VoidTrecker Express Mods (
voidtreckermods) wrote in
middleofsomewhere2020-09-15 10:09 pm
Onward: Red
Travel
The biggest problems on the way to the volcano are, perhaps, to be expected. Years of molten flows and heaving earth have left the landscape twisted and in constant movement, sections of the surface sinking or rising depending on the movement of the rivers of magma beneath. It makes for slow, bumpy going whether on foot or in a vehicle.
The fire dogs mostly prowl in the distance, but a few packs get brave enough to dive in and attack. They attack in their packs of three, though they are more likely to attack those at the back or side of the group, catching any stragglers or those that have decided to go it alone. They are pretty interested in the crystals, singling out those who are carrying them and harrying them with nips and lunges.
As the sun sets, the sky darkens and the earth, in contrast, seems to glow brighter. Faces tinge red in the fires and flows of the Flamewastes, and the volcano spits fire endlessly ahead.
The Firehearted Peak
It only takes about half a day to get to the volcano, which is pinpointed on their SCA map and highly visible besides. The entrance is obvious, a cleft in the rock at the side of the mountain. It’s hot here, incredibly so, the heat draining. But, oddly… it’s bearable, more so than they might expect. The path takes them around tunnels and across exposed streams of lava, over small rocky bridges over partially crusted-over liquid.
The tunnel is only half an hour’s walk, before it opens up into a rough chamber formed by layers of glittering metal and molten rock. In the centre there is a ball of fire, floating freely. It pulses with heat, and for those with any such senses, deep magic.
The crystals need to be held within the chamber, as close to the glowing core as possible, for at least three days. As the days go by the crystals will begin to grow brighter as magic gathers within them; their glow will synchronise with the flickering pulses of the Heart.
This growing power, however, draws in the creatures of the Flamewastes. Fire lizards, having stayed hidden and skittish on their journey, now join the dogs in attacking, pouring through the main tunnel and smaller passages in the layered walls to attack the chamber, intent on reaching and consuming the magic within the barrier crystals.
Fire Sprites
The attack from outside the mountain continues but as the days go by the volcano itself starts attacking, the proximity of living beings to its heart provoking a response. Fire sprites, clusters of sparks and embers and tendrils of fire whip out of the lava towards anyone who draws close. They are drawn to body heat, or to warmth of any kind. Tendrils curl around limbs, burning and dragging them towards pools of lava.
Others form walls of fire, trying to separate people from the main group or render the heart inaccessible. Cold drives them into retreat; water, if it does not immediately evaporate in the heat of the mountain, does likewise. The area directly around the heart, strangely, remains largely unaffected; any sprite or flame that strays into its aura is absorbed into it.
The biggest problems on the way to the volcano are, perhaps, to be expected. Years of molten flows and heaving earth have left the landscape twisted and in constant movement, sections of the surface sinking or rising depending on the movement of the rivers of magma beneath. It makes for slow, bumpy going whether on foot or in a vehicle.
The fire dogs mostly prowl in the distance, but a few packs get brave enough to dive in and attack. They attack in their packs of three, though they are more likely to attack those at the back or side of the group, catching any stragglers or those that have decided to go it alone. They are pretty interested in the crystals, singling out those who are carrying them and harrying them with nips and lunges.
As the sun sets, the sky darkens and the earth, in contrast, seems to glow brighter. Faces tinge red in the fires and flows of the Flamewastes, and the volcano spits fire endlessly ahead.
The Firehearted Peak
It only takes about half a day to get to the volcano, which is pinpointed on their SCA map and highly visible besides. The entrance is obvious, a cleft in the rock at the side of the mountain. It’s hot here, incredibly so, the heat draining. But, oddly… it’s bearable, more so than they might expect. The path takes them around tunnels and across exposed streams of lava, over small rocky bridges over partially crusted-over liquid.
The tunnel is only half an hour’s walk, before it opens up into a rough chamber formed by layers of glittering metal and molten rock. In the centre there is a ball of fire, floating freely. It pulses with heat, and for those with any such senses, deep magic.
The crystals need to be held within the chamber, as close to the glowing core as possible, for at least three days. As the days go by the crystals will begin to grow brighter as magic gathers within them; their glow will synchronise with the flickering pulses of the Heart.
This growing power, however, draws in the creatures of the Flamewastes. Fire lizards, having stayed hidden and skittish on their journey, now join the dogs in attacking, pouring through the main tunnel and smaller passages in the layered walls to attack the chamber, intent on reaching and consuming the magic within the barrier crystals.
Fire Sprites
The attack from outside the mountain continues but as the days go by the volcano itself starts attacking, the proximity of living beings to its heart provoking a response. Fire sprites, clusters of sparks and embers and tendrils of fire whip out of the lava towards anyone who draws close. They are drawn to body heat, or to warmth of any kind. Tendrils curl around limbs, burning and dragging them towards pools of lava.
Others form walls of fire, trying to separate people from the main group or render the heart inaccessible. Cold drives them into retreat; water, if it does not immediately evaporate in the heat of the mountain, does likewise. The area directly around the heart, strangely, remains largely unaffected; any sprite or flame that strays into its aura is absorbed into it.

no subject
Her left arm jerked up, and she shot a spinning device out between them and a group of fire sprites. It struck the ground and spread out, erecting a force shield between the two groups.
no subject
A gust of wind seems to pull through it rather than blasting it away- fire needs oxygen to burn, and he's 'pulling' it away from there.
In the same motion though, Weather Report is not done- there's a force field between them and other fire sprites now, which makes it easier to bring rain upon those ones without drenching the battlers.
So rain it does.
"I think I'm getting a bit better at this..."
no subject
Orisa stopped firing just long enough to open the vents of her gun and draw in more air. The heat she vented was trivial even normally; in this environment it was almost cool.
no subject
As he says this, Weather's rainstorm moves to cover more ground, even becoming hail as more fire-creatures arrive. It hits them worse than even the rain did. "A lot of weather is cold, and wet- so in a place like this, it seemed easier to defend something with that."
no subject
Technology could do a lot of incredible things (wasn't Orisa proof of that?), but weather control on a localized scale was really quite an accomplishment by anyone's standards.
no subject
"I...don't actually know. I would say I think of something and he does it, but if I'm honest, I don't even have to think of it completely- I've done a few things without meaning to that way..."
And case in point, Weather is fighting fine even while Emporio speaks. So they're clearly capable of some semi-automatic motion.
no subject
That offered the most immediate explanation! ...to Orisa's mind, anyway.
no subject
He. Isn't really sure what that would entail, but hey! "...Well...I'm pretty sure he's not at least," the boy laughs quietly. "...Weather Report is a 'Stand'- it's...he's sort of a part of my soul? ...I think right now he's made of clouds."
Hard call.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
It is Very much a bad time, but fortunately he's doing well! "I know roughly what he can do, at least."
no subject
Even if it didn't look like she was advancing herself past 'point at enemy, fire at enemy'.
no subject
no subject
no subject
"I guess technically you've had everything longer than I've had Weather though, so it's not really a bad thing huh..." Ahah. "...I guess there would be a lot to learn still though then..."
Between the two of them, they're doing pretty great balancing combat and speech though. Naturals, true naturals. "...You seem really strong, if that helps..?"
no subject
no subject
"I guess then...when you get back, you'll have lots of practice then huh? So you'll be even better at defending them."
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Good, it would be a shame to lose it!
Unfortunately that's precisely what would happen. Ah.no subject
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)