Rebirth (open)

[Sulajin]

Then there was a weight. The weight led to a realization. His chest was heavy. His chest. Chest meant arms, legs, hands and feet, head. Head meant mind. Mind meant soul. Soul meant...

It was hot. The weight was hot. It burned its way down into his chest. It was a good pain. Pain meant sensation. Sensation meant life.

Open your eyes, Sulajin. Open them now. He is standing above you, the betrayer. Do you see? Look at him sizing you up. Plotting on how best to do away with you no doubt. Stop him!

A grip of smooth obsidian wraps around Niethan's throat. Crushing the windpipe. Sulajin stands up, drawing his full height to bear as Niethan's legs dangle over the beach.

Knowledge. That was the key. Knowledge is power, with power comes might. Then came a sudden realization.

"Choo were right, mon." Sulajin told the gurgling figure. "I don' need my heart."

This is not your way, Sulajin. This is not how you deal with problems. Cast away your murderer, your friend. Vengeance will be had, but it will show him how powerless he is before your might.

Sulajin stood on the beach drawing the might of creation through his body. Filling the void in his soul with white hot potential. Around him the wind began to blow. Howling screaming gales that whipped the beach into the air to flay away the flesh of any who would stand before it unprotected. Still Sulajin drew in power. He felt he would burst at the seams. He felt he should burn away in a torrent of unbridled potential. He felt the ebb and pulse of the universe threatening to crush him. He felt alive.

"Bloodbreaze, do you want it back? We've saved it for you, you know."

See how they taunt you? Even now on your most glorious return they remind you of how you failed. Of the frailties of your flesh. Seeking to distract you as they split apart to destroy you. Stop them. Destroy the mocking voice before it can harm you again.

A flash of arcane power snaps between the two forms. Sulajin can handle the power, Niethan cannot. He breaks into three forms, all bearing burns from the lightning strike.

There they are. Moment crouched and ready to pounce, Witness mocking, and Niethan cowering. Yes. This is familiar isn't it? But do not let them. Do not let them close in on you. You made that mistake before, it will not happen again.

Sulajin stands amidst the maelstrom of sand, a wall of fire springing to life between him and Moment.

There is something holding you back. Some unnecesary piece of baggage that will hold you back. Keep you from the firey destiney that you have built for yourself. It will be discarded.

The ground begins to shudder, then crack around Sulajin. Collapsing around him as molten power rises to fill the void. Sulajin stands feeling something hot and sticky pooring down out of his face. It's no matter. Still the lake grows around him. Soon it's beyond the abilities of Moment to leap. Leaving Sulajin safe.

Now you are prepared. Still there is much work to be done. The first is vengeance. Show him the pain you suffered through. Take from him what you were robbed of.

Before him a lump of the magma rises. It spins and narrows, hardening into a spike of obsidian. Sulajin raises his hand staring at Moment. Moment. The body. Take out the body and the mind will follow. Take out his heart. With a snap of the wrist, the spike flies forward to pierce the prowling Moment's chest. A similar wound opening on all the aspects chests as they retreat from the mage.

Now go, Sulajin Bloodbreaze. You have much to do, but first you must find a safe haven while your body adjusts. You bear the heart of flame. Will you prove worthy of it?

[Vilmah]

She'd heard some shuffling in his room.

Vilmah had no clue as to how Sulajin was a live... but then again, she never saw him dead, either. She remembered mourning him, though. She remembered the sadness in Niethan's voice when he spoke about what he, or rather, Witness, had done. Nojinbu wanted him punished for his crime, and Vilmah had to fight tooth and nail to keep him from getting his way. However, now tht Sula was alive, what could be said of the crime?

She knocked on the door to the spare room she'd given to Sulajin. It was small, and common, but it would be a good place to recover from whatever he'd gone through. In her hands, she had a basket of bread from town. Clearing her throat, she spoke to the door.

"Um... Sula? Are you awake?"

[Sulajin]

Ah. No time for such a wandering mind now, Sulajin. Best cover your face too. No need for poor Vilmah to get that much of a fright, after all she's been through recently.

Sulajin stands and dons his thick cloak. As he walks to the door to open it he slides the hood up over his face. That secret shall remain hidden. But the blood stained pillow is a different matter.

"Yah mon. I be up."

He opens the door to greet Vilmah.

[Vilmah]

She didn't come in. Rather, she gave him as friendly a smile as she could manage, and handed him what she'd brought. "Thought you might be hungry. You've been in there for a while.. but please, don't let me bother you. I know you need your rest."

[Sulajin]

Sulajin accepted the package with a nod of thanks.

Choo don' be botherin me, mon. Choo been a big help when I needed it. An' I need ta repay dat kindness. So I been t'inkin about de fia mon dat took choo. Gettin all de info'mation I could on him."

[Vilmah]

Her ears twitched at the thought of the fire elementals. She hadn't considered that he'd try to work on the problem so quickly.

"...oh? What have you.. found?"

[Sulajin]

Sulajin heaved a sigh. Bad news is never fun to deliver.

"He be too powaful fo' me ta deal wit on my own. I t'ink we can be gettin rid of him, but it'll take some preparation time an' some allies. I don' know many shaman, but dey'd be ideal."

[Vilmah]

Vilmah thought for a moment. "Well.. I know a few.. lets see... um, Joborg! He's shaman, albeit a mechanical one. He might not be fit for this sort of thing, though... but... maybe I could ask Zasien? He's very nice. He may help."

[Sulajin]

"Zasien? Hmm... dat could be. I don' know him very well, but I met his hamma once."

Sulajin rubs his temple in remembered pain.

"Maybe I go talk ta verash. He should be helpful too. Even if he don' realize it."

[Vilmah]

She nods in agreement. "Yeah, Verash is nice.. I wish I had some way of repaying them, if they do help. They do too much for me, I think."

[Sulajin]

"Maybe. I be sho if dey need choo ta help dem dey be willin ta call on ya. Until den jus' be a good friend ta dem. Everymon be happy dat way."

[Verash]

Verash walked through the doors of the tavern and slumped in a corner. His research bored him, the excitement of battle eventually wore thin, and to be alone with nothing but his memories was... unpleasant. Better to come here for conversation, at least. He put up his feet and waited for some to come by.

Any minute now...

[Sulajin]

Sulajin walked into the tavern. Such comforting familiarity. Even now, after all this time being dead his chair would still conjure itself for him.

Though nothing seemed to have changed in the Rest Inn Peace, save for some minor structual damage to the wall, Sulajin was far from the same. His power had grown in his time in death, and the heart of flame in his breast was burning hotly. Sulajin could no longer hide himself from the world, not that he cared to. In all this time, all this magic, he had traded away his soul, lost his heart, his arm, and a thousand other small parts of what made him a Troll. He saturated the energies around him with the presence of fire. In death, he had lost what was left of his Trollishness.

It didn't matter. The fire flared before him, filling the room with a pure warmth. Sulajin lugguriated in the feeling of the flames.

[Vilmah]

Walking into the inn, she felt drawn to the warmth that radiated from the fireplace. It enticed her and frightened her at the same time, how much she enjoyed it. She hated seeing fire close. It reminded her of her captivity. Yet she couldn't help but be attracted to it, and imagine what the fire elementals would have done to her had she not escaped...

Pushing open the door, she smiled as cheerfully as she could beneath her bandages and glimmering blue helmet. "Evening, everyone," she said.

[Verash]

Verash perked up. Nodded off as usual, he thought. Anyone around? Sulajin. No, that wouldn't do. Talk too long with him, all of a sudden everything you own is on fire. Also, he was different since his return, in a way that seemed bad, even by his standards. Still hadn't seen his face, either. What was he hiding?

Of course, there's always that familiar voice. An unpleasant thought, Not so much a familiar face, anymore, floated to the surface. Verash turned, grinning.

"Ah! Evening Vil. Wounds feeling better? Nagging like a grandmother, I know, but it's the least I can do."

[Sulajin]

So he's willing to help her too? Excellent. This will make things easier by far, and he can help to recruit that oaf Zasien. Combined with Niethan's pressure we'll have all we need to put an end to this.

And if you play your cards right, Sulajin, you can take that Elemental and take his energies for yourself.

Sulajin grinned under his hood.

Dat be de least choo can be doin, mon. Would choo be willin ta do mo'? I gonna need de help of odda mages ta bind de fia mon away from Vilmah."

[Verash]

Verash fumed. Ugh. Why me? This is all his fault, somehow, I just know it.

Still, if Sulajin's worst impulses could be kept under control, well... not many others who would know more about the firelords' minions. At least, not many who wouldn't kill you on sight.

And if push comes to shove, you've still got a few tricks up your sleeves, old man.

"Ah. Binding an elemental, you say? Sounds exciting! Although, ah... What will we do with him once he's bound?"

[Zasein]

Zasien steps into the tavern, his armor on his shoulder is dented badly, and he looks tired. He plunks down in the nearest chair, thumping his hammer on the table that the chair is beside, waving hello.

He looks around the Tavern, taking note of its occupants. There's Vilmah, I hope her wounds are feeling better now. I wish I could have healed her. Shes going to take a long time to heal naturally, and she'll never be quite the same, unless other means are empoyed.

He leans back in his chair, his eyes half closed. The flames in the fire crackle, and he thinks he hears the spirits saying: Beware of Suljin, he lusts for power. but dissmisses it as a trick of his mind. Suljin does want power though, I think.

[Sulajin]

Perfect. These two are assembled.

"What will we do wit it once it be bound? We gonna destroy it, mon. Dat seem ta be de only way ta keep it from hurtin Vilmah."

Sulajin turns to look at Zassien.

"Choo be willin ta help? We be needin all de powa of de spirits as we can be gettin. An'... I don'... work so good wit de Wata mons."

Disgusting creatures, aren't they? But don't say anything Sulajin. Best to show your willingness to work with the one you hate. For Vilmah's sake. A show of sacrifice on your end will smoothe along relations in the long run. Besides, they can be banished once you are done.

[Zasein]

Why trifle with the spirits of fire, why do you want to bind this elemental? I think I caught you talking about keeping something away from Vilmah as I walked in, is that what your talking about?"

Destroying an elemental. Quite a task. Banishing one. Maybe. The water Elementals of Ashara would likely help them against anything from Molten core. If Sulajin could summon the said elemental, they might be able to bind it and destroy or banish it. Or maybe the elemental spirits would help him here.

[Sulajin]

"I be told dat Vilmah be havin a bit of trouble wit a fia mon. So we gonna summon him an' destroy him. Choo be willin ta help?"

[Verash]

"Well, I'm at least on speaking terms with the waterlords. Shouldn't be hard getting them to destroy a fire elemental. When do we start?"

Yes, that's it, he thought. Play the doddering academic, and hope you can stop things before they get out of hand. After all, that worked beautifully before.

[Sulajin]

Things are progressing perfectly. Soon you will take this elemental and add it's power to your own, while protecting Vilmah.

"How long will it be takin? I don' know mon. Mebbe a week ta get all de supplies ready. He be pretty powaful from what I be hearin, so I be wantin ta make sho dat everyt'in be goin accordin ta plan."

[Zasein]

"I'm willing, if Vilmah supports this idea."