Solon Metal Skin Dev

[04:14] Garrick would kick up his feet upon the heavy oaken table, black sabatons clanking against hard wood as he gave young Solon a two clawed salute with an idle nod. Yawning as he placed a fresh cigarette in his jagged toothed maw, the sound of snapping flesh and cracking bone would emit from the drake as two skeletal wings sprouted from molten gouges in his backplate of black, nyeshk scales. With a flap of the wings, his cigarette was lit, a steady inhalation soon followed by the release of a series of smoky rings up towards the rafters of the Pyrelight Hall.

"So what's your name and story kid?"
(Garrick)
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[04:20] Thump, thump, thump, such was the noises of his bare-feet upon the oaken floorboards. Strolling across the tavern to take a seat at the table. The youth watched with evident fascination at the display of blazing mastery.

The question was one he'd been asked, maybe once or twice. Though it wasn't one he was unprepared to answer. A wide smile split his features as he started off into an explanation.

"Well, the name's a shifting thing. Often I have a dream and it begs change, for now I've settled upon Solon."

As he spoke he'd lean back in his chair, kicking his bare feet up upon the table. He'd try to hold himself there, balancing for a moment before ultimately failing, his chair thumping back into place.

The jingle of little copper-trinkets tied upon his horns added a slightly musical rythme to it. "Whoops, heh, my stories not to wild..." He stopped for a moment. Considering how best to tell his story.

"I was born in Gehenna, some say my dad was someone called a 'Fengari' not sure what those are really. Well, grew up learning about the Dreamer... Not gonna bore you with that. Hmm, spent a lot of time hiding out of sight. Er, ran into my friend Roddy and now we hang out in the Locke. Learning how to be better thieves."

(Solon)
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[04:23] Solon after he'd spoken the Neries blinked, looking back to Garrick. An expression indicating that was the gist of it really. Just another orphan from the jungles.
(Solon)
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[04:29] "Rat Fengari it is. Works for me. You must be one of Helos' relatives, all descendants of his grandfather. Picked up the red fruit juice like his grandfather too. You don't much occur to me as a fruit juice user kid."

The drake would take a long, thoughtful puff as he clacked his jagged rows of teeth together idly, humming to himself in contemplation as his molten eyes flicked over the young neries with an idle nod.

"You bring your friend around here, I'll tell you kids the way of the world over a stiff drink. This island is a bed of stagnancy and rot just waiting to be razed to ash. It isn't a war of good versus evil anymore, but of different shades of gray corruption festering against each other in a glutted pit of self interest and apathy. A cursed place, this island."
(Garrick)
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[04:33] The lad tilted his head, a hand coming up to cup his chin. Stroking it idly as he pondered that. So he had relatives around here? That was an odd thought though it didn't really keep his attention for long.

"My grandfather? Well, I'll come back to that I guess. Though, what do you mean there's no good and evil?"

With a deep breath the lad shook his head, those tingling pieces of copper clittering and clattering for a moment.

"Well, if it's all self-interest and apathy how do you get out ahead? Stealing shoes?"
(Solon)
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[04:44] "By seizing your own fate, my boy. By becoming powerful enough to carve out your own destiny amongst the realms with tooth and claw. By achieving your goals through rigid determination and unbreakable spirit regardless of the boundaries of dogmatic moralities. You see, I mean to become a dragon, and a dragon bows to no one. No gods, no masters. Only tutors and the rise towards a great flame that will banish the rot from this island in a glorious inferno."

The drake would glance off into the distance as his molten eyes crackled with an idle flame, the steady clicking of his jagged rows of teeth sounding out inbetween pensive puffs of his ragged cigarette.

"With power comes money, too. Plenty of ways to make your fortune on the rise to the top. I mean myself to master the art of riftmancy and seize the flames of Ifraheim for my own, to dominate the elemental plane of my birthright and make itmy own playground. I do not bow to gods nor spirits."
(Garrick)
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[04:59] The Neries, listened to the words of the Drakan. He knew that he'd be learning things from the man, he'd decided that the moment he noticed how smoothly they'd handled their lady-friend.

Yet, as he listened further to something he'd not considered until this moment. This was no smooth talking shyster like he'd seen in the Locke. No it was a Dragon, to use his own words.

What was he saying truly? The man was a Dragon, but they weren't not truly or where they? Those silvery hues studied him closely for a moment. Elfen ears twitching to the sound of those teeth clacking.

He was possible the largest man the lad had met so far. Massive in physicality as he was in the words being spoken. That searing heat radiating off of him, molten slag radiating along the cracks and lines of those hardened scales.

Could the young lad be that? Resolute and unshakable in his purpose as the Drakan? Silence was the answer given for a time. No masters, no gods, only yourself and what you desired. That was the words of the Drake.

What did Solon want? Slowly a smile split his features, a calm expression settling over his features. He wanted to be like this man. Sure of action and thought. What could he achieve if he did that?

If he chose to be an unbreakable, unwavering spirit?

A hand came up to trail along the short horns sprouting from his head. A delicate twist of his jaw, that youthful countenance belying a growing seed of determination.

"I want that, to be unstoppable but the worlds filled with masters, how do you maintain yourself when faced with them? How can I be like you?"

He felt that there was no way he could become as hardened as the man before. No way to achieve the same glorious rise as he'd done. Yet, those where the harsh realities of the world.

Except he was a Dreamer.
(Solon)
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[05:13] "It all begins with a single moment, kid. A moment when you choose to seize your own reigns, to not be subject to the laws of nations foreign to you and live truly free. Find a passion that drives you beyond any other, a burning resonation within your bosom to strive forward and advance for your own means."

The drake would flap his skeletal, fiery wings as he puffed another series of smoky rings up towards the rafters, molten eyes flicking once more back to the youth as he nodded steadily with a hum. The neries seemed somewhat interested at the least.

"That's the first step. Mull on that for now. What's something you want to accomplish beyond any other. A grand aspiration that no other can match. Return here with your friend when you've come to such a revelation, and we three will sit in our cups as men and see the way of the world."
(Garrick)
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[05:16] Garrick says, "Now, I have an errand to run and a nap to have. Think on all that kid."
[05:31] Something I want?

It was a hard thing to consider. Until now he'd only wanted a full belly and a place to sleep. Though, with his growing network of associates he'd found that easier to achieve as of late.

Perhaps, that was what he wanted as of now. A goal to achieve. A belief uphold! Wait, what was it he'd heard as a boy?

Every dream, begins with a Dreamer.

His people had been subjected to second-class status and their faith pushed to the outskirts. Was he willing to allow that? What if he wished to become something for them.

Perhaps the King of Dreams as the Petals called such things. Could he do that? Well, if the man was anything close to being correct. He'd have to forge himself into such an unshakable being.

But how?
(Solon)
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