Finding Afame's fame (Afina)

[Anastasia]

"Yes. Your friend will be here soon. Follow the path once she arrives." Is all the voice says.

[Ebiris]

"You have our thanks," she says, waiting for Simmer's arrival.

[Anastasia]

It's not long. Simmer comes out of the tunnel and lands safely, the winds not so violent for her. She's a bit charred and battered but intact. "Oh, there you are. Had to remind the natives not to harass visitors."

[Ebiris]

"They weren't so keen on having ignorant strangers bumbling around, but we came to an understanding," Afina nods, approving of Simmer's fighting spirit. "Things should be more peaceful from here on. Lets go?" she starts to explore the cavern they're within to try finding the mentioned path.

[Anastasia]

It appears ahead of you, smoke parting to reveal the way. All around you the trails of smoke gather, beginning to form things. Little humanoids - no. Little smoke para-elementals, slowly gathering as you walk along.

"Smoke is life and death. Smoke brings death but it also feeds life," The voice says. "Fire destroys but it purifies. Air sustains all live yet tornadoes and storm winds slay. When an elemental has reached a point where it will learn no more of Smoke, it comes here to perish and be remade anew."

[Ebiris]

"Remade into what?" Afina asks, content to walk when surrounded by those of similar stature to she. Except for Simmer of course, but nobody's perfect.

[Anastasia]

"New elementals. They will hopefully not be as limited in their understanding of Smoke." You walk further, past all of this. Some vapor is not used and continues on, swirling ahead. "This is the most precious things they learned, but also what stumped them on the further nature of Smoke. It will be analyzed and understood by those wiser, so that the mistake can be overcome."

[Ebiris]

"Reaching your limit, plateauing out, and then being reborn with a fresh perspective," Afina recites. "It's not dissimilar from they fey lifecycle."

[Anastasia]

"Is this on purpose for us or is it just the way it is?" Simmer asks, "It's a point we're born to understand."

"It is how it is," The voice replies, "What is important is taken to those who can proceed past that limit. It is all as planned by the Prince."

[Ebiris]

"And those who do pass that limit?" Afina asks. "Are they a superior strata of para-elemental, or something more?"

[Anastasia]

"They advance, grow larger, become more. The greatest become the monoliths or unique creatures," The voice says, "They are called to serve Ehkahk directly."

[Ebiris]

So it's basically just a pre-requisite for the higher echelons rather than a barrier for the uniquely potent, though of course getting to those levels still requires passing this anyway. She doesn't have any further immediate questions, since they'll surely see more as they follow the remaining smoke to wherever it's headed.

[Anastasia]

Ahead a figure approaches. An old man leaning on a staff, clad in black robes and with a staff that glows a sickly green. His hair is long and unkempt, his eyes a solid gray color. He speaks in the voice you have heard so many times before, body adorned with jewelry and a circlet. "To learn what Smoke is, you merely need to look around and then into yourself. If you hold all the elements, then all are already before you."

[Ebiris]

The answer was within you all along, hmm?

It's a cliche in stories, but experiencing it for herself is novel enough to please Afina. "Is that so?" she hums, taking a deliberate look at her surroundings before she closes her eyes and focuses on the quiescent elements that form her existence. Earth and Water are put aside, allowed to fade into the periphery of her awareness as instead she looks to Air and Fire. Under her control the elements exist in something like harmony, but she remembers well the omni-elemental she faced and how readily they'd lash out if given the chance. And she's giving them something of a chance now, loosening the reins and letting Fire consume Air as is its wont, smoke beginning to waft off her body as she gives at least two of her elements a chance to mingle, yet remains poised to clamp down again should things go too far.

[Anastasia]

Make a Wisdom check.