Description
Tagasuhl is a small Water Dragon*. His torso is around the size of a average horse (16 hands), making it roughly four and a half feet long, and half of that tall and wide. From this torso he has a long neck, roughly the same length as his body (including the head) and from the other end an even longer sinuous tail, reaching twice the length of his torso at it's thin tip. His legs are not quite so high as a horse and as such he is much lower to the ground, coming up to around four feet at the shoulder. Since he lacks the usual bulk of many dragons he must make up for this deficiency with speed and flexibility.
Tag's entire body is covered in small closely interlocking scales. These scales are serrated about the edges and from underneath are tiny feather-like structures, tines, that give his hide the appearance of flesh from all but the closest of distances. His snout is narrow and small, ending in a razor sharp beak-like bone covering, behind which are his lips and teeth, cradling a long forked tongue. His crest is adorned with large ear-like feather tuffts and from the corner of his jaws thin tentacles trail behind his head and twist about seemingly with a mind of their own. Sunken behind bony plates are his eyes, small and faintly glowing. While not particularly expressive in regards to a human face his tufts, tines, and tentacles can convey his emotions clearly. Tag, unlike many dragons, does not have horns and his tail is simply long and prehensile - hardly fearsome weapons.
Tagashul's wings are a marvel of winged-kind - light, strong, flexible. Held together by few bones, and mostly cartilage and small muscles Tags wings can bend to nearly any shape that is needed, yet can withstand the strain of flight. At the apex of each wing are small grasping claws, nearly as dexterous as a human hand and with five digits. Though lacking a dedicated opposable digit, these claws are spread out and angled so that the farthest digit on either side can act as an opposing digit to three of the others on the opposing side. Coupled with his powerful legs, these flexible wings give Tag unparalleled maneuverability near the ground and in the caves he inhabits, allowing him to alter his velocity and direction mid leap. They even allow him to hover in place for a long while, utilizing an undulating motion similar some underwater fish.
Tagashuhls breath weapon is very strange owing to the fact that it is not magical, but natural. In the process of his normal breathing, Tagashuhl's lungs convert much of the incoming oxygen and hydrogen to internal sacs. He can then fuse these two elements into water that feeds into a Gular pouch at the base of his throat. Along the length of his neck is a series of chemical pouches that can either create a Heat Surplus or Heat Deficit. When water is sprayed from his Gular Skin, through his throat and out of his mouth, these chemical sacs alter the temperature of the water, allowing it to come out as searing hot steam or ice cold slush (or ice itself, in small bursts, with a little help from magic).
Magic*: Tagahsuhl holds sway over all water that passes through his system. He can manipulate it control it's temperature as well, though not nearly as quickly as he can when he breathes it. Tagashuhl controls water this way by designating a new "down" for the water to flow towards, and a new "up" for the steam to fly towards. Once made into Ice Tagashuhl can throw it around in chunks and in small jumps. To change the waters temperature he can slow and speed up it's molecules but it takes time. Tagashuhl has one additional ability, the only ability he has that can manipulate water that he has not passed through his system. With this ability he can designate any water in the area to treat him as "down" and flow towards and pool around his form.
*Tag's magic is not actually natural for him as he is more of a drake than a dragon (drake in this case being a non-sentient dragon-like creature). Early in his childhood he accidentally swallowed an equally young Water Elemental. When the water of the elements body was dispersed through Tagashuhl's system it did not dispel the Elemental's intelligence but instead, over time, merged it with the drake's. Years down the line the drake and the Elemental are one being with strong physical capabilities, a devastating mind, and a modest magical talent where water is concerned.
Tagashuhl has spent his life, short though it is for a dragon, protecting the several villages around his lake. In exchange for using the clear perfect waters of this lake (and the occasional fishing trips when supplies are low) the villages send Tagashuhl company, usually in the form of children or the elderly; those least integral to work. Tagashuhl has never minded who he has around to speak with though, as long as they can hold a conversation. Occasionally he even makes trips to each of the three villages to riddle with the townsfolk and do heavy lifting for them. Since that time Tag has grown restless and moved on to seek his knowledge and wisdom in other far flung places.
So begins...
Roiling through the doorway comes a small dragon.
Roiling through the doorway of the bar as though the devil himself were on his heels streaks the dragon Tagashuhl. Taking no notice of the bar's activity he crouches by the doorway as sounds of pursuit pass by the bar's doorway. Heaving a sigh of relief at his narrow escape Tag turns to the bar to take in the activity.
A strangely small dragon Tagashuhl barely looks large enough to devour one of the maidens folklore so loves to gift his kind with a gluttonous lust for. Light silt brown scales cover his body, save for his light nearly boneless wings. Their patter only interrupted by a number of cuts and gashes on his long sleek form.
Noticing a small grouping of people near the front of the bar, Tagashuhl begins weave his way through the room towards them, panting heavily.
Upon reaching the small knot of activity Tag found himself at a loss for words momentarily. A loud bark from a weapon startled him out of his revere, this was obviously not a place to linger for much longer than necessary. Mulling over the ideas in his head he settled on a course of action. "Ah, Hello good sirs and madame." Tagashuhl said in one of the most common human tongues to Alrion Flavaar, Tachyglossus, and Rispetto. "I don't suppose you could tell me what sort of establishment is..." Tag eyed the body that was being disposed off by a henchman. "If it is indeed an establishment at all." His piece stated Tag settled back onto his haunches and ruffled his wings.
Tagashuhl noticed too late that the group before him was already engaged in a conversation. Mildly chastised Tagashuhl took to examining his wounds, patiently waiting for an opening.
Blinking luminescent orbs, Tagashuhl lowered his head to address the small animal that addressed him. Now this was a creature he could swallow whole! "Hello. Might you have an answer for my question?"
Tagashuhl turns his head to eye the small furry animal more closely, "Well I suppose it might be useful to know who owns this place, but what is it?"
"A drinking establishment? Excellent!" Tagashuhl exclaims triumphantly. "eh... Where might one obtain the aforementioned beverages?"
Tagashuhl Patch You win awesome points for using "Aye" in casual conversation.
Tagashuhl steps forward to eye the counter, seemingly unphased by the cats sudden transformation. "I fail to see how this counter might provide me with alcohol." He said giving the cat a mild glare.
Tagashuhl ordered the strongest drink available and settled back to wait. Chuckling at the tiny spined mammal's impudence Tag spoke to the gathered patrons, "So what brings the rest of you to this.... fine? Establishment?"
Tagashuhl eyes the Echidna momentarily and decides to find out what it wants. Tag sends to Tachyglossus.
Tagashuhl sends to the recently floored echidna. Picking up his just arrived drink from the counter he throws it into the back of his throat in one motion, and doesn't even seem to swallow. Frowning in distaste at the glass he replaces it on the counter.
Tagashuhl turned his head towards Rispetto and Seraphim. Humans and human-like creatures interested him immensely. Their culture was so... bizarre. He decided that while he was here he might as well ask some questions so to Seraphim he asked, "You seem to be acting quite intimate with this man you've yet to meet properly by human standards. Do you, perhaps, already consider him an appropriate mate or are you attempting to foster a more familiar relationship in the manner know as 'dating?'"
Tag replied to Tachyglossus.
Tagashuhl mulled this reply over for a moment before asking more questions, "Do you enjoy these... 'cuddles' because of a specific biological response? Such as a similar mechanism to being stroked by hand in a manner known as "petting" or perhaps sexual arousal? And even so, why seek them with a comparative stranger rather than a mate or one you have a relationship with? I have been told that such activities are quite enjoyable, and are of the prime driving forces in human interaction..." Tag left off, feeling if he asked all his questions he would overload the poor feline.
Tag replies to Tachyglossus.
Tagashuhl watched the feline shape shifter blink out of existence. Rather annoyed that none up his questions were answered he turned his full attention to the small Tachyglossus situated on the floor. Tag idly picked at a small tear on his left wing as he Sent to the echidna.
Tagashuhl looks towards the door of the bar. With that Tagashuhl, Dragon of the Lakes, streaks from the building and into the skies.
Long and sinuous the ice scaled dragon Tagashuhl rushed into the side alley from the rooftops above. Landing roughly he shook himself all over and ducked down unconsciously as a screaming vehicle of some sort shot by overhead. Snorting and shaking himself once again Tag looked about the alley.
Smaller than most dragons Tagashuhl was only the size of a small horse, with long a short neck and abnormally long tail. All across his body splotches of light mud brown could be seen marring the shining ice blue scales, though his membranous wings were uncolored by these strange markings. Blue frills stood out on either side of his head and tail, sharing the same aqueous qualities as the long whiskers that trailed behind his head and whipped about as though alive. Cocking his head to the side Tag's large ear feathers twisted - searching for a sound just out of reach.
Finding no such sound, Tagashuhl instead turned to the angered wolf that shared the alley. He'd come back in this area for the interesting conversations to be had in the bar but it looked like it could be had without entering the bar at all.