A continuation of Spring Makeover

Fracture my spine

As far as flights went, likely not many would recommend the harrowing experience of being aboard Air Karambit. Reckless enthusiasm combined with a limited view of the surroundings it traversed meant soaring above the palm trees just as much plowing through the taller tops that stuck out from the jungle canopy. If lucky, a shower of splinters would be the worst outcome of these more hazardous instances. Otherwise there came the genuine risk of assault by larger debris, primarily whole branches instead of their sharp remnants. At least there did exist a guarantee of actually arriving at the proper destination, though it was questionable whether it was worth the trouble of enduring the travel method employed. Thermal vision might have rendered the jungle and beaches below a blur of varying warmths, but the false volcano which the pilot and passenger were headed for shone unmistakably apart from them, the heat centered within it radiating a brilliant glare. While gigantic and more destructive than any moth could be, Karambit was drawn to the light, recognizing it for the location it signified.

"Herrree we arrre!" it screeched. The announcement was unnecessary, any sighted Gembound able to witness the landmark they were zooming toward. Wings slowed down, their roar dying to a more tolerable whir, as the monster plunged toward rock. "The fierrry mountain. Hold tight!"

Mandibles clicked together, and returning sound waves pieced together the features surrounding the volcano. Miraculous compared to the turbulence characterizing its flying, an abrupt decrease in speed braked it mere millimeters from collision with the stony exterior. Clueless to how close it'd come to testing the durability of its flesh, giggles racked the foul hellbeast's body where it hovered in place. Then, unbelievably gentle, it descended to ground level, curved claws barely disturbing the grains of sand its shadow spilled over.

"Should be entrrrrance nearby. Large hole in the side of mountain." Although it waited for Aerys to disembark, soon as paws no longer were planted upon its back, Karambit burst into a flurry of motion. Despite its impressive bulk, skittering legs demonstrated startling swiftness as they stabbed about in search of the aforementioned opening. After this, reaching the Underforge proper would be easy. Within, tunnels lead to the right place, the ambient temperature inside them growing to blistering the closer they approached the tremendous workspace.

And swear that you're mine

@Aerys

It was probably a good thing that they announced their arrival, mostly because Aerys was too scared to look around. Her muzzle was pressed deeply into it's back, whimpering softly to herself as she desperately held on. The only time she actually lifted her gaze to peer off the side of her impromptu airship was when she felt it landing, and almost instantly she scrambled onto flat group, panting and laying on her stomach as far onto the ground as she could.

Never again. She didn't know how much she loved flat, unmoving ground before now.

Barely lifting her head, she watched at the creature searched for the entrance, taking the time to slowly stand, her legs shaking and her stomach doing flips that she didn't know were possible. Only one it found the entrance did she, with a groan, begin to follow it, trying desperately to keep her previous meal within the bounds of her stomach.

Fracture my spine

Not all of the original meat monster Effluvium's offspring had inherited its protective layer of mucus. The fly hovering down into the depths at present certainly lacked it, gray flesh moist but unslathered by any suspicious red substance. Being sibling to one who had obtained it, however, meant it'd learned of how fire was a presence to be feared. Naturally, shivers thrilled through the monster as the tunnel traveled further beneath the volcano and the temperature climbed to tremendous heights. But it'd be an overestimation of Karambit's common sense to assume this stemmed from terror; rather euphoria flooded senses at the risk of injury.

Ignorant to Aerys' nausea, once telltale light shone at the end of their route, it could no longer keep its flight at an easy to follow pace. Wings blurred into rapid motion, and a great clatter arose when it zoomed into the Underforge, sickle claws scattering littered scrap metal every which way. A sloppy turn mid-air slammed its side into a sturdy stone worktable, halting the haphazard advance. Not recently used, dust gusted from the worn surface in an irritating cloud.

Unbothered, the monster shut spiracles against the particles until they settled and shook away whatever had fallen upon its hide. Then mandibles and tentacle-embedded mouths cried out in unison. "Ta-da!"

"Watch your step!" a warning was shrieked out to its wolf friend. Mandibles clacked toward the streams of lava winding throughout the floor. "Can burrrrn." This last part was said with far more cheer than deserved, being set ablaze a fun perk of the location instead of a worry.

And swear that you're mine

@Aerys

The creature was excited, clearly not very reciprocal of her fear and growing anxiety in this area, but she also wasn't going to destroy his happiness just to say something about herself. She was technically the reason they were down here after all, because she had decided to talk about using other colors to decorate. So, here she was, trying to hide her shaking limbs, though she doubted it would notice if she didn't.

She flinched slightly as it ran into things, sending scrap and debris flying around, making her ears pin back slightly. She sighed softly to herself, trying to give herself the courage to not run out screaming and instead continued after him, being very careful of the lava in the cracks. She jumped over a few areas carefully before finally to stand beside it. Do you come down here often? She asked, wondering if their innate lack of fear was because they knew this place or just because they were.... them.

Fracture my spine

"Krrrmmm."

The monster vibrated in place, considering this question. Its low hum indicated thoughts kicking into overdrive in pursuit of a meaningful response. Simple of mind, time didn't exist as a complex concept to it; where others might divide their life into infinite dates and times, Karambit sectioned this into three simple categories: before, now, and later. All were regarded with equal fondness. Frequency of activities also dwelt in a spot beyond its comprehension, "often" never quite distinguished from the mere act of doing. What Aerys' asked of it might have as well have translated to asking if it ever came down here, confusing as it obviously had at some point, otherwise such a fun location would've been outside of its knowledge.

Therefore after a long pause, the most information she received was an enthusiastic chirrup, followed by, "Yezzzz. Come down here. Lotzzz of good sharrrrp thingzzz to cut with!"

The sparks flying from volcanic streams could've been tender kisses against flesh for how little it fazed Karambit as the tentacles sprouting from its tail tip swept the floor. They grasped around, embedded mouths chattering teeth together for the telltale resistance of metal against their bite. A few crunched down on something sturdy, its durability lancing exquisite pain up to the roots of monstrous fangs. While the owner of these freakish appendages wouldn't be able to recognize the item it reeled in for what it was, temperature-sensitive eyes registering it only as a heated blob, Aerys likely could better perceive the armor's nature.

Immense in width, no doubt it had been crafted for a beast far burlier than the gangly giant her travel companion was. Inconsistent in shape, likely this had been a reject due to less than acceptable craftsmanship, but one could still guess at the determined purpose from the lopsided crescent it formed. Though old, the gorget's steel hadn't entirely lost its gleam, the surrounding lava's glow easily reflecting off the ridged surface.

"Found shiny thing! Is it colorful?"

Unfortunately no. Embellishments would have been a waste of resources on a subpar creation.

And swear that you're mine

@Aerys

She had to struggle between staying close enough to it to hide from the lava that spat at her, while also staying as far away from its rather terrifying apendages as she could, which mostly meant that she tried to hide under its large body, figuring unless it laid down on her, which with it was equally a threat, she would be relatively safe, mostly just trying to keep from getting stepped on.

Before she could say anything in regards to them being down here, it spoke of finding something and instantly she cocked her head to the side in curiosity, slipping out from under its form to get closer to the item. It's not colorful, but it's quite interesting. Looks like a giant... armor piece? Maybe your friend could... wear it? She had no use for it, it was much bigger than she could ever hope to find useful, but she figured it could be something that would be a bit helpful in making its friend 'prettier'.

She turned to look up at the creature, cocking her head to the side for a moment. How far does this place go on? She moved back closer to the creature, moving past it to try and search ahead for something bright and colorful, but not finding anything yet. Surprisingly, she was rather enjoying this adventure, but she wouldn't go forward without them to hide behind. So, after taking a few steps, she would turn to wait for them.

@Karambit

Fracture my spine

Karambit mulled over its small friend's suggestion. Meanwhile tentacles, forever in possession of a teething problem despite cycles of maturation, continued feeling out the metal in their grip as it did so. Each bite marred the reject gorget's already imperfect surface, rows of indentations further deforming the armor and rendering it even more unsuitable for proper battle use. Of course, that wouldn't matter for the monster; its worries pertained to whether its silent beloved would look most fetching wearing the piece.

All it had to go off of when coming to a decision was touch, taste, and Aerys' more detailed sight. Fortunately trust in others' opinions was not in low supply. If anything, it carried a surplus, thanks to naivety living in surprisingly harmonious balance with senseless brutality. The interesting item lacked color, but a showering of blood could be an easy remedy for the awful affliction of drabness.

"Maybeeee," it echoed the wolf. "Can help with best zzzpot to put laterrrr?"

Her advancement a few steps ahead ended up quickly outstripped by the behemoth, wings propelling Karambit so that it swept in overhead like a sudden storm front. A drooling mess, any precipitation turned out to be saliva dripping from jaws. At least, without any prey to disembowel, gore didn't rain down. Surely the stench would've caused nostrils to burn then.

"Don't know." Despite the admission, its tone remained cheerful. "Verrry farrr though. Neverrr found end yet." Forelegs stretched out while it hovered in place to demonstrate the mighty distance spoken of. They dropped afterward, claws scraping about in search of another, more colorful thing to acquire.

Eyes strained for a unique signature against the warm background they scanned.

And swear that you're mine

((Tagged for GMs. Seeing if Karambit found something curious.))

Among the various anvils, and the forges built right into the walls of the massive cave--lit by the flicker of glowing magma--one particular anvil would catch Karambit's eye. Whatever had happened to the smith (or smiths) who had worked this place, it looked like one had been in the middle of a grand work.

A number of items had been left on or around the anvil. And a few, on the stone shelf that led into a lava-heated forge, a billows nearly completely rotted away beside it despite the dry heat of the place.

Most of those items had crumbled into piles of dust, or nearly so: a lattice of rust only vaguely showing what they might have been. But one had been forged from some sort of gold, or gold alloy, and had kept its shape and much of its shine. It was thin, to distribute its weight. And it was well-wrought. Defining it was harder. It seemed to be a novel work: something between a helmet and a crown, with its tines swept up and back as if to guard the head, taller in the front. They would have fit a very, very large humanoid, or maybe a Valkhound or the like with a domed enough skull.

True eyes could see the design wrought into it, painstakingly engraved: a great dragon, with four legs and curling horns, every scale carved in gleaming gold. It coiled wholly around the crown, head rising at the front, maw open to breathe curls of artistic fire.

The crown itself was enchanted with Flame Shield, providing its wearer with a slim measure of resistance to fire.

@Karambit @Aerys

She hadn't really found anything, a whole wallop of nada, but that was okay. As she turned to look over at Karambit, she noticed they had found something and her eyes lit up slightly, her tail waving gently behind herself. Slowly she walked over, cocking her head to the side curiously, but not getting too close as she didn't want to risk making him think she was trying to take it.

What did you find? She asked curiously as she looked at the item for a moment before looking back up at him with a gentle smile as she remembered his eyesight was different than hers. It looks almost like a helmet, a very large one at that. It looks to be engraved with ... a dragon I think... carved in gold and wrapping around the helmet, with engraved fire coming out of its mouth.

She glanced up at the creature beside her, waiting to see what it thought of the item they had found.

@Karambit

Fracture my spine

Karambit's swinging claws never particularly careful, much credit could be given to the dull ring emanating from struck metal for preserving the excellent condition of the item they clashed against. That distinctive tone alerted it to the presence of something worth seeing, and therefore a reckless comb of the forge's landscape halted in its tracks. How fortunate for Aerys, as her monstrous companion's mind struggled to maintain more than a singular focus; had the find not been so successful in securing attention, the wolf could've caught a stray blow from a continued search better likened to a frenzied whirlwind of blades.

Instead it crouched low enough that gangly legs bent their joints into sharp angles, seeking a closer view of the blotch perceived to be marginally brighter than its surroundings by heat-sensing eyes. Upon hearing mention of fire, one set of claws withdrew from contact with the golden surface. Slowly, delicately as a creature hardwired for destruction was capable of, a wavering claw returned and prodded the helmet. A baffled hum vibrated through stinking flesh.

"No burrrrning." For a being vulnerable to fire, Karambit sounded disappointed by the lack of injury. Its screech twisted into an ear-piercing whine. "Strrrange drrragon. So rrround. I can't zeeee them."

Tail tentacles writhed about, embedded mouths' directing their voiced concerns to Aerys. "Is drrragon a heavy sleeperrr? Want to azzzk if I can havvve helmet."

A master of vocabulary Karambit was compared to its gluttonous parent, but that achievement wasn't an overly impressive one. Despite artistic inclinations, often the proper terminology for its macabre endeavors eluded it. Engraving a foreign concept, only "with" had been fully understood. The rest a warped perspective interpreted as the existence of a golden dragon clinging possessively to his treasure.

And swear that you're mine

@Aerys