As we returned to the Stonewright Smithy, I could see the owner behind their counter with a bored expression looking out the window. Stepping inside she perked up as she turned to us.
"Is this your team?"
She asked walking over to hold out a hand to shake.
"Most of us, two more members are waiting by the lava stream we plan to drop the salamanders into."
She nodded as she led us inside to the Coke pile. The metal door continued to stay shut as inside the 4 salamanders sat mostly asleep. After leading us inside, Liora turned to the quest giver. Um, if you could step back, miss.
"Thraun, Lila Thraun."
She nodded as she stepped back away from the forge and allowed for a straight shot to the door.
Turning to the rest of us, Thalia pointed for Liora to be on the side of the door that would see the first crack of opening as Jax would be on the other side opening the door.
"I can grab two right away, but I will need more time to get them in the cloak, Aiden, your job is to make sure they don't get out."
I nodded, taking off my cloak and holding it open for Thalia to throw the Salamanders into. We took a moment to move into position as we all took a steading breath. Jax mouthed out a countdown. 3. 2. 1. NOW!
Jax grabbed the door pulled, however instead of the door coming to him, Jax slammed himself face first into the door as he bounced off with a pained yelp and landed on his side.
"You uh, you have to turn the valve first."
Lila said as Thalia and I turned away trying to hide our stifled laughter as I could practically feel Jax turning bright red under his fur. Liora on the other hand didn't try to hide it, laughing as she pointed at Jax who swatted her nose with his tail as he turned around to get back into position.
This time turning the valve I could see the salamanders perked up inside as the valve was turned. Liora, Thalia, and I took a moment to hold our breaths as Jax finished turning the valve. The door swung open with surprising force as Jax was slammed into the side of the metal container. The built up pressure from the smoke acting like a cannon as Jax groaned.
Party leader Jax has been struck by Improvised Weapon (Door)
Party leader Jax has used lifeforce Control(E)
Party leader Jax spent 11 Ki to take 0 damage
We turned to Jax, a bit worried, but as the door opened the heat on the coke started to ignite it as the Salamanders looked to us with their mouths snapping open and shut, little sparks flying as they snap. Liora slammed the end of her staff against the ground. The wind swirling around her as the smokey poisonous air was replaced by diluted but at least not as toxic air. Thalia swung both her arms out, strings flying to wrap around the two Salamanders in the front. The strings wrapped around one, but as it thrashed and writhed, the strings snapped as it started hissing at Thalia, a small stream of fire exiting its mouth. The second one bit the mana strings, a orange and red pulse shot up the strings as Thalia Let out a cry of pain as she fell to one knee, her arm covered in red and orange vein like marks as she shuttered.
Party member Liora has used skill Whipping Winds(E)
The Smoke thins to a breathable level
Temp party member Thalia has used Marrionetting Fingers(E) X 2
Salamander has Resisted the Strings
Salamander has burned the mana in the strings
Temp party member Thalia's mana channels have been burned, further mana utilization will cause pain for 20 seconds
Liora couldn't do anything because she would promote the flames to destroy the Coke within so I rushed forward, my cloak out like a net as I could feel the heat within. I swung my cloak as a Salamander dove at me. It fell into the interior of the cloak as I could feel the cloak writhing and twisting as the Salamander within Squirmed and tried to escape. The remaining 3 salamanders darted forward, seeing one of their own was grabbed as I swung around the cloak at them. Two of the approaching salamanders stayed back, worried about being grabbed, but the third lunged, sinking its fangs into my leg. A flash of blinding pain ran trough me as It pulled its head back, several gashes coated my leg where the teeth ripped skin and flesh to yank. It hurt, by the gods it hurt. It was more pain than I had ever felt before as I thought back to my lack of injuries in most of our fights. A steely and guttural resolve to get this over with locked itself in place.
You have used item Spacial Cloak(E)
You have trapped Basic Fire spirit: Salamander within
Salamander attempts to bite you
You have dodged the bite
Salamander attempts to bite you
You have dodged the bite
Salamander attempts to bite you
Salamander has bit into your leg
You have taken 9 damage
Your constitution holds, you are not ignited
"Hold on Aiden!"
Jax yelled rushing in with me as he dashed in, bringing a forepaw down on a Salamanders head, the head bouncing off the coke below as it hissed and wined, crawling back quickly.
Party leader Jax has used skill Iron Fist(E)
Party leader Jax has done 21 damage
I heard Thalia Hiss trough her teeth as strings shot forward, I turned as I could see Thalia's arm was burning, the painful fire like veins flickering bits of fire as her right sleeve was burning away. The strings shot forward, but they were already falling apart as they flew, the embers within burning and fraying the strings. As they wrapped around the Salamanders they rolled in the Coke below them, the strings snapping away. I heard Thalia cry out again as Is saw the flames were spreading farther, up beyond her shoulder as the cracks ignited on her face.
Temp party member Thalia has used Marrionetting Fingers(E) X 2
Salamander X 2 have broken away from the strings
The use of mana has aggravated the flames in Temp party member Thalia's mana veins.
Temp party member Thalia has taken 8 damage
"Not good, if I'm doing my math right, Thalias barely awake, and your one good bite away from joining her!"
Will yelled in my mind. The smoke was making it hard to breath, even if it was thinned by Liora. Never the less I had to keep going, we only had one Salamander contained, we just needed to get the other 3. I dove for one of the Salamanders as It rolled out of the way of my dive and dove for my neck. I had only barely turned, but as I did my arm shot up, my palm colliding with the side of the Salamanders face to push its bite away as it darted away from me.
"I got you but get up and keep moving!"
Will yelled in my mind as my arm returned to my control.
You have used item Spacial Cloak(E)
Salamander has dodged your attempt
Salamander attempts to bite you
Skill fragmented Will (E) has activated and taken control of your left arm
You have deflected the attack from Salamander
Jax lunged at the Salamander who tried to dodge out of the way but Jax sidestepped, bitting the Salamander around the neck, he brought his jaws together as the Salamanders head separated from its body, however instead of falling to the ground lifeless, its body burst into flames for a half a second and burned away.
Party leader Jax has used skill Iron Fist(E)
Salamander has taken 29 damage
Salamander has been slain
Party has gained 500 XP
Seeing one of their own dying, The other two salamanders rushed at Jax. Jax spun trying to avoid their fangs, but they followed, one bit into his tail, the other into his back leg as Jax spun, throwing them off. The bite mark flared up with a bit of Flame as Jax stared down the Salamanders and said in a surprisingly angry voice.
"I have been burned by ash spirits, you think your puny flames will hurt me!?"
Salamander attempts to bite Party leader Jax
Party leader Jax has used lifeforce Control(E)
Party leader Jax spent 5 Ki to take 0 damage
Salamander attempts to bite Party leader Jax
Party leader Jax has used lifeforce Control(E)
Party leader Jax spent 10 Ki to take 0 damage
Party leader Jax's wounds ignite
Party leader Jax has taken 5 damage
I ran over to one of the Salamanders as they tried to stand. It tried to scramble, but I slammed my still bleeding foot down on its tail to hold it in place as I slammed the bag over its head. It disappeared inside as I held the bag out and yelled
"Thalia, now!"
I could see thalia was in pain, but she threw one of her arms forward, strings flying. They wrapped the last salamander who tried to roll away, but it was lifted off its feet and thrown at me where I had my cloak open. The two salamanders within were starting to emerge as the third slammed into them, pushing all 3 inside. I slammed the cloak shit as the edges bulged and writhed.
You have used item Spacial Cloak(E)
You have trapped Basic Fire elemental: Salamander within
Temp party member Thalia has used Marrionetting Fingers(E)
Salamander has been grabbed and moved
You have used item Spacial Cloak(E)
You have trapped Basic Fire elemental: Salamander within
The use of mana has aggravated the flames in Temp party member Thalia's mana veins.
Temp party member Thalia has taken 2 damage
WARNING WARNING WARNING: temp party member Thalia is unconscious
WARNING WARNING WARNING: temp party member Thalia is Bleeding out.
I thrust the cloak over to Jax who took it in his jaws as he bolted from the coke pile and out the shop, rushing to the lava stream. I stumbled out of the Coke pile and over to where Thalia Laid. Lila ran over carrying water as I splashed it on Thalia's growing veins of fire as they sizzled and cooled. Thalia Writhed as I started to bandage her up and treat her wounds as best I could without any direct healing.
Temp party member Thalia slips closer to oblivion
Temp party member Thalia losses 6 HP
You have stabilized Temp party member Thalia, she will live to see another day
Seeing that message I sat down next to Liora who looked me over with a worried look. My leg hurt, gods did it hurt, and yet the relief I was feeling that nobody had been seriously injured like with Kaelen before was euphoric enough to make the pain seem miniscule. It took a minute or two of waiting as the system chirped up.
Party leader Jax has used item Spacial Cloak(E)
Salamander X 3 have been released from its confines.
Party has escaped a deadly situation +250 XP
Party has completed a Porcelain Rank quest, +1000 XP