Come Vent Some Steam
Fluttershy was quite emphatic with her warning, and Rainbow Dash took her friend's concerns very, very seriously.
For the next few days ahead, the group steered clear of the fissures that were venting steam. This was because Rainbow Dash told them that—according to Fluttershy—there were living creatures at least five times the size of living ponies dwelling within the lower niches. Most of them were dormant and still, likely relying on the heated habitats for their cold-bloodedness. Nevertheless, Fluttershy was almost positive she sensed claws and barred teeth on the creatures' frames. The Herald had more than their fair share of slaughtered crustaceans for sustenance, so there was no immediate need to hunt more game—especially specimens so large and foreboding. Rather than wake any sleeping giants, they followed Rainbow as she (with Rarity's assistance) led them down sloped stone paths that were the most clear of fissures.
This turned out to be a fairly... taxing task. The narrow gaps in the earth were everywhere, and they were constantly venting steam. This made seeing them next to impossible; Rainbow Dash had to rely on Rarity a lot. However, even her senses were limited, and there were times when—without meaning to—she would inadvertenty lead the group down a dead-end that was cut off by sudden ravines dipping into the broiling depths. Rather than risk a run-in with a nasty beast, Rainbow insisted that the group double-back and seek another path to their objective.
Naturally, this only devoured a great deal of the group's time... and progress. Judging from the erratic patterns that they kept stumbling upon, it became swiftly apparent that there would be no straight line to their objective. One way or another, they would have to cross one of these hundreds upon thousands of fissures. What made the trek even more exhausting was the rising temperature in the air. The steam was most certifiably scalding, and while it wasn't exactly billowing everywhere, it made for a sweltering, humid environment. This sapped the strength from the group and made them precipitate profusely. As a direct result, their water reserves—resupplied handsomely by the Spindlers—were swiftly being depleted. For what it was worth, Kepler and Flynn had devised a way to capture much of the vented steam, condense it, then boil it once again before passing the water through an improvised purification system hammered together from spare Emeraldinian manatech. After all this effort and labor, barely a cup of drinkable water was produced. Twilight Sparkle put her brain to heavy use. Conveying instructions to Rainbow Dash, she was vicariously able to assist the Job Squadders intro improving the apparatus. But it still wasn't producing enough liquid to replace the rations they were losing. Either the group would have to arrive at a large body of water soon, or they would have to risk approaching one of the fissures to collect even more steam directly from the source.
Such would mean risking contact with the life forms dwelling below. Seeing how the Herald had progressed so deeply into this erratic landscape—and seeing how there was no telling how much further they had to go—Rainbow Dash decided that they would have to take the chance. Applejack and Pinkie swiftly agreed with her, and once Twilight Sparkle realized how exhausted Rainbow's traveling companions were getting, she convinced Rarity and Fluttershy that it was the best decision too.
Rainbow held a meeting with the rest of the Herald. There was very little reason to argue with her. Even Seraphimus showed an ounce of enthusiasm, insisting that they make fetching more water their top priority. Without hesitation, Kepler and Flynn worked on improving their purification device so that it could gather more steam within a shorter span of time. In the meantime, all four fliers—Rainbow, Ariel, Seraphimus, and Wildcard—went out scouting for the most suitable location. It was Ariel who spotted a superb spot: a fork in the vents nestled beneath a smattering of boulders. The earthen barrier could act as a natural bulwark against any sort of pouncing attack, Ariel suggested. Wildcard and Seraphimus agreed. What's more, Fluttershy only detected two living creatures there, and while they were larger than any single member of the Herald, the specimens were sizably smaller than the others she had sensed.
The moment of truth came about four days into the humid trek. If the group wasn't successful with gaining and purifying enough water, Rainbow Dash feared for their safety in the days to come. The Job Squadders approached the vent in question. Logan, Wildcard, and Seraphimus took point while Kepler and Flynn shuffled up with the apparatus. Ariel and Wildcard flew above the scene; both of them were armed with runic boomsticks, courtesy of Xarchellus' generosity on the Light Side. This situation felt like more than a sufficient reason to bring superior firepower.
The plan was to provoke the creatures hiding down below. Then—once they had burst out—the group would neutralize them just long enough to gather the required steam and then make a run back to the Wagon where three times as large a salvo of runes waited. The idea was daunting, to say the least, but the group was in a fight against time. Logan did the dirty work, grunting a command in moonwhinny that activated a mana-overburst in a cluster of runes. He then tossed the improvised grenade down into the steam-filled hole and jumped back, gripping his axe tightly.
Barely a second after the expected blast, two bodies of a startling blue color shot violently out of the fissure. Their speed was greater than even Fluttershy anticipated, and the air filled with guttural shrieks as the beasts evened out—landing atop the surface rock with ten thick legs fitted with iron hard claws. Their heads were narrow—like a shark's—and they possessed cartiligenous protrusions from their skulls that resembled the horns of stag beetles, only shimmering from top to bottom with passionate blue bioluminescence. The foggy air lit up in gray bands as both beasts thrashed their heads, bellowing to the stars. Nopony could make out their eyes; their faces were all teeth. At least three rows of them.
But then—as quickly as they had leapt to the surface—they both galloped briskly towards Omega, leapt high, and spread their five rows of legs. A fleshy membrane connected between each knee, and they glided desperately towards Omega, putting as much distance between themselves and the Herald without putting up so much as a fight.
This left the entire group blinking in disbelief. While they were glad that they didn't have to sacrifice any runes—or blood—to the present task at hoof, they were somewhat surprised that such predatory-looking creatures chose to pursure flight instead of fight. Kepler surmised that—as large and imposing and razor-toothed as the creatures were—there was an even more dangerous carnivore around... one that had been preying on these steam-basking creatures for so long that the beasts had chosen an anxious life of hiding beneath the rock over their natural-born instinct to hunt across the surface.
Judging from Merula's grim words back in the city, Rainbow Dash didn't need long to figure out precisely who that carnivore was.
The group took advantage of their surprise success. A full day was committed to harnessing as much steam as possible. Soon enough, Kepler and Flynn were able to fill all of their empty canteens with drinkable liquid. Satisfied—and more than a little bit elated—the group packed their things and continued forward with their journey. When they encountered more beasts, they attempted scaring the animals away like Logan had done the first time. They found they were successful on each occasion. Soon, the Herald had picked up speed, and they approached Omega with even greater zeal...
...and less than a day later, the steam vents finally dissipated, giving way to miniature rapids of trickling, crystal clean water.
Rainbow Dash found the nearest rock she could and struck her skull several times against it.
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Pain.
Ambush predators most likely, if an ambush fails they don't stick around to get mauled. Though something else might also hunt them, either way always nice to have less problems than anticipated. Rainbow almost certainly thinks so given the many things she has been through.
Rainbow, don't use your head that way.
You aren't a pachycephalosaurus.
Always the way.
You put all that effort into doing something perilous to retrieve some supplies... and very shortly afterwards you'll find what you risked a lot to get in abundance with no risk attached.
Rarity's geological sense couldn't have predicted that either, she can sense stone and earth, but not water.
-Through the path long forgotten, into the darkness long begotten. Ofolrodi.
I was really expecting there to be a crazy fight where a horde of those creatures were woken up.
Teeth made of rebar? No wonder they’re avoiding these things. /s
I kinda wish we had gotten more of a description of these things. I don’t think we’ve seen anything that big other than Abbadon herself on the Dark Side.
There's always a bigger fish... er... bug thing.
8796870
Given that they probably used to use the fog and steam as cover for hunting, hit and run tactics dividing groups of prey for easier catches, solo hunts could probably be done from the air, thanks to their membranous wings, gliding above the steam and fog.
I don't think it's a case of what was hunting the shark things, but whom.
They're in the territory of the lunar hunt, obviously.
Dang if those things are that terrified of the Bloodwings that is kind of nuts.
So, the Bloodwings have been running amok for so long that even the predatory wildlife has been conditioned to run away from anything Equine.
Also
Lel
10 legs woo wee. Life be weird down here.
Its stupid how much I grinned reading this chapter. I get the message Skirts, I'll shut up about the water now. No promises on anything else, though.
Seraphimus x Logan Ship Confirmation Chapter Counter: 18
These Bloodwings seem pretty intense, scaring an entire species of giant crustaceans/bugs (+ giant arachnids) into hiding. Still wondering why the Bloodwings spared the Spindlers when they had the chance to wipe them out completely.
8795728
I've wondered if it's possible to travel -through- the plane, myself. It'd be really neat if that were the case - but she'd have to not be murdered by them or the other warring factions before slipping in. I don't know how she'd manage that, but it'd be really cool if she did!
Stay here for a moment whilst I go and get some steamcreams
Ohhhhh the irony.
I'd do the same thing.
I have done the same thing.
Only replace hitting head with pounding back mellow yellow and a&w to sooth the nerves.
Why am I reminded of Mirelurks?
God dam I step away for half a year and you materialize 100 chapters.
I honestly don't know if I should keep reading because we aren't even halfway through the journey...
And ofolrodi's first 100 chapters were a fairly uncomfortable slog...
Thanks, bloodwings.
*Fasting intensifies*
8796922
If they truly feared the hunt, then surely their instinct would have pointed them in any direction other than Omega...
Aww, thats cute. theyre Roarks gear in Dashs colurs. Wonder if Dash can blend in like a Goat among Sheep?
Given the Sundering, it would e intresting at some other time to find out if the thermal area is a Oklow remains rector or a Machine World energy tap, if i didnt trigger some catastrophe or even mere disaster.
The visible steam is the safer one. If you cross a vent that has no visible steam coming out, theres a reasonable chance that the steam coming out is superheated invisible and perfectly capable of cooking chicken near instantly. That is, if the steam pressure of boiling body fluids doesnt do something out of a horror movie first.
Also, lots of water kept them alive from dehydration that last couple days.
Hmm, perfectly clear water, hopefully condensate on sterilised rocks and not crystal clear as in so mineral rich from passing though arsenic etc containing rocks that theres nothing living in it.
Well, now we have springs, that usually implies trickles, streams, brooks, rivers, rapids, cataracts and waterfalls, and thats before you reach the main river, never mind the edge of the ocean outflow.
This place is BIG.
In fact, did we ever find out even the appropiate scale from the maps? Orbital style single planetary width of 8-12 thousand miles North To South, by Lunar Radius, giving a million miles circumference but that would be only 120 thusand miles per 8th segment? Or would it be Ringworld with 100 thousand miles N/S, and 40 million miles per segment, which seems particularly excessive given Canterlot to the Edge would be like Earth To Mars.
8796910
Well, I imagined that living forest to be at least that big.
8796904
But can she sense mineral water?
8796978
You mean like... crabs?
This isn’t out of frustration. It’s headbutt practice. Gotta keep that brainbucket good and thick.
I'd say I'm worried about Rainbow giving herself brain damage, but...
Never mind, gathering water is still a challenge.
At least they have found the sauna district of the Dark Side. I wonder how these things survive down there without geeting cooked.
8797610
Her skull was smashed by an airship once. A few bangs against a rock are nothing in comparison.
8797417
shit
8798543
*raises eyebrow* I see your blue deer in a crossroad sign and raise you a dapper alligator in a top hat, good sir.
1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8VGfiir1NI/TWQzwjiMkuI/AAAAAAAAAG4/0RPy9fq5XqM/s660/MusePortrait.jpg
8797126
It really picks up steam. Especially this chapter.
Aww scardy monsters...
Did water come out of the rock?
To quote the great Zaponator: "Yeah, but I bet their pores are so exfoliated though".
"Let off some steam, Bennett."
Poor Dashie
i.imgur.com/Ixlev6v.png
Interesting...
No way they could have known, she shouldn't be so hard on herself. Count your blessings that no one has been injured so far.
05/10/2018
19:00 UTC
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I'm too lazy to go back and read those chapters, so...I'm assuming this is referring to the either the Austraeoh or the Bloodwings? I'm sure I'm wrong, but this line threw me for a loop.
8952033
I think it means the Spindlers themselves hunted for food there once.
Man - here I was thinking that he had to change his writing style from the first book out of necessity because of the introduction of more characters, but no, he’s doing it. Personally I like it more - I think it’s his strength as a writer. Obviously he can write good serious dialogue- but at least half the time it seems like it’s written in a way that appeals to his niche tastes. His best dialogue I think is the drawn out lore exposition anyway, which is kinda just like how he’s writing now.
XD
...Huh. Who knew a chapter with no dialogue would have humor?
Blind gliding stag-beetle/lizard/sharks? On the one hoof, awesome! On the other hoof, please no.
Understandable. That was some powerful irony.
Aw, poor Dash. All that work...
Big ooof.
Wow if this chapter isn't an allegory for life, then I don't know what is.