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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 1:02:43 GMT -6
> Xentus, accompanied by...
After months of research, bonding, and fusing, it had finally been created. A glass golem. The bright white seedling was a marvel to the leopard. A third generation creature, borne of fire, earth, and wind. The seedling was placed atop his desk, mammalian sat before it so that he could study it. But really, all he could for for the moment was marvel in wonder. The milky white seed within the carapace seemed to stare back at him in return. A clawed hand gingerly reached out to touch the stony surface of the creature. It seemed to lean into his touch, enjoying the gentle caress as only it could. To think, Neptune and Saturn gave up their forms just the previous day to create this new being. While he did feel as if he lost a pair of wonderful golem companions, their new combined form filled the space which they left.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 1:09:04 GMT -6
The glass seed grew in.. Well, he wasn't sure exactly. It was difficult to think exactly what 'element' this creature was. Glass wasn't one that many would think of to associate with an element. He offered it whatever he could. Glass shards, diamond fragments, light, flowing air, and even (and tentatively) a flame and electric current. Which of these things caused it to mature into a seedling was a mystery. Perhaps it only needed his very presence to grow. Its predecessors enjoyed bonding with him, and this one clearly was no exception. The seedling's tentacles reached up to coil around one of his fingers, its touch as gentle as his own. A soft smile was plastered on his face as he continued to ponder upon the creature before him. His plans for the golem were only to grow it into a great companion. Certainly it would be the envy of many, but attention was not his goal.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 3:32:54 GMT -6
The leopard simply wanted a companion to take a new kind of pride in. It brought him a sense of accomplishment, knowing the work it took to get to this point. Most of the beasts in his keep granted some feel of pride. For their looks, for their prowess. The ones of his own creation, of course, were ones to cherish. As were the ones of more unique flavor. Mashiik came to mind in particular, the alurook of golden plumage who seemed to be one of a kind among giant owls. Astaroth, who he had guardianship over, was one of few male talkesh. Not quite one Xentus would deem as in his menagerie, but among his headcount nonetheless. But in that viewpoint, he was something of a collector of oddities. He didn't think it anything bad, but it did play against his humble nature. Ah, well. Even the he had his flaws.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 4:56:53 GMT -6
Xentus hummed and tapped on the seedling's shell, prompting it to then clatter in return. It was a somewhat lively one, thought these creatures did seem to grow ever more personable through the generations. Thinking of which, this one was still in need of a name. Its predecessors were named after archaic gods. It didn't seem as fitting for the glass seedling to follow in the same vein. Something short, he thought, would suit it well. Feminine? Masculine? He couldn't decide which to lean toward. The leopard's brow furrowed as names drifted through his thoughts, though no single one in particular was one he felt to settle on.
"This one shall name you..", he started, still deep in thought, "Astraea." Another archaic god, as it would be. The star maiden, goddess of innocence. A title that this little one would likely not rise to, but still, with hope, grow to be in the footsteps of.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 17:35:45 GMT -6
The name was oddly close to Astroth's, he realized once he said it aloud. It didn't bother him; he even wondered what the talkesh might think of the little golem. Perhaps he could have the two meet at some point. His musings brought a thin smile to his muzzle. Ah, now that Astraea was named, the possibilities of what to do with her expanded. Her.. Yes, he supposed the normally genderless golem could be appointed with an assumed gender. It only felt right.
"What shall we do together, Astraea?", he asked the golem gently, rubbing its shell in wonder. The creature's inner seed only stared back at him, seeming somewhat down that it couldn't answer such a question. As with all of the other golems he had in his care, they sought to serve him by any means which they could. Astraea was no different. Yet, some part of him wanted to see if he could somehow break this.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 17:43:02 GMT -6
The clawed hand retracted from the seedling's carapace, moving to a handle of a desk drawer. The contents revealed within were mostly papers; sketches and diagrams from the leopard's research. But tucked away in the far reaches were a pair of items. A twisted ring of cherry red and a silvery shimmering ribbon. Recent purchases from that sales cart. The ring, as it would be, was an item which would supposedly raise a mundane beast to one of free thinking. The consequence of which was a newfound sense of individualism, and thus the capacity to decide the company of an 'owner' was no longer needed. Now, what would such a thing do on a nearly robotic being who only knew love for its bonded one and no more? His curiosity was taunting him. The leopard fingered the ring, eyes studying the seedling. To thrust the ring into this young, immature golem was a desire very strong.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 17:51:35 GMT -6
The golem, in turn, wanted almost nothing more than this ring. It felt what its master desired. It acted upon it. In its current state, of course, this action was very limited. Its tentacle arms reached toward the ring, inner seed seeming to study it intently. But this was all it could manage. Xentus teased the desires of both himself and the golem, holding the object just out of the creature's reach. Part of him felt a madness to plant the ring deep into the inner seed, to have it wrap around the golem's core where it would remain forever. But, part of him also felt restraint. The creature was young. He'd not have more than a toddler should the ring be given now. A deep sigh escaped him. The ring would wait until later. Perhaps once the creature was more mobile would be grant it the gift of free thought.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 17:56:44 GMT -6
Back into the drawer the ring went. The ribbon, on the other hand.. Well, he supposed it would be interesting to know how the golem thought, even in this immature state. The main dilemma with this was figuring out how to tie it on exactly. The silvery ribbon was taken and held up near the golem, a thoughtful hum sounding from the leopard's throat. The carapace was the only truly solid part of the creature. Its tentacles were both solid, yet not. The malleable appendages probably couldn't hold the ribbon for too long. Yet it also seemed awkward to rope the ribbon through one of the pores on its shell. But, he supposed he had little option. Astraea's arms reached to the ribbon now, responding to the leopard's new desire to gift the object to her. It was indiscriminate about whatever was offered to it, as long as it was what its master wanted.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 18:08:09 GMT -6
A clawed finger tapped on that hardened shell, silently prompting the golem to part its segments. At first, Astraea responded with a clatter, mimicking the taps. But then, the claw jammed into the seam, gently forcing a segment to open up further. This action was met with no resistance or retaliation. The seedling yielded. Now, it was at this point that the leopard wasn't certain on how effective the ribbon would be if wrapped around the carapace. As he understood it, the seed within was the control center. The brain, the heart, the eyes.. But it wasn't like he could just wrap the ribbon around the gel-like seed. A frown curled his lip down ever so slightly. No, the carapace would have to do. He didn't want to somehow injure the seedling. He threaded the silver ribbon through the 'eye' pore once. Twice. And thrice, for good measure. It seemed a little odd, but it would do.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 18:15:35 GMT -6
The fabric was tied off, and then the excess cut. The remainder would be for his own use. He'd already started amassing a collection of these ribbons for his person. When in use, they found their home on his left arm. Basantai was the most recent to have a telepathic bond with him, an experience which was an interesting one. The giant always had some mess of thoughts floating about its mind. This was in stark contrast to the young tat-lung, who's mind was almost always clear. The vulticus in his ownership was somewhere between. Judging by this trend, he expected the golem to always speak its mind, unfiltered and simple. Especially in this immature state. No matter, the leopard was interested in probing its mind and sharing thoughts. He tied a knot into his own length of ribbon, in a fashion that was adjustable and easily removable. And then, he put it on.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 18:56:27 GMT -6
To be honest, he wasn't sure what would be met with once he connected his end of their telepathic link. A constant stream of thoughts was one idea. But complete silence was another. And what he heard was.. What he thought silence at first. He was neither disappointed nor impressed by this first impression. But while sitting in what seemed like silence a moment longer, he noticed a quiet, hollowed tone. It wasn't quite a voice, there were no words. But it wasn't somehow a hum or song. He likened it to tinnitus, that dull heard-but-not tone in the ears after exposure to loud sound. It was somehow more pleasant. Xentus listened to it for a while longer, curious to see if he could hone in on any particular thought from the quiet noise. The leopard and seedling settled on a staring contest, as it would seem from an outside observer.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 19:43:32 GMT -6
Before passing any word to the seedling, he wanted to test how its thoughts might react to his will. That might stir something to give him more information. He briefly mulled on a desire to pass to the creature, then settled on having it simply open its shell again. It was.. Oddly difficult to actively desire something without passing it directly through thought. He did his best to remain mute to the golem as to not skew performance, keeping to himself the want, the need, the desire for it to part its segments. The leopard looked increasingly focused on the seedling, a gentle fingertip tracing along a seam. Astraea's hollowed thought-tone increased in volume, seeming to resonate with something. Resonating with his will. At no point was a clear inadvertently thought passed to him. No word, no interpretation of a word. Just this odd hum of a noise which he only felt in the back of his mind.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 21:59:10 GMT -6
The strange sensation did leave him puzzled. Was this the creature's form of thought? No matter how dull an animal, it still has a way of setting itself into motion. Though, he supposed the golem wasn't exactly a conventional animal. Its form of life was unique from any other. And as such, its way of thinking stood alone. The hollow hum grew louder, the sound beginning to remind him of a moistened finger on a crystal glass rim. He silently encouraged the creature to open, and with a few more passing moments, the shell began to split along the seal. A gently murmured praise escaped the leopard's lips. And in response, the hollow note became a resounding chime. It was almost surprising to hear, but the mammalian did his best to keep his wits about him. It was fascinating to experience. As his hand rubbed along the creature's shell, the tone shifted and grew louder, completely in tandem with the creature's movements.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 22:12:54 GMT -6
It pressed itself into his touch, the tone resounding in his mind almost seeming longing. He didn't want to mentally speak to the creature, for fear of ruining the chime he heard. Alas, curiosity did get the better of him in this case. He wanted to know how it would react to his mental voice. The clawed hand withdrew and the mutual staring contest began once again. Now, what to say..
[Greetings, little one], the thought passed from his mind into the golem's. A short, simple greeting. Much to his surprise, there was no immediate surprise or confusion sent in response. The dense nature of the creature didn't lead well into it understanding his intrusive words as foreign, perhaps. Or, the bond they shared allowed the creature to surpass any kind of surprise. No matter the case, the golem's hollow tone grew in volume, ocelating in a strange way that.. Almost sounded like a word.
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Post by Xentus on Oct 28, 2020 22:54:28 GMT -6
It was almost like trying to parse out words when listening to a recording played in reverse. The leopard's brow furrowed as he tried to play the sound back in his mind, trying to figure what the golem said. If it said anything at all, that is. It was completely possible that the strange creature had no real distinct thoughts, that these hollow tones were the closest he got to hear to what it thought. Trying to make something out of a possible nothing, the leopard settled on the the noise sounding like 'master'. It wouldn't be too far off from how Basantai referred to him, and the pliathor had an affliction which was parallel to the golem's. Xentus.. Wasn't sure what to even make of it. Remembering back on his lessons learned with the other golems, he did know that they best responded to short simple phrases. Paired with his will for direction, there was a crude level of understanding which these creatures held.
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