He pushed out from behind Chaos-Two, out to one side, better to see Vargas. His expression was still neutral (if a little wary), and he didn't speak at first. Once he was addressed, he considered, picking over his own feathers and fur as he did so.

"I'm--I can grow anything. Clean the water to grow it--with magic. Make it rain, or make it sunny, or make lights for the plants. Heal sickness... close wounds..."

As for rewards-? Oliver had said 'nothing,' to Chaos-Two, but now that Vargas was asking, and so closely on the heels of his experience at the Aperture? His blue eyes slipped back to the door, then to Vargas. "Can you send me the Sentinel once a cycle?" he asked, staring up at the Leviathan, trying not to feel fear--his faint resentment coupled with it to make some dark unpleasantness in his gut, and he tried to fight that off. "Just for a day, or so," he added.

Oliver settled clawed wing-hands around a spot on the rock, settling in a seed he'd carried with him (nestled in his fur). The plant that sprouted was a slender one--a tree, yes, and tall--but leafy, pretty, its roots grinding into the rock. He looked up, silent. This was what he could do.

Diot wasn't particularly worried, having always been surrounded by those who were larger than him it was something you were used to. He calmed though a bit more when Vargas spoke. They seemed level-headed, and to the point, a businessman of Draco he mused to himself. The Leviathan even wanted to see what Oliver and him could do, as should anyone if you were to employ someone for such a job. Oliver got right to work it seemed, taking initiative and even spoke up for their idea for a reward. Given how they saw the meeting between the two gembounds go previously Diot did hope further encounters between them would improve over time. But still, it was a matter he'd be careful not to but into, it seemed personal and that they had it all under control; or well on the way to being.

Diot waited his turn, inhaling calmly for a moment or two, green gaze flickering from Chaos-Two to Oliver and Vargas again. When it seemed Oliver was done Diot stepped up to the plate- or well down. He had hopped down from Chaos-Two, humming to himself for a moment or three before patting a specific portion of the soil beneath himself. Grabbing a bit of loose dirt in his palms before letting it fall back to the cave floor below.

"I can grow just about anything you could want as well. Plants, fungi, and all sorts of vegetation one may choose to eat, or use for medicine and the like. I don't grow things that bring harm all that often- but I have for medical use for my father many, many cycles ago."

It was now that he called upon his magic, stepping back from the sprouting tree that was sure to flourish, he could hear it- that life spring and blossom forth. The way it tingled and danced on the tips of his fingers as the magic surged forth to bring life anew. He had moved far enough from what Oliver had sprouted and flourished, and far enough from the group too so he wouldn't have to worry about it getting in anyone's way. He was aiming to grow a tree that had a particularly lovely scent rather than one that gave fruit, considering what Chaos-Two had said prior on the topic of contamination. He just hoped some gembound here would find it nice too, especially with how baren this room seemed to be.

With that though he took a few steps back to the small group, turning his back to the flourishing tree to continue where he had left off.

"I am able to heal too, mend and tend to wounds, though I haven't yet learned to control the sun, perhaps one day alongside Oliver I may add that to my resume."

He chuckled lightly, he was very glad to be working with Oliver, and if the fellow gembound was telling the truth- which Diot was absolutely sure he was- than that was indeed a mighty impressive feat of magic there.

"As for an idea of a reward- I have not thought about it...would that be something I can think of? And inquire about at a later time when I have a few ideas to offer?"

He really had no ideas. Diot wasn't really a creature of want, granted he wanted perhaps many things technically. But it was all things he could do on his own. And he wouldn't want to give the wrong impression by holding this Master's time up all because he was trying to think of something he might not even really want in the end.

@Vargas (Oliver) @Maximus

Chaos-Two swallowed and nodded at Vargas' affirmations for a possible reward. It was relieving, one step closer to getting what they wanted.

They perked up as the trees grew, inhaling the sweet scent of Diot's and humming softly, rather delighted by it. Their lamb tail flicked back and forth behind them happily, their lips turning up.

"Impressive," they said, almost in awe, a display of magic this fantastic completely new to them. Not violent attacks or beams or light or what have you, just simple, beautiful trees grown from nothing.

They felt awful for Oliver, though. Maybe the Sentinel might have something there, but they doubted it.

@Vargas (Oliver) @Diot

Chaos-Two had been right about Draco not being suitable for plants.

No sooner had the twin trees begun to sprout than they took on the Corrupted aspects of the cave around them--their accelerated growth incorporating the Oil just as surely as a slow-growth plant would have.

The trunks were veined with pulsing black. The leaves were coal-dark, and slicked with an Oily sheen; the entirety of both plants looked sickly, overly soft, and gave off an unpleasant warmth. Part of one tree half-melted--it lived, but it was lopsided, wet, structurally weak--more like an old cucumber than solid wood.

Both plants stank of putrescent bodies left to rot beneath a sun.

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas turned, eyeing both corrupted trees sardonically. "Pegasus it is," he stated flatly, dry amusement in his tone. Then he looked back to the pair before him.

"Oliver, is it? I will not force the Sentinel to visit you, but I will ask him to do so. If you are hoping to build a relationship with him, I warn you now: the one who last held that stone is gone. The body is echoed in a new form, but when a creature dies, it is dead; he does not bear the hound's memories or feelings. Do you understand?" he asked, looking to the bird-dog. "This is not said in cruelty; rather, I want to be clear--I do not want you to think you are getting, in reward, something that you won't find!" Too, he didn't particularly want Sentinel distracted, forming relationships and strong priorities outside the Forge, really--but somehow, he doubted that (in this case) it was much of a concern. Whatever the bird-dog wanted from the Sentinel, it would likely be disappointed.

To Diot, he nodded. "Take your time! You could request the stone of one of our ancient dead, for you to return to life--as a servant, as a guard--or... anything else you can think of." He left that at--well, that--and moved on.

"Chaos-Two, take them into Pegasus, and look over prospective areas. As I've mentioned, we'll need somewhere with drainage; somewhere defensible, somewhere with light and water. And it needs to be a large plot. Were you to find a plateau shielded by trees it would be best but that is unlikely. Lastly, it must be by the tunnel entrance--not the other side of Pegasus. I had asked you, I think, to look at possibilities; take these two there, now, and let them choose together. In fact, I will come with you--lead on, and when a spot has been chosen, they can begin at their leisure."

He considered, briefly.

"You may come and go from Draco as you please, both of you. I will need a large farm built relatively quickly--I will allow you to select the plants, but they should be enough to feed five or six Valkhounds--ahh, creatures--who eat only plants. I would think vegetables, fruits; Creator knows Pegasus has enough in the way of grasses already. The details, however, I leave to both of you--Chaos-Two will not be overseering the planting, and so you will need to come to me with questions, should you have them. I will try to find someone to guard your work as soon as possible," he added--perhaps he could select someone after the meeting he had planned.

Oliver watched, cold horror trickling down his spine, as the plants... warped. As healthy tree became pulsating Oil-stained monstrosity. As leaves turned to poison, and branches into claws.

"...Oh," he said, softly.

Past that, he said nothing; he simply regarded the plants with a grief-stricken face. Vargas's words came and went with little more than a nod from the bird-dog--he hadn't expected more, really. He didn't, in the end, hold any misconceptions about what his father's gemstone had become... but he did want to try, to see what was there and build what link he could.

It... just felt wrong, not to.

Aside from this, he was silent: he'd go along with whatever they wanted to do, and honestly, the sooner they were back in Pegasus (Oliver thought) the better.

@Diot

Chaos-Two had been right.

It had been barely enough time for the gembounds to marvel at the rapid growth of tree and foliage- awe and small celebration cut short as the trees began to change. It happened instantaneously, the substance was unknown to Diot but the tree seemed to be made of oil. Dark and pulsing, veins extending through the trees as they shimmered with that sickly sheen. They even gave off warmth, which was a tad alarming for Diot- all of this was. One tree began to melt, malformed and lopsided, wet and looked as if it was rotting from the inside- and the smell. Both had begun to reek, putrid and harsh, Diot could only crinkle his nose in disagreement at this sudden and unseen change. One hand he brought to his chest, laying it over his heart in a calm response. Perhaps that is why he did not feel at home the moment he entered this cave.

Draco was not suitable for plants. Pegasus was now the room he had high hopes for, as did everyone else he was sure. Diot though seemed almost in a trance, staring at the trees with a slight ache and worry in his heart. There was nothing he could do to aid these trees, other than destroy them, and even then that was something he could not do. He simply didn't have the means. Still, Diot managed to somewhat hear The Leviathan's words to Oliver. It was rather kind of the Master to be upfront about things, especially in not forcing another gembound to go see one who they may not want. Even as sad as it may be if that route was taken, at least they had a choice. He could only hope things went well between the two.

Vargas's attention flickered to him and well Diot wasn't expecting this sort of reward to be on the table... A stone of ancient dead, as a servant or guard. He hummed, he was not one to want a servant, and as far as he was concerned he had little desire for a guard-but...a child, someone to raise and aid through life...No he wasn't ready- besides he had many children and those he tended too, even if they were...just plants or- gembounds scattered throughout the caves...

He would need to think about it...

Vargas spoke of ideas and desires for the farm and Diot nodded along, listening intently and already thinking of possible vegetables and the like to grow for a feast for any who were hungry. Though he stopped when the mention of something called a Valkhounda rose, caught his interest- especially when The Leviathan corrected themselves to call them creatures. He hummed, curiosity bubbling over now. Chaos-Two had previously said any questions would need to be asked of Master Vargas as he knew a great many things. So he decided to speak.

"Peagus it is."

He agreed.

"We will be sure to make a beautiful and bountiful farm for all your needs and I'm sorry to change the subject but-if I may ask...What is a valkhound? You need not answer of course, but I've never heard of that word or- entity?."

He hummed, curiosity bubbling up as he moved closer to the group now and away from the putrid trees.

@Maximus @Vargas (Oliver)

Chaos-Two watched the trees shrivel and wilt, turning into wicked abominations, shadows of their former selves. They look a step back in disgust and horror, ears pinning, skin crawling. It was awful and he felt horrible standing in Draco in that moment, wondering if overtime, they'd end up like the tree too.

"... I-I'll take them now," they said to Vargas, pushing away horrific images from their mind, "Come, Oliver and Diot, we'll head out and start looking."

They turned to Diot at the question and offered their arm for him to climb on, in case he didn't want to hand-walk all the way outside to Pegasus. They would leave the question to Master Vargas, since they didn't know if that was information kept to the Chaos Forge or not.

Sometimes they forgot they were one, and compared to all the other monsters in the Forge... it wouldn't be hard to believe if they said they weren't. Kindness didn't belong on a Valkhound.

@Vargas (Oliver)

- THE LEVIATHAN -

"Valkhound," began Master Vargas--lurching into a stride and speaking like a Chaos naturalist narrating a scene--"is a term for the Creator's soldiers formed in this nest. We are his hounds; his fiends, his beasts, and so that is our name. Others, outside this nest, look upon that name in fear," he added. "I clarified to 'creatures' because I knew you might not know the term! -But we will not harm you; you will be our allies, so the name need not worry you."

He suppressed an urge to glance at Oliver. He wasn't sure if he could trust that one; his words, in regards to Oliver, could legitimately be called a lie. He hadn't volunteered the dog-bird's father for the Trial--the hound had gone in himself. But he had still died. Been "harmed" until nothing was left but near-lifeless stone. If the bird-dog called him out on that, he'd have had a long and awkward explanation ahead of him as to what 'you' meant, and the difference between kidnapping (as Hag-rteho had done) and facing a Trial willingly.

Past this, however, he did not speak; he set an unhurried pace, interested to see the places that Chaos-Two would suggest.

exit Vargas? (Idm if we do another thread or just offscreen them picking a spot in Pegasus)

If there was tension, Oliver didn't sense it--which was probably for the best. So far as he was concerned, this was something of an adventure, if one with terribly tragic undertones (see: his Dad, and the fucked-up trees).

He set off at a slow and peaceful shuffle, though he had to pick up his pace, a little, to keep up with even Vargas's calm stride. The definition of "Valkhound" came and went, in his mind; he'd remember it, but it didn't hold much meaning for him. He wondered, vaguely, if Venari was a Valkhound--maybe Zoisite, too? His dad? Maybe everyone was-? But beyond that it wasn't really interesting.

"Okay," was all he offered, and it wasn't amazingly clear who he was speaking to.

(same as above! - ignore unselected spell roll. NINE FOR SOME REASON)

@Diot