[GRO] Floren Chadra - Teen

[Hivestuck]

Given the nebulous nature of the Alternian education system, Chittentown was perhaps the closest one could get to a University town. Technology centers and private educational facilities were heavily patronized by curious, self-starting trolls from all walks of life. Even the local district libraries were larger than average, with formidable collections of books and guests alike.

It was odd, then, for a libarbarian to pay a single young troll any particular amount of attention if they weren't running amok between the stacks.

A stern-faced tealblood with glasses nearly an inch thick tapped Floren Chadra on the shoulder. She waited silently for Floren's complete attention before continuing. The entire time she kept a close watch on Floren's symbol, as if she was concerned it would wander off on its own. "That's what I thought," she clicked her tongue. "I don't remember seeing you here before. Are you aware of the caste-specific collections? I ask only because yours is a particular rarity."

Without waiting for a proper reply, the libarbarian turned and walked away. She paused briefly to wave Floren into following her.

"Here." The woman stopped before a locked case of books. There were easily more security measures in place than reading material to be protected. She disengaged the locks. "I don't care what you initially came here for tonight. It's important you know these exist. The future needs its present to be aware of its past." She looked back to Floren and her face formed the smallest of smiles. It disappeared quickly as she pressed the key into Floren's palm.

"Lock up and return the key when you're done. Only remove one book at a time. Nothing from this section may leave the premises or be shared with outside castes. If any highbloods give you trouble, ask for Pallas at the front desk."

The libarbarian, Pallas herself perhaps, turned on her heel and strode back off in the direction of the entrance. Floren was left alone with a sparse shelf of Jadeblood nonfiction books.


What book do you choose?
A) Of Light and Life: the Biological History of the Rainbow Drinker
B) The Definitive Archive of Anatomical Studies of the Mother Grub
C) Alternian World History: Minimal Censorship Edition!
D) The Filial Pail and You and Your Matesprit and Your Kismesis


Only nepsah may post in this thread. Quote the mule with your RP response and CYOA choice for your next prompt.

nepsah

 

[nepsah]

The tap to his shoulder stirred Floren out of the book he was flipping through, eyes scanning for anything remotely interesting or potentially valuable. He quickly shut it and turned to stare at whomever had tapped- ah, a librarian. Was he in trouble? He didn't think he'd done anything wrong- he'd started to protest at the click, assuming she'd gotten him confused with some other ill-behaved kid (there were so many of those) but stopped when she continued. Caste-specific collections? His eyes widened just a hair. She was already turning and walking away.

He stuffed the book back onto the shelf - in its proper place - and then followed after her to the locked case. He had passed by this before, but always assumed it was age restricted... or perhaps only highbloods had access. "Thank you, this is exactly what I've been looking for." As he scanned the shelf, he broke into a wide grin. "I'll be sure to do that."

He scanned over the titles- the first of which piqued his curiosity. The next was far more aligned with his interests, he did not have a mother grub lusus and therefore would have no idea what they were like personally. He pushed a bit of sourness at that fact aside. No need to think too hard about that. A world history with minimal censorship was definitely something to be treasured. The last book would wait until he was a little older, perhaps.

Truly the choice was between the anatomical studies and world history... He supposed he'd start with the latter and then work his way through. He carefully removed the book from the shelf, then settled in at a nearby table.

Hivestuck

taking option C!

 

[Hivestuck]

The history book was scandalous in its own way. Many of the passages ended with various disclaimers and "Long live the present queen, sovereign ruler to us all,"'s. It did little to detract from the frank way in which the history of the Empire was addressed. It was unheard of for war and revolts and coups and conquering to be spoken of with so little propaganda attached. It was almost like reading about a completely different species

The history of trollkind as a species was perhaps the most alien. Knowledge of the exact workings of the brooding caverns was kept tightly regulated, even among trolls. No matter how wide the Alternian Empire spread, if the home world was destroyed, it would spell the end for the species as whole. As such, standard schoolfeeding only went so far as the basics of reproduction. The filial pails are filled. The drones give the genetic material to the Mother Grub. Eggs are laid. Pupated grubs run the gauntlet of the Wiggler Trials and those that survive are partnered with lusii and sent to live on the surface. Simple.

The textbook gave context to the life of the Mother Grub. Past methods of material collection. Old holidays celebrating life and birth. There were even references made to potential locations of former brooding caverns.

Modern cavern locations would never be released to the public, even if the textbook wasn't as outdated as it was. The fact the book was even alluding to where Mother Grubs might have been kept was already more than enough information to land it in the restricted section. A number of these places were actually vaguely familiar!


What section do you look into?
A) North of Four Fronds. The woods get especially dense and unnavigable. A perfect hiding place!
B) Busthind Mountain Range. Even the populated areas are dangerous.
C) The desert. What better place to hide something than right under your nose?
D) The coastline. Everyone knows the ocean is dangerous. No one wants to interfere with seadwellers.

nepsah

 

[nepsah]

Floren had thought that he was well read up on his Alternian history... but apparently he was not. He knew that it must have been altered in the regular books, but this... This was so completely different that he had to check the front cover to make sure he'd picked up the right book. This was the truth? According to the authors? As jarring and alien as it was, it was captivating. This was far more insight into the lives of his caste specifically than he'd found so far - Floren practically soaked in every paragraph.

Still, somehow even this wasn't enough. He glanced up at the other books - he assured himself he'd get to them in due time. Read them all cover to cover over and over again as much as he needed until it was all memorized. For now... he scanned over the familiar passages, considering his options. The desert was home, but the other Jadebloods that he knew did not live there too, perhaps his previous assumption that it was common for them to live there was incorrect. But did that influence ideal brooding cavern locations?

He didn't know Busthind that well aside from his excursion with Etet and Skoli couldn't navigate the mountain very well. He'd never been to the forest, and only ventured as far as the city when it came to the coast. The desert was so familiar and comforting... He settled on looking into Busthind. The mountain was difficult to navigate and filled with potential dangers - it would be perfect for keeping unwanted guests out.

Hivestuck

taking option B!

 

[Hivestuck]

The trails that threaded together the bulk of the permanent residents of the Busthind Mountain Range were surprisingly well-maintained. Given the precarious relationship the trolls in the area had with the weather and fauna of the area, no corners were cut when it came to tending their few roads. It took a while of traveling on foot before signage began to run scarce. It wasn't long after the disappearance of the trail markers that the trail itself began to fade into rubble and brush and... snow?

Busthind was elevated enough that snowdrifts weren't uncommon at any time of the sweep. Still, the sharp contrast of snow on rock served to signal the potential danger of the journey. Footing that had already become unstable became obscured entirely by stiff, untouched sheets of snow and ice.

It was all-too easy to misstep and fall into a sinkhole.

The sinkhole in question wasn't shallow by any stretch. Of little consolation to those unfortunate to fall in, the walls were angled and winding. A sheer drop was turned into a tumbling slide horn-over-frond until the tunnel bottomed out on a slick, horizontal plane of rock and ice.

The cave beneath the mountains was enormous, haunting, and cold. Loosened pebbles echoed like wind chimes through the vaulted ceilings. The only sources of light came from similar, smaller holes punched through the ground high above. The thin beams scattered off of ice deposits and snow drifts, causing the area to shimmer in a disorienting manner.

Upon adjusting to the dark shadows and glittering light, the details of the cave solidified. The cave was natural, but only mostly. The ceiling and walls appeared carved with age, but the ground that wasn't covered in debris or ice was some kind of masonry. A courtyard began to take form. From it, a road branched, leading to a crossroad.

Drawing further into the cave brought buildings into focus. There were a number of them, all alike in style, save where several of them were demolished by cave-ins. Function was prioritized over design, though what design existed was outdated, bordering on ancient. At first brush it appeared to be some kind of compound, rather than a village or a castle.

The other arm of the crossroad stretched further into the cave. The road declined slightly, indicating it only went deeper underground. Visibility of the path terminated at spectacular gate. It had broken and twisted in on itself at one point, and its metal had tarnished to almost complete blackness. Still, the craftsmanship of its original state was still visible. The bars of the gate curled in artistic spirals. They might have once resembled insect wings.

The third path was the most worn. The tunnel it lead down was also by far the largest. It also ended at a gate, but one far more utilitarian in design. It was a simple thing meant to be too tall to climb over and too thick to knock down. At the same time, it was equipped with a booth to oversee the comings and goings. Anyone of troll size could easily slip through onto the other side of the gate.


Where do you go?
A) In, to the compound.
B) Down, to the delicate gate.
C) Out to the checkpoint.

nepsah

 

[nepsah]

Impatience got the better of him. As much as he'd planned to read the entire book, the fact that he might find actual brooding caverns was too much to resist. Floren scribbled down some directions from the book, taking care to ensure that it would be unlikely that anyone but himself would know what he was writing about, and then placed the book back onto the shelf. Before leaving he was sure to lock it. No one else needed to see those books, after all.

In his eagerness, he'd neglected to pack an extra layer or two. Sure, the desert was cold at night, but it wasn't very often that he ran into snow. He'd packed provisions, a basic med kit, and his spelunking gear, but not extra warm clothing. At least he had the forethought to wear closed toed shoes. After his last encounter with Busthind during Etet's teachings, he had learned that sandals were not appropriate mountain shoes. Skoli lumbered behind him, slowing with every minute. He wasn't built for this terrain, or this drop in temperature. Floren wasn't even sure he'd be able to burrow into the rocky ground below without getting himself hurt. But, progress was being made. Answers were going to be obtained. If Skoli had to be a little uncomfortable then so be it.

Perhaps he should've been a little more careful with inspecting his surroundings. One moment he was looking ahead to see where the road would turn, the next he was falling. He tried to roll himself up as much as possible, but it was surprisingly difficult to tell up from down while tumbling into the depths. In the end he gained several new scratches and even more spots that would definitely bruise. After taking a moment to let the world settle into place, Floren pushed himself to his feet and looked around. Disorienting - how far had he fallen? Where was Skoli? He looked back up the tunnel he'd fallen through - no sign of his lusus just yet. No doubt the worm would try to make his way down here.

He looked back to the mostly black expanse before him, allowing his eyes to adjust to the small amount of light filtering in. As details came into focus, his pumper began to speed up. Signs of life- of purpose - this wasn't just a natural cave he'd fallen into. Three paths to take. A collection of ancient buildings - perhaps hives? A delicate gate, and a sort of observation point. Indecisiveness sprang up as he stepped forward to get a better look at the options.

The partially demolished buildings would likely prove too dangerous for him to wander around in without assistance. No one knew where he was - and it was good that they didn't, this was for his eyes only. But it did make things difficult. The delicate gate intrigued him- what had caused it to twist in like that? The last gate was obviously the most used. If this was, in fact, a brooding cavern he supposed that direction would give him fastest access to... perhaps where the mothergrub had been kept?

Minutes passed- no sign from Skoli. Perhaps his lusus thought he was just going on another exploration? Which was true, but this one wasn't as carefully planned as his others. Well- he was not willing to wait forever. He adjusted his pack, and then set off toward the blackened, delicate gate. He'd come here to learn as much as he could, and that one seemed like it might hold something important behind it.

Hivestuck

Option B, to the delicate gate!

 

[Hivestuck]

The path through the delicate gate was in remarkably good condition given the visible age and emptiness of the cavern. There was minimal cracking in the artistically arranged masonry. The ice coating the stones added to the treachery, but gave the road an almost marble-like appearance.

The natural-born opulence only continued past the gate. Odd gouges and scorch marks marred the walls, but beneath the scars were decorative frescos. They'd faded considerably with time and wear, but depictions of trolls still clearly paraded down the wide corridor. Lines of jadeblooded women kneeled with heads bowed in reverence. Each was draped in layers of flowing black gowns that contrasted sharply with the abnormal paleness of their skin. Upon closer inspection, the paint would shimmer metallically and flake with the slightest touch. Beneath the women were repeating lines of simple troll silhouettes. Hundreds of them continued down the hall. Above them was a rainbow, and above that still, the horned crowns of ancient drones watched over the whole procession. Their spikes protruded from the cavern wall, appearing to support the ceiling itself.

The hallway carried on for a long while. Occasionally the pattern of the frescos would be broken by especially striking renderings of specific jadebloods--likely important historical figures. Unfortunately one could only guess the individuals' names and reputations in this age.

As the hall drew further from the main cavern, the surroundings fell darker. By the time the hall ended, one could only tell by the sudden change in acoustics. The resulting room was large, though not nearly as spacious as the entrance. Or perhaps it merely contained more... stuff. The meticulously laid path seemed to have terminated as well. The floor beneath seemed to be perfectly natural earth. The softer sensation seemed to add to the increased warmth in the quiet cave.

What do you do?
A) Feel around for a point of reference.
B) Continue walking in the same direction.
C) Use the light source you may or may not have brought.

nepsah

 

[nepsah]

As he picked his way down the path he kept his pace slow both in the interest in not slipping and injuring himself, but also to observe the area around him. He slowed to a near crawl as the frescos became more apparent. Littered with signs of... something- a fight? A fire? But still mesmerizing. He wished he was a better artist, perhaps he could have tried to sketch out some of them for later research. Memory would have to suffice, he supposed. At each notable jade he paused to examine the painting closely- the chances of identifying them later were probably slim to none, but he'd take whatever he could get.

Finally, the hall ended and he was left with another conundrum. At this point he would normally set up a marker for himself to find later to remind himself that the exit was up ahead... but that would require finding a good, secure place to put it. The change in the next area did not seem particularly unsafe, just... different. Different enough that he'd remember it without needing a marker. But, there was the trouble of it being darker...

He felt around in his pack for the flashlight that should have been inside. He pulled it out, but paused before turning in on. Shining a light in this place could have unexpected consequences. Abandoned as this cave may be for trolls, it was entirely possible that lusii or other creatures may still lurk underground... a light could anger them. Not to mention it would destroy all adjusting his eyes had done thus far to the cave.

It would probably be worth it, and... he could always turn it off later. Bracing himself for a possible backfire in this plan, he pointed the light ahead and then flipped the switch on to the lowest setting.

Hivestuck

Option C, light source!

 

[Hivestuck]

The shape illuminated by the flashlight was at first completely incomprehensible. It took a moment for the shadows to coalesce into a recognizable form. Even then it was still quite alien.

A drone sat in a heap among a pile of shattered stalagmites. It had been pierced through in several places and was clearly no longer operational. Or... alive. It was unclear how much of the chitinous exoskeleton was biological versus fabricated. Alternian technology was already fairly organic to begin with. With a figure so ancient, it was even harder to tell. Original drone technology hadn't been reproduced since the Vast Glub. Judging by the awful black stains seeping from the joints of this one, there wasn't much left here either. Even agonizingly pinned to the cave as it was, the drone still gave off an instinctively frightening aura.

At the lowest light setting, the forms further back in the cave were softer and more difficult to see. It was perhaps for the best to ease into the discovery. Spines of either more drones or more stalagmites punctured the beam of light. The ground was no long treacherous from ice, but a far more morbid tripping hazard.

Egg shells and husks of cocoons littered the ground in heaps. Floren was lucky to have taken out his flashlight before traversing further. The cave was a mess of brittle, colorful detritus.

And bones. Far too many, too little skulls sat undisturbed among the wreckage. This had been the brooding caverns after all.

Despite the wreckage taking up most of the cave, there was still some semblance of order to the layout. At the center of the cavern was a low-built, but enormous stone dais. Even at this distance the silhouette lying atop was unmistakable. The corpse of the mother grub herself.

Behind the mother grub's dais was a series of narrow doorways. They were almost comically small compared to the mother herself. Even the drones wouldn't have been able to pass through. The way they were framed, however, lent them an air of importance. Someone Floren's size would at least be able to sneak a peek.


What do you do?
A) Approach the mother grub.
B) Inspect the drone.
C) Investigate the narrow halls.
D) Return to the main cavern.

nepsah

 

[nepsah]

He stood in place, letting his eyes adjust to the soft beam of light emitting from his flashlight. It took a few moments for him to recognize what he was looking at- a Drone, long dead, and very much different from the current model. Even though he knew there was no way it could possibly still be functioning, the mere sight of it drew goosebumps all over his skin. Drones were frightening, even to a well behaved troll like himself. He didn't like how unreadable they were. He shifted the light, taking in the rest of the cavern.

Tiny skulls, bits of cocoons, so much was left and yet he couldn't tell why. He shuffled forward slowly, never letting his feet leave the ground for very long. Floren leaned over to pick up one of the tiny skulls in one hand, rolling it over as he examined it. It was... sad. He didn't normally care too much about what older trolls did, they had proven good enough to get out of the trials, but this one hadn't even had the chance to prove it was worth keeping alive before it died. Probably, he was assuming quite a bit. He let out a small sigh, debating for a moment on whether or not he should leave it or take it--...

It could be useful. He settled the flashlight onto his chest, holding it in place with his chin as he rifled through his bag for something to wrap it up in. A handkerchief would do just fine. Gently, he swapped the skull up and then placed it into his bag. Hopefully it wouldn't get crushed as he explored. That accomplished, he resumed looking around the cavern.

Bits of egg shells (also interesting, vaguely he wondered if he'd find an intact egg that never hatched), more typical cave geology... His beam arced over the dais, eyes scanning lazily behind it- wait. He shifted the light back, heart picking up pace as he realized just what he was looking at. A dead Mother Grub. He'd never seen one in person, obviously, only read about them and seen pictures in books. He could have had one. Could have been chosen! But, he had Skoli. As nice as Skoli was, he was no Mother Grub. Floren had long since felt like a Jade without a real purpose. He'd be lying to himself if he said he wouldn't trade Skoli for one of them in a heartbeat.

He barely even noticed the comically small doorways behind the dais. They looked important, but sitting right in front of him was the remains of something he'd been obsessing over since he'd realized he'd never been picked by one. Abandoning the careful pace he'd been using, Floren shuffled his way up to the dais, intent on getting a closer look. He wanted to touch it- just to see what it was like.

Hivestuck

Option A, approach the mother grub!

 

[Hivestuck]

The silhouette of the Mother Grub was oddly familiar. Iconography of Mother Grubs was common, from textbooks to advertising. Her skull was also unmistakably trollian--if not enormous and somewhat elongated. There was something elegant to the curves of her cheeks and jaw. Even all of her teeth were intact and accounted for. Pristine as the specimen was, there was something inherently sacrilegious about seeing something so rare, so important, in such a state of abandonment and decay.

The rest of the Mother Grub's anatomy was more difficult to place. Insectoid limbs framed the wreckage in a spiked nest. What remained of the Mother's vast abdomen formed a macabre, architectural heap. What hadn't decayed long ago had been preserved by the cold, dry air of the cavern, lending the skin a stiff, leathery texture. It had enough integrity to support some of its own weight, but was split open and partially collapsed on one side like a poorly assembled tent. There appeared to be something under, or perhaps inside it.

What do you do?
A) Investigate the corpse.
B) Retreat (and inspect something else in the room).

nepsah

 

[nepsah]

How sad it was to see her in this state... But also terribly exciting. Floren savored the opportunity to examine the remnants of the Mother Grub, perhaps too much time considering his predicament. But it wasn't every night one fell down a tunnel into old caverns. Maybe he'd try to return later once he'd had his fill.

Something caught his eye between the leathery remnants of old abdomen. Surely.... The matriorb would already be gone, but... What else might bs found inside? Carefully he made his way down the abdomen to inspect further.

Hivestuck

a! Investigate.

 

[Hivestuck]

The corpse was... waxy. The Mother Grub had obviously at one point been filled with fluids. Time and the elements had thankfully stripped most of the moisture. What was left had solidified, lending the skin its durability, if not unappealing texture.

The abdomen of the Mother Grub was almost large enough to use as a modest hive. It was even darker than the surrounding cave and smelled old and saccharine. Brittle remains of partially-formed eggs filled the space. The slightest touch caused them to crumble into dust. Disturbing the canopy of the Mother Grub caused a small avalanche to slide and shatter between Floren's knees and tumble off the dais.

The rattle of egg detritus filled the empty room. It likely hadn't heard a single noise in sweeps. The echoes continued long after the spillage began to slow. One, final egg rolled out of the Mother Grub, stopped at Floren's feet by the faded orange protrusions jutting from its shell.

A matriorb.

Immediately, three of the protrusions broke off. The matriorb wobbled, revealing a deep, concave wound on one side. The damaged egg was fossilized, entombed as it was in the Mother Grub all this time.

What do you do?
A) Take the egg.
B) Leave the egg.

nepsah

 

[nepsah]

If he weren't so awestruck he might feel a little disgusted by the texture and smells brought on - but he was a little more preoccupied with making sure his next step wasn't his last to be bothered much. As some of the remains crumbled he froze in place, wincing as a spike of fear took over until every thing settled back into place. Opening his eyes slowly, he looked around the collapsed area to see if he'd ruined his exploration.

A rolling sound - he looked down, eyes widening as it dawned on him what had just come literally to his feet. Pieces broke and he felt his heart practically jump into his throat. "no... no no..." He whispered, slowly crouching down. Hesitantly he reached out and picked up the orb, handling it with as much care as he could. It was surely useless by now but oh, he loved it.

After admiring it for a moment longer he sought out a gentle way to place it into his bag. With this... He could make his way back out to see the rest of the area.

hivestuck

A !

 

[Hivestuck]

They matriorb was dense, solid--possibly halfway to fossilization. The spines were threateningly brittle and the surface flaked, but the core seemed strong. It weighed down Floren's bag both physically and symbolically.

The echoes of the eggs displacing themselves about the cavern seemed to echo forever. It almost made the place seem lively, despite the macabre source. Some of the loose eggs rolled into the narrow hallways, surely lost forever. More still stopped at the body of the decayed drone; bouncing off with a small, metallic "ding." The drone creaked ominously at the contact.

What do you do?
A) Inspect the drone.
B) Investigate the narrow halls.
C) Return to the main cavern.

nepsah