Star
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Sept 13, 2023 19:13:44 GMT -6
Post by Star on Sept 13, 2023 19:13:44 GMT -6
Still, we were no closer to learning about his climbing ability. He quickly resisted being grabbed, so I thought that was the wrong approach. It felt odd to me that a creature made of metal was so peculiar about these sorts of things, but I decided to respect his wishes. If he did not want to be grabbed, then I would do something else instead.
I held out an open claw on the stump in front of where Mercury was standing. He could climb up if he wished, and I would not force him. At least not yet. Given that he now had a choice in the matter, it was amazing how fast he decided to climb up and explore. I sighed in exasperation, but tried not to let him know that I was frustrated. I wanted him to trust me and to know that I would not harm him.
[21.3, 2.6]
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Star
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Posts: 136
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Lessons
Sept 13, 2023 19:33:50 GMT -6
Post by Star on Sept 13, 2023 19:33:50 GMT -6
While it may be obvious to me that I would never harm a creature under my care, I did not find it surprising that they were almost always fearful at first. I was much bigger than most of them, and many smaller creatures lived their entire lives in fear of being eaten. I was not too sure what would eat something like Mercury, but if he got his programming based on real creatures, then he must feel the same way they do, though the threat of being consumed was significantly lower.
I was surprised to find that Mercury quickly ran up into my claw, clearly curious about his surroundings. From there, I gently lifted him up and walked awkwardly over to a nearby tree. I held him up to the branches to see what he would do with his new enviornmental stimulus. He froze for a moment, clearly startled by the sudden change of scenery.
[21.4, 2.8]
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Star
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Posts: 136
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Lessons
Sept 13, 2023 19:42:24 GMT -6
Post by Star on Sept 13, 2023 19:42:24 GMT -6
Mercury tenatively stretched out his claws, reaching for the branch. I held very still to give him the opportunity to explore without pushing him in any particular direction. I sincerely wanted to observe what his natural reaction might be. Being patient and still was very important, even if it was not always easy. I must always remember that the creatures in my care rely on me to be a shining example at all times.
Thankfully, Mercury hopped up without issue and started to explore the branch. He chewed on a leaf before spitting it out again, then pushed some smaller twigs around with his tail. He would run for a short time, then pause, then run again in a slightly different direction. Yet again I had to wonder what his thought process was. He moved in such an unpredictable way. It was quite charming, and I found myself smiling at him.
[21.5, 3]
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Star
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Posts: 136
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Lessons
Oct 15, 2023 6:19:50 GMT -6
Post by Star on Oct 15, 2023 6:19:50 GMT -6
Well, it sure did not make him any more attractive. Igor was a creature who made his way into my lair through necessity. I was able to get him practically for free and ready to fight just in time to join my first tournament. I knew not to expect much of a creature I plucked out of the market and threw into the arena, but he did surprisingly well for himself. After a performance like that, well, I guess I felt like I owed him one. One thing I learned while doing some light research on his species was that Common variety Ghaenelts were extremely bland. Most creatures created by the laboratory were capable of at least one fantastical thing, but by all means, Igor was exactly what he appeared to be - a creature with some spikes and some claws with average intelligence and constitution. No wonder he was so inexpensive. [22.1, 11.2]
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Star
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Posts: 136
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Lessons
Oct 15, 2023 6:21:39 GMT -6
Post by Star on Oct 15, 2023 6:21:39 GMT -6
As much as I liked him following his devotion during my tournament debut, I was really hoping for him to have a bit more potential. With a bit more research, I learned about the other breeds of Ghaenelt, and they were all quite different. One had skin as hard as steel, another could breathe fire from not one, but two heads simultaneously, and there was scarce information about one with magical powers and the ability to fly.
With that information in mind, I asked the herbalist for one of her famous brews. They were expensive, and nobody but the brewer herself knew exactly how they worked, but I was sure it would be worth it. Having a creature with strong magical powers in my lair would be beneficial for sure. A transformation brew could change a creature’s form, just like that. I had to assume that the naturally mutable genetics of laboratory creatures made them especially susceptible to this kind of mutation.
[22.2, 11.4]
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Star
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Lessons
Oct 15, 2023 6:21:57 GMT -6
Post by Star on Oct 15, 2023 6:21:57 GMT -6
While she prepared the concoction, I imagined what the sparsely described creature might be like. Apparently many of them had died out before being available for further study. Something to do with an illness. The little information that was available left much to the imagination. They had faint gray skin and a skinny tail. They must also have wings, for they were described as flying, but I could not be sure if they would be feathered, leathery, or something else entirely.
Once the potion was in my possession, I gently sniffed just outside the mouth of the bottle, cautious about taking in too much. I did not want to change color or… worse by accident. It was neither significantly pleasant nor foul. With that in mind, I felt a bit safer asking Igor to drink it. I did not believe it would harm him. Whether it would have the promised effect? That I would quickly find out.
[22.3, 11.6]
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Star
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Lessons
Oct 15, 2023 6:22:42 GMT -6
Post by Star on Oct 15, 2023 6:22:42 GMT -6
As soon as he finished drinking the liquid, Igor immediately looked uncomfortable. I turned away, not wanting to see anything too unpleasant. By the time I compelled myself to look back, he was beginning to change. His skin became paler, his body thinned, and finally he shook himself off and a pair of tattered wings unfurled.
Igor waved his long, boney tail back and forth, as if he was getting used to the weight of it. He looked back at me with his deathly pale eyes. He looked gaunt, like his bones would poke right through his skin. In some places, it appeared as though they actually did. Igor always had a visible skull on the outside, or a plate that mimicked one, but this new form had an even more extreme version of it.
His new wings were tattered and sad, hardly looking like they were capable of flight. They had neither feathers nor scales, and appeared to be similar to that of a moth. I had not expected that, but they did seem to suit him in an odd way. They reminded me of the way some creatures were brightly colored, not to blend in and avoid being eaten, but to warn predators that they were toxic. Was he dangerous in the same way?
[22.4, 11.8]
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Star
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Posts: 136
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Lessons
Oct 15, 2023 6:25:53 GMT -6
Post by Star on Oct 15, 2023 6:25:53 GMT -6
Igor flexed his wings and looked back at them curiously. For as surprised as I was to see him like this, he must be even more confused by it. I believed it to be in his best interest, but I had to sympathize with how strange it must be to find oneself in an entirely new body. He seemed to be taking it well, though, all things considered. I liked that about Igor - he was a fairly modest creature who was not phased by much.
"Good boy, Igor," I said, remembering that I should praise him for taking the elixir without fuss. I offered him a treat as well, and he crunched it meticulously, as if he was thinking about something. I continued to overlook his new form while he was distracted by that. All in all, he looked rather strange now, but he was certainly different, and he did not appear to be suffering any ill effects.
[22.5, 12]
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