First Fireblooded Lesson

[00:56] Dun would arrive lately exactly on time to the temple with a light click of his teeth, dusting of his cloak of ash as he clicked his teeth together with an idle hum.

"This seminar on the Fireblooded cannot accurately be offered without the history. That, of course, begins with the Theria of old."

The elder would click his teeth together with a nostalgic smile, nodding to the assembled people as his gauntlet rose to remove his time worn mask, replacing it with the relic of the Fireblooded helmet that Arno had given the elder before his death.

"The Theria of old was a lawless frontier of anarchistic freedom, where one could do whatever they pleases as long as they were strong and had enough friends to back it up. It was a city run by the people, for the people, and though I was oft cast a tyrant, I was a merciful overlord to any but the magi that opposed my way of doing things."

Dun would nod lightly, bitterly.

"You see, many of the original warlords before my rise as the clown prince were firmly nepotistic. They wanted their family in charge, rather than allow the spirit of Theria and the winds of chaos to determine who is worthy. I resented it deeply, hated it even, but I long swallowed my pride as a nameless clown employed as the Tower of the Shield for Tanya."

The elder would hum lightly.

"Through my eventual machinations, including turning little Lumi Fenrir into my greatest and strongest protégé, and having her overthrow Sarasha with brutal proficiency and wolf boar swordsmanship of the highest caliber. Theria became ours properly. And it went that way for a good while. Until I was fifty, cause just around when I was planning good vacation venues, Garljing showed up."

Dun would chuckle lightly.


(Dun Task)
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[01:05] Revan would be the only son of the Clown Prince present, steadfast in his dedication, firm in his resolve to keep the Task name strong. He would already have a pen at the ready, beginning to fervently write down the history of Theria's yester year.

Hearing the greed of the former warlord's who ruled, trying to rule like nobles. He would feel a mutual disgust rising in him, Revan knew if he wanted any seat of power, he wouldn't get it simply because he was Dun's son. He would have to work for it, and he would do so dutifully because he was the son of the Ring Leader.

Hearing of how his father had pulled the strings of Lumi, he would find himself particularly intrigued. How much of his father did he have in him? Playing two guilds to his benefit was certainly a good start, and a grin would form on his face as he enjoyed his father's lecture.

He was thankful that Ulyssa had informed him of Garljing just before his father arrived, or he wouldn't have known of the Drakan's patron. Meticulously writing every detail that his brothers would miss, Revan would make sure that he had tomes to study by the end of the night.
(Revan Task)
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[01:11] Ulyssa sits upon the bench, loosely wrapped in a warm blanket as the elder priest begins his tale of history. Not what she had expected...but she guesses it's important to know the past of Theria as much as knowing of the Fireblooded itself.

A lot of the tale of it being an anarchistic land goes somewhat over her head- not it's truth, how it's especially different to the now. Dun and his own cronies overthrew the cronies that came before him. Isn't that how it works in Theria now? The strong bear the power- whatever form it takes.

Though she certainly isn't writing notes as meticulous as Revan- or notes at all- it's somewhat clear she's mostly paying attention.

Yet when he arrives at Garljing's own arrival is when the young drakanite noticeably perks up. This is, she imagines, where things will actually become important to remember- she is, after all, here to learn about the Fireblooded.

Offering him a slight nod, she seems to give him a small gesture to continue his tale.
(Ulyssa)
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[01:23] Dun would nod lightly, it was time for his lecture to move on.

"You see, Garljing's son arrived, and a messy incident with what one could call a very effective ballistae took him out in one shot. Arguably the best marksman in Theria, but he died like immediately after in this next part."

The elder would chuckle lightly, recalling distantly, long years back, when all such events had occurred.

"Well, a young drake is no elder dragon, and Garljing is one of Ryujin's firstborn. A god in every meaning of the word, including his wrath. He came with fire, and as his wingspan blackened the settlements that lined the mountainsides of Theria, he turned them to glorious ash and killed tens of thousands in an incendiary rage. Including said ballistae operator with incredible aim. Burned most of old Theria to ash, melted even the stone with his dragonfire."

The elder would nod lightly, clicking his teeth with a thoughtful hum.

"Luckily, I was already retired, and truth be told, there was never a more beautiful flame in all my days. I could see it from the highest tower of Theria even without eyes, a glorious inferno like few could ever have seen. This, my children, was the wrath of the gods. Trueflame, that with determination and divine right to destroy."

Dun would click his teeth.

"And so, Theria was reborn in fire. It's old traditions, those of battle and freedom, remained and grew stronger than ever with draconic influence. Dragons, after all, are the duelists of divinity. Worship is not so simple as giving coin, for true worship is progress."

Dun would snap his finger as a great, ethereal flame grew from his palm.

"Worship is to grow a burning resolve, to follow your ambitions no matter the costs, whether it takes violence or sacrifice to achieve your aims. This is the emulation of dragons, for they possess human greed and yet are tempered by it, made malleable and empathetic to humanity in a way no other true gods could say. This bond is what gave Theria lifeblood as it rebuilt from ash, stronger than ever."

Dun would smile.

"But what of the fire blooded?"
(Dun Task)
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[01:37] The young drakanite winces just slightly as Dun speaks of the death of Garljing's child- Yrsonarth's wrath at the death of his daughter still fresh in her mind, yet knowing that such would have paled in comparison to the elder dragon's justice.

Ulyssa listens with rapt attention as he speaks of the glorious inferno that engulfed Theria- that claimed thousands upon thousands of lives, and yet...

Allowed the mountain city to be born anew. The presence of dragons reinforcing the olden traditions- of living free, and the mighty ruling. The old wizard's tale very, very clearly has Ulyssa's full and undivided attention- her slitted eyes kept wide open as she stares forth at him.

To worship is to follow your path at any cost. To resolve yourself to complete your goals through sacrifice and violence both, if necessary.

To worship is to emulate the dragons from which she draws her own heritage- a heritage she will not forsake, or fail to realize...even if she has yet to draw upon the half-shift many others have.

What of the Fireblooded? In a passion somewhat unlike her- perhaps overtaken by the rising crescendo within Dun's story- she stands, allowing her blanket to fall to the side around her.

"We of the Fireblooded worship as representation of our drive to succeed at all costs- to not give in, to fulfill our goals. To follow the path we decide for ourselves, regardless of the sacrifice."

Her words carry a solid confidence- an assuredness that her words are true, and that she doesn't seem to care that she's interrupted the old man's lecture.

Dun had asked a question, so she had answered it.
(Ulyssa)
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[01:40] The son of a Dragon God shot by a well placed ballistae shot? An event that would eradicate all of old Theria, a placed that was growing weak and stagnating, risking to turn into dull embers- atleast until the spark would be reignited by Garljing- quite literally.

His father would quite possibly have felt the very heat through his mask on that day, conveniently far enough away to witness, it all seemed to fall together so neatly, and perfectly. A grin would form on the bandaged boys face as he was putting together the pieces, details of the story that weren't explicitly expressed.

Worship is to grow a burning resolve.

He would think to how Thalis has just told him he had endured the breath of an Ice Dragon, emerging victorious- would that be a chance Revan would get to experience? To prove himself against the might of a dragon? The thought excited him.

The lesson would hit the Priest's son, we show dedication by copying the dragon's fury, taking what we want.. And they share our greed, knowing our thirst for what they want, and that is why they grant us their power. Revan had always imagined the purging Chaos his father spoke of more as a philosophy- but now he was finally understanding how much of a religion it truly was.

His note taking would get sloppy, as he found himself truly enraptured with the lesson. Hearing Ulyssa answer his father's question, he would suddenly realize where all his Pride and Stubbornness came from- he wanted power, and he knew that would come at the expense of his body, and the pain it would endure.

The smirk on his face would grow into a full-blown smile, clicking his teeth as pieces he felt were missing suddenly began to fall into place.
(Revan Task)
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[01:49] Dun would nod steadily with a light smile, gesturing idly with his remaining, prismarine gauntleted hand with an idle click of his teeth with mirth. The young had a way of poising things, of that at least there was no doubt.

"Quite so. And so the first of the Fireblooded were. Countless Sluthian powder kegs, old men with long beards and cynical eyes covered in burns. Though I hated them at first, without my left arm I was no longer the warrior I once was as the prince. They became my brothers, and in time I cherished them and tempered my own will in their companionship."

The elder would nod lightly with a nostalgic sigh. Though the Sluthian presence had been resented by him at first, his fellows of the first Fireblooded became in truth a family for him in those decades that followed. Though most all of them had moved on or passed, they had formed the foundations for the Fireblooded temple as it stood today in Theria.

"Veteran soldiers, brilliant, mad man artificers, reed dipping farmers with lazy smiles and good hearts. The original sages that, through countless ours of furious argument and four knife fights, devised the codex of the Fireblooded. A philosophy to nourish the spirit, that of warriors and tinkers alike. Any that pursue progress through advancement of the mind or body, for those two aspects border the spirit, the essence of all things."
(Dun Task)
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[01:57] There would be a cant of Revan's bandaged head. Old men covered in their own burns and scars? Loose canons and seasoned warriors that could band together under a single banner, for a single cause? It took time for them to grow on his Father, and he would only imagine what the beginning years must have looked like.

Though as he spoke of the blood and sweat put into what would be their gospel, Revan's golden hues would begin to glow with desire. His goal was to perfect body and mind, to achieve a perfect soul, could their truly be a book that would outline his path to enlightenment?

"Where can we find this codex?"

He would ask eagerly, which to find and study it. He had felt that within him was a storm of his cold logic, and his heated and chaotic passion that vied for control in him. Perhaps this would be the doctrine he so desperately craved.
(Revan Task)
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[01:57] * You have been awarded 2 Roleplay Points! *
[02:03] With Dun's acknowledgment of her answer, Ulyssa's gaze remains firmly upon the elder priest as he continues his tale.

His tale of the first of the Fireblooded- of growing to cherish and improve himself through their presence, despite initially despising them. Those that, along with he, drafted the codes of the Fireblooded through seemingly countless arguments and brawls.

Of the mind and body bordering the spirit, which Dun states as central to all beings- and the philosophy wherein that spirit is nourished through advancement of both body and mind.

The stares forth towards him still- still thoroughly enraptured, and curious to see where his tale yet leads.
(Ulyssa)
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[02:05] Dun Task says, "Mmm."
[02:05] Dun Task says, "I will find an old copy one of these days."
[02:05] Dun Task says, "That concludes our first seminar. There are further ones of course, but that depends on if you desire to pursue a path in the priesthood."
[02:05] Dun Task says, "I believe all three of you have potential."
[02:05] Dun Task says, "Even you Pascal."
[02:06] Revan Task says, "I believe.. The answers I have been looking for.. Are with the Fireblood."
[02:06] Ulyssa says, "I...hm."
[02:06] Revan Task says, "I look forward to our next lesson, Father."
[02:06] Ulyssa asks, "Is it okay if I talk with you more about it, old man?"
[02:06] Ulyssa says, "It seems right, but...I don't want to mis-step accidentally this early in my path."
[02:06] Dun Task says, "Sure kid;."
[02:06] Dun Task says, "We can chat more one on one later."