Seeing the Brwaaaktor has collapsed, the half-celestial priestess gives him an infusion of positive energy, and a few sips of margarita.
Brwaaaktor, what happened? Are you okay?
The ancient chicken revives
BRAAWK!
Winged Herald! Your home lies under attack! The tainted Champion of Flame has struck!
AWWWWRK!
*rushes back to the Jack clubhouse*
*flies in followed by a small helicopter*
Please, we seek your advice.
The small old chicken looks up at the supplicants
SQUARK!
I see that you have opened the battle of the elements. Dire forces struggle for control. What would you ask of the council of the winds?
AWWWRK!
RAWK!
The brethren must gather! The brethren must call the Winds for a Champion filled with their power!
RAWK!
It will likely take us all night and into the morning--we have much work to do. The Jacks are welcome to wait here, or may go on if they cannot, but this work will be a great work and lengthy.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!
Will this Champion of Wind be able to help us fight the Champion of Fire? I noticed that he seemed vulnerable to wind magic...
ARRWK!
Wind has power over Flame, but Flame can use Wind to its advantage as well. There will need to be a champion chosen from the element of Water as well for this battle...
GRAAWK!
ARRWK!
Wind has power over Flame, but Flame can use Wind to its advantage as well. There will need to be a champion chosen from the element of Water as well for this battle...
GRAAWK!
So, does this have anything to do with the rainy guy you were talking to earlier today?
And is it really going to take all night to call forth a Champion of Wind?
AWWRK!
These things cannot be rushed Winged Herald!
GRAAWK!
And we chickens must get our rest!
BUK KAWK!
Well, since we won't be finding out anything soon anyways, I think I'll head back to Club Calistria. I er, *blush* wouldn't want JH to wake up and find me gone. He kind of freaked out about that last time.
Err...perhaps it would be prudent to nominate one who is already friendly with other cults?
RAWK!
Continues the highly elaborate choreography of wings, in chorus with the Brethren, manipulating the Winds, calling and gathering them, that the Champion of the Winds may come forth.
EE-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirk!
Dances about the swirling winds, occasionally lifting up and hovering
BUUUUUUUKAW!!!
The priestess flies in and sees the birds still doing their summoning. She sighs dejectedly.
Still no champion?
The small chicken calls out:
The winds are fierce and gentle in turn
They caress Earth and stoke the burn
They break the chains of every bond
They travel freely from hill to pond
Champion! Herald of the Skies!
Your wings are new but still you fly!
Your fate is called, your wyrd is dire
You must now face the Champion of Fire!
The ancient chicken looks at Lynora-Jill with wise, knowing eyes
ME???!!!
The priestess looks stunned. She had expected the Champion to be someone who was good at fighting. Sure she had been able to drive off the robot last night with a good amount of help from Jackin' Ape, but she wasn't sure she could pull that off twice. Still, she had asked them for their wisdom, and they had given it. She could hardly complain that the answer wasn't what she was expecting.
Thank you for your wisdom. I will do my best. I should go check on the others, make sure that no one else was harmed last night.
CAAAAWWW!!
It is settled, then. Lynora will be our Champion.
A shout echoes from far away.
HELP!!!
The ancient chicken continues his divinations
Evil is strong like a flame
Fueled with hatred and blame.
HRAAWK!
The Balance is maintained by love
Strong as stone with wings of a dove
KRRRRRR ...
The final piece flows fast and sure
Replacing corruption with waters pure
GRAAW!
The outcome hangs on the edge of a knife
Balanced 'twixt calmness and strife.
AWWRK!
The shadow of scales must arise
To reclaim his finely-honed prize!
KERRAW!
The power of the Winds goes with you
as he concentrates all the powers of his calling upon her
but Brethren we must still call to the Winds, to ever bear their powers upon their champion, increasing her might!
RAAAK!
The power of the Winds goes with you
as he concentrates all the powers of his calling upon her
but Brethren we must still send lesser Winds of calling to the Sea, without failing, for the sea has yet to bring forth a Champion!
RAAAK!
Jay Frogskin flies out of his cave.
The Winds tell me that Candle Lighter has the Cleaver, and has kidnapped one of the Champions. We are in danger. I propose that we completely isolate ourselves with the powers of the Winds, breaking off all contact with everyone else. Nobody can enter, nobody can leave. The Winds can do this.
Nobody will ever have to know we existed.
All in favor?
The ancient chicken pauses
GRAAWK!
Hiding will not help us out
AWWWK!
We will become a lone beseiged citadel in a sea of evil
NAWK!
Eventually even our power will not avail us against the tide of Flame.
FRUGGAWK!
We too would eventually fall
BUK KUK BUKAWK!
Better to fall nobly in battle than hide and live on in shame.
Not so. It is better to endure than to die. Dying will help nobody.
The practices, however, of the Winds must be preserved. We would never fall.
AWWRK!
Without the Balance our power will become weak, raven!
KERKAAW!
We cannot stand alone against the power of the dracolich! Even now his forces wax strong. I feel a disturbance along the lines of the Board ......
RAAAWK!
AWWRK!
Without the Balance our power will become weak, raven!
KERKAAW!
We cannot stand alone against the power of the dracolich! Even now his forces wax strong. I feel a disturbance along the lines of the Board ......
RAAAWK!
Very well. One for in favor, one against.
Rawk!
Hoot!
Rawk!
The ancient King of the Fallarin turns and long he extends his wings, each feather seeming to embrace the Winds by themselves. The sound of the Winds blowing through the canyons surrounding three sides of shrine howl eerily, but beautifully, with their passing. It is difficult for the Brethren to discern how much time has passed when Alderyk finally turns back to them.
It seems the Brethren of the Winds must go forth in power--as many as we can muster. However, it is forbidden me to go without leaving behind an acolyte in my place, lest neither I nor my rightful successor returns to this place. It is also imperative that Brother Jay goes. Thus have the Winds revealed the chance of overcoming this threat. Though, in leaving I break the ancient taboo, yet whatever the consequences, the chance must be taken.
BRAAWK!
The ChickenMind stands ready!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!
Brother Jay remains silent...why?
Guardians of the Skies! Did the one called Thieving Wasp deliver unto you a Seed for safe keeping?
Getting no response he leaves as quickly as he appeared.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!
Brother Jay remains silent...why?
I take it that it is your choice to lead us all to our dooms?
Very well.
Very well. Awwww-rik!
Woodsy will stay behind at my perch, keeping vigil.
Who?
Squork?
Brother Snork, you'll be coming along too.
AWWRK!
Lead the way noble Alderyk!
SQWUAAAAK!
Ni!
*Gulp*
The owl of few words takes up his position of trust as the brethren wing away. Vigilantly he watches in all directions, lest someone pollute the sanctuary of the Winds.
Hearing the Admiral's call back to him as he wings away, Woodsy waits for the pokey raven to clear the boundaries of the shrine, then he begins the elaborate movement of wings that calls the Winds to seal off entry into the sacred precincts.
The raven flies with the others, looking troubled.