ORIGIN

Character: Elspet Age: +1 Magic Level: +3 (Pupil) ROUND 1 Attempt: +12 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +5 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +16 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +12 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +2 Penalties: - ROUND 6 Attempt: +19 Penalties: - Total: 70

Character: Pride Age: +2 Magic Level: +5 (Master) ROUND 1 Attempt: +17 Penalties: - ROUND 2 Attempt: +4 Penalties: - ROUND 3 Attempt: +17 Penalties: - ROUND 4 Attempt: +6 Penalties: - ROUND 5 Attempt: +9 Penalties: - ROUND 6 Attempt: +11 Penalties: - Total: 71

WINNER: Pride

"Oh, really? Thanks!" Elspet grinned, infantile teeth still rather sharp and unfriendly, but she meant it in the kindest manner. She scooted back a ways as the fawn curled up next to her, back resting against the stone wall. Blinking, she shrugged at his question. "I just think and... it happens. Usually I think of a big, big sound and then it comes out. I didn't mean to really scare you! I didn't know you were right there and," she laughed slightly, "I just thought it would be funny to send one off through the tunnel. I'm sorry."

Clapping her hands onto her knees, the gorilla chirped, "I liked your magic too! It was super cool and, and, and you really threw me!" In hindsight, that was an awesome experience and it made Elspet wonder if she could do something like that too! Something through the primal elements of fire and lightning could carry something or someone, right?

@Pride

Pride watched the gorilla, for a moment, with even more relief and with faint amusement. He hadn't been sure if she was in control of herself--if she might ask for a fight, then attack him, or roughouse too hard perhaps. But she seemed cheerful, friendly, and he found himself suddenly warming to her apparent in-the-moment sort of nature. A bountiful enjoyment of life was something that he did not often think of indulging in, himself. He was calculating, detached, yet watching her grinning and clearly happy... Well, somehow, it made him happier, too.

He smiled at her, tail briefly flicking to and fro.

"Thank you. I have never tried to create fire, or anything else--merely to go straight to... doing what I need. To move a thing or... destroy it, or find something. And so on." He looked around slowly, taking in the tunnel a little more. At length he paced over to the carvings, peering up.

"I was looking at... some of these, when I heard your noise. Do you know what they are?" he asked, glancing to her. She had only been born yesterday, he knew, but perhaps someone had already told her? Maybe this other person she was so protective of?

"Maybe someday you could try to? It's nice and warm when it's not super like, hot. Yanno? Try things out like... check this out!" Elspet rubbed her hands together, attempting to call upon only a slight bout of magicka. Not enough to exhaust her further, but something. "I'm not gonna burn you, promise." Of course, the strain of so much casting had most certainly taken hold, only a sputtering bit of magic flowing to her hands. "Nevermind. Apparently I'm really not gonna even touch you." Regardless, she eased onto her knuckles and plodded after the fawn, shadowing him to the carvings on the wall.

"I've never seen these, but! The big thing in the middle looks like the mushroom in my home!" It wasn't as if she actually knew the name of the Monarch, the All-Mother, but still. Elspet wanted to touch the carvings for whatever reason, but decided not to. They felt sacred and old. "The things coming out of it though... they look like monsters. Are they us? Like... things with magic and gemstones?"

@Pride

Pride gazed up for a very long time.

At last, after great contemplation and in a voice of dignified wisdom, he spoke.

"I do not know." It was not quite a grand revelation, but it was what it was; he could make heads nor tails of the carvings. There were words, too, but he didn't know that: to him they were scratches, senseless marks. "What do you think those are?" he asked, nodding to them lightly.

"I may try to make fire some day. What was it you were going to... attempt?" he asked, turning back to Elspet. "And what it is that you plan to... do?"

He meant this last as sort of... grand life plans; what was Elspet's self-given purpose? What was she going to do with her life? He wasn't, however, very clear.

When Elspet did not answer, Pride found his attention drifting. He was tired, after all; she seemed distracted, and so he found a corner in which to curl up, for now, and rest.