There’d been a job posting in the previous town. Wolves in the night. Basso howls ever more unsettling than the typical cry at the moon had been unsettling the people for miles. The adults could hardly sleep. Word that children could hardly sleep with the nightmares those howls sent to their dreams and their parents just beyond their doors, clutching their sharpest knives in case the wolves came crashing through. Even Elias had begun going out of his way to sleep in an inn rather than risk a night roughing it with the wolves in Fiore’s backcountry. Perhaps the trees were tall enough for a small perch, but he didn’t want to risk it. The villagers had said werewolves were known to roam the woods outside their clusters of cottages.
At the same time, Elias was a wizard. No matter how weak he was, a few werewolves weren’t going to stop him on the road to Era. Nor was his unreliable map. Half the villages he’d visited weren’t even mentioned and he’d begun to suspect the paper he bought was little more than a ripoff. Or the kingdom of Fiore was a lot larger than he’d originally thought. That didn’t really help Elias’ spirits.
To make matters worse, though, the sun was beginning to set. That meant the werewolves were going to come out tonight and so far, there wasn’t a village in sight. Elias consulted his map again. The village of Vestburg was supposed to be nearby. Maybe. It was becoming hard to tell in the shadows of dusk. He rolled it up and stuck it in his pack. It would be better to walk with his mind set on the road in case the wolves came out.
“Help, help!” A man’s voice cried from up the road. Something about it sent chills down Elias’ spine. It was a desperate, helpless cry of one who knew he was about to meet his end but still desperately clung on. An ear-piercing howl split through the air. The wolves almost upon her.
What the man didn’t realize, however, was that Elias was closer. He shouted a word of command and wavy, pale blue light coalesced around his shoulders, quickly flowing down to his ankles and darkening into his navy blue Cloak of the Tundra. His feet felt lighter and Elias felt the wind almost lifting him up as he sprinted even faster. Elias could see the man’s silhouette now against the burning village. It was harder to make out what chased him. Three other bodies, a woman and two children ran alongside him. Elias guessed three wolves and a small werewolf. With any luck, it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. He clenched his fist and pale blue light began to stream from between his fingers. Another step, and a chunk of ice formed beneath his feet, launching Elias into the air as he lifted his fist above his head and opened it. A dozen large shards of ice crystallized and Elias wasted not even a moment flinging them down upon the wolves. They let out a cry of pain as the ice pierced their backs. Though it seemed to be more out of surprise than fear. Still, it was enough to get them to stop in their tracks.
“Keep running,” Elias shouted to the family. “I’ll stop these wolves.” He outstretched another hand and a wooden handle appeared in his hand after a flash of wavy green light. A chain quickly followed with the crackle of freezing metal. The wolves had met a challenge. The lone werewolf amongst the little pack let out a series of snarls and barks as it pushed itself back up. The three wolves flashed towards Elias.
He replied with the chain. Admittedly it wasn’t the perfect weapon. A spear would have been better but the chain was all Elias had and he made sure it filled the air between him and the wolves. Each wolf was struck once, twice, three times and even in the flickering midnight light, Elias could see the frost that slowly crawled along the wolves’ bodies. Slowing them down.
Elias’ focus slipped to his surroundings. The werewolf was nowhere to be seen. A growl slipped out from behind him and searing pain flared across Elias’ back. He fell to the ground. He slammed his fist into the ground and in a flash of blue light, a platform of ice launched him out of the way. But it was only a moment’s more of safety. He had to get back on his feet to fight any more.
Word Count: 847/3000
At the same time, Elias was a wizard. No matter how weak he was, a few werewolves weren’t going to stop him on the road to Era. Nor was his unreliable map. Half the villages he’d visited weren’t even mentioned and he’d begun to suspect the paper he bought was little more than a ripoff. Or the kingdom of Fiore was a lot larger than he’d originally thought. That didn’t really help Elias’ spirits.
To make matters worse, though, the sun was beginning to set. That meant the werewolves were going to come out tonight and so far, there wasn’t a village in sight. Elias consulted his map again. The village of Vestburg was supposed to be nearby. Maybe. It was becoming hard to tell in the shadows of dusk. He rolled it up and stuck it in his pack. It would be better to walk with his mind set on the road in case the wolves came out.
---------------------------
The howls started the moment the final sliver of sun disappeared over the horizon. They seemed stronger tonight, more than they’d ever been before and Elias couldn’t control his nervous shivering every time they pierced the night. Orange light glowed from the east. Last time Elias had checked, he hadn’t run into a time loop. That left only one possibility, a burning village. There could only be one attacker: the werewolves. Clarity washed through Elias’ mind as he broke out into a sprint. “Help, help!” A man’s voice cried from up the road. Something about it sent chills down Elias’ spine. It was a desperate, helpless cry of one who knew he was about to meet his end but still desperately clung on. An ear-piercing howl split through the air. The wolves almost upon her.
What the man didn’t realize, however, was that Elias was closer. He shouted a word of command and wavy, pale blue light coalesced around his shoulders, quickly flowing down to his ankles and darkening into his navy blue Cloak of the Tundra. His feet felt lighter and Elias felt the wind almost lifting him up as he sprinted even faster. Elias could see the man’s silhouette now against the burning village. It was harder to make out what chased him. Three other bodies, a woman and two children ran alongside him. Elias guessed three wolves and a small werewolf. With any luck, it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. He clenched his fist and pale blue light began to stream from between his fingers. Another step, and a chunk of ice formed beneath his feet, launching Elias into the air as he lifted his fist above his head and opened it. A dozen large shards of ice crystallized and Elias wasted not even a moment flinging them down upon the wolves. They let out a cry of pain as the ice pierced their backs. Though it seemed to be more out of surprise than fear. Still, it was enough to get them to stop in their tracks.
“Keep running,” Elias shouted to the family. “I’ll stop these wolves.” He outstretched another hand and a wooden handle appeared in his hand after a flash of wavy green light. A chain quickly followed with the crackle of freezing metal. The wolves had met a challenge. The lone werewolf amongst the little pack let out a series of snarls and barks as it pushed itself back up. The three wolves flashed towards Elias.
He replied with the chain. Admittedly it wasn’t the perfect weapon. A spear would have been better but the chain was all Elias had and he made sure it filled the air between him and the wolves. Each wolf was struck once, twice, three times and even in the flickering midnight light, Elias could see the frost that slowly crawled along the wolves’ bodies. Slowing them down.
Elias’ focus slipped to his surroundings. The werewolf was nowhere to be seen. A growl slipped out from behind him and searing pain flared across Elias’ back. He fell to the ground. He slammed his fist into the ground and in a flash of blue light, a platform of ice launched him out of the way. But it was only a moment’s more of safety. He had to get back on his feet to fight any more.
Word Count: 847/3000
- Mana 140/200 | HP: 200/200 (Armor 30/90):
Spells:
Name: Cloak of the Tundra
Rank: D+
Type: Armor, Burst
Damage: None
Requip/Summon HP: 90 HP
Range: 15 meters
Speed: N/A
Duration: 3 posts
Downside: N/A
Description: The wielder calls out a word of command and a blue light of an aurora quickly coalesces around the wielder before shaping itself into a hoodless cloak, a deep navy blue and lined with starch-white fur and a simple silver chain.
Abilities: The abilities this Requip/Summon spell has.- Ability 1: Seemingly uplifted by the wintry winds of the tundra, the wearer experiences a 75% boost in speed.
- Ability 2: Mobility is key, beneath either of the wielder’s feet, he may create a platform anywhere from foot-width to shoulder-width up to 15 meters in height, provided there is a solid surface to connect it to. This has many applications, such as a springboard to assist with jumping, climbing heights, or running along walls.
Name: Shardbolts
Rank: D
Type: Area of Effect
Damage: 30 HP
Range: 30 meters
Speed: 30 meters per second
Duration: instant after one post of preparation
Downside: n/a
Description: An icy blue light begins to glow in the palm of the wielder’s hand as he slowly forms the signs for the spell. It takes a moment to cast, but it’s worth it when the raises his hand above his head and dozens of wicked-looking shards of ice quickly crystallize above his head and are and immediately stream towards the targets in a cone-shape in the direction that he swings his hand.
Name: Wintry Chains
Rank: D
Type: Weapon, Burst
Damage: 7 HP
Requip/Summon HP: 50 HP
Range: 15 Meters
Speed: 15 meters per second
Duration: 3 posts
Downside: N/A
Description: A simple wooden handle, banded on each end with iron appears in a flash of green light the just outside of the wielder’s outstretched hand. When he grabs the handle, more green light erupts from one end of the handle, quickly shaping itself into frosty chains refracting rainbow colors.
Abilities: The abilities this Requip/Summon spell has.- Ability 1: Seemingly with a mind of their own, these chains can wrap themselves around a target once every other post, rendering their target immobile until they can either slip free or break the chains.
- Ability 2: The frost of winter pierces all. Frost slowly covers the body of any foe who is successfully struck by these chains, causing a 50% reduction to their movement speed for 3 posts. This effect can only take place once per post.
- Ability 1: Seemingly uplifted by the wintry winds of the tundra, the wearer experiences a 75% boost in speed.