Lightning in a Bottle

[Kristoff]

The world looks different from the optics of an elemental. For one thing, elementals like Kristoff don't 'see'. They 'feel'. The fibrous charges of electricity that surround his form touch the world ahead and behind him, giving him a unique sense of sight and sound. Unfortunately for an elemental of his nature, these 'feelers' don't see enough. It's like touching a stove with a naked hand. Sure, you know the fire is hot. Sure, you know your hand is singed. Sure, if you closed your eyes, you would certainly know that there's a stove there. But in spite of these certainties, there's also the unsettling quality of smoke that smells like flesh, of pain that courses through, of the realization that you probably felt something you shouldn't ever feel again.

Kristoff had a similar sensation, as he charged through the clouds above, his heart as light as the ephemeral form that his lightning took. He didn't exactly feel the pole of metal. He certainly didn't see it. He burned himself on it. Within moments, his energetic body was nothing more than a smoldering husk next to a rod of steel.

The lightning elemental didn't appear quietly, and that made his plight even worse. He appeared in the great city without clothes, without money, and most importantly, without any idea of why. A few moments before, he had been a blissful charge of energy, flying free through the skies above Khy'eras. Dumbfounded, he looked up at the rod that had pulled him to the earth, that cruel behemoth of metal and stone that pushed him into this abysmal plane.

It didn't take him long to smile, however. Kristoff loved a challenge.

Looking around, he noticed he was on an empty street. Thank the gods for that! At his feet, the ground was glowing with discharged energy. The metal pole itself was fine, standing in proud defiance of the energy that had just coursed through it. The rumbling thunder that Kristoff brought with his unwelcome presence was fading, bouncing off the walls of nearby homes, waking those unfortunate enough to hear.

Guards heard it as well. The city was armed and prepared, and he might be the exact type of entity they sought.

With white hair, a blinded eye, and scars that covered half his exposed body, the elemental was horribly exposed. If there was a sore thumb that stood out, he was probably the one who crushed it. Aware of this fact, he attempted to move. He attempted to become lightning.

Again, boom. He moved a half of a foot, at best, finding himself once more kneeling before the rod of metal that the Fellsguardians installed for exactly this purpose. He couldn't escape, at least he couldn't become his element. He was trapped by this blasted piece of metal. There was no way to 'fly'. He was grounded.

Groaning, he stood up. First thing's first. He needed some clothes.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

That can't be good. Turning towards the approaching guard, he smiled, a white toothed grin filled with way too much joy.

"Now I've got some clothes!" he laughed towards the guard, as static rolled through the street. Lightning rod or no, you don't want to get this close to electricity. Not at all...