Chapter 3

Tomas doesn't draw his pick as he stands on the shore, Herod's unconscious form lying between the water-y creatures and him. Not after what Spring had told him... He'd have to try and rely on the strange energy that was apparently drawn to him.

Facing his two open hands together, like he's grabbing some invisible ball, Tomas chants slowly at first and to himself and then picking up in speed in volume.

"Come on, please. Magic, Magic, MAGIC, MAGIC, MAGIC!!!"

Halfway through, his chanting his right hand begins to shine a bright, painful blue-white while the left emits a sickly green. The two energies come together and form a swirling ball of energy as he lifts his hands overhead. Crudely, he lobs the ball forward as the blue-white energy overcomes the other and lands on the elemental's shoulder. A loud sound is heard with the ball's impact and steam is sent billowing forth. Tomas looks down at his hands in surprise and returns his hands to their original position, palms facing one another.

Remembering himself, Tomas splashes into the water to come up to Herod's form, Krigare doing battle with the creatures just in front. As he tries to find a grip on the monk's clothes to carry the man away, he shouts to both of his conscious allies, "To shore!"

Seeing Herod floating, seemingly lifeless, Krigare's determination rises. Cutting him free is one thing, but the creature can still do damage.

"Help is needed here," he calls over one shoulder as he swings his blade again, "Herod has fallen. I'll keep the beast engaged. Pull our friend to safety."

Ronda tosses the chest onto the sand and turns back, expecting to see Herod right behind her but instead sees him unconscious in the water. Damn! I told him to run! Then she hears Krigare's call. Throwing her knife at the watery creature as she moves, the half-orc splashes back into the water to help Tomas haul Herod to shore.

Tomas helps Ronda drag Herod out of the watery shallows to safety, with Krigare on their heels. He nods to the intimidating paladin, aware of the divine blessings he can impart upon others. Herod should be up in no time.

Tomas looks at the chest, back at his allies, and then down. Thinking of Spring, the jade green shard materializes in his hand.

"... It looks like they're guarding that chest. They seem pretty strong. I don't think we should fight them, not when Berda is in danger and we're making our way to a mad wizard.

But I don't like to lose either...

I'm- I'm going to try something. Don't freak out, please. Spring says that they're safe and under my control. I trust Spring... and please trust me."

With that, Tomas cuts into one palm with the point of the elliptical shard, his blood shooting up into the shard in tendrils then dissipating in a wispy fashion, as though it were underwater.

The sands of the beach start shifting...

— What in the...? I grumble, as my foot catches some root while my attention was focused on the skeletons...

Death save

Krigare sheathes his sword and immediately attends to his downed ally. Resting a palm against Herod's shoulder and mutters a low prayer to the Lady of Strategy.