Metaxuheimir

The scene that unfolded was quite unlike anything I had seen in my life to that point and was almost too terrifying to behold for all who looked on that day. The five-foot column of blackfire had become too dense and swirling to see inside but there was a distinct sign of movement from within. Slowly I could see a form take shape from inside the pulsing and hissing column. A being of pure blackfire slowly emerged from the column and began to float about a half a foot above the ground towards Rythun. This creature was the size and shape of a human, with arms and legs and an elongated head. The outline of the creature was hard to discern as it pulsed and crackled with the blackfire. Its movements were slow and deliberate as it approached Rythun; heat waves in the shape of purplish ripples flowed from it in all directions. It came to within two paces of Rythun and stopped. Rythun then pointed at the emissaries of The Kingdom and said something in a strange sounding tongue. The creature hesitated for a moment and then quickly turned and floated towards the three awaiting emissaries. As the creature approached the trio, the Paladin shouted a command to his comrades, at which they lined up behind him in very close formation. The Paladin held his sword straight up high and his shield at arm’s length in front of him. The creature of blackfire quickly came to within ten paces of the group and then stopped and clasped its two fiery arms together, outstretched to the front and directly pointing at the emissaries. After a few moments, a stream of pure blackfire, the size of a man’s arm, shot out from the creature and impacted the Paladin’s shield. As he stood with his shield held up to ward off the attack, I could see that he was straining to maintain his stance. The sound of the blackfire stream hitting the shield was quite loud and almost drowned out the shouting of the Paladin as he tried to withstand the onslaught. Without warning ten small fingers of pure blackfire slammed into the side of the Paladin causing him to drop to one knee; Rythun had moved to one side of the creature and was now attacking the emissaries with her own powers. As the Paladin sank to one knee, he was still able to hold his shield out in front of himself and his two companions. After what seemed like many moments the creature lowered its arms and stopped the attack. I did not know at the time why the creature had stopped but Rythun did not seem to be surprised by this as she stopped her own attack and moved back behind the creature in quick and effortless steps, displaying a level of agility that I did not know she possessed. The Paladin sat crouched on one knee and I could see that he was injured. Steam or smoke, or both, could be seen coming from the Paladin, like he had just come from inside a fire; his face seemed blackened, and he was quite visibly shaken. The creature moved several more paces away from the three huddled figures and began pulsing very intensely, with its arms stretched out to its sides. I could only see the creatures back from my vantage point on the wall, but it was obvious to all present that another attack was imminent. After the lopsided battle thus far, and the wholesale slaughter of the soldiers and Riptek users of the empire, the people of Badahoth were dismayed, shocked, and outraged. The appearance of this strange and terrifying creature of blackfire, a creature I later learned was called a Teraphim, had given us all new hope of victory. This creature had stunned the crowd into absolute silence. When the crowd sensed, as I did, that this terrifying creature was preparing an even greater attack than the first, a loud cheer began to erupt. The Paladin slowly regained his feet and prepared for another onslaught, but I could see that he was already badly burnt, and his strength almost spent. Before the creature could unleash another attack, Leetha walked to the Paladin, placed her hand on his shoulder, spoke some words close to his ear, and then stood in front of both men. The creature seemed undeterred and continued to pulse with coursing blackfire, which was accompanied by an odd sounding tone that was increasing in volume. Then, quite suddenly, the creature slapped its two hands together and pointed directly at Leetha. A flashing and pulsing stream of pure blackfire, this time much darker and concentrated than the first attack, shot forth from the creature. Just as the creature unleashed its attack, Leetha suddenly threw her arms and head back, her feet were lifted off the ground and she floated about a foot above the ground, and a thin shield of pure white piercing light formed in front of her. As the jet of pure blackfire struck the shield of light it licked around the edges of the eggshell shaped barrier, threatening to scorch Leetha and her two companions, as she floated in the air, of look of sublime concentration and peace clearly visible on her beautiful face. The contest between pure blackfire and pure radiant light continued for several moments; until at last the shield of light began to change shape and curve outward, enveloping the point of impact. The creature reacted violently to this check on its assault with a loud, deep moaning groan, that seemed to physically impact all those looking on. I could feel the strain between these two champions, both seemed to be exerting all their strength and will, the one to attack and destroy, and the other to protect and preserve. Shathgar and the Paladin had not been idle in the face of the struggle between Leetha and the Teraphim. Shathgar was now standing and had grasped the sword of the Paladin with both hands, he closed his eyes and began speaking in words that none could hear because of the noise from the Teraphim. Then, quite abruptly, the sword of the Paladin shown with the same pure light as that of Leatha’s shield and pulsed with radiant luminosity. Shathgar then collapsed onto the ground, but his work seemed to be complete. The Paladin took the sword in hand, and with stunning speed, covered the twenty paces between he and the Teraphim. The Teraphim did not even seem to be aware of the Paladin’s presence before he was suddenly confronted by this new foe. The Paladin bellowed forth a loud shout of words I did not understand, and coming within striking distance took a tremendous leap into the air. As the Paladin leaped into the air, he raised his sword high and brought it crashing down, in a tremendous blow. The sword, radiating with a bright pure light, bit deep into the creature, cleaving it from the neck into the midsection. For a moment, the light seemed to fade as it was swallowed up by the pulsing black fire. Then suddenly the creature gave a piercing cry and seemed to melt into the air, blackfire tendrils flailing about in chaotic agony for several seconds, then melting away, leaving no trace behind. Rythun stood in stunned silence several paces behind, gazing at the Paladin in mute shock. She seemed to stagger a few paces backwards and then I saw her eyes focus on the Paladin with an expression that spoke of a sudden realization. Whatever she had suddenly realized, whatever she had come to know or guess, was to no avail, either to her or anyone else. The Paladin had waited for only a moment after destroying the Teraphim and had recovered his swing. After taking a step toward Rythun he hurled his sword with gruesome determination and precision. The sword, still radiating the bright pure light flew through the air and spinning end over end, struck Rythun’s slim and beautiful body, lodging deep into her chest, staggering her back several paces. She did not immediately fall to the ground but stood looking at the ground as the light of realization faded and her stare became that of the dying. Slowly she sunk to her knees, an expression of knowing hatred turning into one of hopeless agony...