Alright. I can do this. It's been a while since I did any kind of diplomatic task… Maybe it's best if I treat them like animals? Do I still have that knowledge?

I wander through the mental constructs, examining them one by one; At the same time, I am

heading towards the collection of five minds I sense in the distance. Simultaneously, I am also composing music, building up a mental map of the area while noting objects of interest (of which there are a lot) and thinking up names for the children I have placed in the safety of a cocoon in the shoddy copy of home.

I arrive at the central cross, noting the oddness of the gray square below me compared to the more richly detailed surroundings. I've unspun the knowledge regarding dealing with animals, most of which doesn't seem applicable. Well, some of it might be.

Based of some of the knowledge I alter my path to walk down the twisted stonework, feeding the vision of the crystalline growths to my other thoughts.

The angular crystals provide inspiration for the musical composition and the naming process. They're also noted on my map. And provide inspiration for the name of my firstborn, Abyssmutine.

I consider sending out a greeting but realize these creatures may not understand the connection if I just start throwing thoughts at them. I hesitate and decide to slowly approach until they see me, that way I don't have to scare them. Yes, nice thinking, this'll work.

One of them sees me and they quickly reorder themselves in a proper greeting party, how quaint. The leader is even given a ceremonial staff… Should I have brought a staff? Oh no.

Well, I didn't have a staff anyway… Right, so let's do diplomacy.

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The ten-legged, many-eyed abomination steps through the streets, its skin is dark gray with colorful accenting all over its body. Six of its legs are up front, two on each side, like normal spider legs keeping its body off the ground, two underneath its head, with crab-like claws on it. The two legs on its back are again similar to a spider, but it also has two mantis-like jumping legs. The whole thing is the size of a small cart.

Overall, the thing is very intimidating.

That is why I can't help but snort when it raises one of its enormous front legs, extends it, and begins to wave wildly, presumably in greeting. I'm not going to lie, it does defuse the tension somewhat. That does not mean I'm letting any of the hapless victims behind me approach, because that's likely what they'd become should I let them.

"A giant spider is waving at us. This is amazing." The Refugee goes from incredulity to child-like wonder "God that thing is pretty" to appreciation in the span of a few seconds. All in all there seems to be very little fear; I'll have to make sure he doesn't do anything that'll get anyone else harmed. Great. Well, at least Shepherd seems to have gained some form of control over his temper, so I won't have to worry after him as much... Yeah, right.

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For the past 10 seconds, the thing has been waving at us without really stopping. It's not decided to approach further so I slip out of my combat stance, relaxing the grip on the staff, hesitatingly giving a wave back.

⟱⟱⟱

One of the creatures behind the leader has already waved at me, which I take as a good signal. However, the leader has not, perhaps it is a test. It takes a bit and my leg is getting tired, but after she eventually relaxes and waves back. Good, good I passed. Alright, what next, let's see.

Nythrim would be a good name too.

Oh, the nervousness is bleeding into the composing, hm, unfortunate.

Perhaps I could show them something humorous, yes that might work. Surely humor is something shared amongst intelligent creatures. Alright, as I focus part of my multi-focused attention on transmitting I send an image of something even small children of my kind would understand.

⟱⟱⟱

The spider stops waving and sits down on the spot. It seems to be thinking for a moment before it looks at all of us, an odd gleam to its eyes. A-

An enormous spider thing standing on a large fruit with a single leg, the rest of it keeping various eggs in the sky as it juggles them. Eventually attempting more and more complex movements which end up failing, the eggs breaking on its face, leaving it covered in egg goop. Finally it falls off the fruit with a sad wheezing noise.

I'm not the only one shook at the memory that gets blasted into my head. I quickly shift back to a combat stance as I regain my wits. The spider just seems to be waiting. After a bit those behind me regain their composure too, one by one, with the Shepherd and the Astronaut first.

I block the Refugee with the stick as he tries to get past me. "It's friendly. Either that or it's all going to eat us later anyway, so let's just assume friendliness." He says as he grabs onto the crook and fails to get it out of his way.

"Have you ever dealt with monsters before? I assure you, they can be tricky."

Refugee frowns in consternation. "I have not, but like I said, it's going to kill us if it wants to anyway, so I might as well attempt to talk to it."

"I'm not going to let you pass, it's too dangerous." I let a bit of steel into my voice, but he doesn't back down.

"And who put you in charge? Of this group and of me?" I have to say I was expecting this earlier, doesn't make it less annoying that it occurs now.

I raise the staff to let him pass. "I am not; Franky, I think I should be, but I'm not. If you go there, I will not come running when you get eaten."

⟱⟱⟱

The leader goes back to threatening for a moment, perhaps it did not like my joke. There seems a bit of a commotion as the leader speaks to one of its underlings. Perhaps they're not a band of adventurers as I first assumed. I consider a different track for my composition as I smash more syllables together for names.

The leader lets up after bit of intensified speech, letting the underling pass.

It approaches until it is within reach of me and sits down in front of me. Then it gives a slow wave as it makes some weird squeaking sounds. I am about to return the wave when I feel an intense pain in my back.

I cry out as I begin to roll, flailing with my hindlegs to push whatever is tearing into my carapace off.

⟱⟱⟱

I know what I told him, still I rush forward as the beast begins flailing at him. Of course I do. I keep to my tenets. They're all I have left of home.