Teeth of the Mountain
Vondiras glanced about the chamber, noting the mining tools, the large open shelfs, and the railed tracks meant for mining equipment. Of most interest to the elf however, deep in this silver mine, one body and one mining cart in particular. The body was that of one of the previous group, the Tantur knight it would seem, though his chest was cracked open, the breastplate not punctured by the jaw marks upon it, but fractured in a spiderwebbing type pattern, like shattered glass, centered on the impact of the bite mark, which nearly covered the titan-blood's large torso. The mining cart was similarly damaged, with strips of the steel peeled, gouges more than an inch deep, claw marks of some kind besides the missing and shattered side bearing similar teeth markings. "By all the Ascended." he whistled, as he inspected the markings further. "These teeth were blunted, I see no punctures, no signs of ripping or tearing. This creature may not even be a predator?"
One of the elven hunter's companions, the red headed and tattooed dwarf named Corim moved to see what Vondiras was looking at, as Vondiras' huntmaster companion, Silvius, raised its hackles, the she wolf snarling in a low tone, ears pinned, moving its head about, sniffing the air. Once Corim got closer, viewing the damage, and noting some of the holes and tunnel entrances in the chamber that seemed oddly placed, an involuntary shudder ran through his body. Snarling the battle-rager shrugged his zweihander off his back, the strap and harness over his shoulder, freeing it with both hands from its specialized scabbard and tossing aside the harness and scabbard without a second thought. As his fury began to bubble, the dwarf fought it back, choking his instinct for the moment, knowing he would need clarity to begin, to keep he and his companions safe. "Them teeth nae be for plants, Von. Yer kind nae be the only ones wit' plentiful knowledge o' some beasts of yore, an' seems ye also be lacking some. Them teeth for crackin' boulders, strippin' ore from bedrock, an' even crushing bedrock. They also do a damn fine job crackin' and crushin' the carapaces o' even the most well armored subterranean beasties, like Hook-Claws or Cragmiths and get ta the nutritious bits inside. Work just as good on mine carts, and breastplates to." As he scanned the area, he called out as loud as he dare to his other two companions "Stop movin! All o' ye! Nobody move, an' everyone shut yer yap and listen!"
Corim was normally not this reasonable, nor did he normally sound this distressed, so Belle and Bela did not hesitate to listen, the tantur and human stopping dead in their tracks on the lower face they'd been investigating, and going dead silent. A minute passed, maybe two, and then three. It seemed there might be nothing to worry about, and Vondiras began to relax.
The elf wasn't sure what warned him. Maybe he heard the slight crunching, or felt the vibration of the stone below him. Maybe Silvius reacted first, giving him just enough time to fling himself to one side. Maybe Corim, who's voice he heard, had begun shouting an alarm just before it happened and he'd subconsciously responded but hadn't processed hearing it. Whatever it was, it saved his life. From below him, the stone erupted, shattered into dust and smaller bits in every direction, as he leapt clear, and a set of crocodilian like jaws of dappled granite, amber and with a Topaz ridge running back to the top of the head from the snout erupted forth, lead by two semi-rigid sets of steel like claws. The hefty blunt teeth of the creature came together with a metallic clanging snap, as its scaled bulk revealed itself, snarling aggressively, speaking in the tongue of dragons!
Corim didn't hesitate, letting his fury flood him. The creature had marked them as prey, they had to run it off or kill it now. "Topaz Wyvern!!! Hold nothin' back, the beast 'ave nae intent ta let us leave 'ere alive!!! Blood and Fury!!!!!" he roared, his own personal battle cry as he let the battle rage consume him, throwing himself at the large beast with every ounce of might he could muster.
One of the elven hunter's companions, the red headed and tattooed dwarf named Corim moved to see what Vondiras was looking at, as Vondiras' huntmaster companion, Silvius, raised its hackles, the she wolf snarling in a low tone, ears pinned, moving its head about, sniffing the air. Once Corim got closer, viewing the damage, and noting some of the holes and tunnel entrances in the chamber that seemed oddly placed, an involuntary shudder ran through his body. Snarling the battle-rager shrugged his zweihander off his back, the strap and harness over his shoulder, freeing it with both hands from its specialized scabbard and tossing aside the harness and scabbard without a second thought. As his fury began to bubble, the dwarf fought it back, choking his instinct for the moment, knowing he would need clarity to begin, to keep he and his companions safe. "Them teeth nae be for plants, Von. Yer kind nae be the only ones wit' plentiful knowledge o' some beasts of yore, an' seems ye also be lacking some. Them teeth for crackin' boulders, strippin' ore from bedrock, an' even crushing bedrock. They also do a damn fine job crackin' and crushin' the carapaces o' even the most well armored subterranean beasties, like Hook-Claws or Cragmiths and get ta the nutritious bits inside. Work just as good on mine carts, and breastplates to." As he scanned the area, he called out as loud as he dare to his other two companions "Stop movin! All o' ye! Nobody move, an' everyone shut yer yap and listen!"
Corim was normally not this reasonable, nor did he normally sound this distressed, so Belle and Bela did not hesitate to listen, the tantur and human stopping dead in their tracks on the lower face they'd been investigating, and going dead silent. A minute passed, maybe two, and then three. It seemed there might be nothing to worry about, and Vondiras began to relax.
The elf wasn't sure what warned him. Maybe he heard the slight crunching, or felt the vibration of the stone below him. Maybe Silvius reacted first, giving him just enough time to fling himself to one side. Maybe Corim, who's voice he heard, had begun shouting an alarm just before it happened and he'd subconsciously responded but hadn't processed hearing it. Whatever it was, it saved his life. From below him, the stone erupted, shattered into dust and smaller bits in every direction, as he leapt clear, and a set of crocodilian like jaws of dappled granite, amber and with a Topaz ridge running back to the top of the head from the snout erupted forth, lead by two semi-rigid sets of steel like claws. The hefty blunt teeth of the creature came together with a metallic clanging snap, as its scaled bulk revealed itself, snarling aggressively, speaking in the tongue of dragons!
Corim didn't hesitate, letting his fury flood him. The creature had marked them as prey, they had to run it off or kill it now. "Topaz Wyvern!!! Hold nothin' back, the beast 'ave nae intent ta let us leave 'ere alive!!! Blood and Fury!!!!!" he roared, his own personal battle cry as he let the battle rage consume him, throwing himself at the large beast with every ounce of might he could muster.
The second of the eight types of wyvern on Valerick. Once again, they can be reasoned with.....sometimes. These are sapient creatures, so it is possible an encounter with them does not have to take this sort of turn, however like any of draconid kind, one should always proceed with extreme caution if thinking to attempt a social interaction. They are masters of their domain, apex predators, and if on the hunt are not known for being willing conversationalists. After all, would you talk to the lamb your intending to kill for your dinner? I think not.
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