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Post by Xentus on Apr 29, 2024 0:19:07 GMT -6
Current Quest:
> Xentus, accompanied by... The premise was simple. Find a nest, fetch an egg, return with it in one piece.
(I am doubtful it is that simple in reality), Astraea chimed in his mind, tone hollow and flat. Xentus pouted at the golem, sighing.
‘A little belief goes a long way, dear Astraea’, he responded, ‘Regardless, this venture should be fun’
A hopeful smile spread across the leopard’s muzzle, though his eyes read apprehension.
(Moreso dangerous), the golem stated as if to correct him. She had a point; a feral mother of any species was nothing to trifle with. Especially considering chiryma, which were social creatures, he could expect not just a single nesting mother, but an entire defensive flock. Getting an egg wouldn’t be easy… But instead of worrying about the details now, he’d much rather get to the locale first. The man cleared his throat unnecessarily and began leading the way, setting a course toward the river.
1[ Completed 0 times, Xentus knows Cartography ]
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 22:04:03 GMT -6
‘Anyway! This should be your first time beyond city limits’, he said, pivoting the conversation to a different focus, ‘I had been meaning to bring you someplace in the wilderness, for camping or some such’
Astraea thought silently about leaving the city. There was no attachment to this place, and yet, the uncertainty of the world beyond its gates struck her with unease. She sauntered after the man, keeping close to his flank.
(Wouldn’t a different companion of yours serve more useful for your protection, o’ bonded mine?), she pressed, trying to return to the previous topic.
‘Ah, but who says protection is needed? And if it were, Xentus trusts his life is safe with you, dear’, he responded with a warm smile.
The golem paused. If she couldn’t warn him away from potential danger, she would at least keep him safe. That she would do even if it came at the cost of her own life..
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 22:04:21 GMT -6
Any of her kin bonded to the man would easily do the same. Though… The thought gave her mild pause, as she considered the cost of self sacrifice. To be reborn as a seedling, deprived of her precious memories. Would she be deprived of her sense of self? Would she become someone new too? Had she already been someone before? These aspects frightened her. They often did when such questions crept into her mind, for she did not have the answers.
‘Fret not, Astraea dear. You know it only takes but a word and Basa can be summoned to our rescue!’, the man assured her, picking up on the unease in her mind. The pliathor was a reliable bodyguard. Too big to take on casual outings most of the time, but as long as there was space to summon him, it was a convenient trump card. Yet, if he had to resort to it, would it not mean she’d failed her duty to protect him? The golem would scoff if she could, but a mental version did get the point across.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 22:04:35 GMT -6
(I will defend you, o’ bonded mine)
The hollow voice chimed clear and steadfast in resolve. The golem caught up with the man as he began down his usual hiking trail to the river. It was a forested path that was traveled enough to wear the vegetation away from the dirt. If he was reading the map read right, the locale they were searching for was a few miles downstream following a tributary. The chiryma’s territory appeared to be restricted to a small section of forest nestled between an oxbow lake and the river itself. It looked easy to identify on the eagle-eye view of a map, but down the foot, it felt impossible to accurately tell exactly where they were. Even now, he wasn’t even sure if he’d reached the borders of the map. The sense of scale was hard to judge… That was just one of those things he’d need to feel for himself in person, once they’ve gotten close.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 22:04:49 GMT -6
There were a few signs for them to keep a lookout for that marked the path to the chiryma’s territory. The major one was a landmark - a rocky outcropping that jutted out over the river some 15 feet or so. The others were more flora-based. The growth of small fully white flowering plants would be one of the first they should see. Then a peculiar polypore that only grew on gray barked trees. Then finally, an ancient looking giant fern which only grew near the bird’s territory. Xentus presumed these may be food sources which prompted the chiryma to settle in the area. The information was relayed to the golem so that there would be an extra set of eyes (the golem equivalent) on the lookout.
‘I may not be of the most help, but I will do my best, bonded mine’, Astraea commented in an uncertain tone. The man didn’t expect her to be able to identify much more than the cliffs, though the point was that this would be a good exercise in learning and growing curiosity in her.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 22:05:13 GMT -6
Xentus smiled and began mentally rambling about the various plants they were passing by. He had some decent knowledge regarding botany and herb lore - a much needed skill when it came to gardening. Astraea had… Difficulty absorbing the information. On one hand, it felt important to know for it was knowledge passed to her from her beloved keeper. On the other, she felt little connection with nature on such a detailed level. Plants were plants, regardless of their form. Just as rocks were rocks. Only should they bear a threat to her one did it become worth notice.
‘Ah, and this’, the man rambled, pausing his travel to gesture to a leafy vine, ‘Is poison ivy. Not so poisonous to be lethal, but it gives many a nasty, irritating rash’
Suddenly, the golem’s interest was piqued. The glassy form pushed itself between the man and the plant defensively, inner core eyeing the unassuming leaves.
(No need to put yourself in danger for my sake), the hollow chime warned.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 22:05:44 GMT -6
‘Ah, such endearing protection’, Xentus said with a laugh, ‘Worry not, dear Astraea. If not touched or eaten, most flora poses little threat to one’s well being’
The golem seemed to relax, if only slightly. She seemed ever more keen to guard his flank nearest the threatening leaves of plants.
(The animate are far easier to assess… Plants tell no warnings)
A valid point. Xentus considered the notion as the pair walked on.
‘I suppose you would be correct’
Only through trial and error did any record come to be made regarding the range of deadliness in flora. He was not keen on testing any unknowns.
About a mile into their journey did they reach a mark that confirmed their position on the map. The river split. The main body carried on eastward, while a tributary veered off to the west.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 23:57:47 GMT -6
They were starting to get somewhere. Based on the map, the locale was still miles downstream from where the tributary split. Xentus paused to examine the map a little more closely, gauging a sense of scale. A quiet “Oh” escaped the man’s muzzle.
(Is something amiss?) the golem prodded immediately, eyeing her keeper.
‘Well. It seems there was a slight ah… Misinterpretation of scale’, the man began to explain, audibly sighing, ‘Our destination is about 30 miles downstream’
Astraea didn’t have the best perception of distance, but judging by the leopard’s tone, it was far. ‘Good thing Xentus knows how to make a makeshift shelter…’, he added quietly before continuing his walk, ‘We’ll continue till late afternoon before setting up camp’
(Very well)
It wasn’t in the plans to spend more than just a day on this venture. He was ill prepared, no extra food nor camping supplies. Then there was the trek back to consider, while likely being hunted by an angry flock of birds.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 23:58:07 GMT -6
The morning hike was spent with chatter between the duo regarding local flora. Astraea did her best to retain the information, though her capacity for so much information at once was low. She was a creature who acted based on feeling! Long-term knowledge was harder. Still, for him, she tried.
‘Time to get camp going. We’ve made good progress, Astraea’, the man stated confidently, ‘Help gather wide leaves and straight sticks. We will camp just beside the riverbank’
Between gathering foliage, setting up camp, and fishing with a sharpened stick, the rest of the day passed into night faster than expected. The song of the wilderness filled the air, accompanying the twinkling sky above. Xentus relished in the opportunity to bask under the starlight. Astraea thought little of it and only kept alert for danger between eyeing the leopard. ‘Not what I had planned, but isn’t it wonderful out here, Astraea?’, the man asked, glancing at his companion. The golem tilted her head slightly so that a pore faced the sky. It was a vast, haunting, beautiful sight.
(... I suppose so, o’ bonded mine)
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 23:58:28 GMT -6
As dawn began to creep over the land, the duo stirred from their sleep and resumed their journey. ‘From here, it should be another 10 miles or so’, the man informed the golem as he read the map, ‘A good 5 hours of hiking and we’ll be within the chiryma’s territory’
The prospect made Astraea uneasy. The dangers that lay ahead were not to be taken so lightly. Yet here Xentus was, seemingly excited about this even now. (Let us be swift), her reply came solemnly.
--
(Xentus. Look here), the voice chimed in his mind suddenly during their long, quiet walk. The golem skulked to a small patch of white flowers growing in the litter.
‘Ah! Ghost flowers!’, Xentus chimed both in mind and aloud, rushing over to examine the plants. His excitement made her feel oddly accomplished for spotting the strange plant among the foliage. Granted, white wasn’t the most camouflage color.
‘They’re white since they don’t need sunlight. These are parasites…’, the man explained and continued to ramble about the flowers. (It is but the first sign. We must continue), the golem interrupted the rambling after a minute of enduring it. The leopard sheepishly apologized and resumed their journey.
That feeling of making progress fueled the expedition. Xentus seemed a bit more attentive about the various plants that grew in the area. There was still a polypore and giant ferns to keep watch for. Then tracks and signs of giant bird activity.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 23:58:48 GMT -6
The sun steadily climbed in the sky as the pair hiked on. Occasionally Xentus would stop to drink from the river or pick berries to stay energized. Astraea needed no real food, the elements all around were plenty nourishing. Such was a nice perk about golems. The man imagined briefly if he should bring a wiurn or the fluffy pliathor out here and the amount of food they’d need if not fed heartily the night prior. His companion seemed more understanding of his choice in her, even if slightly.
In the distance, the peak of a rocky outcropping became visible. It marked the furthest edge of chiryma territory. They were getting close, and excitement steadily rose within the man.
‘Keep a lookout for those polypores, Astraea. They should look like little shelves on trees’, Xentus advised, excitement in his internal voice. The golem hummed a mental affirmative and opened her shell-jaws to take in more of the surrounding terrain.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 23:59:05 GMT -6
Xentus was the first to sight a cluster of shelf fungi, just after passing the tall rocky outcropping. He did his best to contain his excitement and spared the golem from another tangent regarding the polypores. Instead, he rambled about tracking down the chiryma nest. The signs, sounds, and smells of giant birds, from feathers, to their rasping cry, to droppings. Astraea endured this, as there was much to be gleaned about her potential combatants. The chatter about tracking soon pivoted to strategies on how to wrest an egg free of the nest.
‘We could await nightfall and go about this stealthily. Or wait until most flock members go foraging…’, the man listed their options. He avoided the idea of facing the birds head-on - they’d not take such a risk if it could be avoided.
(I could distract them should we gain their ire, and you take that chance to snatch the egg), Astraea offered. It wasn’t a bad idea.
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Post by Xentus on May 2, 2024 23:59:31 GMT -6
Astraea could withstand the birds fine on her own if they were attacked - it might even be one of the best options for her to draw their enmity. Then, with a shield of lightning she’d be able to stay defended. There was no way they’d crack her shell, though the possibility was very real, and very concerning.
‘Perhaps as our last option, dear Astraea. Let us be too eager for risks’, he said to her with a taunting tone. The golem visibly bristled at the jest, in part due to embarrassment. (... Very well)
--
The growth of giant ferns was the last sign, and the forest soon grew thick with them. And as per the map, it looked like they should be well within the chiryma’s territory. Both golem and leopard were on high alert, searching for direct signs of their target.
‘Damaged ferns… And old tracks here’, Xentus muttered mentally, examining the ground closely. The litter was lightly stamped into the dry ground, seeming to lead either toward or away from the river. It was hard to tell, but one thing was for certain: they were getting very close. He wagered that the river acted as the bird’s water supply. Now, just to find a more recent trail… ‘The center of chiryma territory should be a bit further onward’, he advised, eagerly pushing forward.
(What is the plan?)
The words stopped him. There wasn’t anything in particular he’d settled on, but waiting for the birds to forage seemed the safest route.
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Post by Xentus on May 3, 2024 0:08:49 GMT -6
If they were lucky, they might even happen upon the flock while they were out for food or drink! An outcome which Xentus wasn’t sure he’d prefer or not. Getting sights on the birds was one thing, getting to the mother’s nest was another. It would be a good chance to follow them, and an equally good chance to be found. Prey animals were very aware of their surroundings.
‘Let’s see if we can’t catch them foraging’, Xentus responded after some contemplation and further surveying, ‘Ah! I believe this is a foraging trail’
There was a distinct pattern of wear on the ground and a space where foliage failed to grow due to frequent disturbance. The odd thing was, it was barely there. A flock of giant birds would’ve made something more substantial, he thought. Odd.
He carefully followed along the trail, hopeful to find signs of recent use. It didn’t take long to find bits of down caught on errant twigs.
‘We must be close Astr--’
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Post by Xentus on May 3, 2024 0:20:30 GMT -6
The sound of a branch snapping made the man freeze - even mentally. It wasn’t just that, however. The down was dark brown. The chiryma he’d had in mind this whole time were the first version with fluffy orange feathers. The empathetic prey animals that grouped up in a massive flock. This was the down of the predatory version two chiryma - a creature which used it’s innate sense of creatures about them to hunt.
The good news was that they had much smaller flocks, and could even be solitary. The bad news was that they were being hunted.
(Xentus! Get back!)
Astraea keyed in on the stalking bird and rushed to station herself between it and her keeper. As she did so, the massive animal came running at them, unleashing a chilling screech. Glassy energy poured from Astraea’s vents, forming an elemental spike ready to strike. As the chiryma rushed in, the spike fired out. It missed its mark however. The bird leapt into the air, eyes set on the blue leopard.
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