “It may take her a few moments to get here.”
The group waited patiently for awhile and then Shiraz called out again.
“I can hear you know.” Came the exasperated, high-pitched voice of a girl. The voice came from the lake. The girl, no, rather the woman had risen up silently from out of the water. Four of the five people on the shore started. Almost half out of the water was a small, green-skinned, round-faced woman. Her eyes were impossibly large and the same color as the lake itself. Ashimar’s keen eyes quickly noted the fine network of scales across her skin, and while her hands were underwater he could see the webbing between her fingers.
Shiraz stepped forward and knelt down on one knee. “Greetings and fair morning, Shenjirith, I hope you are well?”
The water-fey giggled, her girlish voice seemed incongruous with her features. “So formal.” The nixie looked to the four people behind the ranger. “Who are your friends?” Her voice and manner had gone from pleasure to suspicion.
Shiraz smiled. “As you say, friends.” She pointed to each of the people in turn. “This is Jallarzi, Kestral, Ashimar, and Kellron. I’m hoping they can help us with our friend out there.”
Shenjirith turned to look. The water spout was now gone. “He’s been angry today.” She said gravely. Soon the magic will be broken and he won’t be able to go home. The little human thing will be smashed and Shurlblurulp will follow the rivers down to the sea.” Shenjirith shrugged. “I will miss him.”
“Perhaps it will not come to that.” Answered Shiraz reassuringly. “Kestral here thinks she might be able to talk to Shurlblurulp.” Shiraz made a fair representation of the elemental’s name.
Shenjirith cocked her head to one side and blew an errant strand of hair out of her face. “I talk to Shurlblurulp all the time. He still gets angry, though sometimes less.” Shenjirith looked at the slight human woman called Kestral. “What can she do?”
Kestral smiled and lifted her right hand so that the nixie could see the ring. Shenjirith looked at it curiously for a moment and then caught her breath. The water rippled in sympathy with her agitation. “That ring belongs to the Water King!” She looked at Kestral accusingly. “Where did you get it?”
Kestral noted Shiraz’s posture and also stepped forward and knelt down. “Some goblins had it. We bargained for it from them.”
Shenjirith looked at the human woman and decided that she was trustworthy. “I’ll go get Shurlblurulp. Maybe he’ll listen to you better.” The nixie turned and dove down into the water, her webbed feet kicking about the water just briefly before disappearing into the depths.
The group looked at each other and back out to the water. There was nothing to do but wait. It was not a long wait. Very shortly a disturbance in the water could be seen. A wave, about three feet high was rolling in, the tip frothing with white foam.
The wave came right up to the shore line and abrubtly stopped two feet from the land. Everyone breathed in relief, for a moment it looked as if they were going to be swamped and they had all been ready to jump back. However the wave was still standing there, its depths roiling slightly. Jallarzi imagined she could make out eyes and mouth where the water was churning most.
Kestral and Shiraz both stood and eyed the standing wave as a pair. Shenjirith broke the water soundlessly next to the elemental. “I brought him.” She pointed out.
Kestral brought her hands out from her side and walked forward slowly. The young courier did not stop when she reached the water, instead she continued on in. It would be best to make a good impression. She turned and looked back to her friends. “I’ll be right back. I’m going under to speak with it.” Taking a deep breath she continued walking into the water. It was still early morning and the water should have been cold, but Kestral didn’t feel any discomfort.
“Wait.” Said Shenjirith. She glided forward effortlessly through the water. “Can you breathe?”
Kestral cocked her head and then replied. “No.” She said, shaking her head.
“Then here.” Shenjirith moved closer to Kestral and kissed her quickly. Kestral accepted the kiss quietly and felt a shiver pass down her spine as if she had been plunged into a cool mountain spring on a warm summer’s day. “There.” Said Shenjirith. “The waters will be as your home until the next sunrise.”
“Thank you.” With that Kestral moved under water, taking another reflexive breath, just in case. She had fully expected to be coming up for air every so often and was glad that bit of dignity was saved. If the nixie’s magic worked it would be an interesting experience.
She needed to be under the water for that was the only way to properly pronounce the words from the Courts of Water. In the air, the sounds would be harsh and grating and she knew her throat would hurt for a week.
Once fully immersed Kestral tried a quick breath, half expecting to choke. She didn’t and the courier smiled. Shenjirith, who had followed her in, gave a small ‘hmph’ guessing at Kestral’s test.
Satisfied Kestral turned to fully face the elemental. On some level she could guess at the creature’s mood. The churning water wasn’t good. “Hello.” She bubbled.
The elemental frothed and bubbled back. Kestral spoke the High Tongue of the Water Court, without a trace of accent. More, the creature recognized the ring on her finger and knew better than to attack her.
“Why have you been so angry?” asked Kestral, directly to the point. Little did she know the directness was appreciated by the elemental.
“Too long.” Was the answer. “Too long here. Sent here by my King to serve the earthers.”
“Why hasn’t he called you back?” Kestral used the sentence structure that showed her concern for the elemental’s well being.
“Fogotten.” Bubbled the elemental, and its interior churned even faster. “The King has forgotten he has sent me here and has not called me back.”
Kestral nodded sympathetically, her hair waving gently in the water. “Maybe I can speak with him?”
“Why?”
“I want to speak with him anyway.” She lifted her ring-bearning hand. “I want to know about the magic of the ring.”
There was a pause, then the creature bubbled again. ”Not his.” Was the creature’s reply. ”The ring belongs to one of his son’s. A prince.”
Kestral absorbed that. “I still wish to talk to him. Can you help me? I’ll talk to the King for you if you do.”
”I will help.”
*This joke just goes to show that humor is not elemental.
I tried to make up a funny water joke, but the only thing that ran through my head was “A nixie and an elemental walk into a bar…”
edited some spelling and grammar.
A nixie and an elemental swam into this lake and go up to biggest fish.
The nixie and the fish chat for a few minutes and then the nixie tells the fish that this is the best looking lake that she has seen in some time.
The fish puffs up with pride. “Yes it is. He exclaims. “By the way,” asks the fish, “Who is the elemental?”
The nixie looks a little offended. “That’s no elemental that is my wave!”*
It was the next morning and it had been a short trip to the lake known as the Eelhold. Originally somewhat smaller, the locals from Milbourne had erected a dam some fifty years earlier in an effort to expand the lake and control the spring flooding that happened every year. The lake had expanded as expected and the Carman family had further invested in hiring a wizard from the Corlean Library to summon a water spirit to further aid in controling the lake.
The wizard had shrugged and performed the summoning and binding, then took his payment and left. The elemental was left with orders to protect the dam and to prevent any flooding from rupturing the damn. A pleasant side-effect of the summoning was that a number of fresh water eels migrated into the lake from somewhere else (no one knew from where). The eels were big, tasty, and stupid – ideal for the local populace who quickly took up fishing in the late fall.
Unbeknownst to all but a handful of people, a member of one of the Forest Courts, a nixie named Shenjirith had also made her home in the area. Shenjirith was initially curious about the human construction and then amused and then pleased with the increase in her home’s size. The binding of the water elemental both pleased and offended her. On the one hand she now had a companion to talk to, on the other the elemental was bound to such a small area. Still, there was nothing she could do about it so Shenjirith accepted the situation the same as she accepted the falling of night and the rising of the sun.
Now, a little over five decades later, the magics were starting to slip. Fifty years of confinement to a lake only a few miles across could not compare to the scope of the Great Sea. Fifty years of confinement with only stupid, flesh-bound eels and a flighty water-fey for company. It is not a wonder that the elemental was going mad, it was a wonder it took so long.
Kellron, Ashimar, Kestral, Jallarzi, and Shiraz stared out across the expanse of the Eelhold. In the distance, perhaps a hundred yards away, a waterspout was starting to form.
“The folk are going to start fishing for the eels soon.” Noted Shiraz, as the waterspout reached a height of thirty feet. The spout began to move about. Unsaid was the amount of damage the elemental could do if it got angry while the fishermane were boating about.
Shiraz, also called ‘Garyld’s Legs’ because she wandered for the lame former scout, had lived within Haranshire her entire life. Related by blood to Northel, the same druid that had raised Oleanne, Shiraz grew up with a deep abiding respect for Sheelegra’s bounty. When she was younger, Shiraz had made three trips with her uncle to the Forest Courts and had her own adventures there. What was happening out on the lake was not right. Garyld and Kupier both spoke highly of this group. They had proven themselves capable with words when talking with the goblins and with arms when attacking the orcs. Having been to the Forest Courts, Shiraz appreciated that it was rare for anyone to exhibit both traits. Still she couldn’t see what this group would do.
Shaking her head, the young ranger looked around and then called out in a loud, clear voice. It was light and clear and reminded the listners oddly of rippling waves and whispering leaves. Kestral’s eyes gleamed in the warm autumn sunlight.
Shiraz waited a few moments and called again. She looked to the four friends and shrugged. “It may take her a few moments to get here.”
The group waited patiently for awhile and then Shiraz called out again.
“I can hear you know.” Came the exasperated, high-pitched voice of a girl. The voice came from the lake. The girl, no, rather the woman had risen up silently from out of the water. Four of the five people on the shore started. Almost half out of the water was a small, green-skinned, round-faced woman. Her eyes were impossibly large and the same color as the lake itself. Ashimar’s keen eyes quickly noted the fine network of scales across her skin, and while her hands were underwater he could see the webbing between her fingers.
Shiraz stepped forward and knelt down on one knee. “Greetings and fair morning, Shenjirith, I hope you are well?”
The water-fey giggled, her girlish voice seemed incongruous with her features. “So formal.” The nixie looked to the four people behind the ranger. “Who are your friends?” Her voice and manner had gone from pleasure to suspicion.
Shiraz smiled. “As you say, friends.” She pointed to each of the people in turn. “This is Jallarzi, Kestral, Ashimar, and Kellron. I’m hoping they can help us with our friend out there.”
Shenjirith turned to look. The water spout was now gone. “He’s been angry today.” She said gravely. Soon the magic will be broken and he won’t be able to go home. The little human thing will be smashed and Shurlblurulp will follow the rivers down to the sea.” Shenjirith shrugged. “I will miss him.”
“Perhaps it will not come to that.” Answered Shiraz reassuringly. “Kestral here thinks she might be able to talk to Shurlblurulp.” Shiraz made a fair representation of the elemental’s name.
Shenjirith cocked her head to one side and blew an errant strand of hair out of her face. “I talk to Shurlblurulp all the time. He still gets angry, though sometimes less.” Shenjirith looked at the slight human woman called Kestral. “What can she do?”
Kestral smiled and lifted her right hand so that the nixie could see the ring. Shenjirith looked at it curiously for a moment and then caught her breath. The water rippled in sympathy with her agitation. “That ring belongs to the Water King!” She looked at Kestral accusingly. “Where did you get it?”
Kestral noted Shiraz’s posture and also stepped forward and knelt down. “Some goblins had it. We bargained for it from them.”
Shenjirith looked at the human woman and decided that she was trustworthy. “I’ll go get Shurlblurulp. Maybe he’ll listen to you better.” The nixie turned and dove down into the water, her webbed feet kicking about the water just briefly before disappearing into the depths.
The group looked at each other and back out to the water. There was nothing to do but wait. It was not a long wait. Very shortly a disturbance in the water could be seen. A wave, about three feet high was rolling in, the tip frothing with white foam.
The wave came right up to the shore line and abrubtly stopped two feet from the land. Everyone breathed in relief, for a moment it looked as if they were going to be swamped and they had all been ready to jump back. However the wave was still standing there, its depths roiling slightly. Jallarzi imagined she could make out eyes and mouth where the water was churning most.
Kestral and Shiraz both stood and eyed the standing wave as a pair. Shenjirith broke the water soundlessly next to the elemental. “I brought him.” She pointed out.
Kestral brought her hands out from her side and walked forward slowly. The young courier did not stop when she reached the water, instead she continued on in. It would be best to make a good impression. She turned and looked back to her friends. “I’ll be right back. I’m going under to speak with it.” Taking a deep breath she continued walking into the water. It was still early morning and the water should have been cold, but Kestral didn’t feel any discomfort.
“Wait.” Said Shenjirith. She glided forward effortlessly through the water. “Can you breathe?”
Kestral cocked her head and then replied. “No.” She said, shaking her head.
“Then here.” Shenjirith moved closer to Kestral and kissed her quickly. Kestral accepted the kiss quietly and felt a shiver pass down her spine as if she had been plunged into a cool mountain spring on a warm summer’s day. “There.” Said Shenjirith. “The waters will be as your home until the next sunrise.”
“Thank you.” With that Kestral moved under water, taking another reflexive breath, just in case. She had fully expected to be coming up for air every so often and was glad that bit of dignity was saved. If the nixie’s magic worked it would be an interesting experience.
She needed to be under the water for that was the only way to properly pronounce the words from the Courts of Water. In the air, the sounds would be harsh and grating and she knew her throat would hurt for a week.
Once fully immersed Kestral tried a quick breath, half expecting to choke. She didn’t and the courier smiled. Shenjirith, who had followed her in, gave a small ‘hmph’ guessing at Kestral’s test.
Satisfied Kestral turned to fully face the elemental. On some level she could guess at the creature’s mood. The churning water wasn’t good. “Hello.” She bubbled.
The elemental frothed and bubbled back. Kestral spoke the High Tongue of the Water Court, without a trace of accent. More, the creature recognized the ring on her finger and knew better than to attack her.
“Why have you been so angry?” asked Kestral, directly to the point. Little did she know the directness was appreciated by the elemental.
“Too long.” Was the answer. “Too long here. Sent here by my King to serve the earthers.”
“Why hasn’t he called you back?” Kestral used the sentence structure that showed her concern for the elemental’s well being.
“Fogotten.” Bubbled the elemental, and its interior churned even faster. “The King has forgotten he has sent me here and has not called me back.”
Kestral nodded sympathetically, her hair waving gently in the water. “Maybe I can speak with him?”
“Why?”
“I want to speak with him anyway.” She lifted her ring-bearning hand. “I want to know about the magic of the ring.”
There was a pause, then the creature bubbled again. ”Not his.” Was the creature’s reply. ”The ring belongs to one of his son’s. A prince.”
Kestral absorbed that. “I still wish to talk to him. Can you help me? I’ll talk to the King for you if you do.”
”I will help.”
*This joke just goes to show that humor is not elemental.
I tried to make up a funny water joke, but the only thing that ran through my head was “A nixie and an elemental walk into a bar…”
edited some spelling and grammar.
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) and told her it was her sacred duty to destroy the weaklings of the other clan.
