The assault on Salty Pier

[Anastasia]

Past this is a great courtyard, paths leading into the palace. You go down the center, past a guard of dragonborn again, deeper within.

Within the palace are dragons and dragonborn, mortals and celestials. Dragons loom over humans, solars loom over dwarves and yet none truly are bigger than the other. All pass through the halls, seeming to ignore such petty problems.

As if anticipating the question, "All are equal in Bahamut's gaze, so long as they are righteous." Ixen explains.

[Nephrite]

Moore tilts his head as he glances across, back and forth.

"Ah... the size of the soul is paramount." Moore says with a nod. "A place where all are equal and can accept such things."

[Anastasia]

"Well said," Xandra murmurs.

"All shall be equal before Bahamut," Ixen agrees. "You grasped the truth of that swiftly."

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles. "I've been underestimated because of my size enough times to have a grasp of that. It's probably not so different for a dragon to learn the same lesson, though on a matter of overestimation."

[Anastasia]

"Aye." That's the only reply you get, the conversation stalling as you proceed deeper in.

On and ahead you go. Past all of this to a single room, where an old, ragged looking dwarf sits. She wears a plain dress and looks utterly unremarkable - plain features, weathered by age. Yet Ixen bows deeply to her, "Ma'am, Duke Moore and companions are here to petition Bahamut."

[Nephrite]

Moore follows suit with Ixen, offering the same sort of deep bow.

If they need a specific reason he'll supply it, but there's no reason to even try and figure out of this is the customary thing to do -- it was told to him plain as day that no one is too big or small, after all, and so he bows.

[Anastasia]

Jetina follows suit with Xandra merely giving the dwarf a long look.

"Ah, this one I like. Polite." The dwarf's voice is not that of a dwarf, but of something far larger, rattling the walls of the room. "Moore of Aurora, if I don't miss my guess? You've moved up in the world. It's good to see you're willing to humble yourself in front of someone that seems like nothing. Pride is an ugly sin."

In the dwarf's place is now a golden dragon, big enough to fill the room a hundred times over and yet barely taking up any more space than the dwarf. It leans forward, head close to you, eyes somehow as large as they should be, taking up your entire field of vision. "Yes, yes, you're familiar with this, too. The prismatic dragon's fond of this?"

[Nephrite]

Moore can't help but break into a grin as he stands there -- tall as a mountain and yet small as a mouse. "You are indeed correct, and thank you for your kind words. I've gotten used to it in time. The first time it was pretty scary, I'll admit!" He clears his throat after that. "It's the draconic way of... mm... being someone's equal for a moment, right? I never saw it as intimidation, more... curiosity, if that makes sense. I think the phrase I might use is 'putting yourself in the other person's shoes,' but I realize that lacks a certain... draconic panache. I also realize it loses a certain meaningfulness when performed outside of here."

[Anastasia]

"Some use it to intimidate, some use it to be closer as you said. Draconic vision is also good enough to see even more up close, that's another reason," The dragon says. "I am Aurixanila." The dragon retreats back after that, "Bahamut will see you soon, Duke Moore."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods, and then taps his chin once.

"Aurix... gold, yes?" Moore asks. "Is it not true that it's the name of some of the spirits around here? Ah, my apologies, I mean no offense to your name, Lady Aurixanila. I had a great deal of time to read in Xiranthador -- there were several books on the... neighbors, if I may be so boring." He says the last bit with an apologetic smile. "It would just seem that your name holds a great deal of significance, even with your obvious station here."

[Anastasia]

"It may, but ti is only my name," The dragon says, "Yes, the dragonborn aurix. Are you learned of the dragonborn?"

[Nephrite]

"I only know what is likely rather common knowledge -- they are born anew from whatever path they led before... ah, a matter that makes so much more sense being here." Moore says, as if some sort of realization dawned on him as he gestures around the room. "It is no easy life they choose for themselves... but in that lies their true strength, to be so willing to sacrifice one's self for others in such a way is a truly noble act."

[Anastasia]

"Yes, to give up an old life for a new one. Familiar, isn't it?" The golden dragon says.

"Bahamut looks upward, as do we all." Xandra speaks up now, "It is only natural."

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles and nods. "There's a lot I still have yet to do at the level I'm currently seeing on, so I feel like if I try and lift my head too high right now I may miss something right in front of me. There's a delicate balance there, I suppose."

[Anastasia]

A response is stopped, the dragon cocking her head to the side. "...Ah. The Platinum Dragon will see you now." A door appears ahead, open and inviting you further, one that wasn't there a moment ago.