Nymph interlude (Afina)

[Ebiris]

Magma! I'll do the library routine to find out about places of power there.

[20:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+42+15 planes with library
[20:27] <Serith> Ebiris roll for Serith < 76 > [d20=19]

[Anastasia]

You find several references.

- The Sinkhole. A great floating island of basalt atop Magma, this island is dominated by a massive, stone sinkhole. It's said newborn magma para-elementals emerge from it and sometimes powerful ones go in, only to emerge stronger. What lies at the bottom is a mystery.

- The Monolith. A strange monument of a material no scholar has ever successfully analyzed. The natives hold it as sacred and those that go to visit seldom return. The few that have suggest it is a place of sheer elemental power. One must find some way to endure the elementals here, who attack on sight. Once spotted, powerful elementals rapidly swarm visitors, including up to primal magma para-elementals for those who try to carry the day with force.

- Magma's Core. It is said that parts of Magma are criss-crossed with stone tubes, mazes larger than some worlds. It is whispered that all of them ultimately lead to the same place, where a burning gem the size of a city resides. Lore holds that if anyone can find this gem and touch it, they will forever be immune to fire.

- Obsidian Forest. One part of Magma that is close to Earth is mostly solid, the ground a slurry of rocks, metal veins and even gemstones. Trees of obsidian grow here, razor sharp and able to slice anyone part. Roiling clouds of poisonous steam float above the forest, shedding raindrops of fire and acid. It's said that several rare metals grow here, such as amiban, iron glass, rulsteel and rarer things yet. These metals are worth a small fortune if you can find them or could be fashioned into powerful arms and armor.

[Ebiris]

The Monolith might hold plenty of power but there's no wisdom to be found amongst mindlessly hostile elementals. The Obsidian Forest doesn't really fit, being too tied to Earth even if it seems interesting nonetheless. That leaves the Sinkhole and Magma's Core as possibilities. She leans towards the former, as more specific to magma rather than fire. That then leaves who to take with her. She'll give Bubbles a break, and after thinking through who she knows is immune to fire without needing magic there's only two possibilities so she's soon off to locate Simmer and Arrel if they're around.

[Anastasia]

Simmer's in her room. She's added a lot of red and orange to it - some paintings of fire, hanging cloths, that sort of thing. Also some volcanic rocks dotted about. She's sitting on her bed, counting out a pile of coins, "Come in," she calls, "One thousand three hundred eighty, one thousand three hundred ninety..."

[Ebiris]

Afina flutters in, opening her mouth but then stopping as she hears what Simmer's doing. Landing beside the pyrodryad she waits patiently until she's either done counting or stops at a nice round number. "Get a good haul recently?"

[Anastasia]

She stops at 1500. "Small one. Helped Tryll and Moonlight on a trip to Pandemonium, managed to grab some treasure as a demon horde attacked us. This isn't actually any of it, I'm just recounting since I took an enchanted bow as part of it and figuring out how I want to improve it."

[Ebiris]

"Lightning and holy are usually good bets with what we fight," Afina volunteers. "Do you feel up to going on another trip? I'm just about finished my tour of the para-elemental planes, only have Magma left to go."

[Anastasia]

"Magma? Absolutely," Simmer perks up, "When do we leave?"

[Ebiris]

"Depends, did you exert yourself much in Pandemonium?" Afina asks. "I'm only down a couple of gate spells and cantrips from visiting Ooze, so I can go now if you're ready. We'll pick up Arrel as well if he's available." Since he's not a spellcaster it shouldn't be any kind of question whether he can come along.

[Anastasia]

"Let me rest, then. It was a short but sharp battle. Demons need a lot of fire to go down," Simmer admits, a little frown as she gathers all the coins into a sack and drops them on the floor.

[Ebiris]

"Tomorrow's fine then. I'll catch you early and we'll head off? We're going to a place called the Sinkhole if it's familiar to you," she says, bidding Simmer a good rest before she goes to recruit Arrel.

[Anastasia]

Arrel's found with Gold. The two are in the forges, having a conversation in a corner. You don't catch any of it - just a few fragments of draconic - before they notice you casual approach.

"Afina," Arrel greets you, "Elena said you were coming this way. You need me?"

[Ebiris]

"Yes, although since Gold's here too I have something for him," she says before turning to the humanoid gold dragon. "Bwimb accepted the axe. He didn't seem particularly appreciative but still, he started off ready to attack over thinking me an assassin come to kill him, so we call it a success regardless," she says, since he's probably curious how his hard work was received.

"That takes me to the next step," she turns back to Arrel. "Simmer and I are going to Magma tomorrow, to visit a place of power called the Sinkhole. I'm not sure how much chance to spread your wings you'll have, but if you're willing to accompany us I'd be glad to have you."

[Anastasia]

"Good," Gold says, leaving it rest at that.

"I'll come." Arrel says, as Gold considers. He rubs his chin, the current half elf humming.

"Magma? Are you interested in one other?" Gold inquires.

[Ebiris]

"Certainly there's room for one more," Afina smiles at Gold. She had considered him but left it alone so he could get settled in a bit longer, but adding another fiery soul to the contingent wouldn't go amiss. "The Sinkhole is a large island of basalt dominated by the hole of the same name. Newborn para-elementals periodically emerge from it and powerful ones enter only to leave stronger than they were. No one's talking as to what's actually down there, but it seems like a good place for me to find an understanding as to the element. Simmer has to recover her magic after a recent mission to Pandemonium, so we'll be set to leave early tomorrow."