The Shadowland - Part the Eleventh

Part: The Eleventh

Gathering an Army

Andrella had a plan. She would build their “1500 point” army by calling upon Saitor's Serpent Order, Anniosha's elves, Goarla's orcs, and Soth's knights. Each of these would need to be convinced to help, but each would require different types of diplomacy.

They went to Anniosha first. She informed them that she had spoken with Erimani and Vhanderfall. They were disappointed, she said, for the elves have never been at such a loss, hiding in their own land, fearing the elements. Andrella and her friends promised to help supply the elven army if they would only lend the strength of their bows. Anniosha admitted it was difficult, but that Erimani had suggested she accept Andrella's offer.

She asked for weapons and armor and training, and materia and gold. Because of their recent adventures, they were able to give her a large amount of gold up front, and promised the rest to be delivered later.

Before they left, Aelias asked Anniosha about Kianne's abilities. The elven queen finally revealed that Kianne was not a channeler at all. She called her an Elemental Grand Master, or in the elven tongue, an “Elashanni.” The elves, she said, know only channeling. And that was why Anniosha could not help. She suggested they consult Era Mirage, or, failing that, there were rumors that Rubicant knew of the path of her power. But no one had been able to attain it.

Era had been killed, but her spirit resided now in the Rainbow Cavern, which was also where Rubicant could be found. The only problem was, the only way Kianne knew to get to the caverns was via Pearl, and Pearl was presently a prisoner of Niltab.

Shocking Encounter

The three returned to the Spire to take another stab at Electos. Gwenno told them she had discovered a text while exploring, written by Era while she was imprisoned in the Spire. The bit that Gwenno had translated held more details about the Elashanni that Anniosha had mentioned...

The elements have but one master. It is not chaos or power or control. Instead, it is the submissive innocence of one whose very heart beats with the genuine freedom of the elements.

The Elashanni is this master. To the Elashanni, the elements are an extension of her existence. The mortal restrictions of the senses are beneath her and the elements are connected within her very being.

To separate the conflicting powers of the elements, she will absorb the powers of the Ether into her senses, and henceforth become the Ether itself. The Lady of Ether, the Mother of Nature.

As this comes to pass, the powers of channelers and defilers will blend together to form a single power of elemtental magic. This magic will not be controlled or manipulated on a grand scale; instead the elementalists will come to see that the power of the elements cannot be controlled. The elements seek freedom through the Elashanni.

Nature itself will come to life and bring to the world life and death. A circle of balance. Tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, storms of fire. But also, beauty, serenity and peace. The Elashanni will be the center of this balance. Her mood can affect the weather, her senses will affect the world. If she is in pain, if she is hungry, if she is in love, all can be measured with the intensity of the changing seasons.

For this reason, the Elashanni needs to balance the virtues of mortality well. For in her heart, in her mind, her well being and desires will be reflected in the world. And no being can change the powers of the free elements.

And once the Elashanni attains this mastery, her life and death will bring be the life and death of all elements. The death of the Elashanni will bring the end of the elements. It is impossible to determine what will happen without the elements, but the foundation of infinity will meet its end.

Beyond this reasoning, the Elashanni is not a being to be sought after. Her possible existence would be a dangerous acceptance for all of time.

Those who falsely seek the path of the Elashanni will be met with the full punishment of the elements as they will rip apart her very soul for failing. Regardless of failures, one may one day succeed. This is the dilemma of fate.

May the elders of that day have the knowledge and experience to survive the Elashanni.

Kianne was appalled by the concept of her very existence being tied with Britannia itself. But Aelias and Andrella said they would rather she have that power than Viktor or someone similar.

It was eventually decided to defeat the Pagan Lord of Lightning anyway. This time, it went much more smoothly.

Kianne summoned some Earth Elementals to aid them. Aelias held Electos at bay, using his time vision to avoid the elemental's blows. Meanwhile Kianne directed the Earth and Andrella took out Electos's two helpers. By the time they turned their attention on Electos himself, the Pagan Lord had virtually exhausted himself on Aelias.

They went back and found Gwenno was bleeding through the nose. She said there was a lot of pressure and it would only get worse. But she refused their offers of aid, telling them it was a burden she was taking on willingly.

The three went to the Ether next, where Kianne sealed Lightning into her sense of hunger. It didn't really make logical sense but she was trying to take out the senses that were less necessary before going on to the critical ones. Of course, she could still feel pain, so...

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