ORIGIN

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Hemlocke felt distinctly jealous as it turned to watch Palefur's chunk of stone be given life - what did that cat have that it didn't? Several thousand years of experience in the trials? Wings? Keen eyesight and proven worth as a servant to the Overseer? No - it drew its thoughts to a shuddering halt, visualizing what that small rebellion might net it. It had whatever place in life was determined for it. There was no use moping about it. This was just how it was, at this moment in time.

Though, given the freedom it had - however temporarily - to breed as it pleased, Hemlocke's envious state turned to something a little more mildly malicious. The Overseer had praised it plenty (far more than some other servants might be, at least) for completing its tasks and assigned missions. It was a proven design in the Trials and now outside of them. The Overseer also was curious about designs utilizing Palefur's - the Cat.

Put two and two together, and you've got a character motive: this child will combine what is best of myself and what is seen in this Cat - they'll be better than Palefur.

So, with a little tap-a-tap of stone, the alien tossed a shard of stone towards the cat. "Here - if you wish." She could, of course, take a hard pass. To which the garnet would take pretty great offense to, but not visibly. It was too coward for that.

@Palefur

Vargas quickly pulled the small, red stone toward himself, lifting it and looking it over. Something approaching eagerness, excitement, trickled through him. As before--these were his decisions now... and theirs, he supposed. For once, no Master was here to tell him "no."

Or rather, they'd basically given him free reign with an unsaid "do whatever the hell you want," since the caves were in total disarray. We will get it back the way it was. And for that...

He lowered his hand, pressing it against the warm red of the jewel. The still-unfamiliar magicka trickled out as he passed a part of him into it, the way he'd been told this generation did so. And again, he thought it worked. He wasn't sure; it hadn't really... done much. He hoped it had worked.

...For that, we will need forces. Satisfied, he sat back, and moved to place the red stone beside--and a bit away from--Elyon's donated Orthoclase. The Orthoclase would likely expand on the rock; the ruby... who knew? He gave it the benefit of the doubt, spacing them well enough that even if they grew to near his size, they would not bleed into one another.

"There," he said, and looked at last to the other three. He'd been paying them no heed whatsoever, his full attention on his own task as he let them choose, debate, and cast.

He was, however, interested to see what they had chosen.

Palefur took a deep, shuddering breath as she stepped back. She was tired. Magic was tiring. And this particular breed of magicka was more exhausting then anything else. When Hemlock came forward with a piece of its stone, for a second she considered refusing, more out of fear that she couldn't do it.

But that would be equal parts rude and turning down a good opportunity. Her thoughts on the matter were similar to Hemlocke's although far less malicious and more...orderly. A combination between them would make an excellent hybrid and a good tool for the Overseer to use. So she nodded wordlessly and pulled the gemstone close, pushing another surge of magic through her paws this time before sliding it back. That was her limit, then. One for Desert, one for Hemlocke, and one for the Overseer.

Beneath her exhaustion, she felt a profound sense of pride and joy at having finally fulfilled a purpose. She was finally useful, even if it were as a breeding pawn.

Vargas observed with approval. They were obeying without question--that was expected, for the Champions, but from Palefur it was a good sign--and the magic seemed to be working. Chips of stone were cleaving off and glimmering with magic.

Good.

"Good," he grunted. "Don't leave these unguarded. I assume the vulture can keep watch; I will be back and forth, myself."

He had another chrysalis to check on, too. A hidden one. Was it secret? He wasn't sure. Why hadn't he planted it here..?

Hm.

Regardless, he had nothing else to say. He turned and stalked out into Canis, leaving them to it. It boded well; it left him in a good mood. Perhaps he ought to have given them some sort of speech, but Vargas wasn't really the speech-giving sort.

Actions spoke louder than words--and, at last, they were acting.

exit Vargas

Hemlocke watched idly as the cat accepted its offering and seemed to give it a flux of magicka - the garnet swelled imperceptibly, and the champion plodded forwards to gather up either fresh chrysalis and situate them carefully beside the others. There was plenty of space between themselves and the Overseer's children. Those would most certainly grow far larger.

The Eye nodded and bowed to its Overseer (there was nothing else to say) before turning to the chrysalises with an... odd sensation tugging at its chest. Something akin to the adrenaline rush of fleeing from an Eyehook, but far more gratifying. It unhelpfully attributed this maternal instinct to being tasked with keeping constant watch on the children as they developed.

Magicka coiled through its gemstone. It was of an unfamiliar sort, and nearly unwanted until a rather sharp-looking barricade of cloudy glass points began to stem from the earth. Each point was a mere foot long, but interwove like a hedgehog's quills. They were imposing enough, a sign not to touch the small garnets and selenite.

Then, with a nod towards the other two servants to the Overseer - "I best be off, then." - the champion ascended and flapped off towards Cetus.

;exit hemlocke

Desert, he... He didn't know how to feel about this. So, they just.. Grew, now? It struck him that he knew nothing about children. Family? Sure, he got that, but parents? Children? No. That was lost on him, and he found himself nearly staring at the budding growths of rock. Brief consideration was given to Vargas's two- was Vargas here earlier with a different being? Oh course he wouldn't give his own gem- however, having Vargas's magic would be a gift none would reject.

Desert should see if his overseer would breed with him next time- if there would be a next time. Unknown magic flowed from him as it collected with a spell about the chrysalises laid on the ground in any case, and the dragon gave a brief noise of affirmation at both statements from the other beings.

Part of him didn't want to leave. These children, they had to be safe they had to-

Maybe that's why he'd collected all those gems. They held magic, he knew, but... He didn't know what drove him to collect. A dragon's intuition, perhaps. A shiver ran down his scales as he came to the realization of a hoard beginning to develop. That was bad news- a niggling voice in the back of his brain told him he didn't deserve the free time to collect things. He should be devoting his time to the Sentinels, to the tasks Vargas had given him. But when the task involved waiting and down time, then...?

He had to shove that deep down. As much as he didn't want to leave, the instinct to run rose like a tide of acid, burning away at his muscles. He had a job to do. He couldn't worry about these children. They time would come when it'd come.

Swallowing hard, Desert barely made a huff before taking off to Canis, his veins pulsing red hot with a confusing mixture of emotions.

;exit Desert

Everyone else was leaving, going back to their spy missions, but Palefur didn't know how they had the strength to do that, after using so much strong magic. Then again, she had been the only one to give three times - the others had been only two. That, she hoped, deserved her at least some rest.

She didn't really want to, to be honest - she had a job to return to, now that this purpose was complete. But she knew it would be foolish and reckless to run back into the field in the state she was in. She would only give herself away.

With a deep sigh, she turned and settled herself down next to the spires that Desert Rose had erected, curling up to take a short nap - and falling quickly into sleep.

*exit

The influx of life in Tunnel P stirred the hibernating magic of a hidden chrysalis, long lost to rockfalls and shifting landscapes of the caves; a shuddering in the wall loosed several chunks of rock that fell away to reveal an ugly, oily stone that began to glow with life. It was not too far off from those protected by glass spikes. Its magic pulsated as if with a heartbeat, glowing green veins rippling through the odd stone with each beat. It would not wake yet. The chrysalis was still partially hidden, viewable from the cracks and small holes that had opened, but easily missed.

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Hemlocke

Vargas

Palefur

Vargas

Hemlocke

Vander

Palefur

Game Master CJ