n

n

nEron was a notorious spirit snatcher; according to Semmi, he was the strongest of his kind. The creature nestled down comfortably on Nix's shoulder.

"I will.

"

n

/Hotness: Nix: Those ingots are called Dragon steel. According to Tai, it's a fusion of metal and dragon bone.

n

/Hotness: Fajii: You saw Tai?

nWhisper: Pon to Nix Next time, bring me.

nWhisper: Wind to Nix I wouldn't mind revisiting her.

nNix ignored the whispers, Tai made favorable impressions on everyone she met.

n

/Hotness: Nix: Yes. Since she's a dragon, I figured she'd know what it was. Mount up; there's no way we are walking down.

n

/Hotness: Pon: Flying is too risky?

n

/Hotness: Nix: Opinions?

n

/Hotness: Fajii: I don't mind riding.

n

/Hotness: Semmi: Flying would be faster.

n

/Hotness: Wind: Maybe have one person try it. I nominate Pon.

n

/Hotness: Ronnie: Seconded!

n

/Hotness: Nix: Motion carried.

nNix smiled pleasantly at the old fire mage.

"Do a quick circle while in stealth.

"

nPon summoned his Daiken and took to the air. The creature stealthed and did a lazy circle around the edge of the crater.

n

/Hotness: Semmi: Good enough. Come back.

nThe group watched as the Daiken dipped one wing and banked back toward the edge. It happened so quickly; no one could react. A half dozen silver spears impaled the Daiken in an instant, the creature's pitiful wail echoed in the cavern.

n

/Hotness: Pon: F*ck me!

nEron has cast Blessed Life on Pon.

nNix extended a hand and sent a strand of emerald flame towards the fire mage; the old man made a desperate grab for it as his mount plummeted downward.

n

/Hotness: Pon: Damn...

nSemmi and Wind helped Pon climb up from the edge of the crater. The old fire mage refused to release the emerald flame strand until both feet were on solid ground. He had a single spear sticking upward through the back part of his leg, just above the knee.

nWind grinned at his friend and yanked the spear free. It was three feet long and an inch in diameter, one end had been sharpened to a fine point.

"Looks like the same metal.

"

nSummons: Nightmare

n

/Hotness: Nix: Looks like we're riding down.

nAn instant later, the cavern echoed with a roar.

n

/Hotness: Pon: The hell is that?

n

/Hotness: Wind: Guess we aren't sneaking in—good one old man.

n

/Hotness: Nix: Mount up.

n***************

nA few minutes later, the group was trotting steadily down the mining road. Fey and Ducky were riding on Morti's back; neither seemed overly concerned as they spoke in whispered conversation. The descent took nearly an hour.

n

/Hotness: Bali: There he is.

n

/Hotness: Nix: I see him.

nThe bottom of the pit contained a half dozen wagons, piles of different types of metal, and a single armored guard. He was still carrying the body of the clerk from Free Trader City.

n

/Hotness: Semmi: Somethings wrong.

nEron jumped from Nix to Fajii.

"It's an illusion.

"

n

/Hotness: Nix: Ducky?

n

/Hotness: Ducky: One moment.

nThe Water Witch walked forward slowly, both her hands extended outward from her body. Ducky has cast True Sight.

nThe illusion broke suddenly without any warning.

nBo'raz has cast Elemental Infringement

nYou may not use your primary element.

nPon may not use his primary element.

nSemmi may not use her primary element.

nFey may not use her primary element.

nRonnie may not use her primary element.

nBali may not use her primary element.

nWind may not use her primary element.

nWilo may not use her primary element.

nFajii: may not use her primary element.

n

/Hotness: Pon: We're f*cked.

n

/Hotness: Nix: Pon, Fey, and Wilo get behind us.

nBo'raz climbed slowly to his feet, thousands of dragon scales dropped to the ground where he stood. It seemed small for a dragon, only slightly larger than Fey was in her drakon form. Bright silver metallic skin was visible in the large splotches where scales were missing.

nNix pushed black ice into Wrath and lightning into his soul blade. The dragon moved toward them, its tail destroying a half dozen wagons that were parked nearby.

nBo'raz has cast Javelin

nCritical Interupt Morti has blocked an attack using Shield Allies.

nThe Titan Cave bear reared up on his hind legs and roared, its claws extended toward the dragon as two dozen spears stopped in mid-air before falling uselessly to the ground.

nTitan Charge

nMorti instantly covered the distance between himself and the dragon.

nGhost Step: Execution

nCombination attempt successful.

nNix has scored a critical hit on Bo'raz.

nNix landed the blow and then dodged to one side as Bo'raz countered with his tail.

nSummons: Rockfiend

nAn enormous Rock creature appeared in front of Nix an instant later. Without asking, it dived at the tail and held it to the ground.

nA Rockfiend Lord has cast Rockpile

nThe Rockfiend morphed into thousands of large boulders, pinning Bo'raz's tail to the ground.

nBo'raz has been rooted in place.

n

/Hotness: Pon: The hell... Where'd you get that you cheating bastard?

nCritical Chain: Trueshot

nRonnie has followed up Nix's attack with a critical hit.

nCritical Chain: First Strike: Double Backstab

nCombination attempt successful.

nSemmi has followed up Ronnie's attack with a critical hit X2.

nMorti slapped the dragon's head to one side when it snapped at him, the Titan's teeth sunk into the creature's neck while he used his strength to pull the beast off balance.

nWithout warning, the dragon's head and tail snapped off, sending Morti stumbling to one side.

nNix stared at the three separate pieces of Bo'raz.

"Eron?

"

nEron has cast Spirit Theft

nA flash of white light was all the warning Nix received before the dragon's body detonated. He felt his body picked up like a leaf in the wind as he was tossed into the air.

nYou have been stunned.

nBali has been slain.

nFey has been slain.

nPon has been slain.

nDucky has been slain.

nMorti has resisted stun.

nWind has been stunned.

nSemmi has been stunned.

nRonnie has been stunned.

nFajii has been stunned.

nNix shook his head to clear it, his head still ringing when he managed to stumble to his feet. Eron hovered in the air; a brilliant white light surrounded him. A thick tendril connected him to the dragon's main body.

"Eron?

"

n

"Kill it now; I can hold a bit of its spirit for a while.

" Eron's calm voice flowed into Nix's head, instantly breaking the after-effects of stun.

nThe remains of the dragon corpse split open, the loud clang of metal on stone sounding when it took its first step.

n

/Hotness: Ronnie: Oh **...

nThe creature took a second step; its silver eyes seemed unfocused until it crossed Nix's path.

"I've been awakened?

"

nThe silver human spoke softly, shrugging its shoulders as if testing out its own movement. It was nearly as tall as Morti; its entire body glowed bright silver.

n

"What is this, Bo'raz?

" Nix still held both blades in his hands; he moved to one side while Morti stood directly in front of it.

nThe silver eyes stared at him for a moment.

"Release my spirit, and I shall leave peacefully.

"

n

/Hotness: Fajii: Don't trust it.

n

/Hotness: Semmi: Is this a fight we can win Nix?

n

/Hotness: Wind: I'll follow your lead Nix.

n

/Hotness: Ronnie: He killed Bali, let's beat his ass!

nWhisper: Eron to Nix I'm not sure what will happen if I release my hold. I sense that this creature is hateful, but that doesn't mean he won't leave.

nNix shook his head slightly.

"You used your bones to create Dragon Steel. Where'd you get the rest?

"

n

"Fool... If you touched my Dragon Steel.

" Bo'raz's threat hung in the air; a moment later, the rasping sound of blades being drawn whispered as long silver swords emerged from the ends of Bo'raz's hands.

n

"You mean the crates upstairs? They're gone, of course. Deidra Mtui kindly opened a breach to confiscate them.

"

n

"Deidra?

" The silver head shook from side to side.

"She can't interfere; it isn't allowed.

"

nNix shrugged slightly.

"She said that someone has been raiding Khalam'Zhur, so the rules can be bent.

"

n

"DIE!

" Bo'raz darted around Morti and charged Nix, both of his blades slicing downward.

nNix has activated Chiba's Apprentice: 1st Form

n