Chapter
15: A New Companion The Spy
Magnus closes his eyes trying to concentrate and pick out all the various creatures that surround him. Eventually judging none to be of any immediate danger, he grabs his staff and opens his eyes to a surprising sight.
Torana and Nahabidean are looking down at him, "Magnus you okay?"
Magnus looks beyond them to see the giant worm-like creature tied in knots and unmoving. The area around it is completely chewed up. The nearest bit being only five feet in front of the mage. Vel'im is furiously scribbling on his parchment while looking at the creature.
The Professor asks, "Is he okay now? He's been quiet for quite sometime now. I think his breathing seems to be returning to normal."
Torana says, "He seems to be all right for now."
Torana looks rather sternly at his apprentice. "I'm rather disappointed in you! You've been hiding stuff from me."
Torana stares hard at his puzzled apprentice, "I want to know when you picked up that magic item that allowed you to summon and domesticate these things and how does it work?" Torana points behind Magnus.
Magnus turns and stares in shock at a two-headed greenish hydra twice again as tall as he is. The hydra rubs a head up against the side of Magnus like a kitten trying to get its owner to scratch it behind the ears.
Magnus also realizes that he cannot sense the hydra at all. He can sense everything around him, except the large green two-headed hydra that seems to have taken a liking to him.
"Well, Magnus", Torana asks, "are you going to explain yourself or not?"
Magnus looks back at Torana then stares at the creature before him tugging on his beard, apparently quite puzzled. Two giant snake-like heads weave back and forth looking down at him. Each head more than twice the size of the his own. The back of the head and neck is covered in hard scales, while the underside seems to be covered in soft down. The twining necks connect like a pair of Siamese twins at their base. The giant torso reminds the mage of a Tracara, except that it is completely covered in thick dark feathers. Giant hooves like those of an steer poke out from under the feathery down covering. Oddly enough the bottom of the legs seem to be covered with scales and not down like the body and the tail also seems to be covered in green tinted scales. The entire underside of the creature seems to be covered in a soft down.
The hydra again gently rubs one of its massive heads against Magnus side.
The apprentice tentatively scratches the creature under the jaw near the neck. The creature happily responds with a gentle crooning, quite unlike the normal hissing associated with the hydra as it twists its head first one way then the next. The other head begins rubbing itself along the neck of the first, while on occasion lifting away to look around and returning to its scratching.
Finally Magnus says, "I have no idea how this happened Torana. I was just attempting to sense the immediate area for any more worms and then next thing I know I have all of you standing over me."
The Professor says, "For a few minutes your breathing was quite labored and I thought you might be beginning to panic. I tried talking to you but there was no response."
The mage looks down at his tunic. The picture of the hydra is seems unchanged in any way. "I have been wearing this tunic ever since the same day you acquired the magical boots that you are wearing. When I first put it on I was able to sense movement and creatures around me, and found it a useful item to have. It has helped me more than once to avoid attacks from behind."
At the mention of his tunic Jadir moves closer. Pushing the other two magi to either side he moves in and examines the design closely.
"There seems to be part of a rune here, but it is shoddily done, there are blotches all over it. Even then its not complete. Turn around!"
Lifting up the back of Magnus cloak, Jadir begins to examine the back of the Hydra's cloak. Having suffered through similar examinations with Torana, mostly when the mage was using him as a guinea pig, Magnus stands quietly and patiently by.
One of the hydra heads bumps up against the mage Jadir, "Go away shoo! Found it! This is the second half of the rune, but it is just as shoddily done! How did they get two half-runes to work?"
The Professor says, "I'm not sure on the practice but there was the Eiion-Ri'op experiment with using partial runes on various portions of an item.
They had yet to officially publish any findings, so I wasn't aware there was any actual progress with the technique."
Torana says, "Those blotches are not a sign of incompetence. It's an orc rune signature trait. All of their runes have those marks. They seem to some extent control the strength of the wild flows that enter every rune. They act as a lock to set the power of a rune to the strength of the original magi. The lock somehow passes through every copy of the rune, regardless of the experience of the magi who copies it.."
Jadir snorts, "Ridiculous that would mean that if I scribed a flying rune, and gave it to Vel'im he could put it in his spell book and stay afloat as long as I can."
Torana waves a finger, "Only if he is capable of understanding the rune. The normal rules for using a rune almost always still apply. If I gave Magnus a Gate rune to copy, he would have a whopper of a headache before he finished it and assuming no mistakes it could technically be used. But he could not read it, nor could he learn it. His mind isn't strong enough yet."
Nahabedian says, "You said almost always still apply. When do they not apply. You seem to be insinuating that the Gate rune he copied would not be completely useless to him."
Vel'im has finished his notes on the worm and has turned his attentions to the hydra.
Torana gives a crooked smile and says, "Notice my apprentices staff. It has a rune that uses the orc method of power flow sealing."
Magnus holds up the staff for inspection as Torana continues, "To activate the rune he merely needs to touch all of these blotches, here, here and here. They act like flow control points. The energy of the flows are released as if the original magi had spoken the rune."
Jadir looks at Torana suspiciously, "Are you telling me he merely needs to connect the dots to use spells much greater than he could handle? "
For a moment there is silence. Then a strange yet ominous look comes over the faces of the two magi and they turn to look at their apprentices...."Exactly."
Vel'im stiffens up. While he doesn't turn his head, he watches Jadir with some trepidation out of the corner of his eye.
Magnus stomach starts doing flip-flops as a chill runs down his spine.
The professor interrupts and says, "All of what you said is true. I take it from this conversation you use some other method of controlling the dangerous wild flows."
Nahabedian, Torana, and Jadir look at each other before Torana smiles and says, "Yes as a matter of fact we do."
All together they say, "Experience."
A look of horror crosses the Professor's face before he smiles and says, "Come now! Be serious. Everyone knows that the wild flows are too dangerous to leave in the hands of novices. They must learn the controlled versions first before they destroy themselves."
Jadir looks at the old man and says, "You know one of these days, we're going to have a long talk about various teaching methods for the students."
The Professor says, "I'd be glad to compare notes." After a moment the Professor realizes they were serious and the look of abject horror returns.
Nahabedian extends a hand toward the hydra. The second head lifts up and stares at the hand. Cautiously it flicks its tongue out almost touching the hand. The head moves a little closer and Nahabedian mimics Magnus actions. The creatures tail moves back and forth quickly as the second head emits the crooning noise. "What about this thing?"
Magnus steps back and examines the hydra, "Now I have no idea how this creature came about and I assure you this is the first time this has happened. The only reason I can guess is some effect of this dimension upon magic. Have any of you had strange or different effects occur from your spells?"
Torana and Jadir look at each other, "Well this atmosphere does seem to lend the offensive spells an extra punch."
Magnus points in one direction and one of the heads looks off in that direction for a moment before returning to look at Magnus. When he points in another direction the same head looks again in the direction he points.
Jadir admits, "I have been flying faster. It's not implausible that the concentration of flows are thicker here. It would explain that feeling of power that permeates the air."
Magnus starts to walk away from the hydra. The second head immediately moves away from Nahabedian as the creature turns and follows the young mage.
The giant hooves making little noise in the rustling grasses.
"How long was I unconscious?", asks Magnus.
The Professor replies, "I couldn't tell you exactly how long it's been, but your breathing was unusual for quite sometime."
Nahabedian says, "We found you like that just after the battle ended, so if you started when the battle begun, then it's has been quite a while."
Magnus presses trying to figure out exactly what happened, "When did the creature appear? Did it try to attack anyone?"
The Professor says, "The creature appeared shortly after we stopped moving. I tried to get your attention, but you were silent and it didn't seem hostile."
Torana asks, "What exactly did you do when you were trying to determine if any other worms were around?"
Magnus says, "I can sense most of the creatures around me with the exception of this hydra. Normally I can tell with little or no difficulty where, what direction and how fast something is coming. But since entering this dimension my range has increased by a factor of two. But the abundance of creatures on this world makes it hard to tell what is heading where as they begin to blur together. I tried to concentrate on finding more worms and when I separated all the signals and determined there were no worms, I opened my eyes to find you standing around me. But this is the first time a hydra has ever appeared. I guess this tunic grants the wearer some control over hydras. Perhaps this one just happened along. In any case it doesn't seem to be hostile."
Nahabedian says, "That much is true and it might be very useful. Perhaps the Professor could ride upon it. Do you think it would mind?"
Magnus says, "I'm not sure."
"Professor. If I may?" Nahabedian says.
The Professor nods and Nahabedian gently lifts the old man and walks over to the hydra. Both heads turn and watch as the Professor is set upon its feathery back. The creatures feathers begins to ruffle and its heads begin to weave back and forth. The feathers shoot out to either side revealing large multi-part wings. The professor moves forward lets out a series of hisses that soon calms the hydra down. "It's a bit like riding a Tracara with a softer seat" He says with some satisfaction.
One head watches the Professor the other looks at Magnus for reassurance. The mage give the creature a reassuring rub.
As the wings fold back Vel'im peeks under them and begins drawing the hard scaly side that was briefly visible.
Torana and Jadir finish whispering amongst themselves and says, "Good now that all that is over with, we'd better get moving. The scavengers have already arrived."
Looking down the group sees what amounts to a pack of giant lizards begin to rip into the corpse from one of the many holes in the creatures hide. Nahabedian says, "This way!" And the group begins again. This time at a much faster pace than before. The apprentices have a hard time keeping up with the others. After a few moments Magnus gives a cry as he is lifted by the back of his robe. He grasps at the ties trying to keep himself from being strangled as the creature deposits the mage, in front of the Professor on his back.
The other head reaches down to pick up Vel'im but misses as the mage stumbles a first little forward then a little backward. After six unsuccessful attempts, both heads gently pick the apprentice up by the shoulders. Only then does Vel'im seem to come out of his trance and looks around panicky. "Ahhhhhh! Its got me! Something's got me! Help!! Help!!"
Jadir, Torana and Nahabedian look on with some amusement as the apprentice is placed on the creatures back in front of Magnus. Jadir flies down and picks up the scrolls, dropped by his apprentice who has a death grip on the feathers. Both hydra heads are looking back at the apprentice. Vel'im pales and begins shaking violently, "Where did THAT come from!!!!!"
Even though Jadir and Torana quickly turn away. It is obvious they are trying not to laugh out loud. Vel'im begins to hyper ventilate as he begins to push back into Magnus.
The Professor says, "Calm down boy, this thing has been here for a while now."
Nahabedian says, "Don't you remember drawing pictures of it."
Jadir regains control of himself and turns around and says sharply, "Get a hold of yourself boy! You're acting like a simpering child. It's only a little
hydra and a friendly one at that." The mage floats closer holding out the writing materials that his apprentice dropped. "Get back to work and make sure your information on this creature is accurate."
Vel'im somehow manages to pale even further as he takes the writing materials and like quickly scans over the parchments making sure that nothing was damaged. Occasionally he peeks up to find Jadir floating over him checking his progress.
Nahabedian says, "I think it would be interesting to find out how he manages to draw while walking and completely block things out like that. But then again it would also be pretty dangerous."
Jadir snorts, "Dangerous is just a word people use to excuse their cowardice that keeps them from doing what they should have been doing in the first place."
The Professor says, "I know dozens of students who would love to have that kind of ability. Since there are very few wild places that our students will be in any kind of danger from random wandering."
A large shadow passes over the plains and everyone, except the Professor, shades their eyes as they look up. A quick glance upward reveals a large round shape moving across the disk of the sun.
"Eclipse", Torana says. Within moments the shadow has passed over. "We had better get going. Jadir and Torana quickly outdistance the group.
They haven't gone far before Magnus senses a large mass of something approaching and gives warning. Jadir and Torana rejoin the group as a great humming sound reverberates across the plains. Dark clouds on the horizon race in the groups general direction.
"What has this world in store for us this time?" Vel'im wonders.
"A large swarm." The Professor answers.
Vel'im squints and says, "Uh Oh! Those things are huge!"
Torana speaks a rune and the air in front of him seems to crystallize a sharp contrast to the shimmering sweltering heat of this world.. White particles begin forming near the mage and after a moment it is actually snowing around him. Torana looks at the white particles in surprise. "Well that was a bit unexpected. I should have done this earlier. This cool air is much better than the sweltering heat.
Jadir looks at Torana and says, "What are you doing?"
"This is a hot planet. What do you think their tolerance for cold weather is?" Torana moves in front of the hydra.
Jadir looks at the approaching cloud, the swarm is apparent now as the insects seem much larger than the variety that the group considers normal. "Good Point. You can be our scout then. I have something a bit more useful for group protection."
Jadir pulls something out of his pocket. A large sack grows out of his hand. He sets it down and sticks his hand in for a second and pulls it back out with a scroll in it. Unrolling the scroll, which manages to reach to the ground and keep rolling, Jadir looks at the tiny runes written on it. After a few seconds of searching he reads one of the runes which gives a tiny flash. The mage points and turns in a circle. As he turns, the ground rumbles and a wall of ice appears. Within moments the group is encased in a circle of ice about thirty feet in diameter. The hydra looks around worried. Both heads move back and forth frantically. The tongues begin flicking in and out. It moves to the center of the circle and it makes strange noises something akin to distress. The magi dismount from the hydra.
The sound from the hydra is drowned out by the humming of thousands of winged creatures. Everyone looks up to see the dark clouds over-take them. The temperature quickly drops back to a more comfortable level then to a slightly chilly level.
The hydra curls in upon itself, using its wings to cover as much of itself as possible. Occasionally a head peeks out to rub up against Magnus.
Something falls from the lip of the wall and hits the ground. Nahabedian decides to check it out. He picks it up examinins it and brings it back to the rest of the group. In his hand is one of the largest insects they've ever seen that weren't super giant size. Its body is about a foot long, its wing span is about three feet. It has three pairs of pinchers from its mouth and six legs. The four eyes are set in a diamond pattern on its forehead and the long thin segmented body is a light green. A wing snaps off as it hits the ground and shatters like glass.
"These things freeze pretty quickly!" Nahabedian has to shout to be heard over the rising thunderous hum. Looking up, the sky looks like it was consumed by angry storm clouds.
Magnus comforts the hydra which seems to be suffering from the chill.
"Looks like we have another problem." Jadir points to the ground around them. The heat is slowly starting to overcome the ice as small pools of melted ice water begin forming along the edges of the wall.
Looking around the wall, icicles have formed where ice has melted rolled down the side of the wall and re-frozen.
After a time, the chilled pools of water grow fairly large. Vel'im bravely takes a drink from one of the pools. "Well at least it's drinkable. Eh?" He looks around and snorts, "Typical. Its an emergency and he's got his head buried in a book."
Just as his apprentice said Jadir is leaning on one side of the hydra reading his runes.
Torana is using some kind of stamp on a pair of gloves.
The Professor and Nahabedian are again discussing advanced magic topics at least this time Magnus and Vel'im can pick up a small bit when they talk about dimensional energy flows.
Vel'im suddenly asks, "Is it possible there is a place where one or more of the energy flows do not exist like all but the enchantment flow?"
The Professor says, "While in theory there could be such a place. In reality it would have to be extremely rare, in fact it would probably have to be unique. Because the energy flows are such that if one were missing it would cause and imbalance in the others. Sort of like if you were walking around and if you walked in a certain spot your left leg vanished from under..."
He stops and there is silence. And the silence in and of itself is profound. Everyone, except Jadir, looks up to see stars shining down from above.
"Oh well guess we'd better call it a day", Torana says.
"Why is that?" Jadir asks as he puts his book away. Torana points up and Jadir looks in surprise as he sees the stars. "Oh well! Vel'im what's for dinner!?!"
*****
After
a light dinner everyone tries to make themselves comfortable. Torana lies on
the ground and the blue outfit he is wearing changes form and becomes a nightshirt
and a comfortable looking mattress.
Jadir just kind leans back and floats in the air.
Nahabedian looks at Jadir and says, "Shouldn't that spell have worn off by now."
Jadir's drowsy reply is, "...a long time ago... but whose complaining..."
Magnus and the Professor curl up next to the hydra and Nahabedian just uses a pack as a pillow and stretches out.
Morning comes as a slight lightening of the ice and the sound of water lapping against the barrier.
Nahabedian looks up to see Torana on the shoulders of Jadir as they pair float up to look over the barrier. "Don't tell me that rune is still going?"
"No." Vel'im says with just a little glee, "It cut out a little while after he went to sleep last night and he fell and hurt his head just a bit." He giggles mischievously.
The pair of magi return and give the report, "It's all clear now we just need to get everyone out of here and we can continue."
Nahabedian taps the ice and says, "It's still pretty solid."
The hydra shakes itself a little and the heads look around. Both of them focus on the ice. The creature takes a deep breath and exhales a fine green mist toward the ice. The mist hits the ice and there is a strange hissing and steam rises up from the contact. The water turns green as it runs down in streams, tainting the pool. The grasses in the pool slowly sink in and vanish beneath the surface. The grasses near the pool wither quickly and die.
After several moments the green mist clears and there is a cave hallowed out in the ice. The creature moves into the cave and soon another mist comes from its mouths. When it is done there is a hallway all the way through the ice. Unfortunately the have another problem. The floor of the hallway is covered in the green liquid. And the pools of liquid begin to spread even more so with the melting of so much ice.
Magnus calls the hydra back and after several trips they manage to ferry everyone outside of the giant ice structure. The landscape however is very different from before. Beyond the ice barrier is a wasteland . The tall grasses no longer exist. Before the magi stretch a barren wasteland littered with corpses of small creatures. No few of them frozen forms insects from the swarm are found.
Magnus can only sense his companions as a searing wind blasts over them, causing many to stumble.
The group travels in relative silence as the hydra tramples what is left of the grasses on the plain. Somehow the heat seems more intense than before. Torana and Jadir begin scouting both in front and behind the party.
It is nearly nightfall when they hear a rumbling in the distance. The hydra turns to its right and hisses its feet pawing the ground. Its wings partially open and close nearly knocking everyone from their seat.
As Jadir comes running back Magnus notices that he cannot sense anyone now.
Torana runs up but slows noticeably when he gets within 15 feet of the group.
Torana frowns, "Something is definitely wrong."
The Professor says, "Sounds like a stampede."Jadir says huffing and puffing, "Its even worse. Remember all those flow eddy theories about places were the energy of the flows could not reach. Well you're standing in the middle of one of them."
Nahabedian says, "Isn't that the same direction that the horde of insects came from?"
The Professor says, "You're right it is. Unless I've completely gotten turned around I am sure it is."
Jadir looks over and says, "Do you think there *huff* was some kind *huff* of natural disaster *puff* that occurred and the animals are fleeing it? *sigh*"
The Professor asks, "What kind of creatures are in the stampede?"
Vel'im squints and says, "I can't tell I still don't see anything."
The Professor frowns, "Really! They sound like they are almost on top of us."
Torana looks at Magnus who concentrates trying to scan the horizon. Finding himself still blocked, he shakes his head.
Nahabedian says, "I think that a tactical retreat would be in order here."
With everyone in agreement, they quickly begin moving back the way they came.
A few moments later the Professor says, "Shouldn't we make some sort of defensive position considering we're about to be swamped?"
At this Torana calls a halt and looks around, "Does anyone see anything?"
After a few moments everyone replies, "No."
The hydra however is highly agitated and hissing wildly. Its wings have unfolded much to the dismay of those riding on its back. As the wings spread, Magnus and the Professor roll off the back of the creature. Vel'im grabs on to the feathers and holds on for dear life, "It's going mad its going to kill me! Oh man oh man! I'm gonna die!!!"
Magnus recovers his feet and tries to calm the hydra down. The hydra moves in the direction of the stampede and breathes the green mist spraying it in an arc outward. The mist moves outward like a green fog. Almost immediately high pitch squeals and whines are heard. The heads move back and forth snapping at the air as if something were there.
The rumbling seems to be all around them now as the Professor shouts above the din, "No one move! The creatures are just running from something. Don't move and they should try to go around you!"
The sound of stampeding animals is all around the group, but there seems to be no sign of the creatures. No dust, no bodies, no footprints...nothing.
The hydra is going wild much to the apprentice of Jadirs' dismay. At times the creature actually leaves the ground. It's powerful wings creating a draft that makes it difficult not to move. The heads dart back and forth constantly. After what seems to be an eternity the sound begins receding behind them side.
Nahabedian says, "Whatever is causing those animals to run, must be nasty. I'm glad we're are not heading in that direction."
"No we are just running at an angle to whatever it is." Jadir explains, "Which means everything that is driven away from it is probably going to cross our path."
They hydra seems to have calmed down and is steadily munching on the invisible carcass of some creature.
Torana approaches from one side and looks at the hydra. "I think this world will be more fascinating than we ever thought. If there is no energy source reaching this location, shouldn't any creatures magical abilities be nullified."
Nahabedian says, "That is true, but I cannot see even the dead ones. And yet, that acid is eating something away." The large mage watches as green blankets of acid seem to be slowly be making their way to the ground as if they were eating through something. The stench of burning flesh fills the next searing wind that passes through.
Jadir and Vel'im move closer to one of the dissolving carcasses and manage to turn it over. Of course the only way they know its' turned over is that the acid is on the ground eating away at the dust. Despite not having anything to see, Vel'im is still busy making copious notes on the invisible animal.
When the hydra has done its feasting it begins to clean the acid off of its mouth by burying its nose into the ground and swishing it around until there is nothing but dirt on it. Then it raises its head and shakes the dust off.
When they have finished, once again the magi travel on. The overbearing sun pounds down upon their weary overheated brows slowing them down until finally they leave the magic dead zone. Almost instantly Magnus can sense his five companions, but nothing else. The day ends without further incident and that evening after dinner Nahabedian takes the time to pour a little water into a bowl. He sits cross legged with the bowl before him on the barren ground. He stares into it chanting a rune over and over again.
Jadir spends time going over Vel'im notes.
Magnus looks up at the night sky noticing how different it is. Tonight as a near endless stream of multi-colored shooting stars fill the sky. The large blue moon that once dominated the sky cannot be found and now four other moons dominate. One a small silvery moon shines brightest.
Torana sits doing something, the blue cloak draped around him obscures his actions.
Nahabedian grows silent and everyone looks toward him. He however looks up, a frown upon his face. "I'm not sure, but aren't there a bit many shooting stars out tonight."
Everyone looks up watching the star filled night-sky. Many shooting stars blaze across the sky. Far more than would have ever been seen at home.
"We shall have a visitor soon, but if we get involved we may not see our homes again."
Jadir says, "What exactly did you see?"
Nahabedian says, "We are in another war-torn land. Here they use not swords, but sorcery on an unheard of scale to do their battles. But it is of a kind I am unfamiliar with. The visitor shall fall from above."
"Will his his flying rune gave out?" The Professor asks.
Nahabedian nods, "Yes I think that is so." Then he puts his bowl away and settles in for the night.
After several moments of silence Jadir and Vel'im do the same.
Torana starts up a whispered conversation with the Professor.
*****
The
next morning the Professor can be heard mumbling, "I'm surrounded by insanity...
no control over the runes indeed... It's like they almost want to kill themselves
off... No wonder there are so few of them... The rest probably do kill themselves
off..."
The Professors mumbling monologue keeps up well into the afternoon. The pace is slowed as Jadir elects to walk today instead of flying. This change in attitude seems to make Vel'im very nervous. Torana also stays close to the group, yet he seems to be insanely high spirits. He walks with a strange glint in his eye which makes Magnus jump at every strange sound.
In the distance the group sees lighting and hears the thunder moments later. Oddly enough there don't seem to be any clouds.
The Hydra suddenly stops and hisses, its wings partially unfurling as the ground ahead and to the right of them suddenly bulges upward in a hill before the ground takes on the shape of a giant face.
"Yuri ot pou. ghe at govanas!", the voice intones.
Torana turns to Magnus who promptly translates, "He said, `Restricted access. Proceed and be destroyed!' "
Nahabedian looks around and says, "Everyone stand over here."
The group follows him, except for the hydra who looks up hisses and moves quickly away from the group.
Nearby two more faces appear from the ground. Jadir looks at Nahabedian who says, "Wait."
After a few moments the earth bulges again and several man-like shapes appear.
Torana says, "Stone Elementals. Looks like we've worn out our welcome."
The Professor says, "Something's coming in fast. I suggest we leave here now."
Nahabedian says, "Wait."
After a few moments, a high pitched whining sound is heard and Magnus is hard pressed to keep the hydra within 50 feet of the magi.
It comes from behind and to the right of the group. A brilliant shooting star moving almost level to the ground and slowly descending. The star somehow manages to take out every last elemental as it blasts by the group slamming into the ground. A blast of heat follows it even more searing than normal. The star bounces up off the ground and floats for a moment before dropping like a stone. It's passing created a ditch ten feet wide. Its crashing created a crater just large enough to bury half of it.
When the dust settles the star turns out to be a metal sphere with strange markings all over it. With some prodding Magnus manages to get the hydra near it. The sphere itself protrudes about seven or eight feet above the ground. It is quiet for a few minutes before there is the sound of wind from the top and slowly someone appears from the top of the sphere.
Dressed in some kind of body grayish black battle armor, the creature looks like nothing the magi have ever seen. The creature takes off its helmet and they realize its has its back turned to them.
It speaks, "I can't believe it. I just started this jib and my drive kick the fiver on me. Talk about shoddy runes! When I find the guy who did this I'm gonna wrap his tail around a pip stick watch him dance with a dust bunny."
Torana turns to Magnus and says, "Well are you going to let us all in on this or are you going to keep it to yourself." Magnus pulls out his amulet and concentrates.
At the sound of voices the creature turns around and its eyes focus on the group Its sniffs and its whiskers twitch. Its face is covered in white fur with rings of red and black chasing themselves around the rim of his face. Judging from the face his ancestors were definitely cats. The creature takes in the group quickly but stares a little longer at the hydra.
Finally it shouts, "Aw! Right! Either I'm the luckiest pup in the universe or the Gamma Corp has the best techserv pack in the system! Yo enchants!" The creature leaps down and walks toward the group, "My drive runes kicked out in a major way! They can't be damaged! No one got within 10 howls of my backside. Take a look at her will ya?"
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