thebastion | Day 270 - Let me tell you about Skyrim

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Day 270 - Let me tell you about Skyrim

Who: Paarthurnax
When: 270
Where: All throughout the Bastion
What: So Paarthurnax went shopping...
Format: I'll match

As the sun rises on the Bastion, it becomes increasingly clear to its residents that it is considerably more lively than the previous day had seen set on.

It's perhaps immediately obvious to any who venture near the lake. On the Bastion's side, there are enormous walrus-like creatures that seem to stick close to the water, either submerged in it or lounging on shore. Opposite of them, on the Dragonfield's side of things, are what appear to be rocks at a distance... But did that just move? It seems that Mudcrabs are also inhabiting the area.

Further along, in the trees of Dragonfield, foxes can be seen weaving in and out of trees with coats of brilliant red or eye-catching white. They seem playful enough, and seem to, for some strange reason, congregate near certain trees more than others... Did that branch creak? Did you see something move out of the corner of your eye? Don't worry about it. The Bastion's Spriggans are just shy. At least there are new juniper trees as well, available for harvesting. As for those who go out onto the Skyway and regularly pass the Mammoths, they'll see these massive beasts have newer and much smaller companions: elk which pass between the large legs with apparently little bother.

For any wondering where all these new creatures have come from, well, the answer is probably obvious. Paarthurnax is dwelling about Dragonfield, checking on the root-like plants which are growing over the rocks of the not-mountains and nosing the newest kind of Nirnroot which glows pale pink and sounds just a bit off compared to its greener cousin. Following him as he inspects his most recent purchases are a Dwarven Sphere and a Dwarven Spider, the latter balancing a jar of... Are those teeth?

Regardless. Feel free to speak to the old dragon as he goes about his business, or simply investigate all these fascinating new things.

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Otoha isn't really a morning person, but once he's dragged himself out of bed and outside, it's clear that there's more activity in the field. He's never really examined this area closely, since... well. He supposedly 'has no fear' but he's not really eager to get chomped on by a dragon.

But the new plants have him interested, and he crouches by some ash creep, touching it and sniffing the air to see if it reminds him of any plants he knows. ... No, not really. But as he continues looking at the new plants, he heads straight towards Paarthurnax and freezes as he gets close, hand on his sword.

Fortunately, Paarthurnax has quite the reserves of patience and is hardly unused to swords being drawn on him. He pauses as the individual freezes up, and inspects him with a calm eye. Relatively a newcomer, if he recalls, and one he has not spoken before. Politely, he gives a small bow of his head to him.

"The ash creep has grown well," he says, as if Otoha isn't about to attack him. "I am glad of this. It is a useful plant, in skilled hands."

Otoha lets out a breath, and lowers his hand. Not the same kind of thing. Not that he can't draw his blade quickly if he needs to, but... at least this one doesn't look like it'll attack right away.

"... Is it? I've brewed potions before, but I don't know this plant." There's a lot of plants he still doesn't know, though. And he can't read any of the books he's seen around.

"It grows on the island of Solstheim. Considering that none from my world are here, it is not unusual to know they are a foreign thing to most including yourself." Paarthurnax settles down as he speaks, preparing for a conversation.

"They strengthen the body's resistance to fire, amongst other things."

Otoha doesn't sit, but he doesn't need to. At least the dragon is in a more conversational range now.

"I've mostly just done healing potions, or things for pain. I don't... know that many. It's something that I had to pick up recently. Not for me. For other people."

... Yokai count as 'people', right? Eh. It's a vague enough descriptor.

"Have you considered taking it up once more?" Paarthurnax nods to the river, where the Nirnroot chime serenely. "There are many things here which do well with this plant, things which I have brought also. If you wait until the night falls, you may also find moths. Their wings take patience and knowledge to grind into the fine dust, yet it works well with the root of Ash Creep."

"Yeah. I'll probably need to find some books first... but I can at least try." He's not a doctor by any stretch of the imagination - he'd never been comfortable being called 'Doctor Karas' - but they need all the help they can get here.

... Something occurs to him, though. "... Do dragons have names?"

...Well. That's a first.

"Yes. I am known as Paarthurnax. May I know your name as well?"

It's not like he's ever talked to dragons before.

"... Paarthurnax." That's going to be hard to pronounce. "... Otoha. I'm... Otoha."

"Otoha. I see. It is a pleasure to meet you. If you wish, you may call me 'Paar'. Many who I have come to know here do such." He's not entirely certain how it caught on- perhaps it was Colin who started the trend. Still, he is nothing if not flexible.

"If you would like, I can suggest books from my land which may assist you. They must be bought from the Monument, however, and you must be certain it is in your own tongue."

"It's fine. What you call yourself is your business. Other people have to adapt to it, not you."

... It's not like anyone calls him by his given name anymore. "Maybe. I'll have to... get the books from the place I was staying at, too." He's quiet for a few more moments, before speaking up. "... You're not going to attack people here, are you?"

"I adapt because I wish to, and no other reason besides that." It's his own choice, after all. He could easily be like his kin- stubborn, unrelenting, cruel. It's not a part of his name he wishes to give into.

Because of this view, he's not particularly surprised at the next queston. "No. Only in self defense will I bear my fangs or raise my voice."

"Good. ... The last dragon I saw wasn't exactly friendly. Or -" What's the word he's looking for? "- it didn't have a mind of its own."

Finally he sits down on a rock, looking up at Paarthurnax. "Must be nice to be able to fly around here, though. It would be easier than walking."

"It has troubles of its own, yet that is true for any body of flesh. I am content as I am." He rolls his neck somewhat, getting the kinks out from it.

"Unfortunately, the wind is not so easy to navigate here. It can make flight a challenge."

"Huh. I guess I never had to worry about that when I flew. But I didn't do it much."

"Different places have different winds. All must be taken into consideration. For my kind, the wind and sky are the true masters of us."

"I don't know what I ran on when I transformed. Magic or something. I can't do it here. The will of the city isn't with me."

... Which is a little depressing if he thinks about it. But he tries not to think about it.

"What is this will of the city you speak of?" It's not something he's ever heard of either in Skyrim or here, and it has his curiosity.

How to explain it... "Each city has a will, I guess. I don't know if every city has one, but the big ones do. It... it's something that represents the city. It knows what all the problems in it are. And it chooses a protector, called a Karas. But sometimes Karas stop doing their job, and the will of the city picks someone new to replace them."

A fascinating concept, and one he wonders about. "What defines 'big' for a city, then?" There were holds in Skyrim which were large due to walls and defenses to keep them safe from the creatures that roamed the lands along with almost more unsavory people, and he has heard of even larger thriving cities, but he knows that there are no doubt larger especially with so many worlds out there.

"I don't know what the limit is. I think Shinjuku has... three hundred thousand people? And I think it covers about eighteen square kilometers."

Roughly. There's always fights about borders, of course.

"Three thousand is many." He turns his head to look back to the Bastion. It's at its largest that it's been in many months, but it is still minuscule compared to the cities that once were. "We have a long way to go."

"... It's definitely not what I'm used to. I'd... only rarely left the city. My whole life was there. I didn't see a need to go anywhere else, even if I was allowed to."

Reiji had talked about running away, but he'd never thought it would actually happen. They tried, but... well. That's where everything went wrong.

"And how are you adapting here, then?"

"It's... strange."

Not just because he suddenly has his own decisions to make.

"It's a lot different than what I'm used to, but it's... not so bad. I'm still getting used to how quiet it is."

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