Chapter 7: Unlikely Assistance
Vriss winged his way over the Weave on the back of a Cragadan; the powerful winged horse dream creature flew with ease through the warm afternoon air.
He was following the path the caravan had taken when he chanced upon its remains and bade his mount to land, and as it did so, he could help but notice that he was not the only one who had come to pick through the wreckage, and his approach caused some concern amongst the scavengers who had been squabbling over the choicest leftovers.
Vriss strode towards them as they ceased their labors to pay attention to the newcomer, the lesser ranked of their numbers being forced to form a barrier around their more intimidated brethren, and he smirked as their actions brought memories of his recent meeting with Jahari to mind.
Perhaps noticing that he was not backing down from this display of combined might, a corpulent Underling pushed his way through the crowd to confront him. Flanked by a pair of Crystal Jiles that snarled and bared their fangs.
'Calm your cats shroomhead, I've only come to see what happened,' he said.
'And to see what you can steal,' the Underling retorted as Vriss's indignant glare was reflected in the goggles the fat magi wore, ' you haven't been the first to come looking for scraps and until we leave you won't be the last we drive off!'
'I didn't come here to fight, I am searching for a couple of magi that were traveling with the wagons,' he said using a voice trick that had in the past, ensured that cornered debtors didn't do anything stupid, ' all I'm going to do is search for clues, nothing more.'
The Underling nodded, and waved the others away from the wreckage as he waded into the jumbled mess and started the sifting through the mess.
Much to their credit the scavengers stayed out of the way, enabling him to hasten his search, he even tossed out any trinkets he found to reward their patience until he found a tuft of Jewel Moss snagged on a shattered axle.
Tearing it free he the raised a hand and whispered, 'Path of Moonlight,' and a small flickering orb of silver light appeared. He then dropped the moss into the orb which flickered and drifted off into the Weave.
Leaping onto the Cragdan's back he urged it into the air and after the orb which practically lead him in a straight line over, a terrain that would have been impassible on foot.
He flew over ground riddled with deep chasms, expansive mire and steep rocky hills. Once he had cleared those the ground flattened and he soon came upon the bandits' camp. He urged the Cragadan down for a closer look and chanced upon a pair of familiar magi being escorted towards a fortified structure that resembled a layered tower woven from out of the grass blades that towered over head.
'Well, it would seem that fortune is kind,' he mused as he urged the dream creature into a dive, leaping off just before it plowed into the Dreshi woman and her two cohorts.
Leoric smirked at him, 'surely you don't expect any thanks.' he said as the Kybarite cut their bonds.
'Not from you,' Vriss replied, 'however I still have a job to fulfill.'
Shazeen leapt to her to her feet her hands brimming with magical energy. Both magi braced themselves for the attack and were perplexed when she suddenly toppled over unconscious.
Nadeshiko stood over her, expertly twirling the Dreshi magi's staff.
'Let's argue about once we've dealt with the situation here,' she said and glanced at Vriss, 'Truce?'
'Very well,' he said,' so how are we going to do that?'
All three magi returned to the grove where the roots of the Dream Forges were covered with thick grey ooze that sparkled with motes of Cald and Weave Animite. The pods were swollen, with translucent ooze flowing from ruptures in their skins. Ardriss was also present, and he glanced away from the dream creature as they entered the grove.
'Welcome to the final act,' he said as the pods exploded, each one disgorging a large creature in a shower of slime, 'I promise that it be a killer.'
They turned to look at the dream creatures as they heaved themselves from out of the ooze. Each one resembling a gorilla with long wooden tusks, a body wrapped in blades of grass, and a small tail tipped with a cluster of spines.
As one they reared up and pounded their chests, the tips of their tusks bursting into flame, and bright orange hued light shone through gaps in their skin.
Ardriss faced the dream creatures and howled over the din, 'I'm your creator, Ardriss. I name your kind Fisel, and demand that you surrender your animite.'
The creatures acquiesced, bowing before him before vanishing in flashes of light, each one leaving behind a shard of pale green animite.
Ignoring Leoric and the other he bent down to retrieve a crystal when Nadeshiko lashed out with the staff. Ardriss howled in pain, clutching his stinging hand as Leoric drove his fist into the magi's stomach.
Winded, Ardriss fell to his knees, 'this proves nothing,' his voice a hiss as he gasped for air.
A group of magi led by Shazeen approached, and Ardriss smirked as he rose to his feet, you know the rumors bout a hole in the Weave that reaches the Core?' he asked, ' well it exists and you should see what came out of the crop we grew around it.'
Shazeen sneered as she channeled energy into her ring, ' You really should see it, this things power is to die for.'