Ladies and Lords of the Lake|Ronduin

[Kender Bard]

With Cascata and a couple of their Water slaves supporting the army, the Clear types push on over the water, destroying whoever and whatever gets in their path. After a brief rest on one of the islands so that the water types could continue to carry them, the Clears have now reached the shores of Ronduin. This part of the city is deserted though - one of the patrol groups they'd run into had a survivor, and he'd slipped away to warn of the impending doom. Cascata stands silent, tears in her eyes as she looks around her beautiful homeland and sees only the ruins to come.

Looking satisfied, the Clear types resume the march into the heart of the city, and the slaughter begins as they send their slaves out to capture or kill.

Chase looks to Shadow and orders, "If anyone from this city comes too close to us, kill them."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow glares darkly at Chase, but reluctently nods. Glancing over at Cascata, he gives her a sad, apologetic smile.

[Kender Bard]

Cascata doesn't meet his gaze. She's just staring blankly in front of her, most likely concealed in that little inner world she'd mentioned before. Diane gives her a sharp poke in the side, bringing her back to reality.
"Let's go to your quarters and establish a base there," she orders. Cascata nods absently and marches with the group into a beautiful, spiralling building. Inside, people are cowering fearfully, and a few of them make some attempt to strike back, firing gushes of water and coming after the group with tridents.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow looks pained, but he has his orders and it doesn't matter how little he wants to follow them. Sighing, he begins firing off powerful bolts of lightning at the attacking Water elementals. If he has to kill them, he can at least try and make it quick to reduce their pain.

[Kender Bard]

As the resistance against the group begins the dwindle, the Clears are pleased to find their path completely unimpeded. They're aware that their slaves are probably talking the bulk of the fighting - nobody wants to get near two three-signs. That doesn't matter much, though, because they've just seized and entire island of slaves.

Cascata leads them right to her old office, which doubled as her home; otherwise she'd have never gotten any sleep. Diane and Chase order their slaves over to a window to stay there and watch over what's happening. Meanwhile, they begin setting things up for what will be a flood of elementals to imprint and conquer.

Cascata stares out the window, then gently rests her forehead against the glass. "Are we elementals doomed?"

[Northen Light36]

"Don't even suggest that," snaps Shadow, although he keeps his voice low enough not to attract the attention of their Clear masters. "Do you think the other Elemental leaders will just be sitting around? I know Damien and Lya are working together, and I'm sure they'll have the sense to contact the other Elemental leaders... It's not over yet, and when it is, it won't be the Clears who win this."

[Kender Bard]

Cascata lifts her head and sighs, "But Shadow, they have Ronduin under their control now."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow sighes and puts a hand on Cascata's shoulder comfortingly. "I know, but we can't give up hope. As long as there's one person left to fight, there'll still be a chance, no matter how small."

[Kender Bard]

"Thank you, friend," Cascata murmurs. "Do you worry for Maelstrom?"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow sighes. "I heard our masters telling the other Clears to leave Maelstrom alone... Apparently that was the price of Darkstorm betraying me," he replies, with a sneer on the word 'masters'. "So I don't fear Maelstrom falling to the Clears anytime soon at least... Although that may be a far better fate then having either Darkstorm or Tempest as Ruler." Shadow shakes his head and stares unseeingly out the window with a rueful smile. "I should have listened to Flash and had Darkstorm excuted the moment I recived hints of him plotting against me..."

[Kender Bard]

"Why is it your people fight for power?" Cascata asked softly. "The Waterlings rarely have power struggles. You and the Fire types, your people are both so.. violent."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow shrugs slightly. "It is in our natures to complete I guess," he replies simply. "It's merely what comes naturally to both my people, and Damien's." He chuckles and adds, "It's probably also what makes it imposible for Damien and I to spend more then an hour in close company without an exchange of fire and lightning."