In the Tower, Fire Elementalist Randle, Air Elementalist Wynona and Healer Galen discuss what to do next…

Randle sighs and sits up, rubbing his eyes after a nap. "How important is it that we get this … gem, anyhow?"

Wynona looks as if she's about to say something, but instead her glance over to Galen suggests that she's inclined to defer to him.

Galen has been pacing around the room, head bowed in thought, and hands clasped behind his back, for the past hour. His eyes are open, but it's obvious that they just barely register his immediate surroundings. His mouth is clamped shut, and his brow is furrowed in deep thought.

The Mephitian's head cocks over to Randle's direction. He blinks several times. "Sorry," he says. "What was your question again?"

Wynona says, "He asked how important it was that we got this gem."She looks to Randle. "Near as we can tell, the gems may serve as some sort of key – perhaps a puzzle of sorts, and hopefully having something to do with dealing with the storm brewing over the Tower of Celesti."

Randle ohs. "Is there any way to look at the higher rooms first, before having to retrieve the gems? There might be a switch or something that controls the storm with what used to power the garden sprinkler system." He shrugs. "I've never trusted water mages. They're odd."

Seeing that the bat mage is answering Randle, Galen shifts his gaze back in front of him, and resumes his silent pacing. At times, his tail starts to fluff a little, as if agitated. It's clear that he has something on his mind.

Wynona blinks a few times at Randle. "I am almost positive that this storm isn't merely a means of watering the courtyard. And Mage Celesti is no mere 'water mage', from what I've seen. That said, I see no reason why we can't examine the other rooms. I saw nothing that suggested that our way up to the next level was impeded. We have yet to encounter an obstacle to upward progress – only hazards to be wary of on the way."

"That may be true, Wynona," says Galen. He faces both of the other party members for the first time since he began his pacing. His hands are still clasped behind his back. "But I think … I have figured out how to take care of the level that immediately concerns us."

Wynona's ears swivel in Galen's direction. "Do tell!"

Galen raises his head a little, visualizing what he's about to say, then looks back to the other two. He takes a breath. "Well … "

"Do you still have that teapot?" Randle asks. "What does she think about this?"

"I've been thinking about a few things," starts the Healer. "First off … physical confrontation is out of the question. Secondly, the gem can be reached and taken only by someone who can fly up to it; climbing will take too long. And thirdly, and most importantly: the Air Elemental is filled with pride.""

"So … here is my plan." He fixes his gaze to Wynona, then to Randle, before looking generally ahead of him like before. "In the hallway just before we enter the Elemental's room, there are tapestries: we need to take those down, and roll them up. They're too big to conceal, however; it is obvious that the Elemental will see them when we bring them with us into her room."

"So," continues the Mephitian, "Each of you will carry two rolled-up tapestries, four total; I will address the Elemental, and tell her we brought the tapestries here, because we know how she's indebted to stay in her room, and we wanted to show them to her and ask her all sorts of things about how she could have made such beautiful tapestries, or, if she didn't make them, if she was involved with them in any way … "

Galen looks at the two. "Any questions so far?"

Randle blinks. "What would happen if we took her out of the room after wrapping her up? Would it free her?"

Wynona nods. "That sounds like it might work. Elementals aren't generally all that shrewd, especially if they don't get out much. Uhm … but you did mention that part about – " She breaks off, as she realizes that Randle has a question standing.

"No … no, we're not going to try to wrap her up," replies Galen to Randle. "We'll need them for something else." He looks to Wynona; seeing she was about to ask a question, he nods to her slightly, waiting for her to ask it.

The bat meekly asks, "Were you expecting either me or Randle to go in after the gem?"

"I will get to that," answers Galen to Wynona. He takes a breath, and continues. "Then, I'll try to divert her attention to me, so that you two can walk – innocently – over to those windows on the other side of the room. Those windows did have a railing or pegs sticking out above them to hang things on, right?" he asks Wynona.

The bat nods. "Yes, the decorative frames of the windows look like they could be employed to hang a tapestry fairly easily, in my estimation."

Galen nods at her. "Good, good – I thought I saw those too, but I have to make extra-sure they're there." He looks ahead of him, and continues. "It's very important that you two walk nonchalantly over to those windows, pretending that you're just walking together to get better views of the sphere, which you'll be admiring. As for me … "

Wynona nods, still listening.

" … I," continues the Healer, "will go with the Elemental, and have her show me all the features of her sphere, telling her how absolutely wonderful it is, and how great she is." Then he falls silent. He looks solemnly over to the bat, then the dragon. His eyes are very grave. "The next part, is where it gets dangerous."

The bat's ears blanche – and the look in her eyes suggests that she can imagine what sort of dangers might be faced, all too well.

Galen closes his eyes, privately envisioning what he's about to say next. Then, he opens them. "When I clap my hands – loudly – trying to imitate someone who's delighted with the Elemental's work … " He looks straight at Wynona. " … that's your cue, to conjure your 'Air shield' spell so that it protects you, Randle, and the general window area, or at least, as many windows as the spell can cover. Then, you two start hanging up those tapestries above the windows as fast as you can. In doing so, I hope, it will lessen the Elemental's power to the storm outside." He pauses. "There's more."

Wynona nods, though her thoughtful look suggests that she might already be working over arcane details in her mind.

The bat interjects, "I should note that if Randle is attacked, his Fire Shield might still offer some protection against the Air Elemental's Lightning-based attacks. Even though they're attacks of Air, Lightning does cross over with the area of Fire, and the general magic of his shield would help against attacks of any element to some degree."

Galen nods to the bat. "Okay, good." He looks to Randle. "You, Randle, will conjure a 'Fire shield' spell, to cover any area of windows not covered by Wynona's shield spell." He thinks for half a second. "It would be nice, if blocking those windows will snuff the Elemental out permanently … but, if it doesn't, as I suspect, then while you two are setting up those tapestries … " He pauses again. He gulps.

" … I, will start to taunt the Air Elemental. Hopefully, I will rile her enough, so that instead of taking care of her windows, which I'm sure she'll notice are being blocked, she'll try to take me out first."

Randle makes an alarmed "Eep" noise. "We're not going to … kill her, are we? Who goes for the gem then?""

Wynona shakes her head. "The air elemental's source of power is the air outside the tower. There's no way we could totally annihilate that. And even if we did, that doesn't mean that the air elemental is dead … only that she loses her grip on the material plane. Our shields might weaken her if we block enough of the connection with the outside air, but that protection would only last until our spells end – either by their duration expiring, or else if the elemental is powerful enough to force its way through. We won't know until we try. At best, we can buy time for Healer Galen, at least."

"I suppose," Wynona says, "we'll just have to try to weaken the elemental to the best of our ability, and be prepared to adapt if any further problems arise."

Galen nods to Randle. "We're not going to kill her. I don't think it's even possible if we wanted to. As for the gem … " He looks to Wynona. "You, if you can, cast another Shield spell – this time, at the level of that gem, if you can cast your spell that far. That way, the shield will be between the elemental and the gem, and you can go fly up to get it." He looks to Randle. "You're a powerful flyer, I'm sure … " He looks back to Wynona. " … but I believe that you, are more agile."

The bat nods, gritting her teeth. "I'll do my best." She looks to the others. "Is that our plan, then? We might want to get started, before I start having second thoughts. Believe me, that won't be terribly long… "

Randle says, "I'll try to stay between Wynona and the elemental as well, then help get you out of there, Galen?"

"No, there's a little more," says Galen. He pauses again. "After you grab the gem, you and Randle run back to the doorway out of the room as fast as you can. And you, Randle, protect Wynona," he says, facing Randle. "Just make sure that you two make it out first, with the gem. After that – " He looks to Randle. " – you, will cast a fire spell at those tapestries covering the windows. I'm hoping that that will distract the Elemental just enough, for me to make a break for the door, to escape." He pauses. "And, if all else fails … " He closes his takes, and takes a breath, then opens them again. " … GET OUT. Don't try to go after me. Just GET OUT of THAT ROOM. If any of us are going down, it'll likely be me; I'll be the one she'll get the most angry with. I don't want to have anyone else go down with me on my behalf." He glares at the dragon, then the bat. "Understood?"

"Uhm … yes," Wynona says, "if you say so. But don't forget … You're the healer in our group. We'd much prefer to have you intact." She winks.

Galen blinks at Wynona's remark … and, amazingly enough, he finds himself smiling a little, in spite of it all. He gives a small nods to the group. "Okay … any questions?"

Wynona shakes her head in the negative, then glances over to Randle.

Randle looks uncertain. "That makes me feel bad, having to abandon you like that. Wynona can use the gem; why can't I come back for you?"

"Because the Elemental will attack you, and is probably powerful enough to kill you," answers Galen, bluntly. "As for me … I'm going to count on my agility, and moving through and holding onto the sphere, to evade her wind attacks – if those are the only attacks she has."

Randle says, "And if she summons friends?""

Wynona says, "If that elemental can summon friends, then we might as well all just give up right then and there and go home."

Galen blinks at Randle's question. "I'm hoping that won't be the case."

Randle sighs and stands up, getting ready to head upstairs. "Alright, but if we all survive this I'll buy both of you rounds when we get back to town."

The Healer smiles, wanly. "Thank you, Randle." He stretches, and grabs his walking staff. "Okay everyone … here we go."

On the way up the stairs, Wynona and Randle relieve the walls of a total of four decorative tapestries – two each – before heading up to the Orrery Room where the Air Elemental keeps vigil.

At the moment, the air elemental is not visible, though the frequent gusts of wind through the windows and the movements of the machinery suggest that the elemental is probably still at hand.

Galen … even if you get out of this alive, thinks the Healer to himself, You will always be the most idiotic Mephitian of all time. And if you fail, a dead one, at that. His tail starts to bottle-brush a little, as he walks underneath the door frame leading into the Orrery.

Wynona does her best to look utterly enthralled with all the machinery (and, indeed, some of it may be genuine), as she "nonchalantly" carries a couple of tapestries with her, and meanders over between two of the windows for a "better look" at the central globe. "Oh my," she gasps. "This is simply gorgeous!"

Galen watches Wynona, and asks her out loud, "Wynona? Can you come back here and unroll one of those tapestries for us? I want to show Miss Air something."

Randle walks along the wall opposite Wynona.

"Oh!" Wynona says, blushing. "Why, yes, of course." She nervously walks back and unrolls one of the tapestries, revealing a pattern festooned with stylized stars, moons, and sun. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

The wind picks up, and forms an eddy around the center of the chamber. Just to one side of the central globe, some mists coalesce into a cloudy, female, avian-morph form, regarding the skunk and bat.

"Oh, yes!" says Galen, grinning with his mouth, but not his eyes. After appraising the tapestry for a few seconds, he turns to face the room. "Oh, Miss Air! Miss Air! Can you please come here, and grace us with your presence? There's something here we'd like to ask you about."

Randle also unrolls a tapestry. "Ooo, isn't this one beautiful?"

The elemental glides across the floor toward the skunk. "Hmm? What is it that you wish to ask?"

The elemental, distracted from Galen, goes over toward the dragon. "What is it that you want, then?"

"Well," says Galen, looking up at her wispy form, and grinning from ear to ear. "While we were exploring the hallway for this level, we came across these most wonderously elegant tapestries. Under normal circumstances, we would leave them alone. But, since we do know that you are obligated to remain in this room, we thought it best to take a few of them down, so we could bring and show them to you. We have so many questions about them!"

The elemental nods absently at the skunk. "Mmm-hmm," she says, as she looks at the tapestry Randle holds.

Galen, seeing that the Elemental is focused on the dragon's tapestry, falls silent, and sees what the Fire Elementalist is up to.

Wynona keeps her forced smile in place, though it wavers somewhat uncertainly, much like a novice actress forced on stage without a script. She looks askance to Galen.

Randle holds up the tapestry a bit more so it covers his face. "And did you see what else we learned?" He takes a short breath, then lets a torch of fire escape his mouth slowly, backlighting the tapestry.

Randle keeps the torch going as long as he can while the elemental watch, but even dragons have limited lung capacity and he has to stop for a breath. "My brother showed me that dragonfire has all the colors of the spectrum in it, not just red like you get from a hearth."

The elemental blinks with pupilless eyes. "Ah. And also that tapestries are highly flammable, I suppose?"

Randle says, "It's sad really. Tapestries like this deserve a source of light and they've been wasted down in the stairwell all this time."

The elemental nods, admiring the burning tapestry. "So that's how they're to be enjoyed! I had no idea, really. Fascinating."

Wynona, meanwhile, slowly creeps back over toward the windows, fake grin still plastered on her face.

"Yes! (Puff) I'm afraid I can't keep this up for long myself … and am due back at the guild in at least a month or so … but if you have another source of light we could use perhaps these tapestries would do even more for this already splendid room?"

Galen, seeing the situation is getting out of hand, quickly takes off his hat and desperately tries to dab away the growing flames on the tapestry. "Randle! What are you doing, trying to set ablaze this masterpiece!"

The air elemental nods. "Well, yes, actually, I can provide alternate sources of light." Her eyes glow with electrical energy.

Smoke rises from the tapestry in wisps.

Randle blinks and sees one corner is burning. He goes a bit pink in the ears and crushes the spark with two fingers. "Erf … I hate it when that happens… sorry"

Galen looks squarely into Randle's eyes, quickly glancing his head over to Wynona's direction.

Randle concentrates and says a few words, and the tapestry glows red once, then sparkles with what seems like magic. "I'm still a young dragon. I don't quite know my strength, yet. This shield ought to help, though."

"Oh, yes, we can see that," says Galen, laughing nervously. He is still staring at the dragon and motioning his eyes to Wynona's direction.

Randle blinks and looks up at the window, and the storm brewing outside. "I doubt these have been shielded like the ones you have here though. Do you ever have trouble with lightning lighting the other tapestries in the room?

"Oh no," the elemental says. "They're enchanted with dweomers protecting them against the element of air."

The elemental quirks her beak upward a few degrees. "Not that it's necessary, of course. I am quite in control of my own powers, so it's a needless precaution."

Randle ahs, then looks over at Wynona. "Do you mind if I look for a place to hang this up?"

The elemental looks about. "Well, I don't suppose there are any suitable places to hang them, unless you take some of the others down first."

The Mephitian's tail is starting to fluff up now. "Randle," says Galen, "can you accompany Wynona, please? I have some questions that I need to ask this wisest of elementals."

The air elemental's beak forms a smug grin at this praise.

Randle grins and nods sweepingly to the elemental lady, then heads back to where Wynona is, taking one glance back at the elemental almost as an afterthought.

Wynona is still standing there, fake grin frozen on face, ears rigidly perked in anticipation of the "signal", clutching her tapestries tightly.

Galen watches Randle walk over to the bat, his head following the dragon's tail. Then he blinks quickly and shifts his gaze to the Elemental. "Ah, Miss Air," he says, smiling so much that his gleaming white teeth are showing. "You look absolutely splendorous today!"

"Yes, I am, aren't I?" the elemental croons, lifting one misty hand to preen her head-feathers.

Wynona glances toward Randle, giving him a nervous grin.

Randle walks down the room, looking about. He sees Wynona standing nearby looking a bit preoccupied, and offers her a flask of sugar-water with a half-smile.

"Oh yes! Oh yes!" replies Galen, gleefully. "Now, would you please show me something over here?" He extends his arm over to an area of the tremendous sphere opposite and farthest away from the windows where his two compatriots are standing. "I have so many questions to ask, that I'm sure only you have the reservoirs of knowledge to answer!"

"Oh, that one?" the elemental responds. "Very well then, come along, won't you?" She starts to glide over toward the indicated orb, far across the room.

"Oh, certainly!" says Galen, quickly following her, and clasping and wringing his hands together; his palms are very sweaty.

Randle leaves the flask with Wynona and flies up to the ledge of the window, pulling the edge of one tapestry back to glance outside, as if to judge which way the sun is coming

Since the storm is still brewing just as intensely outside as it was previously, however, the sun is not at the moment visible. Still, the elemental might just interpret it as the need by mortals to see how the rain is doing.

Wynona, meanwhile, blinks dumbly at the flask, as if trying – and failing – to grasp its purpose.

Randle systematically locates the open window on his side of the room and hangs the tapestries on them, hanging, standing back, scratching his chin, making a little box with the thump and forefingers of each hand and turning it this way and that, nodding and moving to the next one

There is a gust in the room, and Wynona doesn't seem to have registered yet that Randle has started without her. Just as she starts to move to catch up … the elemental turns and looks at Randle.

Randle keeps looking through the square he makes with his fingers, but says no words. He's being an architect and is too absorbed in what he's doing to see the elemental

Galen's eyes notice the dragon prematurely hanging a tapestry, and suddenly grow very wide. Quick as a wink, he motions the Elemental over to another orb, hoping desperately that she will turn her head away from his two companion's direction. "Please tell me more about this orb here!" he says.

"Take that back down," the elemental commands, "now."

Randle blinks and gives a start, then takes the tapestry down. "Erm … I'm sorry … was this your favorite view?"

Wynona suddenly stops in the middle of trying to hang up another tapestry. She jerks it back, holding it behind her back (wings spread) as if that might somehow hide its presence. Her fake grin wavers precipitously.

She noticed … dagh that dragon!!! screams Galen, inwardly. She's got her guard up now; now I'll have to stoke her ego even longer, and hope she just thinks that was an innocent mistake.

The elemental glares balefully at the dragon for a moment more … then turns her attention back to Galen. "Now then … this sphere, as anyone versed in the Cosmos would know, represents the Chaotic Wanderer. This is why the mechanism supporting it is especially complex, since its movements through the cosmos are particularly involved… "

"I'm terribly sorry for my companion's error," coos Galen, in deeply apologetic tones. "Anyway, Miss Air, can you please tell me all about how you run this incredibly intricate and magnificent machine of yours? I have never seen the like of it!"

"Well, actually, given the intricate control I have over the flow of air currents and resonances of magic… " The air elemental launches into a very long and jargon-filled speech about the details of the workings of the mechanism. Even the mages present have a great deal of trouble making any sense of it.

Wynona glances to Randle, to Galen, back again, then watches the interplay between the elemental and the skunk.

Randle still has the protected tapestry on his back. He hmms and unfolds it, as if pondering whether this would look better than his present toga.

"… and, as every scholar of the Heavens knows, an astute understanding of the positions of the heavenly bodies is essential for knowing the exact timing of fortuitous conjunctions, in order to best plan the time for major rituals," the air elemental continues twittering.

Randle's tapestry is still protected by a very concentrated fire shield, giving it an eerie, luminescent effect. It looks like the shield is holding up well, even in the presence of the magicks concentrated in this chamber.

Galen listens ever so patiently to the Elemental's lecture, interrupting at points, but only to compliment her beauty and her wisdom, in tones so sycophantic that even he himself is shocked at how sniveling he could sound. Finally, when he's sure that his two companions can't wait any longer (as he certainly can't), he spreads his arms wide. "Oh, yes, oh, yes, most incredible! Why, most majestic being of etherealness! I simply can't believe that you are capable of so many wonders!" And he claps his hands together, imitating joy.

Wynona's ears shoot up … and she immediately scrambles to hang one of the tapestries over the window nearby!

Here we go, thinks Galen.

Randle seems to wake up again, then hangs the tapestry he got chastised for and runs to get the last one up.

The elemental's beak quirks in a grin … though there's another disturbance in the air as soon as Wynona's tapestry is hung … and she starts to turn … to follow the movements … of the bat … as she flutters over to the next window with another tapestry in hand.

"Oh! What's the matter, Miss Air? You look discouraged!" says Galen, in exaggerated concern.

However, as the dragon and bat scramble to get to another window, there's a bit of a flaw in their plans … they both run for the same window, and collide with each other! "Eep!" Wynona squeaks, tumbling to the floor. "Hurry hurry!" she squeaks.

Randle blinks and gives Wynona the protected tapestry, then takes one of hers and keeps going, easily lifting the extra weight to get to the last two window now that some of the work is done in advance

The elemental's form starts to waver slightly … but then it starts to glow, as luminescent, crackling energies concentrate in her eyes, and well up in her hands. She raises them, pressing her palms together, as a glowing blue ball of energy begins to swell outward from them.

Wynona blinks, confused, as she's holding a different tapestry this time … but without spending too long considering it, she dashes for the fourth window…

She's going to blast them!! shrieks Galen's brain. "Oh, what's the matter??" he says, loudly, and in a tone that's suddenly changed from sympathetic to jeering.

The elemental's expression suddenly turns from annoyed to downright angry.

Just then, Randle manages to hang the third tapestry. The elemental fades visibly … but just as Wynona's about to hang the fourth tapestry … the "Chaos Wanderer" arcs from its apparent path, dipping very low … and slamming right into the bat, knocking her off her feet, and sending the spell-protected tapestry flying!

Galen watches helplessly as the Wanderer hits the hapless bat. Oh, DAGH! She forgot to set up her shield spell!! Quick as a wink, he runs over and around the elemental, facing her, and spreading his arms wide. "Hey, Miss Air! You look sooo worried!" He jeers. "I thought you were the most powerful elemental I ever saw. But how can you be so great, if you're afraid of a few windows being covered!!!"

Randle tries for the last window, hoping Wynona's alright.

Randle makes it for the last window … though, alas, he has already hung up both of his tapestries, and thus has none in his hands at the moment.

Just then, the ball of lightning shoots out from the elemental's hands, resulting in an explosion of energy just where the skunk was standing! The dazzling display dissipates, and it seems for a moment that there's simply nothing left of the Mephitian healer … but then, rolling out from behind one of the mechanical spheres, it looks like the healer is still alive – having amazingly leaped out of the way at the last possible moment!

Meanwhile, the Chaos Wanderer sphere continues to swing wildly about the room, Wynona plastered to the front of it, wings spread out against the bronze orb. "Nnngh," she groans, slumped over the vertical support.

The Mephitian, standing up hesitantly, blinks several times, as if he was in a dream … then he shakes his head several times, recomposes himself, and grins. "Hah! You missed! You are as wispy as you look!" He gibes. "But you know what?? I'll even bet that that was all you can do! Balls of lightning! Feh! I'm absolutely sure – " He hooks his arm around an immobile metal frame forming one arc of the sphere, and clasps his hands together. " – that you don't know how to manipulate wind!"

Randle rushes over and gets the tapestry that Wynona dropped.

While the elemental is distracted by Galen, Randle makes for the last window. At that moment, a terrible wind rushes through the remaining window, and it takes all of Randle's dragon strength to keep from being blown back … and Galen looks like he is about to be pried loose from his grasp upon the framework! The Chaos Wanderer spins about wildly, and now Wynona has recovered her consciousness just enough to hang on for dear life rather than to be flung against one of the very solid stone walls.

However, the fire enchantment that Randle put on the tapestry before this began appears to work in his favor – As Wynona said, it offers some protection from purely elemental attacks. Thus, with considerable strain … he manages … to hang it on the window!

Immediately, the building wind dies off to a mere breeze. "NOOOOOOooooooo!" the elemental shrieks, her luminescent energy dying to a mere foxfire, and her form fading into curling wisps.

The orbiting spheres slow their erratic movements … the Chaotic Wanderer gently gliding to a stop at the bottom of its orbit … and Wynona slides off of it, dropping a foot to land on the floor with a soft thud and a groan.

And then – the room is suddenly very, very still … even though the storm rages on outside with all the ferocity it had before. But that is outside. Inside … it appears that our heroes are safe … for now.

Randle flies up to get the gem.

The gem still glows brightly, and now that the machinery is not orbiting about, and the elemental is not there to blast him about with winds … the glowing gem is easily taken up by the dragon's talons. Upon closer examination, it is now obvious that it is a sapphire, not a diamond; the blue in its form is its own luminescence, not some sort of reflection of the floor or walls of this chamber.

The gem sends a tingling sensation through the dragon's claws, crackling with contained energies.

Randle smiles. "Well, that was easy!" He flies down to where Wynona is and waves a hand in front of her nose and places the gem on it. "Are you doing alright there?"

With the wind suddenly dying down, Galen is no longer floating on the horizontal from the gale forces that were being directed at him. He plops to the ground, seemingly unconscious … then slowly raises his head. Tears are in his eyes from the blows of air that buffeted him. After shaking his head lazily, he tries to get up … and his arm screams, as he tries to unhook it from around the frame.

… nearly ripped out of its socket … thinks the healer, screwing up his eyes and grimacing in pain. His right arm – the arm he hooked around the frame with – limp at his side, he manages to get up, and finally look upon the current condition of his fellow party members.

The gem does not balance well on Wynona's nose, and falls over, blocking one of her nostrils. Wynona's nose wriggles, and then she sneezes violently. Not as scary as a dragon sneeze, granted, but the sapphire falls to the floor. "Nngh?" she squeaks. "Did we win?"

Randle nods. "I think so. You'd have to ask Galen though, I think he's a bit banged up, and not in a good way."

"There's a good way to be banged up?" Wynona squeaks, as she woozily props herself up.

Galen sees Randle crouched over Wynona's prone form, and his eyes quickly grow wide. He stumbles, then runs around the sphere to the couple. "Is she all right?!?" he asks loudly.

"I'm all right," Wynona says. She titters. "Just got the wind knocked out of me, that's all!" Her giggle soon gives way to a groan as she puts her hand up to her nose, rubbing it lightly, then wincing. "Ow."

Randle shrugs and offers them both some more sugar-water, then stares at Galen. "She's alright. What happened to you?"

The healer tries to crouch down to look her over – then the pain bolts up his limp arm, and he winces, and stands back up again. Instead, he looks over to Randle. "Okay – I saw we got the gem. Now let's get out of here. Help her up and support her. We're going back down to the library."

He eyes Randle. "I'll tell you more once we're downstairs."

Randle puts an arm around both Wynona and Galen, helping them both after picking up the gem again. "Alright, I could use some rest myself."

The heroes manage to safely make it back down to the library without further incident, with the Sapphire of Air in their possession.

Wynona promptly compels Miss Teapot to pour her a cup of Earl Greywolf tea, which she then sips, breathing in the steam. (The teapot, meanwhile, seems to smile proudly at having done her duty at serving tea. Sugar Bowl sulks at once again being refused the chance to deliver any lumps.)

Randle rubs his hands together and settle in for some tea "Well, that was an exciting day. How many more of these do we have until floods destroy the towns nearby?"

Galen himself leans back in his chair, holding his tea cup with his left hand. His right arm, though magically healed, still feels a little sore, so he is extra careful not to use it unnecessarily. On the table in front of him, he looks over the sparkling gem, silently admiring its continually glistening colors.

Having been mildly entranced, Galen blinks, and looks to Randle. "I'm sorry … what are you talking about?"

Wynona wistfully sneaks a few peeks at the sapphire as well. Something in her gaze might suggest to the casual observer that she's more than a little reluctant to turn it over to just be a piece in a puzzle. (Doubtless, a magical gem associated with the element of Air would hold a special significance to her.)

Randle perks his ears inquisitively. "The storm outside. It's destroying the countryside isn't it? That's why we're here, trying to stop it?"

"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say it's destroying it," Wynona says, "Not yet, anyway. But it's certainly overstayed its welcome. Too much of this, and the crops will be ruined. And it's certainly a hassle, to be going about in the streets, then a bird flies over the tower and – well – it's time to go rushing for cover!"

The healer laughs. "Oh, no. The storm just exists around the tower, especially at the top. The town's in no trouble." He sighs. "As for how many more time we have to do this, we've got Water, and Earth, to deal with, methinks, isn't that right, Wynona?" he asks, having noticed her scrutinizing the sapphire.

Wynona nods, breaking away from her reverie over the sapphire. "Oh! Yes. At this stage of progression, I'm supposing we'll hit water next, then earth. They seem to be going through the states of matter in reverse, I suppose. Though I honestly can't tell what order Celesti put the elements in until we see it ourselves, and regardless, it's a fifty-fifty chance either way at this point."

"Anyway, as Healer Galen was saying, most of the time, the storm is just here over the tower," Wynona adds. "It's only now and then that it flares up beyond that point. It's more a hassle than anything. Not that we're risking our lives for nothing. Even a 'hassle' could spell severe trouble for our city."

Randle asks, "Can you use the gem for anything, Wynona?""

Wynona looks querulously to Randle. "Oh, I'm sure, given a chance, I could think of a very nice setting for it. … But right now, I think we've already ascertained its proper application." She taps a finger next to the empty gem-setting on the table that has runes of the element of Air around it.

Randle nods. "And I thought for a moment we were just engaging in casual treasure-hunting. Well, nice to know we're helping someone, also!"

Galen nods in acknowledgement. He looks at Wynona softly for a few moments, then stands up out of his chair. "Wynona … why don't you stay here and look over the sapphire for a bit? I need to talk to Randle about something."

Randle perks his ears curiously.

The Mephitian looks over to Randle, and motions him to follow him. He goes in the direction of the stairs, and starts walking up them.

"Mmm?" Wynona's ears perk, and then she accepts the gem. "Oh! Well, I certainly wouldn't argue with the chance to examine it a bit more closely, no." Smiling like a child given a new toy, she gazes at the sapphire, its bluish light giving her features a strange cast.

Randle looks left and right, then follows Galen in puzzlement.

Both go up the stairs, and to the level of Fire. They stop in the hallway, away from the stairs, and well away from the kitchen door. Galen turns around, and looks Randle squarely in the face. "Randle?" he says.

Randle nods.

The healer closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, let's it out, and opens his eyes again. "First off … thank you, for helping save Wynona's life. That was noble of you."

Randle half-smiles. "Well, I expect she was pleased! I'm supposed to be protecting both of you, you know. Although, I'm not actually sure what all I did, other than getting the last window in place."

Galen nods. "That is true … you're supposed to protect us." He blinks again. "And would protecting us mean making sure that the Air Elemental wouldn't attack us?"

Randle isn't sure where this is going. "Well, yes, or disarming it as soon as possible."

"Okay," says Galen. "And, as a fighter, do you think it would be better to attack an enemy who is expecting and waiting for you to attack him? Or is it better to catch him off-guard?"

A few clinking noises come from the kitchen, sounding like silverware or perhaps dishes. Considering the state of the tower, however, this is not an unusual sound, and there's no indication of anything coming out of the kitchen.

Randle hmms, grinning. "By better, do you mean more honorable, or more effective?"

Galen doesn't smile. "More effective."

Randle says, "Well, if there's no other way and you know the conflict can't be avoided … there's no harm in catching them off-guard, as long as your cause is just. Most evil warlords are too powerful to fight anyway, so the good people have to trick them somehow."

Randle adds, "After this storm is over though I'm going to fly up to the Air level and open the curtains. No sense leaving such a charming elemental powerless. That's got to be frustrating."

Galen nods again, slightly. "You make a good point … " He blinks. " … because there was no other way to get that gem, and the conflict with the Elemental could not be avoided." He pauses. "And you had decided to set fire to a tapestry we needed to cover up the windows, and then covered up a window prematurely, thus letting her know something was up, and thus making her more wary and capable of hurting us all, and preventing you from protecting us two."

Galen is silent. His hands are clasped behind his back.

Randle blinks. "I didn't set fire to it, that was an accident. And I thought the sealing that made the elemental powerless would happen when the fireshield was cast, not just by covering up the windows. Remember? The only other source of light in that room was the windows, and the elemental gave me the go-ahead." He frowns and folds his arms. "Or do you just think I'll charm Wynona if I stay around too long?"

Galen doesn't blink. "The fire may have been an accident … but you should have known better than to breathe onto a tapestry in the first place. It was good of you to show the tapestry off to her, but not that way. As for the fireshield … "

Randle says, "All I wanted to do was find an excuse for doing part of the work early, so the elemental wouldn't suspect our purpose later." He begins to look cross. "And so you think you could have finished that room by yourself? I have to tell you, I've seen people who were conspiracy buffs before. Once you start getting paranoid of everything, you turn into one of those hooded people that won't show their face and practices arcane magic on vermites."

" … you were with us the last time, and you and everyone else heard and knew that it was by covering the windows that the elemental's power was diverted. And why would you cast Fire shield and waste a spell, when the original plan involved you eventually setting them on fire?" His jaw is stern. "I appreciated your intention … but next time, please stick to the plan. If you don't like the plan, tell me or Wynona before-hand. You could have gotten us all killed."

Randle folds his arms. "Were the plan clear I would follow it. I'm sorry. Am I supposed to whisper, 'PPPSST! – Is this how we kill the elemental and steal the gem?' while she's in the room next to you?"

Galen blinks … then nods, just the tiniest bit. "Very well. I'll be more specific with my plans later on. And in return, unless it's an immediate life-or-death emergency, do you promise to stick to the plan, once we all agree on it?"

Randle nods.

The healer appraises the dragon before him for a bit … then his eyes soften, and he nods. "Okay." He lets out a breath. "We're agreed." He cocks his head over to the stairs. "Let's take a break. We all did more than enough for today."

Randle nods and waits to follow, then earperks at the sound of strange music. He blinks and shrugs, then head back downstairs.

Galen goes back down to the library, and seats himself again at the table. "More tea, please, Miss Teapot," he asks, gently.

"Oh, I'd be overjoyed!" Miss Teapot says, with all the conviction a teapot could possibly muster. She pours a steaming cup of tea for Galen. Sugar Bowl, of course, has to offer, "One lump or two?" She's very predictable that way.

Wynona looks up as the two return. "Hello! Well – are we going to try out the gem? I'm pretty certain it will fit."

Randle hmms to Sugar Bowl. "None for me, but why don't you have one?"

Galen takes a sip, savoring the heat and the taste, then he nods to Wynona. "Yes … why don't we try it?"

Randle's response seems to catch the sugar bowl utterly off guard. A few sparks emit from the floral patterns on the bowl, and then the bowl falls silent.

Randle grins to the sugar bowl. "Might I have a sugar cube instead?" He absently looks over to see what the others are doing with the gem.

Wynona, not having noticed the odd occurrence with the sugar bowl, nods, and places the sapphire into the socket marked by the runes of Air. With a little gust of air, it sucks into the socket, and locks in place, as the little pinions clasp around it, holding it securely. The sapphire glows brightly, and the blue from the gem seems to bleed into the surrounding runes, which begin to match its glow.

Without a word, the sugar bowl convulses, and some of the sugar in it shoots out … forming a sugar cube that plops into the cup of tea that Miss Teapot so thoughtfully poured for Randle.

Randle grins and rubs his hands together, letting a puff of steam out of his nostrils in anticipation. "You just need to know how to talk to magical constructs." He offers to share the cube with the others.

Galen coolly gazes over the mystical change in the sigils where Wynona placed the gem … then his ears perk, as he glances over to Randle, and sees the lump plop into his teacup. His mouth opens. "Nice trick, Randle," he tells the dragon, smiling.

Randle chuckles and raises the cup in toast "It's a common thing to find in seemingly abandoned, well-guarded wizard castles. You need to know just what to say, or you get lumped."

"So I see," says Galen. He looks at the sugar bowl for a moment, opens his mouth, and is about to speak … then closes it, and softly shakes his head. "Nevertheless, none for me." He softly rub his sore right shoulder with his left hand. "I've had more than enough lumps for today."