Chaos-Two had lead Equinox here, to the Black Spire. So far the urges had been mild. A thought here and there about what if's, but being so close to the source of their nightmares, the whispers in their ears...

They shook their head and shoved it down, fearful of what would happen if they listened. Despite the thoughts growing louder and the voices turning to hands gripping at their limbs, they pushed onward, leading Equinox to what would inevitably help them.

"Here," they said, "Rest, I cannot go closer and you shouldn't touch it, but being close should be fine."

’Wouldn't it be nice though? To touch it, to feel the power coursing beneath, to have some of that for yourself?’, they thought, before realizing that no, they didn't think that. Something else did, something dangerous.


Chaos-Two shook their head and turned away, a headache forming. They rejected it and received pain in return, their headache blooming into a migraine so suddenly that it made them stumble. With a hiss they stood up straight, stubbornly pushing such thoughts and feelings deep down. They didn't need them.

"Just... just wait here, I'll be right back...", they breathed, "Master Vargas? Are you near?!"

@Equinox @Vargas

V-Chaos-Two has gained 2 points of Corruption due to proximity with the Black Spire.

as equinox was lead further and further into the depths of draco, closer to the black spire, their muscles twitched and ached. what was once a blossoming headache was now the horrible white-flashes of a migraine, and their claws cramped at their unuse. the corruption was begging every muscle to strike SOMETHING, but they would not. they had no reason to. it's not like it would stop the voices anyway.

they looked to chaos-two, what might be worry crawling its way into their lungs, breathing what mightve been a whine but came out as a breathy gurgle at the concept of being alone. they hadn't had trouble being alone before. this... this was scary, for lack of a better word.

they stepped towards the spire, the energy radiating from it sending little shockwaves through their feet and claws. they sat near it, almost lying fully on the ground, trying to become closer to the force thumping through the ground into their bones. "make it quiet. make it stop. i wish to sleep." they thought, breathing heavy as they watched the spire, drinking up its presence.

@V-chaos-two

Before, the pulse of Chaos had been growing. Its urges spiked day by day, more and more erratic, more and more distracting.

But the presence of the Altar soothed the beast.

It wasn't that it tamed the Chaos, no; quite the opposite. It was as though the flickering madness swelled and grew, and evened out--the lashing shallows of violence smoothing to deep, dark waters instead. As if Equinox held so much power, here, that they needn't concern themselves with such petty things as scrabbling for more.

It was a similar feeling to sating hunger: a starving beast half-mad with it, driven to clawing at tree roots and snapping wildly at insects, had now ingested a full and heavy meal, and could rest easy, drowsy, and content. With it came a settling confidence: all was well. Equinox held this power, welling and lapping at their shores--they were brimming with it. Filled. Satiated.

For the time being, the urgency receded, and they would be left relatively content.

@Equinox

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Chaos-Two. The thought--sans the V--was a realization that came a moment after hearing the call. Vargas pushed up from where he'd been arranging a set of old bones. Lanky strides carried him toward the Black Spire, curious as to what his spawn was summoning him for this time. It had been trying, he thought, to make up for past slips; he had noted the effort, and he wondered what it would be doing now.

A report on gardens, perhaps? Or something else entirely-?

"Yes?" he called, as he drew closer--and then, as he swept around a craggy tower of boulders, came to an abrupt halt.

A Valkhound, he thought, surprise spiking up in him. That was impressive; if it was here to join him, that would certainly be a notch in Chaos-Two's belt. If. Even if not, he was interested in its presence, and the reason for it. Acid eyes scanned it as he pushed back into motion, approaching more slowly--drawing toward Chaos-Two rather than the stranger. There was no way of knowing if it were feral, and he had no intention of aggravating it before getting a better idea. The glowing blue eyes--paired--were quite similar to many old designs. The Oilstone-clad skull, the horns, the hulking body; those symbols are interesting, he thought, scanning them in some surprise. They did not look like any script that he had ever seen, though he'd never learned to read, either.

He looked to Chaos-Two, and awaited introductions--and information.

Equinox breathed heavily, trying to regain a little control over itself. it felt better, fuller, stronger. it wasn't the silence he wished for, but it was close, and he could handle what was given to him. he turned to look at chaos-two, and in turn, made very brief but very definite eye contact with Master Vargas.

this one responded to chaos-two's call, so this was vargas. Equinox tilted his head, standing to move from the altar, closer to chaos-two.

"Master Vargas." the creature spoke, more as an observatory greeting than anything else. it didn't really know much about the concept and authority of someone titled 'master' but they were probably going to find out.

"chaos-two-" he said, pointing to chaos-two as if to clarify which chaos-two he meant, "brought me here. s-said... said i could learn. stabilize. but mostly learn."

@V-chaos-two

Chaos-Two was grateful as Equinox spoke, giving them just a moment to gather their thoughts. They looked up at the Master and tried to ignore the fact that he had more eyes than usual, each one seeming to pulse with every throb of their sudden migraine.

"I encountered them in Pegasus," Chaos-Two said, "Their name is Equinox and they are... reasonable. Especially compared to other Valkhounds I've encountered personally. The corruption doesn't addle their mind like Draconua or Vjira. Aside from that their physical form is impressive as well. However, they do say they are two cycles old, so their experience is lacking... nothing that can't be made up for, I'm certain."

They were confident in this one. To them, at least, there were many things positive about Equinox. The fact that their brain wasn't turned to jelly with corruption was definitely a plus.

"I'd like to ask you something else later, though. After you evaluate them," they said, slightly more quiet towards the Master.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

He listened to each of them in turn--the quiet, halting words of the newcomer and the calm explanation provided by V-Chaos-Two. To the remark about corruption and brain-addling, he gave a little snort. "I would not let Draconua hear you say that," he advised, wryly, before looking to Equinox again.

"I do not know whose design you are," he mused, aloud. "What has V-Chaos-Two told you about Draco, and the Chaos Forge?" His tone was patient, here. He needed to know what it knew, already, before asking it questions or--worse yet--launching into explanations over something that it had already been told.

But he held cautious optimism for this one. It seemed calm, if nothing else, and tractable, if even Chaos-Two could lead it here; "reasonable," as they had describe the creature. He noted, too, that Chaos-Two wanted to speak later--he'd address that when it was time; for now he simply acknowledged the fact and tucked it away for later.

@Equinox

Equinox didn't know whose design he was either, though he was curious to know. he had a few choice words for whoever did so, not all of them judgmental, but most.

he spoke. "that there are other-... other valkhounds. like me." he said, unsure. "..i d-do not know... many things of these caves. said to join to fix that. to find others... like me"

it wasn't alot, he noted, that he knew about the Chaos forge, but he didn't know much about alot of things, so that was just one of a million. "...they called this magic a gift from... from the creator. i feel it here."

it didn't feel much a gift, but they thought, from the way chaos-two said it, that they didn't think so either. Gifts, from his knowledge, were good. this did not feel good. felt gross.

they looked to chaos-two, mostly for comfort.

@V-chaos-two

"Hence why I said it when she isn't here," they blurted in response to Vargas, having not given a thought to what they were saying, only for their face to morph into one of horror. They ducked their head and fiddled with their hands for a moment, knowing that they'd stepped out of turn, "... Sorry, Master Vargas."

With a wince, they headed back to Equinox, skirting along the edge of the Black Spire's aura in order to stand nearby, nodding gently, "I left it vague. The Chaos-Forge is so much more complicated now than it once been, I feared I would end up leaving things out or saying something wrong entirely, and I didn't want to spread false information."

Chaos-Two peered at the Black Spire and shuddered, remembering the sight of that collar. If they were reacting like this just being close or stepping within its proximity for a moment... it would be hell to imagine staying there for days.

"Anyway," they said, snapping out of that train of thought, "Um... yes, Equinox expressed their want to learn. I thought that perhaps with the Forge and with time, they could possibly reach that goal, and we could teach them what we know, too."

They felt on edge, like they were touching a live wire and their fur was on end, their fingertips tingling like they were sparking. It was not a nice feeling.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas looked at Equinox as he spoke, studying him once again. Studying his mannerisms, his movements, his overall demeanor. Chaos-Two's words drew his gaze again, a gaze which sharpened at its words. For a moment, he wondered blankly if it were stupider than he'd thought; it then apologized and he interjected, more loudly than before, more pointed. "Do I need to arrange a humor trainer for you, Chaos-Two?" he demanded, again wryly. "That was not instruction."

The rest he nodded along to. "Good," he said, though to what in particular wasn't clear. Maybe the entirety of it. He looked then to Equinox--he'd see how quickly it understood, and then give his assessment to Chaos-Two afterward. It might be the sort of creature worth reward.

"These nests," he began, addressing Equinox now, "exist to form monsters, beasts, and soldiers for our Creator. The strongest creations are periodically collected and handed off to our Creator to use. We of the Forge keep that process running. We examine designs. Create new ones. Train them, test them, and those that prove their designs and their willpower worth the Creator's attention are rewarded and used. If we fail in our mission, this nest would undoubtedly be destroyed, so we cannot fail."

He took a breath, eyeing Equinox over thoughtfully, with his next statement in mind: "The Forge members serve differing purposes to that end! Some grow food, as Chaos-Two organizes. Others train the spawn. Others hunt, or guard the growing chrysalises. Do you understand so far? -What do you think of it?" he asked, studying the surprisingly blue Valkhound before him.

@Equinox