Irondragon

Irondragon

Take a deep breath. Clear your mind, and center yourself.







Irondragon is a calm, good-natured dragon who considers himself a warrior-poet. As an Arcane dragon, he is very closely in tune with the flow of magic throughout the land, and he believes that from there it's only one short step to being in tune with the land itself, and all the forces that flow within it, each in their unique harmony. To him, each of the arts he practices are alike, in that they are a way to get in touch with the inner harmony, and the flow of energy of Sornieth itself. A balance of mind and body is important to him, and he strives to reach it in every aspect of his life. He does his best to avoid unnecessary strife or negativity, or to resolve it quickly when he can't avoid it, which has given him something of a reputation as a peacemaker.

Irondragon practices a fighting style which centers around grace and balance. Paradoxically for a warrior, he would prefer not to fight at all, using his expertise only to end conflicts rather than start them. He always displays respect for his opponents, even if they seem rough and violent. He also follows a firm code of honor. When an opponent is defeated, the fight is over. He never strikes another blow on anyone who has surrendered, or who lies helpless. He won't fight back at all against anyone who is significantly weaker or a worse fighter than him. He will only defend himself, fluidly avoiding and deflecting their blows until they wear themselves out, or give up. He can be a very frustrating opponent, but even when his odd style of fighting enrages his foes who expect him to brawl like they do, he never allows himself to stoop to their level. And when the fight is over, no matter how his opponent behaved, he always offers his congratulations or a word of advice, and a paw outstretched to help them up.

He believes that to be happy, one should try to achieve balance between their body and mind. In addition to practicing his fighting, he also enjoys reading, and writing, poetry. He finds the elegant simplicity of the words to be soothing and uplifting. Poetry, he often says, enriches both the mind and the spirit. To focus only on his physical self would leave him disconnected, self-centered, and unable to understand the thoughts of those around him. Conversely, to focus only on the pursuits of the mind would leave him at a different sort of disconnect, and a difficulty engaging with the world and what makes it. A proper blend of both is the best way to achieve peace and balance in life. However, he always shows respect to those who do focus on either one or the either. After all, his way is only a single path out of many, and who is he to disparage those who pursue their passion? There are many ways to find balance and joy in life.

Irondragon rarely ever loses his temper, even in the heat of battle. He always strives to keep a calm, unruffled demeanor, like the smooth surface of a weather-worn stone. To the stone, the irritants that drive down on it only polish it even smoother, and make it more beautiful, but they don't break it. Some of his opponents find his unusual calm when he fights to be unnerving, and try to break it with insults or fierce attacks, but they never manage. His calm makes him an excellent warrior as well, since it means that he's always able to think and plan with a cool head. This way, he can analyze his opponent (he almost always thinks of them as his opponent and rarely, if ever, as his enemy) and predict their tactics and weak spots.

For quite some time, he led a wandering life, keeping few possessions with him and never staying in the same place for long. He depended upon the hospitality of strangers to take him in, or his own abilities to take care of himself. Many nights saw him sleeping under a tree, with a meal he had hunted for and prepared himself, if there was no kind clan nearby willing to offer him shelter. If he came across money or extra food, he gave it away to whoever needed it rather than keeping it for himself for later. He was confident that his good deeds would eventually be returned to him, and if not, well, he was capable of finding food and making a temporary shelter for himself, and that was more than some others were able to do, wasn't it? It was a simple life, but a satisfying one that left him free to practice his fighting under the open sky, and declaim his poetry to the flowers and the birds.

The Windswept Plateau was his favorite place of all to visit in his travels. The whisper of wind through the lush bamboo groves sounded like someone whispering poetry he couldn't quite make out, and the fluffy white clouds sprawled playful calligraphy across the sky. He met a tundra there, one who introduced herself as Nocti and told him she was returning to her clan after a visit to the Windsinger, acting as an emissary between the two. He asked if he might have the honor of escorting her safely back to her clan, and she replied that she always welcomed friendly company. As they walked, she pointed out the various beauties and landmarks of the Wind region to him, and talked about the clan she loved, a clan that she also happened to be the leader of. It sounded wonderful to him, and when he asked if he might stay a while, she happily agreed.

One of the clan members intrigued him especially, a fierce warrior named DarkIce who fought with skill, but also a hot undercurrent of anger. He admired that she was clearly trying her best to control it, and to battle with a clear head free of volatile emotions, but sometimes it still got the best of her. She would accidentally injure a sparring partner more than she meant, and although she regretted it afterward, she couldn't undo the harm. That in turn fed the anger inside her, and made it grow even more, so that it broke loose at inopportune moments. He offered to spar with her, and teach her the methods he used for retaining his calm. When they fought, even if she lost her temper, he was quick and agile enough to dodge and deflect her blows so that she didn't hurt him. Although the two of them began in a position of teacher and student, as she absorbed his teachings they grew closer to equals. And from equals, they grew into partners, and the respect and admiration they felt for each other grew into affection and love. Now Irondragon has three great loves in his life: fighting, poetry, and his mate, DarkIce.



Can you feel that? Everything has a balance to it, a harmony. It's the most beautiful poetry of all.