Zalara leaves the path and heads through the fields directly toward the columns of smoke. The land continues to burn, even after the creature has left the field...it appears to be only sparsely populated wilderness, thankfully. As she speeds up into a light jog, dry grass crunching underfoot, she keeps an eye open for any people fleeing or fighting the fires, who may be able to tell her what has happened.
In the shadows of one of the burning forests Zalara can barely make out the vague figure of what appears to be several human shaped shadows dancing about...
Dancing in the shadows - lemme guess, Rakdos cultists? Ohh boy...
Zalara maintains her pace and changes her course, heading directly toward the people in the shadows. She stops walking forward when she can see them clearly, and makes no attempt to conceal her own presence. Whoever they are, it should not take long to determine if we can be of aid to each other.
As Zalara settled into a good vantage point she was surprised to see the humanoid figures we actually tiny elemental sprites leaping about the wildfires. Starting a count she could see at least half a dozen Blazing Effigy dancing about the wildfires.
Zalara, fascinated, gazes at the sprites as they leap and prance. When several minutes pass and they seem to be ignoring her, she cautiously approaches closer, not wanting to startle them.
Do the Blazing Effigy appear sentient/capable of understanding human speech?
Three of the nearby effigies formed a circle around a spark that had flared to life near a wildfire. As they danced the tiny spark grew into a stronger flame. Within minutes a new effigy was born and began dancing with the other effigies in what appeared to be glee by their excited dance.
They're sentient enough to dance together. Communication is an entirely different story though. You could always try.
Also I'll need a 20 sided die roll from you should you choose to have Zalara continue forward in stealth.
Zalara taps her staff sharply against the ground to get the sprites' attention.
"Good day to you, spirits. I am Zalara, a Shaman of the Flame. I seek the whereabouts of one of your greater brethren, an Inferno Elemental. Can you tell me, did you see one pass by recently?"
She isn't exactly sure what to expect. The spirits have never communicated to her in human tongue before - in her shamanic trances, the most she was able to grasp at was a confusing mass of emotions and desires - but it couldn't hurt to try, could it? While these sprites could set small blazes around the plains, they didn't seem capable of harming a human.
The elementals jump in surprise backing away a few steps. They seemed... fearful of Zalara. Then slowly, one by one, they approached her in a sliding dance focusing on the shifting of their shoulders like a cat prowling. At her feet they pause a moment letting silence fall upon the crackle of flames.
Zalara could sense a sort of communion between herself and the elementals. All around her the flames died down and an inner fire fanned to life inside of her floating about her ties to red mana. They may not be able to understand her words but they knew her as a child of the mountains. Through that connection they could sense her intent.
Four of the elementals fled in fear of the coming conflict, three remained behind circling her feet jumping in an excited dance. Then one by one the three elementals that stayed began bouncing further south into the trees, always along a charred path. The last of the three bounced in the same place apparently waiting on Zalara.
"I thank you, children of fire," says Zalara. "I will follow where you lead."
As she follows the bouncing elementals down the Inferno's trail, the soles of her feet rapidly blacken with clinging bits of ash. She turns to the third one constantly circling her heels. "Was the elemental lost? Or did he forge this path purposefully?"
The small effigy tilted it's head trying to discern the meaning behind the words Zalara spoke. After a moment of calm bouncing toward the two leading effigies a flash of understanding was clicked for the small effigy as it ran towards the green foliage left untouched by the other elemental's passing. There the effigy through itself onto a pile of the green foliage sending it up into flames. In the midst of the flames the effigy appeared bigger and stronger, flame burning higher.
"Stop that at once!" she screeched, her eyes wide and wild.
Heedless of the gestures of her sprite guides, she looked only forward as her feet pounded down the blackened trail, her heart slamming against her chest like the hammer on the anvil. She had been a fool to think it would be as easy as leading the creature back to the mountains. If it was constantly growing, devouring all vegetation it passed through, then she would have to subdue it. To finish the binding its idiot summoner had started, she thought with a snarl. Suddenly her foot slipped on a loose patch of dirt, and she fell, sprawling, into a stand of grass. A wordless scream of rage escaped her lips.
Anger is a tool, Zalara. Rule it. Let not it pull you astray.
She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, remembering the old shaman's teachings, and slowly pushed herself onto hands and knees. It was dishonorable to let inefficiency contaminate her haste, to fail to direct her anger toward its proper target. She had decided what action was proper. Now it was time to do it.
Zalara braced her staff against the ground, stood up, and looked around for any sign of the flaming spirits.
The same effigy that had dived into foliage to try and communicate the elemental's intent was at the top of the ditch Zalara had fallen down into jumping up and down waiting to lead her on.
They continued south until the charred wood of the forests gave way to a burnt farm field. There Zalara could see a raging wild fire on the southern horizon. Flames were jetting into the sky at the heart of that wild fire. Her elemental likely laid in there. The three effigies that had accompanied her up to this point were now hiding behind her legs looking in the direction of the wild fire. They both desired and feared that inferno.
"I thank you, spirits," said Zalara to the three. "You may return home to your kin, if you wish. I will capture this bounty myself."
Steeling her courage, she walked forward until she reached the outermost walls of flame, and searched for a not-instantly-lethal path into the inferno's heart.
The effigies bounded off back the way they came as Zalara approached the burning forest. Off to her right she saw a patch of bare earth cutting into the forest. There the tree's top branches were burning violently, but a path was at least available, free of flames. Should she choose to enter there she would only need to keep an eye out for potential flames, branches, and combinations there of falling from above...
Zalara treads lightly on the dirt path as she presses ever onward. Her eyes constantly dart from one leaping flame to the next.
Though she knows the danger, she is not seized by panic and fear. Strangely, it is almost a gift, she feels. As a child she was always fascinated by flames, dreaming life into their movements, imagining voices in their crackles. And here she is surrounded on all sides by the biggest blaze she has ever seen, brought into being by a creature that, however dangerous, has yet to show overt hostility toward her.
Should I make a die roll to watch for falling debris?
Zalara had been so busy watching the burning tree tops and the dancing flames that she failed to notice the charred and burning clearing ahead. This was mainly due to a flaming serpent having blocked her vision. A serpent that was now charging at her, arcs of lightning flashing into the ground and nearby burning trees.
2/1 Lightning Serpent tapped and attacking. And now is a perfect time to draw some mana to yourself.
This is your first real battle I take it? The serpent attacking would be equivalent to an opponent winning the die roll for deciding who goes first. Serpent is played then attacks on the first turn of your 'opponent' so you are unable to lay a land at this point to cast that spell.
Basically the serpent will attack and then be sacrificed allowing for Zalara to start her first turn.
Down the path where the flame serpent had come from was a charred clearing pluming with smoke. In the center of that clearing was the Inferno Elemental she sought, bathing in a pyre of fire. Deep inside her soul, Zalara could feel elementals being drawn to the Inferno Elemental. It was as if whatever ritual that had been used to summon it left a gateway open for other elementals to spill through. The drawing of mountain mana to Zalara seemed to draw the attention of the Inferno Elemental.
It glared down the path at her and screeched loudly. As if in answer to it's anger, two more flaming serpents were summoned through that nexus of power. Both burst from the pyre the Inferno Elemental had surrounded itself in and charged towards Zalara...
2x Lightning Serpent 2/1 each attacking Zalara. Again they'll burst on contact dealing their damage and then it will be Zalara's second turn.
Zalara was ready this time. She fired a thin bolt of lightning at one of the elementals attacking her, causing it to implode on itself. The other she attempted to block with her staff. She cringed as the creature passed through her weapon like it was nothing, zapping her again.
"Great spirit, what drives you to rage?" she called out. "Calm yourself!"
She conjured another orb of mana and waited, still refusing to attack, as she looked around, seeking to locate precisely the rift in the AEther that the elementals were pouring out from...and perhaps recall a way to seal it.
You assumed correctly. Been bouncing between several threads doing updates that I overlooked the proper name that time.
The Elemental in the center of the pyre simply screamed in frustration as Zalara remained alive. The pyre jumped a few feet as the flames crawled around it. Then slamming it's burning fists at the base of the pyre in which it stood, it let out yet another screech, one that brought a small twinge of pain to Zalara's ears. In that screech she could hear the undertones of pain below the rage. Out from the fire sped three new Elementals, these made of pure lightning and intent on harming Zalara.
Its attacks were coming too fast, too furious. Her soul screamed in agony as the elementals hit her. Pain. Is this what pain the Inferno feels?
"I do not wish to harm you," she said, "but if it must be to ease your pain, then I shall." Staggering to her feet, she narrowed her eyes. A ball of flame formed at the tip of her staff and shot toward the Inferno Elemental, aimed at the pyre where the three sparks had just emerged.
Life: 7
Playing [End of Inferno's turn]: Incinerate targeting Inferno Elemental
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Zalara maintains her pace and changes her course, heading directly toward the people in the shadows. She stops walking forward when she can see them clearly, and makes no attempt to conceal her own presence. Whoever they are, it should not take long to determine if we can be of aid to each other.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Also I'll need a 20 sided die roll from you should you choose to have Zalara continue forward in stealth.
"Good day to you, spirits. I am Zalara, a Shaman of the Flame. I seek the whereabouts of one of your greater brethren, an Inferno Elemental. Can you tell me, did you see one pass by recently?"
She isn't exactly sure what to expect. The spirits have never communicated to her in human tongue before - in her shamanic trances, the most she was able to grasp at was a confusing mass of emotions and desires - but it couldn't hurt to try, could it? While these sprites could set small blazes around the plains, they didn't seem capable of harming a human.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Zalara could sense a sort of communion between herself and the elementals. All around her the flames died down and an inner fire fanned to life inside of her floating about her ties to red mana. They may not be able to understand her words but they knew her as a child of the mountains. Through that connection they could sense her intent.
Four of the elementals fled in fear of the coming conflict, three remained behind circling her feet jumping in an excited dance. Then one by one the three elementals that stayed began bouncing further south into the trees, always along a charred path. The last of the three bounced in the same place apparently waiting on Zalara.
As she follows the bouncing elementals down the Inferno's trail, the soles of her feet rapidly blacken with clinging bits of ash. She turns to the third one constantly circling her heels. "Was the elemental lost? Or did he forge this path purposefully?"
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Heedless of the gestures of her sprite guides, she looked only forward as her feet pounded down the blackened trail, her heart slamming against her chest like the hammer on the anvil. She had been a fool to think it would be as easy as leading the creature back to the mountains. If it was constantly growing, devouring all vegetation it passed through, then she would have to subdue it. To finish the binding its idiot summoner had started, she thought with a snarl. Suddenly her foot slipped on a loose patch of dirt, and she fell, sprawling, into a stand of grass. A wordless scream of rage escaped her lips.
Anger is a tool, Zalara. Rule it. Let not it pull you astray.
She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, remembering the old shaman's teachings, and slowly pushed herself onto hands and knees. It was dishonorable to let inefficiency contaminate her haste, to fail to direct her anger toward its proper target. She had decided what action was proper. Now it was time to do it.
Zalara braced her staff against the ground, stood up, and looked around for any sign of the flaming spirits.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Steeling her courage, she walked forward until she reached the outermost walls of flame, and searched for a not-instantly-lethal path into the inferno's heart.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Though she knows the danger, she is not seized by panic and fear. Strangely, it is almost a gift, she feels. As a child she was always fascinated by flames, dreaming life into their movements, imagining voices in their crackles. And here she is surrounded on all sides by the biggest blaze she has ever seen, brought into being by a creature that, however dangerous, has yet to show overt hostility toward her.
Also, when may I start channeling mana?
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Where did it come from? she wondered to herself.
Battlefield: Mountain (T)
Graveyard: Nothing
Exile: Nothing
"Aaaah!" She braced herself for the impact as the serpent collided with her and exploded, sending a shocking jolt through her body.
Where did it come from? she wondered to herself as she called upon an orb of red mana and looked about warily.
Playing: Mountain
Battlefield: Mountain (Q)
Graveyard: Nothing
Exile: Nothing
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Basically the serpent will attack and then be sacrificed allowing for Zalara to start her first turn.
Editing previous post to a legal play.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
It glared down the path at her and screeched loudly. As if in answer to it's anger, two more flaming serpents were summoned through that nexus of power. Both burst from the pyre the Inferno Elemental had surrounded itself in and charged towards Zalara...
Zalara was ready this time. She fired a thin bolt of lightning at one of the elementals attacking her, causing it to implode on itself. The other she attempted to block with her staff. She cringed as the creature passed through her weapon like it was nothing, zapping her again.
"Great spirit, what drives you to rage?" she called out. "Calm yourself!"
She conjured another orb of mana and waited, still refusing to attack, as she looked around, seeking to locate precisely the rift in the AEther that the elementals were pouring out from...and perhaps recall a way to seal it.
Playing: Shock targeting a Lightning Serpent // Mountain
Battlefield: 2x Mountain (2x q)
Graveyard: 1x Shock
Exile: Nothing
(I'll use // to denote the passing of a step or phase.)
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
The Elemental in the center of the pyre simply screamed in frustration as Zalara remained alive. The pyre jumped a few feet as the flames crawled around it. Then slamming it's burning fists at the base of the pyre in which it stood, it let out yet another screech, one that brought a small twinge of pain to Zalara's ears. In that screech she could hear the undertones of pain below the rage. Out from the fire sped three new Elementals, these made of pure lightning and intent on harming Zalara.
"I do not wish to harm you," she said, "but if it must be to ease your pain, then I shall." Staggering to her feet, she narrowed her eyes. A ball of flame formed at the tip of her staff and shot toward the Inferno Elemental, aimed at the pyre where the three sparks had just emerged.
Playing [End of Inferno's turn]: Incinerate targeting Inferno Elemental
Battlefield: 2x Mountain (2x t)
Graveyard: 1x Shock
Exile: Nothing
(For purposes of this fight, should I treat it as a creature or player?)
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!