05-18-2015, 10:08 AM
Nealaphh, the shadow, vessel of the god-mind, stepped through the gate into the Ashen Steppes from the blank white canvas of the Nexus. Immediately it was overcome with an oppressive heat from the myriad lava flows and gas vents. While this did not inherently bother Nealaphh, there was no doubting that it was a clear indicator of an ambient level of danger. Nealaphh was not entirely sure how to feel about this. It had already been attacked once since being dragged into this damnable Omniverse, and that was just from the misguided delusions of a couple mortals. This place of explosive change felt more...real. This was comforting to Nealaphh to a certain degree, since in the Nexus it had felt very disconnected from any sort of universal energy or space. The air here was almost...thick. Besides, even if Nealaphh would perish here, it would just be resurrected at The Smiling One's behest. Fear was unnecessary, so Nealaphh began to stride off into the wastes, black cloak dragging a smooth trail through the glittering volcanic dust underfoot.
It was a while before Nealaphh ever came across anything especially remarkable. But after wandering around for...some time, it had happened upon something truly spectacular. Here was a cliff, made out of shining obsidian and other volcanic glass, that had a constant surge of lava pouring over its edge. The incandescent deluge fell down into a deep pit, where the molten rock and metal frothed angrily. Bright colors refracted through the obsidian, and despite the naturally darkened sky, it was quite a fascinating light display. Nealaphh spent the next four hours staring at this geologic display before suddenly being prodded in the back by a sharp point. The shadow turned around slowly to behold a small...thing...pointing a small spear at it. The creature had a yellow beak, a red carapace of some kind and large, rubbery foot...protectors around its feet. Its large white eyes were scrunched up in an emotion that Nealaphh believed to be called aggression. The shadow decided to name this entity 'Soot Walker'. The Soot Walker spoke.
"You there! You walk upon the dominion of The Koopa King, his Most Magnificent Maleficence, Bowser! You will come back with me to Koopa Camp seventy-eight, where you will be..." the Soot Walker said in a shrill, grating tone. It wasn't as if the Soot Walker had stopped talking; Nealaphh had just stopped listening. While it registered that the Soot Walker was still making noises, Nealaphh was more preoccupied with its own thoughts. It was fascinating that, despite the being's facial structure, it was able to pronounce such flexible sounds. Perhaps there was some special pliability to the creature's pallet that allowed it to make such sounds? Nealaphh would have to see.
"Wha-Whoa! Wait! Put me down! I'll- Gawwhh!" the Soot Walker shouted as it rose into the air. Nealaphh mentally pulled the creature's mouth open and rotated it upside down so that it could peer inside the creature's mouth. The Soot Walker continued to make strained sounds of protest, but there was very little it could do. Nealaphh discovered that, despite the creature's forward most beak retained a rigid, piercing edge, it's lower jaw was highly flexible. While this might naturally reduce the Soot Walker's ability to naturally defend itself with a bite, it would facilitate communication for development of a social structure. This was evidenced by its use of manufactured weaponry. Fascinating.
Finished with its examination of the Soot Walker, Nealaphh carelessly tossed the creature aside, where it retreated into its shell and skidded on its back for several yards, stopping just a foot from the edge of the frothing lava pool. As Nealaphh began to walk away, the Soot Walker poked its head back out from its shell and shouted angrily at the shadow.
"You'll regret this! Mark my words!" it shouted. Nealaphh paused in its exit and turned slowly to face the Soot Walker.
Regret would indicate that I possess a sense of what you mortals call 'responsibility', which I can assure you I-
Nealaphh was cut off in its telepathic rebuttal as it suddenly found itself hoisted high into the air. It blinked once and looked around, trying to assess what had just happened. It seemed to be in the grasp of some sort of gigantic beast, red in color, with a soft underbelly and hardened, scaly hide. Spines ran down its dorsal region, and two large wings sprouted from shoulder joints. Nealaphh could only assume that it was now in immediate danger, but wanted to see where the beast intended on taking it, so for the moment, the god-mind just decided to go limp and let itself be carried off to new areas of interest...
It was a while before Nealaphh ever came across anything especially remarkable. But after wandering around for...some time, it had happened upon something truly spectacular. Here was a cliff, made out of shining obsidian and other volcanic glass, that had a constant surge of lava pouring over its edge. The incandescent deluge fell down into a deep pit, where the molten rock and metal frothed angrily. Bright colors refracted through the obsidian, and despite the naturally darkened sky, it was quite a fascinating light display. Nealaphh spent the next four hours staring at this geologic display before suddenly being prodded in the back by a sharp point. The shadow turned around slowly to behold a small...thing...pointing a small spear at it. The creature had a yellow beak, a red carapace of some kind and large, rubbery foot...protectors around its feet. Its large white eyes were scrunched up in an emotion that Nealaphh believed to be called aggression. The shadow decided to name this entity 'Soot Walker'. The Soot Walker spoke.
"You there! You walk upon the dominion of The Koopa King, his Most Magnificent Maleficence, Bowser! You will come back with me to Koopa Camp seventy-eight, where you will be..." the Soot Walker said in a shrill, grating tone. It wasn't as if the Soot Walker had stopped talking; Nealaphh had just stopped listening. While it registered that the Soot Walker was still making noises, Nealaphh was more preoccupied with its own thoughts. It was fascinating that, despite the being's facial structure, it was able to pronounce such flexible sounds. Perhaps there was some special pliability to the creature's pallet that allowed it to make such sounds? Nealaphh would have to see.
"Wha-Whoa! Wait! Put me down! I'll- Gawwhh!" the Soot Walker shouted as it rose into the air. Nealaphh mentally pulled the creature's mouth open and rotated it upside down so that it could peer inside the creature's mouth. The Soot Walker continued to make strained sounds of protest, but there was very little it could do. Nealaphh discovered that, despite the creature's forward most beak retained a rigid, piercing edge, it's lower jaw was highly flexible. While this might naturally reduce the Soot Walker's ability to naturally defend itself with a bite, it would facilitate communication for development of a social structure. This was evidenced by its use of manufactured weaponry. Fascinating.
Finished with its examination of the Soot Walker, Nealaphh carelessly tossed the creature aside, where it retreated into its shell and skidded on its back for several yards, stopping just a foot from the edge of the frothing lava pool. As Nealaphh began to walk away, the Soot Walker poked its head back out from its shell and shouted angrily at the shadow.
"You'll regret this! Mark my words!" it shouted. Nealaphh paused in its exit and turned slowly to face the Soot Walker.
Regret would indicate that I possess a sense of what you mortals call 'responsibility', which I can assure you I-
Nealaphh was cut off in its telepathic rebuttal as it suddenly found itself hoisted high into the air. It blinked once and looked around, trying to assess what had just happened. It seemed to be in the grasp of some sort of gigantic beast, red in color, with a soft underbelly and hardened, scaly hide. Spines ran down its dorsal region, and two large wings sprouted from shoulder joints. Nealaphh could only assume that it was now in immediate danger, but wanted to see where the beast intended on taking it, so for the moment, the god-mind just decided to go limp and let itself be carried off to new areas of interest...
And, we dream of home I dream of life out of here Their dreams are small My dreams don't know fear I got my heart full of hope I will change everything No matter what I'm told How impossible it seems We did it before And we'll do it again We're indestructible Even when we're tired And we've been here before Just you and I
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued