You all looked quite the sight. An ailing octogenarian, the leaders of the mage schools, a guardian, a healer and Talik and you all in walking pursuit of Aerka, the city coming out of their homes to watch the bizarre parade pass in a blur. Aerka is fast, coursing through the air, sending a wind backward to slow you.
Caska charges getting annoyed with the exercise pushes to the front and with water jetting from her hands, sprays Aerka and knocks the Artifact from her hand. Rek appears next, fire creating a wall in front of you all creating a hiss of steam and heat. The magic forces the entire group to stop and Aerka's was fuming and falls to the ground with her magic interrupted.
Tharah, whose running ability never ceases to impress you is at the front in an instant, grabbing the artifact back from the hands of Caska. You run up beside them. Aerka looks annoyed, but you hold out your hand, offering to help her up.
"The artifact is not here to divide us," at least you don't think it is you say as you help Aerka up, "We are on a quest and we think that all mages need to be involved," you say. "We just need your help."
"The artifact is not meant for any of us alone," Kiva says. "The Voek have returned, and we've been asked to fulfill a great task. Mages are a proud people, but we must settle our differences, at least for a time."
Aerka considers his words, face turned away. Then she takes your hand, allowing you to help her to her feet.
"We will bring this to Maeka," she says. "The Earth Mage and our current leader. She's in there."
She points at the academy near the government centre, its towers looming over the city. The Mage leaders nod to one another, an unspoken agreement to work together. But animosity prickles between them like the heaviness of a coming storm.
Bringing the four elements back into balance is going to be a lot harder than you thought and you hope you were right that this artifact will restore the balance and allow mages to work in unison, well that was asking for a lot. Maybe just not kill each other would be enough.
What are the four elements? Answer in Thy Quests below.
Next: E3Q3 A Secret Message