Day 196 // Open

[wayofvoice]

Who: Paarthurnax and folks
Open: Open
When: 196, in the evening
Where: By the river
What: Amongst the things from a land of mountains and frost: a pair of gloves meant for more than thieves. A creation of metal and steam and other things from a race that didn't need the Calamity to do themselves in. Glowing plants that chime.
Format: any
Warnings: Grampadragon is harmless (usually). No guarantees for the rest of the losers in the Bastion.


In the absence of the group that head to Sky Haven Temple, the Bastion has brought something to fruition for Paarthurnax. In the evening as the dragon returns, he circles about before landing by the riverside to inspect his new prizes.

The most notable is an enormous construct which shines in the light of the dimming sun. It almost seems to breathe in and out, but that's just the puff of steam which exit from it- a sign it's active if nothing else although it doesn't seem to move. Draped across one of its arms are a set of gloves, a dark contrast against the brilliant metal.

The last of his acquisitions would be the plants which now are growing along the river's edge and amongst the shore of the lake. It's harder to tell in the daytime, but as it grows darker, one can see the pale green glow they give off. It's one constant, however, is the faint chiming noise that becomes readily apparent to any who are near to it.

Paarthurnax seems pleased with it all, inspecting the Centurion carefully and brushing his nose against the plants.

Comments

[notachickenhawk]

[It's the large construct that draws his attention first - well, aside from the giant dragon, that is. But the dragon is growing more and more mundane the longer he spends here, which he's not sure is a good thing. Tobias spirals around above both the dragon and the Centurion, calling out in thought-speech down to Paarthurnax.]

<That thing's not gonna shoot me, is it?>

[wayofvoice]

[It takes him just a moment to remember thought-speech, and Paarthurnax raises his head to look up at the hawk circling above.]

Nid, it cannot do such a thing. It was made for the Dwemer's tunnels and buildings- best for close combat. Besides, it should not attack any of the Bastion.

[notachickenhawk]

<Okay.>

[He glides down, landing on the grass nearby. He tilts his head one way, and then the other. It looks pretty cool. He's not a mechanic, he's more of an artist at heart, but the little of the parts he can see through the seams of the thing look really complicated.]

<What is it? And what's a Dwemer?>

[wayofvoice]

They called it a Centurion.

The Dwemer were an old mer- an old race of elves. They were far beyond all other races when it came to learning... The things they crafted, such as this, have still not been copied by the races of my time. Technology, architecture, magic... Those were just a few of the things they have become famous for.

Yet they were also arrogant and cruel. Such a thing became their undoing. [Paarthurnax breathes heavily through his nose.] Their own Calamity. Only their creations were left behind when my world was still whole.

[dragonform]

The sight of the strange device arouses Ryu's curiosity as he approaches, his hand instinctively drifting near his sword if the machine suddenly comes to life and attacks. Though the fact Paarthunax is so close to the creature without it attacking seems to indicate it's friendly, or at least inactive.

"Drem yol lok, Paarthunax." He answered, with a bit of a smile on his face. He had certainly been practicing in his mastery of the language. It wasn't common for Ryu to use much of Paar's native language up to this point, but the more confident he felt in it, the more he felt he should use it speaking as one dragon to another.

"I've never seen a machine like that before, though we had robots powered by Chrysm Ore where I come from." He explains, approaching the Centurion a bit closer, though it's plain to see he's a little apprehensive about the robot's presence. Once bitten, twice shy as the saying goes.

[wayofvoice]

If it was possible for Paarthurnax to smile, then he certainly would at the sound of one of his young students speaking to him in his language. Unfortunately, creatures of his nature often only revealed the threat of teeth when trying, and so he simply settled for turning his head and letting out a chuff of warm air over the boy. "Drem yol lok, Volgyol."

He moves aside just a bit to allow Ryu more room to investigate, even if he seemed hesitant. "It is a Centurion- of Dwemer make. Only their race could craft such things. They were intelligent. Clever. It was their undoing in the end, along with arrogance, but their craftsmanship shows with such things as these in Skyrim still."

[dragonform]

The sight of the larger dragon's teeth would have done nothing to stir fear in Ryu's heart. As far as he was concerned they were distant kin, even if his experience being with other dragons was extremely limited. On hearing his name, he smiled. It was one decided by Paarthunax, and once he had learned its meaning, he found the name very fitting.

"Machines seem to have a knack for sticking around for a long time." He replied, examining the Centurion closer. "Momo would have liked to learn about the Dwemer. It sounds like something straight out of the Techno Age she taught us about." There's a small, sad smile at the memory. For all he lost even before coming to the Bastion, there were certainly times when loss weighed heavily on his heart. He has a feeling he would eventually come to outlive all of his friends, but he didn't ever want it to happen this soon.

"If my still living is any indication, I wouldn't have counted the Dwemer completely gone. At least before the Calamity."

[freedom_engineer]

Colin's approach is visible from quite some distance. The glint of metal in his hands indicates that he's working on something, as he has been doing every day since his return from his own portion of the skyway.

Still, the appearance of something big like that Centurion is enough to catch his attention, and he's coming out to see it. Once he sees the gloves on the golem, he grins and looks at Paar. "Something new has been added, eh Paar?" he asks curiously.

[wayofvoice]

At the other's approach, Paarthurnax turns his head to look at him and gives a nod. "Greh. We do not have such technology as even the Bastion, yet there was a race in my world who were more advanced than the others. This is one of their creations, a Centurion." With great care, he maneuvers himself more around the hulk of metal and whistling steam and makes a nudging motion with his head.

"I had hoped you would find it interesting, if not of use."

[freedom_engineer]

"Interesting is certainly an understatement," Colin says, raising one hand in a pausing gesture. He retrieves his toolkit and puts away the tool he had in his hands, and tucks his project away in one of his numerous pockets. With his gear safely stowed away, he approaches the Centurion and walks around it, studying it with plainly evident curiosity. "It's always fascinating to see early successes in the field of bipedal automatons. In spite of how we all make it look, being able to walk is one of the great challenges of the world, remarkably difficult to teach to artificial creations."

He smiles at the Centurion, and cants his head slightly. "You got a name?" he asks. He doesn't want to assume that it might not be sentient if it could be, and frankly, he's seen less advanced things with feelings.

He does doubt that Paar would bring in an artificial life form like that, but it never hurts to check.

[daughterofursa]

Zuko was just making a late visit to the turtle ducks. The glowing, chiming plants which the reptile-birds have discovered might have been cause enough for curiosity, but that thing across the river is about as conspicuous as they come. It's also a bit alarming, although whatever it is, Paarthurnax seems to have it under control.

Still, she finds herself making an absent and entirely unnecessary 'stay here' motion to the turtle ducks and making her way across the river. Closer up, it's most definitely not a statue; those are gears. And it seems to be... steam-powered?

"What is that thing?" It's like some sort of machine soldier. In the back of her mind, she wonders if there's some world where this qualifies as a person. It doesn't, right?

[wayofvoice]

That seems to be the question many are asking today, but Paarthurnax does not mind. Even back in Skyrim, such a question would not be unfounded. Only those who ventured into the Dwemer ruins or perhaps natives to Markarth would have grown used to these creations. They were an oddity and a marvel still for them there. Here, it appears that many feel the same way.

"It is a Centurion," he explains, patient tone as always. "In my world, elves known as Dwemer could craft them and other marvels. They were more advanced than anyone else in the history of that place, but their arrogance lead to their disappearance. Only their handiwork remained. Ah, but it is fine work indeed to last for so many years."

[daughterofursa]

Zuko doesn't know what an elf is, but she surmises that amounts to 'man-made.' She moves closer, peering cautiously up at it.

"Can you make it fight for you?" Like many things around here, she isn't certain how that would work, but she can't imagine what other purpose it has with those weapons apparently grafted to its arms.

[heptagram]

[Patchouli hasn't been in terribly high spirits lately. Not nearly so sad, but really, this whole thing where the Bastion reminds her that the only person she knew who she even felt she had something almost resembling a normal relationship with (yes, she probably did more with the little demon girl and she was probably of greater importance, but Patchouli didn't even know her name) was very, very dead? It was getting to be annoying as fuck.

But you know what isn't? That huge mechanical thing. When did the Bastion get mechs? So, she's mostly going to sit back and admire it for a while.]

[wayofvoice]

[Once it's apparent that Patchouli isn't going to be moving on anytime soon, Paarthurnax gives a nod to her.]

Drem yol lok. You have not seen a thing such as this before?

[heptagram]

I cannot say that I have, and truly it is a impressive machine. I... assume it's proper to call it such. Regardless, it remains impressive.

[gianthobo]

[The person who wanders up to Paarthurnax is kind of not a person, at least not in the usual sense. It's Eevee, who bounds through the grass towards him, Floette following behind. The younger one stops as she gets close, jumping up to try to paw at Paarthurnax's snout.]

[ourlegends]

[ Zorua saw her sister leaving with Floette and she just HAD to follow her for an adventure! She's running so fast after Eevee that she can't seem to stop herself, though.

So, in her attempt to stop before reaching Eevee, Zorua trips over her own feet and rolls.

And.

Well.

Crashes right into the back of her sister. Oops. ]

[wayofvoice]

[Paarthurnax is already more than happy to keep his nose down for the little Eevee, and gives an amused puff of air when the Zorua comes barelling in to join.]

Ulaakei, mal gein.

[skysung]

Kitten comes running up to Paarthurnax in a fit of curiosity. "You spent your shards? What are they? They are from your world?" The plants and that giant construct.

The dragon wants explanations and learning, though she'll be just as happy if it turns into storytime.

[wayofvoice]

Seeing Kitten come running up so eagerly makes Paarthurnax chuckle, and he lowers his head. If the smaller dragon wants to clamber about, she's more than welcome to. Paarthuranx has proven himself to be more than patient with her.

"Drem yol lok Loklovaas. Geh, Zu'u lost mii osos do fos Zu'u lost. Ahvus los for vusarum. Kiindah do gelt ahrk lomos los Lotdwinaar, wahlaan naal joriin wo lost lingrah sizaan us faal Calamity."

[skysung]

Kitten chirps happily and huffs a breath up at Paarthurnax as he lowers his head, the air heated with her magic. She leans her tiny snout against his much larger one.

"Is nirnroot edible? How does the centurion work? Is it entirely mechanical or is there also magic involved in its workings? What was the civilization that made it like?" Unfortunately, Kitten's speech being mind to mind means she has no need to stop for breath between questions. As usual, she asks several questions before bothering to wait for answers.

[littlerat]

[ ... Is it alive? Is it asleep?

Red actually has to ask himself when he comes to the lake at the lake evening, coming back from a trip out on the Skyway and looking to let his pokémon have a breather out and a drink. He doesn't approach close to inspect the large form, being more wary and walking to a part of the river not too close beside it. He sets down his bag, spotting Paarthurnax there. Ah. ]

... Drem yol lok. [ Greetings first, even if it does come out sounding distracted. He nods his head towards the construct. ] A friend of yours?

[wayofvoice]

Drem yol lok. Nid, it is not a friend, simply something created. It is a gift for a friend, however.

[littlerat]

Is it alive? [ Yeah, let's get this question out of the way. ]