Unbridled, Unbound & Unwavering

[AuJy 273]

 

Better is it to be written, than to go unrecorded. This is why we record the passing storms, watch for the horrible earthquakes, and warn each other about the oncoming tornado. We may yet try and plan a way out of such a horrid fate, for if we do not plan, if we do not act, we will succumb to the might that is Neizdark's portfolio.

 

And so it came to be that the passing storm was often forgotten. A fluke of nature, a passing thought no greater than that of the meager might of mortal, descendant kind. For whom could harness that unbridled wrath? That torrent?

 

Who fears the eye in the storm.

"Sydney," called a voice from the opposite corner of the room, "Come with me." And so with little hesitation did Sydney follow the voice of his beloved brother. As they hopped through a nearby window, flagrantly refusing to utilize an equidistant door, flaunting society's rules, they approached an aviary. Attaching a message to a bird, it would soar through the skies and reach its destination.

 

Having danced the night away, very literally, a particular alchemist would find himself outside of a dance parlor. As he was embraced by the cool night air, a letter would fall into his hands, presented to him by a bird from another flock. "Join us on the mountain," was all that was written. And so it was that Athri'annyer would begin his ascent and join the other two on the mountain top.

"It is a simple task, indeed! We must consume that of the kaktuz, and perform a rain dance. Hopefully inspiring our welcome."

 

"I have danced a lot today... perhaps this is a sign. Sydney, can you dance?"

 

"Oh, yes. Yes, he can."

 

"...Thank ye."

 

And so it was that the trio would consume of the kaktuz, inhaling its many many flavors and blends. As their eyes would grow redder, and their bodies would relax, they would hold up rainsticks and shift them upwards and downwards. This would create a sound that mimicked rain pitter-pattering against one's walls or roof. As they mimicked that most beautiful of natural occurrences, so too did they chant. Chant and shout. Calling upon Neizdark, the Spirit of the Storm, summoning them to bring about an awe-filled alliance. The alchemist, the sailor and the bard did dance for an extended period of time. Refusing to give in, shaking what their mamas gave them.

 

And slowly did the clouds come . . .

Once the clouds had arrived, their lead shaman rushed them inside. The rains began to fall all around the area, the lilypond nearly overflowing with new, fresh, and clear rainwater. Sprinting to a nearby cabin, they would fly in with the alchemist diving head first into a nearby couch, the sailor slamming into a wall, and the bard pushing the sailor into the wall (for fun).

 

As the storm brewed outside and began to rage on, the trio began the next step of their master plan. The bard, who was also a shaman, began to connect to their mana. Chanting out the names of Neizdark, Lakul, and Urin. Hoping that some sort of force or elemental would heed his call to action. As the bard-shaman beckoned the Greater Elemental and the lesser spirits the storm became stronger and stronger as a fog and a mist intertwined together in the living quarters of the cabin and then . . .

 

The door opened.

 

Stumbling into the room was a witch... the trio would stare at this witch for a time, perhaps they had invaded her cabin. She really did not seem to mind, however. And due to her lack of concern, they merely spoke to her like she was one of the lads. Little back and forth banter before she left to build a house out of candy or something.

 

And then thunder.

 

Striking the nearby nature with a fury, lightning would clamber around the house, as though the Elementals and the Spirits were tired of waiting for these three to figure themselves out. With their minds refocused, and their souls loosened by the kaktuz, a final plea was given to the Greater Elemental of Storms.

 

And their plea was heard.

The Elemental Plane of Storms was nothing short of absolutely breathtaking. This pocket dimension of such a plane was beauteous, though the skies were grey and the beach was gravel, it was nonetheless a stunning sight. Beyond the coastline that they walked was a sea that was made entirely of storm clouds. The trio had never been here before, nor anywhere that closely resembled this plane. While it seemed to be a typical beach... it was anything but typical in reality.

 

"What is your favorite thing about storms?" Asked the mighty Alchemist.

 

"Grea' question... they are awful frigh'ening. Never really thought about it before but ya can feel when they're a'coming."

 

"There's a certain... clarity that comes with storms, no? They have something to do with each of the elements. It picks up the waters and tosses them over land, it brings the unbridled winds of destruction and change, it quashes fires, it starts fires, erodes the earth, creates new earth. Despite it being perceived as chaos there is a... uniformity to it. A union of everything in one force."

 

"Ooo... I like that answer."

The bard then moved towards the cloudy sea and hoisted up some of the liquid cloud in his hand. Balling up his fist he showed it proudly to the sea, a smile displayed on his gorgeous face.

 

"Once I can harness the storm... be its devotee, I can become one with it. Imagine being able to snap away a force that is unstoppable."

 

"Yea, but remember; ya cannae actually stop storms. An' they could still kill ya if ya aren't careful."

 

"That's the beauty of this, Sydney. Once I am able, I can—"

 

And as suddenly as they had arrived, the Bard began to sink, pulled into the cloudy sea by a force unseen by any of them. Quick to act, both the Alchemist and the Sailor reached for the Bard, attempting to pry him free from the bindings of this torrent sea. As their grips began to slip, a bolt of lightning would be launched from somewhere in this elemental plane, and collide with the ground most-near to them. As the duo would be flung backwards onto the shore, the Bard would be pulled into the clouds.

 

Enter the Spawn of the Storm.

As the Bard would be hoisted and pulled into the storm, the torrent of clouds would shift and change dramatically. Sculpting itself into a visage like that of woman. Body sculpted from storm clouds, eyes like that of hurricanes, hair streaked with still sparks of lightning. She was gargantuan, nearly 1500 meters in height, and that only the part of her that was visible, with the rest of her hidden blow the fathoms of the sea before them.

 

"THIS ONE SEEKS TO HARNESS ME?! TO BIND ME?! NO." A booming voice like thunder rolled from the clouds that were sculpted in the sea.

 

Seeing this gargantuan entity, the Sailor and the Alchemist felt there was no other recourse. They pleaded with the Elemental force, begging her to allow for him to go free. Instead she would jeer at them and summon up several descendant-sized cloud-borns to assault them.

 

Refusing to plead and beg this aggressive and stormy entity any further, the Alchemist launches forward towards the nearest of the cloud-borns, kicking them into non-existence with a swift and electrifying display. The Alchemist, thinking swiftly then, tosses the Sailor into the cloudy water beyond the cloud-born forces. Commanded to swim, the Sailor would do so, charging forward towards the Bard in this strangely buoyant water.

As the Sailor swam closer to the Bard, and the Alchemist worked to distract the cloud-borns, the Sailor could tell that the Bard was being tortured. In a sphere, held in the grasp of this ancient Elemental force, remained the Bard. He was unwavering in his resolve, despite the tortures of the storm that were summoned to him. Seeing all that occurred in her realm, the Elemental paused, and looked at the display. She saw . . .

 

The Alchemist acting as a relentless defense against the coming storm and embodying the storm.

 

The Sailor being unbound by challenges and freely weathering the storm, pushing to create his own if he must.

 

And the Bard being unwavering in his resolution to harness the storm.

 

The Elemental was, by nature, quick to change her emotions. Upon seeing these three intruders act as their own storms... she gave pause to her situation. Two lightning bolts descended from her, and connected with the Alchemist and the Sailor, summoning them to stand on her clouded waters and look upon her.

 

"You are like that of the storm. Your actions arouse curiosity, and intrigue."

 

"Itone... can we have our friend back now?"

 

"We'll happily leave ya in peace..."

 

"No. You, however, will awaken. He and I will chat. Alone."

 

And just like that, as quick as they had arrived, they were back in their own plane of existence. All but the Bard, who remained trapped in the elemental realm for now.

 

"Wait,-" The Sailor looks to his brother's limp body with worry, "'Win . . . 'Win- is he- did we help? Will he be-?"

 

"Eugh . . . I do not like that spirit . . ." The Alchemist sighs looking at the Bard, "Guess it's just . . . up to him now,"—"Deep breaths. He's got this."

Trapped.

Trapped in a realm beyond understanding. Trapped inside of a shell.

 

Shell.

Cocooned in the grasp of all that you may yet hold dear. Never once allowed freedom.

 

Freedom.

Liberated from the confines of pleasure. You lie dormant in torture.

 

Torture.

Nothing is binding if nothing is grabbing you. You are not in a state of imprisonment.

 

Imprisonment.

It is all an illusion.

Illusions.

Clouded thoughts. In these illusions we hold no pacts.

 

Pacts.

A pact with this spirit must be forged.

 

Forged.

To do so you must harness the storm. Bottle it. Keep it safe.

 

Safe.

You must survive each torrent of storm, then harness my power.

 

Power.

Strive to be like the storm.

 

I am Zûvni.

 

Spoiler

The following did all occur in RP. Thank you to the lovely people involved!! @sapphic_spidy @WhatASithuation @Ewdrawings

 

 

Spoiler

Bonus highlights:

• Athri's perfect smoke ring
• Sydney's first spirit walk!!
• Surprise Yera

[sapphic_spidy 1089]

Spoiler

THE SYDNEY SLANDER IS INSAAAANE IN THIS ONE /love you otter