To make the glass full (Afina)

[Ebiris]

"Possibly," Afina temporises. "Best to see where I stand after the first before seeing if it's safe to go for the next. But ideally yes, I've put things off too long and I'm eager to make up for lost time."

[Anastasia]

"Our current thinking is that the first one won't be as hard," Sanzha says, "You've had time to settle and both air and fire can merge with air or earth safely. The fourth will be the challenge. If you're ready?" Lady Sanzha stands, "If the rest of you would wait here?"

[Ebiris]

"Just a moment," Afina says, doffing her hat and immediately feeling lesser for it. Her cloak follows, and then she removes her rings, amulet, slippers, weapon harness, leaving Afina in nothing more magical than her phase spider dress. Wrapping her belongings up in her cloak she hands them off to Mei, "Can you look after these for me?" she requests, taking a moment afterwards to dispel all the magic she currently has on her.

"Now I'm ready," she turns to Sanzha.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Afina: 139/139
AC 38, spell resistance 38, blindsense 30, immunity to fire, water, disease
Spell charges: 6/10/9/8/9/9/8/8/6/7
Saves currently: Fort: +17 (+21 vs poison), Ref: +26, Will: +23

[Iron Dragoon]

Surraruthru watches the proceedings silently after returning Lady Sanzha's gaze steadily.

"Kascha, what is this place? It seems... Out of place. In a volcano."

[Anastasia]

Mei takes your possessions and nods, leaning in to give Afina a quick hug.

Afina is led through a door, then another and into a passage into the Cauldron's cave systems. As you walk along, veins of molten gold glimpsed in the walls, "Are you prepared?" Lady Sanzha asks, "You know this may end badly."

I'm going to move off into a new thread since Afina's going to try her elemental luck, Surraruthru. Posting that and the reply to your post shortly.

[Ebiris]

"What reward comes without risk?" Afina asks philosophically as she walks barefoot across the rocky surface. "I've been doing well with the two elements, there'd certainly be no harm in stopping. But I want to be more, I want to take this as far as I can."

[Anastasia]

Lady Sanzha accepts that without further comment, leading Afina deeper and deeper. Through twisting passages and caves, eventually to a great room. A square divided into fourths. One fourth of the room blazes with fire, another full of water, a third nothing but a lump of varied rock and the fourth perfect, open air. They touch in the center, an ever present war of four elements. The conflict is massive, yet held in check by a shimmering sphere of force.

"Here," Lady Sanzha says, "We have made improvements with the research we did on you. When you are ready, fly into the center," she says, "We will begin with earth. When it is done, stay in the circle if you wish to immediately attempt air. If you do not, fly out instead."

[Ebiris]

"Understood," Afina says, exercising her wings to take flight where she hovers for just a moment on the precipice, a hand resting over her heart. Focusing her resolve for the task ahead, she moves forward once more and lands perfectly in the centre.

[Anastasia]

You fly in. Immediately you are bombarded with sensations. The rolling water, the blowing wind, the blazing fire and the solid earth. You can't see anything, you can't hear anything. You're choking, all four elements pressing against you with no restraint and no mercy.

Then the other three fade. All around is earth. A tomb of earth, heavy rocks and unyielding metal. You can feel it all around you, ancient power unmoving and placed for stretches of time that make your fey lifespan seem naught but the blink of an eye.

Act as you will, Afina.

[Ebiris]

Earth is static. Patient. Immutable. Knowing this, Afina strives to be the same. Relaxing her body into this earthen tomb, she accepts the element pressing around her without struggle. She considers how Earth reflects on Fire and Water, whether magma and ooze might form a bridge for her current self to match with this solid element but discards the idea - like Kascha said, both of those introduce mutability into Earth that doesn't reflect its fundamental core.

Patience will win the day.

[Anastasia]

Afina waits.

Afina waits.


Afina waits.



Afina waits.




Afina waits.





Afina waits.






Afina waits.

Earth is solid. Unchanging. It waits with her. It is patient, unending, eternal. As she is, it is. She feels her body growing heavier, stronger, bulkier.

Con check.

[Ebiris]

[19:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[19:11] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 16 > [d20=13]

[Anastasia]

It's harder to breathe. Harder to think. Harder to see. But Afina weathers it, enduring it as she feels herself grow heavier yet. She's doing it, she can feel earth settling into her, with far less of a battle than water gave.

Con check again, +3 bonus.

[Ebiris]

[19:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6
[19:13] <Plushie_Ithea> Ebiris roll for Plushie_Ithea < 19 > [d20=13]

Slow and steady wins the race!

[Anastasia]

Afina builds on her successes. It all goes perfectly, settling into her. There is a gasp as...

That went absolutely flawlessly for you. Considering how water went, you were do. Describe what Afina looks like now and stay in or leave the sphere as you please.