Episode 15: Trial of Water

After a few days on the road, further north from Fernal, the group of Lidya, Marx, Lorenzo and Peter arrive at the port town of Galis. At the small dock a number of fishermen can be seen tending to their catch. A boatsman stops the group and presents himself as Largan.

Largan – “Where might you be headed?”

Lidya – “We seek passage to the Frigis Isles.”

Largan – “Ah, ready for your trial? It’ll cost you a bit, but I can take you there. I must warn you though, there are rumors that the world portal isn’t working anymore.”

Lorenzo – “We are aware of that. It is the reason we are here.”

Lidya – “Well then Largan, it seems you’ll be our ferry to the isles.”

Largan – “As long as you pay up.”

Marx – Here. This should do.”

Peter – “Ah, I forgot the council provided us with some coins.”

Marx – “Precisely for such an occasion, we might not need it for much else.”

Lorenzo – “Let us proceed then.”

While on the boat Marx talked to Lidya about how to start accessing her own water magic. This would prove to be difficult for her. Thankfully, just before arriving at their destination Lidya began to feel the energy of the element coursing through her.

Largan – “Alright, off with you then. The trial starts here. There are boats on the other side of the glacier. It’s not a long walk, but you’ll have to brave the cold. Once there you must navigate using water magic until you reach the next destination. The currents will guide you.”

Peter – “Sounds like you’ve done this before.”

Largan – “Ah, maybe once, but I learned that Ixis wasn’t for me so I stayed behind.”

Marx – “You’re a warrior then?”

Largan – “More of a ferryman these days, with the occasional fishing.”

Marx – “Too bad, we could’ve used a master of water magic.”

Largan – “Hah! True mastery eluded me way back then. Regardless, Best of luck to you!”

The boatsman left, leaving the others to begin their trek through the glacier. A small breeze was enough to get everyone shaking. Being a mixed group with varying magical abilities each one responded to the cold in their own way. Lorenzo and Marx cast a simple heat enchantment over their bodies. Peter cloaked himself in shadow energy that could better tolerate the cold. Meanwhile Lidya used the very magic she was learning to gain resistance to the cold. The bright sunny day helped to stem feeling more uncomfortable, but the cold winds were still a hindrance. When they reached the boats only one was large enough to hold all four of them. It was now up to Lidya to navigate the currents.

Currents around the isles are treacherous. They change on a whim and often create whirlpools dragging anyone inexperienced into the depths. Lidya would have to focus her mind intensely to command the currents to carry them safely through. Little by little the currents carried their boat across the sea. As they neared the island a thick mist rolled in, obscuring their sight.

Marx – “Lidya, are you sure you know where to go?”

Lidya – “Quiet! I can’t focus with you blabbering. Yes, I can still feel my way around. The flow of the currents can help me continue.”

Lorenzo – “This fog appears to be another of the challenges. There must have been some magical trigger.”

Lidya – “There is a lot of water magic here. Discerning the flow of mana, the wards and spells in the area has been an interesting exercise.”

In a few moments their boat landed on a snowbank. The jolt nearly made them fall forward. The dense fog permeated the area. It would be difficult to continue. Together they moved on into the dense mist. Their approach was careful, but despite trying to remain close Marx and Peter ended up moving too far into the mist. Before they realized Lidya and Lorenzo were nowhere near.

Lidya – “Hold my hand Lorenzo. We can’t get split up.”

Lorenzo – “I would ask the same of Marx and Peter, but I cannot see nor hear them.”

Lidya – “Darn, we’ll have to move on without them. They should be fine on their own.”

As Marx and Peter walked around they remained close keeping their backs to each other. By now they had sensed something was off.

Peter – “There’s something, or more likely, someone inside this mist.”

Marx – “Yeah, I felt the change too. I think I’ve had enough of this fog.”

Peter – “It might not be enough to just cast spells blindly. Here, I’ll cast a spell to extend our senses if anyone tries anything we will know in advance.

Peter’s strategy was quick to work. With their senses temporarily expanded they could feel through the fog. A small group of soldiers had surrounded them. The smell of steel was carried on the mist and the breeze of their movement changed the air currents around them.

Marx – “They are swift.”

Peter – “But they will not catch us off guard, get ready.”

The two wayward warriors engaged the unknown soldiers. Of course, they had an inkling of who these soldiers belonged to. They didn’t doubt that Damien had something to do with the attack.

Meanwhile Lidya and Lorenzo unwittingly stepped into a small clearing surrounded by icy cliffs. The mist cleared around them and a soldier stepped forward. This woman presented herself as Valeria, elite lancer of Damien’s army.

Valeria – “You there, stop your advance. So commands Valeria, elite lancer of my lord Damien. He mentioned you would eventually make your way here.”

Lorenzo – “Oh no.”

Lidya – “Oh great, another of Damien’s lackeys.”

Valeria – “Heh, I hope your weapons are as sharp as your tongue. Face me! Troops, keep the other one busy!”

A small group of soldiers ran into the field from behind Valeria. They quickly charged Lorenzo and forced him to retreat. With Lorenzo busy with the enemy soldiers, Lidya had no choice but to engage Valeria. The latter gathered a number of sharp icicles around her and began to launch them at Lidya. Lidya jumped and then rolled while drawing her weapons.

Valeria – “You’ll never defeat me with those.”

Somewhat perplexed by her remark Lidya stubbornly lunged forward. Spear wielding Valeria was easily dodging Lidya’s attacks. Her side steps were perfectly timed, but Lidya wouldn’t give up. Then in one swift motion Valeria swiped at Lidya’s legs, forcing her to jump. Valeria followed up by hitting Lidya right in the stomach with the butt of the spear. Lidya recoiled and coughed, but was able to regain her composure.

Valeria – “See? Nothing to it. You don’t stand a chance. Give up and I will make your demise a quick one.”

Lidya – “No way this nobody is going to defeat me.”

Tapping into the energies she had felt through the short voyage through the currents around the Frigis Isles, Lidya channeled water magic into the Twins of Power. A quick transformation and now the great weapons had become a pair of short spears that could attach together at their base. The change in stance and battle style caught Valeria off guard. For Lidya it felt like a kind of weapon that she had wielded for a long time. She naturally weaved water spells along with her attacks. Swiping with the sharp point, spinning the spears around and thrusting them forward. The attacks were relentless. All Valeria could do now was block and dodge the attacks. Blow after blow Valeria’s grip on her lance wavered and with a powerful swipe of the combined lances Lidya disarmed Valeria. The enraged warrior would not give in though, she jumped back. Despite Lidya asking her to surrender, Valeria instead launched a multitude of ice spears, bursts of freezing gales and rising spires. Once again Lidya’s swift movement helped her regain some lost ground. One of the spears grazed her right shoulder. Without hesitation Lidya closed the remaining gap between them and stabbed Valeria through her left thigh.

Valeria – “Gah! You’ll… pay for that!”

Lidya – “Give up! You don’t stand a chance here.”

Valeria – “Oh? Maybe you should think your words through.”

A shadow loomed over them. When Lidya looked up she saw a massive icicle spire hovering above. Valeria used the energy from the previously cast mists to create this powerful spell. It was clear that she would not let them go. In an instant Lidya split her spear into twins again. She thrust the second spear into Valeria’s other leg, pinning her in place. As fast as she could Lidya then pivoted and ran away from her opponent. As the giant spire began to fall Lidya turned, launched a powerful flaming jet that not only pushed her away but burned Valeria where she stood. Once the spire had fallen on Valeria it quickly shattered as the energies that formed it dissipated. Using the magic she knew well, Lidya could recall her weapons to her. The spears flew into her hands as the soldiers around the area looked on, shaken to their core. They sounded the retreat just as Lorenzo gained the upper hand against his opponents. The partly burned and broken remains of Valeria emerged from the ice. She was barely alive but had enough strength to utter some final words.

Valeria – “You… you’ve won. I see why… Damien… he’ll destroy…”

Before she could finish her body collapsed.

Lorenzo – “That was unpleasant to watch.”

Lidya – “Not as unpleasant as having to fight her. She was ruthless. I fear none of Damien’s forces will hesitate to kill us if they get the chance.”

Peter and Marx had defeated the soldiers that had trapped them in the mists. Although the mists had dissipated for a short while now, they were having a difficult time determining their current position. While backtracking to the shore a flare rose from a field below the glacier. When they investigated, they saw Lidya and Lorenzo waiting for them.

Lidya – “Took you long enough! Get down here!”

The group, now traveling together again, made their way to the nearby council village after finding the road.

Lidya – “Well? What’s next then?”

Marx – “We should be at the council village shortly.”

Peter – “And once there we can inform them of the situation.”

Lidya – “Then let’s get going. Damien’s forces are not holding back.”

The village of Norgar was quiet. Many of the people were frozen in place by powerful water magic. Lorenzo pointed to a crystal at the center of the village. It emanated all the water magic being channeled outward, maintaining the spell. With a fierce jab of a spear, Lidya broke the crystal and the spell was lifted. In a few moments the people there heralded them as heroes. One of the members of the council approached them. He identified himself as Huran.

Huran – “Thank you so much, you saved everyone. Who knows for how long we would have been frozen if not for your arrival.”

Lidya – “The trial prepared us well. If it wasn’t for that the spell would have affected us much sooner.”

Huran – “You must be a great master of water magic.”

Peter – “Lidya? Nah, she barely learned a little of it yesterday.”

Lidya – “You really didn’t have to say that.”

Huran – “All the more power to you. All of you have done well. Your combined efforts led you here. Now then, I fear you have news for us? Something to do with the world portal perhaps?

Lorenzo – “Indeed. The Entralian Council told us to venture to each trial council and inform them that we need to gather as many warriors as we can. A man named Damien has invaded Entralia and without enough forces we won’t stand a chance.”

Marx – “So far we have visited Fernal, both the Warp and the Mindscape and now here.”

Huran – “Damien’s timing was impeccable. By the time the World Portal stopped functioning most of the warriors who made it through the trial had left for Ixis. We do have a few left though. We might be able to pledge them to Entralia’s defense.”

Marx – “Good, we will find a way to contact you once we have gathered more information.”

Huran – “Then we will do our part to repair the communications crystals, they will be important in the future.”

Peter – “What now?”

Lidya – “We should rest up and plan our next moves.”

Huran – “Please, go ahead and stay at the Inn near the edge of the village. Rest well and travel safely.”

The group did exactly that and rested from the battles they had fought. Tomorrow they will decide what to do next in their quest.