Tengku [80]
~ Mother, Aquartis ~
The adventurers have started exploring the new and improved Woodrin, but they're still on the second level. Adventurers have already explored some of level three of Aquartis. With this in mind, I think it best if I go ahead and build the fourth level of Aquartis before they can finish level three.
For the theme of this fourth level, I want something fresh. I've already got a linear river level, an underground sewer complex, and an abstract sea. What I don't have is an urban environment. While the only beings capable of speech in my dungeon are my custodians, dragon, and wildkin, I want Pearl to create her own species of intelligent creatures. Unfortunately I'm not sure she'd be willing to spend the time doing so. Currently Pearl is busy with Levithan--the sea dragon--and I think they're playing? Not sure, and I don't really want to get between those two.
Anyways, if I want an urban environment I need it to fit whatever species populates it. Fish people feel a little on the nose. I'd prefer Pearl to be a unique existence, so merfolk are not on the table. What I don't want is something only capable of living underwater. It'd make having the adventurers interact with them a lot harder.
As I contemplate what kind of species to create I carve statues idly. Bipedal fish, oversized frogs, and even a few birds. It is the statue of a pelican-like bird that gives me pause. With some modifications to make the birds capable of swimming for long periods beneath the water they could really suit Aquartis. The ability to fly, walk, talk, and swim. They're perfect.
Before I can proceed with creating the species I have to give them someplace to live. I'm not going to make the same mistakes I did with the wildkin, either. This time I'm designing them to be perfectly suited to their environment and vice versa.
I start as I always do, carving out a massive space beneath the earth. One kilometer across, a spherical space suited to housing a city. Voidium embedded into the terrain keeps things stable. I don't add a coating of sky stone, as this place is meant to be partially underground.
Mana coalesces at my beck and call, forming into thick porous rock. Spongy stone comes into being around the edges of the spherical space. Within a few minutes I've shaped the spherical cavern into a more natural looking one. To finish the natural environment I add water, pouring my mana into the chamber and rapidly flooding the space. When the water is finally at a suitable level I add sky stone to a few key areas: the exposed ceiling, and a few spots on the edges.
Finally, the space is ready to be populated with artificial structures.
Before that I go ahead and give the space a good look.
The level is shaped like a spacious volcano's interior. The top of the level is open to sky stone, wherein a false sky lets sunlight pour in. Rock walls slant out and away from the hole in the ceiling to provide more space. Clear water fills the rounded basin about halfway up the level. Under the water the rock forms an upside down dome shape, with an assortment of bubbling hydrothermal vents at the lowest point. Several spacious tunnels lead out the sides of the volcano into fog obscured dead ends. The plan is to make these dead ends into actual passages meant to be traveled by boat to other parts of Aquartis.
All is up to my standards, so it is time to create the floating city. I start by forming wood beams and planks, floating platforms held aloft by large pontoons constructed of saphite. The air filled tanks make sure the structure doesn't sink beneath the water. Water resistant wood keeps the structure from risking collapse, and each of the platforms can be fitted and joined without much difficulty.
I'm going to create the city as a base, not a complete structure. I want the residents to be able to modify and build as they see fit. With this in mind I create a central platform suited to being an open air market. I connect a large platform to it using rope and wood plant bridges, placing modest buildings of the same water proof wood. These are intended to be used as housing, but not limited to such.
With a few more platforms connected by the same rope bridges I find myself satisfied with the city foundation. I expect it to grow and change once the residents are here. Speaking of, it is high time I create them.
I use the statue I carved as reference. Glances at various kinds of birds in my domain give me ideas for how to arrange their bodies, where the organs go and how the bones should be shaped. The creatures stand atop two long scaled orange legs, ending in webbed duck-like feet sporting talons on each toe. Their bodies are covered in feathers, brown, grey, white. Their wings each end in a hand adjacent claw. They should be fully capable of wielding tools and manipulating objects as well as any person can. Their lengthy necks lead to their rather oblong heads, a beak fairly thick and suited to scooping water and fish from the sea--like a pelican--their eyes fairly small yet plenty keen.
Finally, with the creature complete, I breathe life into it. One by one I create and give the spark of life to each being. I haven't yet named them. I'm curious what they might name themselves if given the chance.
"Gawk!" The cry of the first bird-like being is shrill and pained.
I watch with a mix of concern and excitement as the new species begins to adjust. The variety of feather coloration, height, and other features makes it quite a diverse population. My intent when creating them seems to have carried through. They're speaking English, albeit they have a particular dialect unique to their species.
"Where are we?"
"How should I know? Ugh! My head is killing me!"
Their somewhat coarse sounding voices resemble the cawing of a bird. I watch them slowly start to interact with one another, some of the population looking into the water below. None of them have taken the plunge into the water, nor tried flying in the air. They're probably still feeling woozy from being brought to life.
I decide to focus on a particular group of the creatures. The first few to be born, and the first to begin communicating with one another.
~ Tekel, Aquartis ~
The ache in my head slowly fades as I look around me. I've only just come to, finding myself with a bunch of other tengku. Some of us are only just waking up. One by one we open our eyes and look around with confusion, no one sharing any knowledge on how we wound up here.
"Where are we?" I question aloud.
"How should I know? Ugh! My head is killing me!"
I glance at the rather loud mouthed tengku who replied to my question. She's got feathers the color of wheat, an almost golden sheen that reflects the sunlight beautifully. She shakes her head with an exaggerated groan.
When she looks at me I do my best to act natural. Staring at someone I just met won't be good for first impressions. I clear my throat before turning back to her.
"I'm Tekel. You are?"
"Fraka. Nice meeting you, Tekel!"
With our names given we bow to one another. Everyone else is so out of it they aren't conversing much, but it seems we're both somewhat put together. Fraka turns to look slightly to the side. I follow her gaze to a foggy opening in the cave wall.
"Something tells me going out that way is a bad idea," I comment.
Squawking, Fraka waves a wing at me. Her eyes are smiling, and her beak is parted just enough to show she's amused.
"Hah! I know that, Tekel! There's nothing out there."
"How can you tell?"
Tilting her head, Fraka looks at the fog filled passage with one eye. She preens her chest feathers with her beak. The way she stares at the opening in the wall tells me she isn't sure how she knows. I do my best not to stare at her unclothed body as she thinks.
"Not sure. It's just a feeling, I suppose. Kind of like how flying out the top of this place is a bad idea, too. Nothing good there."
I bring a talon to my beak and tap it. She's right, staring out at any of these spots gives me a kind of ill omen. I can't describe it any better than getting a bad feeling in my gut.
"Well, at least whoever or whatever put us here left us some houses!"
Fraka is right. The wooden platforms we awoke on aren't completely bare. Several small shacks rest upon the platforms, each one complete with a door suited to our size. Fraka doesn't hesitate to approach the buildings. She strides across the rope bridge and walks up to one of the buildings with her beak upturned.
"Careful! What if those are occupied?"
My warning goes ignored. Thankfully there is no one inside. Fraka finds the building devoid of anything other than a sleeping mat, made of some kind of soft fiber. I help her search each of the houses. None of them have anything beyond a sleeping mat inside, each one adorned with a latch on the inside of the door.
Fraka decides she wants to claim one of the empty homes, striding into the building and shutting the door. I can hear her shuffling around in the shack as I look at the other buildings.
"What if these houses belonged to us, and we simply forgot?"
My question doesn't get an answer. Fraka must be busy with something in her home. I decide to take a house just beside hers. The interior is surprisingly comfy once the door is shut. With a window or a light source this would be down right pleasant.
The rapping of someone's talons on my door brings me out of my thoughts. I rise, expecting Fraka to be on the other side of the door. Instead I'm greeted by a rather short grey feathered boy. He gives me a sheepish look before gesturing to the house beside mine.
"Excuse me, but are these houses taken?"
I shake my head, uncertain as to why this boy thought it necessary to ask me of all people. Do I seem like I know what's happening? The boy doesn't give me an explanation for my thoughts. He claims a house with an upturned beak.
"What did that kid want?" Fraka asks.
"He wanted to know if the houses were free to claim. Maybe he thinks I'm in charge?"
The amused squawk Fraka gives me makes me duck my head slightly. She laughs, clearly amused by the idea of me being the leader of anything. I turn to her to argue my case only to be met with an unexpected sight.
Her tawny gold feathers have been partially covered by an article of clothing. I stare, wide eyed, at the way the fibrous fabric hands off her body. She gives me a smug look that reminds me of my manners. I tilt my beak aside and let out a strangled caw.
"Sorry! I wasn't- You're wearing clothes!"
"Yes, as anyone with a bit of modesty would."
I shake my head in an attempt to make myself feel a bit less flustered. Somehow her dressing herself flusters me more than waking up naked beside her. It is only now that I'm not gawking at her that I realize the absurdity of her procuring clothing so suddenly.
"Wait, where did you find clothing, Fraka?"
Fraka gestures to her house, her beak slightly open. I look past her to the open door. There are a few scraps of the same material on her floor. The absence of her sleeping mat makes me slap my wing across my face.
"Fraka! Where will you sleep?!"
"The floor, obviously!"
The impulsive woman laughs at my expression. I don't know how I'm going to survive living next door to her. Hopefully she'll mellow out once everyone acclimates to our environment?