ORIGIN - Are We The Baddies..?

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Astraea simply nodded to the larger creature, excusing its lateness without a word; because it was time.

As the stone broke releasing the shade and master within, Astraea waited patiently, watching as the form emerged and was glad to see it had remained the same. Vargas went through some personal self-checks and still, Astraea waited, watching, also curious to know that everything would be familiar for Vargas.

After a time, Vargas looked up to them and Astraea gave a curt bow in return.

"Two weeks." His ears lifted and a wicked grin angled his lips. "Welcome back Master Vargas, the Leviathan." Astraea's nose lifted and his ruby shimmered to life. The shadows in the room bubbled, boiled, and burst, escaping the hole and rising out into the caves.

It would be known to all: a new Master had been born, and they would show him the same respect they might show the others. It was not optional. Vargas could Command them the same as Astraea, the same as Lord Dhracia, with just a glance.

Astraea looked back to Vargas, his grin still evident and his ruby still aglow. "Unfortunately the zodiac titles are all taken, or insignificant now, so I hope you enjoy being the Leviathan." It was fitting enough, at least; more fitting than any of the zodiac titles for one such as Vargas.

"We will begin searching for those strong enough to take on the golem blocking access to Ursa, which will free our path to Draco. You may participate, as you are strength based, but my magic might only enrage it." He turned to the Orthoclase. "You as well will be good for it. If you can, recruit others that might be strong without magic; but those strong in magic will also be useful, just... it is more dangerous."

@orthoclase-alpha

Its tardiness was excused, so it hung by the wall - and simply watched. Smoke and darkness swept out from the chrysalis, and the orthoclase half-expected the room to plunge back into darkness.

But, no, here was its Master, freshly-emerged and the same. Still, trepidation made its neck crawl, quills pinning up slightly with goosebumps. Alpha stayed its stance - no matter how much it wanted to shift and pace - and returned the dip of a head. This was... raw power. Astraea harbored incredible, terrifying power (enough to turn infected Lessers inside out with a flick of his tail) but it did not feel quite so tangible as this, having bore witness to it's... receiving(? His recreation?)

The stag cast the shadows out of the room, to crawl all around the Caves, and Alpha managed to neatly sidestep them - even as they skirted around it.

Neon eyes flickered away from the last dredges of them as Astraea spoke again, to it and the Leviathan, now. It lowered its head as much as it could, staring past its eyelids as opposed to looking straight down at the stag. "Whatever you command, Master Astraea - Ove - ahem, Master Vargas," it answered, to either of them. The orthoclase turned briefly to the latter, clearing its throat again. A different title would be an adjustment.

That's all from Alpha, it seemed.

@Vargas

His mind was still groggy, but sharp enough to start the gear-churning work of catching up with the present.

Vargas ran down a brief mental checklist.

Body: intact.
Cave: mostly the same. Smoke pouring out--eh? Okay, leave that one for later.
Altar? -His head swung toward it, checking it over. -Intact.
Astraea: here, present, also intact...

Ah.

The new Master looked to Astraea, thinking, briefly. He was not... quite sure how to address him, now; previously he'd been respectful, deferential (let's leave out the fearful incidents), but briskly businesslike and to-the-point. Vargas had always been both loyal and invested in his work.

What, then, was their new relationship-? Ought he to treat Astraea like a direct equal? And Orthoclase was here; how best to represent himself? This thought lasted only a moment, though, for Vargas realized that it was a rather pointless question to be asking himself. He would get to business, address the points, and move on: there was work to do.

"'The Leviathan' is suiting," he assured Astraea at once, his long-sleeping voice cracking from disuse into his typical booming tone. "Contact me when it is time to tackle the golem, then--I will gladly fight it. And meanwhile, I need to round up my servants and get an idea of where my projects are at. I have a feeling," he added, and then stretched--rolling and cracking neck and forelimbs--"That there will be room for improvement, now. Then I will see who I can find." He thought, for a moment. "Perhaps the dragons will be useful; they can stay airborne, and their powers are strong... but they dislike me." He let out a short, dark laugh, and a direct stare at Orthoclase-Alpha. "After this creation picked a fight with them," he added, with the tone an adult might use while ruffling the hair of a small, troublemaking child.

Little scamp.

"On a more solemn note: thank you for nominating me for this gift. You were right--agony!" he laughed, shortly, swinging his six-eyed stare back to Astraea, "But it is an honor. I will tackle this post with enthusiasm."

@Game Master CJ

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