05-22-2015, 07:14 PM
After climbing for just a short while, Nealaphh found itself clambering up in to yet another black-walled lava tube. It was likely that tunnels such as these were pervasive in this volcanic verse. The fact that the ground did not collapse in on itself more often was a topic of fascination that Nealaphh would have to visit at another time. For now, the priority was finding a way back on the surface.
The god-mind sent its gleaming beacon of light flying to the left and then to the right. It was difficult to discern any difference between the two paths, but subtle clues within the striation of the rock told Nealaphh that the path to the left would be going up stream, and hopefully, outside. Without a moment's hesitation, Nealaphh set off up the lava tube.
It was a very long hike back to the surface, and there was no small amount of climbing involved, but after what seemed like a day of travel, Nealaphh emerged into a wide, shallow caldera. The volcanic wind felt pleasant on Nealaphh's smooth features, and this slightly disturbed it. It had not anticipated enjoying any sensory input in this body, as heretofore it had enjoyed purely mental pleasures. Nealaphh blinked once and put it out of its mind. No use dwelling on it.
There was a steaming pond of water in the center of the caldera, about twenty meters in radius. The caldera itself was almost niney eight meters wide, and the rim of the crater looked to be easily scalable. Still, Nealaphh had no exact goal in mind for the time being, so it decided to walk down to the still waters of the caldera and take a closer look. Yellow mineral deposits glistened and sparkled at spots where the water had been higher, and a faint steam rose from the water. Nealaphh bent down and pinched a mote of the mineral salts from the ground and peered at them closely. Sulfer, magnesium, sodium, and not a small amount of gold. Nealaphh did not particularly care that such a rare metal was present in the waters of this pond, at least in so far as an appreciation of value. What struck the god-mind was the fact that gold could be found so close to the surface. Normally this was only possibld due to extra-planetary bodies delivering the metals and minerals to a geologically dormant world.
This could mean one of two things; either the Ashen Steppes lacked tectonic activity, or, somewhere in the skies above, something else existed. Nealaphh crushed the mineral cake in its fingers and scattered the pungent sand to the wind. This was counter-productive; Nealaphh had come in to the Omniverse seeking answers and it was perpetually plagued with more questions. The god-mind leered into the simmering pool and pondered its predicament.
"Rocks from that pond are delicious if you let 'em stew for a while!"
Nealaphh jumped a little bit and whirled around, eyes wide. Up until this point, all of the shadow's interactions in the Omniverse had been violent, and Nealaphh had no reason to believe any differently in this case. The god-mind lifted several nearby rocks and sent them hurtling towards the stumpy looking humanoid. As the projectiles closed in, the creature smacked the rocks into small particles, its powerful fists cracking the volcanic stone with ease.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy feller! I'm not gonna hurtcha!" the creature said. Upon closer inspection, Nealaphh noted that this squat being had stoney growths adorning its back. It made sense then that it had been able to brush off Nealaphh's assault. The god-mind considered devising a new mode of attack, but opted instead to remain still. The shadow sent a ping into the creature's mind.
"Uhh...you tryin' to talk to me? Okay..." it said with a frustratingly dull look on its face.
I have been assured that there is no malintent behind actions before, and then I was accosted. What gives me reason to believe you do not seek my subjugation?
The creature blinked.
"Subju...wha? Sorry brother, I was just out gathering some special rocks to munch on. If it'll make you feel better I can be on my way..." it said, beginning to trundle off. Nealaphh watched it go for a few moments.
Wait.
The creature turned around slowly, scratching its backside impatiently.
"Uh, yeah?"
There are more of your kind?
"Yyeah."
Take me to them...
The god-mind sent its gleaming beacon of light flying to the left and then to the right. It was difficult to discern any difference between the two paths, but subtle clues within the striation of the rock told Nealaphh that the path to the left would be going up stream, and hopefully, outside. Without a moment's hesitation, Nealaphh set off up the lava tube.
It was a very long hike back to the surface, and there was no small amount of climbing involved, but after what seemed like a day of travel, Nealaphh emerged into a wide, shallow caldera. The volcanic wind felt pleasant on Nealaphh's smooth features, and this slightly disturbed it. It had not anticipated enjoying any sensory input in this body, as heretofore it had enjoyed purely mental pleasures. Nealaphh blinked once and put it out of its mind. No use dwelling on it.
There was a steaming pond of water in the center of the caldera, about twenty meters in radius. The caldera itself was almost niney eight meters wide, and the rim of the crater looked to be easily scalable. Still, Nealaphh had no exact goal in mind for the time being, so it decided to walk down to the still waters of the caldera and take a closer look. Yellow mineral deposits glistened and sparkled at spots where the water had been higher, and a faint steam rose from the water. Nealaphh bent down and pinched a mote of the mineral salts from the ground and peered at them closely. Sulfer, magnesium, sodium, and not a small amount of gold. Nealaphh did not particularly care that such a rare metal was present in the waters of this pond, at least in so far as an appreciation of value. What struck the god-mind was the fact that gold could be found so close to the surface. Normally this was only possibld due to extra-planetary bodies delivering the metals and minerals to a geologically dormant world.
This could mean one of two things; either the Ashen Steppes lacked tectonic activity, or, somewhere in the skies above, something else existed. Nealaphh crushed the mineral cake in its fingers and scattered the pungent sand to the wind. This was counter-productive; Nealaphh had come in to the Omniverse seeking answers and it was perpetually plagued with more questions. The god-mind leered into the simmering pool and pondered its predicament.
"Rocks from that pond are delicious if you let 'em stew for a while!"
Nealaphh jumped a little bit and whirled around, eyes wide. Up until this point, all of the shadow's interactions in the Omniverse had been violent, and Nealaphh had no reason to believe any differently in this case. The god-mind lifted several nearby rocks and sent them hurtling towards the stumpy looking humanoid. As the projectiles closed in, the creature smacked the rocks into small particles, its powerful fists cracking the volcanic stone with ease.
"Whoa, whoa! Easy feller! I'm not gonna hurtcha!" the creature said. Upon closer inspection, Nealaphh noted that this squat being had stoney growths adorning its back. It made sense then that it had been able to brush off Nealaphh's assault. The god-mind considered devising a new mode of attack, but opted instead to remain still. The shadow sent a ping into the creature's mind.
"Uhh...you tryin' to talk to me? Okay..." it said with a frustratingly dull look on its face.
I have been assured that there is no malintent behind actions before, and then I was accosted. What gives me reason to believe you do not seek my subjugation?
The creature blinked.
"Subju...wha? Sorry brother, I was just out gathering some special rocks to munch on. If it'll make you feel better I can be on my way..." it said, beginning to trundle off. Nealaphh watched it go for a few moments.
Wait.
The creature turned around slowly, scratching its backside impatiently.
"Uh, yeah?"
There are more of your kind?
"Yyeah."
Take me to them...
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