Oliver headed to the waiting area, settling into the line. He had the Dust Moth on one finger, and was examining it with soft eyes. "You seem nice," he told it quietly.

When he'd been given this spell, Rift's wish for him had been--though he didn't really know it--to help him with his nightmares and his horrors. The Wish magic had intended to grant him a companion. A moth didn't seem to provide much companionship, on the surface. It wasn't intelligent; it couldn't really feel emotions the way he could.

But... still, it was nice to have someone to talk to.

Even if they were a moth.

"All right, Harv," Richter mumbled at the heap of grey fur weighing down his arm. "You did your best, and that's fine by me. Let's give it another go and see what that clever mind of yours brings this time." An inquiring hum preceded a claw lightly stroking down his partner's back. "What do you say?"

Talking to the Walleye Rabbit might as well have been trying to make conversation with a brick wall—or rather, it would've been if not for the faint undercurrent he always sensed when addressing the small creature, a sign of the temporary link that had settled into place between the two of them. The break between events had afforded enough time for a quick sampling of the food available at the arena, and they'd been fortunate to find a herbivore-suitable option to try out: (fairly) fresh kelp on a stick. Of course, thanks to his new friend's unbeatable appetite, one of these was devoured including the twig which the main meal had been wrapped around. But it explained the serenity bleeding from the Lesser, eye stalks wiggling at the mention of his shortened name.

Well-fed and content, surely he was primed to tackle another challenge. Regardless of the outcome, though, Richter considered while gently depositing his precious cargo at the starting line again, he'd remain proud of the effort taken. True, the possibility of winning carried a sweet flavor undeniable to any competitive Gembound. However, one mustn't underestimate the spice brought forth by new experiences; even in loss, lessons could be learned and improvement achieved. Somehow he felt that Harvey, game to gnaw on anything remotely resembling vegetation, shared his sentiment.

ANALA
From a spark to a flame

Anala responded to the correction immediately, although this time without the tail-tucking. Master Nemean was showy, but seemingly at least neutral if not kind. They certainly didn't take to cheaters, and she liked that. "Thank you, Master Nemean!"

She watched the ensuing commotion with a couple interjected laughs and gasps, choosing to believe (however unlikely) that the fish could somehow survive in the hat. It had some kind of magic, obviously, to hold so many lessers. Surely that meant it could keep them alive? The sandworm one contestant got had not killed every other lesser, so...?

"Oh, look at you!" She blinked for a moment at her new familiar, and they both tilted their heads as the link snapped into place. It was even stranger feeling the connection between two other beings than it had been with one, and she could tell that it was weak, ready to snap with one wrong move.

"I think that's a good idea, thank you!" She smiled, both at the imp at Nemean, before calling the echoing grey over. "Home time, buddy! I told you!" The rat wasted no time jumping into the fox-imp's outstretched hand.

Business concluded, Anala walked with her new companion towards the starting line again. "You look a little more willing to fight!" She laughed as the Skrungler hissed in response, and she could feel its hunger through the link. "Let's just get through this together and we'll get you a snack before the fighting beings, okay?" She offered it a friendly nudge, and it snapped its jaws in return. "Oh you definitely need a name, we are going to make a great team! Nippy?" She laughed as it snapped again, this time towards her. "I'm only kidding! Maybe... Ragnar?" She mulled over a strong-sounding name for a while before she voiced it. The name was meant with a pleasant chittering sound, and she took that as a yes. "Ragnar it is! Let's win this thing!"

OOC Notes:

Ooh, booze. While Tahlia hadn't experienced it before, she wasn't in quite of enough hurry to do so, only just now having reached the Forum after the obstacle course had concluded.

She didn't particularly care for having a familiar. It could be fun, but she'd never really considered it. This could be a fun little experience for her, a fun jaunt into stuff she didn't normally do, so why not join?

Seating herself amongst the others, Tahlia shook out her fur and craned her neck up towards Nemean, a beak-chewed cup of some watery alcohol sat before her. "I'll take a bite." She lifted a wing like a hand, waving for one of the fox-imps' attentions. "I mean, I'll take a familiar. I've got a bite."

This one's it. While there'd been a lot of physicality in this last one, this time was for brains, and now Knightly was sure they'd win. Of course se'd been given the smartest familiar! "Perfectly!" Knightly chirped to gather sir familiar's attention, even when it was right on sir. "We will BEAT all of these LOONEY fools..! For we WILL be GOOD at TALKING! YES? Yes!"

Se was giving Perfectly a headache and a discomfort. Oh. Right. Clearing sir throat, se quieted down and relaxed sir stance, nodding a few times. "Okay. So. These boxes? They are for US... to conquer. And so we will." With a hop and a leap forward, Ser Knight Lee was ready at the gathering spot.

They were going to win! "Come, Perfectly! We will be like KINGS among these not-kings!"

At first she hadn't quite been into the idea of this whole...using lessers for things idea that the gembound were entertaining, but after the chaos and silliness really started going, she found it a harder and harder idea to resist. Lilith didn't seem too amused but even if she didn't participate, she could at least experience the joy through their link. But also Ellie was definitely making some big doe eyes at her as she tried to talk her into let herself go a little bit - amuse herself, have some fun!

Whether Lilith joined her with the others or wandered to get some food and drink or just stay out of it all, Eleanora approached Master Nemean and gave a small, respectful bow of her head. That was what Tamulus had told her to do, after all, in the presence of a Master. "Excuse me, Master Nemean. May I please have one as well? I'm not sure how well I'll do without a proper bond with it, but I'll do my best."

Agh, he had missed the obstacle course portion of...whatever this was, but that was alright. All of it sent a very familiar ring through his memory, faint images of gembound running over obstacles, racing, friendly competition. It was a little different but perhaps something similar had happened before, a long time ago.

He found himself attracted to the games (although he looked mildly distressed at the thought of there being some fighting later) and eventually padded up to Nemean as well, piping up so she could hear over the din. "I'll take one too, please." Hopefully it wouldn't be something bad.

The fox-imps hustled first to Tahlia (laughing at her minor misspeaking) and then to Eleanora. Nemean called down, after squinting at the witch and talking to herself for a second: "You get a bond! Free! I mean, it's temporary, but that's why it's free!" She sounded cheery enough, but the way she eyed Eleanora and Lilith made it seem that she had other things on her mind. "EY," she called down again, after a moment: "You two like tea parties?!"

---

The first fox-imp, facing Tahlia, whipped out an absolutely bizarre... thing. It was probably a Lesser Gembound, but made up of so many perfectly reflective--yet perfectly black--planes that it was impossible to tell for sure. "Oof," called Nemean, as the link slid into place: and Tahlia would feel a tenuous bond with a creature who was placid, yet preferred solitude, who wanted nothing to do with things of Gembound make, and which was already wary of emotion to an extent that it might react to extreme feelings with violence. "An interesting one but uhhh. A challenge!" Only a tiny chunk of Scapolite broke up the Mirrorbeast's reflective silhouette.

---

The fox-imps then went to Eleanora.

What was drawn from the hat was a very typical magician's sort of trick: what looked much like a white dove, albeit with a few too many eyes and streaks of dark feathers on that white. It was very cute, though, immediately fluttering curiously to Eleanora's hand and singing a chirping song.

This Mountain Sparrow had no gemstone.

---

Last, the latest comer: Rift. Imp-arm delved into hat, fishing about, the imp squinting as he tried to find something. Anything. He seemed to have trouble in doing so but at last pulled out something tiny enough to fit in his closed hand. He held that hand out, fingers unfolding to reveal a blind, gemless little Molemouse.

@Tahlia @Eleanora @Rift

Once the race had ended, Edeltraud would dutifully wait for the next competition. The pocket lesser competition had awakened a competitive streak within her. It was only right that her lessers won, they were hers and therefore deserved to win of course! "Another thing to test ourselves in, hmm? I am sure that between us we'll have plenty of brains and brawn to beat whatever this competition is! We can rest a bit more before then, though, yes?"

Edeltraud made a show of settling down in front of the sailfin singer, coined Ada, sitting with her legs tucked under her wool. It stared at her for a few beats, blinking both sets of eyes. Ada huffed. Ada sat its back legs, keeping its eyes on their surroundings. Edeltraud smiled. It had relaxed somewhat; that was good for Edeltraud. The more comfortable her new friend was, the better.

This was Orion, and therefore where Oilstone T-One would be. For Orion was where Overseer Tectus was, and it would follow the Overseer anywhere, the loyal hound it was. It had watched the race with a sort of disdain, knowing itself was faster than any lesser that lived in these caves.

But teamwork… It would have to work on teamwork in order to be a good hound for Overseer Tectus. Diligently, the Valkhound went over to hat to be appointed a familiar. An interesting concept, but only if the familiar was useful.

It would have to see what happened. ”This one is requesting a companion for this,” the valkhound stated to the hat-holder.