They begin a determined quest to find a way to protect wraithvine and other GOOD magic users from the devastating effects of that powerful spell. And, begin to test Amatu to see just how powerful his abilities truly are, including to see if those wings really will help him fly.
@internutter/challenge-03327-i039-a-brief-and-regrettable-encounter -- DaniAndShali
The water looked even further down from the top of the overhang. "I'm not sure about this," said Amatu. "I've only ever glided before. I've never really wanted to fly."
"Even if you can't fly, there's a nice safe landing zone below." Wraithvine patted Amatu on the shoulder. "Try, at least. In trying, we all learn." For instance, they learned that Amatu's angelic feathers never stayed wet for long and could, under certain circumstances, actively rebuff rain.
"One attempt to start with, and then we work on the shield thing for you," Amatu said. They had agreed, reluctantly, to exchange onerous tasks or tests. Amatu would try to fly, and Wraithvine would attempt a defense from the bell.
It was telling that they were both desperate enough to agree on that.
"Jump first and then flap like mad," said Vee, who had repeatedly tried to fly. "I can manage a scared-chicken drift, but you have the wingspan to maybe really fly."
"That's not as encouraging as you think it is." Amatu's legs shook as he neared the edge. His spaded tail flipped to go between his legs. It was looking further and further down the more he looked.
"I could hold your hand," Vee offered. A child of twelve held out her hand to a fully-grown Tiefling/Aasimar. "I'll probably drop away pretty fast, but it's okay. I land soft."
"That is not as encouraging as you think it is," another peek over the edge, and he could see Pondermoore readying towels and not medical kits. That was reassuring. He still reached out for Vee's hand. "On three."
"Onetwothree!"
There was shouting, and flapping, and more than a little screaming from Amatu, but he rose above their initial launching point before he caught a thermal and steadied himself.
Vee did, indeed, drop pretty fast. Her tiny draconic wings could only slow her fall. She entered the water much like a swan, and then swam to shore with ease.
Wraithvine was applauding. "I thought so. I thought so! Do you have any idea how useful it is to have a team member who can fly?"
At which point, Amatu made the mistake of looking down. Even hanging on a thermal, even if he remembered to flap like mad, a humanoid body curling up in terror is aerodynamically unsound.
He dropped like a rock.
Slowed only by Wraithvine's quick spellwork, Amatu cannoned into the water. His method of swimming was a great deal more laborious and complicated, seeing as he had seven limbs and all of them wanted to do different things in the water.
Wraithvine's descent into the little valley was a lot more graceful. Ze glided down to the little camp Pondermoore had set up as only an Elf could.
"Good news, you can fly. Bad news, you seem to have acrophobia. So... try not to look down when you're aloft."
Amatu shook the water off his wings. "That's one thing to learn," he allowed. "And then there's the matter of the bell."
"Perhaps some heartfelt intent?" said Wraithvine.
Pondermoore got ready to catch hir if ze fell.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / martinm303]
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