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Post by Nerius on May 31, 2021 18:34:19 GMT -6
[26]
It wasn't over though, Nerius realized with a rising sense of dread, the other figures reflected in the crystals were moving too, and some of them were starting to reach through the crystal. Not all of them, but Nerius wasn't about to stop and try to investigate why some where still stuck, he needed to get out of there before he was swarmed by the ones that were crawling free.
He had a few seconds head start, as the reflections were slow to pull themselves free of the spires, but the cavern was too cluttered and uneven to run properly. The best he could do was a hurried scramble, not helped by carrying a sarane hatchling at the same time, it was a good thing Red was still as young and small as he was. Even so, one of the reflections caught up, closing the distance as it lunged at him.
(Nerius: 6/20)
("Red": Lv: 5, 26/30 | Lyl: 5, 26/30)
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Post by Nerius on May 31, 2021 18:42:41 GMT -6
[27]
A flare of magical protection protected him from the sharp bits, but it still hit with enough force to knock him to the floor. Nerius managed to twist enough to protect the hatchling from the fall, and the magical barrier protected him from the worst of the impact as well. It was already fading though, and before the reflection could rip into him with its crystalline claws, Nerius hit it with pressurize. Like the last one, it shattered, and fragments of crystal fell from his clothes as Nerius scrambled to get up.
He didn't have time to clear them off entirely, as more of the reflections were headed his way. He could hear their awful shrill ringing, echoing around the cavern is a way that made it impossible to tell what direction the sound was coming from. And it really could have been anywhere, the room was filled with crystal spires large enough to hold reflections.
(Nerius: 7/20)
("Red": Lv: 5, 27/30 | Lyl: 5, 27/30)
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Post by Nerius on May 31, 2021 19:02:11 GMT -6
[28]
They took awhile to get free, at least, which was the only thing stopping Nerius from being swarmed by the reflections. Even then it wasn't completely safe, and one managed to reach an arm out of the crystal far enough to rip a deep gash in his arm as he hurried by a too close crystal. Nerius let out a stifled noise of pain, but didn't slow down, pulling away from the claws as he swerved around the turn of the crystal hallway.
The glass-like claws had left deep, though clean, cuts that were already leaking blood. There was no time to stop and deal with it right now, not with more reflections wanting to add their own marks. At least it wasn't the arm that held the hatchling, and he didn't have to worry that the whelp had gotten hit.. or would get too slippery to hold with blood leaking everywhere.
(Nerius: 8/20)
("Red": Lv: 5, 28/30 | Lyl: 5, 28/30)
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Post by Nerius on May 31, 2021 19:12:35 GMT -6
[29]
He was getting close to the exit, at least, Nerius hoped he was. The cavern twisted so much, and the crystal formations distorted everything, that it was hard to tell. He could hear more and more of the crystal reflections clinking along behind him, it sounded like a lot now, and he doubted he'd have the magic to shatter them all.
As if encouraged by that idea, another reflection lunged at him, hitting with enough force to ram Nerius into a formation of jagged crystal, its claws reaching to shred wherever it could hit. Red squealed in fear, trying to wiggle away from the reflection, while Nerius struck back with another pressurize. The reflection shattered, but not before it managed to slice several gashes into him. As Nerius staggered away from the formation he'd hit, the sharp crystal was left bloody, and he realized the claws weren't the only thing that had left marks.
(Nerius: 9/20)
("Red": Lv: 5, 29/30 | Lyl: 5, 29/30)
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Post by Nerius on May 31, 2021 19:23:03 GMT -6
[30]
He was bleeding a rather concerning amount now, but Nerius could see where the crystal formations ended, fading back into the carved marble. He just had to reach it.. and hope the reflections wouldn't go too far away from their crystals. One had managed to climb over a low formation, and Nerius shattered it with pressurize, not letting it get close when he was almost to the exit.
And then he was at the exit, though he didn't slow as he hurried up the twisting marble tunnel. The sounds of the reflections thankfully faded, and by the time he reached the main cavern, there was only a faint ringing. They didn't seem to be leaving the crystal cavern, and Nerius took the opportunity to check Red for injuries, and catch his breath a little. It was a little hard to tell with his own blood everywhere, but the hatchling didn't look to have any serious injuries. His own injuries were not minor, especially with the bleeding, and they really needed to head back home.. or to a healer.
(Nerius: 10/20)
("Red": Lv: 6, 30/35 | Lyl: 6, 30/35)
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Post by Nadia on Jun 1, 2021 7:29:48 GMT -6
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Post by Nerius on Jun 2, 2021 18:29:57 GMT -6
[1] June
The ringing sound from the crystal cavern was fading, enough that Nerius felt somewhat confident that the reflections wouldn't follow, and he felt secure enough to set Red down, and tend to his own injuries. He hadn't brought his first aid kit, it still needed to be refilled after the mining incident, but he had a few spare scraps of cloth in his pack. He'd brought them to provide padding for any fragile items he found, but with his meager finds so far, they were unused.
It took a bit of time to wrap things up with his makeshift bandages, and by then Red had mostly calmed. Patched up as best he could, Nerius headed for the exit.. but things were never that simple in the Mansion. Oh it was easy enough to find, the layout hadn't shifted this time, instead there was a rather large spirit dragon blocking the exit.
It didn't look like it was going anywhere either. It at least didn't seem obviously aggressive, which was just as well since he really didn't want to fight it in his current condition. Maybe he could befriend it?
"Ah, hello," he spoke to it, friendly as he could manage. He wasn't sure where to go with this, usually Nerius offered food bribes to critters he was trying to make friends with, but this one looked ethereal, and probably didn't eat.
Red had a bit better of an idea, or at least more confidence, and took a few curious steps toward the larger dragonoid, vocalizing with a friendly 'meep'.
(Nerius: 11/20)
("Red": Lv: 6, 31/35 | Lyl: 6, 31/35)
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Post by Nadia on Jun 4, 2021 10:17:19 GMT -6
How peculiar. There's something about the sarane whelp that captures the nebuli's attention - its gaze turns to Red, and it cocks its head, curious. Funny little thing. It raises to its feet to step forwards and investigate closer.
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Post by Nerius on Jun 4, 2021 16:45:36 GMT -6
[2]
If anything, Nerius would have expected the hatchling to be more skittish after their misadventure in the crystal chamber, but he wasn't reacting with the same fear to the nebuli as he had the reflections, even before they popped out of the crystal. Nerius had to wonder if the 'wingless dragon shape' made the nebuli register as a hen to the young whelp, even if the lanky body type was more similar to a tat-lung than a sarane.
Red was still cautious, and froze for a moment when the nebuli's gaze landed on him, and it started to move closer. But when nothing bad happened, Red made another friendly 'meep'. He then took a step forward, wiggling in a way that Nerius recognized was either playful, or 'feed me'. It was a friendly motion, and Nerius could only hope the nebuli would respond with an equal lack of aggression. Using the tiny hatchling as a monster befriender wasn't the safest plan, but he didn't have a better one, and, well, if things went badly there was always the temple.
(Nerius: 12/20)
("Red": Lv: 6, 32/35 | Lyl: 6, 32/35)
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Post by Nadia on Jun 5, 2021 10:28:48 GMT -6
Meep. The nebuli's head cocked in the opposite direction, and it opened its mouth like it wanted to imitate... but no sound came forth. Hmm. Perhaps it should stick around and see if it can learn from the whelp...
[Congratulations, you've successfully tamed the creature!] |
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Post by Nerius on Jun 7, 2021 0:18:02 GMT -6
[3]
As much as the nebuli had been the highlight of the trip, Nerius was relieved that they managed to leave the Mansion without any further complications. The spirit dragon had taken a liking to Red, which was just as well, Nerius had been suffering a bit too much blood loss to be at his most sociable.
He back to the Mansion again for the new month, the same hatchling in tow. He was a little older now, still small, but much more steady on his feet, and ready to run around and explore. Nerius had never been to the Mansion in June, it was some sort of firework festival? Fire fly? He'd only just entered the grounds, and could already hear the crackle of distant fireworks. Red looked around at every 'pop', but at least he wasn't too jumpy, Nerius couldn't imagine visiting this month with something skittish like an equillion.
(Nerius: 13/20)
("Red": Lv: 6, 33/35 | Lyl: 6, 33/35)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 7, 2021 0:33:21 GMT -6
[4]
Like last month, the grounds were unremarkable, but then, from what he understood, this month had a garden party/barbecue theme, so maybe it wasn't supposed to look fantastical? Or maybe it'd be the back yard that would be decorated, that was a thing with these human 'barbecues' right? It was worth checking the house first, at least, and he headed down the main path as efficiently as he could with a curious hatchling.
The interior of the house, well, wasn't really an 'interior'. There was no ceiling, and it was also night, or at least very dark. It had been daylight outside, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. The occasional bursts of color and light didn't help, and the flickering light made it hard to make out anything more the basic shapes. There were ordinary house furnishings, but at least not much in the middle of the room where he'd be likely to trip over it.
(Nerius: 14/20)
("Red": Lv: 6, 34/35 | Lyl: 6, 34/35)
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Post by Nerius on Jun 7, 2021 0:46:15 GMT -6
[5]
It was also loud. Each flash of light was accompanied by 'pop' of fireworks, uncomfortably close. Red didn't really like the noise, and the hatchling had flattened himself down, as if he were trying to get away from the sound. Nerius didn't like it a whole lot either, and he decided he'd really rather find another room. Key word being 'find', the bright flashes of light in an otherwise dark room made it hard to see anything. At least a door would be attached to wall, so at least it wouldn't be hard to find that.
Nerius attempted to navigate his way through the room, while coaxing the unhappy whelp along behind him. That distraction ended up costing him, as he ran into an end table. It fell over with what would have been a loud crash if not for the fireworks, but at least he didn't fall, even if running into it had hurt a bit.
(Nerius: 15/20 +Added!)
("Red": Lv: 7, 35/40 | Lyl: 7, 35/40 +Added!)
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Post by Nadia on Jun 7, 2021 8:54:40 GMT -6
  Someone may have serenaded you, once. |
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Post by Nerius on Jan 28, 2023 21:18:44 GMT -6
January  Iseldur(Recently renamed, "James" in old offspring registry.) (Currently a baby) [1]
A horse was maybe a strange choice to bring when exploring a weird magical house, but the young equillion was one of only a handful of Nerius' creatures that would be comfortable with the cold. Besides, they could be skittish creatures, and needed to bond with their owners while young. Or at least that was the case with this particular breed, he'd only ever raised a tainted before, and that was more a case of bonding so they didn't try to eat their handlers. Iseldur, presumably, wouldn't try to eat him, and so far wasn't too skittish, and was following along on the makeshift halter without any issues.
Would that last? Probably not, the Mansion was an unpredictable place of shifting magic, and already that was visible. It was mid-morning, but the sky had gone backward as he entered the grounds, fading back to a pre-dawn light. The grounds too showed their unnatural nature, crystalline plants instead of their usual leafy green. (Nerius: 1/20)
(Iseldur: Lv: 0, 1/5 | Lyl: 0, 1/5) |
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