the Rift


[OPEN] I'm here, now what?

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
#1

ISOPIA
IN REALITY'S SHADOW THE BLIND SEE BEST


[Feel free to crash - but for @Ampere ]


Isopia hadn't really been to the Throat before. She had come close once - to investigate an ornately created boat that she saw sitting in the water, but that had been the extent of it. The air here felt moist and salty - a stark contrast from the Hidden Falls. The flora and fauna here were so different, which, she wasn't surprised to see, though it did intrigue her. Did anyone else appreciate how diverse Helovia's landscapes were? It's natural architecture?

She came as a raven.

Iso knew that in her own home, outsiders were often chased immediately out by Archibald, and while she didn't know what the policies of this herd were like, she didn't particularly feel like being chased away after journeying nearly a week to be here. Besides, who would think anything of a raven? Even one with an oddly patterned face and gold eyes and a dragon and ... alright. Maybe she was less incognito now than she had been in the past. But she was still just a bird, and there was a whole island desert before her. 

Hubris sat upon the sands, pushing the granules of sand between his talons and then destroying the small mounds with his tail. He had only really encountered dirt - or at they very most, the rocky-sand found on the Riptide Isles - and so the bloody red texture was immensely interesting to him. Meanwhile, Isopia sat atop the dagger given to her by Thunderhead. Hubris had carried it for her while they flew, and now she used it as an obvious indicator of who she was, should any other members of their secret little group pass her by.

Iso's golden gaze surveyed the land, silently wondering where the best location for the structure that Ampere wanted would be. Near the beach? On the opposite shoreline, closer to the rest of Helovia? Ah, probably she thought with a scowl, wondering if she shouldn't move to that shore. No - She'll find me easier here. She concluded with a huff.

Or at least someone would.


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
#2


THUNDERHEAD


The bird was moving ahead of her like normal, his flight erratic for reasons she never fully understood. he wasted so much energy, but still his little body always seemed ready to go. Because he sleeps and eats when he doesn't fly, she thought with a touch of sourness, having noticed the parrot lacked any work ethic what so ever. It was for the better she supposed as she angled her flight for a thermal updraft. It was normal for a parrot to do the things he did; if he vaulted into battle, took an interest in herbs or secrets, or tried to create things she might be more worried that she was leaving a permanent mark on him.

He did like shiny things though.

One distracted him now, and he zipped towards it. Ampere didn't notice until a jolt of fear suddenly grabbed at her, causing her to bristle. Her eyes darted around quickly, her mouth dry like cotton as she searched for this abrupt threat she'd perceived. The sensation was like a quickly advancing night, black and lacking light, like the darkness had been those seasons ago. The memory sent an involuntary shudder down her spine, and her feathers stood up the rest of the way, as did her mane it seemed. Crawling with an imperceptible dread, Kygo came hurtling back to her through the skies, feverishly shrieking as he dove into her mane, clutching at it with a fervor that betrayed his greater sense - he was not supposed to touch her.

The destruction of their most sacred rule was ignored beneath the insufferable dread that she wore like a shawl. On alert, ready to snap at the slightest provocation Ampere blurted out, "What! What!?" Kygo made no sense though, lost to his throes of babbling, frantic hysteria. Unsure if the feeling began with her or him, Ampere nonetheless tilted towards the way he had come since her airways revealed nothing. As she flew the wind seemed to coax the terror from her, and Kygo, though shrieking faster at first as she went this way, quieted into silence, likely due to shock.

As Ampere neared, she too caught the glint of steel in the sun, and her gaze narrowed, ready for a fight. It didn't take long for her to make heads of what was with the sword, and soon thereafter, to recognize it. Her heart flip flopped in her gut, a mixture of excited happiness and anxious nervousness, all polished off with the remnants of Kygo's cowardice, no doubt brought on by the sight of the dragon - though crows would surely kill his kind too.

"Raven!" she called out as she neared, circling around for a landing. The desire to smile flushed her face with a casual greeting, but there was a strain in her gaze that soon brought her features back into uncertainty. "I didn't think you'd come, after..." Ampere confessed, trailing off, unsure of where they stood or who was supposed to say what. Ampere wasn't sorry for anything she had said, but she also didn't want to lose Raven as a friend - or whatever the girl was (perhaps only a whatcher).

Unbidden her gaze flicked to the metallic reptile, remembering it last as an egg which she did not condone.

Tension seemed to be Ampere's only reliable friend.


Credits: Image by TheStockWarehouse @ DA

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

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
#3

ISOPIA
IN REALITY'S SHADOW THE BLIND SEE BEST


Raven. The name made the girl feel good. After her Father had blurted out her actual name for all to hear during his valiant return in the Riptide Isles, Iso feared that all would begin calling her by that which she still held so near and dear and secretive. But so far Volterra hadn't, and to hear Ampere continue to call her Raven, was very welcomed.

Her golden gaze rose for a moment and then was brought down so as not to stare into the sun as Ampere and Kygo landed.

Kygo? Not that she knew the parrot's name of course, but seeing Thunderhead of all possible horses with a companion certainly made the girl curious.

I didn't think you'd come, after...

After? For a moment Isopia didn't know what the after was referring to, until she did. But their very-nearly fight didn't weigh on Iso's mind - in fact, it hardly left an impression. She was standing up for her friend (possibly her only friend), and Ampere was trying to do right by him as a Mother. That Isopia thought she was terrible at it and approached it incorrectly didn't change anything. At least Ampere stood up for what she believed in, though if the appearance of the parrot at her side was taken into account, perhaps that wasn't so true anymore...

Isopia shrugged by way of response, and then turned her golden gaze towards Hubris. "Hototo, the first earthen child, the one who died, wanted a bronze dragon." She offered, without really any indication as to why. Perhaps it was the only way for her to say, He's obviously bonded to me, so there's no point in yelling about it now.

"Do you know where you want it? The beacon?" She continued quickly, her raven-skull rotating to face Ampere once again. Hubris sat quickly next to her, continuing to play in the sands and seeming entirely content to just sit and listen and sculpt.



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
#4


THUNDERHEAD


As if catching her gaze, Isopia responded on her dragon. She had asked her of it when still an egg, but the conversation never got the opportunity to finish before being interrupted, but they had talked enough of companions before that Isopia knew Ampere's thoughts on them. So then, that her response was that, and said in such a flippant way, was mildly infuriating. Just because the dead demi-god before her wanted him, Isopia now had him? That wasn't even greed, it was just stupid.

Yet, the blue mare had been feeling a touch less argumentative on the points of companions ever since garnering her own. Her opinion on the matter hadn't changed, but something in her had, not necessarily for the better either, but the difference was noticeable.
Her recent outburst with her foals had been less about the fact they bonded, than it was that they had bonded so young. That they had managed to at all implicated her as a poor parent, which wasn't an added doubt she needed to haul around, but that at their age they were meant to raise another creature was upsetting. Especially given the darker natures Ampere had started to notice in them - she feared for the future of not just those companions, but her children too.

Luckily Isopia distracted such a string of thoughts with the task at hand though, an Ampere happily switched gears, not even bothering to respond to her earlier remark. "Most won't be able to reach it within the herd land," she commented factually, "so on the opposite shore with the rest of the mainland would be best." It would be obvious over there, and she still hand't talked to Gaucho or Megaera about it, but oh well, if they asked she's answer, somehow, otherwise no sense in her bringing up more trouble for herself than needed.


Credits: Image by TheStockWarehouse @ DA

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

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

ISOPIA
IN REALITY'S SHADOW THE BLIND SEE BEST


"Alright." Isopia agreed amicably enough. Her golden eyes drifted across the gulf of water, spying the opposite shoreline. Her black wings shuffled slightly against her smallish body. "Unless you know of somewhere specific, I'll just pick the most visible and stable location? I've only made a few amendments to the drawing you left me - structural changes mostly." 

The original drawing had appeared top-heavy, although perhaps that was just because it was crudely drawn into the dirt. Nevertheless, Isopia had done what she could with Thunderhead's idea. She would impose a layer of heated stone at the bottom which would not only radiate warm to those gathered around waiting for the W.H.A.T.C.H but would also anchor the sigul in place. Iso's mind drifted to her Mother for only the briefest of moments, and her ability to make light shine from stones. At the very most, Isopia could only make her stones pulse with heat, but that usually meant that they were too small and were about to burst apart. 

"Am I working alone on this project?" The girl knew that the Dragon's Throat weilded the ability to craft with metal. While it would greatly aid her and reduce the amount of time necessary to complete this project, having assistance was not essential. Besides, the last thing that Isopia wanted was to work alongside some chatty-Cathy with a poor work ethic. Still, this was not purely her project, and given that it was occurring on the Dragon's Throat sands, it might be in her best interest to have a look-out, or at least be with someone from the herd, so that her work would not be constantly interrupted.

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
#6


THUNDERHEAD


"I thought you might," Ampere remarked with a genuine smile, not meaning the phrase to sound cruel in any way. Crafters of any kind knew their work far better than her, which was something she could respect. "I'm sure it will be all the better for it, thank you."

She also appreciated Isopia's thoughtfulness in adding heat to the statue, to give some relief to the wandering horses in need. Though, she had to admit, it was a rare day she needed heat in the Dragon's Throat - but the nights could certainly prove cold, but she supposed still nothing so harsh as the northern limits of the realm. It would never cease to amaze her what could be done with magic, the imagination of its wielders one of the few restrictions. She supposed there were other laws, like strength of the caster, but from what she could tell it was mostly their mortal tenancies that ruined the magic in some form or another. Though admittedly, the gods were very mortal-like themselves, so perhaps there was no escape.

She hoped this was a step in the right direction, becoming better than what their nature was. Giving, instead of taking. Could it really be done?
One day at a time she breathed to herself.

"I can help," Ampere intoned after a moment of brief hesitation at Isopia's inquiry. Aside from not telling anyone yet, the herd was busy. "Everyone's been working on a large church," she went on to explain, hoping she didn't sound unwilling, "we're thinking of using it as a school as well, maybe a sick bay too... in fact I need to go to your herd and talk about trading some crafting skills soon. Metal works well as a base but if the entire building was such a substance everyone would cook." She grinned in humor. "I lack the artistry to craft, but I can serve you well enough to move and find things," she explained, using her electrical reaction to the charges innate in everything to suddenly shove sand away and pull some metal parcels from the sand.


Credits: Image by TheStockWarehouse @ DA

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

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
IN REALITY'S SHADOW THE BLIND SEE BEST



Iso's skull dipped amicably enough as Ampere offered her gratitude. At least, as amicably as Iso could manage. Accepting thanks, gratitude, or anything even remotely close to those emotions was always difficult for the demi-goddess. She hated having the spotlight pointed anywhere near her direction. And offering appreciation was certainly a spotlight of sorts.

On the face of it, Isopia didn't see the point in creating a church, school, or sickbay. Was Thunderhead unaware of all the magic floating around? Godly fidelity wouldn't be honed in a church, life lessons wouldn't be learned in a school, and the sick could be healed from anywhere. Still, the few social cues she had picked up on told her to simply keep her mouth shut, and nod agreeably. So she did.

"They will likely agree. They seem to be fond of ... keeping the peace. Trades should come easily."

Isopia stifled a snort of surprise as shard of metal suddenly glinted through the sand. Her brows knit together, and she nodded appreciatively of the skill demonstrated. Was that given to Ampere by the God of the Throat, in the way that she could craft rock simply because of her rank in the Falls? Or did Ampere personally have this power inside of herself? Regardless, it was impressive.

"Alright. First we'll have to clear the area. " Isopia's mis-matched wings splayed from her sides, and she turned her narrow chest towards the gulf that separated the Throat-proper from the portion which bordered the Heart Caves.

"Lead away."


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


THUNDERHEAD


There was clearly an art to crafting that Ampere didn't understand. Clear the area, she thought with mild exasperation, her gaze skipping across the desert land that was greatly devoid of substance other than sand. She had no idea the undertaking she had asked for, which had seemed a simple task to her at the start. This better prove useful she thought grumblingly to herself.

She nodded, both to Isopia's opinion on how the trade would go, and her orders. Her own wings flicked open, and after a few strides the wind caught her and lifted her effortlessly over the gap to the main land. She landed at a run, flying in slow and low until her legs caught her at a canter and gradually slowed as she found her balance and her speed. Kygo jostled in the depths of her mane, his body swinging wildly as he held on with his toes, a plaintive screech issued from his tiny breast.

With a snap Ampere folded her wings up, glancing around at the area, trying to find a spot already clear. She didn't want it too close to the shore, afraid the weather might get it there if the sea rose, but too far inland and the wilds would ensnare it and eat it. Couldn't be too close to the pillar either, otherwise it would draw too much attention from the herd. Huffing out a breath, Ampere moseyed somewhere in-between it all, scratching tentatively at the dirt with a forehoof. "Here," she exclaimed, hoping there was no question in her voice like there was in her mind. She wanted this to progress, and that meant deciding. Still, the blue of her gaze flicked towards Isopia, ensuring this was suitable for the crafter before proceeding to turn the foliage into sparks and flatten the ground with electrical shoves.


Credits: Image by TheStockWarehouse @ DA

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

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
#9

ISOPIA
IN REALITY'S SHADOW THE BLIND SEE BEST



Isopia offered a few orders instruction to Ampere when it seemed as though the mare was doing tasks which were not overly beneficial. If her clearing was moving too far away from the areas, if the gathered resources were placed improperly (or just not strictly where Isopia wanted them). All in all having Ampere's help probably did make the time pass faster, and yet Isopia now wished she was doing this alone.

And least things would have been done right the first time. Despite the fact that Isopia knew that this was not Ampere's area of expertise, and admitting that she was obnoxiously particularly about how she liked having things done, it still felt cumbersome.

"Alright. Now move." She said at least, when the sun had moved a great deal downwards in the sky indicating just how long they'd been at work. Isopia's flanks were slathered in sweat, and all of her points appeared dark for it. But at least now she was ready to actually start building.

The canvas was blank. She could work.

Closing her eyes, Isopia pulled from the metal Ampere had gathered, as well as her own personal stores of magic. In the air, things began to whirl and come together, like a 3D schematic slowly taking shape. Pieces were sculpted by magical hands and deftly placed together. The base was the easiest, as it was solid in construction. Yet already it radiated heat from the stones which Isopia placed inside. Quickly the taller, more sleek components of the statue were fitted and formed, elegantly sliding together despite the fact that Isopia's eyes remained closed.

The girl only paused a few times - to move and inspect the statue from different angles, or to catch her breath.

And then -

It was finished.

"There." Isopia mumbled, clearly weary from her efforts. Her large golden eyes, rimmed with dark sweat, turned towards Thunderhead.



I'll let you write up the description for the Herd page? Isopia would have used two 'Large Items' to make this - one large item from her personal crafting slots from Orangemoon, and one from her rank magic slots.


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
#10


THUNDERHEAD


It was difficult to work with Raven. Not because she was a difficult mare in general (she was), but because she continually challenged Ampere in ways she hadn't even realized she needed. Ampere didn't like to be lesser, whether it was just a competitive drive or daddy and mommy issues, Ampere liked to feel confident and capable and successful. There were plenty of areas in Ampere's life where she wasn't, but no one else bothered to point them out to her the way Raven did. From forcing her to think deeper about her ethics to showing her how she utterly failed at moving metal, Ampere felt like she was constantly scrabbling to find purchase around Raven, to find something she was as good at as the girl. Even her design had been modified!

Ampere snorted, sweat noticeable on her hide despite the cooler season, such was the exertion of mining the earth. She did similar tasks for her herd's builders all the time, but they were never as demanding, barking orders like some kind of sea lion. Whether that said more about her crafters or Isopia, Ampere couldn't be sure, but either way she was done. Huffing, she stepped back gladly as Raven swooped in to finish off the task. There was nothing Isopia did or said that was enough to prickle Ampere into an outrage, but like there was still that static in the air, generated by a tension as the two mares worked and rubbed together.

Ampere wasn't angry though, at least not really, not at Raven any way. And so the feelings subsided as she was left to watch the much more capable crafter set to work, and finally finish what had been seasons long worth of thinking and planning. Her breast surged with new found pride and joy, and laughing (nearly crying), Ampere whooped at its completion, a loud whistle spinning from her nares.

"It's perfect!" she shouted, reaching over in her excitement to hug the much larger mare (very awkward). She slipped away from the earth girl's side, slinking in closer to inspect the statue, her whiskers quivering as her nose extended to it and felt the heat like a pulse. She smiled, genuinely impressed and satisfied.
She turned her neck over her shoulder, blue eyes grinning as she beheld Raven. "Thank you. This will help many." Even if it was only a hope, today she wanted it to just be true, so she left no room for argument.

The sun had traveled a great distance in the sky - Kygo had left long ago when he'd grown bored and hungry (and brave enough to move with Hubris around). Ampere shuffled her wings, ready to depart, yet mildly loathe to do so. "I'll come to the Falls next seasons to talk trade for the herd, though I hope we meet again before then."

[we can just end here if you want, shrugs]


Credits: Image by TheStockWarehouse @ DA

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


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