Zukyem

Zukyem Engineer - Eight of Pentacles What exactly Zukyem does all day is a mystery to the clan. She has one of the largest dens to herself on the western side of the Shore, and it is stuffed full of jerry-rigged pipes and huge segments of... something. Occasionally this rust-flaked workshop belches smoke or horrific volcanic smells. Complaining only causes a vacant-looking Zukyem to emerge with apologies and promises that it's only temporary, and most dragons have resigned themselves to just moving downwind on Zukyem's busy days. Aside from the upsets her workshop causes, dragons don't see much of her. She has very few words for anyone, but is friendly when spoken to and maintains a distracted politeness. Occasionally she can be seen out by the surf with her familiar, sinking or floating chunks of metal or sitting hunched, taking notes just out of reach of the waves. Getting to know Zook closer reveals a highly intelligent, stubborn, somewhat idealistic dragon who would be quite endearing to be around if she weren't so intensely focused on her work.

History: Zukyem arrived with the white Ridgeback Lizan. Bored with her stagnant home clan, Zook set to finding a challenge for her remarkable engineering skills. When she came to the Sea the idea came to her. What if.. you could create an island that went wherever you wanted it to, like a swimming dragon? How would it be propelled? How could one best make metal or stone float? She has been working on her prototype ever since, though nobody entirely understands what she's trying to do. During the War Zukyem refused to abandon it, choosing instead to line the entrance of her workshop den with deathtraps and spikes, barricading herself in behind enemy lines. The War has left her quieter, retreating more since the loss of her mate and socialising even less with other dragons.

Physical: Zukyem is a physically unremarkable Ridgeback, though fairly large. Her dress is always practical and she needs glasses to see clearly. Her work intimately involves the properties of the Sea and as such she confronts her aquaphobia daily, able to wade in only a short distance before becoming too unsettled and scarpering for the shore. Her flight is strong and enduring, though not particularly agile nor expressive. Zukyem can breathe short puffs of fire, though this is not very useful and she prefers to rely on the much hotter fires of her forge for metalworking. Her resistance to heat however is great, and she can handle red hot metals with nonchalant ease.

Familiar: Although she has no name for the fiery shark, her partner Lizan referred to it as "Hisser", for the way in which the water seethes around it as it swims. This bubbling effect is of particular interest to the engineer, and may have served as her biggest inspiration. When the Thresher awakened, Zukyem found she could communicate her basic will to it, and its assistance has proved invaluable any time a tool or piece of scrap has fallen into water too deep for Zook to feel comfortable entering.

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Lizan: The vivacious white Ridgeback was Zukyem's love and Zukyem's light. Her exuberant, eccentric nature was the yang to Zukyem's quiet yin, and her passion for life an inspiration. Rennic, the traitor, was responsible for cutting Lizan down during the War. Lizan fell, later choosing to go into the service of the Flamecaller rather than remain at the Shore, mortal but paralysed. Though Zukyem supported and understands her choice, letting go of her lover was the hardest thing Zukyem has ever done.

Kappel: Zukyem is still not entirely sure herself why she's claimed the enemy Mirror as her assistant, taking responsibility for her life. It could be the sheer waste of talent, or perhaps it's Zukyem's distaste for any further violence and loss of life. Even for an enemy, one of those responsible for taking Lizan from her. At any rate, she makes a good assistant, and even if Zukyem can't yet forgive she feels some satisfaction that she's providing this swampy technician with at least a semblance of a chance at redemption.

Family: Zukyem was a lone egg child. While she remains unaware of it, her heritage contains a sinister cast, originating in the lands of the East. Her grandmother is a cannibalistic sea beast, and her grandfather is the Lightning biologist of dubious morality compelled to research her. Zukyem likely inherits her obsessive and scientific bent from this Lightning side of the family, but thankfully doesn't seem to have inherited anything else. Zukyem has somewhat absently had a few children of her own, who have all returned to the service of the gods.

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