---------------
Ch. 5 Something Familiar
---------------


This was it...what the orcs had been planning for some time with the backing of
Kaiyan'wang...Kelethin was under siege.

Mariea fought bravely against the onslaught but even her vaunted skill was simply not
enough, blow after blow rained on her body..all the while she continued her fight..so
Fry....her son..with whom she was so proud ..would have a home to return to...


But events where not in her favor, at the center of the destruction was something that
terrified her to the very fiber of her being....That demon was back...the one from the
War of Heroes...it's awesome power....she had no choice...she..had to use her wedding
gift from Augustas...she hoped it would be enough....

Bloodied bruised and weary, she held out a crystal amulet, it was Augustas's originally.
The one he used to prove that he was the mightiest Geomancer....

Staring dead into the eyes huge demon she cried out into the night.


"ARISE FOO'QWUI!" The pendant shattered....

--------

"Augie!Augie! Where are you?" Mariea called out looking for her boyfriendone of
themAugustas Menlore. She had wanted to see him, but for the longest time she
couldn't find him. Her searched wasn't helped by the fact that she was going against all
the orders decreed by the guilds of Kelethinnot that the Rangers or the Scouts really
cared..they just got tired of listening to the Druid guilds whining and complaining, and
promptly gave in to shut them up about the mysterious solitary Geomancer.

"AAAAAUUUUUGIE!!! ..Where are you Augie-Wogie!"

/You know I hate it when you call me Augie Wogie./

EEEK!! And you know I hate it when you use telepathy on me.

/So we are even Mary./

hmph! Where are you?

/I'm about a mile ahead of you, I have something I want to show you./

ooooh, but I've seen it before Augie.

/???.!!!! NO, no you silly lecherous girl, not that..maybe laterjust come here../

Hehe. Almost there.

Mariea skipped happily through the forest, humming a cheerful ditty and Augustas soon
came into view. In the midst of trees and shrubbery, surrounded by a circle of ten
candles there he was meditating in a lotus position. She stopped just behind him and
waited, though she was really happy to see him, she knew not to disturb him once he
was meditatinghe could be quite a grouch.

After a moment Augustas open his eyes and looked around to Mariea.

"Hello pretty."

"Hi Augie!" She giggled and jumped into his lap

"oof!" He grunted as she began to smother him with kisses and hugs.

"So, what did you want to show me?"

"Something very special, but I am going to need your help Mari."

"Sure! What do you need me to do?"

"First ..leggo! I can't breath!" Mari frowned but complied and stood up. Augustas stood
up as well and embraced her again. After a few precious moments, he let her go and
began to speak, to her and nature surrounding them.

"All, things are a combination of the primordial 6." He bent over running his hand across
the ground. "Earth." He relaxed his body letting it be driven by the breeze.. "Air."
Without her noticing he produced a flask, he then poured it's contents to the ground.
"Water." He then locked a crimson gaze open the damp earth and it ignited into black
hot flames.. "Fire.."

Near his feet was a ceramic container; he cracked the container open with a sharp low
from his staff, revealing 3 dead decaying rat corpses.

"Death.."

Finally he turned back to Mari, who was in combination mood of awe at this
ceremonyand frightshe really hated rats, especially those big Freeport ones that
Augustas was using. Augustas smiled at her and kissed her once again, and before she
could react, he took her hand poked one of her fingers with a dagger. As the blood
began to flow from the light wound, Augustas directed a few drops of it into the black
fire.

"Life"

He then wiped the wound clean and kissed it to make it feel better and motioned for her
to step out of the candle circle.

He breathed in and exhaled deeply and waved his staff across the black fire. "These are
elements of creation and destruction..these are the symbols of Geomancery! The
mastery of all Creation and the Mastery of Destruction!"

The black flame began to spread out filling up the entire area inside of the candle
circles, Mari was afraid that Augustas would be burned, but he was not. The flames
heat kept her at bay, but did not harm him. Augustas released the staff and it began to
revolve around him, channeling enormous amounts of mana into it self.

Arms outstretched to the heavens, he called out into the night. "TUNARE!!!! HEAR
ME!!!!! I, AUGUSTAS SYNWOL MENLORE OF KELETHIN, DECLARE TO YOU THAT I AM A
GEOMANCER!!!! HEAR ME!!! SEE MY POWER!!!"

Augustas mad a few quick hand gestures and the orbiting staff stopped in front of him.
The black flames snaked up the staff and consumed t, changing the staff, making it
darker more ornate..more powerful.

"Creation as one, and one shall be destroyedWHAT ONCE WAS ONE NOW FLY APART!!!"
The Ornate staff shattered into millions of pieces and flew in millions of directions at
incredible speed, but just as suddenly the pieces stopped their movement and began to
drift back infront of Augustas.

"..yesYes..I can do it..Destruction and creation are united..I shall surpass Tal'shir
The First.." he strained under his heavy breathes, this ritual was taxing him beyond his
limits, yet he stood. Mari was awed by this, she did not understand what was going
happening, but she knew, whatever it asAugustas was in complete controlno..he was
the Master.

Mana began to drift through the air once again, this time conglomerating around
Augustas, who's gaze was attached to the hovering dust of his shattered staff. With
another quick motion of his hands, the dust began to compact tighter and tighter..

"TUNARE!! SHOW YOUR EXCEPTANCE OF MY MASTERY!! GIVE MY WHAT I DEMAND!!!" he
exhaled and for a few brief seconds, to Mari it seemed like the whole world had gone
silent, and then the silence was broken..

"ARISE FOO'QWUI!!!!" There was flash of light so bright..Mari's sight was robbed for a
time. When she opened her eyes, she couldn't believe what stood in front of Augustas.
A huge beast towering amongst the trees. Wings jutting from it's back, and huge horns
o fire coming from it's head, and black-silver metal of a type she had never seen before
armored it. Had it not been for Augustas, she would have run away from such a beast,
but he stood before this huge things..and yet though there was a huge difference
between this beast and the elf, Augustas who laughed with rejoice; towered over it.

It's raspy metallic voice boomed "Who summons Foo'qwui!"

"I, Augustas Menlore your Master, summons you!"

The beast stared at Augustas, then to Mari's surprise, it went down on bended knee
before Augustas.

"What is your command?"

Augustas held up a small amulet before Foo'Qwui. "Return to this amulet and wait until
you are given further commands! You will obey only Me and the bearer of this Amulet is
that understood?"

"As you command" Foo'Qwui shimmered and then disappeared, the amulet in Augustas's
hand shimmered brightly for a few moments and then stopped. He smiled proudly, and
then called to the heavens once again, but in celebration not defiance.

"I DID IT!!!! HAAHA!!! I'M THE GREATEST!!!! I AM A GEOMANCER!!!!! AHAHAHA!!!"

Beaming proudly he turned back to Mariea and kissed her, and while doing so, opened
her hand and placed the amulet.

"Augie?"

"Take it, it's yours. That amulet is the symbol that shows to the world dominance over
nature herslf, the mark of the one true Geomancerand I want you to keep it as a
gift.I don't have that much money..geomancery doesn't exactly pay a lot, but I think it
will be better then a ring."

"Wha?"

Augustas got down on one knee, holding her hand looking up into her eyes. "Mariea, will
you marry me?"

Tears filled her eyes and she happily replied. "YES!"
-----------------------

Flames where visible from even from the Butcherblock seaport, Fry deep down knew
what it was, but with all his heart he hoped it wasn't what he thought.but as he came
within only a mile or so of the cityhe knew it was true.his home.

Without another thought he leapt of his horse and dashed up the high trees, making his
way to Kelethin. Landing silently on top of one the few buildings that hadn't been
touched, he panned around the scene, trying to find where he could do the most good.
Then his spirits dropped even .

"MOM!" There she was leaning against a post surrounded by dead orcs, badly
wounded..she either didn't hear his cry or was too weak to acknowledge him, just before
he could make a move to aid her, there was earth-shaking roar and crash. When looked
to the sound, his jaw dropped. Trading massive blows with each other, on top of this
fragile wooden city, where two immense demons. The one closest two fry was covered
in black-silver metal armor type he had never seen before. It opened it's great maw and
lightning flames shot out encompassing the other, but it did no more then to lightly singe
it and it charged the metal demon crashing them both through the city and down, down
to the hard earth.

Fry still disbelieving all this caught something out of the corner of his eye, he whrled
around and took another shock. A dark elf girl with purple hair wielding a small staff
observing the fight..Sevet.. she did thisshe brought this disaster o his
homehe..let her livehe let her get awayand now this was the prize his
people payedDamn her..For the first time in his life, fry was furiousso angry that
he forgot his inhibitionshe could think of nothing but rage and vengeance.


"I'LL KILL YOU!!!" HE screamed and he charged toward her his daggers at bare.
--------------------------------

She didn't know why she let that boy..Fry liveshe had him..She could have killed him..it
wasn't like she had a problem killingif there was good reasonand if she wasn't
infatuated withNo no no. musn't think like that, especially not about a wood elf
boyhe wassigh..

She flushed as she thought about Fry, how she kissed him, how he responded then
she giggled when she remembered conking him on the head.

^You should have done a lot more then that Sevet. That boy is causing trouble enough,
because of him we are now behind schedule because we have to go back to Crushbone
to get my staff.^

.i was hoping I could have a few minutes peace from you. Can't you let me dream?

^ Not when it is going to get us killed, and besides if You really want me to give you
peace, you should hurry all the more to complete my tasks. And foremost we need that
staff.^

You need the staff; I have my daggers.

^You know full well the power of the staff, and we both need it, like it or not Sevet we
are tied together until the work is complete, and I won't have your hot pants for a small
wood elf interfere with that.^

He wasn't small..

^..what am I going to do with you?^

Sevet came out of her deep thoughts and concentrated back on the road, but then she
noticed fire and smoke coming from the area Kelethin was.

What's going? To loose and to early for cooking fires.an attack? Who could attack
Kelethin? Certainly not the orcs, they where too weak and unskilled to get that far, that
not being helped by those phony weapons D'vinn was sending to them. Hehee Orcs are
so stupid..

Then there was load roar, Sevet froze. Though the sound wasn't familiar to Sevet
herslf..She knew it.

^ O'NI!! Damn it. That infernal Orc King Crush, must have found the staff!! Damn..if only
you hadn't dropped it in that scuffle with that boy! Must you always be so hot
headed!?! Well no matter, This is something I must handle!^

Wha! NO!!..

Sevet went limp and sank into the saddle. Her body stayed muted for a few moments,
then suddenly she revived her eyes filled with power and she flew off the horse into the
air towards Kelethin.


"Keeell dah SmeLLi eLfiEs!!!" came the grating and annoying call of Emporer Crush. The
large orc smiled happily as his legions smashed and burned the filthy city. The weapons
given to him by D'vinn where working well. Crush's second favorite the 'Sword of
Invisible Might"

-------------------
HELLO! It's me, I bet you where wondering when I was going to come in didn't you? Well
here I am. You see the 'weapons' given to the orcs are actually just defects and half
completed jobs done by Teir'dal blacksmiths. Crush's favorite the 'Sword of Invisible
Might' is just a sword hilt.Orc's are so stupid..this isn't helped by the fact that 97% of
them are dumb warriors..sigh how did they ever survive?
--------------------

And his favorite weapon was this staff with lots of shiny tings on it. What was great
about it was that, he was examining it and this big beastie popped out! And even better
the beastie obeyed him! Amazing Deeeeeevinn was the best! The elfies would fall!!!
WooP!


"SMASHIE DEM ALL!" He called

The Orcs echoed "SMASHIE DEM ALL!"

"Kill da elfies!!! Kill da elfies!!" He called out


"Kill da elfies!!! Kill da elfies!!" They echoed!

"MUAHAHAHAHAH!" He laughed

"MUAHAHAHAHAH!" They echoed

"Stop dat!" he growled

"Stop dat!" they echoed

"I Serious! Stop dat!"

"I Serious! Stop dat!"

"GRRRRRRR!!!"

"GRRRRRRR!!!"

Crush began to fumehis legions could be so stupid..oh well, the elfies would be
smashied. HE cheered again holding the staff high and at that moment someone
snatched it

"Gimme back!!" The Orc cried ..Literallyturning around to see a flying Elf.

"Foolish Orc! How dare you put your filthy hands upon my staff!" The elf's eyes flashed
and poor Crush was nothing more then ash.

The Elf then floated up into the air looking for the demon that had been released from
her staff, and found it quickly. It was smashing and destroying a row of houses,
releasing large flames burst on any troops brave or foolish enough to attack it. The elf's
eyes flashed again and the Demon howled as a force struck it's back and turned around
a released a bolt of flame at the elf. The bolt struck a barrier and dissipated.

"That's enough O'ni! Return!" The elf called out.

"Sy'ria?" The demon said questioningly, as if it had just come of a haze and at that
moment something else smashed into it's back, a large metal hand. O'ni turned around to
face it's newest attacker, another demonFoo'qwui, the Geomaceral Familiar.

Sy'ria gasped

^Foo'qwui!?! How is this possible? There is only one capable of summoning himbut I
don't understand. he is working with us? Why send.wait that's right, he gave the
amulet away before he joined us. With out proper control, Foo'qwui will become a
menace. Although, eliminating the elven presence here would make things easier for me
later.damn..Sevet is rubbing off on me.^

At that moment, the two demons crashed through the wooden floor of Kelethin and
plummeted to the hard earth. Sy'ria was about to float down and put a stop to this
when..

"I'll KILL YOU!!!" Cried a voice

^Fry?^

FRY!!!

Fry sailed through the air, his daggers at bare ready to strike a lethal blow, but at the
last second, Sy'ria recovered from her surprise and fry struck an invisible barrier and
then an unseen force cast him down below. He bounced of tree limbs and branches on
his rapid fall and then the ground welcomed him with it's earth hardness, Fry staggered
to get to his feet, but for the moment all he could see where stars and his breath
escaped him.


Sy'ria floated down behind Fry silently looking at this young wood elf and felt actually
felt sorry for his grief and angerif only for a few seconds. Fry still woozy launched
another assault, but it was just as easily repelled and he found him self, slammed
against a tree.

"..I couldlive..why?"

"I am sorry for what has happened to your city boy but neither I nor Sevet had any part
in this. Had it not been for your snooping in Crushbone, the Emperor would have never
gained my staff or been able to attack! Where it not for Sevet's feelings I would have
destroyed you like I did that foul emperor. So consider this a reprieve!"

Sy'ria turned away and faced the two battling demons. Her eyes flashed and Foo'Qwui
reared back in pain, but started to resume its assault on O'ni.

^Damn..I've been awake to long..I'm running out of strength. I have to end this quickly
or they o they wll go out of control^ Her eyes flashed once again and this time Foo'qwui
disappeared, way up back in Kelethin, Mariea's pendant shimmered and flashed.

O'ni roared in victory and then looked for something else to smash, it say Sy'ria and
roared it's rage blurring it's memory of the moments past. It launched several bolts at
Sy'ria. The first 2 where blocked as before, but the last was only partially defended and
some of the hot flames licked Sy'ria

^Gah! I'm getting to old for this!^

^That is enough O'ni! Return! Do as I command you!!!" Her voice echoed.

O'ni growled and then vanished. Sy'ria's staff glowed momentarily. She turned back to
Fry and stared at him for a moment and watched as for the umpteenth time in his
recent memory, he blacked out.
----------------
End of Chapter 5
-----------------