Chieftain POV

It wants me to....to shake the claw of it's scion. I need to be put at risk of that thing...Poppit...for it to offer my people a chance at some safety. At security, and the chance to try and thrive. Then it clicks, they are asking for a show of fait, a show of trust. If I cannot trust them, and their scion, to not harm me, then how could they trust us into their domain, their home. So, that is what shall be done then.

Steeling myself and gathering the courage needed, with small, hesitant steps, I'd approach the scion, hand outstretched. To my surprise it either recognizes the gesture, or is being commanded by it's master, as it slides down over the back of my throne. It's long body resting in the seat slightly, it's hinds still out of sight as it raises it's fore's enough to grip my hand between it's claws and shake up and down. The exuberant energy of that shake though is the most unnerving thing, it shows just how quick this creature can be...when it so desires.

Curator POV

Good, the lil skinkson gets it that trust is a two way street. Now that the formalities are out of the way, lets start with the more pressing things.

'Good, good. Seems we have an accord. Now then, I have need of your shaman, in my domain, for a bit prior to the rest of your people coming out to join. To facilitate this, we would like to use one of your sand board things for the shaman to ride upon or something similar should they need to sit while Poppit pulls it through the sands to bring them to me. Once they are here, Poppit will return to keep your people safe, and help as he sees fit. I'd recommend asking him nicely if you need a hand with something. Once me and the shaman finish our lil pow-wow, Poppit will let the rest of you know, and guide you to my domain.'

"Wh...why me?"

'Because, you realized what was going on, warned your chieftain, and held your wits enough to actually speak with me. You sought dialog first, not at the tip of a spear, or from a seat of power, but from a place of wisdom. I find such things deserving of praise, and care in nurturing. Simple as that.'

-That, and you know things I need to know. Not to mention wise enough to understand what it means to truly be a confidant and would be the least likely to betray any of my secrets.-

Stolen story; please report.

Instructions given, my focus and view would pull back to my actual domain, looking around at the lack of anything truly noteworthy or grand. Lets fix that...some, shall we?

While I want to build in adobe, that'd work best for things like dwellings, storage, other 'lived in' buildings that will likely need repairs as people, well, live in them. For now, I need a place to properly house myself, and, while it seems my abilities don't let me move directly, we could have that as a task for the shaman. Taking a look at what mana is visible in my form, it seems just this little excursion has paid me handsomely, with two full, and one forming, band of that mana available.

Now then, time to take some lessons from a game I very much used to enjoy. It's not the exact natural process for this, but, it was right, sandstone really is just very compressed sand, and I did want to dig down some where to find bedrock to properly quarry into. So this really is a two birds, one stone, type deal. Drawing sand into my pocket from what seems to be the southernmost edge of my current domain. Selecting what looks like a good spot just north of where I already am, the next phase of my construction would begin. Compressing the sand as it's dumped out of my pocket, really need to come up with a better thing to call it, and grinning like mad. Well, if I still had a face that is. I'd watch as slowly, rising up like a whale breaching the water, as sand pours down the pyramid I'm making. Watching it raise higher, but slower with every passing moment, letting it reach a height of about 20', it'd be mostly ready. Now we just add in a little column supported topper, with stone bars to all directions, and a lil pedestal for myself in the middle, a flight of stairs from the ground to the top on the east side aaaaand...done.

Just in time too it seems, as that partial ring is gone now, only faint lights and the two full rings left as I can feel Poppit getting close. He's much faster than I thought, even when hauling some one's scaly butt!

Shaman POV

It doesn't take long to get ready, instead of using a board which would require me to keep balance, we went with a hauling bowl. Big, relatively comfortable, more ominous feeling than it should be, and most importantly something my old bones can sit in.

"Thank you chieftain, for heeding my words. If this is the last we meet, be strong for our people."

As I give that heartfelt goodbye to the chieftain as though it's the last I will see him, the scion, Poppit, makes what almost sounds like a scoff and...rolls it's eyes? Well, if the scion thinks this is over the top, then, likely it's master means no harm for myself. Vahlu seems to pick up on this as well and clasps me on the shoulder.

"You'll be fine ya old rattle bones. Honestly, if it wanted us dead, we'd all be in Poppit's belly in bits and pieces. Or worse. You'll be fine, it probably want's to reward you some, or speak to you privately."

Upon hearing Vahlu's words, the scion would nod and tap it's upper mandibles together a few times. That probably means it agrees, or, is happy with what the hunter is saying. Then, with an astonishing speed I can barely follow it's grabbed the bowl and we are...flying across the sand with how fast it feels we're going. It's not long before our little campsite is completely out of view, the sands stretching, seemingly endlessly in every direction as it blurs by. Just as I start to feel sick, my nausea is completely forgotten as, wonder of wonders, a truly massive structure starts raising out of the sands a bit ahead of us.

"Stars have mercy..."