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QUESTS/EVENTS
Torrential downpours cause localized flooding and many upset cats. Along with these frequent rain, from gentle drizzles to heavy rainfall, there seems to be a flux of Magicka drawn in particular to water sources. Occasional jet streams of warm air make narrower tunnels harder to navigate. On occasion, the rain intensifies, becoming howling storms with sleet or large hail. However, the temperatures overall are a little warmer, with snow and ice in temperate caves somewhat receding.
Weak but strong enough to talk and live for a while. He wondered again how and why this creature was killed but he doubted he would get a straightforward answer. Regardless, feathers and a beak... it sounded like a bird but if this "mother" was also the mother of that creature perhaps it was a bit like an elephant as well. His mind spun with the possibilities of different species being able to make a creature with origins in two different breeds. Hybrids. Yes, that was the word that suddenly came to him. It was a word full of wonder and intrigue... but how did such a thing happen? How did one become a mother to make such things? The owl clacked his beak together contemplatively... but he didn't have long to think before the entrance to the den was rudely and violently enlarged by a huge beast, the biggest beast he'd ever laid his eyes upon.
He instantly found himself fascinated with her as she began to explain her motives and more about this hybrid she had created. As he stared and listened he could clearly see the influences from her own form in that of Vuiligheid. Intriguing. Perhaps he should have been afraid, terrified for his life of this massive creature that could so easily stomp the life out of one of her children and break a gem underneath her foot with no effort but, alas, he only felt that normal curiosity and want to know more. He felt that Gadanai could deliver what he so craved.
"My apologies for intruding upon your home but as I am always on a quest for knowledge I did not at the time think of the consequences. Forgive me for my transgressions, Gadana Ama, I meant you no offence." He gave a slight bow, attempting to appeal to her. While he was not afraid, he was not stupid and he knew that someone that cared little for her own child would care even less for a random bird that wandered in. She could very easily stomp on him and take his stone if she so pleased but he could not allow that to happen.
He still had many things to learn.
"You seem to be very knowledgeable and one that has given life to stones? How is this done? How are you the "Mother" to Vuiligheid?" He hoped his previous appeal to forgiveness would be enough to net him answers to what he sought after. He'd never met one like her before and despite the danger, didn't want this opportunity to pass.
With his word barely out of his mouth, a ruckus of trees being torn apart demanded his attention. His bright red eyes widened when he realized that, at last, his mother had arrived. Finally, she was there, showing off her brute strength before entering their home. Her voice was music to his ears... so much so that he collapsed to his knees, pressing his cheek to the floor. His tail was tucked firmly, eye peeking up, tearing up with happiness. She was home at last.
Vuiligheid remained in position as he propelled himself toward her feet, his trunk gently touching her. Within seconds his rump collapsed to the ground as well, cheek remaining pressed into the ground all the while. Groveling was his specialty. Groveling was all he could think to do, slowly aware of how much trouble he just might be in for allowing the owl into the once-hidden cave.
"I missed you....I missed you so much," he whimpered, a tear here and there sliding down his long face.
everything that don't make sense about me makes sense when i'm with you
tag: name // ooc: this is where notes and the like will go. "Speech." // Thoughts.
This little, tiny, puny thing responded with a level of sophistication that made her trunk curl up tight, acting like an angry fist ready to slam down on a glass table. He worded himself well and part of her appreciated it. Nothing like a good string of words to save your ass while fetching information in the process. The string of questions that then followed resulted in an eye roll, up until Vuiligheid's name came from the bird's beak.
Ah, yes, Vuiligheid.
It was at that point she realized he'd disintegrated into a heaping mess at her feet, which only sparked a mild annoyance for the creature. Still, she could work out why he was behaving so weakly, but it remained unacceptable. So, she promptly kicked him in the head and blew a sharp breath from his nostrils.
"Little Filth! Why must you grovel so pathetically? My Treasure... my worthless child."
Gadanai looked back at Tacitus and smiled. "I am Mother to Vuiligheid in that I gave a piece of my being to revive to the gem of something that had lived before. This is done through magicka, of course. I created him, so now he is mine. Now, what is your name, Silver Tongue?"
He assumed since he wasn't being stepped on that what he had said was satisfactory in keeping his body in one piece. Or perhaps the groveling hybrid was what saved him from being pummeled to death as Gadana Ama's attention shifted briefly to the large creature, just so she could kick out at them. Tacitus watched the exchange silently as the elephant called Vuiligheid "little filth" and "treasure", the use of the two names so close together was a cause for some confusion in the owl. Did she find him disgusting and beautiful at the same time because it was her child? It made no sense to him, having conflicting emotions but he supposed it was plausible. Emotions were strange things that clouded your judgement and reason, he wasn't sure if he ever wanted to learn more about them from firsthand experience and would strive to keep a clear-head in all situations.
His thoughts on such things were interrupted as the large elephant female smiled at him and gave him the information he so craved. He wished he had a way to take notes, to write these things she said down. So, upon dying a creature's gem could be revived into something new, something with characteristics of the deceased animal and the one reviving the stone. His eyes seemed to widen with a sort of wonder a she informed him of this. He could not wait to share this information with his brother.
Silver Tongue. That was something he'd never been called before but unlike "Tac", he felt it didn't undermine him. In fact, it was a rather thoughtful nickname that took into consideration his talents. It was like how he considered himself a "knight" of sorts alongside his brethren, it was what he was just like "Silver Tongue" was also what he could be. "My name is Tacitus." Here he paused to give a little introductory bow with wings spread before straightening once more. "You have broadened my view of the caves. Many gembounds consider death an end but here you have informed me that it can be a new beginning. My brother will find this most interesting, as do I. Imagine the possibilities of creatures that could be made, what strange and fascinating gembounds could be created by combining the pieces of multiple creatures? Something stronger, something faster, something smarter than the gembounds that were used to make it." He spoke with wonder and awe, imagining what sorts of creatures could be made. Different strengths could be combined and weaknesses lessened to make the best creature around. Oh... So many possibilities.
It made him want to continue his research all the more. Such amazing creatures could only be made if one knew the strengths and weaknesses of the individual animals. Now more than ever he wanted to continue to dissect and to study to find what was needed and now more than ever as well... he wondered if there was a way to keep track of everything he learned, some way... to document it.
Perhaps something could be developed similar to the pictures he'd seen on the wall. He lifted a talon to his beak, obviously lost in thought even as he was in the presence of a beast that could be the master of his fate.
It was so nice to be close to her again... until she nailed him in the head with a heavy foot. He jerked his head in response, scrambling to his feet. With a disheartened look, he migrated toward his corner and watched them interact, moping with a sad heart while the sharp words remained on the surface of his skin. He saw no conflict in her words. How could he?
As Tacitus spoke, a fire made of envy and loathing began to develop. How come he got to spend time with Mother, but he got a kick to the face? His own trunk coiled in on itself, red eyes staring down the much smaller bird. How could he still be just fine, whilst Vuiligheid remained outcasted and unwanted? It wasn't fair. It wasn't okay and he knew it, somehow.
everything that don't make sense about me makes sense when i'm with you
tag: Gadanai // ooc: this is where notes and the like will go. "Speech." // Thoughts.
For a brief moment, Gadanai stole a glance as her offspring wandered deeper into the cave, looking pathetic as he bore holes into Tacitus. She could see it in his eyes; a small joy to the elephant. He would come later. For now, she was per-occupied with this stranger. Interesting entertainment for the time being. Especially as he rattled off possibilities with revival of gems, which had her squinting just a little.
This little tuft of talk is right. Something better could be made, but why would I ever want that to happen?
"Well, Tacitus... what purpose would creating something like that be? Why make something better than ourselves when we can create something just useful enough to use and discard as we please? Slaves are handy and they're on tap, but only if you keep them in a state of control."
Control, which was much harder to manage than she ever anticipated. Still, she enjoyed the process of warping the minds around her. At some point, she would need to locate her first Treasure, Jasmine. A sensation remained, tingling in the back of her brain, but the link seemed weak... for now.
Gadanai took a step closer to Tacitus, eyeing him like a predator might eye a steak. The temptation to snatch him up and make him a victim to her intentions was overwhelming. A pet to neglect and abuse, as if she didn't already have that hiding in the back of the cave, already. Though, there was never enough of such a good thing for this creature. A twisted mind that couldn't care less about how wrong her actions were could always find someone new to torment and manipulate... and never be tired of it.
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tagged:@Tacitus ooc: These posts are super suck, I'm sorry
"Talking looks like this!" Thinking looks like this...
He barely even noticed the hybrid slinking away after the kick and he definitely did not notice the daggers glared into him. Perhaps he glanced over at Vuiligheid once or twice but he hardly noted the glower he was getting and certainly didn't comment on it. He was far too absorbed in what this elephant had to say and again she didn't fail to educate him further. This time she opened his eyes on a different subject.
Slaves or perhaps... servants, would be a term he would prefer to use. He listened to her, head tilting to the side as he pondered over everything that she said. Her points, she made good ones but he wanted to expand upon them. "Why not do both?" He suggested. "As you have shown, the things that are created from us we hold some control over so why not make something better that we can also have complete control over." His talon lowered back to the ground and his eyes seemed to glaze over as he put forth his idea. "I suppose it is not a problem in your case but in mine, I could do with a creature who could fly great distances or perhaps fight on my behalf. To create something with these talents that I lack would be beneficial and then you propose the concept of... control." An assistant that wouldn't question him, he could see the benefits of that. It wouldn't be a creature that he could bounce ideas off of and make new hypotheses with but it would be someone he could use to collect items and keep his data safe. Now that was an excellent idea. "Someone better at these things but in a subservient position. The benefits are numerous." He blinked, chasing away the cloudiness in his gaze and focusing back on Gadana Ama.
He noticed her stepping closer, the look in her eyes reminding him of when Astaroth had attacked him. It sent a flood of memories back to him and a shudder up his spine. Mad, perhaps? But wise as well. A mixture of dangerous and infinitely useful. "Gadana Ama, please allow me to share what you have told me with my brother. I believe what you have told me will be just as interesting to him as it is to me, knowledge is something that is best shared with others. Your wisdom and your knowledge will not be forgotten and we will be forever grateful to you." Attempting to weasel his way out of the cave and stay in her good graces as well. As dangerous as it was, even if he got out, he hoped he would see her again. No doubt there would be even more to pick her brain about.
Feb 04 2017, 02:57 AM (This post was last modified: Feb 04 2017, 02:58 AM by Gadanai.)
MAGICKA LEVEL 100% RESTORED TO 100%
This one learned quickly, which she was sure to lock into her steel-trap of a memory. In a jiffy, he'd swallowed up what she had offered to him and molded it into something better. Whether or not to perceive him as a threat lingered in her mind, but couldn't lean one way or another. At least, not yet. Still, he hadn't yet warranted a fair and free escape from her grasp, no matter how sweet he spoke toward her, attempting to wiggle his way by.
With a roar and a surprising amount of speed, she tossed her head, then slammed her knees, trunk, and tusk to the ground and stared him down, locking eyes with him as her tusks burrowed into the hard dirt of the cavern floor. She snaked her long trunk around his feet, but did not tighten her coils against him - although she was certain she could snatch him before he could run.
"While you've appealed to me thus far, I must warn you. I always get something in return. Whether or not that becomes your gem depends. An elephant never forgets, certainly not someone like you. What do you have to offer me? Think on that, because when I find you again - and I will - you best have something worth your life."
With a smile and a little chortle, she dragged her weight back to her feet. Her knees were a touch bloodied from slamming down to hard, but it failed to faze her. Lazily, the cow moseyed toward her child, who still tried to stare holes through Tacitus. With a surprising amount of gentleness, she wrapped her trunk around the back of his neck and rumbled sweetly to him, giving the bird time to escape his fate for one more day.
For a brief moment he was left to ponder if his words would win him freedom or a free thrashing from the large creature. In the next moment he was left with his answer as she all of a sudden let out a roar and dropped to the ground before him. True fear made itself known in his heart as she lowered down just inches away from him with those deadly tusks buried in the ground either side of him and that trunk wrapping loosely around his feet. So easily she could kill him and yet... he must have made some sort of appeal as she didn't hurt him.
From her words... at least not yet.
Her words soaked into him, burying themselves into his brain as she made him a promise. A promise that if he didn't deliver on something in return for his life that he would be killed. Tacitus had no plans on allowing himself to die so he would certainly have something to give to her in the future. He had no doubt that he could deliver and so the pit of fear he felt began to evaporate. He had avoided death for today and as far as he was concerned, avoided it for life... at least by this elephant's tusks.
He gave a resolute nod of his head, showing that he understood and that he would keep in mind her words. Then, she left him and went back over to Vuiligheid who he noticed with a distinctly sour expression on his face. He blinked slowly at them both, a sort of silent gesture of goodbye before he turned and scampered out of the cave and went on his way.
The entire exchange made him angry. He seethed, even as his mother made her promise to the tiny bird, as even the most harmful attention used to belong to him. To share, even for this moment, burned a hatred inside he'd never felt before. Eyes never pulled away from Tacitus. His mother's touch graced him, yet still he tried to set those feathers to flame with nothing more than the fury growing in his heart. Who the hell was he and who did he think he was?
Then the bird ran for his life, unscathed. With some shaky breathing and a few moments of the gentle strokes of his mother's trunk, he blinked a few times and turned his gaze toward her. Sadness crawled into his eyes and he reached out to her with his own trunk. Oh, how he had missed her so, and now here she was in his life again. He felt betrayed by her already, but still wanted nothing more than this touch he was blessed with. It was a moment of bliss, iced heavily in self-loathing.
"Speech looks like this." Thoughts looks like this.
