[Flashback] Quiet Contemplation (Mazirion, Open)

[Eridanus]

Eridanus wasn't sure if what he heard was the Isur's murmur, or if it was a part of him talking to himself. The atmosphere was beginning to assume a dream-like quality, and he'd most likely become 'mood-addled', as the people a couple of decades like to say. He replied, maybe to the Isur, maybe to himself, or may to no one in particular. "Don't every Ethaefal wish to be with their god once more? But what can I do to earn his favor again? Is he even noticing?" He wondered if there was a purpose in all this. If Leth's children were snatched away from him, wouldn't he want to grab them back? Eri knew that if he were a god and his chosen were torn helplessly away from his realm he would do all he could to get them back. He wondered if Leth purposely let him remain here to fulfill a hidden agenda. The machinations of the divine was difficult to understand, even by one touched by a god. He shook his head, bringing himself out of this reverie and the scene started to become clearer, like waking up from a daydream. "Wouldn't you wish to return to your god, if you were chosen by him and found yourself snatched away? What is your outlook on your religion and life anyway?" He asked the Isur pointedly. He wondered how much information about himself the man was willing to reveal, now that he'd offered some trivia about himself.

[Mazirion]

Mazirion leant back, the intense moment over. He always had wondered what it was like to be touched by a god. Izurdin had blessed his entire race, and primarily he searched to find what they have done to deserve such a fantastic gift - to be given a Gnosis simply for being an Isur. What had that first Isur done to be given the iron arm that blessed his sons and daughters? He thought about his outlook on life. "I believe knowledge is the only possession worth having, and the only one money can't buy. I've journeyed for thirty years, finding out what I can about the world and practicing my art. I've been to countless cities, and the roads between them, and I have not yet found a reason to trust any man for more than they'll pay you up front. "As for religion, I wonder about Izurdin. The other gods have motives, or a noticeable lack of them. But Izurdin gifted an entire race with the Gnosis of his power, and he will not reveal why to anyone. Even Human history doesn't stretch back to Izurdin's gift to the Isur. I wonder, often, what we did to deserve such a thing. Before the falling of your kind, we were the closest to godborn and yet still living on earth. After the disaster, he vanished and the only Isur he's appeared to in any living Isur's lifetime is my grandfather. The statue he made from that encounter still stands in Sultros. "I refuse to believe that a god would simply create art, without any motivation. Destruction brings with it a feeling of power. Manipulation brings a sense of one's own cunning. But art; art is beautiful to the artist and nobody else. Izurdin could have made so much more, and yet he made the Isur. I wonder, then, what his motives were. Does he love us, admire us, regret us? He is inscrutable, and that is why I follow him. Not because he is my people's god, not because he carries more skill in his own arm than I have in my entire body, but because to learn what drives such a being would be glorious, knowledge second to none. And Izurdin, I believe, is far wiser than I. Though I can only dream, to study under him would be my life's work completed. If he were watching me, I would do naught but ask questions, and do anything for the answers. It is my belief that whether or not he respects it or watches me on any level, the purest form of belief is to seek to know your god." He looked to the divine being to his left, and asked him "What would you do, if your god were watching you?"

[Eridanus]

Therein lies the problem. For he did not know if Leth was watching him. After decades of thinking he came to only two possibilities, either Leth did not or was unable to care about His children stranded on Mizahar, or He intentionally kept them there to fulfil some divine purpose. Eridanus fervently hoped for the latter. It was easier to live life knowing that he was working towards a divine purpose rather than just... surviving. He was apt to agree with the Isur, for it was wondrous for a race to be born already with a Gnosis mark. He had only heard of one other race and that was of the secretive Konti. "I would do whatever I have to do. I believe that if the gods intend us to fulfill a purpose, we would have already fulfilled theirs by existing. Combined with any circumstances that occured it would have changed our worldview to effect a certain action at a certain time. It is mind-wracking to think of a matter as complex as this, but I do believe that the gods are true masters of the ramifications of cause and effect. And thus the cause is our existence, and the effect is to our gods' purpose." He turned around slowly, and gave a rare smile. It was not often that he met one whose mind was as curious as his. Though it must be clarified that such times in Mizahar was rare, and most encounters tended to be of the practical transactional kind... or the violent kind. The Ethaefal reached out a hand, a gesture common in civil society, introducing himself, "Eridanus. Son of Leth."

OOC: Yes that was a handshake lol..

[Mazirion]

Mazirion jumped slightly, surprised by such friendliness from an ethereal creature. He was not used to such a friendly attitude from anyone, in fact. To most people, an Isur was a sword machine and little else. It was funny; he hadn't said much to reveal himself and yet for some reason he had made a friend. He held a hand out. "Mazirion Wanderkling, son of no one of import," he introduced himself.

Common speech Isurian speech

[Eridanus]

Eridanus shook the blacksmith's hand, and nodded. He waved one hand expansively, "Do you come here often? I find that this place is excellent at night to gather one's thoughts." He remembered that an Isur usually tended to be perfectionist with their craft, and ventured, "I have always wondered... does mathematics come into play with your craft? I know that alchemists and engineers tend to use alot of it, but I have always wondered if the specifics of measurement when smithing play an important role in the end product?"

[Mazirion]

Mazirion leant back against the tree, his eyes returning to the fire. "Not much math is involved in smithing. Primarily it's knowing weights, temperatures and prices, but even then temperatures can be seen from the glow of the metal and weights can be judged by hand. Mostly, it's remembering that coal burns more fiercely than other fuels and as such you need less. All fuels burn hotter in finer amounts, such as smaller coal chunks," Mazirion tried to explain the trade he did automatically, without thinking. "Using certain metals, such as gold, means that the temperature need not be high as when forging, say iron. Iron melts at around a thousand degrees, and glows white just before that; just before it glows white is the perfect time to forge. Gold is far too soft to be shaped under such temperatures, and as a result I normally use wood unless I need to melt it. You have to be able to measure the length of a blade - a forearm's length is enough, but it must be measured by the forearm of the wielder. The rest of it is simply common sense, a steady arm and a good eye. In fact, if I showed you how you could probably smith a blade to your own specifications yourself without thinking about the numbers. Not that I would. I need to keep my customers," he joked. It took a while, but by the time he was finished explaining the mathematics, Eridanus looked like he regretted asking. Mazirion remembered to let him get a word in - he hadn't talked this much since his parents had ostracized him for refusing to marry. "Why? What's your interest?"

Common speech Isurian speech

[Eridanus]

He nodded, expecting as much. What he did not know was the more technical details the Isur explained, only absorbing the part about the burning of fuel and the various melting temperatures of different metals. He had been long interested in finding out the effect the process of smithing had on the weight of a weapon, for he had grown accustomed to the specifications of his blade that other weapons simply felt like he was a puppet-master using strings to control the blades rather than a comfortable extension of his own arms. "I'm just curious about the level of mathematical knowledge needed to partake in technical discussion with a smith, if I need to order a new one myself." "I once dabbled a little in the study of gadgets, and those infernal machines need plenty of complex mathematical knowledge in order to fully grasp the foundations of the craft. And it's just the foundations!" Eri pointed out the stark difference to the Isur so that he could see the point behind his question. "Do you have a workshop anywhere? Or are you still travelling, not having decided to settle in a more permanent location to offer your craft?".

OOC: Regarding gadgeteering Eri has no points in it yet, as his flashback in Zeltiva U regarding that is still on-going and thus not graded. About the last question, Eri is interested in finding out if Maz would be reliable Isur contact regarding smithing-related and isurian steel-related stuff.

[Mazirion]

Mazirion considered for a while. "Well, one would need an understanding of the weights of various metals, so one could order a weapon that wasn't too heavy for lifting. Iron, for example, is a perfect weight. Steel is just about the same weight, and stronger besides. This you should know by now. Isurian steel is special because it bends when it is struck, which means it will never break unless under overwhelming pressure. It is also light as a breeze. If you ever do get Isurian steel, use it for armor. It cuts through things well, but not as well as it stops things cutting through you." Mazirion looked at the moon. It was almost at its high point. "Friend, I must away. I have work to do tomorrow. If you wish to use my fire, you may," he apologized as he levered himself to his feet. "Good night, Eridanus son of Leth. If you ever need a sword, seek me out wherever you are. I travel." And with that, Mazirion walked away into the clear night, not looking back, his cloak once again fluttering around his ankles.

Common speech Isurian speech

[Eridanus]

Eridanus thanked the Isur for that piece of vital knowledge. He was considering procuring Isurian steel to make a new deadlier weapon, but Mazirion's advice made him realize that steel could cut through most stuff anyway, and that by upgrading into an Isurian steel blade would offer no additional benefits except possibly allowing him to cut through Isurian armor more easily. People who actually wear those famed armor pieces were pretty rare. Thus it would be of greater benefit to him to make Isurian armor instead, to protect himself from the steel - and thus relatively inferior - weapons of others. He waved to the Isur, bidding him goodbye. "If fate so ordains we shall meet again. Good night, Mazirion Wanderkling, and I bid you luck in your future endeavours." He stared back at the flames as the Isur headed back to rest, his mind digesting the knowledge gleaned from his surreal yet interesting encounter.

And thus ends this session. Thanks to Mazirion for the insightful replies and a glimpse at Isurian psychology! I hope my character's ramblings was as much help to you as yours were to me

[Paragon]

Eridanus : Eridanus Skill XP Reward Rhetoric +1 Interrogation +1 Philosophy +1 Intelligence +1 Lore: The Beauty of Chaos, Recognising the Isur, Smithing Mathematics (basic), Mazirion (acquaintance) Other: N/A Mazirion : Mazirion Skill XP Reward Wilderness Survival +1 Teaching +1 Rhetoric +1 Philosophy +3 Lore: Saying it How it Is, Eridanus (acquaintance) Other: N/A Great thread guys, such thoughtful characters! - if you have ANY questions or concerns about this grading, don't hesitate to PM me.