Leaping Fire

[marimbamonk 1501]

Click here to listen to narration (by me).

 

Unlike the many nights before this one, the desert wind was still. Not a creature could be seen throughout the dunes of the badlands, save for the tiny skittering scorpion or curious earthworm. It wasn’t long ago that Brunhyldir was sitting on a damp shore, summoning the serpent of water...

But yes, it was here, among the dunes, that Brunhyldir wandered once more, his knapsack rustling with even more contents this time. If one were to look inside, they could find many small cacti, jungle reeds, vines, lilypads, desert roses, seeds and other herbs and leaves. Of course, the pouches and vials at his side moved around as well, holding water or powdery substances made of mushroom, flower, or bark.

Brunhyldir finally found a flat place in the desert sands, and he plopped his knapsack on the ground. He then walked for quite a long time, looking and pacing this way and that. After a good hour, he had produced several large sandstone rocks, having found them all around the desert caves.

Placing each of these rocks in a rough circle, the orc opened his knapsack, searching inside. He pulled forth many of the trinkets stored in his bag, such as the torch, wicker, cactus green, and other plants he had gathered. He dropped them on the sand beside him, being careful especially not to prick himself with the small cactus.

Brunhyldir carefully sorted some reeds and light-green leaves in the center of the sandstone circle, spreading them out evenly and with thickness. Soon, he had created a large pile of dried, crackling tinder.

 

Once he had gone to a nearby brazier and lit his torch by the glowing embers, he returned to his things, blowing on the torch to light it fully. Slowly, he lowered the torch to the brush he had amassed, and a hot, blazing fire came to life.

As always, Brunhyldir squished the cactus green into the fire first, creating a much bigger plume of green smoke than he had encountered that night before. Methodically, then, he began to drop items into the fire.

He wrapped a fresh cacti, a desert rose, some cave spice, and tumbleweed in the wrinkled remains of a lilypad, creating a little sack full of herbs. Carefully, he dropped the full wrap into the fire.

A huge explosion of colored smokes and smells rushed from the fire, also causing it to crackle and rage uncontrollably. Brunhyldir nodded to himself, and moved his head directly above the fire, breathing in all of the smoke that came forth.

Almost as soon as it touched his nostrils, he coughed and fell back from the bombardment of different smells and textures. His eyes began to sting slightly as well, and he rubbed them all the while.

Although his eyes were still fogged and confused, he began to see a figure take form from the fire... The smoke and the flames licked together, slowly shaping something into form. The orc sat up, rubbing his eyes even more as he squinted at the fire.

Then, with a supernatural roar, the figure leaped from the fire, colliding with Brunhyldir and landing on him.

 

 

Brunhyldir already began to feel his skin and clothes burning, even though the spirit had only landed on him. Lowering his eyelids, the orc struggled to make out what the thing was.

He noticed that, although its body was always moving and flowing due to it being made of fire, it had a long snout, and an impressive, fiery mane. The paws that ended stout arms were clawed with bright points of ember, and it even had whiskers protruding from the sides of its face.

Brunhyldir raised an eyebrow, noticing that it had a strik  ing resemblance to a lion. The orc raised his voice, which was interrupted by several coughs.

“Mi am Brunhyldir, shamun of da elemental spiruts.”

The lion, still burning Brunhyldir slightly by just standing over him, lowered it’s head. It stared at the orc, his eyes never closing.

The shaman looked down at his chest. The fire coming from the spirit was mildly burning his skin, and he could smell it. Slowly, the orc tried to place a hand on the spirit to push it off -- but he found that his hand not only passed through the flames that made the spirit, but the flickering, hot energy also caught his hand on fire.

Brunhyldir growled, slamming his hand on the sand to put it out. And it was so, that then they simply stared at each other, neither making a move.

Then, after what seemed like minutes (and the painful sensation of his burning chest made it seem even longer), the lion began to snarl. As it echoed the sound through its throat, its lips parted to show sharp, fiery teeth.

Unsure what to do, Brunhyldir spoke again. “Wut ez lats naym, ele-”

The lion raised its right paw, swiping it sideways across the orcs face. The paw passed through his head, coming out the other side, leaving a heavy impression of a claw burned onto his left cheek.

Brunhyldir grunted, his face now glazed by the elemental char. He blinked furiously, for his left (and only good) eye was now smoldered and scorched. Desperately, Brunhyldir opened the palm of his hand and tried to use his shamanistic powers to pull water from his belt pouch, but every time he tried, the water simply evaporated under the immense heat.

Then, with what little vision he had left, he saw the spirit lift itself from his chest, and leap back into the fire. As it disappeared into the flames, a voice echoed through like a bursting holocaust.

“Dare to try again. Draumolac is not so easily subdued.”

After the voice spoke, all traces of the fire became extinguished, and nothing was left but blazed rock and warm tinders.

Sitting up, Brunhyldir felt all around his body, noticing the new scars and burns on his face, chest and upper legs. Shaking, the orc picked up his knapsack and hobbled towards the oasis, rubbing his face with shivering fingers.

 

((Make sure you comment if you liked it or have any suggestions! Thank you.))

[Gladuos 869]

((Swiggity swag, what's in the bag!? Oh. All the ingredients needed to get an angry fire elemental lion spirit to claw your face apart and burn you a ton? SOUNDS LIKE FUN, BRUNHYLDIR! Lol Good job with the narration.))

[VonAulus 2082]

((Finally took the time to read, both of the posts were well composed and interesting. Keep it up Booger.

 

Maybe keep them all in one thread?))

[Gemmylou 484]

Moved to great library as per request