Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="howandwhy99" data-source="post: 2583221" data-attributes="member: 3192">“This is the magic of an enslaved creature,” said Balorn handing Darius back the ornamental dagger he had been loaned.  Looking at it again it still reminded Ben of a miniature sword.  “It is fueled by elemental fire” said Balorn.  “There is a means to release the fire, but no one in their right mind would use such a weapon as this.”  Darius asked how the blade worked; what fire it called forth.  “A flame along the blade is formed when activated properly.  But to do so one must bathe it in the blood of innocents and then call upon the fire,” explained Balorn.  “Should I destroy it?” asked Darius“It is a vicious blade.  You may do with it as you wish.”  Taking the small steel weapon in both his gauntleted hands, Darius the paladin attempted to snap the blade in two.  He strained with all his might and the blade began to bend.  Its edge cut into the steel of Darius’s gauntlets and his blood poured over the dagger.  As it snapped in his hands a thunderous rush of flame erupted from the break.The flash of light seen downstairs and outside the tower looked as if a ball of flame had engulfed the entire interior of the top of Balorn’s tower.  The wizard could be heard screaming, “NOOOOOO!!”  Inside a ten foot tall creature of pure flame burst out from the weapon.  Frantically Darius tried to push the dagger back together again.  It did not work.  The massive fiery form landed on the wooden floor.  The books in the wall cases behind the creature combusted and the flames spread.  The fire-beast grew in size as it fed from the dry paper.  Darius felt a hand touch him from behind and his whole world shifted.  The next thing he knew he was standing outside in the grass with Balorn holding both he and Kayla.  Looking up from their dicing game, Dalin, Dram, and Ormand the Redd stared at the three in disbelief.“Save the tower!” shouted Pax as he ran up the stairs with his sword in hand.  At the top he saw the star field which had been in place on their previous visit.  He charged into it and was shocked backwards.  In return Pax spit at the star field perhaps hoping some bit of him might get through.  Diedre ran outside towards Kayla looking expectantly for what to do.  Rose grabbed a bucket of water and ran from the waiting room all the way upstairs to Pax’s side.  “Be prepared,” warned Balorn.  Then the wizard, Kayla, and Darius disappeared once again.  Kayla felt the heat blaze across her face.  Chanting the arcane words she had previously memorized a gush of water spouted from her clasped hands.  Spraying it all over the fire creature it started to shrink.  Kayla tried to stop the library from burning by using some of the spray to douse the flaming books.  She succeeded by soaking every wall.  Unfortunately the creature still lived, though barely three feet in size.Down in the study Ben waffled on what to do.  He ran half way up the stairs before realizing he was running towards an angry warlock.  Turning quickly he ran out the bottom of the tower.  Balorn dismissed the star field and Pax and Rose rushed inside the library.  Pax swung his sword into the flaming creature to no effect.  Rose tossed her bucket of water, but missed.  Darius tried pounding the flaming creature with his hammer, but was burned for his efforts.  Dalin, Dram, and Ormand decided it was time to quit the dice game and started running towards town.  Dram looked back over his shoulder, “we’ll get some water!”  But the town was several minutes away.  Diedre walked towards the tower door just as Father Ben sprinted out.  “I sense something is wrong” she said, but Ben did not respond.Up in the library Balorn shouted for more water to be brought up from the laboratory downstairs.  Pax took off running forgetting about Rose’s bucket.  Kayla waved her hands again and whispered like the wind.  A strong breeze began blowing from her form.  Her clothes flapped wildly as its intensity increased.  The little fire creature was pushed backwards along the floor as it sputtered in the wind.   When the gust finally subsided the flame was but a foot tall.    Rose started hissing in what sounded like a bizarre crackling language.  Darius grabbed the bucket from Rose and jumped at the creature.  His plan worked.  The metal bucket covered the fire even as small daggers of flame managed to lash out along the seams of the floor.  After a minute, Pax ran back upstairs looking for a bucket.  Upon Darius’s command he smashed the bucket with his massive foot.  There was nothing left, but smoke.    Balorn stood back silently surveying the damage to his library.  Half the books were burned and the other half waterlogged.  Darius began apologizing for the accident of releasing the evil creature.  Kayla cut him off, “It has been a terribly long day.  Time to leave.”  She prodded her teammates towards the stairwell.  Outside Ben had already run a good hundred yards away.  As he looked back he saw Darius and the rest of the team exit the tower without the warlock.  In the other direction, he could see Dalin, Dram, and his hireling casually walking towards Holmfaust.  “I guess we won’t be coming back here” thought Ben and he turned to catch up with the other three.  Standing outside the tower Kayla explained it would be best not to disturb Balorn any more.  He needed time to cool off himself.  When everyone was at last inside the Red Lion Inn in Holmfaust the team reserved one large room.  Holmfaust had been safe before, but it was still a town they had been seen in.  A single room would provide protection.  Double watches were kept through the night.</blockquote>

Verification