[CLOSED]

[coerthantorment]

WHO: Estinien Wyrmblood and Dragons
WHAT: Using Tehri's hot dragon tips to seek our a brood called the Tamfa.
WHERE: Lohkimareen Forest
WHEN: Early to Mid Inoseri
WARNINGS: DRAGONS DRAGONS DRAGONS

Having set out a couple days prior in search of the Tamfa, Estinien is absolutely dripping with tiny dragons at this point in his journey. Their attentions only becoming more and more dogged the further he strays from the Greentruth itself, every tactic he might employ to gain their larger brethren's company only magnifying his appeal to them. His first few days of searching had been for naught in the end, but by now he's learned by now that distance from civilization is key - these dragons like to keep to themselves as much as the ones he's familiar with do.

Or, at least, they did... until he taught the small ones to associate him with food, comfort, and safety. Now, these little ones refuse to keep to themselves even when he wishes they would, and yet he can't quite bring himself to disappoint them.

He is running out of rations, however, and is realizing he'll have to hunt if he's going to feed himself or them. With dragonlings crawling in his hair and clothing, perching on his wings, and chattering to each other all the while, he starts looking for a place to make a fire. If it keeps going like this, he may be spending another night roughing it in the woods. Before he does, though, he casts one more glance towards the trees, his brow furrowing. May as well get in one more for the night.

"Great Tamfa of Lohkimareen," he calls out, his bids for their attention only having been getting more lavish with time. "I would but meet with you as kindred, and offer only peace."

Comments

[aionpcs]

The forest is filled with the sounds of life, the chittering and excitement of the little dragons included. Though after a long pause even they begin to still and grow quiet. Small wings stop flapping and fold up as they find places to perch on Estinien and in the nearby trees, all turning in unison to one large tree several yards to the left.

At first it looks as if the sunlight filtered through the forest canopy is casting beguiling patterns on the trunk. A shift here and there, a new dip in the wood, but it soon becomes apparent that the wood itself is moving.. Then follows a sigh that could simply be mistaken for heavy boughs creaking if not followed by a huff and two yellowish eyes blinking open seemingly out of the wood itself.

A voice reverberates through the tree, deep and heavy.

"...A man is no kin to us."

[coerthantorment]

At the very least, Tehri's advice means he was expecting the Tamfa to be capable of concealing themselves, so the appearance of one doesn't trigger an overly defensive response. Instead, Estinien wonders if he might be overselling the idea of them being kindred - based on the way dragons like Vrtra and the little ones had reacted, he'd been hoping the presence of his dragonblood may bridge the gap somewhat.

He doesn't intend to push the issue, though. He knows what he is and how he was raised. It's not his intention to sell himself as something he's not.

"Mayhap not," he admits. "'Tis possible my bond is only with your distant cousins of another star. Yet, what I know of the dragons of that world gives me a reason to believe in the nobility of your people. Even if not as kin, I would still reach out in the hopes of friendship."

[aionpcs]

A pregnant pause fills the air as the Tamfa's eyes stare unblinking at Estinien, weighing his measure. Even the little dragons continue to stay still as if they, too, are being judged of their worth. Yet in the end there is another deep sigh and the eyes close, concealing the dragon against the trunk once again.

It is only a moment later when the side of the tree shifts completely as the Tamfa extracts itself from the side. The texture of it's skin appears as the very bark itself, the definitive edges of the dragon only becoming clear as it dismounts and stands on the ground. Leaning forward on the claws on its wings, it opens its eyes again as it stares down at Estinien. In this position, the Tamfa stands a few heads above the man.

"Friendship...to what end?"

Its head turns slowly to the side as it regards the little dragons.

"You are in the company of many."

[coerthantorment]

Estinien can't help but be fascinated by this creature, like to the dragons he's seen in form, but so different on an exterior level. Could a dragon from Hydaelyn evolve to be like this? Had the dragons here done so?

He glances at one of the little dragons curled upon his shoulder but ends up shaking his head. It's not that he doesn't appreciate them, but...

"They have made charming companions, but have little knowledge of or interest in the history of this place," Estinien explains. "'Twas my concern, upon arriving in this forest, that the dragons here would be unhappy with the presence of man in their domain. Though I have been told by the men and women of the resistance that your people have left them in peace, I wished to hear it in your own words."

[aionpcs]

The Tamfa lets out a low snort in acknowledgment. It isn't a show of disdain for the smaller dragons, merely an agreement that they are simple in comparison. Unbothered by complications and politics. The little dragons seem to be equally unbothered by this appraisal, eyes focused so wholly on the greater dragon(s) in their presence.

It straightens, extending its neck upwards towards the canopy.

"We came before man, but we are not the progenitors of this forest," it says slowly, voice laced with a wooden creak. "The men of Vihreaus keep to their own. It is the Men of Shadowed Stone that are unwelcome."

[coerthantorment]

Now that's a surprise. When it came to doing a temperature check on the relationship between dragon and man, he hadn't actually been expecting another group to be living here. If that's what they mean, anyway.

"Shadowed Stone, eh?" he asks, the choice of name already making him suspicious. Was this something to do with the Kenoma, he wondered? "They trouble you, then? Do they live in Lohkimareen, or seek to invade it?"

Now this is an issue he can handle.

[aionpcs]

The Tamfa lets out a deep sighing growl, as if the subject is one that has weighed heavily on its thoughts for some time. Yet even with the strange voice, the disdain inside it is palpable. It lowers its head as it begins to speak again, keeping a trained eye on Estinien.

"They do naught but destroy that which is set in their path." The little dragons, unexperienced though they are outside of their small hunting grounds, even shake at the thought. "Though they have never made it to the heart of the forest, they threaten its borders. For years they were silent until..."

The Tamfa cocks his head to the side.

"Until you arrived."

[coerthantorment]

Estinien stares uncertainly, his expression not giving much away, though he does glance to the small creatures riding him. They are generally not very worldly, it feels like, so whoever these 'men' are they must be culturally relevant, even to them.

"I assume you don't mean me specifically," he says, after a moment. He can't see why he would be so uniquely important in this place. "But instead, the new 'Pleroma'?"

He pauses for a moment, and then adds:

"If there is more to be known of this threat, I would gladly hear it. If their resurgence in activity is related to us newcomers, 'twould only be meet for us to aid as we can."

[aionpcs]

The Tamfa gives a woody grumble in acknowledgment, his assumptions are correct. But as for the offer of aid, the Tamfa indulges in a long, long pause. Golden eyes scan every inch of Estinien's being, weighing his worth with what it can glean from what stands in front of it.

The little dragons even start to stand tall, their chests puffing out like they too can be worthy of this quest. The Tamfa's eyes move between the man, the dragons, and the line that blurs between them.

Eventually, there is a long sigh as the Tamfa closes its eyes.

"It is not for me to decide." Slowly, it opens them again, narrowing its gaze on Estinien specifically. "The Vyri does not speak with outsiders on a whim. They will require...proof of intent."

[coerthantorment]

Proof of intent... why does he feel like he's about to be asked to do chores? Or to perhaps slay some monsters? Oh well. It's the way of things, he supposes. At the very least, he doesn't take issue with having to prove himself trustworthy first. Ishgard was never very fond of interlopers either.

"What would they have me do?" he asks, simple as that. He won't question why the Vyri need to decide, though he is curious about what they are like. He intends to ask about it, eventually, but first comes first.

[aionpcs]

"Go to the southeast," it says, raising its head as it looks off in the desired direction. "Past the Shrine of the Wanderer."

At the word 'shrine' the little dragons all gasp in unison.

"Find the eldest tree in the forest. The land was..." A pause as a low grumble echoes along its throat and chest, deep, woody, and somber. "...treasured."

It slowly brings its gaze back to Estinien.

"I cannot tell you why. You must discover it for yourself. Bring back that which was lost to us...and you may entreat with the Vyri."

[coerthantorment]

When the little dragons gasp, Estinien looks to them in surprise but doesn't demand any immediate explanation. Maybe he can speak to them about it later.

The directions seem straightforward enough - what leaves him a bit uncertain is the fact that the thing he is meant to collect supposedly needs to be a surprise. Were he any less confident in the trustworthiness of dragons he might hesitate here, but mostly he just feels that it's going to make things bothersome.

He did say he would show them his intent, though, so he supposes he's stuck with it. As much as things being phrased in vague riddles is irritating to him, he supposes that difficulty is the point.

"...If I'm meant to collect something for you... might I know where I should bring it afterward?"

[aionpcs]

Difficulty is indeed the point. The Tamfa aren't known to be particularly mysterious, but few dragons in the forest are openly trustworthy to others. The test put forth will serve to win more than just their favor.

"Bring it here," the Tamfa says. "And when you do, call out for 'Ujfa'."

Ujfa rings out quietly amongst the little dragons, all whispering it as if in practice.

[coerthantorment]

"Ujfa," Estinien also murmurs to himself, trying to commit it to memory. He'll have to make sure to write it down later. He's curious, though.

"Is that your name? If not, I would be glad to know it."

[aionpcs]

"It is," Ujfa confirms then begins to pull back, turning to the three that it had been perched on before it responded to Estinien's call.

"If you find what you should, then I shall introduce you to the Vyri. Then I will know your name."

A man's name is only worth knowing once it's proven to be of value.