Aetius flew into Polaris and decided to land herself in front of the Spire. She has heard of the spire before, and has heard whispers of it being an important piece of history behind the caves. Though being one with arcane magic, the snowy owl has seen things that she never would have thought she could see. Aetius has seen pieces of the caves' history. Now she knew that there was way more to these caves than what she was seeing. Which brought her to the spire. Aetius was now interested in what the caves' history was, and it's secrets. The owl was going to find out, this was her home after all. Using hindsight on the Spire sounded dangerous! But maybe she could see something greater here, than any other object could provide. Aetius thought for a moment as she stared at the Spire.

@Thothaga

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

The spider witch watched the white owl fly towards the Crystal Father, well, with how poor her eyes were, it looked more like a white blur. Standing still among the crystals, it was easy for Thothaga to blend in if one didn't pay close attention. The owl stared at the Spire for moment. Thothaga wondered if she was just curious for had more nefarious reasons, like the Death-Carrier. So she reached into her mind. Your name is... Aetius, and you want use your hindsight on the Crystal-Father

Tsk, tsk, tsk. She thought. Melding one's mind with the Spire was risky. The least she could do was warn the young one.

"You know, those have attempted to weave their minds into the Spire-Father have gone mad." She paused. That wasn't entirely true, she had tried to speak to him once, and her mind was still intact. "But, not all." The giant spider crept closer to Aetius. The owl's form became clearer. This Aetius was broad-faced avian with large eyes, unusual for a bird. "But if you still wish to use your hindsight on Him, Aetius," She rasped, gesturing towards the Spire with a front leg. "Then by all means, go ahead, I won't stop you."

"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

@Aetius

Aetius looked at the spire in curiousity as the giant spider spoke to her, with a hint of frustration. Then she turned to the spider respectfully. "I don't wish to go mad. It's just there are so many secrets to this cave, and I doubt that any gembound knows the history of it. For example, in Orion there are crumbled buildings still intact, yet what's the history behind those?" Aetius took a deep sigh before continuing. "I remember practicing my power in Tunnel J, on the carvings. I heard someone commanding the creatures who were working on the carvings. It said, 'Hurry up! Stop dawdling, or do you want to be', then it stopped right there. I know this is more to these caves, and I know the spire has answers." Aetius cocked her head at the spider. "But is this the right way? Oh I'm sorry, where are my manners. What is your name?" Aetius really wanted answers, but was it worth the risk?

@Thothaga

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

"Thothaga the Spellweaver." She said, tilting down in a bow. "I see your talents are of the arcane, as is mine." Her static, black gaze fell upon the owl once more. Aetius reminded the spider of herself when she was younger, weaker. She had an unquenchable desire to uncover the histories the stones only remember, and so desperate, grasping at anything and everything that seemed to hold that power. Now, Thothaga had learned to be more refined, careful-- not everything in the cave was helpful, some were tests, others were traps.

"The Spire-Father is an enigma Himself, you may gain more questions than answers." She rasped-- another warning. Thothaga was feeling generous today. "But I may be of help, you see, I have been searching for answers too, and I have come to know things most do not." As she groomed her long fangs, her eyes sparkled with opportunity. "Aetius, you are quite observant to know the strange formations in Orion were once buildings, you show promise."

"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

@Aetius

Aetius listened respectfully as Thothaga spoke to her. The young owl then perked up at the spider's praise of her showing promise. She was also happy to hear the spider also held arcane magic as well. Aetius was starting to look up to Thothaga, and she honestly wanted to learn all she could from her. Maybe, even become her student, if she was willing. "Why, thank you Thothaga. It means a lot coming from you to hear that I have promise. Though you said you knew things most gembound don't. Would you mind sharing what you know? I would also love it if you would take me under your wing, and teach me of the caves, and more of my hindsight power." Yes, the snowy owl was starting to deeply respect Thothaga. "I am part of a group called the Kingdom of Eridanus, run by my guardian Rift in Eridanus. He leads us." Oh how she would love someone like Thothaga to guide her, she seemed very wise. "I will also leave the spire alone. I'm not going to take the risk for something to go wrong. I will find out of the cave some other way."

@Thothaga

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

"Wrap you in my.. web, you mean?" The spider chuckled darkly. Silly owl, spiders don't have wings. Thothaga shifted her gaze to the Spire, and stroked her fangs, contemplating. "Maybe," She finally said. "But, what can you offer me in return?" Her many, many black eyes gazed at Aetius. From the Kingdom of Eridanus, she says? Thothaga knew them, they were at Dragon's secret little meeting, the one she got kicked out of. A mischievous idea bloomed in her carapace. Perfect.

"You have wings, big eyes, you seem far faster than I." She began. "I need help gathering as much pieces from the past as I can. Aetius, if I teach you all that I know, will you promise to use those abilities to assist me?"

"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

@Aetius

Aetius listened on with great interest as Thothaga spoke. When she said 'maybe', her hopes started to rise higher. The owl cocked her head out of curiosity when Thothaga mentioned of wanting something in return. Not only that, she stated exactly what she wanted. Aetius decided to agree, as long as nobody got hurt on this deal. "Of course, Thothaga! I would be glad to assist you in gathering pieces of the past. I think that seems to be a very fair deal. One question, if I may. You mentioned pieces of the past. Do you mean of the caves, other gembounds, or both?" Aetius wanted to know what to look for so she can better assist the spider.

@Thothaga

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

"Everything." She stated. "Any source you can find, any." The spider gave her something of a satisfied nod, the best an arachnid could do. "But, be careful," She warned. "There are others who do not want us to know the truth, so be discreet." Her black eyes glistened in Polaris' light. Now, she would share this piece of wisdom that gembound's in Dragon's meeting misinterpreted as "blindly trusting the elders". Hopefully the owl would not make the same mistake. "You can learn much from the ancients, they are a good place to start." She suggested. I have spoken with Astraea and The Collector- Aquarius lies deep within Cetus, I hear he's quite amenable, but do not be so quick to trust, some might not have our best interest in mind."

Now, with that out of the Thothaga perked up, wiggling her pedipalps enthusiastically. She'd never tried this mentor stuff before, seemed like fun. Now, what is it you wish to know?
"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

@Aetius

Aetius heeded Thothaga's instructions and advice, and made sure to lock it in her mind. Then when Thothaga asked what it was she wanted to know, well, she wasted no time in asking. "I will make sure to keep all you told me in mind. What I want to know Thothaga is, what was before us gembounds? In Orion, the buildings, we certainly didn't make them and they have been there for a while. Do you know of what the caves used to be like before us?" She hoped Thothaga would at least know of that. But if she did not, then it was understandable. Aetius obviously did not know of the masters yet, even in her quest to gain information.

@Thothaga

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

"Well.. Thothaga began, stroking her fangs. "I think it was far less chaotic than is now, and much more dangerous." Her beady eyes fell on the owl, growing dark. "I have seen visions of slaughter, injustices, gembounds working to the bone." She pondered at Orion and its strange structures. They almost looked like dens. "I think we were enslaved once." She said recalling Bolormaa and the forbidden "love spire". "Pushed to become perfect. Why? I do not know." A knowing sparkle of mischief graced her eight eyes. "But, we will discover that together, yes?"

"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

@Aetius