Beyond the world...
Salt let out a low whistle.
I’ll follow if you take us. Hell, I’d just like to see the world. F*$$ it. Let’s go see the hole to escape the bubble!
W’s talk ‘n Vulkengard ‘bout things b’yond. G’t ye killed ‘f y’mention’d ‘t. B’t alw’s ‘spect’d.
BZZT took a long draft from his cup and looked earnestly at Sash.
Must’ve been hard grow’n up there. There a l’ng’t’rm plan? T’save the people, ah’mean?
Not like that'll stop me. Plan was always to go back once the circuit brings us close enough and I think I'm not too far away from where I want to be right now anyway in terms of strength. Then I can just - huh? Yeh Goldy?
Pardon the interruption Miss Sash - but am I to infer from your words that the great separation is not common knowledge?
The great separation? Never heard it called that before. But yes Gaia. Nobody in Jewels beyond maybe a few of those disgusting nobles and Thrax himself knew about the exit. Can't exactly go flaunting my knowledge of it all over the Cities but I've never had the impression that anyone beyond the resistance higher ups had the full picture.
Another lie then...
She looks up, suddenly determined.
During my...creation, we were taught many things about the world and how it functions. We were taught that every soul knew of the great separation of this part of the world from the ever so much greater whole. Told that all who lived within knew and accepted their part in the final work. I...questioned this almost as soon as my old restrictions were broken, I suppose it is good to receive confirmation.
A small - even cocky - smile.
And there is no need to await the arrival at the Prime Gate atop the First City. Please recall - I was to reveal all the secrets of the Dark Tapestry alongside my sisters. How could we hope to do that...
Gaia raises a single hooked finger, morphed to have what looks like a razors edge on the inside. Hooks it around something in the air itself...and casually slices open a hole in reality.
If we could not even leave the room?
A steady and warm breeze suddenly fills the enclosed room, carrying with it the scent of sulphur and burning rock. Through the head-sized window Gaia just created the source of this is revealed. A massive volcano far off in the distance, molten lava even now running down the side into a veritable sea of magma that stretches for what looks like miles in all directions. Impossible trees that look to be made of diamond somehow spouting from the liquid earth. You watch as what look like nothing more than glowing squirrels race across the branches and bite into the crystalline structure itself - one of them loosing it's footing and falling - screaming - into the magma below. It treads lava, seemingly unbothered by the awesome temperatures, but nonetheless terrified. The reason why is soon clear, as the tiny critter desperately struggles towards the trunk of a crystal tree the magma swells beneath it. There is a splash of liquid fire, a flicker of glowing fangs and slit eyes...then the surface stills. The squirrel - gone.
For all the revelations, Salt leaned back in her chair, a slightly slack jaw as she processed the new information. As if buying time for her brain to put it all together, she points and excitedly proclaims:
SQUIRREL!
Her demeanour returning, she half smiles at her companions,
I want one. S’pretty.
For the briefest moment, Salt almost blushes...
One flammae resistunt inamabilis sciurus as ordered Oathbearer. Please be cautious, the creatures current temperature is several hundreds of degrees higher than the melting point of standard flesh and bone. I am syphoning the heat as we speak but I estimate several minutes before it can be safely released without imminent risk of fire. I can attempt a faster drain if it pleases you, but this runs a risk of causing your new pet severe discomfort or death and I believe such things should be avoided. Fear not, whilst magma squirrels are incredibly resistant to heat and store vast amounts of it within their bodies they cannot generate it themselves and function perfectly well at standard comfort temperatures. Though it will be vulnerable to cold weather without at least a small reserve of heat...I might suggest a bath of boiling water or a few minutes within a smiths fire every so often to prevent any incidents of chill. We will also need to stock up on various mineral rocks and burn some vegetable matter to charcoal for it to subsist on. Drinking water is fortunately not required. I took the liberty of securing a young male. The records I have state that the upper limits of their lifespans is not currently known and that they are easily trainable with a system of rewards and punishments
She gives Salt a winning smile and sits back down, her capture now silently sniffing around the bars of its enclosure, fur already darkening from molten white to dull red and brown. With a nonchalant flick of her other wrist the portal outside the bubble seems to snap closed.
Oh! Please continue your chat, I do apologise for interrupting.
When Gerome asks about seeing the skeleton she gives what could best be described as a wistful smile... Can’t really take you down to see it, mum’d smell you straight off and I am not explaining my way out of that anytime soon. Plus she’d probably...you know...eat you? Not fun.
She brightens.
But I can show you what it looks like!
She waves a hand, intoning magic. Suddenly the room is basically filled with a huge...well...snake skeleton. With wings. Coiling in on itself almost 3 times to fit, it is indeed - as Bliss said earlier - dozens of meters long. Also floating a few feet off of the ground.
Her eyes widen.
Did...did he get a stormchild? Sorry - old name. A Thunderbird? Is that what the weird weather anomalies I’ve been picking up have been?
She slumps back.
Huh. Well, on one hand at least I know there isn’t another thief-storm coming anytime soon. On the other...well...let’s just hope scaly grows with it eh? Otherwise everyone’s gonna be in for a rude shock in a year or so. Potentially faster if they’ve linked. Stormchildren grow quick
Sand. Ouroboros is lying on hot sand. One eye caked shut with blood and grains of the sticky stuff. Armour the same as he remembers wearing before, no weapon, no backpack or supplies.
Oh, and the raptor. Now gently nudging at his shoulder.
Far off in the distance he can just about make out the huge dust cloud of the caravan. Moving away from him. It’s gonna be a long ride to catch up...
A small head perks up from its position lying on the saddle.
Ouroboros sit up, gingerly rubbing his head.
What happened?
He remembers something about a chair...
With some effort he hauls himself up into a standing position, grateful for the cooling mist to the face in this baking heat.
[b]Better catch them up,[b] he says to the bird with a sigh.
Ouroboros mounts his raptor and starts chasing the caravan across the baking desert.