Zuko

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Z U K O
Zuko's mother said he was born with anger in his heart. Being the grandson of a war deity will do that to you. Zuko has a notoriously short temper and does not negotiate well with others. More than one customer has gotten hot tea spilled their lap because they looked at him wrong. He is very insecure in his surroundings and is constantly on alert for the next threat. Part of his insecurity comes from his mother. He blames himself for what happened to her and therefore thinks he has no right to be happy or comfortable in his life. Being around Arwel so much is causing that philosophy to crumble slightly, however it builds itself back up every time he looks in the mirror.



It all began with a war. In the midst of a losing battle, a pearlcatcher called out for strength. In front of him appeared the deity of war herself. She offered him victory in exchange for his soul and the foolish warrior took the deal. The deity disappeared and the pearlcatcher won the war for his people. At the end, he expected his soul to be taken but he gained two eggs that hatched into two dragons, children of Yiling. The warrior raised them until they could survive and then left to fight battles elsewhere.

One of those hatchlings grew into a beautiful young dragon with scales like the sun. She was envied by those in her village and it disgusted her mother that her progeny was loved rather than feared. Yiling sent down a suitor to seduce her daughter and just when she had fallen in love, the suitor disappeared. Distraught, the young dragon, now with child, sunk into a depression.

Zuko was born not long after. He despised the world early, watching his mother beg for help day after day at a shrine to Yiling. No help ever came. Not from her, not from anyone. His anger grew stronger and stronger, hotter and hotter until one night he looked into the sky and cursed the deity's name. Finally, Yiling started paying attention. On one hand, she was impressed by her grandson's tenacity. On the other, she wouldn't have some runt cursing her name. So in response she made Zuko's mother disappear into thin air and burned one half of his face in penance.

Now without his mother and half his sight, Zuko let his anger consume him. He closed himself off and bounced from town to town thieving, fighting, and looking for his mother. In one town he tried and ultimately failed to rob a tea shop. He got caught by the owner, an older dragon named Arwel. Arwel didn't hurt him, just kind of laughed. Zuko could see sadness in his eyes and it made him furious. He demanded the old dragon's earnings but again Arwel laughed, saying if he wanted anything he would have to earn it or go to prison.

Cursing and spitting, Zuko took his offer and started work at the Arcane Apothecary. It took him a while to stop threatening customers but now he has fallen into a steady pattern. He would rather die than admit he actually enjoys working there. Though he is starting to understand there is more to the world than just anger, he still has not given up on finding his mother and getting revenge on the one who took her from him.

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