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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 9:11:03 GMT -6
Even if they were far from the traditional animal that he kept as company, there was an odd charm to the golems. Perhaps their mannerisms were growing on him, after spending so much time with them.. Yet he still didn't fully understand them. How this bond linked them. How they responded and reacted. What they felt, if they even could feel. They were simple, almost robotic, yet lively in their own right. An enigma to him. This nature of theirs fueled his curiosity of them.
The leopard's mind buzzed with thoughts about the golems. As much as he tried to suppress them, there was always something that he questioned about them that caused his mind to get lost pondering about them. They clattered their shells, picking up on their master's inner turmoil. There wasn't much they could do to help, try as they might. It garnered them a gentle, reassuring smile from the leopard.
"This one thinks too much, he knows", he admitted to them. One of the nice things about the golems in particular was that they were excellent listeners. Their attentiveness really made him feel like they were listening, considering his words carefully even if they couldn't offer a response to them.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 20, 2020 9:17:11 GMT -6
Aside from more clattering, that is. He could tell the difference between the different types of clatters and the frequencies between them. There was this laughing vibration they made when he laughed, and there low, slow thump when they were alarmed. A unique form of expression, and supposedly unique between owners as well. Right now, he felt that the noise was that of concern. Perhaps trying to comfort or distract him. True or not, he would never know for sure.
To further distract himself from his own mind, he began to take up picking at the cavern wall. He's traveled into the cave for a few yards, eyeing the rocky surface for a good spot to begin mining. The jagged stone offered no real indicator that there was anything beneath the surface until he began digging, however. Xentus had been studying up on the different types of rocks, crystals, and gems that he might come across.. But how to look for any one of them in particular still evaded his knowledge. He had research to do.. But it always felt much more satisfying when he tested his knowledge out in the field. Even if he didn't have a baseline to go on yet.
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Post by Nadia on Aug 20, 2020 9:51:50 GMT -6
That's one funky little dude, scurrying around your feet.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 21, 2020 7:23:31 GMT -6
He decided that any spot would do, as long as he started somewhere. It was so much different going without the dragon.. He rather missed Gid at this point. But at the same time, there was little chance that Gid would be joining him much in returned adventures to the caves. His recent acquisition of a gargoyle was likely to replace his trusty mining partner. It was a much more interesting being, one who also likely hailed from these caverns before it found itself in the possession of that strange trader. He thought it would make for a refreshing change of mining partner, for the next venture he would have into the earth.
The leopard was soon alerted to something by the clattering clicks of the golems, who were rattling their shells at something in the earth. Confused, the leopard cast a glance down at them, a furrowed brow at all the commotion. Normally, they would only make noise when he was reacting to something. What was there that was setting them off? The rattles sounded like a warning, trying to caution something to stay away. The beam of the flashlight waved around the dirt and stone flooring of the cave..
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Post by Xentus on Aug 21, 2020 7:30:23 GMT -6
Until the light finally traced to a strange object near his feet. Xentus tilted his head curiously at the lump, almost mistaking it to be an oddly formed rock at first glance. Then, it moved. It scuttled at a snail's pace along the ground, bee-lining toward his toes. A chuckle escaped him, a grin exposing his fangs and teeth.
"Come now, little ones. This is what all the noise is for?", the man laughed, reaching down and plucking the grub from the earth. Terrified sounding vibrations rattled the earth walkers shells, as if he had done something terrible. "Calm down, this is nothing to be afraid of. It might be a friend, if the little golems allow it", he advised, turning the writhing insect over in his palm. It had large mandibles that did surprise him at first, but it was such a pathetic young creature that he thought nothing of it. Until it pinched down on his thumb, causing him to wince in pain. Xentus inhaled a hiss, pulling the grub off his thumb with a tear collecting in his eye. Alright, perhaps their concerns weren't for nothing. The golems at his feet writhed and rattled with increasing intensity, now angered by the actions of the worm thing.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 21, 2020 7:37:49 GMT -6
Eugh. The bite wasn't pleasant, but it was more like a hard pinch than anything. There was no drawn blood or puncture. The thing might've collected a few scraps of thin fur at most, but nothing that bothered him aside from the pain. The golems were not pleased with the grub either. It likely wouldn't be considered a friend after that, as much as he wanted to give them a plaything to distract them. If he willed it, he supposed they would still 'befriend' the grub anyway. It was an amusing idea to let them fuss over the tiny worm anyway. Gave him something to laugh at.
"Play nice with ah.. Greb", he advised the earth walkers after mulling briefly over a name for the creature. Greb the thumb-biting grub. A soft snort at the strange name escaped him. He had to make a little fun every now and again, else life would be just too boring. After he stated the arrangement, the walkers seemed to calm down, though he felt they were still somewhat offended. Their shells quivered, partially opened and turned to the worm. Xentus placed Greb down gently, letting it be on its way. Wherever that might be.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 21, 2020 7:43:37 GMT -6
The golems stalked the grub's every squirming move. They seemed about ready to tear the thing apart if he hadn't imposed on them to be 'nice' to it. As far as he was concerned, playing nice only included not killing the tiny insect. Anything else was fair game. For now, the golems resorted to threateningly standing over it, heads pointed toward the offensive worm in a ready-to-strike pose. The man could only shake his head at the sight. What strange little beasts, all of them.
With the walkers occupied by the grub, Xentus turned his attention back to the rocky wall that made up the cavern's borders. It was somewhat smooth, dotted with a few jagged areas that didn't seem to indicate anything in particular. He looked over the wall with his flashlight, somehow expecting to see a little note that told him to start digging in some spot. Alas, there was none. Just a blank stone surface. Well, where he was would be as good as any other spot. Work began. The leopard started with the pickaxe, chipping away at the surface layer of rock as he saw fit. There was no real rhyme or reason, just guesses and hopes for the best.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 21, 2020 7:50:01 GMT -6
Normally he'd have Gid show him where to start digging. And by that, it meant waiting for Gid to start scratching at the wall or floor and taking over whatever it started. It usually proved to be an effective method. Now he just had to hope for the best. Worst case scenario, he'd only have worthless rocks to show for his work. He could also simply opt for spelunking instead and hope to come across exposed gems just by happenstance. That method satisfied his wanderlust more than pure physical labor did. He figured he'd at least give just slugging away at a wall for a little while, then turn to some wandering once he got bored of the sound of steel on rock and dirt.
The two earth golems would probably enjoy going deeper within the depths in any case. While they were surrounded by their element here, there was a certain charm to being deep within a mountainous cavern that was much more fulfilling than skirting around near the exit. He figured that they would appreciate it anyway. For now they were too distracted by the Greb the grub to care much either way. They were both low to the ground now, stalking the worm as it crawled across the cavern floor.
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Post by Nadia on Aug 21, 2020 14:56:47 GMT -6
A faint rumble can be heard further into the caverns. What is going on down there...?
[Nothing happens.]
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Post by Xentus on Aug 22, 2020 10:35:07 GMT -6
The rhythmic tinks and pings of the pick-axe echoed down the rocky cavern as the man worked the stone wall. Chips of rock chattered, falling to the ground with every strike. The leopard worked away at the stone, carving into the wall slowly. There was little goal in mind aside from happening upon something of value by chance. Which, as he was aware, was not the most effective method. He wasn't sure for how long he chipped at the wall. Five minutes or so? Maybe ten. In either case, he had made a decently sized dent on the wall, spanning a foot or two as he worked down the stone hall.
As luck would have it, he found nothing like this. He was beginning to grow tired of this hapless attempt, sitting on the earth for a short break. A sigh escaped him. This mining for gems thing was harder than it seemed without a familiar's guidance. The two earth golems came waddling up to comfort their master, offering him curious clicks of their shells. The sound bounced along the walls, making his ears instinctively twitch to trade them.
"Perhaps we shall go spelunking after all, little ones. How does it sound?", he asked them softly.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 22, 2020 10:45:27 GMT -6
He always expected some sort of answer when he spoke to them, even if it was not one that he understood. A couple of vibrating clatters were the golems reply, edging ever closer to their master with careful steps. They usually did well to respect his space, not ones to clamber on the man. He didn't mind this, but for once, he did want a more reassuring touch. A clawed hand reached out, beckoning for one of the golems. Gently fingers traced along its shell, skirting around the holes that led to its interior.
In reality, it wasn't too late for him to go back to the kennel and retrieve one of the familiars.. The idea did cross his mind. But he also felt it would just be too much at once for an adventure under the earth. The company of the golems would suffice. He was allowed to be a little sullen over his cluelessness, wasn't he? A sigh escaped him. He hadn't gone far or worked very hard. He could only hope that his luck would improve as he continued on.
"Alright then, let us do some exploring, shall we?", he piped up, dusting himself off as he stood up.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 22, 2020 10:54:29 GMT -6
The knee-high golems circled around his feet, seeming very ready to do something more than stalking after an offensive little grub. They waddled along as the mammalian started down the cavernous hallway, flashlight beaming ahead showing the path. The scenery only grew darker, both in luminosity and in color. The dirt brown walls and floor gradually became more grey, dotted with streaks of brown and black. This particular path also seemed to be a downward slope toward the abyss. Xentus could feel his claws digging into the stony ground to stay upright in some places. The last thing he'd want was to go tumbling down and falling to an unfortunate demise..
Occasionally, he'd turn back to shine his light on the two earth golems in his company. They scuttled around on their three limbs, which had flattened into a paw-like shape at the tips for a better grip on the earth. His caution seemed to be rubbing off on them, and for that he was thankful of. Not that he thought they would suffer much damage if they fell from here. Retrieving them would be the difficult part.
"Stay steady little ones", he advised them, then continued to make his way deeper into the darkness.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 22, 2020 11:01:35 GMT -6
The slope eventually gave way to flatter ground, but not without issue. It ended in a short cliff, about a foot or two high. Not much a problem for him, but rather for the golems. He steadied himself before jumping over the edge, easily landing on his feet. Then, he turned to aid the strange elemental walkers. There was some hesitation by them as they came to meet the cliff edge. Both creatures opened their shells, assessing the potential risk involved from jumping from this height. At least, that's what it looked like to Xentus.
"Come, it is not so bad", he assured them with a gentle smile. The words were enough to encourage the first walker to take the plunge, allowing itself to fall at the mercy of gravity. It was not the most graceful thing, but it did stick the landing. Somewhat. A little rocky regaining balance, but that was to be expected from something jumping from the height of its own body.
The second walker lined itself up, bobbing its head to ascertain the distance down. Then it too leapt. This one was not nearly as lucky as the first and fell on its side, shell clattering against the rocky floor with an alarming noise.
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Post by Xentus on Aug 22, 2020 11:09:14 GMT -6
Xentus quickly went to assess the possible damage. It sounded awful, like it had cracked! The noise echoed around the cavern walls, sparking a twinge of concern through his heart. But thankfully, these creatures proved to be very durable. The tumble did nothing to its shell or inner seed, much to his relief. Its body melded into itself then reshaped back into its proper, upright form. He'd never actually considered what it took to hurt these things.. Not that he wanted any harm to come to them. But their physiology was interesting.. Something to keep in mind.
Now that they were all again on level ground, the cavern exploration could continue. The leopard shined his flashlight around the cavern. There was a bit more of a 'hall' left, then it seemed to open up into a larger natural room of sorts. There was a glimmer reflecting off something deeper in, what he could only assume to be water of some kind. He thought he heard something like a flowing creek or river.. But there was also another noise. A low, deep rumble that was almost like the earth itself exhaling. Hopefully, that was simply the echo of the sounds of the river twisted into something more ominous from resounding around cave.
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Post by Jack on Aug 22, 2020 19:10:15 GMT -6
A strange little creature guards a small stone
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