Kanimaeli - Spirit of Air

A New Quest

I was briefly hopeful… if this obelisk could open a path to a realm of Earth, then it should be able to open a path to a realm of Air as well, right? Could we go home now?! Xlotl did not seem so sure; he shared some more information on his mission here. Lord Aergarnion had sent him to secure Antiva, the “life-giver”, which we had sort of done (although it was still split in two). But he had also been tasked to restore Kanimaeli, the “Spirit of the Air”. More worryingly, Lord Aergarnion had collapsed before Xlotl left, and when Xlotl had tried to help he had a vision of chaos. Without Antiva and Kanimaeli in the temple, it was possible that the flow of energy that sustained Lord Aergarnion’s realm (and the other elemental Realms) had been broken. Taking Antiva to the Air realm might help in the short term but would inevitably lead to war with the other elementals – better to return and restore the stones if we could.

Xlotl pulled a scroll out of thin air, but as he did so Pi started to dissolve! Xlotl tried to stuff it back away quickly, which did slow down the effect, but Pi was still drifting apart into motes of light. Antinniera tried to get hold of him to help, but there was a flash and the same thing started to happen to her! I rushed over, wanting to help as well, but Xlotl warned me not to touch them – there was too much energy surrounding them. Pi seemed fascinated by what was happening to him and walked towards us… we both backed off and shouted at him to stay back until we knew what was happening!

Pi stepped back, so far back in fact that he stepped off the platform completely. Miraculously, the Air embraced him, and he didn’t fall – this was a blessing! Xlotl took out his scroll again, and as he did so Pi immediately exploded into millions of shards of light that shot into wherever Xlotl had taken the scroll from. Antinneira went the same way moments later – they had both been transported to somewhere else, although for what reason we didn’t know. Xlotl started reading the scroll he had retrieved, and I could see the air starting to swirl around him as he did so. I lifted the platform slowly up into the Air about six feet, and the Air was swirling in an ordered way about him as he continued reading and chanting. Eventually Xlotl heard a voice that said: “you bring us Life”? It seemed that an Air spirit had answered his call, but that it wanted feeding! Xlotl made it clear that he wasn’t willing to feed it life but asked it more about Kanimaeli. The spirit’s answers made it clear to Xlotl that the “stone of Air” we had seen taken from the temple was Kanimaeli, and the spirit described it as the “path home, leading to our Lord Aergarnion”, Kanimaeli was “the door”.

Xlotl lost his connection with the Air spirit, and I lifted us up more rapidly to reach the top of the black pillar. We transferred over to the other platform, not concerned now with the pillar as it was dormant again, and I lifted us back to the chamber above. There was a sense of doom up there still, and I noted that the Air was flowing down gently, trying to get away from something. We were both exhausted, physically and mentally, so I lowered us back down to the level of the water and the other side passage. We rested there, and even managed to get a decent amount of sleep, until we were both woken by sounds up above us.

The voices sounded Saloroc in nature, and we could see light reflected in the chamber above. Xlotl turned himself invisible and slid on to the platform, causing it to sway slightly. The movement was obviously noticed, as excited jabbering could be heard above, but at least they couldn’t see him. I was wary that they were likely to just drop the stone cap down on top of use, so I shouted up to them: “are there were any servants of Lord Admir up there”?

Inevitably they wanted to know who I was, but didn’t really listen to the response. They had apparently decided that anything from the pit was evil and should stay in it, so they were going to seal it anyway! I rushed to raise the platform as quickly as I could, and thankfully the cap was so large and heavy that they hadn’t even got it moving as we neared the top. They abandoned that, and instead three of them jumped down onto the platform with swords drawn. Suddenly the rope holding the platform started to unravel - Xlotl had bitten into it! One foe quickly reversed his approach and started to climb out, while I managed to dodge the attacks of the other two and climb out myself. A sword did rake my back as I pulled myself out, but I made it just before Xlotl bit into the rope again and it started to give completely.

I shouted that they should listen to reason, but another Saloroc near the entrance lunges at me, trying to force me back over the edge. I dodged to one side, though, and couldn’t resist as he lost his balance beside me… I grabbed his belt and collar and just swung, using his momentum to “help” him into the pit. I cheekily said: “let me help you find the gift of Air”, followed with calling down “you’re welcome” as he, the platform, and the two others that were on it went crashing down the shaft. There were two Saloroc still in the room, though, and they didn’t look happy!

I stepped away from the edge, not wanting to go the same way, and sliced across the throat of the nearest foe with Storm. He clutched at his throat and tumbled into the hole, blood spraying as he fell. Xlotl appeared near the entrance, looking up the corridor, and sent a mental blast towards some more Saloroc that had heard the cries of the others. This seemed to enrage them further, but one did stop and looked very confused. I charged at the last one in the room, cutting into him with both fans before he could react. He fell dead, laying balanced on the rim of the hole but not falling. I tried to nudge him over the edge, but was interrupted by another Saloroc that had run into the room from the corridor. There was another just behind him, eyes wide and spitting mad, but he went for Xlotl instead. He held a sword, but had also grabbed a bow that he was using as a makeshift club. Xlotl suffered under his furious assault and was not looking healthy!

I struck one blow, but it wasn’t enough to drop my assailant. I was worried about Xlotl, though. He had managed to bite his foe, but had only scratched him. There was a bit of a dance after that, while we all dodged and deflected blows, but I finally managed to strike my foe and send them falling into the pit. I noticed that the body still perched on the edge was being slowly desiccated – it seemed the Air spirit had received a gift of life after all! I ran over to help Xlotl, just in time to see him struck with the bow; thankfully it was more of an accidental bonk than a forceful blow, so he was still conscious when I arrived. I reached out a hand and willed energy into him, healing the worst of his wounds.

Xlotl had already lunged at his attacker, and this time connected well. He ripped free, leaving a deep gouge and the Saloroc dropped. Finally we were alone and could take a minute. I needed to perform my daily mediation exercises, and Xlotl needed time to do something similar. Xlotl agreed to keep watch first, so I set out some incense and got it burning with my fire stick before running through my basic forms and refocusing my ki. Xlotl searched the remaining bodies, finding and drinking a potion to heal more of his wounds, then went into the corridor to watch the confused Saloroc. Eventually the Saloroc started to regain his senses, and Xlotl flapped his wings, drawing up to his full height screaming: “Stay back, stay back”! He settled again, but remained alert, saying: “leave us alone; we came here as friends but you tried to kill us”.

It did seem that he made an impression, as the Saloroc looked terrified! He asked about the others, and Xlotl explained that they were dead, saying: “they attacked us and suffered the consequence; leave us”. The Saloroc seemed torn, unwilling to leave but also unwilling to approach. Xlotl asked why they had come here, to which he replied: “we live here”! Xlotl questioned this, as we had found Dua’rev when we came, and was glad to hear that the Dua'rev were “all gone now, thank Admir”. Eventually it was just a stalemate of both watching each other, with Xlotl even saying: “you stay over there and I'll stay over here”. The Saloroc was slumped on the stairs, just watching.

After a pause, Xlotl asked: “why did you attack us”? The response was: “everything in the pit is evil”! Well yeah, that’s why we were trying to get out. Apparently “no-one comes out sane” and it was “sealed for a reason”. Are sane? Depends on your perspective, I guess. After that it just descended into needling banter, although this seemed to relax the Saloroc, as if he was used to this kind of interaction. Once I had finished my exercises, I swapped places with Xlotl. This confused the Saloroc further, of course, but he didn’t get any different answers and eventually just waved his hand at me and wandered off. I waited for Xlotl, but did go as far as the top of the stairs to see if anything had changed. There was dead Air and the stink of death down the corridor on the left, and more dead Air on the right as well, which I knew was a dead end.

When Xlotl joined me, about half an hour later, we moved up to investigate the passage on the right. In the dark, it was as if the passage just turned into a void of nothingness as far as I could tell. No Air moved for me to see any more, but Xltol was able to clearly see the eight-pointed star in the wall at the end, which I had seen previously. He placed Antiva in the centre of the star, despite my reservations about the apparent alignment with Earth, and then there was a flash of energy shooting out to the eight points. This left the two symbols highlighted and visible (Life and Earth), and then the wall crumbled to dust! The air beyond that was still dead, so I stumbled back to the room I knew was at the end of the main corridor, grabbing some oil and a torch from the tables there. I located one of the lanterns that were on the walls and used the oil to relight it so that I could see.

We moved up the revealed passage, finding a room with a stone sarcophagus inside, which was decorated with murals. The one facing me depicted a void centrally with humanoid shapes stretched out from it, as if being drawn into the void. The end on the right showed an ash cloud spewing from a volcano, although there was no sign of Fire. On the opposite side was a dusty, lifeless desert. The top contained an eight-pointed star, but with no visible symbology.

As I was looking more closely at this, a crack of noise startled me as a split rent the lid of the sarcophagus in two down the centre.

Run back to the corridor, peering around to see what's happening. Xlotl started moving back as well.

Stone of sarcophagus was throw asunder. Terrifying gaunt figure with robes and glowing eyes sat up. Started to levitate above the sarcophagus, hovering, whilst mumbling under his breath. I fled in terror, with the others keeping pace. Mumbling behind us stopped, ominously. I moved with the wind... straight into an invisible barrier at the end of the corridor! We're trapped!!!

No gaps top or bottom, then jog back to Xlotl. Xlotl pulls out a Pegasus feather. I shout "what do you want with us?" and a booming reply came back "must we converse like peasants, will you not approach?" Xlotl replies "You seem strange and threatening to us, why would we wish to converse with you?" No answer.

"Approach, do not worry I am not afraid." I didn't think he was! I arrive, to find him stood on the ground. I introduce himself, he is Artemus the Lord Pavant. Admir one of the three true divinities of Creation, all others are but pretenders. Keep Antiva away from him. Grateful for freeing him. Trapped due to a disagreement. Ask what we seek as a boon - seems to see an opportunity here as the agents of the three have less influence (it was them that trapped him).

I want only my freedom and my life. Already possess the means to find the stones we seek (Xlotl asked for knowledge of them). He imparts knowledge of how to use the compass to Xlotl - must use a pure element to activate it and guide us. The purer the better. Also asks for protection from Earth and Fire - I think foolish to ask a boon of such a creature, but nevertheless he presses the Fire and Earth together and forms magma that glows red, orange, gold, white until just a bauble left the size of a small marble, burning with fire, then fuses it to a gold band. Thrown at Xlotl, who took control of it, but could not wear it - one that did would protect those around them.

He has a world to rule and we have the remains of our lives to lead, so go now. Yep, going! Suddenly hear that I was wise to seek only freedom, and therefore am gifted knowledge about my fans.

Go down corridor of death, with strong sense of death, but air seems more normal than usual, and even some trace of elemental air that might have passed this way. Intrigued. Worn, pitted stone so no evidence that the Dua'rev came this way. Corridor winds slightly, and visible moisture on walls as reach a room and dusty earth in cracks between stone. Elemental air intermingling with stale air in corridor. Xlotl tastes water, pure if old. Stone sarcophagi in room - over a dozen, with third from us on opposite side having its sides buckled inwards. None have lids, and looks like lids have been smashed to dust, exploding outwards. Layer of mud inside.

I call out "Hello, spirit of the Air, are you there?" "Death within, death without, death to all!". Xlotl asks what brings death, and response is "I do" - even to those of Air? Death to all. Nice. "Why do you seek death, not all Air does" Asleep so long, but Life Giver awakes it. Xlotl speaks in water, and gets a response. Not positive - also hungry.

Xlotl produces feather again, and says that spirits will not harm either of us, get them gone from us. Feels power from the feather, awesome in its power and feel the need to edge away. Back off slightly and watch. Xlotl steps in and sees whirling wind in far room. Keeps moving and then senses movement of stone floor. Quickly leave - I was wary of Xlotl for some reason, so kept my distance, but stone worm doesn't follow as we backtracked.

Open the door to the artist room, finding Saloroc within, mostly relaxed. Not so much as we enter. One was from previously, and says "it's them"! Try to explain that Artemus is arisen and behind us, so should all flee. Won't let us leave, even in captivity, so have no choice but to defend ourselves. One shouts "back, back evil one" and wildly swings sword in my direction. Xlotl attacked with mind, but just enraged two of them.

Xlotl snapped fangs into closest, and tried to wrap coils around another but couldn't trap him. Two nearest me are wild with rage, and throw themselves on me with no care for their own safety, so both die quickly as my fans bit into their throats. One of them almost gets me, but just sidestep the charge.

Xlotl is hit, and doesn't look well! Bites one, but not a great strike and Xlotl dropped by a sword strike. I was too late! Cut one down, but still one standing. Confront, hesitates and asks me to call on Admir to judge me. Do so, and do feel a presence. He seems after a moment to believe that I might be free from evil. Eventually passes me a healing potion, which I pour down Xlotl's neck and revive him.

Wanted to give me the coup de grace, but convinced him to help. Must flee now!