Feast for the Psyche Bronze Zoth
| Feast for the Psyche Bronze Zoth | |
|---|---|
| Impressee | V'ret |
| Hatching Date: | 24 October, 2015 Day 4, Month 2, Turn 39 |
| Current Age: | 29 turns |
| Size: | 37.65 feet |
| Dam: | Selflessness Over Steel Gold Roszadyth |
| Sire: | King of Gore Bronze Lythronath |
| Lineage: | Here |
| Clutch: | Clutch:129 |
| Egg Credit: | Ulyana |
| Dragon Credit: | H'vier |
| Puppeteer: | H'vier |
Even in unpolished youth, this two-toned bronze has the promise of presence. He might have been merely a pale specimen, were it not for the heavy shadows that drip, as though wetly oozing, from the tenebrous ridges of his spine. That pattern, if it can truly be called such with its extreme irregularity, is unbalanced from one side to the other: absolute boundaries of dark swallowing light in some places, grisly smears to unite them in others. Though bright against their dark spars, his wingsails also bear the erratic splatters of arterial spray. He's a solid, strong creature, but age will whet his angles into ever sharper, ever harder lines, from his hooked muzzle down to his honed talons.
Contents
What Burns Beneath Egg
Green squares separated by white lines cover this egg nigh in its entirety, as if a map had been smoothed to the rounded surface. It even has clusters of cothold-blocky shapes, along with the larger green blotches of trees. Yet, something seems slightly amiss - or a mist, if one were to look closer at the base. Great cracks and fissures appear to have formed on the shell, but it's as much an illusion as the shifting gray and white smoke that billows as though to cover the rest of the too-settled terrain.
What Burns Beneath Egg shivers again. In the next moment, the map-like surface succumbs to the pressure within, fracturing dramatically into large chunks of shell -- which start to slide free like so many tectonic plates before they crash to the sands, revealing a coiled bronze hatchling. He rises, drawing himself up in a surprisingly fluid movement, and turns his head; he looks.
Feast for the Psyche Bronze
Even in unpolished youth, this two-toned bronze has the promise of presence. He might have been merely a pale specimen, were it not for the heavy shadows that drip, as though wetly oozing, from the tenebrous ridges of his spine. That pattern, if it can truly be called such with its extreme irregularity, is unbalanced from one side to the other: absolute boundaries of dark swallowing light in some places, grisly smears to unite them in others. Though bright against their dark spars, his wingsails also bear the erratic splatters of arterial spray. He's a solid, strong creature, but age will whet his angles into ever sharper, ever harder lines, from his hooked muzzle down to his honed talons.
Temperament
From the very moment of Impression, there's one thing you'll never be allowed to forget about your relationship with your lifemate, V'ret: for the rest of what he intends to be his long and impressive life, you belong to Zoth. It's not that he's particularly possessive of you, he'll encourage you to live your life, but there will be certain things to which he'll take exception should someone step over his boundaries of acceptable behavior. Though he'll often manipulate you himself, and even attempt to manipulate others to influence you this way or that, if anyone does it of their own accord? That will be an offense of the highest degree.
Like any hatchling, Zoth will love to eat. Unlike many, after the initial rush, he's inclined to savor his meat in deliberately savored bites. This can take some time, especially once he has to do most of the work himself, but he's reluctant to be hurried through what may become something of a ritual. And when he can kill for himself... he'll be merciless. What he doesn't do is purposely scare his prey before it's caught, though some of that's unavoidable in a dragon of any age; Zoth would like it much better if it never knows he's coming. Once he has it in his claws, though, it's game over; he may even develop a certain pleasure in feeding meticulously around the most vital organs to keep that prey alive as long as possible. He may even save you the choicest organs from time to time. It's little use to suggest that he try to be more humane. « I never feel guilty eating anything. »
Zoth may well grow into a master manipulator. He's fascinated by how others think, how they react to the world around them, and how that interaction can be guided in ways he deems interesting. As a weyrling, however, this preoccupation will lack finesse. Until the competency of experience smooths out the wrinkles, he won't be as subtle or smart in his attempts. Then there are rules, to the taste of neither of you; he's not one to take 'no' gracefully, and he's happy to interpret those rules liberally -- or break them and leave you both to take the consequences. If you lay down the law to withstand him, he'll care for that less. Zoth might even try to assure the weyrlingmasters that you've been breaking an important rule (at least by his interpretation) and exaggerate his distress. All of this is likely to attract attention -- the more he acts up, the closer they'll watch -- leaving it up to you, V'ret, to try and make this workable. Good luck.
When he finally grows into himself, Zoth may well be a force to be reckoned with, for you and for others. (At least many of his siblings are forces in their own right!) As his ability to manipulate becomes more adept, he may enjoy attempting to provoke them, to watch how their emotions play out, to see what will happen when he guides them this way or that. What happens if he knots Aidavanth up in the logic of her passionate altruism? If subtle doubt of Quarinth's prowess pushes him to defend his honor? Zaisyreth is fun, if you destroy his zen, and Asaroth? That's more difficult, but Zoth does love a challenge. If you don't keep an eye on him, V'ret, his drive to test the emotional limits of the world around him could cause real harm. Unfortunately for the world around him, Zoth can be remarkably easy to talk to, a great listener and, to some, a convincing friend. Until he isn't. « Words are living things. They have personality, point of view, agenda. »
Zoth's not really ambitious in the traditional sense. Oh, power is fine, but with temporal power comes responsibility, and there's more freedom to be had behind the scenes than out in front. Having the ear of those in power is a delightful prospect, if only to escape the consequences of his impulsive desires. In adulthood, that will likely mean at least seeming to follow the rules, though Zoth may never truly enjoy the necessity of that. If he can manage at least some respect for his eventual wingleader, that's all the better; else, he tolerates drills and weeps only as needed to get what he wants.
It's not only him you'll have to watch, either. Zoth is in your head in a way he could never be in anyone else's, and you can bet he'll take advantage of that fact whenever he can. Sometimes, he'll simply make it so easy to give in. Other times, you may suddenly wonder if something's your own idea, or if Zoth's influence is 'helping' you along. It's not always a bad thing. While initially he may not care whether he dines on a stringy beast or a plump one, he's likely to discover and indulge a taste for conventionally finer things, and encourage you to share his tastes... even if it pushes what you can strictly afford, whether in terms of marks or sobriety (or your intestines!). If Zoth has fine pillows and straps, you ought to have fine bedding and clothes. He may even inspire a taste for certain meals that urges you to try your hand at cooking for yourself. But sometimes his influence is darker. The partner you brought back to your weyr tonight had turned you down last week, and it's time to make them wish they'd made the same decision, or made the right one in the first place. It's up to you to remember -- or relearn -- who you are, what's right in the world, and what consequences you both face. Still, he'd have you believe, « A life without regret would be no life at all. »
Flights offer an opportunity to hunt a much more fascinating sort of prey. In the throes of flight lust, Zoth's civility wears thin. « Passion's good. Gets blood pumping. » It's not just his ichor that he's interested in, either. He's not the most gentle of mates when he catches, too much talon, but he's unlikely to ever do serious harm. Should he ever catch a queen, he'll be an oddly doting sire, so very enthusiastic for the opportunity to mold the minds of his progeny, but perhaps not particularly interested in playing the part of devoted mate.
For better or worse, and he would always argue for the better, Zoth is yours and you are Zoth's. He loves you, however strangely he may show it at times. He's your friend. He embodies your darker urges, tempts you to embrace them, to lose yourself in the pleasures of life. He's not above putting you in danger, not because he doesn't care but because he cares very deeply for you. After all, « The tragedy is not to die, V'ret, but to live a wasted life. » Zoth won't allow that to happen.
Public Impression Message
Feast for the Psyche Bronze will not be rushed in this most important of decisions. There's a dispassionate glance for one boy. He ignores another entirely, instead eyeing a girl as if he might be able to sate his hunger before he finds his lifemate. But then-- There. When whirling red eyes finally fixate unmistakably on a young, blue-eyed man with high cheekbones, it's not simply hunger. He's excited.
Private Impression Message
There's someone watching you, studying you. They're in your head, skimming your thoughts and your feelings. Pressure builds uncomfortably, as though there isn't enough room in there for both of you. Then it withdraws, a cool and exquisitely silken slide against warm skin. « I would apologize for -- » There's more, but he's hungry, and that hunger fuels itself within you, growing in momentum and excitement. Besides, apologies should only ever be offered sparingly. « V'ret. I am Zoth. Shall we eat? »
Mindvoice
Your Zoth is not a dragon especially fueled by emotions, even if he does enjoy talking about feelings. His crisp tenor is distinct and precise, with a pleasantly cultured quality. He doesn't speak in monotone, but his voice rarely rises or lowers beyond a moderate range. The occasions in which it does are usually reserved for you, V'ret. He's not one to muddy his words with unnecessary frivolity, but it's sometimes useful to comfort others with the touch of silken sisal, the heat of a relaxing bath, or the scent of a deliciously savory meal.
Itchyspots
As he grows, Zoth will itch everywhere -- or at least that's what he'll have you believe. He'll want to be oiled as thoroughly as possible, as often as possible, to ease what itches he truly does have... but also because it's important to him to be presentable. If he's not oiled often enough for his tastes, you'll find that most of his discomfort is focused on the spars of his wings and he'll appreciate extra care being given to them.
Suggested Adult Desc
The two-toned bronze dragon might have been merely a pale specimen, were it not for his palpable presence -- and the heavy shadows that drip, as though wetly oozing, from the tenebrous ridges of his spine. That pattern, if it can truly be called such with its extreme irregularity, is unbalanced from one side to the other: absolute boundaries of dark swallowing light in some places, grisly smears to unite them in others. Though bright against their dark spars, his wingsails also bear the erratic splatters of arterial spray. He's a solid, strong creature, all sharp, hard lines from his hooked muzzle down to his honed talons.
Inspiration
Hannibal Lecter is certainly not the sort of man you'd want to bump into in the night, and your Zoth takes his inspiration from the cannibalistic psychiatrist. He is the dragon you asked for: a predator with a surface veneer of civility, that will require V'ret to become the moral compass. Zoth's name comes from ?udyti, the Lithuanian word to encompass what Hannibal does; kill, murder, slaughter, massacre, butcher, torment.
Egg Inspiration: Oh, Centralia, Pennsylvania. A fire started in the underground coal mines back in 1962 - and it's believed that it will continue to burn for another 250 years. The city is largely abandoned, though there are a few residents that remain. The place might not look too dangerous on the surface, but there are signs of the fire in the form of warning signs, vents, and fissures that spew smoke and steam.
| Clutch 129 | |
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