Nymph interlude (Afina)

[Ebiris]

It does become a bit easier as she goes and parallels become evident enough. "Allow me a moment everyone," she asks, closing her eyes and focusing on her internal elemental matrix. Drawing back her connection to Water and Air she lets Earth and Fire surge forward and mingle within her, focusing on her understanding of para-elemental dynamics throughout.

[Anastasia]

Charisma check.

[Ebiris]

[19:12] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15
[19:12] <Kobot> Ebiris rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{30}

[Anastasia]

It...clicks. Something in you shifts as you feel your elements move. You grasp another truth, and this one is like completing a puzzle. You feel more somehow, closer to something wordless and powerful.

[Ebiris]

Throughout this Afina's skin becomes dark and pebbly, a deep crimson glow emanating from underneath. Then it subsides and she resumes her previous prismatic hues. "So there it is. I don't know that I really needed to be here for it, but visiting a place sacred to the elements only felt right. Thank you for your hospitality," she inclines her head towards the pool below.

[Anastasia]

"Yeah, thanks, "Simmer says, "You're alright for...whatever you are? A big elemental a bit too shy to come out?" she asks with a smile.

Gold inclines his head in the draconic version of a nod, "Thank you."

"Magma needs more that are exceptional. You are exceptional." Then with that, you fly up. In a few seconds of blurriness you rise all the way to the top, floating above the Sinkhole.

[Ebiris]

That was handy! Flying over to the lip of the Sinkhole Afina draws Afame and studies it to learn how its been changed by her journey across the para-elemental planes.

Current stats for reference are:
Afame - Adamantine/linthrum small short sword +5, skirmishing
- Afina is constantly feels at ease wherever she goes. This gives her the benefits of Avoid Planar Effects and Endure Elements spell. This ability is always active as long as the sword is held.
- Against creatures anathema to Afina (devils) and to Creation (creatures from beyond), this sword deals an extra 5d6 points of damage per strike.
- Part of Afina's natural world is speed and dodging. As a swift action, she may grant herself a +4 dodge bonus to armor class while holding this sword. This may be used at will.
- Once per day, Afina may bestow some of her elemental energies to a willing creature by touch. This is a full round action. Doing so grants that creature the half fire, water, earth, or air elemental template (Afina's choice). This lasts for 24 hours. Doing so takes some of Afina's life energy, and she suffers a -2 penalty to constitution during this time. This penalty cannot be removed until the 24 hours pass.

[Anastasia]

When Afina draws Afame, her body stiffens and a scream erupts out of her.

"Wha-" Simmer grimaces, holding on tightly to Gold.

"What manner of sorcer-" Gold begins, silenced abruptly.

"This is-" Arrel adds, as all the world becomes dark.

Afame tears itself from your hand and floats in front of the four of you. Magma is gone and you stand in a field of barren earth, ablaze as winds blow and rains pound down. Further out all four of the elements do war, birthing magma, smoke, ice, ooze.

[Ebiris]

Controlling herself after that scream Afina gives her hand a little shake to work off the sudden numbness. Looking all around at the elemental chaos she's sparked she takes a deep breath before shouting, "Stop!"

She'd thought she was past all this but it seems the war was only postponed and not ended. Still, she'll enforce her will over the unruly elements one way or another.

[Anastasia]

The elemental fury around you stops. Afame floats to you, all the elements flowing back into it.

[Ebiris]

Ah, simple enough. Satisfied, Afina reaches out to grasp her blade.

[Anastasia]

The blade is grasped. It feels fine as you are in Magma once more.

"The hell was that?" Simmer says, "Afina, what did you do?"

Afame gains the following benefits:

- The enhancement bonus rises to +6.
- The damage it deals to creatures anathema to Afina or Creation increases to 6d6 per strike.
- Afina can now bestow the ooze, magma, smoke or ice creature templates (Dragon 347) to creatures in addition to the half elemental templates.

[Ebiris]

"I misunderstood," Afina says as she studies the blade. "I saw a declaration of conflict, something to be subdued as when I first achieved my prismatic apotheosis. But that wasn't it at all: it was balanced. A violent harmony where the strife of the elements gives rise to para-elements. Nothing is actually lost in the process, only transformed."

Sheathing the blade she turns to her friends. "What we just witnessed was a reflection of my own inner world."

[Anastasia]

Simmer starts to say something, forcefully closes her mouth and shakes her head. "Sorry, just reminded me of something else. Old memory."

"Is violence so core to you?" Gold asks, "'tis a violent Creation, there is no doubt of that."

[Ebiris]

"Do bear in mind that was a reflection viewed through the lens of a sword," Afina points out, tapping Afame's pommel. "But even then, yes. I'm an extremely violent individual by any reasonable standard. For most of my life I have been used as a tool of murder. And with my rejection of the fey Cycle I have committed myself to an eternity of fighting hell."