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Post by Ashe on Feb 20, 2020 19:01:02 GMT -6
AsheMason 3 Feel the node Encounters: Off Looking for: Chaos crystals Crux, assumed Male Level: 4 Loyalty: 4 Stamina: 2 Strength: 3 Resistance: 5 Dexterity: 3 Mentality: 2 Special Abilities: Earth Resistance Moves: Dig, Beak Break Inyala, Female (Familiar) Level: 144.3 Loyalty: 134.3 Stamina: 1 Strength: 1 Resistance: 0 Dexterity: 4 Mentality: 4 Special Abilities: Flutter Moves: Ember, Scratch Santiago, Male Level: 23 Loyalty: 25 Intelligence: 6 Size: 4 Power Level: 6 Crawl: Yes Leap: Yes Flight: No Swim: No Burrow: No Stamina: 7 Strength: 5 Resistance: 3 Dexterity: 6 Mentality: 9 Abilities: Umbral Bond Moves: Nether Claw, Darkness Breath: Fear Innate Magic: Shadow Bind Spoils:
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Post by Ashe on Feb 28, 2020 2:26:08 GMT -6
Ashe wasn't sure how this was going to work. Santiago had told him that there was a place to mine for gemstones... inside the canyon! Ashe had happened to make an offhand comment about how he found the crystals for the nodes he wanted to make in the mine shaft on the outskirts of the City, and Santiago had perked up.
"I know a place. Follow." And Ashe had followed him. The Makiyan had led him to the opening of a large crevice cut in the earth, and Ashe could see ledges to make their way down. Holes lined the walls, little caves and places to mine in. Ashe thought he could see the soft, eerie glow of... The hell, was that Lava? He'd voiced this new concern to Santi, and the Makiyan looked, then made a slight neck movement that Ashe figured was close to a shrug, without human shoulders. "Is possible." Apparently, there was always the possibility of lava when you dug deep enough into the earth.
And so, Ashe had headed home to gather up his belongings. He had to grab the mining tools, reconnect with Inyala after a busy day of separation (they both always felt better after being reunited), and select a mining familiar. He had settled on Crux, a black gargoyle without Wings. He could have taken his Runic, he supposed, but Brazin deserved a rest from time to time. And Crux needed some experience!
They had returned, as a group, and Santiago accompanied them back to the crevice. Together, they looked down.
Santiago: 0 1/5 Ashe: 0 1/20 Inyala: 0 1/5 Crux: 0 1/5
Mining Post 1
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Post by Ashe on Feb 28, 2020 4:00:02 GMT -6
Going down was kind of tricky. Ashe thought about just riding Santiago down; he was good at leaping and could probably get them down there in record time. But he knew, from riding Sarane and Equillion and everything else, that the rider could throw off the balance. The rider had to use their weight to help the mount, from going forward to going backward. Around turns you had to be more careful not to lean into it too much. And going down narrow walk ways on Santiago's back, when they hadn't had much riding experience in general, wasn't the best idea, as far as Ashe was concerned. So he started forward, testing the rocky path that led down. It wasn't so much a path as a natural formation that Ashe could walk on, jutting out in areas, absent in other areas. Loose rocks tumbled down, down, down, as Ashe walked. Inyala hung onto his shirt collar for balance and watched, a little more apprehensive than usual. She could see the eerie glow below, and she could see complete darkness. Ashe had a light attached to his helmet, but he hadn't turned it on yet, and it was so dark...
Crux walked along by Ashe, sometimes darting ahead, sometimes staying close. This made the walking a little more treacherous, with Ashe hoping he didn't step on or kick the gargoyle. That left his life in Santiago's hands. If he fell, maybe Santiago could grab him. The Draconic was great with mobility, even if he lacked wings. With one last gulp, Ashe turned on his light, and got moving.
Santiago: 0 2/5 Ashe: 0 2/20 Inyala: 0 2/5 Crux: 0 2/5
Mining Post 2
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 0:03:38 GMT -6
Ashe couldn't help but admire this place. It was a deep, deep cavern with a narrow rocky slope angling downward. It was uneven and treacherous, and the deeper down, the bigger the glow from below. He was starting to really think it was lava. Unless there was lichen that glowed that color. With the light on from his helmet, he was able to navigate better, making sure he put his feet securely down and didn't step on Crux. The gargoyle picked his way almost too good, scrambling this way and that on his explorations. He climbed over rubble with ease, and avoided loose rock. Even though he didn't have experience working with Ashe, he still had experience from having lived his life in the mines back in the city. While these may be different caves than he'd lived in before, a cave was a cave. Ashe was hoping to gain something from watching his natural behavior, maybe having him lead them to a treasure that wouldn't require much digging. Inyala watched it all from his shoulder, eager now for adventure.
Santiago followed along behind them, and Ashe felt his presence as a protective shield. The Draconic was at home in this realm, exploring caves, leaping from place to place. It was in his blood, if not his direct experience. Ashe couldn't be with him all the time, he had responsibilities of his own in the city. He had no doubt Santiago explored without him! Occasionally, Santiago would walk too fast and Ashe could feel his hot breath on the nape of his neck; it was comforting, rather than intimidating.
Santiago: 0 3/5 Ashe: 0 3/20 Inyala: 0 3/5 Crux: 0 3/5
Mining Post 3
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 0:17:53 GMT -6
Seemingly out of nowhere, the path suddenly widened into a platform. It felt like Ashe could breathe again, not confined to the small walkway any longer. He and his companions spread out, exploring the length of this. It looked to be about twenty foot by twenty foot, not that big when looking at Santiago's size, but plenty big enough for a regular size human. Inyala straightened up, holding onto Ashe's hair as she stood upright on his shoulder. She sensed something, but she wasn't sure what it was. Something magical? Or the sheer power of a volcano somewhere beneath their feet? Ashe reached up to give her a reassuring pat, and she took his finger in both her hands to give it a firm shake, as one would a handshake.
Santiago paced like a feline around the edges of the platform. Ashe stopped and was fiddling with his tools. "Are you digging here?" Santiago asked him. True, when he came here, he came to explore, not to actually dig. If he found stuff on the surface, cool. If he didn't, it was the thrill of adventure he liked the best! His tail swayed back and forth in anticipation, the thrill, of exploring, of finding treasure. Ashe must be feeling that way as well!
"Yeah, I think I might try a little bit. If we don't find anything in the next hour, we'll move on." An hour seemed like a long time, but with so much space to explore, it really wasn't. He called Crux over to get started.
Santiago: 0 4/5 Ashe: 0 4/20 Inyala: 0 4/5 Crux: 0 4/5
Mining Post 4
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 1:35:52 GMT -6
"Have you ever found anything?" Ashe asked. He had had his shovel strapped to his back, his pickaxe shoved through his belt, and a small bag for the other tools he owned. He set the bag down near his feet when he picked a spot on the wall to start digging on. He decided to let Crux pick out his own spot, using his instincts, as long as he stayed on the platform with him. He kept his light trained on the gargoyle until he got the idea and started digging, rummaging around. He'd have to keep one ear always trained for his inexperienced gargoyle; Brazin at home would know what to do and never leave his side. But Crux...didn't know him as well.
"Rocks, mostly. Some were pretty..." Santiago trailed off. He didn't know much about gemstones and the like, actually. "I never kept anything. Nothing. No reason." The draconic society was different than the people society. They didn't have to trade gemstones and make credits that way. He supposed they might just be fancy trinkets afterall.
"Back home," Ashe said, feeling Inyala hunker back down as he reached for the pick axe to begin his dig. He brought the tool into the wall, wiggling it to see if he could break any rocks free first. "Gems are valuable. We can trade them for currency, or use them as currency, depending on the shop." He put the axe to the wall again, and felt the rubble sliding down as he worked it free.
Santiago: 1 0/5 Ashe: 0 5/20 Inyala: 1 0/5 Crux: 1 0/5
Mining Post 5
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 1:53:03 GMT -6
"Rocks as currency..." Santiago said, with a slight chuckle to his voice. Sure, he'd known dragons to trade shiny objects, including special rocks and crystals, but they did not use it as a main form of currency, or any regulated value. "We share more than humans. We each put in work and help each other. Then share bounty." Ashe glanced back at Santiago, wondering just how much sharing he did with the rest of his society. or did he mean mostly in his cave, his family? It was hard to tell. Ashe was a little too selfish, putting it lightly, to just share with lesser people, everything that he had worked hard for. That said, he found plenty of people he cared about enough to share, but it wasn't the norm by any means. It meant he wasn't poor... He also wasn't the richest. But there was a structure that he had some control of at least.
"Yeah, you do. Funny, because there are legends of dragons hoarding gems and valuables. But here we are, people hoarding more than you!" He laughed a little as he continued picking at the wall. Inyala occasionally said something in his ear, her sharp eyes scanning the wall revealed by his headlight. He could hear scratching on rock sounds to his right and knew Crux was also working.
"We hoard knowledge. And magic. Maybe." Though, those things were also shared among dragons. Always, there was the search for more; perhaps coveted, more than hoarding. For the sake of the conversation, however...
Santiago: 1 1/5 Ashe: 0 6/20 Inyala: 1 1/5 Crux: 1 1/5
Mining Post 6
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 2:31:47 GMT -6
"Guess I'm in the right spot, huh? Those are two things I would like to hoard as well!"
Santiago knew Ashe had some magic nodes that he carried with him and could use to tap into magic. It was a strange concept, having to have an item do the work for you. Magic was, thankfully, in Santiago's blood. But he had found that, while Ashe didn't have any magic internally, he also had unlimited potential externally. Ashe had told Santiago once before that he could have all the nodes in the world and tap them all - but Santiago only had that magic inside him. Pros and cons, he supposed. He was eager for more, but not enough to resent Ashe for having more. They were partners - if one had it, they both did.
"Guess so. Stick with me, human, and you'll have them both!" He stretched his long form up, rising on his hind legs, and pawed at the wall, breaking some rocks free so he could see if there was anything shiny that would be hiding behind them. Crux hissed and scooted away as the shale started to fall where he was working, and the gargoyle paced angrily before finding a new spot. Inyala scoffed in Ashe's ear, thinking Santiago was either showing off or just making a mess. He needed to be more orderly, or they might miss something!
"Freakin A! Santi, if you could do stuff like that, why am I sitting here using an axe?!" Ashe had turned and watched his dragon, the head lamp illuminating him in all of his glory.
Santiago: 1 2/5 Ashe: 0 7/20 Inyala: 1 2/5 Crux: 1 2/5
Mining Post 7
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 2:40:55 GMT -6
"You never asked," Santiago said. He had dragged his body down, bringing rocks and everything with it. His claws had dug in as deep as he could, and the rock here was loose enough that it could be broken free. Once some was broken free, more was left in the open and without defense; it soon came down, too. Santiago stepped away from his mess, craning his neck around to see if anything shiny was revealed. He looked up at Ashe and called his bonded over with just a look; Ashe was able to feel what he desired. The man hurried over, setting the axe where the shovel was and picking up the shovel to join Santiago. Inyala clung to Ashe through all of this, torn by scolding for the mess, and complimenting the dragon on getting more work done in less time. She wasn't sure what to make of this other half of Ashe. Since she was his familiar, she knew they would all be working closely together- she just hadn't had time to really figure the dragon out.
Ashe hurried over to Santiago, and Crux joined as well. The eagerness of the gargoyle made Ashe think that maybe there was something of interest buried in the mess. Crux hadn't seemed this interested at all during their whole journey thus far. Ashe used the light as best as he could, scanning over the fallen rock and rubble. Some gems were tiny, so he had to be careful here. And some ore was dull until cleaned... He shoveled some rock out of the way.
Santiago: 1 3/5 Ashe: 0 8/20 Inyala: 1 3/5 Crux: 1 3/5
Mining Post 8
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 2:56:56 GMT -6
Together, the three of them dug through the rubble. Inyala moved to hop down from his shoulder and help him out, but Ashe caught her and put her back there. Softly, he murmured to his familiar: "I don't want you to get hurt or stepped on. Keep an eagle eye out from your perch here, okay?" He had to let his emotion in through his voice and their connection, since she couldn't see his face to see how lovingly he might have said that. She wasn't too pleased with not being able to help, but she did as requested and scoured the rocks below.
Santiago was able to move the bigger stuff with ease, nosing them to the sides. If there was too big of a rock, that might be concealing something, Ashe came over with the shovel. He tried whacking it with the flat side, or stabbing it with the blade. Most of the time, it split and revealing nothing, not even ore. But there were a few stones Ashe found anyway that looked like they might be something, so he pocketed those. Better lighting and some careful chiseling might get reveal a treasure... or a smooth shiny rock rock.
Crux was scooting through all of this mess like a vulticus seeking out drugs. He nosed rocks here and there, completely ignored others. Ashe wishedh e could tell if Crux even knew what he was looking for. Hell, for all Ashe knew, Crux was out for himself and didn't even know what the game plan was. Ashe was relying on the possibility of him liking gems as much as Brazin did.
Santiago: 1 4/5 Ashe: 0 9/20 Inyala: 1 4/5 Crux: 1 4/5
Mining Post 9
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Post by Ashe on Oct 1, 2021 3:34:41 GMT -6
Time passed and they looked through all the loose rock, picking out anything possibly interesting. Ashe was just about to turn around and get working on the wall again when a shadow caught his eye. A shadow that didn't belong to any of his companions! Crux was accounted for, and Santiago was too big. Inyala was on his shoulder. But there had definitely been something that darted by, just out of his view, the corner of his eye... Ashe had whipped around quickly, the light flailing wildly as he sought out movement. He saw nothing at all. Inyala clung to his shirt, startled by his sudden wild movements. Try as he might, Ashe couldn't see anything.
Santiago was a little startled by Ashe's movements, and he scanned the area around them, thinking maybe there was a threat that he hadn't sensed nearby. He didn't feel or see anything, but then... "What is it?" He asked, continuing the search. Ashe's light blinding him and bouncing all over wasn't helping!
"I saw something. Something moved over there. I don't think we're alone, Santi." Saying those words sent a chill down Ashe's spine, but instead of fear, it was a thrill. There was something there! In here, with them! And he wanted to catch it. He wondered what kind of critters there were here in the Canyons. Surely not the same as in the city? But why not... the Mines creatures weren't lab made. He started walking in the direction of the movement he'd seen, and Santiago turned to follow his bonded human.
Santiago: 2 0/5 Ashe: 0 10/20 Inyala: 2 0/5 Crux: 2 0/5
Mining Post 10
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Post by Ashe on Oct 5, 2021 5:01:35 GMT -6
"I don't sense anything. Or smell anything." Santiago seemed undisturbed by Ashe's declaration. He glanced around casually, his tail swaying with his movements. He normally could feel if something was hiding in the shadows, or if there were eyes on him, but in this case he felt nothing. Ashe seemed a little twitchy now, so he resolved to keep his guard up, in case Ashe was on to something.
"Maybe I'm seeing things... I might just have Vai Min Mur on my mind... All the parties and activities I gotta do to prepare for it..." Ashe stared about him a few more seconds, using his light to the best of his ability. Nothing moved, just their own shadows and those of the rock piles around them, moving as Ashe moved his head around. Satisfied for now, he returned to digging through the rubble. Inyala turned around, eyes peering into the darkness. If Ashe thought there was something here, there very well might be something here. And she was going to make sure nothing was going to sneak up on him! She didn't know if she trusted Santiago's instincts well enough, for him to react in time.
Crux was oblivious to all of this and continued rooting around in the rubble, then resumed digging where he had been once before. He didn't bother with the concerns of the human, not that he understood them anyway. He preferred going for things he liked, things he wanted. And the human, so far, had tagged along. The company was fine, the more the merrier.
Santiago: 2 1/5 Ashe: 0 11/20 Inyala: 2 1/5 Crux: 2 1/5
Mining Post 11
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Post by Ashe on Oct 5, 2021 5:14:08 GMT -6
Ashe was eyeing Crux, thinking maybe a creature from the mines themselves might be the best indicator if there was something else afoot, when Santiago spoke up. Since Crux wasn't doing anything abnormal, just digging, Ashe swiftly turned his head to face Santiago - and accidentally blinded him! He hissed and flinched back, and Ashe quickly averted his light beam. "Sorry, sorry!" Ashe said, at the same time Santiago complained, "I can't see!"
Ashe held his position for as long as it took for Santiago to recover. The dragon snorted and shook his head, and Ashe knew he was blinking rapidly, spots dancing in front of his vision, beating in orange and green. Slowly fading. "So what is Vai'n Murr?" Santi asked Ashe, curious about the holiday he'd mentioned a few moments ago.
"Vai Min Mur," Ashe corrected, saying it slowly enough for him to fully grasp. "It's a holiday that takes place at the end of this month, technically, but a lot of people celebrate it all year long. It's a time for celebrating those that have passed, and a time when the veil separating us and them is at its thinnest." While he talked, he started digging at the wall with his pick again, so he wouldn't be tempted to turn around again. Inyala kept an eye out for any movements behind them, which also included watching the Draconic.
"Veil? What's that? Separating us and... them? Who them?" Santiago was a little concerned that there was something separating someone and it was getting thin! What happened if it... broke? Or went away?
Santiago: 2 2/5 Ashe: 0 12/20 Inyala: 2 2/5 Crux: 2 2/5
Mining Post 12
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Post by Ashe on Oct 6, 2021 14:01:56 GMT -6
"The veil is just a way of saying, whatever it is that separates the living from the dead. Ghosts. Spirits. Them. Some say Vai Min Mur is when it's the thinnest, like as if it was a barrier. And since it's thin, sometimes the spirits cross over and visit us, or people can leave offerings or contact loved ones. That kind of stuff." Ashe continued to work on the mine wall, Inyala keeping quiet but listening to this conversation. She knew Ashe loved this holiday most, even if she didn't understand the why herself. It was eerie, and she thought the ghosts and spirits of dead things should stay where they were. Too bad for her, she lived with Ashe, who tethered these spirits to bodies, and Jinx, who was trying to commune with these spirits...
None of this concerned Crux, so he continued digging away while they talked. In the silence that followed Ashe's explanation, and while Santiago took it all in, his claws scraping rock sounded extra loud.
Come to think of it, Ashe had never talked much to Santiago about what Dragons, as a society, did about their dead. Ceremonies, burials, cremation... He had no idea if ghosts and spirits made that much sense to him.
Santiago pondered all of this. "I have never thought of spirits coming back from the beyond," he said after a moment. "Once we cross over and ascend, that's it. Our ancestors may watch from above and help influence things, but to come back..." He was kind of hoping his people, who should be happy Beyond, weren't coming back to struggle on this plane.
Santiago: 2 3/5 Ashe: 0 13/20 Inyala: 2 3/5 Crux: 2 3/5
Mining Post 13
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Post by Ashe on Oct 6, 2021 14:10:05 GMT -6
Ashe felt like he should probably steer this conversation away from spirits of the dead. He got the feeling it was sacred, even more so than what humans did, and he didn't want to upset Santiago by suggesting anything that contradicted what he felt. Ashe didn't even know what a Draconic lifespan was like... He hoped they lived a long time, like even after Ashe himself passed. He was in his thirties - Santiago was much younger! Surely there were elderly or ancient Draconics around, though if there were, Ashe had never been lucky enough to meet them.
He broke a chunk of rock free and it fell to the ground at his feet. In this action, debris exploded outward, surely covering him and Inyala in a gray dust with the tiniest of rocks. He snorted and shook his head, trying to keep it out of his eyes and mouth. Inyala sneezed and dusted herself off. The mines was not a place to be if you valued your lungs! Unless you were a gargoyle like Crux, apparently, because he just kept going, widening the hole he was making.
"Besides spirits and stuff, there are plenty of creatures that roam. The nights are getting longer, the high level of activity and the festivities encourage things like demons and specters and poltergeists to come around. They gather around this building in the city - it's called the Mansion, and it's infused with magic."
"A magic building with demons!" Santiago said, sounding skeptical, but Ashe could feel his interest brewing.
"Yeah, and treasure. Sometimes special items and creatures can be found. pretty fun."
Santiago: 2 4/5 Ashe: 0 14/20 Inyala: 2 4/5 Crux: 2 4/5
Mining Post 14
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