Chapter Text
Crimson Dust Aka Mumbo Jumbo
Personality Traits (short version):
- - Proper gentleman
- - Overestimate people's understanding of his inventions.
- - Loves to work with red hermit stone and finding new ways to use it
- - Doesn't like meetings
- - Nervous around people
- - Says things like "it's quite simple actually" while explaining something very much not simple
- - Always covered in red dust
- - eats the red hermit stone (why? we don't know)
- - diamond dog (totally a normal diamond)
- - Totally not a shape shifter of any kind
- - Definitely not a love sucking bug
- - Diamond dogs are well-equipped for work in quarries and mines.
- - Claws as hard as titanium, perfect for digging out rock and stone.
- - Strong and slightly fire resistant
- - Fascinated by objects of power and magic.
- - Can’t stop moving.
Mini story:
Crimson Dust opened the door of his workshop. He let out the remaining smoky air from the studio. He was not only covered in sparkly red flakes as usual but also in a thin lay of soot from the explosion earlier in the day. Crimson looked up to the stars. The Aether’s moon was already halfway high in the lavender sky. He took a deep breath of the almost chilly air. He had missed dinner again. He would have probably missed lunch too if Terraform and Tripwire hadn’t stopped by for lunch. He was sure it was one of their many schemes to ensure Crimson takes the occasional break from his projects.
They had brought tuna sandwiches for lunch. Crimson hated tuna, but he loved his friends for their effort, even if it was slightly misplaced. Of course, the tuna was the least of the problems he would face today. First, the silver stone refused to take on the light spell he had prepared, then it was the horrible sandwich, and finally, there was the explosion. Trouble did seem to follow those two boys around. After lunch, Terraform asked if he could “borrow” some tools so he could tune up his wheelchair. Crimson knew that Terraform had all the necessary tools at home, and this was a thinly veiled excuse to hang out with the busy diamond dog. Dust thought about bringing up the ruse, but then again, he could never say no to his friends. He always feels so revitalized when he is with them. So against his better judgment, the canine agreed to let both the bird and sphinx hang out in his workspace. Terraform was no problem, quickly getting to work on his wheels. However, the red avian began to vibrate with trouble.
Tripwire could not sit still. Crimson could see he was trying, but energy buzzed just beneath his feathers like the charge of a lightning amulet. Tripwire flitted from his partner to Crimson and back to his partner. He bounced back and forth, just dying to be helpful in any way. Finally unable to bear the longing green-eyed stare no longer he had agreed to let Tripwire be on runner duty. If Crimson needed a tool, a piece of scrap, or a specific gem for his machine, he sent Tripwire deeper into the garage-like space to retrieve it for him. His second mistake was letting Tripwire roam the shop without supervision. Honestly, he knew how Tripwire was around buttons. Buttons of any shape or size was something his bird brain could not get enough of. The allure button pressing was too much for the young mane to withstand. Crimson had sent him to find a large piece of copper. Unfortunately, Crimson remembered too late that the copper was stored underneath the large work table that just so happened to be home to Crimson’s experimental “party in a box”. Crimson was not exactly the party type but this had been a commission. The device currently was unusable. The magical elements were still violently unstable. When activated, instead of erupting into an exciting cacophony of cake and streamers, it just blew up into smoke and frosting. The glossy pink button was just too beautiful to resist.
Crimson remembered just a second too late, even before Crimson could turn around and shout a warning to Tripwire there was a bang, and the room filled with smoke and a saccharine-sweet scent. Within a couple of seconds, Crimson's hearing returned to him and the smoke in the room began to thin. He could hear everyone coughing, trying to clear their lungs. The diamond dog made his way towards his bird-like compatriot. Thankfully he was unhurt. However, he now was covered head to hoof in sugary pink frosting. Terraform said something about Tripwire getting his “just desserts'' before Crimson shooed both of his friends out of the workshop. He wasn’t mad at Trip, he even offered to stay and help clean up, but Crimson Dust just needed to recuperate by himself.
Crimson was shaken out of his thoughts with another gust of wind. He looked down seeing a small red feather, held to the earth with a sticky glob of pink icing. He let out a little laugh at the thought of Tripwire’s surprised face and Terraform rolling on the ground laughing. A warm feeling of love filled his chest. As annoying as they could be, Crimson wouldn’t trade his friends for the world. As he stood there thinking about his friends, the sky was growing darker. His eyes were becoming heavy with the need for sleep. He nearly rubs his eyes only to remember how his paws were covered in the shiny red dust he loves so much. He grabbed a cloth from his bag and wiped the red dust first from his face and then his paws. He’d have to go mining again for more material tomorrow. And with that thought, he started off for home.
Background:
Crimson Dust is a Diamond Dog that lives in the Hermit Valley Settlement. Known for their love of jewels and gems, diamond dogs are well-equipped for work in quarries and mines. They have claws as hard as titanium, perfect for digging out rock and stone. In addition, they tend to have incredibly stronger upper bodies to aid in the extraction and shaping of gems and metals. On occasion, they have also been known to aid them in combat. They are tough creatures with thick hides and dense bones. In addition, they have a fantastic sense of smell that they use to help them identify what stones and metals lay beneath the earth and where to begin digging. While it is not uncommon to find diamond dogs in towns or villages, they can mostly be found in pairs or larger packs making homes in or close to natural mines or caves. They can feed on meat and gems much like how dragons do. Diamond dogs are usually found doing hard labor jobs like construction or farming. It is rare to see diamond dogs as tradesmen as most dogs lack the necessary fine motor control for small detail work. That is where Crimson Dust begins to stray away from the typical dog.
Lore:
As a young pup, Crimson had been fascinated by objects of power and magic. Objects that had been imbued with magic to give that object certain effects, qualities, or abilities. This magic was often stored or channeled within precious stones. Crimson wanted to learn how the many non-magical creatures were also able to create objects of power. Crimson did not have physical magic like a unicorn. Instead, he looked to books and scrolls to learn about geo-magic. He learned how to create and harness magic from the earth itself. With the right ingredients and clear intentions, nearly anything was possible. With his ever-growing skill and knowledge in arcane spells, Crimson worked to become an artificer, enchanter, and mechanist. By combining all 3 of his disciplines, Crimson began to construct marvelous machines. They were made of metal and powered by magic and stone. What stones and spells he uses depends on what Crimson wants to achieve. He could use energy-charged gems to act as a generator for machines usually reliant on steam power. He can enchant items to be lighter or sharper or for a saddlebag to carry more items. He creates complex automated machines on a daily basis. He is a great inventor, shy, and socially awkward. He would do anything for his friends even if they get on his nerves sometimes. He is known in many regions beyond Hermit for his intelligence, his magic/mechanical prowess, and his eye for detail.
Crimson Dust is best known for his work with Red Hermit Stone, a brilliant crimson stone that can be used in many ways. Power is naturally found in the red stone, causing it to glow, and spark when touched. In addition, the stone is naturally brittle when not charged with any other magic. Because of this, it is known to leave glittery red dust everywhere.
The gleaming red stone is a favorite of Crimson’s to do spellwork with. He will often use it as an important component of his magical mechanical machinery. It is an excellent conduit and conductor of mystic energy. It is also easy to shape in its raw form. Crimson is often seen walking out of his workshop with his paws covered in dust, and his face smeared with flex of the shimmering red stone.