The Vanguard stood in a loose formation as a blasting headwind slowed their progress. Before them loomed the swirling nimbus of cloud and lightening that they new to be the portal to the Plane of Air, Yan C Bin's prison. They all knew that he watched them now as five of his armoured elemental warriors made their final push to take back Windvane, the magical spear that was the key to his freedom.
Sheth saw an opportunity to close ranks and charged forward, landing blow after devastating blow against the magical guards. Reed took a few steps forward and hurled his magical hammer at the encased elementals. Morthos began an incantation of telekinesis raising both his crafted replica of Windvane and the true elemental weapon.
Suddenly screaming into action, the Elementals charged forward, taking hit after hit from their exposed flanks to exploit the small gap in the vanguard's line. Two coming face to face with Morthos quickly, and without his Goliath ally to shield him, they rapidly slammed their flails down into the wizard, his magical wards holding for only a fleeting second as blow after blow landed and laid the wizard low.
Peren, slid to the side of his fallen companion and scooped up Windvane in his free hand, before reluctantly touching Morthos' barely breathing form. He uttered an incantation under his breath, tracing a quick symbol in the air that hung shimmering before it broke into golden dust and covered the Tiefling's broken body. Bones mended and energy was renewed as the healing magics entered his body.
Morthos lifted his aching head and saw the Elementals rampaging close by, Peren looking down suddenly at Morthos, his face only showing the barest expression of worry.
"Do you trust me?" Morthos asked.
Peren quickly glanced back at the elemental swinging the massive flail above its armoured crown and nodded as the flail descended. A shimmering portal opened up beneath them both as they fell suddenly. The fall narrowly saving Peren from the impact of that dreaded weapon. The flail slammed into the stone floor of the cavern as the portal closed as quickly as it had opened.
Together they sped through dimensional doorway and landed with a sudden disorienting thud under the howling nexus itself!
Blasts of wind assaulted them both from all sides as Peren ducked into a crouch, Windvane poised as he looked at the swirling sphere of cloud and crackling lightning above him.
Still weakened, Morthos lost his balance and was knocked back suddenly, his feet finding no ground as he involuntarily stepped off the plateau and as he fell, he watched the armoured elementals hurtling towards Peren with desperate clawed gauntlets outstretched.
He landed flat as the wind was knocked from his lungs and he gagged and gasped for air.
He was alive, for now.
Peren looked back as Morthos was swept from the plateau he fought his instincts to help as he eyed the rapidly approaching elemental guards.
He looked down to the spear and thought to himself, 'Had you have been an arrow, Windvane, this would have all been over by now.'
Peren closed his eyes for a moment and whispered, "Umsheryoth, Guide my arm and grant me clarity."
Peren's eyes crackled with golden energy as he opened them and before him.
He saw his target, the centre of the nexus. He also saw the swirling wind and he saw its intentions, its patterns and motives. He looked to the portal and he lifted Windvane close to his ear, the point of the spear angled upward, He breathed a few breaths before holding it in as he waited for the wind to play its part.
'Not now, wait. There. NOW!'
The muscles in Peren's arm became taut like a spring as he launched Windvane up and it flew as if it were a silver bolt of lightening that yearned to return home.
Then a moment of complete silence sounded as sudden and jarring as any tolling bell before an inverse in the wind forced Peren to clutch a nearby rock as it threatened to sweep him into the collapsing portal.
The Elemental guardians shrieked as they were sucked back into their Plane of Air and in a span of breaths, silence tolled again. Peren stood nimbly, blinking rapidly as his eyes returned to their normal hue. He took a step to the edge of the plateau and peered over the precipice. His companions were all breathing, including Morthos who still lay face up upon the stone floor.
He hopped back down easily, nodding to his companions as they gathered around. Reed half smiling in return. Sheth, acknowledged Peren's deed wtih a stern clap on the shoulder.
Without standing, Morthos began a new spell. A circle of energy surrounding them all."Gather round," He muttered in his usual contempt filled voice. All stepped in and a moment later, with a flash, the Vanguard was gone, leaving only the liberated silence in their wake.
