Vuroja

"I have considered the proposal that the Council put forth to me at our last meeting," Achlys announced, wings stretched and back arched in the prescribed manner of the speaking Councillor. "I have come to offer a solution." She gestured to her mate with her tail.

Wenyihuo raised a wing, and a long blue Spiral emerged. He lazily drifted over to Achlys, his manner confident and composed, even smirking a little at the looks of shock and outrage on the faces of the Council members he passed.

"What is this blasphemy!"

"You dare contaminate our sacred tower with the presence of a Lich?"

"Kill it! Kill them both!"

Wenyihuo stood, teeth bared in a snarl. Achlys waved her tail at him to stand down. "Peace, my Mancers. He is no Lich."

The Spiral slowly drifted from face to face, finally stopping in front of Alden. "You, at least, should recognize me. You administered my Trial."

The elder Fae squinted through his spectacles. "Vuroja. It can't be."

"Tell them, old one. Tell them how I passed with flying colors, capable of infecting from great distances."

"He speaks truth," the Fae admitted. Gathering his robes of state, he flew closer to the Spiral. With a brief shudder, he reached out and touched one of the dark markings on his sides. "He is not contaminated with the Shade," he called out, flicking his crests in relief. "The Blessing of the Mother still resides within."

"I'll be the judge of that." A mighty Imperial Fire-born Necromancer stretched forth his head into the center of the tower. "Face me, small one."

The Spiral smirked. "Naturally, Lord Flagration. I will be pleased to demonstrate what has changed in me."

"Call for a Duelist," someone announced.

"That will not be necessary," Vuroja said. He flexed and contracted his foreclaws, holding them loosely in front of him.

"Very well." Flagration's unique contamination shot forth from his maw; raging fire and raging fever. As quick as lightning, the Spiral twisted his claws in midair. Thick ropes of water formed, wrapping around and around the massive putrescence and rendering it harmless.

The Imperial chuffed. Several Necros near him stepped back, fearing his retaliation. Others hurried to whisper in his ears.

"This is the art of the Water mage," Achlys announced. "They are weak to Plague magic. They know this, and have developed many defensive arts to prevent infection. Now you see how difficult it is to introduce them to the ways of the Mother."

"However," Vuroja continued, "I went deep into the Leviathan Trench with them. I trained for several years in the hunt, capture, and killing of the unspeakable monsters that dwell there. This has marked me, as you see now. I learned their strengths and their weaknesses."

"So our attack can be very soon then?" queried a young, ambitious Mirror.

"Attack?" Vuroja laughed. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Attacking is the last straw. The Mother wished to draw all into Herself. We must send peaceful Missionaries to ingratiate themselves with the Water clans, valiant Holy Knights to join them in their endless wars against the Shade-touched creatures of the deep, and above all..." he paused, making sure that every dragon was listening. "Oracles. Oracles who can divine the will of the Plaguemother, and can translate it into words the sea-dwellers can understand. They are without guidance even from their own weak god."

Vuroja turned his attention to the ball of fiery plague contained within his own spell. It seethed and frothed, but could not escape. He reached out and melded the plague and the water into a single rope. "Then, and only then, can we strike." Suddenly he released his hold. The plague-fire-water rope shot straight at Flagration, driving itself deep into his flesh.

The Imperial bellowed, and angrily turned his attention to healing himself. The Spiral slipped back to his former place on Wenyihuo's back. Achlys addressed the Council once more. "Feel free to question me about the details later."


The inspiration behind the Rusalka Divergence:
Him as baby:

Change his tert to Midnight, and he becomes a Lich.


The Droplet Dive badges (2022-2023):
Level Submission Form
Rank 1: Bubble
Rank 2: Ashray
Rank 3: Nix
Rank 4: Baoidhre
Rank 5: Selkie
Rank 6: Jengu
Rank 7: Panlong