the Rift


[DROP] Come and get it

Random Event Posts: 1,286
Helovian Ancient
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#1
Event
Enjoying and basking in the last rays of Tallsun was a rather odd creature. It looked roughly like an owl, but had webbed talons instead of regular avian feet, and it was far larger than any normal owl would have been. Its eyes hummed with intelligence, and the colours of its body seemed to change depending on what way the light struck it.

And it was clearly waiting.

Sitting on a clutch of eggs, the strange hybrid creature awaited those who would arrive. They would feel the pull of its magic, drawing them out across the distances, appealing to the kindred nature of their souls and their desire to bond with another.

They would hear, and they would come.

The eggs upon which the creature sat were all its own, save for one. Out of the white and glistening shells, one stuck out like a sore thumb. It was smaller, and the colour was a pale gray. The creature had found the egg, but wasn't in a position to look after it. But it knew that someone would come along ... someone who could give the creature inside shelter and sustenance.




This is a plain NSS drop. You have 48 hours to post here. Please post your wishlist and refusals in your opening post.


pure randomness
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Ashamin the Clovenheart Posts: 426
Outcast atk: 8 | def: 11.5 | dam: 5.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 15.2 HH :: 5 [Frostfall] HP: 79 | Buff: NUMB
Lochan :: Plain Cerndyr :: Dark Mist & Rakt :: Common Cerndyr :: Starpast Jen
#2
A S H A M I N
on his own
Ashamin had never been this far from his new home, and he was filled with a nervous excitement. Here, further south in Helovia, the cold was abated and replaced by a brisk trace of autumn. This particular part of Helovia has more greenery than he had ever before seen, even now as it began to wither with the change of seasons. He took careful, easy steps through the tall grasses, and took pleasure in the way that his sharp hooves sank into the soft earth. Strange to not have the pale scratch of ice beneath him, he noticed with a soft smile to himself.

The sky above let off a warm, almost summery glow. He had followed the eastern stream and watched it expand into a thick, rushing tide of a river. Now, as the grasses grew taller about his legs, he began to feel as if the winds were changing. He turned eastward, seeking the source of the shift, and found it in no time. He stood with the river to his back and his black eyes widened in shock.

Before him, resting on what seemed to be some sort of nest, was a magnificent owl. But no, the creature wasn't really just an owl, was it? There was something odd and almost mystical about the long-feathered beast. At first Ashamin thought it was simply the creature's size, but he quickly noticed the feet it bore: odd, webbed contraptions that belonged, he thought, skimming the surface of the water. He snorted, balking at first with a fearful apprehension, and stepped closer to the river.

But something drew him in. There, just beneath the creature's webbed feet, was a smaller, lighter toned egg. Its shell shone a clean gray, and instantly Ashamin felt a curiousity for whatever might be inside. The creature before him, large as it was, didn't seem especially fierce but it did seem intelligent. Perhaps it was worth approaching?

Ashamin drew himself up. Hadn't Zandora told him he need not worry about his greetings? With more bravery than he thought he had, he stepped on deer-hooves towards the creature and slowly extended his muzzle, stretching his neck as far as he could so he could keep a distance. His long tail twitched in the grass behind him, revealing his fear. "Hello... I am Ashamin," the boy said softly, offering a smile as he did so. He looked down at her feet, the want to know burning in his chest. "You have a beautiful brood," he murmured in supplement, his black eyes catching the light and glittering with the faintest trace of emotion. He bit his tongue--tried to stop his knees from shaking.

Faith hope this creature was an intelligent being; that the glimmer in its eyes, the recognition of its life, was no trick. If it was, he was perhaps just talking to whatever was about to eat him.

_______________

Wishlist
No Priors.

[[Sorry this was quick, about to rush off to work. I go on busy soon so I can't promise I'll get this in but I will do my best! <3]]




(table by Tamme)


See Ashamin's profile for more information about Lochan, Rakt, and his various items.
All magic and force allowed, barring death and permanent injury.
Do not tag me, please message on skype instead


Badger Posts: 68
Hidden Account atk: 4 | def: 8 | dam: 6.5
Gelding :: Equine :: 15'2hh :: 10 HP: 62 | Buff: NOVICE
Snow
#3
He is summoned.

By what, he doesn't know. All he knows is that he feels a pull, a draw, different to that of his desire for food or water. It is equally as strong, however. Initially the gelding resists, because he doesn't trust a single thing in this place, but his stumpy legs seem to move without his brain telling him to, and before he can object he has begun to walk.

Fear grips at him, its cold fingers tickling his heart as he walks with a sense of great trepidation. He has only been here for a matter of days and so really doesn't think he should be following strange magical urges, however his body has other ideas. Little does he know the pull was directed to those who want to bond to another; he doesn't know that he wants to bond, let alone what to, but there must be something appealing to his inner loneliness for the pull to affect him.

And affect him it does. He moves warily through the Thistle Meadow, body held low and nervous as his warm eyes land upon a...thing. It looks vaguely like an owl but its feet are like nothing he's ever seen, and he suppresses a shudder. He isn't the only one here, and the unicorn stallion nearby seems nervous as well, to Badger's relief. "Hello there," he says both to the owl thing and the other male, before zoning his attention in on the clutch of eggs. Such a lucky creature it is, to have so many children! The gelding sighs sadly, but quickly shakes it off. "Congratulations on your children," he says to the creature with a small smile.


wishlist

Seeking a cerndyr with Earth Spirit. Sorry for the awful post, on my phone with bad signal :(

No prior refusals.

Nasreen Posts: 160
Up For Adoption
Mare :: Pegasus :: 15.1 hh :: 6 (Orangemoon)
Adoptable
#4

NASREEN


Maybe it is the loneliness that draws her to this place, pulling the girl away from Bucephalus and towards the open meadow. It is only a short flight, and she supposes a visit to Thistle Meadow may do her some good: it’s farther from the Edge than the Secret Grove, at least. But as Nasreen draws closer, the familiar hum of magic becomes unmistakable, and she realizes that there is a gathering afoot. And where there’s a gathering…copper wings angle slightly in the air, ready to send the mare away at the sight of her former herdmates. However, as the vibrations grow stronger, only three creatures come into view, and to her great relief they are all blessedly unfamiliar. “Good day,” she offers softly upon landing, and to the owl, a respectful nod and “Hello.” Perhaps hers is not the cheery voice it had once been, but manners Nasreen would not forsake. The delicate ice chains clipped to her feathers tinkle quietly as she folds her wings upon her back. The silence that follows doesn’t bother her; instead she sinks into it blissfully, drawing it around herself like a cocoon.

As she waits, subdued, she wonders: it’s funny how here, even in the company of others, the feelings of loneliness have only intensified. Well…perhaps not loneliness exactly, but an inexplicable longing to understand and to be understood, that’s what it was more like. Instinctively, she thinks of Ishtar. Her twin may be long lost to her, but sometimes the girl still couldn’t shake the feeling that a part of her was missing. How could everything have gone so wrong?

Nasreen would like a Cerndyr with the Earth Spirit ability!
Wishlist: http://helovia.net/showthread.php?tid=12427
Prior Refusal: http://helovia.net/showthread.php?tid=14745

image by shady
Please do not tag Nasreen except for in opening posts and in spars!

Isopia the Mountain That Knows Posts: 780
Dragon's Throat Apostle atk: 6.5 | def: 10 | dam: 8.0
Mare :: Tribrid :: 18hh :: 3 - is now aging slowly HP: 90 | Buff: NUMB
Hubris :: Royal Bronze Dragon :: Shock Breath & Frost Breath & Babel :: Royal Gold Dragon :: Fire Breath Odd
#5

[Not competing, just lurking.]

Companions had been on her mind ... she had grown up with dragons in the Edge, but after seeing Ros's rougarou in action, and hearing about how Abraham received not one but two dragons by proving his strength supreme, the girl had begun to wonder ...

How did this all work?

She was sure Thunderhead would be unimpressed with her simply watching this little charade without actively trying to stop it, but she wasn't terribly concerned. She was a spy after all, not a mercenary. She was here to gather information about companion exchanges for Thunderhead, as much as herself.

Having already been in her raven form, the demi-child landed on a branch that hung low enough that she could watch the proceedings without (hopefully) drawing too much attention to herself. Although her bright golden eyes and skull-marked face gave her away as being no ordinary raven, she assumed the three gathered below would be too focused on the owl-creature and its precious cargo to worry much about her.

She wouldn't be the bird they were focused on.

She listened to their greetings and their compliments. It sounded so phony to Isopia, and she cast a sharp golden stare towards the owl creature to try and determine if it read their words with the same hollowness that she did. Wasn't it clear that they were just trying to ... to put up a front? To be whatever they thought the owl would want, in return for its egg? If there was a war beast, wouldn't they have all come in looking tough? Internally the girl rolled her eyes and muttered to herself. Abraham said that his companions had come due to feats of strength, and the girl found herself looking forward to watching the three below tear themselves apart to try and be the victor.


Isopia
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
Image Credits

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here

Random Event Posts: 1,286
Helovian Ancient
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#6
Event
The owl watched the three arrive with large, knowing eyes. Briefly, its gaze roamed to the skull-marked raven who sat in a tree above them, watching. The creature scoffed gently to itself, but made no other comment towards the other hybrid bird.

Instead, it turned its attention to its guests, nodding to each as they greeted it. Although it didn't open its beak to speak, warm thoughts and images flooded each of their minds as the creature turned its large and attentive gaze to each in turn. Its mental communications were soft and showed no signs of hostility as its warmth flowed into their minds.

Stepping back the creature motioned to the egg. Clearly they all know that whatever was inside was the reason why they had been called here, and the reason why it had decided to come. Images and the feeling of needing to be nurtured resonated from the creature into their minds, as it laid a large feather upon the shell, caressing it gently.

Suddenly, from the egg, three cerndyrs appeared - although clearly they weren't cerndyrs. They were illusory. As they solidified, they stood before Nasreen, Badger, and Ashamin, blinking gently with wide, adoring eyes. They looked as real as anything else - and yet the three would know that they were fake, having seen them appear from smoke only moments prior.

Images and concern wafted from the owl hybrid into their minds, as illusion-crafted venomous snakes appeared. Each snake was larger than any real snake could have been, with fangs of about 10 inches protruding from their open mouths. The illusory serpents darted for the created cerndyr.

what to do? the Owl seemed to wonder, looking expectantly at the trio.



You have 48 hours to respond. Please post a summary of what your character does in response!


pure randomness
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Isopia the Mountain That Knows Posts: 780
Dragon's Throat Apostle atk: 6.5 | def: 10 | dam: 8.0
Mare :: Tribrid :: 18hh :: 3 - is now aging slowly HP: 90 | Buff: NUMB
Hubris :: Royal Bronze Dragon :: Shock Breath & Frost Breath & Babel :: Royal Gold Dragon :: Fire Breath Odd
#7

Isopia watched with rapt attention as forms began to materialize. Th is was clearly different from the way her magic worked - she didn't create illusions, she created real things. In that regard, her mind was already judging the strength and abilities of the owl-hybrid. Even though she was not apart of this little task, she could still hear and sense the thoughts and images being sent to the 'participants' below, although perhaps it was merely her god-blood at work. She had heard the call of the dragon previously - perhaps she had a minor telepathic ability, she didn't know for sure. But for now, that didn't interest her.

What did, was the serpents.

With a hardened judgmental stare she watched as illusory creature attacked illusory creature. The reactions of those below were laughable - and very nearly did she open her beak to mock them, before refraining. She didn't actually want to draw attention to herself, only to their errors. But it seemed one would necessarily follow the other, and so she remained silent.

Thunderhead will laugh she thought at first, before shaking her head no. She'll be horrified, she corrected. But really, the two ought to stem from the same bit of information: all it took to enslave a creature (as Thunderhead would think of it), was simply showing up at the right time, and playing some game. How could that be a worthwhile test of ownership? Or being able to protect whatever it was that was within the egg?

The girl was under the impression that companions chose who they would be with, at least in some respects. But this ... this seemed a matter of happenstance. It seemed arbitrary, with some bullshit justifications thrown in as an afterthought. Sure, you were the strongest, or the most clever of those that showed up, but it doesn't follow that you're the best choice overall.

Did the owl know the hypocrisy that was flooding from her mind? Did it care? With shock, Isopia realized that she was beginning to share some of Thunderhead's passion for the WHATCH, if only because the whole system of 'choosing' seemed so ludicrous.



Isopia doesn't do anything.

Isopia
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
Image Credits

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here

Ampere The Mother of Companions Posts: 719
Dragon's Throat Sultana atk: 9 | def: 11 | dam: 4.5
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14 hh :: 6 years HP: 73 | Buff: DANCE
Kygo :: Green Cheek Conure :: None Blu
#8
A M P E R E
"Any existence deprived of freedom is a kind of death" -- Michel Aoun

"It's sad, isn't it?" Ampere asked as she alighted next to the raven girl dressed in death. The gathering of horses below had drawn her eye, and as Ampere circled around, watching from the skies, she took notice of Raven. The girl didn't seem inclined to participate, and Ampere couldn't help but wonder if this could be a time that her words and ideas might be accepted - a time to talk, rather than fight.

She swooped in for a landing on a wider, stronger branch above the Raven. Her hooves touched down tentatively, testing the bough, while her wings cupped and pushed the air heavily. When at last it seemed sturdy, Ampere crouched on her limbs, and loosely tucked her wings. Raven may not have wanted anyone's attention, but Ampere doubted her arrival would draw any more - everyone would be so focused on the egg; that's how it always was.

Blue eyes were tinged with a perceptible sadness as Ampere tore them from the group below, setting her stare squarely on the Whatcher. "I use to come to these a lot," Ampere went on, figuring Raven couldn't talk in her form, and knowing she had enough to say about the matter to fill the void - besides, maybe she could prove she wasn't always hoof and teeth. "I don't even know what to call them... these egg gatherings. They happen all over, all the time, and somehow a large group of horses always finds them. Then they squabble with one another, so greedy and selfish. None of them ever backs out upon realizing someone else might be a better care taker, none of them ever thinks about the egg." Did the unborn companions draw them in, with magic or will? Or was it pure luck and a testament to the hunting prowess of those on the search for an egg? Ampere was never sure, and not too long ago would have just assumed the latter - but the words of the Earth God still haunted her. He said, the companion had to choose to bond too. She still didn't know how though, because they were infants, what knowledge could they possibly possess much less comprehend?

Shaking her head, Ampere went on. "I would compete with everyone else, hoping to win or take the eggs and let them hatch like normal, on their own. No bonding... so that they could be free, and natural, like they should be." She blinked, memories drifting behind her eyes. "I won one, once. Before I could put it anywhere, A stallion, Oxy, took it from me." She slurred his name with a deep rooted hatred, then grew still for a while, combating herself and the feelings within. Whens he spoke next, she had changed her topic somewhat, deciding not to get so personal.

"Everyone always tells me about how they saved their companion, that it's lucky to be alive because of them. I just can't understand why rescuing the egg, means the soul inside has to be trapped. If you're truly altruistic and good, wouldn't you rescue the egg just to have it be safe, to know it is well and alive? Isn't that enough to let it hatch in safety? No one even tries to give it to its own kind, or to resist the bond. They don't bother to learn anything about the creature's natural needs of food or habitat or social structure. They just act like they're entitled to this tiny life, because why not... they 'rescued' it after all." Disgust was starting to fill Ampere's tone, and when she recognized it she grew quiet again. She didn't want to push Raven away any further than she already had. In truth, Ampere wanted to educate, to explain, to share her ideas and her goals because she knew that only by bringing some into her fold could she truly accomplish any kind of change. She was met with such resistance though, that she couldn't help but bite out with anger.

"Horses use them in fights. These small creatures that have known no other life, and are chained up eternally to a soul, sharing every thought, every emotion, every hurt and joy. They fight with them, like the animal is nothing more than a weapon or a tool to hone. Where is the balance in that?" Ampere was asking Raven now, because she wanted to know. She wanted to understand the real justification everyone had for their despicable acts with their companions.

"Your father, The Earth," Ampere hesitated, waiting for some flicker of recognition in Raven to assure Ampere that she was the daughter of the Earth - Ampere suspected as much, given the collection of the four demi gods with that dragon - "He told me once that the gods created the bond to help these creatures. He said that before, a long time ago, a mare had pleaded with them to keep some of the species alive because they were struggling on their own. So the gods created this 'gift' between the little creatures and the horses, so that horses could protect them and raise them and nurture them, keeping the species strong and alive." Here Ampere's gaze drifted away, glossing over with thought. "Maybe a long time ago they needed that, but now? Now the lands seem rich with fauna, and now I think horses have lost sight of the true purpose and meaning behind acquiring a companion. They know nothing of the life they take into their own, and treat it just as carelessly."

Ampere sighed, and fell into silence. She had more to say - she could talk for hours about this, but she felt full of her own words and the things that they dredged up inside of her. She needed a moment to gather herself, and she figured Raven might appreciate the quiet, if not for a little while, so that she could watch the greed unfurl beneath her.

@[Isopia]
*Ampere is not participating in the drop.

Credits: Image by Tabini
Coding by Tamme

Tag me only if starting a new thread.
Magic or force permitted any time, aside from death.

Ashamin the Clovenheart Posts: 426
Outcast atk: 8 | def: 11.5 | dam: 5.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 15.2 HH :: 5 [Frostfall] HP: 79 | Buff: NUMB
Lochan :: Plain Cerndyr :: Dark Mist & Rakt :: Common Cerndyr :: Starpast Jen
#9
A S H A M I N
on his own
Ashamin was, but should not have been, surprised that others appeared before the owl. After all, there were several eggs in the basket, and the strange pull that he was beginning to feel towards the smallest might have been felt by the others towards one of the larger. He lowered his head in submission, letting the other stallion share his charm and the large, winged mare land with grace. He had no desire to interfere with them; frankly, he felt uncomfortable enough with the large owl-creature present.

So he watched, silent, as greetings were exchanged. Any glance at him was met with a small, nervous nod; the situation afforded him the social grace for that alone. And it was good, too, that he knew nothing of those above him in the trees--heard nothing of their conversation. He knew so little of companion bonding, but he knew from Lena and Imogen that it was a beautiful thing. It was best not to have his innocence, his purity, tainted by dissenters.

And when the deer appeared in triplicate, ghostly, beautiful images, he was not even certain that companions were at stake. Never before had he seen such magnificent creatures as these mythical deer, and never before had he seen one bonded at another's side. He could only watch in wonder as they gazed at him and the others, almost loving in their appearance, and suddenly he knew that they all sought the same egg: the egg that would make these apparitions real, the egg that could bring them such unconditional affection.

When the snakes appeared, Ashamin was struck with fear. But what shocked him was its source: less fear for himself, and more fear for the three creatures before him. He could see they were fictions, he could practically see through them, but the desire to protect still swelled within them. When a snake turned and revealed its fangs, he knew instantly that he would be a fool to try and strike it down with his inexperience; even if they were illusions, some illusions had power to strike out against reality. No, his only chance was to lure it away. And as much horror as the thought of the snake attacking him brought him, this was who he was. This was his strength, the strength Einarr has spoke of and the strength that he had and bore differently from his father. This loyalty, this urge to protect and this willingness to put himself in danger to do so, was what would make him a warrior in the end.

And so, with a lowering of his head and a motion towards the snakes, he rattled the stone in his horn: once, twice, then thrice, to capture the attention of the beasts. Faith knew they all posed a threat, and if those at his side had any honor and his plan any merit, they would aid him. He slowly lifted his long tail from where it had lain against the earth, waving it back and forth behind him. He had been told his tail was snakelike. Perhaps, now, the insult could become an asset.

Ashamin cast nervous glances to his company from deep, black eyes as he beckoned the snakes to follow the hypnotizing charm of his tail. He looked once at the owl, staring at him with a gaze blurred by fear and senses overtaken by the beating of his own heart.

If nothing else, this was it. This was his moment of courage.

_______________

Perceiving that he will not be strong enough to defeat those fangs, Ashamin tries to get the snake's attention by rattling the stone in his horn, and then begins to wave his long tail in an attempt to hypnotize/charm it, walking backwards and away from the apparitions of the deer as he does so. Knowing not which deer is meant for him, he waves his tail in front of all the snakes.

[[A little rushed, apologies!]]




(table by Tamme)


See Ashamin's profile for more information about Lochan, Rakt, and his various items.
All magic and force allowed, barring death and permanent injury.
Do not tag me, please message on skype instead


Badger Posts: 68
Hidden Account atk: 4 | def: 8 | dam: 6.5
Gelding :: Equine :: 15'2hh :: 10 HP: 62 | Buff: NOVICE
Snow
#10


B A D G E R

A third arrives, a winged mare. She's given a curious glance before Badger's attention turns back to the owl-thing. Something warm touches his mind and the gelding's ears momentarily flatten, afraid, but the contact doesn't seem nefarious and he allows himself to relax. Images come of helpless lives needing nurturing, of a bond unlike anything he's ever known - curiosity replaces fear and he watches for what will happen next.

Suddenly, three deer appear out of the air - one for each of the gathered horses. At first the gelding is wary, because surely they cannot be real when they were conjured from nowhere? But his short time in Helovia has taught him anything is possible, and who is he to decide if the stags are sentient or not? He reaches his nose out to the nearest one, delight evident on his face as he cocks his ears forward and snorts towards its nostrils, as he would with another horse. Your name is Squishy and you shall be MY Squishy. "Hello there," he says gently, his brown eyes warm and kind. "Aren't you the cutest little pudding in the world?" So intent is he on his crooning towards the deer that he almost doesn't notice the predators, until his senses tell him to snap his attention away and turn.

Snakes.

Obnoxiously large snakes.

Their intentions are clear; they want to nom the deer. A more intelligent - or more world-wise - horse would use logic, would deduct that neither cerndyr nor snake can possibly be real. But Badger has no reason to believe that what he sees isn't real, and his own cowardice is forced aside at the notion that Cutie von Deerface might soon become a snake's dinner. The unicorn stallion jangles his horn and acts with a bravery Badger can only dream of - he wishes he could lunge forward and attack the snakes, fend them away, but he is frozen to the ground with fear. Until he remembers the deer, his deer, and shuffles his wonderfully large backside in front of the horned creature.

He puts himself between his deer and the snake, his ears slicked back and a shrill whinny of warning coming from his gullet. Stay back! He doesn't attack the snake, because doing so would only encourage an attack; instead he tries to push the deer backwards with his butt, away from the threatening creatures and to safety. Perhaps this will stop the snakes attacking and save Cutie von Deerface - and himself - from a painful death. After all, maybe the snakes will change their mind and leave if they see that their chance of an easy meal is fading away, or so the gelding can hope.

He makes no move to save the other two cerdyrs, focusing entirely on the one he's claimed as his own. The others will hopefully be protected by the other two horses - Badger only cares about his one.

_______

Badger stands in front of the nearest deer, the one he thinks is 'his', to protect it from the snakes. He doesn't attack the snakes, so as not to provoke them.


Nasreen Posts: 160
Up For Adoption
Mare :: Pegasus :: 15.1 hh :: 6 (Orangemoon)
Adoptable
#11

NASREEN


Though they wait, no more arrive, and Nasreen is snapped out of her reverie by a distinct nudge to her mind. The mare looks up to see the owl regarding the group earnestly. Perhaps it is a little startling, but not troubling. She can sense only benign energy coming from this owl as it holds her in its gentle gaze. Realizing that speech will be pointless, the girl merely pricks her ears to indicate that she is paying attention. What would the owl have her do? Briefly, she thinks of the mist-stag who gifted her the chain on her wings nearly a year ago. Would there be another adventure waiting for the three of them today?

No sooner has she conjured up the image of the mist-stag, however, than three very different stags appear. The girl has never seen a cerndyr, but she is instantly drawn in—not just by the dewy eyes and sloping horns, but by the sense of completeness she feels in their presence. How long has it been since she felt a peace like this? But alas, it seems that all good things are to be short-lived. The snakes materialize before her, and at the sight of the writhing bodies and gleaming fangs, Nasreen cannot help but scream and startle. She stumbles backwards clumsily, wings flared, ready to take to the skies…but then she catches the eye of the cerndyr, so trusting even as the viper speeds towards it.

And the girl feels something in her break. How many times would she let the world take from her what she loved? How many times would she lose? And maybe it’s the stupidest and most dangerous thing Nasreen has ever done, but in that moment she can only feel that she’s tired of running away.

With a strangled whinny, the mare charges the closest snake, wings flapping furiously and teeth bared. Flinty hooves reach forward, ready to strike, to trample, adrenaline and sudden anger screaming for her to do the impossible. To the others, perhaps the snakes are just snakes—huge ones, no doubt, but just snakes. To Nasreen, however, the creatures seem to shift into the forms of her demons incarnate: that one, there, the burning of her home, this one, here, the disappearance of her brother, the other, there, her abandonment of the Edge. Left, she strikes, then right, seeking to pin down a head and crush it into the dust.


Summary: Nasreen initially spooks, then realizes that she’s always run away and paid the price of sacrificing someone/something she loves. She charges the snakes.


image by shady
Please do not tag Nasreen except for in opening posts and in spars!

Isopia the Mountain That Knows Posts: 780
Dragon's Throat Apostle atk: 6.5 | def: 10 | dam: 8.0
Mare :: Tribrid :: 18hh :: 3 - is now aging slowly HP: 90 | Buff: NUMB
Hubris :: Royal Bronze Dragon :: Shock Breath & Frost Breath & Babel :: Royal Gold Dragon :: Fire Breath Odd
#12

Isopia was slightly annoyed as Ampere's much larger and much more obvious form landed near to her. Shuffling her black feathers, the raven-girl tried to appear just like any other bird, not wanting the attention of those below. However once the blue began to speak of the justifications regarding the treatment of companions that she'd been dying to hear, her animosity faded away into pure academic intrigue.

"Well, it isn't as though they can see into the mental states of those around them." She interrupted as Ampere cited their selfishness and greed. "Obviously one is a better fit than the rest, but how are they to know that? Objectively there is a right answer, but subjectively each obviously views themselves as the best candidate, or they wouldn't have 'entered'." The demi-child didn't believe in acrasia - irrational action. One couldn't choose to do what one knew/believed/thought to be the worst thing for them to do. Even if those who 'entered' had mistaken mental states about their abilities, at the very minimum they didn't think that they did. They all really thought they were the best match for the eggs they sought.

The girl heard the anger and hate in Thunderhead's voice as she named a stallion - Oxy - as having taken something from her. In the depths of her vast mind, Isopia wondered if all of this wasn't seeded in some obvious psychological incident. Deep down, did Ampere crave companionship? Did this all start as a way to justify her slight at the hands of this stallion? It certainly seemed like Ampere was more upset that someone took something from her, than that the egg remained in 'captivity'. After all, Ampere didn't conclude by saying, "...and with Oxy the egg had a terrible life." Just that it was taken.

Although Isopia was generally on board for justice, equality and all that, this little mission statement Ampere was giving sounded far too fueled by emotion, and not enough in fact. "And you know this for a fact? No one has tried to return a companion back to the wild? No one learns anything about what their companions eat and do and think about, when they aren't bonded? From what I've seen, the companions bond at a very young age - once they are 'saved', for in each case that's what seems to be happening - they choose to bond. Now, you might think that they are incapable of making such a decision - and so instead of calling off the whole bonding experience, you might just object to how it's done. Perhaps companions should reach a certain age - where their minds are capable of real choice - before they bond." The girl shrugged. She didn't know how the system worked either - it was why she was here - but intuitively she knew that Ampere was not telling her everything. She was getting the recruitment speech all over again - just the negatives and atrocities. font color="#e8c5b0">"-but maybe that isn't possible. Maybe it happens the way it does because that's the only way it can."

Internally sighing, Isopia hopped from her branch and flew upwards to land nearer to Ampere so that she wouldn't have to shout and distract the show which was happening below.

"You haven't known any other life." The girl interrupted once again, turning a judgmental golden stare on Thunderhead. "Neither have I. No one knows the life other than the one they have. That isn't an argument. " Her small avian shoulders shrugged. The girl knew nothing of fighting - not yet. It interested her, but her bones were still too weak to attempt anything yet, lest she ruin her body for life. "I don't know. But what little I do know about the bond, it isn't just one way control. You don't just make them do things. If both minds are open, it would make sense that if there are reasons for one to fight, there are reasons for both to fight. If the companion aids it's bonded, then it seems it is accepting those reasons as its own." Her voice was less convinced now - she really didn't know anything about fighting.

Raven blinked her hard golden eyes as Thunderhead named her Father as well as the tie that connected them. Many - especially those who had seen her out of her raven form - knew she was the offspring of the earth. It was not surprising that Thunderhead did, even if it was slightly annoying that her personal information was so easy to come by.

"If my Father says it is still the case, then it is. He takes these matters very ... seriously." What she meant, was that he was overly emotional when it came to companions, but she didn't think Thunderhead needed that extra ammunition.

"So what it is exactly you're arguing? That the only time you should keep a companion is if You've saved it, AND have tried to let it live in the wild/resisted the bond? Only then should you keep it? Or, do you think you know better than the Gods, and think that they have simply overlooked these lands and the happenings within it?" Her beak clicked shut at this, instantly regretting that phrasing. Given what had happened just recently with the Moon Goddess and the death of her brother, it seemed that what she had said was in fact possible. Huffing, she adjusted her wings before continuing. "You object to them fighting - but do you only object because you think that they have no option? If a companion - creatures like dragons who are naturally disposed to violence - want to partake, what then? Would you restrict their natures because you think it's unfitting? "

Composing herself, the death-marked child shook her head and exhaled. "It seems you aren't against bonding. It seems that you are concerned more with an equitable relationship - that companions should not be taken when they can't be provided for, as in the case of pure selfishness in drops. That they shouldn't be mistreated - as with not learning about their natural patterns and preferences, or using them in fights. That the reason companions should bond and to whom they should bond, is not just arbitrary. That it has a purpose, as my Father said."

Isopia
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
Image Credits

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here

Random Event Posts: 1,286
Helovian Ancient
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#13
Event
Congratulations ASHAMIN.
List, roll.



The owl tittered, allowing the three to do as they would.

She watched as Ashamin embraced a stance which would protect each of the deer, while Badger fervently protected the one who belonged to him. Finally Nasreen overcame her fear and partook in the event as well, but all were fundamentally mistaken.

Waving giant wings, the owl shook its head. As its feathers cut through the air, the illusions vanished. Into their minds came the sounds of the evening and images of midnight. Leaves rustles as did bushes. Branches knocked against one another, and from the moonlight shadows creatures seemed to appear. But they weren't - it was clear that what was there was only the symphony of the forest and nothing more.

Next came an image of the three as the owl saw them - only the illusory cerndyr and snakes were not there - the three appeared to be fighting shadows and the air, wasting their energy on what they knew to be an illusion.

No point in fighting what isn't real ... The owl seemed to send to each of them, wrapping its wings around its body. It didn't appear disappointed - if anything, it appeared to have expected this reaction. It only hoped the assembled three would learn the lesson it was trying to impart. They would of course have to protect the life that they sought from the dangers of the world; but illusory demons were just that.

The owl stepped aside, and used its large wings to cup the mis-matched egg. It cradled it for a moment, before stepping towards Ashamin. Although the stallion had fallen victim to fighting shadows, he had done so in the most honourable way. While Badger thought only for himself and what he valued as his own, Ashamin fought for all. Although Nasreen tried to rush the snakes, the deer were no better off. Only Ashamin had tried to draw the creatures away, even if it meant being farther away from his goal.

The owl projected into his mind an image of a cerndyr, then gestured towards the egg with a gentle hoot.








Congratulations to Ashamin! You may have your egg hatch whenever you like (no more hunting!). Once it does, please post in the character records with its name and its power.

This can be counted as a refusal for both Badger and Nasreen.

*Nasreen/Shady! I told you last time you had an extra refusal. You've participated in two previous drops - this is your third.

pure randomness
Image Credit

Ampere The Mother of Companions Posts: 719
Dragon's Throat Sultana atk: 9 | def: 11 | dam: 4.5
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14 hh :: 6 years HP: 73 | Buff: DANCE
Kygo :: Green Cheek Conure :: None Blu
#14
A M P E R E
"Any existence deprived of freedom is a kind of death" -- Michel Aoun

"It's fine to think you're the best," Ampere began after listening to Isopia. "At least, until you find someone better." There was a big difference in thinking you were good, and failing to admit when you were not. "You mean to say, with all these horses, in all these gatherings, that not one looks around and decides they are not as worthy as one of the others present?" Ampere snorted, finding that hard to believe. "I have found myself not worthy in several instances, and though I do my best to become worthy, one should drop their head in recognition of those already there. That is something no one in these gatherings does, because their greed supersedes everything else."

Isopia went on, and Ampere listened, genuine in her attention. She had spoken to several before about many of the things they were discussing now, but this was different. Ampere couldn't be sure if it was that Isopia hadn't bonded yet, making her less defensive about the matter, or that her god's blood gave her better intelligence, or clarity, or something. She was certainly a smart mare (was she really already a mare!?), despite her youth. Her stillness and her detail of thought reminded Ampere of her father, and for that she was grateful. Ampere was often a reactionary force, pushing back whatever was pushed upon her - whether she instigated the shove or not wasn't what mattered, it was the sum of the forces that did. Everyone met Ampere's fire with fire, and so they all burned. All except the Earth.

"Well," Ampere admitted, "maybe not everyone, but most." Did she really need to clarify that for Isopia? There were always exceptions of some kind, even with that very statement, because Ampere hadn't yet met an exception to the way a companion bond operated, or lasted. "Still, you think many of these horses know much about their companion? Most don't even know much about Helovia, much less what creature is even in the egg and what it will want and need to be happy. How could they, when that is the role of the species to which the creature, the egg, belongs? I cannot ask a fish how to swim, or why it lives underwater." Isopia went on, and she was right so Ampere was quiet, nodding.

Until... "I think you're taking life too exact," Ampere laughed, a trilling sound reminiscent of birds in some ways. "Certainly this is the only existence I have ever known, but I have had many different lives before this. I lived with my mother and kin as a nomad on my birth plains - not my choice surely, as I was a child, but I chose to leave those plains when I was of age. I chose to follow my friends and live with them in their herd for a while, both of which are different from the life I live now, the one I chose here in Helovia with the Dragon's Throat herd (really, it chose her, but she chose to accept it, to remain, and to come back). Before then though I lived as a wanderer in many different lands before choosing to come and wander Helovia, both of which were different lives, different worlds from each other." Ampere's eyes sparkled, cleverness glinting among their depths. "So I have lived more lives than this, and I chose them all, in one way or another, but companions do not. They get one choice, made as an infant." Ampere spoke that last word with a certain, indignation. "An infant raven, not even hatched! How many things do you remember from that age?" Here Ampere regarded Isopia a bit warily, wondering if perhaps she did remember things given how quickly she had grown. "I know I don't remember much before weaning, and most would agree, yet these creatures are bound by their first decision, when they know nothing of the world. In what way is that just, when we are given so many opportunities to choose? We have that right, that freedom, but they don't. Why are they lesser?"

"So you're right, Raven, they should be older when they decide to bond," here Ampere smirked, as if she was sharing a joke, but it wasn't one she was happy about, or maybe it was just morbid. "But they don't, or won't (or can't?). There are no old animals that bond. It's only the infants, the helpless, the naive - those are the ones we prey upon and condemn forever." Why Raven, ask yourself why - it's because the older they get, the more they don't need us.

As Isopia began to delve into the way the bond worked, Ampere straightened up. This was ground she was admittedly rocky on too, never having bonded herself (something everyone loved to point out). Ampere knew the generalities of it, the way someone knows what sight is when they are blind. "No, bonds don't work one way... but tell me Raven, do you think an infant can resist the influence of another's emotions, feelings, thoughts, prejudices? We're debating now, because we're both separate, and we've both had time to experience different things which shape the base of the personalities we're born with. Companions... when they bond, they are constantly surrounded by the horse they are tied to, unable to escape into their own head, unable to truly see with their own eyes. When you share everything, nothing is yours, and because the companions share from the moment they hatch and are able to take on the world, they have nothing to even give up to share - they are drowned by the bond and the horse. They may react, or think, or say things differently, because in their core they are still an individual, but in as much the same way, they are nothing but an extension of their bonded." Each bee was it's own being, but it was still a part of the overwhelming authority of the hive. "Mothers teach their young. They shape them into what they ought to be, what they should know, so that the child can be better, safer, happier than the mother. They can do this, because the foal is easily impressed when it is young, and those first lessons, those first experiences, pave the way the child walks as an adult. Yet foals have the freedom companions do not, because eventually when they age, they can choose to listen, they can choose to leave."

Ampere grew quiet, letting Isopia finish her words. She didn't respond at first.

"Have you ever wondered why they're so small?" Ampere finally asked after a pause, wherein she watched the owl seemingly select it's desired caregiver. Just like that, in less time than it took Ampere to properly spar someone, a life was handed over for all of eternity. How could you not be greedy, when it was that easy to gain a slave? Even the lazy could manage that much effort (case in point, Oxy). "Some of the companions, they're smaller than the normal animals. Bears, big cats, wolves and such... Was their growth stunted?" Ampere didn't say "by the bond", but the intent was there. "Or are they a different species? Hatching from eggs certainly happens every time with a companion, but I can't say it happens with all animals." It happened with her, which was not the normal tendency of horses, or even pegasus, but it was something that could be argued (though Isopia probably didn't know).

"So if they are a different species, that begs the question, why?" Ampere turned back to Isopia, regarding her with a highly focused gaze, one which seemed made of steel rather than neon. This was something important to Ampere, so she did not take their conversation lightly, nor did it escape her that she was delving into the truths of companions with the Earth, again. It was only his child this time, but maybe there was more hope because of that. If she was supposed to help connect the gods and the mortals, maybe she could bridge the rift that stood between Ampere and the Earth, and all his serious concern over the matter. "Why create a smaller, bond-able version of species that already exist? Why create the bond at all... or at least, why forge it with such permanence?"

"Not even our magic is that tied to us. I have heard of horses losing theirs, of it being stripped from them - not hidden, but lost, or taken - gone." Ampere blinked, remembering her insistence that the god strip her magic from her. She hadn't done it, she hadn't needed to after all, but he had given her a way for it. "We can lose our appendages, or gain them. Our colors can shift and the marks upon our bodies can come and go. Yet none of that, not even our magic, kills us, or anyone else, just because it is gone. Only companion bonds which are broken are so devastating, and I have to ask, why?" Ampere exhaled heavily, as though the weight of her being was pushed out with those words and she needed as much air as she could get to pump herself back up (and the only way you got more air in was getting more breath out).

"Why is the bond necessary, much less such a permanent one? Not even twins, identical twins, have something so strong. Shared thoughts, or feelings, or senses... perhaps, but not all, not a soul." Ampere licked her lips, her throat going dry with all her talking, but she persisted, because this was the first time she felt like maybe she was actually being heard. "They cannot be given. Some have asked, tried to pass the companion and bond down to a child or a lover of their kind... like, like it was just something to be given away and not a life, for gods' sakes. They can't though, so maybe the gods at least recognize that." Ampere grunted, not impressed. "They can be silenced. The land was cursed once and all the bonds grew quiet. I have an ability that does something similar... though it's brief. I'm hoping to get it stronger, longer, with practice, but it's hard." She just might even pray to the gods to make it stronger, but would they? Would the Earth step in and bellow at her that she could not? "Yet they cannot be broken... not without utter ruin." Why?

Ampere shuffled her feet, resettling on the branch as her muscles tired. "You think I'm arguing that we shouldn't have companions?" she answered Isopia's lingering question at last. It had been so direct and final, like nothing Ampere had ever been asked before, and it had taken her this long to respond properly to it. In doing so, she shook her head, the motion slow and full of something like sadness. Is that all Isopia thought of her? "I am against the bond."
"I have known horses that have tamed wild beasts into pets, that have mended broken creatures and befriended them, that have raised orphans into adulthood and in doing so gained children of sorts. In all those instances, no bond held their love together, just respect; earned with time and care, like relationships should be."

"Bonds force what should be made with delicacy, what should be chosen each and every day. They are an ugly shackle on the soul, making something that could be beautiful into a conglomerate of feelings and heartbeats."
"You asked if I thought the gods have simply overlooked this, and I do, because they are like us, and as such are not infallible." Ampere stared into gold with blue, willing to defy even gods on this matter. The Earth god took it seriously? So did she, and not just because one fucking idiot stallion stole something from her once. "I am against dragons fighting when they simply fight because a horse does. Do you know why they fight in the wild, what they fight for, what all their breath and their scales and their teeth are for? It's not for fucking horses, that's for sure.
I am against their natures being merged into our natures, against them failing to do what is normal for them just because they are tethered. Our lives are spent growing, learning, surviving, and in those moments, we share them with our own kind, so that we may find love, or at least romance enough to reproduce, and pass down what we know, what we stayed alive with to our young - can companions do this, can they really, when they ride on withers and attend herd meetings?"
Ampere snorted, teeth bared in rising ire.

"I am against gods trapping creatures and calling it salvation." If anyone bothered to look, it was the exact same thing as the Moon Goddess arguing that murder was good.

Credits: Image by Tabini
Coding by Tamme

Tag me only if starting a new thread.
Magic or force permitted any time, aside from death.

Ashamin the Clovenheart Posts: 426
Outcast atk: 8 | def: 11.5 | dam: 5.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 15.2 HH :: 5 [Frostfall] HP: 79 | Buff: NUMB
Lochan :: Plain Cerndyr :: Dark Mist & Rakt :: Common Cerndyr :: Starpast Jen
#15
A S H A M I N
on his own

Ashamin watched as his company all addressed the issue in their own way. The equine took the protective approach, the winged-one, the offensive. And then there was himself, backing away slowly, trying desperately to lead off the snakes on his own. Had he been foolish to expect them to join him in his effort rather than head off their own? And weren't their attempts braver, better, or simply just smarter than his?

Ashamin kept waving his tail at the snakes, trying to suppress his disappointment in his own efforts and screwing his courage to the sticking place. He could only hope the snakes would move--would follow him, and leave the vulnerable three alone.

But they didn't follow him. And they didn't bite back at the black, er, gelded one, and they didn't balk or turn and hiss at the sight of the attacking paint mare. They simply vanished. Ashamin, freed from the stress of his duty, looked up and away from where the snakes had been just in time to catch the sweep of the owl's magnificent wings through the air. The images the owl then projected made the message clear: all three of the equines had been taken for fools at the drips of imaginary shadows.

He barely had time to react to the reality that the snakes were illusions before the next thought came to him: if the snakes weren't true, were the deer?

The owl answered his question with mental swiftness, and Ashamin felt his heart dissemble at the sight of a specific, beautiful beast. The deer before had seemed vague to him--he hadn't been sure what they were, or why they were there, only that he needed to protect them. This one, however, this image of the dark deer in his mind with the white eyes and the shimmer of a marking on its forehead, this he knew. This was a creature that was to become his partner--his companion. He swelled with joy at the thought of at last having someone to love and care for, of at least not having to be alone, and dipped his head in eternal respect to the owl.

"Thank you, wise creature," Ashamin whispered, knowing a beast of such magic could surely hear, "I will cherish this gift."

And with that, the young stallion stepped forward and nudged the egg to rest before his hooves, admiring its smooth, gray surface and amazed at what he knew now lay within.

_______________


[[Apologies for the delay! I wrote and lost parts of this post twice and got frustrated and I was on busy still for a bit. Thanks so much, dice! xD I am very excited and will post in the updates as soon as this guy hatches.]]




(table by Tamme)


See Ashamin's profile for more information about Lochan, Rakt, and his various items.
All magic and force allowed, barring death and permanent injury.
Do not tag me, please message on skype instead


Isopia the Mountain That Knows Posts: 780
Dragon's Throat Apostle atk: 6.5 | def: 10 | dam: 8.0
Mare :: Tribrid :: 18hh :: 3 - is now aging slowly HP: 90 | Buff: NUMB
Hubris :: Royal Bronze Dragon :: Shock Breath & Frost Breath & Babel :: Royal Gold Dragon :: Fire Breath Odd
#16


"You're an idealist. Everything you say is normative - sure, companions ought to be able to choose. The fact of the matter is that they can't. All of the evidence - including testimony from my Father - says that they need to be bonded from a young age. Yes that means that they have no chance of making a decision for themselves, yes that means that, under perfect circumstances where they were not bonded, they could have survived on their own at an older age. But that isn't the world we live in - at least not as far as you've described it. "

As Ampere went on to debate with herself whether companions were their own species or just a dwarfed version of their larger cousins, Isopia shrugged her avian shoulders and spread her blackened wings like open fingers to signal I don't know. And she didn't. The girl had no idea, but the fact that all companions were born from eggs suggested to her that yes, they had to be different. Mammals were not born from eggs, at least in most cases. But these ... these were. Something had altered them, and by Ampere's own lights that alteration was done by the Gods. By her Father specifically, who held all of those lives ridiculously sacred. All things died, but the girl knew that her Father would never sentence an entire race of creatures to a life of shackles and invisible chains.

As Ampere's speech reached its pinnacle, Isopia listened enthralled. For once in her life her mind wasn't compulsively forming arguments. She was just listening. Such passion in Ampere's words ... Isopia had never felt that strongly about anything, and although her life thus far had been short, she very much doubted she ever would. She simply did not have it in her.

"Normal-" Isopia offered as Ampere concluded, "-changes." Now that Ampere had stopped, the girl's mind began to spin and whirl as it tried to force Ampere's speech into premises and argument-types. "I'll think about what you said." She concluded off handedly, not wanting the black and blue mare to think that her breath had been wasted. That sort of frustration was one that Isopia could identify with: trying to convince someone of something and having them simply brush off everything that you said. It was true, Iso would think about Ampere's words - and when she had a response, she would seek out her fearless leader.

But now came the thinking part. Nodding silently, the girl rose up into the air on silent blackened wings. She flew easily through the tress and into the lazy afternoon to allow her thoughts to percolate undisturbed.

[Sorry Blu. I know you wanted to post again so I just wrapped up her part quickly x.x]

Isopia
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
Image Credits

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here

Ampere The Mother of Companions Posts: 719
Dragon's Throat Sultana atk: 9 | def: 11 | dam: 4.5
Mare :: Pegasus :: 14 hh :: 6 years HP: 73 | Buff: DANCE
Kygo :: Green Cheek Conure :: None Blu
#17
A M P E R E
"Any existence deprived of freedom is a kind of death" -- Michel Aoun

Ampere couldn't help but swallow the crawling madness of an argument that was threatening to climb out of her throat. She clenched her teeth, and her tongue felt along the edges of them as a way to let the words that had been there wither back to her throat where she swallowed them. She could risk losing Raven for good if she continued to pursue the matter, but she couldn't help but be disappointed that the girl seemed to side so blindly with her father. Mesec had completely outcast his godly mother, but this demi god seemed to be too fully embracing her celestial parent. If Ampere had hope that the demi god, this one in particular, might bridge the gap of the mortal world and the endless heavens, it was beginning to wane the more she spoke with them.

Still, Raven had given her more than anyone else, and for that Ampere was grateful. Clearly ending their discussion, which was timed nicely with the sealed fate of the tiny creature below, Raven took to her wings. Ampere watched her go for a moment, then abruptly called out, "Wait!" Her own body hurtled from the tree, its bough shaking dramatically as her larger mass slung the leaves and bark. Her wings had to pump harder to keep her aloft, but a bit more acrobatic than most, she managed to catch up to the raven Raven. As she drew beside the fellow whatcher, Ampere called out. "Take this, Melos.". Ampere reached into a sheath with electrical magic, jerking on the properties of the metal blade. She flung it with precision towards the raven, aiming for the hilt to easily pass by her claws. "So you can see what you cannot see... because the whatching shift goes ever on!"

Ampere banked to the left hard, grinning as she did so because she knew what Raven would be seeing reflected in the blade - just as her own remaining four were surely showing. The smile faltered though as Ampere's wings carried her the distance that the 'winning' stallion had already set between them. "Hey!" she called out to Ashamin. Her tail feathers fanned and her wings swept back, cupping the air so that she could land a few paces ahead of him. The process was swift and arguably elegant for her size. She turned back towards him, her strong gaze peering over her left shoulder as she watched him first. The electric blue of her stare was intensified by the neon markings the left side of her face bore, their asymmetry combined with the tangled fray of her dark mane against the muscled slope of her neck made her appear wild.

"Do you even know what you just got?" she asked cheerily enough, trying to keep the venom from her voice, though there was a certain rigidity to her posture, and a sharpness to her gaze which was only an attempt to shield the sorrow that would otherwise be there. She kept her eyes trained on him, trying to avoid seeing the egg lest it break her composure and attempts at playing nice.

Credits: Image by Tabini
Coding by Tamme


@[Isopia] because she gave you Melos!

@[Ashamin] Sorry this post took forever ;-; I don't know if you want to keep chatting with her since it's been forever now, but she definitely wanted to depart some knowledge before just leaving him with the egg!

Tag me only if starting a new thread.
Magic or force permitted any time, aside from death.


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