Flash, bang, sis boom bah

Leave it out in a lightning storm, Safrin had told him, and the best and most reliable place to get lightning storms was definitely the Levinsward.

But it still made Tal jumpy as fuck to wait until a lightning bolt crashed down nearby before scampering over to plant a metal pole firmly in the dry earth. He tossed his Vest up onto it and then moved back to give it plenty of space.

Plenty of space. He really didn't want to be too close it when the lightning came down on it. He'd seen Sunjata's scars, thanks, and he didn't need matching ones!

"How long d'you think we'll have t'wait?" he asked Sah uneasily, shifting from foot to foot. He was impatient, sure, but also just nervous about feeling so exposed without his armor on. It had saved his life too many times now to be set aside so easily, but for the purpose of making it stronger? Well, allowances could be made.

And if he was doing a lightning-based Safrin quest, who else would he ask to come along? The companions were back in the Glade at the moment, awaiting their return for the next parts of the quest. No point in risking them out in the stormy plain, especially if one of the constant lightning strikes lit the dry grasses on fire!

yet my blood renders me a King

Sah found it ironic that Talyson was on a lightning-themed quest. The volatile element was certainly useful, and he'd seen firsthand how its presence in the courier's armor benefited him. Perhaps he'd seek a quest to give his own armor an additional property. Though, certainly something different than lightning?

When they arrived at the Levinsward, Sah felt a wide grin stretch across his face. While Tal set up his armor, Sah tipped his head back and closed his eyes. Breathing in the lingering scent of ozone in the air, and hearing the occasional howl of wind, he felt right a home.  This place was incredible. Why hadn't he come here before? The Wild Thunder's own magic hummed beneath his skin at every strike to the ground, each distant bank of thunder matching his heartbeat.

Talyson's voice pulled him out of his reverie, and the Abandoned glanced over with a smirk at his frenemy's unease. "If the source of the storm doesn't matter, I can create one for you."  It'd be a relatively easy task, especially given their location.

Sah

Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sah without killing him. 

Magic: Cold Resistance (Passive) | Can comfortably exist in temperatures as low as -45c. Will experience colder temperatures as if they were -30c cooler (i.e., -60 would feel like -30)
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded

Tal had figured that Sah would like the Levinsward. The hunter's obsession with lightning made him a perfect fit for the storm-ridden plain, so once the courier had learned that his frenemy hadn't been to the place yet, it made even more perfect sense to drag him along.

But right now he just wanted to get this particular task over with so he could put his Vest back on, where it belonged. He was going to have to take it off for another task later... but not right just yet. He could do that one last. And in the meantime, he could use his zap-happy friend's favorite element to hurry things up a bit!

"She didn't say it had t'be natural," Tal agreed, eyes glued to his Vest so that he missed Sah's smirk. "Can y'just whistle one up, then?" Not that the Wild Thunder would need to do much whistling. Not here on the Levinsward. He didn't need to create a storm so much as convince the unending one above them to aim for the shiny armor on the metal stick!

yet my blood renders me a King

Sah let out an adrenaline-filled laugh. "Absolutely." His magic was already raring to go. Walking closer to the armor so that it'd be at the center, he nudged Talyson behind him. "Just in case." Melita's face flashed in his mind for a brief moment, but he stomped it down.

With that, the Wild Thunder took a breath and called on his magic. The storm already above them answered with ease. The sky darkened further, and the wind picked up. Within a few minutes, the storm was raging. Sah had to fight down the instinct to add rain but managed. His lightning, however, caught even him by surprise. It was stronger. So much stronger. Stronger than his air magic when all of his abilities should be equal in strength. What the fuck?

The Abandoned's eyes widened, but he was still in control. Lightning began to strike the armor and the area just around it in quick succession. After a few moments, he let out a breath and willed the storm to return to its previous state. It took another few moments, but afterward, he glanced back at Talyson, "Is that enough?"

He hoped so. Something had changed with his lightning magic, and he didn't understand why.

Sah

Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sah without killing him. 

Magic: Cold Resistance (Passive) | Can comfortably exist in temperatures as low as -45c. Will experience colder temperatures as if they were -30c cooler (i.e., -60 would feel like -30)
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded

Tal glared a little when he was nudged behind the hunter, but something that flickered across Sah's face stifled his protest. He stepped back silently, pulling his Goggles into place to protect his eyes as he watched the storm deepen above them. It didn't take long for things to start getting spicy, and the courier scowled against the wind that tried to tug his hair out of the neat queue he'd pulled it back into.

One would have been enough, but several strikes lanced down in quick succession before he could protest. Tal squinted through his protective eyewear in alarm, a little thread of worry curling like ice down his spine as he peered at his Vest to make sure it was still intact--

"Yeah, yeah that's great, thanks," he mumbled absently, patting Sah's shoulder in his distraction. He was pretty sure the Vest was still unharmed, but he wouldn't know for certain until he'd gotten his hands back on it. "Now can y'keep it away from me while I get it back?" Wouldn't that be just the sort of thing to make Ludo cackle? Getting hit by lightning after finishing the first task!

Though speaking about getting hit by lightning...

Once he was sure that Sah had control of the local storm, enough to protect him at least, Tal darted past the other man to retrieve his armor. Getting off the pole took a moment, but as soon as it was cool enough to touch he had it wrapped around his shoulders and was buttoning it closed again. "C'mon. Let's head back t'the Glade an' check on th'companions. An' then maybe y'can help with the next task?" he asked hopefully, already leading the way off the lightning-scattered plain.

yet my blood renders me a King

Sah nodded, "Sure." The Abandoned kept an eye on the sky, taking control of any lighting that aimed to strike too close to the courier and redirecting it elsewhere. It was almost meditative and a good exercise. If he ever trained with Elizabeth again, he'd bring up the idea. He had a feeling that she'd enjoy the challenge of it.

Talyson quickly inspected and put on his armor, and Sah sent Lilly and Pad a quick mental prod to let them know that they were heading back to the Glade. Both wolves could feel his lingering anxiety, and he silently tried to reassure them as he listened to Talyson speak.

The Wild Thunder tilted his head as they began to walk, "I'll help. What do you need?" Given the nature of the quest, Sah wasn't sure what to expect. The armor was now thoroughly entrenched in lightning magic. And from what Talyson had said, this was a Safrin quest. Not a Ludo one. So, surely, he wouldn't need to attack Talyson?

-[FIN]

Sah

Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sah without killing him. 

Magic: Cold Resistance (Passive) | Can comfortably exist in temperatures as low as -45c. Will experience colder temperatures as if they were -30c cooler (i.e., -60 would feel like -30)
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded