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Post by Nerius on Aug 31, 2020 17:03:38 GMT -6
[73]
Nerius continued searching, working his way through the wreckage, but the only things he found worth keeping were a pair of shells. How many of those did he have by now? Nerius had lost count, having been more focused on other things, and he'd have to stop by the wishing well on the way home to do something with them, though what he'd possibly wish for he had no idea.
His in depth search continued for over an hour, but eventually he was satisfied he'd found everything of interest within the store. He picked up the golem, who'd been trying to help, but really only managing to make a stack of rubble in the center of a display. Ah well, he'd found plenty on his own, and had no reason to be unhappy with the golem. Giving one last look around, Nerius swam through the doorway, and back out into the main street.
(Nerius: 18/20) (Droplet: Lv: 7, 38/40 | Lyl: 38 posts)
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Post by Nerius on Aug 31, 2020 17:10:56 GMT -6
[74]
It was starting to get dark, Nerius realized, he'd spent more time in that shop than he'd thought. He didn't really want to be stuck in the ocean in the dark of night, so it was time to start heading back. Just as soon as he figured out which way was back. He could tell which way north was, but that didn't help him know which direction land was.
Maybe he'd be able to see something from the surface? Making sure he had hold of the golem, who was paddling in place but not really going anywhere, Nerius swam for the surface. He hadn't been able to tell how far down he'd been, but it turned out not to be too far to the surface, and even better, when he popped his head above the water, he could see the mansion in the distance. That was easier than he'd been fearing, and he swam toward it, dipping back under the water to keep waves from hitting him in the face.
(Nerius: 19/20) (Droplet: Lv: 7, 39/40 | Lyl: 39 posts)
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Post by Nerius on Aug 31, 2020 17:22:27 GMT -6
[75]
Solid ground wasn't too far away, it took a bit of swimming, but he managed to make landfall before it got dark. The sun was starting to set, or at least, he thought it was, but as he took a break on the beach, sampling some of the food and drink, he realized it wasn't getting any darker. One of the mansion's tricks he supposed, but not what had been causing it to get dark at sea.
The food and drink were excellent, and not wanting to immediately start the long walk back after his swim, he decided to make a dinner of it. Droplet didn't eat of course, and the golem just sat there during the meal, but it didn't mind. Once finished, Nerius scooped up the golem, who was unfortunately much heavier on land, and started the trip back and out of the mansion grounds, keeping an eye out for anything interesting on the beach.
-- Nerius and Droplet leave, picking up anything on the way out. --
(Nerius: 20/20 +Added!) (Droplet: Lv: 8, 40/45 | Lyl: 40 posts)
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Post by Jack on Aug 31, 2020 17:25:11 GMT -6
Oh what a neat looking ship!
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Post by Nerius on Sept 13, 2020 0:55:45 GMT -6
SeptemberAmaranth [1] Opps he had another sarane. Nerius really hadn't been planning on getting any more yet, he already had enough to work with as it was, but then there had been an event around their eggs. Usually eggs were a spring theme with humans, but perhaps it had to do with the tri-yearly sarane breeding seasons. Whatever the case, he'd received one of the eggs, which had hatched into what was at first glance a rather ordinary brown. On closer look, there was a faint pattern not usually found on browns, or any breed, and he'd been informed the hatchling would grow up to have a drip pattern.
For now though, he was happy to work with a hatchling, and had brought the young one on a trip to the Mansion. It wouldn't be the first time he brought a whelp along, and though there were potential dangers, so far it had been a good way to get the whelps used to him.
(Nerius: 1/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 0, 1/5 | Lyl: 0, 1/5)
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Post by Nerius on Sept 13, 2020 1:02:56 GMT -6
[2]
Though, it would be his first time really working with a hen. He had one, Illusion, but she was grown, and he'd never really invested any time in training her. It would likely be different than working with a drake, if for no other reason than that she'd not need to be broken at adulthood. But if training in general would be harder or easier, he had no idea yet.
Specifically, battle training. Because while hens weren't known for fighting the way drakes were, two days after her egg had hatched, a hen tournament had been announced. It seemed like a good fit, and though he couldn't be sure she'd be grown in time, Nerius decided to give it a try. Amaranth, as he'd named the hen, wasn't the worst choice for battle, either. While not excessively aggressive the way Helios was, she was already showing a streak of boldness, generally unafraid of things even that were new or larger.
(Nerius: 2/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 0, 2/5 | Lyl: 0, 2/5)
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Post by Nerius on Sept 13, 2020 1:09:48 GMT -6
[3]
If that would hold up to the strangeness of the Mansion was to be seen, but at least she probably wasn't going to be hiding from every leaf. And there were more than a few of them drifting down from the trees, the Mansion had embraced fall earlier than the rest of the Labs, and already here the leaves had started to turn.
He'd carried the hatchling in through the gates, and even in his arms she was watching the leaves with interest, trying to paw at ones that passed too close. Nerius had brought a leash, and didn't intend to carry her the whole trip, and once they were properly within the Mansion grounds, he clipped on the leash, and gently set the whelp down. She rustled here wings, pawing at the lead a little, before the grounds caught her attention again. There were so many new things to look at, the hen wasn't sure what to focus on.
(Nerius: 3/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 0, 3/5 | Lyl: 0, 3/5)
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Post by Nerius on Sept 13, 2020 1:16:07 GMT -6
[4]
Nerius hadn't really intended on doing any training, though some people did on trips like these, and as interested in everything that was going on as she was, he doubted the whelp would actually pay him enough attention for that to be effective. This was really just meant to be a bonding trip, even if she wouldn't try to murder him as an adult, it was still helpful for a critter to actually be familiar with him.
It was also an excellent way to get away from the heatwave the rest of the Labs were experiencing, the mines were also cooler, but not nearly as safe for this young a whelp. He'd fallen down a hole last time, and though the trip hadn't been a waste, he wouldn't have wanted to have brought along a young creature that could have gotten hurt. He could shield himself in magic, a few day old sarane? Not so much.
(Nerius: 4/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 0, 4/5 | Lyl: 0, 4/5)
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Post by Nerius on Sept 13, 2020 1:26:28 GMT -6
[5]
He wouldn't truly call the Mansion 'safe', but at least collapsing tunnels weren't usually a risk. There was also a lot more to capture a hatchling's interest, right now Amaranth was absolutely fascinated by a large red apple sitting on the ground. She was starting intently at it, moving around it in curious little hops, occasionally pawing at it gently.
It was quite a change from what Helios had been like as a hatchling, the gold would have jumped on it, clawed it up, and tried to chew on it by now. Sure, hens were usually less aggressive than drakes normally, but Helios had been worse than any other drake he'd ever worked with. Tavur had been the most laid back, even after growing the brown had rather just ignore him than attack, at least until Nerius actually climbed onto his back. All unbroken drakes had a similar reaction to that.
(Nerius: 5/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 1, 5/10 | Lyl: 1, 5/10)
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Post by Silver on Sept 13, 2020 2:07:58 GMT -6
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Post by Nerius on Oct 23, 2020 20:45:59 GMT -6
October [1] Nerius and the hatchling had been having a relatively uneventful time of exploring the grounds. Amaranth had been wide eyed at all the colorful leaves and apples, while Nerius had found one of those glass eyes, a bunch of grapes (he may have tried to snack on some, but they were way too sour), and even a small goblin trying to rake the yard with a rake larger than he was. A rusted rake wasn't exactly his idea of a great prize, but he'd grabbed it anyway.
But the Mansion never stayed uneventful for long, and Nerius had just stashed the glass eye when he noticed black smoke? shadows? rolling out onto the path. He didn't have any idea what that was, though he suspected something magic induced, but didn't think it was the best idea to have it touch him, or the whelp. Amaranth hadn't noticed yet, and was still playing with some fallen leaves.
(Nerius: 6/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 1, 6/10 | Lyl: 1, 6/10)
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Post by Nerius on Oct 23, 2020 21:06:45 GMT -6
[2]
Nerius tried to get the hatchling's attention, he'd rather get the sarane and himself away from the shadowy fog. She was unbothered by it, at least at first, though did look at Nerius once he called to her enough. He tried to lead the whelp away, and she did follow, but even if he had run at a full sprint, the encroaching fog would have outpaced him.
As it was, it caught up to them quickly, swirling around his legs, almost seeming to grasp at them, as it flooded the path around them. Amaranth was starting to be unnerved by it, and whined unhappily, and tried to hide behind Nerius' legs. It didn't do any good, and he tried to lead Amaranth away from the dark fog, but it continued to get thicker, until he couldn't even see the hatchling sarane at his feet, even as he could hear her frightened noises.
(Nerius: 7/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 1, 7/10 | Lyl: 1, 7/10)
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Post by Nerius on Oct 23, 2020 21:24:35 GMT -6
[3]
He couldn't see anything, for that matter, and didn't dare run for risk of tripping over something, or running right into a tree. Worse, he was starting to feel dizzy, and groggy, and he could feel the buzz of magic in the background. Nerius tried to move faster, he did nearly trip over Amaranth, as she'd been trying to hide behind his legs, but quickly picked up on the idea of trying to run.
It was a bit too late for that though, and Nerius didn't get far before he staggered. Once, then twice, before dropping to his knees, trying as best he could to avoid landing on the hatchling. He couldn't see, but felt leaves crunch under his hands, and didn't hear any pained noises from the whelp. He couldn't hear much of anything, the fog muffled the sounds of the Mansion grounds. He couldn't see, either, and as the fuzzy feeling got worse, he was barely aware of hitting the ground.
(Nerius: 8/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 1, 8/10 | Lyl: 1, 8/10)
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Post by Nerius on Oct 23, 2020 21:33:31 GMT -6
[4]
The next thing he was aware of was the feeling of the whelp gently nibbling at his fingers. She was concerned that her larger guardian had passed out, not that Nerius had realized he'd passed out. He blinked, staring upwards at.. a ceiling? That wasn't right, he'd been outside before. He pulled his hand away from the sarane, and sat up, rubbing his eyes, before giving Amaranth a pat. "I'm not dead," he assured her, taking a look around.
It was dark, though not so much that he couldn't see a little, unlike the blinding fog. It was a room, he was inside, somehow, and what little light there was came from the full moon shining in through the window. It hadn't been night before either, and Nerius didn't know if he'd been unconscious that long, or if it was another trick of the Mansion. It wouldn't have been the first time he'd seen it be stuck at a certain time of day here.
(Nerius: 9/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 1, 9/10 | Lyl: 1, 9/10)
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Post by Nerius on Oct 23, 2020 22:56:33 GMT -6
[5]
At least he could see something, unlike when he'd been surrounded by the black fog. Had the fog magically transported him here? Or had it been a side effect of the ground shifting? They changed on a monthly basis, had he gotten caught in one of the shifts? He was probably still at the Mansion, Nerius had never heard of it transporting people elsewhere, though it was a possibility. He might be able to see something more from the window, and he picked up Amaranth's leash, bringing the whelp with him as he walked over to the window.
Sure enough, it was the Mansion grounds outside, but they were different from when he'd entered. The trees were barren now, no longer holding colorful leaves, and even considering it was night, everything looked dark and dull. And those tombstones hadn't been there before either, though he could be looking at the back yard, and not the front where he'd been.
(Nerius: 10/20) (Amaranth: Lv: 2, 10/15 | Lyl: 2, 10/15)
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