Act I, Chapter Two: The Black Current

Úlfr lights and throws the second crate of rags.

Petra holds her breath watching elven magic spread over the corrupted elemental not once but twice. Perhaps once they got onshore the plan had changed in a discussion among them?

They are hitting their target, and the vines are restricting its ability to dodge.

Still the dwarrow worries if the elf does not banish her magical growth soon, then the ship will have to delay getting to the rendezvous point downriver even though her friends are already running for it.

She focuses on helping them the only way she can for now, getting ready to maneuver the ship to meet them once the elemental leaves the water to give chase.

Seelah backs away, thirty feet east. She tosses her pack onto the beach, produces a torch, and begins lighting it.

More fire is needed, she suggests to her companions. It seems immobile. Perhaps magically bound to the river, as a sentry against boats of the resistance attempting passage?

Anyone have other ideas?

Jasir just looks on with confusion. Sure the group is pelting the elemental with fire and garbage but... the plan to draw the creature off seems to be in ruins. Rather than try and voice that he looks at Seelah and replies. "That's not the case."

He would probably explain further if he had time but instead just lifts his bow and answers to the Seelah's question of if anyone has ideas. "Plenty."

Instead of expanding on it he snaps off another shot at the big chunk of corrupted ice. But his arrow goes far wide.

Varin sprints across the field, boots pounding across the field. He reaches Azote in a flash, grabbing her firmly by the arm and yanking her back—away from the towering Ice Elemental and farther into the open field.

His voice is low but edged with frustration and urgency, nearly a growl.
"Knock it off with the magic, damn it! You’re muckin’ everything up!"

He glances over his shoulder at the elemental, its lumbering form now planted more solidly in place.
"We need that thing to move—not dig in! You're just making it worse!"

Still pulling her with him, Varin keeps his eyes locked on the creature, jaw clenched and mind racing for a new angle.

The field reeks of scorched pitch and river‑mud.

Ulfr’s second crate explodes against the elemental’s flank, its rags tearing open like a kiln door. The flames from Seelah’s firebomb burn once more before completely receding. The monster’s hide now runs with spider‑web fractures that glow dark blue at their roots.

Azote’s wall of reeds writhes to life again, but the Corrupted Ice Elemental simply wrenches free in a spray of frozen sap. A heartbeat later the channeler grimaces, snaps a word of dismissal, and the green lattice sinks back into the wet earth.

Jasir’s arrow clatters wide; Varin tries to pull Azote toward safer ground, swearing all the way; Petra clutches the tiller, waiting for her moment to spur the Netherthistle into action.

Meanwhile the sun does its slow, cruel work. The elemental hunches lower, icy plates hissing, vainly shielding the shrinking blue core in its chest from the midday hammer‑blow.

Wexley Thorn

"Reeds are down!" Wexley roars across the water, squinting through heat‑shimmer. "Hold fast, we shove off the moment that slab takes one lousy step!"

Thaelin, sleeves already rolled, merely nods and keeps a white‑knuckled grip on the oar.

Fearful Azote continues to move away from the creature and to the pickup point. Tork is flying above her 20' up. Azote hopes the entanglement will slow the creature down but watches as she moves.

Úlfr moves back in and throws his remaining bomb.

Jasir bends and retrieves his bow, the motion almost sheepish as he gives the weapon a momentary glance over. He's quick to pull another arrow and launch it towards the elemental, trying to gain its attention by strike it while Seelah's inspiration still holds true.

Once more the arrow just rattles and skitters off of icy hide while Jasir slumps his head forward slightly. Snatching hold of the elemental's attention isn't really going well.

Petra is a little distracted by trying to keep an eye on her friends onshore and the ice elemental's injuries and whether it lashes out.


But she snaps her attention to the task at hand with the ship.


The dwarrow reassures herself they'll look out for each other--and as soon as they're reunited Aryth will, one way or another, heal anyone who's been hurt.

Hoping to finish off the icy corruption, Seelah attempts to throw her torch!

Ulfr’s last fire-bomb bursts against Corrupted Ice Elemental ’s flank; spider-web fissures bloom, dripping azure meltwater. Seelah’s thrown torch clatters home, embers racing along a fracture; the monster shrieks, more hiss than roar. Azote heads toward the pick-up point, Tork circling above. Varin’s eyes sweep the ruin and tree line, no fresh threats. Jasir’s bowstring sings slack: he resets, calm for the next opening.

On the torn foreshore, the elemental lurches after Seelah. Bitter frost steams off its plates, each step leaving black-veined slush in the grass. A pulse of dread rolls outward, Seelah’s heart stutters but holds; the guardian’s stance never breaks. The creature rears back to strike… and falters. The bright sun hammers its crystal hide; cracking and hissing, and the blow never falls.

Wexley Thorn

The Netherthistle heaves against the shallows, hull groaning. At Wexley’s word Petra slams the tiller, her river-born instincts catch the current like a sail. The barge surges forward, white wake fanning across the bend; in a heartbeat it’s knifing forward at full speed, half the channel already between deckhands and danger, "Keep her steady! Stick right until our shadow clears the slab!"

---

Varin strides in fast and He grabs Seelah by the back of her collar and yanks her away from the icy monster, muscles straining as he pulls her back from the creeping cold.

"Don’t get too close," he grunts. "Might freeze you solid."

Once they're a safer distance, he glances back at the creature. It’s shifting now, slowly lumbering right towards them.

Varin raises his voice over the wind. "Now it’s moving! Keep it going—don’t let it stop! The barge needs a clear path!"

Fleeing Azote doesn't see that the other party members are on the quick move for the lure, so she halts. Knowing that she has no magic to kill the corrupted ice creature at this far distance, she draws out the fine Orcian longbow and knocks a cruel Orcian arrow. She fires the arrow at it with hope to peg it.

Seelah lets herself go rather limp. Freely allowing wiser companions to pull her from ice-minded fray!

Thank you, she says with realized relief. I was caught up in my fury.

As she gets her footing and runs to leave the ice elemental’s presence, Seelah draws Bladeguard. Wishing to remain armed, just in case!

Shards of sunlight dance along the jagged body of the corrupted ice elemental; every flash lifts a thin curl of steam from black-veined fissures in its hide.

Jasir plants his boots on the grassy shelf, draws, exhales, looses. The arrow whistles true, then rings off crystalline armour. Without waiting, he paces for the pick-up point, bow knocked for the next chance.

A grinding, wind-whipped hiss bursts from the elemental as it lurches after Seelah. It tramples straight into the slick of conjured grease, sheer mass and frozen talons finding purchase with contemptuous ease. Slush spatters behind every step; sun-scorched cracks spider wider across its plates before another faltering pause steals what momentum it gained.

On the river, the Netherthistle surges ahead. Petra braces at the tiller, shoulders taut; each sharp command issued snaps the impromptu deckhand into motion. The barge knifes downstream, prow already shadowing the far bend as Wexley cups his palms and calls across the water, "Keep the pace, and stay center, we're past it now!"