Difference between revisions of "Dragon:Ahtzudaeth"

Revision as of 09:42, 20 April 2015

Academic Magic Egg

Craggy rocks seem painted on this capacious and pointed egg, a dull, brownish grey that dominates its inky backdrop. Lines here and there are reminiscent of turrets and windows of some great hall. In spite of its general dullness, there's a certain shimmer where the surface is minutely faceted, as though some sprinkling of magical dust cast all that grey and brown in a more luminous light.

Even the most sturdy fortress must eventually yield to unrelenting assault. As if imploding, the crags of Academic Magic Egg pulse outward and then in a swift waterfall of shards sink into the sand in utter ruin. Moments later, its occupant is rising from his curl in the wreckage, whole and well and new.

Fire-Born Vanguard Bronze

All sharp angles and lean limbs, exaggerated further in lanky immaturity, this crimson-bronze dragon is larger than a first glance might guess. Shades of silvered gold highlight where his joints move beneath hide, and wash out the undersides of his great wings. Truer bronze, accented with copper, brindles its way down his neckridges and the trailing edges of his sails like a dark, slowly consuming fire, sparks extending all the way to his sharp-edged tail. Clever eyes, wiser than such youth should allow, are an intense focal point for his blackened, sharp-edged muzzle.

Temperament

It might be an understatement to say that Ahtzudaeth is not what you were expecting when you came to High Reaches, Z'kiel-- but then, has anything been as you expected? To make matters more complicated, the intelligent and arrogant Ahtzudaeth that did find you will not be the one you know forever, for he has a lot of growing to do to become the cunning, wise and effective leader he may one day be. (Un)fortunately for you, one thing he will always be able to do is see right through you: whatever you feel about becoming a High Reaches bronzerider, whatever you pretend you don't feel, Ahtzudaeth can and will see it all, taking your feelings into his stride with calm detachment. He can wait; he knows, as surely as he knows how to breathe, that you will find your way with him. « We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided, » is his mantra: he loves you, unhesitatingly.

Weyrlinghood is a time for the follies of youth. It's true that Ahtzudaeth is an unusually talented dragon in many of the ways that matter-- he's ambitious and intelligent, and many things in life come naturally to him. One day, he may do great things; in the short term, though, it means breezing through lessons and being frustrated by the lack of challenge. It means too much time to plot and scheme and design, much of which he prefers to do privately-- he prefers, even with you, to keep his secrets. You are unquestionably part of his master plan, Z'kiel, but he's not inclined to share the details.

Like many of his clutchsiblings, Ahtzudaeth has firm ideas on how to change the world for the better. His plans are not nefarious in nature, but he has a true weakness for power. In youth, he is not the masterful manipulator he may one day become, but that won't stop him from attempting to influence Rosazadyth early and often, or trying to draw Akluseth and Jorrth into his games. He can be something of a prat, though, which may not go down too well: « Obviously you can ask me something, Lifreyth, » he might say. « You've just done so. You may ask one more thing, however. »

One thing Ahtzudaeth believes firmly is that, « It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be. » In this way, he is well suited to being sought out by his fellow weyrlings for advice, should they wish to; he's always willing to try and teach, even when he himself is learning too (there's that arrogance again). Although naturally inclined to keep himself at arm's length from others, Ahtzudaeth will tentatively reach out and share part of himself-- most often a different part for each one, rather than the integrated whole saved for those few with whom he develops a particularly special bond. He's interested in people, both human and dragon, and enjoys the sense of belonging; it's just that he's also vulnerable. Furthermore, don't be surprised if he takes the admiration of his male peers to heart more than the females for some reason he either doesn't know, or may never share.

It is you, Z'kiel, upon whom he depends for emotional support; especially in youth, he does not like to show weakness, something to which only you are exempt. Even then, he's inclined to downplay: « I am not worried, Z'kiel, I am with you. » It will be gratifying for him should you rely on him in the same way, though he'll downplay this, too.

As he moves into adulthood, life experience will begin to temper some of his more objectionable qualities. That arrogance will never disappear, but it will fade to a subtler pride and self-confidence. While he will love power, always, his intentions will shift towards a strong focus on the greater good, even if it means sacrificing some of his own ambition. As long as he can play a role (an important role), he will be content. Fighting the good fight comes in many forms, but it starts, always, at home. If you were ever thinking of lobbying to return to Igen, Ahtzudaeth will have several somethings to say about it, none of which give any indication that he's willing to leave his-- your, plural-- home. His opinions tend to be firm, though they can be swayed by logic and reason... but not, it is likely, in that particular case.

He will enjoy wing life, if in a reserved kind of way. He enjoys the company of his wingmates until he doesn't, and then he will simply take himself away so purposefully that it will be assumed he has great plans ahead. He neither especially likes nor dislikes sweeps and drills, though he would probably enjoy the latter more were he to have some starring role within their planning.

In adulthood, Ahtzudaeth will embrace a love of the whimsical, something he might be able to share with Lifreyth. In many respects, he mellows, as he gets older, as if he has aged in reverse, discovering new appreciations for pleasures hitherto ignored. (If that leads some to underestimate him, that's just fine!) He likes to collect things, especially anything beautiful or unique. Left up to him, your weyr might become a treasure trove of unusual objects and knitted goods!

« Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth, » will be his philosophy for flights whether he is young or old. Although not the type to throw himself into every flight that comes along, and not especially sexually charged, Ahtzudaeth is nonetheless attracted to the closeness of flights and the companionship they bring. Should he catch a queen, he's likely to be a diligent mate, if not an overly demonstrative one; if he can keep the queen company, and help tend to their eggs (eggs he's likely to find fascinating, in their way), he'll be well pleased.

The challenges always ahead of you may seem daunting, or the sort of thing you would like to deny forever if only you could, but Ahtzudaeth is prepared to meet the challenge and to encourage you to do so, too. « Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times... if one only remembers to turn on the light. » You are his light, Z'kiel, and he will be yours, if only you let him. Between the two of you, he knows you have everything you need to make things right with the world and for yourselves.

Public Impression Message

Fire-Born Vanguard Bronze, for all his boldness, isn't one to rush to a decision as important as this one must be. He's looking for something particular, something special. He stops to examine a dark-haired, dark-eyed foreigner, sizing him up. A single glance is offered down the line to another young man as if he might just be choosing between the two. Then, with a touch of his nose to the foreigner's middle, he indicates to those watching-- and perhaps the man himself-- that his choice has been made.

Private Impression Message

One moment you were on the Hatching Sands of High Reaches Weyr. In the next blink of your eyes, the heat is different. The smell is different. When you open your eyes, you are home. It's Igen, as you may have pictured it a hundred or a thousand times since your arrival in High Reaches, only it's hazy at the edges, like a mirage. Then there's an amused and kindly voice, answering your unspoken question, « Of course it is happening inside your head, Z'kiel, but why on Pern should that mean that it is not real? » There's a quiet pause in which you might well feel you are being observed before he introduces himself, « I am Ahtzudaeth and it is time to eat. » The last is punctuated by a tap of his nose to your middle.

Mindvoice

« Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of power. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it. » Ahtzudaeth believes in words and hosts a grand repertoire from which to draw from. He endeavors to choose words that express exactly what he means to express (whether or not that is exactly what he feels or not). His words often come without accompanying sights, smells or feelings, but when he does choose to use those things it is often when it will have the greatest impact. He has the whole world to draw from, not limited by any single scope. Often, though, there's a sense of being regarded over half-moon spectacles, of a quiet near-omnipresent good humor and an intangible tingling sense when he speaks that the extraordinary is possible. Magic might be real!

Itchyspots

In his youth, bathing and oiling are only important for maintenance of an appearance he otherwise doesn't care terribly much for. After all, they're all young, and who cares when you're young? As he ages, Ahtzudaeth's needs will increase; he'd like to be presentable, ideally as much of the time as is practical. But when he's at full maturity, he'll care less again, as long as he's comfortable. Throughout all this (periodically though not predictably, perhaps when the weather has an odd change or two), he will experience a week to a month of intense itchiness-- an itchiness that is everywhere but whose worst spots shift from place to place to place without any pattern. It will keep your arms sore and running for the oil until it passes.

Suggested Adult Description

All sharp angles and lean limbs, this narrow, crimson-bronze dragon is larger than a first glance might guess. Shades of silvered gold highlight where his joints move beneath hide, and wash out the undersides of his great wings. Truer bronze, accented with copper, brindles its way down his neckridges and the trailing edges of his sails like a dark, slowly consuming fire, sparks extending all the way to his sharp-edged tail. Clever eyes, wise beyond their turns, are an intense focal point for his blackened, sharp-edged muzzle.

Inspiration

Z'kiel, you asked for an ambitious, natural schemer; an adept manipulator; a mysterious, sly, cunning, politically aware and downright dangerous dragon with quirks. We felt that Albus Dumbledore from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series was a fantastic example of all of these things, especially when drawing from his whole life experience as revealed in the later books. His name is primarily derived from two words: ahtohil which is Mayan for someone who is righteous and zentzudun which in Basque means sensible, sane, considerate, wise. His description is inspired by Dumbledore's pet phoenix, Fawkes, and his itchy spots include a nod to molting.

Egg Inspiration: Hogwarts