AWAKENING THE DREAMER

Part I - A Catalyst

Minutes ticked away, grains of sands curling down the dunes in a loose cascade as if to mark the time. Now and then the sand caught the light and flashed in brilliant gold, mirrored by the dimmer, warmer glow of Skahan as he worked.

A flash--a curl of smoke--and he was through. His muffled voice could be heard beyond, his body still blocking the way: "THERE WE ARE. It was never so long, this one, was it-?" Then he turned back, boiling his way with streaks of molten sand back the way he'd come, curling around behind the Gembounds. He took no note of those who might have, by now, departed; instead his attention was on the job he had done.

The Maw was once more open, a round mouth through the Dunes that still glowed with heat. It was, in its loosest sense, a "tunnel" between the caves--but really, the cave beyond was firmly attached to Hydra, like a round-mouthed and many-toothed sleeping parasite. And what a cave-!

"I would go in to explore," he said, and a sharp blast of hot air that was laughter burst from his jaws. "But if the Dreamer awakens while I am in there-!" Fangs gleamed in a grin, and then Skahan looked to the Masked Merchant and the remaining Gembounds. "Wait for the sand to cool. The glass turns into stone, a little ways in. But I do not know how much of Centaurus sleeps." It held a tone of warning.

---

Centaurus is now open. In its current state, it is lifeless and scattered with dormant chrysalises. Gembounds may freely explore and investigate it, but it will not be Awakened until 'Awakening the Dreamer' has been completed.

@V-Zoisite-One @Garnet-Epsilon @Reverend @Wilder @Coyote (V-Onyx-Two) @Fleas

(sorry for the second set of tags, but for visibility!)

Coyote watched with all the twitchy jerkiness of... well, a coyote. Her giant ears were on constant rotation, limbs braced and ready to propel her backwards, nose working nonstop to identify all the odors swarming on the hot air.

It was a little overwhelming, for someone who mostly kept to themselves, but she managed admirably. The Merchant's words were mostly set to memory, and Skahan's exploding through the sands watched with awe. Reverend nearly sent her bolting, at first, but when nobody else fled, she stopped her few panicked scrambles and came slinking quickly back.

Her eyes cut, now and then, to Fleas. She was the first other Gembound Coyote had ever seen who looked like her, and she stared, amazed and curious. When she departed, Coyote's eyes followed her, at first, wishing she could've introduced herself--maybe made a friend--but then she returned to the task at hand.

Like a small, shy dog she half-crept, half-scurried to the Merchant, her pointed nose tipping up toward his crystal. She looked at it, he looked at her (the crystal held down enough for her tiny body to reach it) and she took a breath and concentrated. Her tiny contribution--a shiver of a spark, nothing more--curled from her familiar element into the stone. A sparkle and a flash and it was gone (eaten, stolen her mind briefly and ominously suggested).

She then nodded. "I'll go look for stuff. Uh. I don't know what you're offering for rewards? I like my magic, though. Maybe something to make that easier. Or... something with storms." She hesitated. As cool as Fleas' wings had been, they didn't feel like they were for her. "Maybe something to wear." Was that specific enough? If not, she could always think about it, and clarify it later. "I'll be back with things, I hope."

She glanced around, a wag of a tail wordlessly inviting anyone else to join her--then set off into Hydra, angling for the place where the spires and plateaus of the Crucible became the dead flat of the marsh. She didn't know the cave too well, but enough that this place, she figured, would be both easier to traverse and more likely to hold dead stones.

Well, stones that hadn't been swallowed by loose sands, anyway.

(Temporary exit)

V-Onyx-Two listened with his customary scowl, the expression by now wholly meaningless past habit. Behind it, there was nervousness--he had to prove himself, he had to--and amazement at Skahan. The creature's bulk and power were immense, impressive. But half of his mind was distracted: in this heat, the sickles in his hand were growing hotter by the minute. He fidgeted, trying to maintain the whole 'angel of death, reaper of sand or whatever' image until his palms burned--at which point he at last capitulated and tucked them back in their leather loops. The wisp that orbited the first sickle circled idly at his hip.

The mention of a chosen reward, however, spiked his adrenaline far harder than taking on a momentous task, seeing Skahan at work, or even the opening of a new cave. He had always carried a deep insecurity with him. Born into a throng of monsters, one of the weakest among the clan, soft and hairless and without the jaws or talons of the rest-... He bore himself with disdain and arrogance as if to assume a greater power than he bore, and all the while hid himself--as now--in cloaks and hoods. Could the Masked Merchant change all that..? If he wanted a monstrous form, like the rest--could that be attained? Yet some part of him rebelled--defiant, a snarl in his mind that he was perfect as he was. A reaction cultivated by his own insecurity, of course, but... it left him uncertain. Lost. His hands hung limply at his hips, silver eyes staring not at the Merchant but through him. Possibilities ran rampant through his thoughts. A cold sweat, despite the heat, prickled at his skin.

When he strode up to the Masked Merchant, it was with a false air of authority and confidence: back high, head up, eye contact direct. Beneath it, the sweat was chilling and his heart was racing. He raised a hand, and in that moment the success or failure of his power would determine his fate: whether he would have the confidence to believe he was worth what he desired... or a failure to crush him into asking for a lesser prize. As it stood, his power proved his worth--at least to himself. A blazing ball of light, briefly brighter than even Hydra's desert 'sun,' formed in his palm like a little star. He held this up, staring at the Merchant (with the thrill of his own strength, his own success) and fed it to the gem. "I would like a task. A title. Something official, and something important. I will have a name, after this," he added, in some arrogance. "...One I have not yet chosen. But if you have work beyond..." and here he paused only briefly. He couldn't really bad-mouth the Forge in front of what might well be a Master--he didn't know for sure the Merchant's rank or power. He couldn't say, "beyond sitting in Draco training pointlessly." His eyes cut to the Zoisite, empty--and to Garnet-Epsilon, giving away nothing of his thoughts. "Beyond the Forge. On its behalf but outside of Draco. I will take it." A gamble, yes--was it something he would even want? But his desire for authority and power, to prove himself without the need for slogging through Draco's drudgery...

He wanted that.

Only belatedly did he think to ask, "What is this place we're opening? What was its--what is its purpose?" Because, obviously, it was being reinstated. "If it's not possible for me to work here, I would like a report to be given directly to Master Vargas which describes my performance here. Mine, and theirs," he added, with a dour glance to his Forge-mates.

He assumed the description would be praise. That they'd earn it. The Merchant reporting back directly would imply they'd done better than expected. Of course, if any of them failed... well. It was a risk V-Onyx-Two would take.

He awaited a response (should one be forthcoming) and then turned away, heading stiff-backed from the desert. He, for one, would search elsewhere. This place was too damn hot for someone draped in black.

costume credit - big-ashb on flickr

exit V-Onyx-Two

Garnet-Epsilon

The hybrid is... thinking. It's clear to anyone who would look, truly, and despite working against the heat on their dark fur as they flap in place, they refuse to land or show any strain. Not now, not with witnesses. And not on the flaming excuse for a pawhold this sand claims to be.

The massive, burning expanse of Skahan appearing causes an alarmed churp, and they'd been quick to ride the wave of air displaced by the titanic being to get away... and then come back then the architect had begun to dig. The others leaving gets a bit of a side eye- one walking off without a full explanation, and the other in fear of sandworms.

Okay, the latter of which I'll admit makes sense. I'll find them, then. A Trial survivor at the very least deserves some consideration.


"I'll donate whatever gems I can find," the hybrid pipes up, each wingbeat making the plate necklace adorning them rattle. "Though I ask for more time to consider my... reward. Not much I want means much if given. Gaining is half the fun."

They linger to see if the Merchant responds to the Onyx, curious as well... and considering the now open cave with a keen eye.

Wilder listened carefully, delighted by the Merchant's own wisp display despite his lack of greeting (he was strange back then, she remembered), and she held both curiosity for this task and an odd...fear? "Greater power", as if these caves didn't need more powerful entities running around. But Wilder was no master, she was not in charge. She barely understood this balance of order and chaos that seemed to constantly be fighting each other. But she wanted to pay what he had given her forward - and if he was offering rewards, well....

Wilder needed a lot.

But she had no idea what she would ask him for. A lot of what she wanted - purpose, peace of mind, another glimpse of the surface - she had a feeling he wouldn't be able to grant. But did she want to ask for something as simple as a magical item or material things?

She was deep in thought, pulled out of it briefly by the appearance of Skahan (whom she greeted as well and received no greeting in turn) and the opening of the cave. She looked down into it, hesitant to be the first to descend, with even Skahan hesitant to go. Instead, she turned to the crystal the Merchant had set and the task at hand.

Ever testy as her magic had been lately, the reach of magic she cast forward seized in its path and bounced back, like a rubber band stretched too far and smacking against her head, but it wasn't her head, it was her brain. Her ears twisted back and she tried not to flinch, hoping that it hadn't shown, but now nursing a headache.

"Um," she stammered out, trying to cover up the slip. "For my reward I guess...I don't know anything specific but if you have anything that'll help me help others, I would like that. I like feeling useful to people. Whether that's...uh, something to make them happy or to defend them or help them when their sad, anything works."

Not willing to go off without a starting offering, Wilder reached forward to try something else - not so intense as what she'd tried to do. But as she reached forward to touch the gemstone, and impart a burn, nothing came forward. She frowned and pulled back, tail lashing in sudden irritation. "Sorry, my magic has been...difficult. Ever since Emuh..." That stupid bird! She bet it wasn't ever going to get better, he'd just fucked with her hadn't he? It'd been almost 10 cycles since she'd visited him and notching had gotten better!

She shook her head and forced her rising fur to all flat again. "Sorry, I'll go and find some gemstones. That will probably be best." With a final huff, she turned to leave, bounding across the dunes, embarrassed and hoping that she'd be a little more successful now.

The bear hadn't been too interested in the happenings of Hydra. She'd never been in it, for one, and all she had heard at first was various "help is wanted" cries with no real substance to the request. Once she'd heard that prizes were involved, especially gemstones of such high calibre, she was all ears. And a new cave to explore? She'd also be making her way to the other one soon. What was it? A City? She had so much to do.

After a peek into the new cave showed her a glimpse of Oilstone, she wasted no time in offering her services to the masked figure. "I will help, for a stone. I am curious what kind of creatures they may have been, once." It was a half-truth, but the magic she reached for to fill the catalyst was real enough.

"speaking" and corruption

And of course it failed. She supposed it was an odd choice, trying to use a spell for flowering plants in a cave that was sand, sand and more sand. Should it have mattered? It was about directing magic into the gem, not helping a plant grow. She had assumed any spell would work, and considering she had few other options, she had reached for one of her more difficult spells.

Already frustrated by her failure in what she had assumed should be a simple task, the bear reached for the spell again, trying to shove it forward despite the headache swiftly forming behind her eyes. She had places to be!

"speaking" and corruption

Finally!

Satisfied with her very lacklustre assistance, Tema nodded silently to the figure as her magic swelled in the gem it held. She ignored the others that came and went, also casting spells or delivering items - she would have to bring some as well. As pleased as she was that her magic responded in such an environment, she had little faith that such a small feat would result in the kind of prize she was looking for.

She was curious, though she'd admit it only to herself, just why they were doing all of this. What was so important about this Dreamer, or the new cave, for so many to band together? Whatever it was, she had to know what lay dormant in those chrysalises.

She reached for her magic once more as she went to leave, planning on returning with something special for the cause. "I will return, but I've thought of an addition to my request." She paused on her way out, "If you have any way of knowing, I'd like a predator's stone. Whatever big and sharp creature you have." She had every intention of making their exchange worthwhile, especially considering the rather literal headache it had caused her.

"speaking" and corruption

-exit Tema, for now-

Heathen

____________________________________________

Survival is awarded to the worthy

Help? Heathen had laughed at the thought, chasing off the passerby who had told him of the news. Help in Hydra, of all places? His birthplace, where the sands scorched his paws and the worms tried to end his life before it had even truly begun? Well, they'd certainly need his help. How else would anything get done in that wretched place?

The leopard was surprised that the cold air of the caves had even managed to tame the heat of the sands, at least a little, and they took their time approaching the Merchant. They listened for a while, wondering if what they were offering would be worth it. What did they want? Better magic? A statue? What were the limits here? It was an excuse to showcase their greatness, at the very least.

"I'm intrigued. This great power we are awakening... what can it do? What gift could you give that is worth waking this being for you?" They taunted, slinking around the Masked one. "An item? A spell? A life?" Heathen licked their lips, wondering what kind of ungodly thing might be birthed from such a devilish place as Hydra. "I'd like something... electric." He concluded, settling on his haunches to concentrate on his contribution. The leopard wasn't well-versed in magic yet, but it was something for now. They would try to find a stone to give.

With their spell cast, Heathen bowed with a smug smirk before plodding off.

"Spoken words!" And thoughts Compared to actions!

OOC Notes:

-Temporary Exit for Heathen as well-