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Post by Èdan on Jul 22, 2022 7:39:47 GMT -6
And not even really a container at that, as the shards prove to be more a cluster than any hollow or similar shape able to contain anything. It strikes him for a moment that perhaps this could be a precious stone of sorts, a ruby or similar.. But even his limited knowledge on geology is enough to determine that the colour’s not quite matching to anything quite so precious.
Even so, one can never know when such things can come of use, whether truly worth any price or simply as carnival trinkets.
The manticore has managed to chase the wisp far enough as to lose its interest, but it doesn’t stop the beast from inspecting a suspiciously mobile stone in its previous location. Large paws swat at it with deceptive lightness, sending it rolling as the knight merely calls from over the shoulder, “Don’t eat it. It will give you indigestion.” Probably.
. 150 . (added) Irascor: 30 (0/5) July: 20 Maredian
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Post by Silver on Jul 31, 2022 23:56:15 GMT -6
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Post by Èdan on Jun 27, 2023 3:43:01 GMT -6
Even if it doesn't, there's value in learning that not quite everything is meant to be touched, hit or eaten. And considering the stone seems to lumber on its own accord, it presents a rather off conundrum of whether it's simply animated or actually living. (Which is something he can assign to pretty much anything in the Manor).
A sudden pop and a flash causes a pieces of the ruby crystal to sparkle brightly for a fraction of a second, before sizzling out, smoke idly drifting after. The knight's head turned immediately to the sound, dropping the rest of the cluster in reflex, though it seems the effect was only on a small piece - the rest of the cluster looked perfectly fine, if not now a little more sandy than it began as. The scent in the air is decidedly sulphurous (Unpleasant by most opinions, but there's worse scents of things burning, so in that sense a welcoming one).
. 151 . Irascor: 30 (1/5) June: 1 Firefly Festival
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Post by Èdan on Jun 27, 2023 3:48:31 GMT -6
Distantly, the sounds of things popping and sizzling begin to quietly echo, as if there's some great celebration nearby. Perhaps there is, perhaps they've ventured close enough to whatever constitutes as the border of the manor that they can hear a piece of the outside world through the proverbial looking glass. A comfort, to be sure, meaning they're on the right track, but ultimately not close enough to be relief just yet.. After all, hints of escape are not quite the same as the actual act of it.
The knight stands, dusting off the glove against the tabard, head slowly turning to pinpoint the sounds better. There's not much luck of that with the helmet on, alas (And it's not like he'll risk removing it again here of all places). A louder whack just behind makes him turn around, catching the last stages of a large claws paw moving through the air, while a stone scuttles and rolls across the sands haphazardly.
. 152 . Irascor: 30 (2/5) June: 2 Firefly Festival
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Post by Èdan on Jun 27, 2023 3:57:07 GMT -6
The helmeted head tilted slowly as it looked up to the manticore, the hints of annoyance not entirely subtle. "I said to leave it," he grumbles, and while the beast has the good sense to give a short deep grumble and take a step back, there's little other indication that it would not do that again. The unspoken sense between them still being a bit too fresh and raw to allow proper communication (Nevermind it's taking not an inconsiderate amount of effort to suppress the sheer red-hot energy of the thing's natural ire from spilling over into his own mind again).
The rock, in the meanwhile, rolls off towards the side, clatters into some objects against the cave wall, and unfurls itself into a slightly dizzier form of living rock. The items next to it shudder, sway, and eventually begin a cascade fall one after another, some pulling others along with them.
. 153 . Irascor: 30 (3/5) June: 3 Firefly Festival
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Post by Èdan on Jun 27, 2023 4:03:46 GMT -6
Among them, a serpentine statue that tumbles down from the boxes it had been on, and the only reason it doesn't end up as several pieces on the ground is because the floor is made up of soft, loose sand. The knight hadn't paid too much attention to it before, but once it hits the ground something does dislodge from it that causes him to lock onto it immediately - a crystal shard.
Now, unlike the ruby-esque cluster from before, this shard is colourless, and there's a distinctive glow accompanied by a subtle hum of power. He'd seen these before, in particular when similarly a pot had broken and spilled its contents on the floor that first wayward visit to the manor. He'd researched them not long after to know they were arcane 'keys' of a sort, largely used in the process of channelling magic. These... had value. Not quite as much as some of the other, more colourful ones, but certainly a find to not turn away.
. 154 . Irascor: 30 (4/5) June: 4 Firefly Festival
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Post by Èdan on Jun 27, 2023 4:08:36 GMT -6
And delicate, as well, if some of the other stories were to be believed. Carefully, the knight picks up the shard, finding a scrap of cloth from among the other items to wrap it in. Ultimately it might not do much, considering it gets placed into the dimensional safety of the pouch, but one can never be too careful with magic (Particularly if it begins to behave oddly and out of place). Before standing, he notices something else silvery among the items scattered by the crash, including a silvery necklace. Perhaps not as worthy as the crystal, but there's always a market for trinkets somewhere (Especially if someone's really good at making them sound enticing).
The manticore's attentions have since fixed on the sounds of sparkles happening somewhere beyond the cave, which is a small favour for him - a bored beast is likely to be an unruly one, even if it would have little trouble finding something, item or otherwise, to take its annoyance out on.
. 155 . Irascor: 31 (0/5) June: 5 Firefly Festival
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Post by Silver on Jul 4, 2023 22:32:19 GMT -6
A bright green firefly floats by as if it doesn't have a care in the world.
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Post by Èdan on Jul 9, 2023 11:15:33 GMT -6
The beast rumbles back at the noise in low tones, unsure what it is and unwilling to take any chances against it. The spikes on its neck and tail twitch and shudder, but it can do little else against something it cant see. A wonderful metaphor for vision based memory aside, this could turn into a problem in the long run - a creature that doesn't know how to react can do so very unexpectedly, and the man certainly doesn't have enough sway over it just yet to make sure it behaves up to standard. Yes, he could flash some emotion at it, to perhaps throw it off track or settle it down, but it's something he's only learned about within the last few hours. How effective it ultimately ends up being, if at all, is pure theory.
So he keeps a close, wary eye on it, in case it decides to make sudden movements, or rush into areas where it really shouldn't be alone.
. 156 . Irascor: 31 (1/5) July: 1 Maredian
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Post by Èdan on Jul 9, 2023 11:20:21 GMT -6
In some sense because anything it runs into is not likely to make out of the manor alive (And if its another fellow wanderer, then that's generally considered poor form). But in much greater extent because the beast really shouldn't exist just yet, as far as the rest of the world is concerned. It would take a lot of creative word-weaving to explain it away to any witnesses (Not leaving any also being considered fairly poor form).
The hand checks and adjusts the bracer on the wrist in assurance, at least still leaving the option open of simply bamfing the beast back to his side should it wander too far. For anything else, damage and otherwise, well.. There's only so much he can do.
The knight rises to his feet, dusting off the tabard (For all the good it will do) and surveys the rest of the cave. With the cache aspect sorted, there's little else for them to find here, so it's best to press forward.
. 157 . Irascor: 31 (2/5) July: 2 Maredian
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Post by Èdan on Jul 9, 2023 11:33:50 GMT -6
Just as suddenly as it had begun, the crackling in the distance dies down even before the man and beast are able to enter the tunnel. It's not the lack of sound that causes him to pause, however, but a flicker of something.. green, further down. He holds up a hand, the beast pushing into it but stopping with another deep growl starting to build as it too seems to notice it. "Shh," the knight hisses at it, not that it does any good. He might be able to keep that volatility in somewhat check, but it does little to give basic commands the manticore has no real understanding of.
A couple of second pass as the light seems to be moving, eventually coming around the wall with a faint buzzing - a firefly. And by 'faint' the sound looking to come through a thicker layer of.. something else, making it sound almost muted.
. 158 . Irascor: 31 (3/5) July: 3 Maredian
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Post by Èdan on Jul 9, 2023 11:37:55 GMT -6
This seems to fit with the overall sense he's been having for a while now, of how the very gravity is a little off as well. He can still stand, and move, and walk, but everything around or on him seems to be that slight bit dragged behind. Not unlike...
Well, not unlike being underwater. Except neither him nor the beast are presently drowning, which is a nice change of pace. The beast pushes against the hand, intent on going after the firefly in a hungry fashion, but the knight keeps the hold firm. "No," he rumbles at it, turning to look up at the snarling face fixed on the tiny creature. "Stay!"
It doesn't want to. He can tell and feel that as clear as day, because that annoyance, that hunger, that aggression is barely filtered through to his own mind, even as he does his best to block it out. But the reverse is also true - that resolve, that 'no' resounds back stronger in the beast's, and it snarls, but steps back.
. 159 . Irascor: 31 (4/5) July: 4 Maredian
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Post by Èdan on Jul 9, 2023 11:42:39 GMT -6
A slight improvement to the situation, though a thin one. (It does no good training out all that aggression, but just enough to make it manageable. There's little point in having a nuclear option if its not appropriately armed, after all). The knight steps forward, watching the beast intently, but raised arm or not, it remains put, almost huffing over it. "Good," he eventually intones, and chances to turn his attention back to their little 'guest'.
It turns out the firefly isn't the only nearby resident, as some sort of black-ish fish floats through the air shortly after he turns the corner. It doesn't seem to garner as much attention with the beast as the other one (Likely due to the noise), so the knight plucks the firefly out of the air and takes a few more steps to see where the tunnel leads. There's light ahead.. some greenery that looks suspiciously like kelp, and bright rocks he's able to recall as coral, all within a small cenote like opening in the cavern.
. 160 . (added) Irascor: 32 (0/5) July: 5 Maredian
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Post by Silver on Jul 17, 2023 2:57:47 GMT -6
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