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

[daughterofursa]

"Ryu suggested writing things down about our worlds, but I don't know that anyone else here could read it if I did." She considers that a moment. "I guess learning someone else's language wouldn't be a bad idea."

[wayofvoice]

"It is always something you can try." There's a small chuffing noise that might be a laugh. "Perhaps it will give those in the future something to puzzle over."

The idea of another student has him pause, however, and he gives a nod. "It would be my honor. I have been teaching the others already. Perhaps it will interest you."

[daughterofursa]

"A cryptic piece of writing isn't exactly the legacy I'd hope to leave behind," Zuko says wryly.

At his wording, she remembers her manners and gives a quick bow, fist to palm. "No, I would be honored, to learn from a dragon. I'll try to make a good student."

[wayofvoice]

In turn, Paarthurnax bows his own head. "That you are willing to learn shows that you are already good." He straightens himself somewhat, a taller position than his usual method of traversing while earthbound. "You may come to lessons whenever you wish, or seek to speak with me privately. I only insist you learn one phrase first here- drem yol lok." It's said carefully and clearly. "Peace fire skies. It is the greeting one gives to another."

[daughterofursa]

"I wouldn't be too sure about that. Even Uncle lost patience with me sometimes." Although she likes to think she's matured since those days, especially having some experience now as a teacher herself.

"Drem.. yol lok," she repeats. The pronunciation is a little awkward for her, but she manages. And she certainly approves of her first words to be learning. "So 'yol' is 'fire' then."

[wayofvoice]

So far, it has been awkward for most of his students. Paarthurnax has come to expect it. When she correctly deduces the meaning, he gives a nod. "Correct. At least, to the tongues outside that of mine. But fire is not merely fire. It is more than that." His head tilts to the side curiously. "Do you know?"

[daughterofursa]

Zuko nods. As a firebender, it's something that means a lot to her. It could never just be a word.

"Where I come from, dragons were the original firebenders. I had the great honor to learn from the last living masters. Fire isn't just fire. It's an energy you carry inside of you. It can be dangerous without the proper control, but with it, it isn't just destruction. It's life, too."

[wayofvoice]

It is somehow not surprising to hear that even in other worlds, others similar to his kind have such a connection with fire. Ice, time, life- dovah controlled many things. Yet it always seems as if fire has been one of those which sang to them the most- the one word whose whisper was most persistent. It seems to be the same to others.

"Very good. Your masters have taught you well and true. Fire is change given form. It is power. Yet it is useless without action and choice. Motionless. Inert. When one gathers that power within their breath-" A nod to Zuko. "-or in their actions, it is something that must always be thought of. Fos fen hi ag? Fos fen hi lif? That is to say- what will you burn and what will you spare? My kin did not often think of such things. They thought all was to burn. I would have taught them otherwise, if they had listened."

[daughterofursa]

She frowns thoughtfully. That kind of arrogance and disregard for balance is not something she would have expected from dragons. But the ones in her world were animals--intelligent ones, but still animals--and more in tune with the natural world. Paarthurnax's kind were different; they were people, and people are more fallible.

"My people became the same way... They thought they had all the power in the world, and that we were meant to use it to control the world. My father even wanted to destroy, and remake it.

"I had hoped to redeem my nation, before this."

[wayofvoice]

Now this is a tale Paarthurnax has heard before. "Then we share similarities," he says gently, a huff of warm air being puffed out to the young girl. "My brother wanted similar... Although it would have been better for him to stay to his original purpose in life as world eater.

"Yet with him gone and others of my kind still thriving, I had been wanting to teach them better ways myself. Bring them at peace with the world even if the world would never be entirely at peace with them."

[daughterofursa]

"Maybe it could have been, eventually. After all, I don't think there's a single person here who has a problem with you." They may not have spoken much before now, but Zuko has still gathered that Paarthurnax is one of the most respected members of the Bastion.

"I guess... they don't have many problems with me either." That one's a little harder for her to admit, but even the arguments she's had with people? They don't really compare to being thought of as an enemy or a traitor.

[wayofvoice]

Paarthurnax gives a bow of his head, grateful. "I am thankful for that. I have not had a chance to speak to so many in quite some time. It is a chance I relish." That is not to say the Greybeards were not good company. They were good students and ultimately good people. However, it was still a self imposed exile. To see the Dragonborn back in Skyrim was the most that had happened to him in some time.

"This place, for all the sadness and loss it carries, is indeed one of new beginnings- of clean slates. There is no need for anyone to have issue with you, unless you bring it."

[daughterofursa]

"I don't know about a clean slate," Zuko says with a shake of her head. "Maybe no one else knows who I've been, but I do. It's just... nice, if people don't have that in their minds when I meet them."

It isn't really the first time that no one's known her, but in Ba Sing Se and on Ember Island, she'd been too wrapped up in her own issues to care.

[wayofvoice]

"That is true. Sometimes, no others remember our actions better than we ourselves do. I carry my own past with my always, and always shall." A low sigh. "All the more reason to be thankful."

[daughterofursa]

"So you used to believe the same as your people?" Zuko guesses. It would make sense. "Can I ask what changed your mind?"

[wayofvoice]

"I certainly cannot stop you from asking." It's not a refusal, however, and Paarthurnax begins to settle more against the ground of the Bastion. "However, it is somewhat a long tale. I would not wish to keep you, should you have other things you must attend to."

[daughterofursa]

She shakes her head; this late in the day, there isn't much she needs to be doing with herself. Her evenings can be a little lonely, truth be told. "No. I've got the time to listen, if you don't mind telling it."

She wants to be sure, although she doesn't think he would offer if he minded.

[wayofvoice]

"Then you may wish to settle down as well. It is something of a long tale..." That's why Paarthurnax has made himself comfortable, after all. He takes a moment to think. In Tamriel, it would have been easy enough to get into it, but here he wishes to make sure everything is clear.

"Of Gods- what did your world have or know of them?" That is a good place to start. The lineage of his kind is one of the most important parts of them.

[daughterofursa]

Zuko moves a little farther from the Centurion then and settles herself down cross-legged in front of Paarthurnax. She frowns thoughtfully at his question, but unlike demons, at least she's heard of gods.

"My people didn't believe in any. There were the spirits; I guess some of them were thought of like gods."

[wayofvoice]

Paarthurnax gives a nod. That is good enough for his purposes.

"In Taazokaan, there are nine Gods that are worshipped amongst many of the lands. They are known as the Nine Divines. Their ranks consist of Zenithar of Work and Commerce, Talos of War and Governance, Stendarr of Mercy and Justice, Mara the mother and goddess of love, Kynareth of Nature, Julianos of Wisdom and Logic, Dibella of Love and Beauty, Arkay of Life and Death..." After this long list of names, Paarthurnax gives a respectful bow of his head.

"The leader of them all is Bormah, Akatosh, creator and father of all dov, all dragons."

[daughterofursa]

Those are a lot of abstract things to have gods for, things Zuko normally considers to be the inventions of people. There isn't much in that list to do with the elements or the natural world except for that Kynareth. But she doesn't give this too much thought, because most of them don't seem important to Paarthurnax's story, and anyway she never gave the spirits that much thought either.

"Wait. All dragons, including you?" Somehow it doesn't sound like he's talking about ancestors.

[wayofvoice]

Ha ha what ancestors.

Paarthurnax gives another nod. "All dragons, including myself." Another low chuckle rumbles about in his throat and leaves him. "Is this surprising?"

[daughterofursa]

"It's definitely not much like the dragons I know." Even dragons from other worlds, like Skysong, seem to have parents.

"...how old does that make you?"

[wayofvoice]

Paarthurnax rolls his head from side to side for a bit, seeming to think on it. He's been asked this before, yet it still always seem to give him pause.

"I passed five thousand some time ago... I am afraid the exact number of years is something I have not kept track of. Lom do tiid shun hond grik puvah."

[daughterofursa]

"That's... a long time." Zuko knows there were still older beings in her world, but they were either spirits or legends, neither of which you sit down and chat with in a field.

"I can't imagine how much you've seen change."