05-26-2015, 05:25 PM
Nealaphh followed Darunia down a small hall adjacent to the main audience chamber. It was cramped, even for the god-mind, so when Darunia was able to squeeze his way between the hewn stone walls, Nealaphh was, frankly surprised. Finally, the pair squeezed out into a small, unremarkable chamber. A symbol, which Nealaphh had come to realize represented the Goron race, was the only adornment within the chamber.
"Gohenki, leave us. Tend to your rock gathering." Darunia said in a gruff tone. Gohenki seemed like he was about to protest, but Darunia shot the Goron a narrow-eyed glare. Grumbling silently, the lesser Goron began to shuffle back down the tight hallway.
"Since coming to the Omniverse, I have learned one thing for sure; it is here that you have a chance to redefine yourself. I don't know what you were before all of this, but within this place, all Primes are able to choose what they become." Darunia said. The Goron chief stretched out his stony hand and began to draw omnilium out from the rock face which bore the Goron symbol. The wall slowly melted away over the next few minutes before there was a gap large enough for the pair of Primes to move through. Beyond this hidden passage there was a large room filled with various smithing implements, large mounds of fossil carbon, and various ores and oils. Clearly this was a place for fabrication, but Nealaphh could not imagine why such a thing was necessary when Primes could conjure anything they wanted with enough omnilium and focus. The god-mind watched as Darunia walked over to a large chest, and pried it open, withdrawing an extremely large, blunt instrument. The Goron chief ran a hand along the smooth metal and let out a sigh, before tossing the hammer towards Nealaphh. The shadow mentally caught the hammer mid-flight, but it slowly sagged to the ground as Nealaphh was unable to support its immense weight.
What is this? Nealaphh asked, focusing harder this time and levitating the hammer to eye level. It was a strain to hold the hammer aloft, but Nealaphh was sure that by exercising its mental abilities, it would slowly rise to its former strength. Darunia folded his arms, seeming somewhat unamused by Nealaphh's handling of the item.
"It's supposed to be the Megaton Hammer; a legendary weapon wielded by my fore bearers..." Darunia said, his voice gruff and sharp.
Supposed to be? Nealaphh asked, turning the hammer over and examining the metal end. Structurally speaking, it was largely unremarkable. The god-mind was unsure why it was of significance.
"Yes...the actual artefact, the original, was far greater than both my smithing skills and omnilium can conjure." Darunia said, walking closer to the shadow. He yanked the hammer from Nealaphh's telekinetic grasp and carried it back to its resting place.
Of what significance is this implement? Nealaphh asked, now curious. He began to walk forwards to examine the hammer once more, but Darunia slammed the lid of the chest shut. Nealaphh was taken aback; had it managed to perturb this Goron? The god-mind decided to go on guard, just in case the situation degenerated.
"It is only weapon that can be used to defeat Volvagia. Without it, the dragon lord is nearly unstoppable in combat. You have seen the flying beasts that plague my village and these wastes, right? They are spawn of Volvagia," Darunia said, staring intensely into the wall in front of him. The Goron's eyes scrunched up tightly, signifying to Nealaphh that there was much anger associated with this particular fact. "It is my duty to keep Volvagia contained...I would see the dragon destroyed, but..." Darunia trailed off, waving a dismissive hand at the trunk which held the replica hammer. Nealaphh blinked slowly in comprehension. So, there was a source of the Fire Broods and Crystalline Horrors which it had faced so far within this verse. This was potentially a good thing for the god-mind.
Volvagia. I see. It's removal would be seen as beneficial then? Nealaphh asked. It knew the answer, but it needed a gauge for just how important this was to the Goron chief. Darunia's ruby eyes grew wide, and the bewildered Goron began to shout and gesture wildly.
"Volvagia's young eat my brothers! They assault all visitors to this verse, and they destroy everything they encounter! Without them, the Ashen Steppes could be as great as Coruscant, or Camelot! With our ores and minerals, we could become an extremely valuable asset to the entire Omniverse! Everything...everything within the Steppes hinges around what Volvagia's activities are." Darunia shouted, going so far as to punching a deep gouge into the solid stone wall of the forge room. Nealaphh jolted slightly as the Goron lashed out, but the god-mind stood its ground. It was possible that Darunia's personal hatred of Volvagia had given the Goron chief a deluded perspective of the benefits of destroying the dragon would be, but a the very least, the person to do so would be revered.
And Nealaphh knew...reverence was the first step towards worship. Perhaps here, within this verse of ash and fire, it could gain a foothold in its return to godhood...for to be a deity was more than to just wield raw power. To be a god meant to be an idea personified, an ultimate expression of a cultural Zeitgeist. To be a god required fervor and faith...and it could start here. Nealaphh turned it's three eyes back to Darunia, and met the Goron chief's fierce gaze with its own stare of conviction.
I will help you rid this verse of Volvagia. Nealaphh said, its eyes flaring slightly. The chief's own eyes widened for a moment before he resumed his stalwart look of toughness. Darunia nodded slowly.
"Hm...that is a bold offer, but I wonder...how can you hope to excel where I have failed?" Darunia asked, squinting at the god-mind. Nealaphh considered this for a moment. It was a valid question. It itself had only just arrived to the Omniverse, and this Goron Prime was doubtlessly more powerful than the shadow currently was. Ah...however...
You must stay here, tend to your people, and your duty. I have no obligations here, save for my own commitment to this task. Unbound, as it were. I can travel far and wide within the Omniverse to amass whatever power is needed to slay this dragon of yours. Nealaphh said, its eyes narrowing slightly. Darunia took his chin in his hand and nodded slowly.
"Hrm...good point...good point. Hrm..." Darunia said, milling the thought over for a few moments more. The Goron cast his gaze back towards the hammer's chest before stretching a hand out towards Nealaphh. The god-mind took a step back, unsure of what this gesture indicated.
"Well go on, let us shake on it!" Darunia said, waving the offered hand slightly. Nealaphh slowly withdrew a black hand from its robes and gingerly placed it in the Goron's own. The chief's hands were massive compared to the shadow's. Before Nealaphh could ponder further on this fact, Darunia gripped Nealaphh's entire hand and shook violently, a beaming expression on his face. The god-minds eyes scrunched up slightly as it was pulled forwards, its hood falling off of its head. When Darunia was satisfied that he had manhandled Nealaphh sufficiently, he released the shadow's hand and placed his hands on his hips. Nealaphh silently replaced its hood and secreted its hand back into its robe, slightly shaken. Darunia leaned back and let out a long, reverberating laugh.
"This oughtta be interesting at least! Alright then! Let's talk business!" Darunia said, stretching his arms wide. Nealaphh closed its eyes in impatience for a moment. Perhaps it had overestimated this prime's sense of composure. Regardless, the potential benefits of this task were to great to let habitual exuberance get in the way.
Indeed. Nealaphh said, now unabashedly walking towards the hammer's chest and prying it open mentally.
What exactly is it about this hammer that makes it insufficient for the task? Nealaphh said, looking the gleaming implement over once more. Darunia moved next to the god mind and hefted the replica hammer with one hand, swinging it onto his broad shoulders. With a wide swing, Darunia smashed the hammer into the wall. A large cloud of dust and rock exploded outwards, and the sound was deafening.
"Not heavy enough! The original hammer could smash its way through just about anything! It needs to be able to clobber Volvagia's big metal head!" Darunia said, spinning the hammer around in his hands, picking bits of debris off of the head. He continued speaking before Nealaphh could interject.
"No matter how hard I try, I can't get the steel pure enough to get the weight right! I don't even have the original for reference!" Darunia said, his mouth drawing into a thin line.
How heavy does it need to be? Nealaphh asked, tilting its head. Darunia blinked once, as if he had never fully considered this fact.
"I don't know...a megaton?" he said, giving Nealaphh a confused look. Now it was Nealaphh's turn to blink slowly.
Do you know what a megaton is?
"Er...not as such...not really."
A megaton equates to one million tons. The original hammer weighed one million tons? Nealaphh asked, rather incredulous of this.
"By the Oracles! Not even Biggoron could lift that! Er...no, I guess it didn't weigh that much. But it was damn heavy; heavy enough to knock most folks off their feet when it hit the ground." Darunia said, squinting at the hammer. Nealaphh immediately had several ideas as to how to create a hammer of this specific mass, but none of them were very easy. Perhaps that's where omnilium would come in to play. It would require an exotic substance...one that would that did not exist naturally. Nealaphh did know where to start, however.
I will require as much nickel and copper as your Goron's can yield. Following this, I will need access to a stable fusion reactor as well as a powerful source of electromagnetism. Nealaphh said, going through the production process in its head. Compared to bending space and time, the chemical equations needed to create a metal compound sufficient for the effect Darunia described was simplistic. Unlike bending space-time, the materials were quite elusive. Nealaphh remembered one last thing.
Having access to the original hammer would be of great benefit. Is there any way this is possible? Nealaphh asked. Darunia's face scrunched up.
"If I could access the actual hammer we wouldn't be talking about this!" he shouted, his eyes wide. Nealaphh nodded slightly and elicited a mental sigh. This was, quite frankly, true. However...
Yes, but I can make it better. Where was the hammer's last location in your original world? Nealaphh said, trying to put some force behind its mental voice.
"It was sealed away in a great temple of the Gorons, blessed by the Oracle of Fire himself, many eons ago..."
And what is the land you hail from called?
"Hyrule, I suppose."
And are there any important names associated with Hyrule?
The Goron chief scratched his stony beard for a moment.
"Uh...well there's the Triforce, for starters. The three sages who built the land, Nayru, Din and Farore...There are the Zora, the Kokiri, the Hylians and..." Darunia's eyes narrowed to dark slits.
"The Gerudo. A Gerudo was responsible for summoning Volvagia in the first place."
That is sufficient, thank you. Nealaphh said. With that, it began to exit the room without another sound. Darunia was momentarily speechless, but found his voice a moment later.
"Wait! Hold on! Where are you going?" Darunia roared, trundling after the god-mind. Nealaphh continued to walk out, not even looking back at the Goron.
To find this hammer of yours. Perhaps we will not need to carry out the plan that I have. Nealaphh said, its voice carrying a snide tone. Darunia was flabbergasted.
"How can you even know it is here in the Omniverse?!" Darunia roared, trying to squeeze through the narrow passage to keep up with the slim form of the god-mind.
I cannot. But you are here. Volvagia is here. Why not this artefact? Have you even tried to look? Nealaphh asked, now starting to become outright smug. Darunia was becoming impatient, Nealaphh could sense this in more ways than one.
"I...No! I can't invest that kind of time-"
But I can, Darunia. That is the core dynamic of our accord, is it not?
"So we are to just follow your whims, work hard and dig while you run off on a wild cucco chase?" Darunia shouted, the force of his voice now reverberating through the small spaces.
Better to play to our strengths. So dig, Goron. I will travel and I will discover. I will not return empty handed. Nealaphh said, trying to make its mental voice sound assuaging. Darunia was not assuaged.
"And you just expect us to work indefinitely? How can we know you will come through?" Darunia asked, grabbing Nealaphh by the shoulder. The pair was in the chief's audience chamber now, lit by the bright fires which cast long shadows over the Goron's features. Nealaphh's eyes narrowed to bare slits, feeling both giddiness and defensiveness. Here was where it's godhood started.
Faith in me.
With that, Nealaphh pulled free of Darunia's grasp and exited the Goron's caves, back into the dull sunlight of the Ashen Steppes...
"Gohenki, leave us. Tend to your rock gathering." Darunia said in a gruff tone. Gohenki seemed like he was about to protest, but Darunia shot the Goron a narrow-eyed glare. Grumbling silently, the lesser Goron began to shuffle back down the tight hallway.
"Since coming to the Omniverse, I have learned one thing for sure; it is here that you have a chance to redefine yourself. I don't know what you were before all of this, but within this place, all Primes are able to choose what they become." Darunia said. The Goron chief stretched out his stony hand and began to draw omnilium out from the rock face which bore the Goron symbol. The wall slowly melted away over the next few minutes before there was a gap large enough for the pair of Primes to move through. Beyond this hidden passage there was a large room filled with various smithing implements, large mounds of fossil carbon, and various ores and oils. Clearly this was a place for fabrication, but Nealaphh could not imagine why such a thing was necessary when Primes could conjure anything they wanted with enough omnilium and focus. The god-mind watched as Darunia walked over to a large chest, and pried it open, withdrawing an extremely large, blunt instrument. The Goron chief ran a hand along the smooth metal and let out a sigh, before tossing the hammer towards Nealaphh. The shadow mentally caught the hammer mid-flight, but it slowly sagged to the ground as Nealaphh was unable to support its immense weight.
What is this? Nealaphh asked, focusing harder this time and levitating the hammer to eye level. It was a strain to hold the hammer aloft, but Nealaphh was sure that by exercising its mental abilities, it would slowly rise to its former strength. Darunia folded his arms, seeming somewhat unamused by Nealaphh's handling of the item.
"It's supposed to be the Megaton Hammer; a legendary weapon wielded by my fore bearers..." Darunia said, his voice gruff and sharp.
Supposed to be? Nealaphh asked, turning the hammer over and examining the metal end. Structurally speaking, it was largely unremarkable. The god-mind was unsure why it was of significance.
"Yes...the actual artefact, the original, was far greater than both my smithing skills and omnilium can conjure." Darunia said, walking closer to the shadow. He yanked the hammer from Nealaphh's telekinetic grasp and carried it back to its resting place.
Of what significance is this implement? Nealaphh asked, now curious. He began to walk forwards to examine the hammer once more, but Darunia slammed the lid of the chest shut. Nealaphh was taken aback; had it managed to perturb this Goron? The god-mind decided to go on guard, just in case the situation degenerated.
"It is only weapon that can be used to defeat Volvagia. Without it, the dragon lord is nearly unstoppable in combat. You have seen the flying beasts that plague my village and these wastes, right? They are spawn of Volvagia," Darunia said, staring intensely into the wall in front of him. The Goron's eyes scrunched up tightly, signifying to Nealaphh that there was much anger associated with this particular fact. "It is my duty to keep Volvagia contained...I would see the dragon destroyed, but..." Darunia trailed off, waving a dismissive hand at the trunk which held the replica hammer. Nealaphh blinked slowly in comprehension. So, there was a source of the Fire Broods and Crystalline Horrors which it had faced so far within this verse. This was potentially a good thing for the god-mind.
Volvagia. I see. It's removal would be seen as beneficial then? Nealaphh asked. It knew the answer, but it needed a gauge for just how important this was to the Goron chief. Darunia's ruby eyes grew wide, and the bewildered Goron began to shout and gesture wildly.
"Volvagia's young eat my brothers! They assault all visitors to this verse, and they destroy everything they encounter! Without them, the Ashen Steppes could be as great as Coruscant, or Camelot! With our ores and minerals, we could become an extremely valuable asset to the entire Omniverse! Everything...everything within the Steppes hinges around what Volvagia's activities are." Darunia shouted, going so far as to punching a deep gouge into the solid stone wall of the forge room. Nealaphh jolted slightly as the Goron lashed out, but the god-mind stood its ground. It was possible that Darunia's personal hatred of Volvagia had given the Goron chief a deluded perspective of the benefits of destroying the dragon would be, but a the very least, the person to do so would be revered.
And Nealaphh knew...reverence was the first step towards worship. Perhaps here, within this verse of ash and fire, it could gain a foothold in its return to godhood...for to be a deity was more than to just wield raw power. To be a god meant to be an idea personified, an ultimate expression of a cultural Zeitgeist. To be a god required fervor and faith...and it could start here. Nealaphh turned it's three eyes back to Darunia, and met the Goron chief's fierce gaze with its own stare of conviction.
I will help you rid this verse of Volvagia. Nealaphh said, its eyes flaring slightly. The chief's own eyes widened for a moment before he resumed his stalwart look of toughness. Darunia nodded slowly.
"Hm...that is a bold offer, but I wonder...how can you hope to excel where I have failed?" Darunia asked, squinting at the god-mind. Nealaphh considered this for a moment. It was a valid question. It itself had only just arrived to the Omniverse, and this Goron Prime was doubtlessly more powerful than the shadow currently was. Ah...however...
You must stay here, tend to your people, and your duty. I have no obligations here, save for my own commitment to this task. Unbound, as it were. I can travel far and wide within the Omniverse to amass whatever power is needed to slay this dragon of yours. Nealaphh said, its eyes narrowing slightly. Darunia took his chin in his hand and nodded slowly.
"Hrm...good point...good point. Hrm..." Darunia said, milling the thought over for a few moments more. The Goron cast his gaze back towards the hammer's chest before stretching a hand out towards Nealaphh. The god-mind took a step back, unsure of what this gesture indicated.
"Well go on, let us shake on it!" Darunia said, waving the offered hand slightly. Nealaphh slowly withdrew a black hand from its robes and gingerly placed it in the Goron's own. The chief's hands were massive compared to the shadow's. Before Nealaphh could ponder further on this fact, Darunia gripped Nealaphh's entire hand and shook violently, a beaming expression on his face. The god-minds eyes scrunched up slightly as it was pulled forwards, its hood falling off of its head. When Darunia was satisfied that he had manhandled Nealaphh sufficiently, he released the shadow's hand and placed his hands on his hips. Nealaphh silently replaced its hood and secreted its hand back into its robe, slightly shaken. Darunia leaned back and let out a long, reverberating laugh.
"This oughtta be interesting at least! Alright then! Let's talk business!" Darunia said, stretching his arms wide. Nealaphh closed its eyes in impatience for a moment. Perhaps it had overestimated this prime's sense of composure. Regardless, the potential benefits of this task were to great to let habitual exuberance get in the way.
Indeed. Nealaphh said, now unabashedly walking towards the hammer's chest and prying it open mentally.
What exactly is it about this hammer that makes it insufficient for the task? Nealaphh said, looking the gleaming implement over once more. Darunia moved next to the god mind and hefted the replica hammer with one hand, swinging it onto his broad shoulders. With a wide swing, Darunia smashed the hammer into the wall. A large cloud of dust and rock exploded outwards, and the sound was deafening.
"Not heavy enough! The original hammer could smash its way through just about anything! It needs to be able to clobber Volvagia's big metal head!" Darunia said, spinning the hammer around in his hands, picking bits of debris off of the head. He continued speaking before Nealaphh could interject.
"No matter how hard I try, I can't get the steel pure enough to get the weight right! I don't even have the original for reference!" Darunia said, his mouth drawing into a thin line.
How heavy does it need to be? Nealaphh asked, tilting its head. Darunia blinked once, as if he had never fully considered this fact.
"I don't know...a megaton?" he said, giving Nealaphh a confused look. Now it was Nealaphh's turn to blink slowly.
Do you know what a megaton is?
"Er...not as such...not really."
A megaton equates to one million tons. The original hammer weighed one million tons? Nealaphh asked, rather incredulous of this.
"By the Oracles! Not even Biggoron could lift that! Er...no, I guess it didn't weigh that much. But it was damn heavy; heavy enough to knock most folks off their feet when it hit the ground." Darunia said, squinting at the hammer. Nealaphh immediately had several ideas as to how to create a hammer of this specific mass, but none of them were very easy. Perhaps that's where omnilium would come in to play. It would require an exotic substance...one that would that did not exist naturally. Nealaphh did know where to start, however.
I will require as much nickel and copper as your Goron's can yield. Following this, I will need access to a stable fusion reactor as well as a powerful source of electromagnetism. Nealaphh said, going through the production process in its head. Compared to bending space and time, the chemical equations needed to create a metal compound sufficient for the effect Darunia described was simplistic. Unlike bending space-time, the materials were quite elusive. Nealaphh remembered one last thing.
Having access to the original hammer would be of great benefit. Is there any way this is possible? Nealaphh asked. Darunia's face scrunched up.
"If I could access the actual hammer we wouldn't be talking about this!" he shouted, his eyes wide. Nealaphh nodded slightly and elicited a mental sigh. This was, quite frankly, true. However...
Yes, but I can make it better. Where was the hammer's last location in your original world? Nealaphh said, trying to put some force behind its mental voice.
"It was sealed away in a great temple of the Gorons, blessed by the Oracle of Fire himself, many eons ago..."
And what is the land you hail from called?
"Hyrule, I suppose."
And are there any important names associated with Hyrule?
The Goron chief scratched his stony beard for a moment.
"Uh...well there's the Triforce, for starters. The three sages who built the land, Nayru, Din and Farore...There are the Zora, the Kokiri, the Hylians and..." Darunia's eyes narrowed to dark slits.
"The Gerudo. A Gerudo was responsible for summoning Volvagia in the first place."
That is sufficient, thank you. Nealaphh said. With that, it began to exit the room without another sound. Darunia was momentarily speechless, but found his voice a moment later.
"Wait! Hold on! Where are you going?" Darunia roared, trundling after the god-mind. Nealaphh continued to walk out, not even looking back at the Goron.
To find this hammer of yours. Perhaps we will not need to carry out the plan that I have. Nealaphh said, its voice carrying a snide tone. Darunia was flabbergasted.
"How can you even know it is here in the Omniverse?!" Darunia roared, trying to squeeze through the narrow passage to keep up with the slim form of the god-mind.
I cannot. But you are here. Volvagia is here. Why not this artefact? Have you even tried to look? Nealaphh asked, now starting to become outright smug. Darunia was becoming impatient, Nealaphh could sense this in more ways than one.
"I...No! I can't invest that kind of time-"
But I can, Darunia. That is the core dynamic of our accord, is it not?
"So we are to just follow your whims, work hard and dig while you run off on a wild cucco chase?" Darunia shouted, the force of his voice now reverberating through the small spaces.
Better to play to our strengths. So dig, Goron. I will travel and I will discover. I will not return empty handed. Nealaphh said, trying to make its mental voice sound assuaging. Darunia was not assuaged.
"And you just expect us to work indefinitely? How can we know you will come through?" Darunia asked, grabbing Nealaphh by the shoulder. The pair was in the chief's audience chamber now, lit by the bright fires which cast long shadows over the Goron's features. Nealaphh's eyes narrowed to bare slits, feeling both giddiness and defensiveness. Here was where it's godhood started.
Faith in me.
With that, Nealaphh pulled free of Darunia's grasp and exited the Goron's caves, back into the dull sunlight of the Ashen Steppes...
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