Dirk heads down the largest hallway. It appears to open into a decently-sized room just ahead, the aperture surrounded by stenciled decorations long faded with moisture and time, with large shapes shuffling past the open entryway. There's enough of a dip in the wall where the elevators live for Dirk to duck around and steal surreptitious peeks inside.
The room looks very lived-in, but surprisingly organized, considering the extremely large and strange-looking boars rooting around in there. Piles of fruit and vegetables, their refuse, and some interesting plants are delicately tended to by each. The scene might be humorously idyllic save the pile of chewed bones joining their rank. A dedicated boar sniffs around the pile for decent candidates, smashes them into powder, and guides the pulverized powder into the transplanted soil where carefully cultivated plants grow. These, unlike the ones in the building's main entrance, are all brimming with things to eat.
In the center of the room is Eki. It's got to be Eki - something like a cross between a boar, a lion, and a horse, the creature is luxuriating in a pile of leaves and hay that uncannily resembles a throne with four, much smaller sows dozing around him. He's at least six feet tall at the shoulder, even lying down. His neck and face are draped in a thick, luxurious mane of golden brown fur, while the rest of his body is covered in dark brown, wiry fur, which doesn't hide a predator's powerful build. His pig's snout splits into two toothy sections in the jaw, with a set of massive, cracked tusks protruding through the creases of each. Protective folds of skin crease his little black eyes into a permanent scowl.
Dirk in particular will recognize where the 'throne' is built: Inside one of those large spinning machines, same as the one found in the locked bungalow in tile IX.
Eki is talking near constantly. Most of the little grunts and chuffs appear to be coming from him, with a slight delay in the translator kicking in. His voice continues to sound oddly muffled.
[Give me another status report.]
There's a pause.
[Still? Very well. Eki is patient. Keep them spread out. I'm hungry.]
One of the rotating boars - Dirk has caught sight of three so far - immediately trots over with a bundle of golden, grape-like fruits in its split jaws. It bows almost reverently as it deposits them on the ground in front of Eki, who waits for the boar to leave before dropping his neck to devour them.
no subject
The room looks very lived-in, but surprisingly organized, considering the extremely large and strange-looking boars rooting around in there. Piles of fruit and vegetables, their refuse, and some interesting plants are delicately tended to by each. The scene might be humorously idyllic save the pile of chewed bones joining their rank. A dedicated boar sniffs around the pile for decent candidates, smashes them into powder, and guides the pulverized powder into the transplanted soil where carefully cultivated plants grow. These, unlike the ones in the building's main entrance, are all brimming with things to eat.
In the center of the room is Eki. It's got to be Eki - something like a cross between a boar, a lion, and a horse, the creature is luxuriating in a pile of leaves and hay that uncannily resembles a throne with four, much smaller sows dozing around him. He's at least six feet tall at the shoulder, even lying down. His neck and face are draped in a thick, luxurious mane of golden brown fur, while the rest of his body is covered in dark brown, wiry fur, which doesn't hide a predator's powerful build. His pig's snout splits into two toothy sections in the jaw, with a set of massive, cracked tusks protruding through the creases of each. Protective folds of skin crease his little black eyes into a permanent scowl.
Dirk in particular will recognize where the 'throne' is built: Inside one of those large spinning machines, same as the one found in the locked bungalow in tile IX.
Eki is talking near constantly. Most of the little grunts and chuffs appear to be coming from him, with a slight delay in the translator kicking in. His voice continues to sound oddly muffled.
[Give me another status report.]
There's a pause.
[Still? Very well. Eki is patient. Keep them spread out. I'm hungry.]
One of the rotating boars - Dirk has caught sight of three so far - immediately trots over with a bundle of golden, grape-like fruits in its split jaws. It bows almost reverently as it deposits them on the ground in front of Eki, who waits for the boar to leave before dropping his neck to devour them.