ORIGIN

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Vargas stalked--that was the only word for it, he stalked, and swiftly--into Tunnel P. He was on a mission, rather than simply wandering, and the single-mindedness of his stride was blatant.

"Desert Rose Three Five!" he bellowed, his voice carrying.

He had news--worrying news--and he wasn't sure how much to tell them, or how much not to. For now, though, he hoped they were present--training, or what have you.

@Desert Rose Thirty-Five @Garnet Five-Seven-Nine @Doctor

The desert rose was here. Where else would he be? He had a warren to construct, a training ground to feed and let fester into growth.

The ringing voice rattled his brain. Overseer Vargas. The immediate call sent sparks into his nerves, dragging him out into the open and down more towards the middle of the hellish tunnel. He could already feel his wings burning- partly due to bashing the tips against the sides as he flapped forward between bounds.

"Yes, my overseer?" He was quick to bark out, a short, curt bow performed with a foreleg pulled under him. Complete deference, as it should be.

@Vargas

Ooooh, someone is calling?

Doctor had not yet had the pleasure of meeting Vargas. And when the Overseer called, and when his keen eye (literally his single keen eye) spotted Desert Rose rushing over, he curiously followed suit. Feathers ruffled, wings spread, and he flew to see what the fuss was all about. His heavy body landed some distance behind, at a polite and deferential difference, but unlike Desert, he did not bow. He wasn't sure he was meant to. Instead, his head cocked to one side, and he inspected Vargas curiously.

There was some faint nervousness at the thing's sheer size, but Desert didn't seem particularly worried, and anyway, it was fascinating. Spines and glow, spikes and so many teeth--Doctor had drawn closer before he realized it, inspecting Vargas with deep interest.

"My, you are fascinating, he breathed, and then--realizing himself--laughed a little. "Ahh, don't mind me! Doctor, at your service." A bow, an elegant flourish of wings, and he was peering back up again with cheerful interest at the Overseer. A brief sparkle of magic, a soft blue-white glow to his eye and he could see: Vargas was thriving with bacteria, though his internals held something unfamiliar to the vulture. But it was a healthy ecosystem, and the vulture ruffled his feathers, feeling the thrilling chill of such things wash over him. "You are very healthy!" he cried, approval in his tone.

Hemlocke, too, had been occupying Tunnel P for a moment - scouting out an adequate space in the wall's face for shelter from the hot, dry wind and any Lessers that might come snooping. Alone, the wily little things could be easily dispatched even by it, but sometimes they swarmed. Cave rats were the worst offenders. Ugh.

It carried down the hall toward the Overseer's booming summons. If Desert were being called, so should the rest. Doctor, one of his recruits, had already appeared and was marveling at the sight of Vargas.

The Eye alighted quietly with only a bow, assuming the fox-dragon had already answered.

She'd been inspecting around Tunnel P for a little while - it was a tunnel that she'd never visited herself and was most likely going to be her new home now, so she wanted to be a little more comfortable with it. A loud voice, however, distracted her and she looked up to see the Overseer making his way into the tunnel. Ears shot up and she turned and trotted over to join the other Sentinels, sitting down behind Desert Rose, dipping her head respectfully. "Overseer," she greeted, quietly.

When she looked back up, she realized he looked a little out of sorts, similar to the expression she'd seen when he'd delivered the news about Nemean falling to Astraea. Eyes narrowed with interest as she waited patiently for his news.

Vargas nodded absently at the greetings. He eyed Doctor with confused curiosity--he didn't know, or remember, this one, and he didn't think it was an older Champion. And Palefur--he looked to her with renewed interest.

"Ahh, cat, it is good that you are here. I must speak with you about potentially creating spawn," he began. He'd been intending to try and create a couple of offspring using the cat design. They were, supposedly, highly successful in the caves, and he was wondering whether spy and combat iterations would be doable; and if so, where the creature would best succeed.

"Another time, though--for now I have another warning for you all. The Masters are furious," he began. "I do not know what happened, but I know that Master Astraea has rushed off to give tasks to the gatherings of Gembounds. And I know that Master Nemean has gone to try and sabotage him. It is nothing serious, mind you--they are still allied, still our Masters--but they are in argument. This may pit Gembounds against one another--useful, of course--but you three must make a choice. Either you will all stay out of this, entirely, or you will split among the groups, and bring back information. If you were to all aid one or the other, and the Masters found out, it might well incur their wrath--on you and I both."

There. He hoped that that was clear enough.

@Hemlocke @Desert Rose Thirty-Five @Palefur

As others gathered about them, Desert offered greetings to each with a nod. Each arrived with a fair amount of expedience- good, including the recruit Hemlocke had picked up (Vargas's cat, apparently? Hm). It was good that they'd been managing to slowly get others into their group. Could be faster, but that was for later.

Ignoring the comment about breeding, Desert flicked forward his ears and lifted his faint impressions of eyebrows as he stowed away the information Vargas had to deliver. More master drama? The dragon was surprised Vargas had even considered allowing the few of them to even think about getting involved. This could end up deadly for their budding plans. But- information was useful in this day and age. They'd already received so little of it, so anything they could grab onto with tooth and claw was profitable in the end.

Glancing to his side at Hemlocke for the most part, Desert considered their arsenal. Doctor- he didn't know his abilities, but both Hemlocke and Palefur showed promising skills in stealth and spying. Especially Hemlocke. Desert, meanwhile, he was more of the covert- he could infiltrate and lie straight-faced if needed.

The mission was set, and they had the crew for it.

"Did you see where they ran off to gather others?" Desert spoke first, throwing his attention back to Vargas. "I'm wary about getting involved, but we should know what's going on." True, pitting these new Gembound against one another would be good for the Overseer, yes, but if they got involved they too put themselves at risk for whatever the Masters had devised up. Already, Desert's mind rolled over itself in prospective futures- revealing himself to be a previous champion, being used by one Master as an example- no, he'd have to be covert in this.

@Doctor

Doctor blinked. Or... was it still blinking, with one eye? Well this was all very unexpected. He'd come to research and practice medicine, not--spy, and delve into politics. Quickly he scuttled back a few steps, bowing his head as if trying to blend back into Tunnel P's rocky background.

"Ahh, I am just--the group's medic, no spy or fighter, don't mind me..." he apologized, retreating some.

It did sound interesting, though, if only in the sense that paying attention might lend him some clues about the state of the cave and its organization. It sounded to him like Vargas wanted to be able to claim that his minions, as it were, were spying on behalf of the Masters, despite their internal conflicts. So these conflicts weren't as important, perhaps, as information-?

Silent, he observed, halfway back now between the gathering and his work area.

Hemlocke sat down once it found that it would not be dismissed - and that the Overseer was pleased with his Cat's presence; hopefully with her continued presence and activity in the group as well, spreading the gospel of older days and contributing to what was best described as breeding projects. Running a paw over its ears, it listened attentively.

The Masters seemed to be bringing Youngers into the fold of their opposing goals for undisclosed reasons; it was likely, of course, to divide them. A divided people were far easier to conquer, instill control over. Prime strategy for the rise of the old days. Desert seemed wary of the prospect, but willing to hear further about it. Ruby-red eyes looked sidelong to him, a small nod and grinding beak offered. After a pause, it added, "it may prove beneficial to us if we gathered and provided information for the Masters - without assisting any particular gathering of them. Extra eyes in the caves could be helpful in keeping track of any of these activities."

It hummed softly, gaze trailing across the gathering. Doctor claimed to not be suited for stealth - despite his broad wingspan and brown coloration - and held a preference for all things medical. If the situation called for it, he could be forced into action as a part of these Sentinels. "How many gatherings of Gembound are there? We may need to decide which to focus on scouting and spying on."

@Palefur

Palefur gazed up at Vargas evenly, and dipped her head, excitement filling her veins at the hint of, at last, a purpose. A mission straight from the Overseer himself. "I look forward to it," she responded and then went respectfully silent while the Overseer continued.

She narrowed her eyes with interest as the Sentinels began to discuss this new possibility. She was still relatively in the dark, having never met either Astraea or Nemean or knowing much about them at all. Or, really, any of the Masters. She wasn't sure if she should even speak her opinion, since it would be an opinion built on very little factual evidence. Still, she raised her head. "I don't think we should get in the way of the Masters' plans, but there's no hurt in knowing what's going on." She said nothing else, for now, allowing the ones with authority to plan out what their actual plan and strategy would be.

oops sorry for the wait
@Vargas

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Vargas

Vander

Doctor

Hemlocke

Palefur

Vargas

Vander

Doctor

Hemlocke

Palefur