The Center of Mau River

Several hours later Elder Havador himself had arrived on the scene. By now the magically created ice pool in the middle of the river was starting to overflow, and more of the toxic substance was beginning to spill over. Luckily Elder Havador's ice magic was of a much higher caliber than the others.

With a fierce glare he gathered up mana. Then he slammed his fists into the ground. A massive surge of cold propagated from the river bank. Like an angry gas cloud the cold gushed into the water in a perimiter around the toxic spill. A few seconds later an even larger circular ice barrier, a hollow half sphere about 100 meters in diameter, would form, cupping the toxic water right away.

Next he focused his magic on the portal itself. The cloud of cold rushed in and around the portal and attempted to freeze the toxic water itself, hopefully plugging the hole.

Havador scowled. but then he calmed himself and directed his attention to the anxious citizens. "Several mages from the Guardian Tower are on their way. They will have an anti-magic field erected around the portal to seal it once and for all. In the meantime we must stem the tide of damage." He ordered the farmers to start digging trenches to try to block the taint in the soil. He had the mages keep erecting barriers around the spill, slowing it down. Everyone was to persist with all their hearts, slowing down the spill with dirt, ice, air, even fire if some of it would burn. Even a second of extra effort could potentially save an acre of land.

He then reached into a burlap sack and pulled out a large green crystal.

Va'nei Dha'zhi, Earthwarden would not stand for this.

The tenacity at the spill was almost applause worthy. The spill seemed like a cruel practical joke. Regardless the flames would only be attempted once, and powerful wind magic would be employed to divert the noxious fumes away from the people. Oh dear.

Minutes later an elite group of mages appeared on the backs of Wyverns. These were high ranking members of the Falcon Corp, specially trained to have their falcons lay down anti-magic runes. The birds of prey circled around the portal. At certain points in their flight path would appear floating glyphs. The shimmering structures waited for their cohort to all be deployed at the same time. Once they were in formation, the mages began chanting.

The runes became luminous, and as they powered up the portal would start to shrink down until it could no longer sustain itself. Finally it would crackle out of existence.

The source of the threat had been eliminated, but the environmental disaster would take at least several days to clean up.

The farmers and mages were absolutely elated when their guardian appeared to assist them, though they still took pride in the responsiveness of their own forces. Many of them begrudgingly admitted that without the Land-Tiller's alliance with the people of Gauldin, they would not have known how to shut down the portal.

Va'nei would be surrounded by cheers and applause.

From this point on the anti-magic Falcon Corps would start setting out routine patrols.

Havador would bow respectfully in thanks, but he would also still appear concerned.

Of course the senior mages would ask, "Great one, thank you for arriving so promptly. Have you ever seen anything like this before? Who would do such a thing?"

Havador tried to maintain a calm expression as he watched the other mages finish up. Truth be told his temper was only just starting to cool off. "I will send a message to the Guardians of Gaia. They will want to assist with any remaining clean-up and examine the strange substance. It appears to be filled with magic, but of a volatile, incoherent nature." She turned to the Earthwarden. "It will be alright. You arrived just in time. Thank you once again.

He looked curiously at the strange plants and how they absorbed the strange substance. He found it odd that the plants seemed to be glowing different colors. Oh well.

"Before you leave feel free to rest and eat. How have you been? Is everything alright on your travels?"

"Yes, Noroth, the little scamp of a thing! I still remember when you first brought him to the longhouse. That seems like an entire age ago. I expect he will grow to be a strong young dragon."

Havador took the rather undignified action of lying down next to Va'nei. "Ah yes. Our people seem to be growing stronger by the day. The knowledge we have gained from the other nations has benefited us greatly." The old man yawned and looked up at the sky. "I personally am alright. I am in good health despite my age, but as the Land-Tillers prosper I fear I am out-growing my usefulness. The next generation is preparing to rise up to honor this great land. I wonder how many years I have left on this earth. Old Esejef of the Sodalite probably knows, but he refuses to tell me. Ha ha ha."

"There are several candidates for the next head elder should I pass. Raynor is one. Perhaps Goga or Kimana. Sangilak is another, though she is rather young. Some say we should have an elf be the next elder. A few people have even nominated Raynor's daughter! She is far too young however. Perhaps some day." He turned towards the dragon's head. "Forgive me for boring you with the politics of our people. In your life time perhaps a hundred elders have gone by. Would one more be so interesting to you?"

Havador decided to rise yet again. It didn't do for the leader of his people to be lying down when a crisis had just been averted. "I must summon the Guardians immediately. You are free to rest as long as you wish."

After several hours later the Guardians of Gaia came. Several druids started to ask the surrounding mages what exactly happened. Then they got a chance to examine the substance itself.

All they could say was, "What the balls?"

Using enchanted earthen pots, they began to collect as much of the substance as they could, and pull it out of the water. They had Va'nei's decontamination spell on stand-by in case the weird substance broke containment.

<exit>