Dazed Dimitri sat up and looked around the chamber. All the massive pillars in the cavern were now covered in runes glowing an ominous crimson. For the first time since they've ventured into these ruins the walls were visible, bathed in a blood red light.
Vandalandius was already up on his feet and casting a spell, the ground rumbled as an earth elemental appeared. "No time for naps, get up!"
As Dimitri rose to his feet he noticed the dust wasn't settling. In fact there seemed to be movement everywhere. Sets of rusted and broken armor began to rise from the ground. Where pieces were missing a ghostly version was in its place. Transparent faces sneered at them through rusted visors and phantom fists closed around weapons preparing to strike.
The earth elemental charged through a group of the undead swinging his arms
sending them flying into each other. Vandalandius raised a hand blasting the undead with wrath of the divine, the other arm swinging a massive blade. Sword drawn Dimitri parried an incoming blade and countered with a magic missile to the creatures skull. Dropping to a heap of rubble another stepped to take its place. Breathing a cone of fire he burned the undead in front of him. Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention and he dipped to the side, to slow. The mace intended for his head slammed into his shoulder, blinding pain overcoming him he stumbled to his knees, arm hanging limp. The undead pressed on relentlessly, raising its sword above its head for the killing blow, it exploded as fiery meteors rained down from above.
Looking where the creature had been he saw a path of destruction, at the other end stood the Podrikev. "You cannot die until you free the others."
A wave of refreshment washed over him, his pain gone, the feeling returned to his arm and he realized Vandalandius was fighting behind him, keeping the creatures off his back. "Feeling better?" Vandal smiled and raised a hand and blasted another undead warrior into dust. With the podrikev and Vandalandius protecting him from the onslaught the three made it a Podrikev laying on the ground.
"It's not going to blow up like the last one will it?" Dimitri asked.The podrikev replied between spell cast. "No, that flash was the trap to summon these." Dimitri dispelled this one the same as the first, gemstone glowing, the Podrikev coming to life. They fought their way to the next podrikev, backs to one another, dispelling them one by one. As more Podrikevs were dispelled the booming sounds of crashing meteors became more rapid. After the blue glow faded the last Podrikev stood up and joined the others in a circle around Vandalandius and Dimitri, facing the undead, raining down meteors that created a wall between them and the seemingly unending waves of unholy creatures.
"As much as I enjoy fireworks I think we have what we came for. Shall we?" Vandalandius said.
"They're all wizards." Dimitri said with a grin. "Ready when you are."
Vandalandius raised his hands and opened a vortexial rift just large enough to embrace the circle of Podrikevs and the two within it. They vanished, leaving behind a smoke filled room of screeching undead.
One Man's Junkyard...
As they came around the corner the hallway ended with an arched doorway opening to a massive cavern. Rows of ancient columns disappearing up into the darkness as far as their light would reach. The floor littered with rubble of all shapes and sizes.
"Shame they threw all this away." Vandalandius said, the titan straightening from a stoop as he stepped through the archway into the large room.
Dimitri replied, "Well I wouldn't say that, if they didn't, there wouldn't be anything here for us." Smiling he stepped over a rusted set of armor. Holding his torch high above his head he motioned to the center of the cavern. "See them? The podrikevs?"
Earlier expeditions to the ruins were more focused on the surface chambers of the caves, valuables ranging from elaborate metalwork to rare magical weapons had been abundant in those chambers. It wasn't until the wagons were full until they discovered this junkyard, requiring a second trip for possibly the the most valuable treasure in the ruins.
"Yes, I see them, there must be at least eight or nine of them. And they're probably as in good a shape as the day life was breathed into them." The titan said.
The orange torchlight glimmered on pristine steel. The large mechanical humanoid figures lay in heaps, seemingly in perfect condition, untouched by age.
Both men Waded through the refuse, boots crunching, almost to the shells of the metal figures, Vandaldius slowed his pace. "Something isn't right here."
Dimitri, a pace or two ahead, reached the nearest Podrikev. Leaning down to take a closer look he examined the metal shell.
"We really got lucky, in this condition they'll probably sell for a million platinum a piece." He said.
"Excellent, lets move them close together so we can vortex out of here. The quicker the better, this place has the stink of evil." Vandalandius said, he reached down to drag the mechanical humanoid towards the others.
It didn't budge.
Giving a grunt the titan put his weight into it. The podrikev remained where it lay, not moving an inch.
Dimitri noticed his efforts and uttered a quick incantation of detect magic. "I see, they're all glowing with some kind of enchantment."
Vandalandius replied, "Of course they are, aren't they magical pots and pans?"
"Yea pretty much, let me try something." Vandalandius took a few steps away from the podrikev as Dimitri raised his hands, tracing symbols in the air he recited something in the language of magic. An educated onlooker would know it for a dispel magic spell. Nothing seemed to happen.
Vandalandius tried to move it again with the same result. He shook his head.
"Ok, well how about this." Dimitri produced a large blue gemstone from within his robes, repeating the dispel magic spell the gemstone glowed slightly.A shimmering blue light surrounded the podrikev and slowly faded. "Ok, now give it a tr-". A blinding white light flashed with an explosion knocking both Vandalandius and Dimitri from their feet.
"Shame they threw all this away." Vandalandius said, the titan straightening from a stoop as he stepped through the archway into the large room.
Dimitri replied, "Well I wouldn't say that, if they didn't, there wouldn't be anything here for us." Smiling he stepped over a rusted set of armor. Holding his torch high above his head he motioned to the center of the cavern. "See them? The podrikevs?"
Earlier expeditions to the ruins were more focused on the surface chambers of the caves, valuables ranging from elaborate metalwork to rare magical weapons had been abundant in those chambers. It wasn't until the wagons were full until they discovered this junkyard, requiring a second trip for possibly the the most valuable treasure in the ruins.
"Yes, I see them, there must be at least eight or nine of them. And they're probably as in good a shape as the day life was breathed into them." The titan said.
The orange torchlight glimmered on pristine steel. The large mechanical humanoid figures lay in heaps, seemingly in perfect condition, untouched by age.
Both men Waded through the refuse, boots crunching, almost to the shells of the metal figures, Vandaldius slowed his pace. "Something isn't right here."
Dimitri, a pace or two ahead, reached the nearest Podrikev. Leaning down to take a closer look he examined the metal shell.
"We really got lucky, in this condition they'll probably sell for a million platinum a piece." He said.
"Excellent, lets move them close together so we can vortex out of here. The quicker the better, this place has the stink of evil." Vandalandius said, he reached down to drag the mechanical humanoid towards the others.
It didn't budge.
Giving a grunt the titan put his weight into it. The podrikev remained where it lay, not moving an inch.
Dimitri noticed his efforts and uttered a quick incantation of detect magic. "I see, they're all glowing with some kind of enchantment."
Vandalandius replied, "Of course they are, aren't they magical pots and pans?"
"Yea pretty much, let me try something." Vandalandius took a few steps away from the podrikev as Dimitri raised his hands, tracing symbols in the air he recited something in the language of magic. An educated onlooker would know it for a dispel magic spell. Nothing seemed to happen.
Vandalandius tried to move it again with the same result. He shook his head.
"Ok, well how about this." Dimitri produced a large blue gemstone from within his robes, repeating the dispel magic spell the gemstone glowed slightly.A shimmering blue light surrounded the podrikev and slowly faded. "Ok, now give it a tr-". A blinding white light flashed with an explosion knocking both Vandalandius and Dimitri from their feet.
WHAT?!
WHAT?!
Ruthivan's blood crept up into his neck and he could feel the tension there. He stared at Claire and all he wanted to do was strike her for allowing such a thing to happen - but he couldn't. She'd run off if he did that, then he'd have to track her down and spend time convincing her he didn't mean it. Better to keep his hands off of her and do this the old fashioned way. 'How could you let them in our home, Claire? Are you a fool?'
'No, Ruthivan, but I can't turn away our son.'
'He's not our son, not anymore. He turned his back on everything our people need to breed with a human.'
'Ruthivan, please, be reasonable...'
'Reasonable?' he shouted. 'Is seeing at night in the cities by esper light reasonable to you?'
'No,' Claire looked down.
'Is it reasonable the slaughter of our people to sate the needs of the humans?'
'No,' Claire said quietly, 'But Leandra didn't do that.'
'She's human, isn't she?'
'Yes...'
'Close enough.'
Ruthivan paced the tent. Where had he gone wrong? Perhaps listening to Claire and coming back to this place when he should have kept her, Askari, and all the rest of his children off this planet. No, he came back for her, for Claire, and they were still outcasts. Eladrim would barely accept seeing him to discuss coming back into the fold. Now, with this human girl, there would be no chance at all. He turned to Claire, gripping her shoulder, perhaps harder than he intended. 'This cannot be allowed.'
'Ruthivan,' she begged, 'He's your son...'
'Only in deed. He turned his back on us all. Get rid of him.'
'No.'
Ruthivan stared at Claire, his eyebrow raised, his jaw set. 'No?'
'I won't turn them away if they need help.'
'Damn your soft cow heart. This is urgent and must be done NOW.'
'No. I will help others, even if you don't think I should, even if you won't let me, especially if that one is my son.'
He wanted to choke her. When he had grown so angry with her, he didn't know. Perhaps it was when he found she was no longer bearing children. Perhaps it was seeing that nothing he did caused her enough pride for her flames to burn freely. She was ashamed of him, she loathed him, he could see it. It was all over her face.
Ruthivan pushed the impulse down and took in a long breath. 'Please, be reasonable,' she whispered as she looked at him. Reasonable... she'd never know the meaning of the word.
'If I let him stay, will it please you?' he asked in a low tone, staring down his nose into her eyes.
'Very much,' she said. Even her smile was false. 'Fine. But they stay out there.'
'Thank you, Ruthivan,' and she hugged him.
He watched her walk away, clenching his jaw. There was no change in her flames at all. None whatsoever.
Ruthivan's blood crept up into his neck and he could feel the tension there. He stared at Claire and all he wanted to do was strike her for allowing such a thing to happen - but he couldn't. She'd run off if he did that, then he'd have to track her down and spend time convincing her he didn't mean it. Better to keep his hands off of her and do this the old fashioned way. 'How could you let them in our home, Claire? Are you a fool?'
'No, Ruthivan, but I can't turn away our son.'
'He's not our son, not anymore. He turned his back on everything our people need to breed with a human.'
'Ruthivan, please, be reasonable...'
'Reasonable?' he shouted. 'Is seeing at night in the cities by esper light reasonable to you?'
'No,' Claire looked down.
'Is it reasonable the slaughter of our people to sate the needs of the humans?'
'No,' Claire said quietly, 'But Leandra didn't do that.'
'She's human, isn't she?'
'Yes...'
'Close enough.'
Ruthivan paced the tent. Where had he gone wrong? Perhaps listening to Claire and coming back to this place when he should have kept her, Askari, and all the rest of his children off this planet. No, he came back for her, for Claire, and they were still outcasts. Eladrim would barely accept seeing him to discuss coming back into the fold. Now, with this human girl, there would be no chance at all. He turned to Claire, gripping her shoulder, perhaps harder than he intended. 'This cannot be allowed.'
'Ruthivan,' she begged, 'He's your son...'
'Only in deed. He turned his back on us all. Get rid of him.'
'No.'
Ruthivan stared at Claire, his eyebrow raised, his jaw set. 'No?'
'I won't turn them away if they need help.'
'Damn your soft cow heart. This is urgent and must be done NOW.'
'No. I will help others, even if you don't think I should, even if you won't let me, especially if that one is my son.'
He wanted to choke her. When he had grown so angry with her, he didn't know. Perhaps it was when he found she was no longer bearing children. Perhaps it was seeing that nothing he did caused her enough pride for her flames to burn freely. She was ashamed of him, she loathed him, he could see it. It was all over her face.
Ruthivan pushed the impulse down and took in a long breath. 'Please, be reasonable,' she whispered as she looked at him. Reasonable... she'd never know the meaning of the word.
'If I let him stay, will it please you?' he asked in a low tone, staring down his nose into her eyes.
'Very much,' she said. Even her smile was false. 'Fine. But they stay out there.'
'Thank you, Ruthivan,' and she hugged him.
He watched her walk away, clenching his jaw. There was no change in her flames at all. None whatsoever.
Uterus B-GONE!
Claire was tired and it showed. Her flames had not flared to life in a long time now, not that anyone cared or noticed. She kept holed in the tent with her children; Celiara, who was now quite rambunctious and the apple of her father's eye; Saren, a tiny ball of temper; and Desmaren, a quiet child who seemed to only wish no one would see him at all.
It surprised her to see Askari when he showed up, and further shocked her to see Leandra with him, and still drove her into confusion to see their boy Heiyu. They needed a place to live. Claire's stomach turned. Ruthivan would not be pleased.
Though she had chosen to stay with him of her own will, Claire never felt free. Ruthivan dictated so much of her life - from what robes she chose to wear, what time she could take a walk, what foods she ought to feed the children. She didn't even know how Matinus was doing, she wasn't permitted to visit. The last time Mirin had contacted her, Claire found Ruthivan glaring at her, having intercepted every word. Reluctantly, she had closed communications. She couldn't go far enough to escape any detection. Ruthivan kept his eye on her constantly.
The only thing Claire had managed successfully was to get rid of her womb. Ruthivan had gone to her father, Eladrim, to once again plead their case for acceptance back into the group. It was her one chance, and she took it. Ruthivan could not figure out why she was no longer getting pregnant, and knowing that he would "look," Claire had even put a mock uterus in place. No matter what he wanted, she would not continue to be an esper factory.
Claire let Askari and Leandra set up a tent behind her own and set herself to deal with Ruthivan's ire. Not only was she not getting pregnant, but now they would have their son living with his non-esper wife and "half-breed" child. Ruthivan walked into the room and Claire cleared her throat.
It surprised her to see Askari when he showed up, and further shocked her to see Leandra with him, and still drove her into confusion to see their boy Heiyu. They needed a place to live. Claire's stomach turned. Ruthivan would not be pleased.
Though she had chosen to stay with him of her own will, Claire never felt free. Ruthivan dictated so much of her life - from what robes she chose to wear, what time she could take a walk, what foods she ought to feed the children. She didn't even know how Matinus was doing, she wasn't permitted to visit. The last time Mirin had contacted her, Claire found Ruthivan glaring at her, having intercepted every word. Reluctantly, she had closed communications. She couldn't go far enough to escape any detection. Ruthivan kept his eye on her constantly.
The only thing Claire had managed successfully was to get rid of her womb. Ruthivan had gone to her father, Eladrim, to once again plead their case for acceptance back into the group. It was her one chance, and she took it. Ruthivan could not figure out why she was no longer getting pregnant, and knowing that he would "look," Claire had even put a mock uterus in place. No matter what he wanted, she would not continue to be an esper factory.
Claire let Askari and Leandra set up a tent behind her own and set herself to deal with Ruthivan's ire. Not only was she not getting pregnant, but now they would have their son living with his non-esper wife and "half-breed" child. Ruthivan walked into the room and Claire cleared her throat.
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