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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 2, 2020 22:02:56 GMT -5
The room was quite large, another huge cavern. They were immediately met with more displays, but these displays had armor similar to the Mchawi. They were placed in a circular pattern, neat rings of watchful dead as the group was led toward the center of the area. Alma noticed there were other exits, and she caught glimpses of more displays as well. When they reached the middle of the room, there were more statues. All dogs, in a sitting position, each one was much bigger than a horse or so, staring inward of the circle. Their jaws hung open, with fire burning in their throats. At the feet of each one was a wooden carving. As Alma got closer, she noticed they were organs.
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 2, 2020 22:39:22 GMT -5
The group stayed behind the Mchawi. Hakan looked around, not focusing on the statues but more on his surrounding, as if planning a fast way of escape if needed. Maybe if they did grow hostile they could escape somehow. Roman however, was only focusing on the statue, wondering if this was what they were all talking about.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 2, 2020 23:02:24 GMT -5
The Mchawi had them settle in the center of the circle, their eyes studying the statues for a moment. "Sit in the middle, and wait."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 3, 2020 8:55:44 GMT -5
The group looked skeptical, but went to sit where instructed. Roman sighed, mumbling softly to Alma, “I feel like I’m in pre-k again.”
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 3, 2020 17:13:48 GMT -5
Alma hummed softly. "At least there was no risk of dying in pre-k." She looked as the Machawi walked a slow circle around them, studying them again before looking to the side. There was movement amongst the shadows where the torches amongst the displays didn't reach. It was pretty difficult to see what it was, but it was there.
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 3, 2020 17:27:52 GMT -5
Roman shrugged and nodded, holding back his laugh. He then looked towards the shadows, squinting a little to try seeing whatever was there better.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 4, 2020 21:01:24 GMT -5
It took a while, but eventually something stepped out from the shadows. A dog. Well, a puppy. Or at least it looked like one. The closer it got, one could see it was made of some other material, probably clay or something. The puppy gave the group about five seconds of attention before attempting to run elsewhere, but a soft growl from the shadows caused it to trot back over to them and start sniffing at the people. Alma was admittedly underwhelmed by this, grumbling "I can't believe they're letting a trainee look us over."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 4, 2020 21:54:17 GMT -5
Roman kept his gaze on the puppy and the shadows, “just go with it.” He said softly to Alma. Hakan raised an eyebrow at the dog before narrowing his eyes in thought. He then said something to his father in his native language. The father simply nodded, his eyes studying the dog as well.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 4, 2020 22:21:53 GMT -5
The little creature kept sniffing around for a while. Alma wasn't really surprised by this, as she was well aware of what they actually were. No powers, special magic abilities or anything. Just sentient pieces of earth. Golems, which were very very rare in the world as a whole. Most were more likely to get struck by lightning twice than to actually see one. The puppy continued its "investigation" for a few more minutes before trotting back into the shadows.
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 4, 2020 22:58:48 GMT -5
“Is that all?” Roman asked softly, “Hey hon, did your mother ever tell you anything about this? Because it would be nice to be in the know.. “ he spoke through gritted teeth so his voice would be more subtle.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 4, 2020 23:11:38 GMT -5
Alma blinked slowly. "Well, there's no reason to do anything to us if we passed the judgement. That is all the dogs will do. Study us. If we failed, we would be dead, because that would be when the big ones start moving." Golems were actually insanely good judges of character, more than most flesh and blood. "The big, important rituals are for those who actually participate in their culture. Which none of us do unless we plan to stay."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 4, 2020 23:39:12 GMT -5
Roman nodded a little, “gotcha..” he said quietly. He then looked back to the shadows to see what would happen next.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 4, 2020 23:56:13 GMT -5
Nothing else happened for a moment, but Alma listened closely as she heard more movement. Like rock sliding on rock, and she grew wary.
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 5, 2020 7:58:37 GMT -5
Roman seemed to sense Alma’s wariness and narrowed his eyes a little to see what was going on. Hakan and his parents remained completely calm though.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 5, 2020 9:22:53 GMT -5
The sound repeated itself in what might've been considered movement, walking perhaps, but nothing ever actually showed itself. The Mchawi eventually moved from their spot as they said "See? Simple. Well, since you passed anyway." The Deadlock individuals then proceeded to say something in their native language. 'Karibu', which the Mchawi translated to "Welcome."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 5, 2020 13:56:43 GMT -5
“Thank you.” Roman said in response to the news they passed. Krisharya and Moksha nodded as their own form of acknowledgement. Hakan looked to Roman and Alma saying, “now can you see that I am not evil at heart?”
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 5, 2020 15:02:38 GMT -5
Alma snorted. "We never said evil. Just reckless and arrogant. I'm pretty sure untrustworthy might've been said too. That doesn't make you a bad person though." The Mchawi just watched them before saying "You're probably tired. You're welcome to go to one of the outpost settlements just behind the border to spend the night. On one condition, you do not leave alone. You have been accepted, but there is no need for you to be wandering around our home just yet."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 5, 2020 16:20:30 GMT -5
Roman thought, “how do we know this isn’t going to put us in danger?” He asked. “We need to know what you heard about the other side of this battle. Have you spoken with them too?” He asked.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 5, 2020 16:32:23 GMT -5
The Mchawi tilted their head. "They have come by here, but they never made it five steps past the border. Their little spy party got devoured by the dogs, who knew they were threats even before we did." There was a pause. "We know of what comes though. And it leaves no alliance with your or our groups with them."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 5, 2020 16:35:42 GMT -5
Roman nodded at this, “good. Though I’m sure now your people are a target along with the rest of us now.” He warned, “their army is not small.”
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 5, 2020 18:00:13 GMT -5
"Neither is ours. Not big to take them all on, but big." Beginning to lead the way back out, they added "Come, so you can rest and we can properly discuss we can give each other."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 6, 2020 15:51:27 GMT -5
Roman nodded while the other group respectfully bowed their heads. They all stood, Moksha holding out a hand to help his wife up as well.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 6, 2020 21:13:39 GMT -5
The masked group led the way out, waiting for them to get of their mounts before continuing onward. It was a moment before the Mchawi said "As stated, you will be taken to rest in one of the border settlements. Any further for be when we can truly trust you."
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 6, 2020 22:33:52 GMT -5
“Understood.” Roman said. “In return for your hospitality you must come spend a night with our people as well. We have many more fruits and vegetables that’s are only native to our land for you to try.” Moksha offered.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 6, 2020 23:41:46 GMT -5
The Mchawi was silent for a moment. "That would be good," was their response. "To build trust." After another short while of traveling, they reached a decently forested area. They kept going for another ten minutes or so until they reached what looked to be mix of a village and a camp. It wasn't grand or anything, but the people there didn't need the biggest or the best. It was busy, everyone doing their own thing. However, there were more of those statues, but not as big as the ones by and in the cave earlier. They were about the size of a large dog, sitting stock still wherever they were. Some of the people wore armor, some weren't, but every single one of them was wearing a mask. You saw not one actual face except for a few babies crawling around on soft fur blankets or patches of grass, babbling happily up at what was probably family that sat with them.
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 7, 2020 0:12:15 GMT -5
Moksha looked to the families before looking to Hakan as he walked ahead of him. He was remembering when Hakan was that size, and though made him smile a little. Roman true day to take everything in as they walked, both to get his bearings, and to see what the average life was like here.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 7, 2020 0:29:48 GMT -5
Alma was looking around too. This wasn't even the main area, but it seemed so busy yet cozy. There were eyes on them as they passed, some of them speaking greetings to the Mchawi as they passed. The group was eventually led to a large hut of sorts. "You can eat before going to look around or rest. Tie your mounts up right there." Alma's nose twitched at the scent of food, smiling sheepishly as her stomach growled.
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 7, 2020 0:34:33 GMT -5
Roman nodded as he handed his stallion off to a guard. Moksha looked to the Mchawi asking, “would you mind if we put our mounts in a separate area. They won’t harm your people unless provoked, but they will go after these horses and I’m afraid that might just rial them up and make them act out.” The creatures were already eyeing the smaller horses.
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Post by Smokey Feather on Mar 7, 2020 0:58:39 GMT -5
The Mchawi just stared for a moment. They assumed mounts would be trained more than that, but their only actual response was a nod. One of the other masked individuals went to show them where their mounts could be away from the horses.
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Post by forestpaw on Mar 7, 2020 1:03:41 GMT -5
Moksha seemed to read his mind and said, “I assure you they are very trained. But they are naturally keen hunting animals as well and are likely hungry from the journey.” He explained as he handed his mount off to someone else.
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