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Post by Renathan on Oct 24, 2019 11:26:25 GMT -6
The worm realized pretty quickly that something was going on; there was something nearby. It made just a slight noise when it hit the ground, and immediately the worm was on it's toes, so to speak though not literally. It seemed to search for the source of the noise, and then backed up just a bit when it didn't understand what was going on immediately. However, the allure of that stone was too much for it to move too far away, and instead it waited near the stone, just in case, but not too close to the sound of the noise. It kept aware of the surroundings well enough, noting that whatever was going on, it would appear that the other beings were causing it. However, it didn't immediately feel like it was in danger, so it simply waited.
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Oct 27, 2019 9:24:49 GMT -6
The sphinx's arm stopped when the worm seemed to jump. As to avoid frightening it further the following minute or two passed in almost a silent stand-off, before the sphinx dare to continue slowly - ever so slowly - pushing the rod forward and under the underhang. Thankfully the flowstone in this cavern was fairly soft, so it didn't weight as much of a ton as it could have were it something more impossible, such as granite. All the same, she adjusted her position, lifting her end of the rod to her shoulder then while the worm-side end was planted against the ground.
Just in case, she side-glanced to Ras, Be ready to pull the worm back in case the rocks shift too much. They shouldn't have, given a single solid piece held up the underhang, but she had learned to plan to unforeseen circumstances mostly because a lot of the times they very quickly became foreseen circumstances. The gargoyle glared at her with empty eye sockets and she could sense the disgust of having to potentially save this useless squishy thing. He could refuse, a part of Ras told himself. He could. But he wouldn't. The useless worm had some importance in the mammalian's eyes, so like as not, he had to look after this thing as well. Darkness knew, neither of them were good at looking after each other.
Alright, get ready, the sphinx told him, as the gargoyle crept a little closer, ready to snatch the worm away in case something went wrong, and the mammalian gently began to push up on the rod, to leverage the underhang more loose around the green stone.
(63) Darky: 63 Ras Dashen: 89 (3/5) / 89 (3/5)
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Post by Renathan on Oct 27, 2019 9:40:51 GMT -6
The little worm may not understand completely what was going on, but it was not too afraid. It kept it's 'eyes' on the prize. The green gem was like a beacon to the lost for the worm, so when the rock was lifted (successfully and without any issues) the tunnel worm slipped in the now-large enough area to get through, and snatched up the gem rather quickly. At this, it was able to maneuver out and into the room again with surprising speed. However, it didn't attempt to get away. As if understanding at least somewhat that some how, you two have helped the thing seems a little... Beholden to you. Or perhaps it was just the fact that there were more shinies to be had with you. The thing drops the green stone near you, and waits. It would be okay with giving up it's shiny... Perhaps there will be more shinies in the future?
[The tunnel worm would like to go with you?]
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Oct 27, 2019 11:51:44 GMT -6
There were menaces in the underdark and then there were mild-mannered indifference, but the gusto and spirit of this little worm was just downright adorable. The sphinx strained to keep the rock lifted until the worm was in and out of the hollow, before slowly lowering back down with a soft thud. It wasn't a ton of weight but the metal rod had none the less pushed a little into her shoulder, so she rubbed it slightly as the rod was slowly scraped back.
A good part of her was convinced the worm would have gone to the wind as soon as the rock was retrieved, so it was quite the surprise when it settled near them, looking almost.. expectant. Ras glowered, beak just about ready to grind out an annoyed gnash. He would have certainly loved to see this one just run off. But the mammalian crouched down, slow as to not spook it and smiled, "Well aren't you an adorable little thing. Do you feel like sticking around?"
No, gnashed the gargoyle, picking up thoughts.
Shh, it's alright, Darky waved him off, a measure to calm him down. Refocusing on the worm, her mouth drew to the side a moment as considerations were had. Then, a sudden, "Oh!" and she reached into a little pocket on her belt, "Stones are all well and good, but I suspect you might enjoy this one a little bit more in the long run." She retrieved a few pieces of dried meat from a food pack and held them out towards the worm to scent.. er.. sense? ..To consider.
(64) Darky: 64 Ras Dashen: 89 (4/5) / 89 (4/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Oct 28, 2019 7:37:06 GMT -6
Sometime after the mammalian made a quick trip to the opening of the Mines once more, to call in the tat-lung for a little home transportation of their new friend. A part of her would have like to keep the worm around for company, but Ras' constant objection was making it a hassle and a half. Perhaps the worm could be taken along with her at a separate time, when it was by itself with no glaring gargoyle to oversee it. With the worm safely on the way, she returned to the cavern.
Now then, where were they.. Ah yes. The pit. Picking up the metal rod the sphinx jumped back down into the hole and resumed where they had left off. The rod helped make fairly short work of the remaining layers of flowstone, though the heaving of the pieces out of the hole and onto its edge for Ras to start cracking open was quite the strain on her back. After this she probably wouldn't have minded having the haras run up and down her back in stone shoes. But, the effort provided its fruits, as the last rock finally ground itself loose across the gravel, and once it had been hoisted out, they now had a nice large space to focus on the next layer.
(65) Darky: 65 Ras Dashen: 90 (0/5) / 90 (0/5)
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Post by Renathan on Oct 28, 2019 7:42:29 GMT -6
A lovely set of stones could be found nearby, one of them particularly blood red, and the other deep blue.
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:17:40 GMT -6
There were definitely times where the mammalian wondered: just how deep did these layers go? Supposedly as deep as the mountain itself, but the more time she spent in the caverns, the more she realized that everything below the surface layers was rock, rock and even more rock, regardless of depth. The cave networks she explored when chasing down the sarane nest stretched on for miles, causing them to spend hours below, going deeper and deeper as they did. And more to the point of the task at hand - could you find gemstones so deep? Or were they more a surface phenomenon?
A few of the books she had read about mining mentioned that sooner or later the earth below would become too hot or too wet to properly traverse. In those conditions, even gargoyles tended to suffer. But other books also mentioned a lot of the gemstone types were a result of these heated or wet conditions, causing them to be formed in the first place.
(66) Darky: 66 Ras Dashen: 90 (1/5) / 90 (1/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:18:14 GMT -6
It seemed logical, then, to try and devise ways to go as deep as possible, to get to the source of it all. Being a sphinx, she had spent her entire life living in a furnace of homeland, where the midday sun could cause stones in the desert to become as hot as stoves. It wasn’t an aspect of her home that she particularly like, but surely the heat below the earth wouldn’t be manageable in much the same way..
She had once brought up this point of philosophy with the tat-lung, who all seemed a little.. incredulous as to its validity. Surprisingly, it had been Det who pointed out how one needed great deal of heat to melt metals when she was processing ores, and rocks are kind of like a more crumbly version of it, so heat strong enough to melt a rock would be.. inadvisable.
Yes, the gargoyle piped up, a note of grumbling caution in his stance.
(67) Darky: 67 Ras Dashen: 90 (2/5) / 90 (2/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:18:58 GMT -6
Darky blinked, pausing in hauling up a smaller boulder to the pit’s edge and stared at him. Too hot, he said again, beak grinding, as if the very thought of it triggered internal survival instincts. It took the sphinx another couple of seconds to realize her thoughts had been perhaps one too loud in the situation. It was easy to get used to the other ribbon-bearers - the tat-lung were respectful of her loudness and Nightmare usually didn’t care. The times that she did, it was usually for a reason.
Have you been to the deep of the earth? Darky asked, pushing the boulder clear of the edge and dusting her hands.
Ras tilted his head, limited ability processing. No, he said, finally.
Then how do you know its too hot?
Not deep, the gargoyle replied, though it seemed he was having difficulty properly articulating the thought patterns into words.
(68) Darky: 68 Ras Dashen: 90 (3/5) / 90 (3/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:19:29 GMT -6
He was as much new to this whole ribbon process as she was with him. One of the key elements to understanding when Ras was frustrated, was how he began to process it through physical action. The gargoyle began to scrape against the stony floor, beak still gnashing as he tilted his head annoyed. Not.. deep..
Are you.. are you saying the hot place is not deep? Darky wagered.
This seemed to help, as a sudden liveliness sparked in him. Yes! Not deep!
This.. this changed thing. Darky stared at him for a few seconds, before guiding him back to work on the boulders and crouching down into the pit to resume hers. Not that deep.. The book she read were quite clear on the very hot layers of the earth being so deep, most people weren’t even able to reach them without Lab or tinkerer help. And yet Ras had apparently experienced a ‘hot place’ before.
(69) Darky: 69 Ras Dashen: 90 (4/5) / 90 (4/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:19:55 GMT -6
The sphinx began to shovel in the gravel, shifting it around and tossing some of it out of the pit to clear the way. As she did, the thought continued to play around this little piece of exercise. Of course, the obvious solution was to factor in that perhaps the hot layers could have ‘pockets’ closer to the surface. Some time back there was the news on an expedition coming back from the Maw, which was a well-known place full of volcanoes and lava. Those were ‘hot place’ pretty much right on the surface.
But no book ever mentioned this mountain being a volcano.. Or, perhaps, it simply had not had time to become one yet. The lava could still be winding its way through the earth, to find a way out. Some years down the line both she and the gargoyle could find themselves running from it just as much as hoping to find it.
(70) Darky: 70 Ras Dashen: 91 (0/5) / 91 (0/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:20:16 GMT -6
If that were the case, she would definitely need to start looking into training things with an affinity for water. Ander was a prime candidate, though it would remain to be seen just how well he could do beneath the crust of the world. Something that flies might not necessarily appreciate these kinds of cramped conditions, even if he was the most endearing, good boy bravely looking to please there was.
On the edge the gargoyle was taking on the boulders one by one, now distancing himself a little more from the buzzing thoughts of his caretaker. It wasn’t out of any respect for privacy - the gargoyle didn’t really have a good grasp on morality or ethics as concepts - but more out of the fact he just really didn’t like to think about rooms filled with lava, much less the very depths of the earth. There was a reason his kind kept being encountered closer to the surface, and most of it involved the fact the below was much worse.
(71) Darky: 71 Ras Dashen: 91 (1/5) / 91 (1/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:20:54 GMT -6
Gargoyles were made out of stone. Slightly tougher stone than their surroundings, which was the only reason he was able to break over the flowstone boulders and granite chunks, but still stone. Stone had a rigidity to it, one which the gargoyles, granted, somewhat subverted, being creatures with some inherent arcane infusion in order to be able to move in the first place, but still. Against the heat, stone crumbles, it cracks, it weakens. And deeper below, well..
Compared to Ras, the things below were like leviathans. He could be swept beneath their passing and be mistaken for but a pebble. Not to mention the main difference between stone creatures and the annoying organics - organics were squishy, full of liquid, and were able to make more liquid to fills gaps in them. Meaning they had a much easier time healing. In contrast, the stone creatures’ recovery was slower, tedious and sometimes required them to shove stone into their cracks to assimilate in order to properly close a wound.
(72) Darky: 72 Ras Dashen: 91 (2/5) / 91 (2/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:21:20 GMT -6
And even then that might not have been enough. Ras still bore a few fractures here and there that were in a constant flux of regrowing and being cracked again. As far as the mammalian knew, this was normal to them, so she had no idea it could be a concern. And Ras certainly wasn’t one bright enough to set the record straight, either.
With a whack of his beak, the boulder between his claws shattered, four different sized halves clattering down to the sides. Much like the many, many ones from before, this one held no more shiny than the last twelve. He pushed the pieces away and shifted closer to the next one, adjusted it’s position, head craning back to be brought down on the exposed weak spot, and finally striking it with another crack. Pieces broke loose as the core of it crumbled to half-way dust, half-way smaller rocks.
Now, it was still a mystery as to whether gargoyles could tell colour, given their eyes were.. well.. not eyes.
(73) Darky: 73 Ras Dashen: 91 (3/5) / 91 (3/5)
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Darky
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Post by Darky on Feb 5, 2020 16:21:49 GMT -6
A factor that might come into play due to the fact the boulder had encased in itself a red shard-looking stone. Most would have agreed the gargoyles were more blind than having sight in the traditional sense, but that they could ‘sense’ their surroundings another way. Some even went so far as to state they could (probably) be able to tell a difference between rocks simply based on their mineral vibrations.
Whichever the case was truth, Ras didn’t swipe the pieces away as he had with so many others. He stared down at the red shard-crystal and carefully picked it up with his beak, shuffling over to the edge of the pit.
Stone, he announced, cutting through the mammalian’s daydream philosophies, and then dropping it on her head. The head had a helmet on it, so when Darky raised it to look up, it bounced off the hard-hat, hit the side of the pit wall and finally came to rest in the gravel.
(74) Darky: 74 Ras Dashen: 91 (4/5) / 91 (4/5)
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