Fragments Gallery
The Summoning: Shield
Tamara was a solitary shape on a lonely island. The casual observer, while looking on, may see her as crazy for being alone so far out to sea, but she had reason to be out there. That observer, whether passing by on a ship or looking out to sea through a fine telescope, would see a lone young woman, perhaps in her twenties, standing on a small plateau of rock surrounded by water. She was dressed in a vibrant blue dress. The dress, tight in the bodice but with loose, long and flowing skirts, blew in the wind while a light grey cloak, fastened around her slender neck, fluttered at her side. Up close one could see that her large eyes stared upwards as she softly murmured arcane words. Her long wavy chestnut locks rode the wind, its colour providing a backdrop for her olive features.
She raised her hands in the air and sorcerous energy sparkled in the air. The clouds overhead continued to darken as her power did its work. Magical undertaking takings of this… scale would take their toll; both her and the world she was surrounded by would suffer for it.
Magical lightning crackled across the sky as Tamara's eyes drifted shut; the energy emanating from that display of light would only augment the magical aura already growing around the rock on which she stood. Any creature within a few leagues radius with a small amount of magical potential could not help but notice her presence now. Some may even come to investigate. Normally Tamara strove to avoid such unwanted attention but soon it would not matter. A few minutes more and they would be unable to harm her.
Gigantic orbs of ice rose slowly from the water; the three perfect spheres spun circles around the island gradually increasing in speed as they went. The sparse grass at Tamara's feet withered and dried as the life was sucked from it. It wouldn't take long for the island to become a dead and blackened rock.
Lost deep within her incantation a part of Tamara sensed something approaching, she couldn't stop to defend herself against it however or all this would be lost. But neither could she speed things up; she could only hope that she was done in time.
The orbs began to spin around her piece of rock more furiously. High above a point of blue light appeared and quickly it began to spread downwards. Within moments it had formed an umbrella over the island, and it wasn't done yet. The blue continued to spread towards the water. It wouldn't be long before it reached the sea so far below and formed a sphere around the rock. It would be a shield to keep her safe as she completed her work.
The approaching presence was within sight now and her eyes opened once more; it was a dragon. Not a friendly sort of dragon either, green scales rippled along its body. It roared as it saw her magical dome and doubled in its efforts to reach her before the dome closed.
The young woman closed her eyes and continued her chant. There was nothing else she could do. Her heart pounded ferociously as the power grew around her. The dome shook as something struck it with great force and her eyes flew open. She struggled to maintain her calm as the dragon bashed on the outside of the dome. The dome had completed in time.
It took her a moment to realize the dragon’s efforts were having no effect on her magic; it apparently reached the same conclusion at around the same time for it changed tactics and let forth a great torrent of fire against her shield. The barrage continued for several seconds before the fire dwindled out.
Tamara ceased her chanting as the first spell of many, the dome, caught and solidified on the fabric of her reality. It would last for some time now without any active effort on her part. She would rid herself of the pesky green and then continue on.
She chanted a new spell as her hands wove the words in the air. Once more she felt the draw of power from the rock and water surrounding her. She reached through her shield to touch tendrils of magic to the clouds so high above. At her touch the clouds rumbled and lightning shot forth. The dragon, sensing her intentions, bellowed again and struck against her magic but it was already too late, the clouds had already been affected. Sizzling bolts slammed into the dragon's hard scales knocking it away from the dome.
The green dragon roared in frustration before it allowed the lightning bolts to chase it away. Even a beast as powerful as it was didn't want to face her power right now.
The massive ice orbs continued to spin overhead within the dome.
Now she could really get to work. Her hands glittered as she called forth the power once more.