ORIGIN

Chaos-Two. The thought--sans the V--was a realization that came a moment after hearing the call. Vargas pushed up from where he'd been arranging a set of old bones. Lanky strides carried him toward the Black Spire, curious as to what his spawn was summoning him for this time. It had been trying, he thought, to make up for past slips; he had noted the effort, and he wondered what it would be doing now.

A report on gardens, perhaps? Or something else entirely-?

"Yes?" he called, as he drew closer--and then, as he swept around a craggy tower of boulders, came to an abrupt halt.

A Valkhound, he thought, surprise spiking up in him. That was impressive; if it was here to join him, that would certainly be a notch in Chaos-Two's belt. If. Even if not, he was interested in its presence, and the reason for it. Acid eyes scanned it as he pushed back into motion, approaching more slowly--drawing toward Chaos-Two rather than the stranger. There was no way of knowing if it were feral, and he had no intention of aggravating it before getting a better idea. The glowing blue eyes--paired--were quite similar to many old designs. The Oilstone-clad skull, the horns, the hulking body; those symbols are interesting, he thought, scanning them in some surprise. They did not look like any script that he had ever seen, though he'd never learned to read, either.

He looked to Chaos-Two, and awaited introductions--and information.

He listened to each of them in turn--the quiet, halting words of the newcomer and the calm explanation provided by V-Chaos-Two. To the remark about corruption and brain-addling, he gave a little snort. "I would not let Draconua hear you say that," he advised, wryly, before looking to Equinox again.

"I do not know whose design you are," he mused, aloud. "What has V-Chaos-Two told you about Draco, and the Chaos Forge?" His tone was patient, here. He needed to know what it knew, already, before asking it questions or--worse yet--launching into explanations over something that it had already been told.

But he held cautious optimism for this one. It seemed calm, if nothing else, and tractable, if even Chaos-Two could lead it here; "reasonable," as they had describe the creature. He noted, too, that Chaos-Two wanted to speak later--he'd address that when it was time; for now he simply acknowledged the fact and tucked it away for later.

Vargas looked at Equinox as he spoke, studying him once again. Studying his mannerisms, his movements, his overall demeanor. Chaos-Two's words drew his gaze again, a gaze which sharpened at its words. For a moment, he wondered blankly if it were stupider than he'd thought; it then apologized and he interjected, more loudly than before, more pointed. "Do I need to arrange a humor trainer for you, Chaos-Two?" he demanded, again wryly. "That was not instruction."

The rest he nodded along to. "Good," he said, though to what in particular wasn't clear. Maybe the entirety of it. He looked then to Equinox--he'd see how quickly it understood, and then give his assessment to Chaos-Two afterward. It might be the sort of creature worth reward.

"These nests," he began, addressing Equinox now, "exist to form monsters, beasts, and soldiers for our Creator. The strongest creations are periodically collected and handed off to our Creator to use. We of the Forge keep that process running. We examine designs. Create new ones. Train them, test them, and those that prove their designs and their willpower worth the Creator's attention are rewarded and used. If we fail in our mission, this nest would undoubtedly be destroyed, so we cannot fail."

He took a breath, eyeing Equinox over thoughtfully, with his next statement in mind: "The Forge members serve differing purposes to that end! Some grow food, as Chaos-Two organizes. Others train the spawn. Others hunt, or guard the growing chrysalises. Do you understand so far? -What do you think of it?" he asked, studying the surprisingly blue Valkhound before him.