Canon is The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim; Paarthurnax is most surprised

[elderspeaksfirst]

So. Joor fen kos in. A mortal will be the master. Unexpected. Few have attempted to seek me out for centuries, and you are no Dovahkiin.

You choose a strange path by which to learn. Joor fen los zul, nuz Thu’um niid. But perhaps it is not the Thu’um you seek. What then do you desire of me, mortal?

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[the_burnt_one]

[The child looking at him looks like an ordinary, rather terrified human girl with extensive burn scars. But if the big guy has any sense for that kindof thing, he'll be able to tell she's something a bit more than a dragonborn. More like one of his own kind wearing a lesser being's shape.]

I greet you, kvauud*.

[*'kin' in Earthsea dragonish]

[elderspeaksfirst]

[He lowers his head slowly: even his long memory strains to recollect when he last faced one so young as this. Or so odd. The currents of time flow differently for dragons, and if one ignores her fear and watches closely...]

Drem Yol Lok, kiir. [He rolls the words out slowly.] Greetings, child. I am Paarthurnax. What is your name?

[the_burnt_one]

[She stands in front of him, shaking in fear but not backing or looking away.] I am...[She hesitates. Well, there's no point giving him her use-name. That's a human custom. Dragons have no fear of their true names.] Tehanu, oh respected and ancient one.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[It is a dragonish-sounding name, by chance or otherwise, and his curiosity grows.]

Faasnu, young one. You need not fear me. You are no ordinary joor, a mortal, are you?

[the_burnt_one]

[She tries her best to keep calm. She's not naturally brave.] No, kvauud. I am one of your kind. I cannot change yet though, so for now I must wear this shape.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[Hrrm. His suspicions are confirmed - and he was reluctant to believe they would be. Paarthurnax sways his head, studying her with surprise and interest.]

Voth joor kopraan dovahkiir? How does this come to pass?

[the_burnt_one]

On Earthsea, long ago humans and dragons were one. In the verw naudannen*, men chose the earth, order and law, while dragons chose air, fire and freedom. Very rarely, a child with a dragon soul is born to human parents. Eventually they will change to their true shape and go to join their people. I am one such person, but my human parents...hurt me. They gave me this. [She holds out her arm, which is badly burned, like her face. The fire fused several of her fingers together.]

[*'great separation']

[elderspeaksfirst]

[He studies her arm closely, rumbling in his chest. Her burns trouble him, as does her fear. To be wounded in battle is one thing, but this...]

I see. Meyye. They acted not as kindred, but as enemies, hokoronne. Unslaad krosis. In other places those gifted with a dragon's soul are mighty heroes among men. But you are something other than the Dragonborn, I think. Yes.

A question: can you yet wield the power of the Thu'um, the dragon voice?

[the_burnt_one]

I know a few words in the Language Of Making. I do not use them except when I absolutely must though. It is unwise to do so without knowing every possible consequence of the act. [Her adopted father was a Taoist-expy wizard, so you'll hear a lot of that from her.] If there is anything you wish to teach me, I would be honored to learn.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Pruzah. You have already learned something of wisdom. [He is approving. A sensible attitude to power: worth almost more than dragons' souls where students are concerned.]

There is much more I would be pleased to teach you. But first, what is the tongue you have been taught, this Language of Making? You have used unfamiliar words before now.

[the_burnt_one]

Where I am from it is the native tongue of dragons and the language of magic.

Martin Septim told me a little about our kind on Tamriel.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[See his eyes brighten.] You spoke with the last of the Septims? Vahzah kogaan. I knew others of his line once, but not he. Krosis. He was a worthy bearer of the dragon blood. Did he tell you of Akatosh and the Way of the Voice?

[the_burnt_one]

He told me how he sacrificed himself to become Akatosh's avatar for a time. He seemed a good person.

[elderspeaksfirst]

Pruzah. Good. His deed was noble. Some time has passed in my Tamriel, but that is not yet forgotten.

[And it gives him some satisfaction that another Dragonborn survives, albeit somewhere in these places outside of time.]

Hmm. But there is more he would not know. The tongue of the dov is not how the mages of Tamriel work their magic. Few joorre are trained to use the Thu'um as we do. One must learn both the Words of Power that form a Shout, and the deep understanding of them. To learn a Shout is to take its meaning into yourself. Rotte aav wah sil.

[donewithdoing]

I give you greeting, Elder.

looking for a place for him btw?

[the_burnt_one]

[She looks eager, or as eager as she ever looks anyway.] That is how the dragon language works where I am from too! Oh, but I know so few words in my native tongue, I would be glad to learn some from you in its sister language.

[septim]

[ A pointed silence. ] I thought dragons were extinct. [ Yet, for some reason, Martin isn't scared. ]

reposted to add that yes, yes I am!

[elderspeaksfirst]

[In this they are alike - how much more will he too have to learn, with worlds of other dragons now? But such musings can wait. Paarthurnax casts an eye at her burns, considers the enthusiasm he does not wish to lose now it has been roused. Yet... she is a dragon.]

Vahrukt lingrah lahney. Would the knowing of fire trouble you?

wrong account! even though it'd be a little cramped for him, consider entanglement_rp?

[the_burnt_one]

[Therru is momentarily taken aback by his concern. She reaches up (with difficulty, for scarred skin does not stretch easily) with her burned side to touch that great muzzle.]

Barre'zan, medeau. It would terrify me but I must know it or it will control me all my life.

[*thank you, close kin]

[elderspeaksfirst]

Drem Yol Lok, wunduniik. Greetings. [He seems curious.] My name is Paarthurnax. It is a rare pleasure nowadays to have the opportunity of tinvaak - speech with one of your kind.

[Or, well, anyone who isn't the latest Dovahkiin.]

[elderspeaksfirst]

[It's not that Paarthurnax can actually smell a Septim - whatever he claims - but Martin is more than Dragonborn: he's been touched by Akatosh himself, and something of that still lingers.]

Fin lingrah tey. So have many claimed. [He lowers his head to look Martin in the eye.] Yet I remain. Drem Yol Lok... Dovahkiin.

[septim]

Dovahkiin. [ Martin says it slowly, lingering on each syllable ] That sounds a lot more powerful than 'dragonborn' but for obvious reasons. The language of Akatosh's children, I've never heard it before, only read it in books.

an intriguing suggestion! will check it out.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[He ducks his scaled head just enough to meet her hand, well pleased with that answer though little changes in his outward demeanour.]

Krin tinvaak - it is well said. Come, then. I will show you how one makes introductions among the dov.

[He draws back then and spreads his wings, launching himself into the air; with but two wingbeats he settles again before a flat area of the rock beneath them and cranes his neck to be sure she is watching.]

[elderspeaksfirst]

In writing one finds but a fraction of its power. Su'um ahrk morah. Not for nothing do we speak of the Thu'um, the Voice. But few joorre still come to learn the Way.

[septim]

[ There's regret in Martin's words. ] I wish I could've traveled to High Hrothgar. [ But then his voice switches to determination. ] But I don't regret what happened instead.

he could have a spacesuit and be a spacedragon!

[the_burnt_one]

[Therru's single eye goes wide. She longs to be flying with him.] I am watching, elder.

[elderspeaksfirst]

No. Vahzah. One should not regret krilot zahrahmiik, a noble sacrifice. [Nords don't go in for that sort of thing, and they're the humans he knows best.]

Still. It is a pity you could not come to us. Those of dovah sos have always been most welcome upon the Throat of the World.

[Though possibly the Blades would have been unhappy about it; Paarthurnax is unclear how often they've remembered him down the years. It does not trouble him.]

it'd be just like a mountain! a double-sided one!

[elderspeaksfirst]

[Paarthurnax bows his head a little, silent for a moment as if readying himself. In the Thu'um is the truest expression of a dragon's will - he must be careful of the bone-deep memory it wakes, of what he was and could be.]

It is long tradition that the elder speaks first. [He lifts his gaze to hers, intent, his voice rumbling deeper.] Hear my Thu'um. Feel its strength within you, and soon you will match it.

[His head sways away then, lowering and opening his jaws in a Shout.]

Yol Toor Shul!

[The sound reverberates deep around them, the words themselves drowned amid the rush of white-hot fire from his maw. It sears the very rock before it, carving a single Word of Power into the stone.]

[septim]

[ How surreal it is to speak so casually with an ancient dragon, and not get torn or shouted to pieces. ] I'm not sure the Blades would've approved. Yet I'm curious about the Way of the Voice, and thu'ums.

My name is Martin Septim, but you already knew that. May I know yours?

[elderspeaksfirst]

[If Martin feels like he's being studied closely - well, he is! But Paarthurnax makes a thoughtful sound to himself, pleased. It would take more than disapproving Akaviri to dissuade a Dragonborn.]

Yes. Krosis. Forgive me. I am Paarthurnax of the Greybeards.

[septim]

[ Initial surprise. ] The Greybeards are led by a dragon?

[ But then, a small smile. ] Surprising, and yet not. Who better to teach thu'ums than a native speaker?

It's an honor to meet you, Paarthumax. Don't worry, I didn't bring any Blades with me.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[Amusement.] That is good to hear. The bruniikke have some wisdom, but I have no wish to meet them in battle yet.

Ahhh, but it is good to meet with you at last. I have taught the Thu'um and counselled in its use for many centuries. Zu'u stin wah ofan. I will gladly share what you would know.

[septim]

They are good soldiers, but often blinded by their duty. [ How coddled Martin felt at Cloud Ruler Temple. It became unbearable quickly. ]

[ Martin isn't wasting this opportunity. He smiles, sitting down, motioning for Paarthumax to do the same, as this conversation will likely be long. ] Did you teach Tiber Septim? Wait, it's likelier you knew him as Talos.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[Long conversations are Paarthurnax's favourite! He braces his wings against the ground and settles between them, his tail curled upward.]

Yes, I remember him. Talos, who was Ysmir. When he answered the call to High Hrothgar, his own path was only beginning to unfold. Ok suleyk ruz fundein. He withstood the Thu'um of the Greybeards and accepted their greeting. Sossedov ag mul. It was not long before he and I met upon the Monahven.

[septim]

[ Martin listens intently, amazed at learning about his own ancestor from someone who was there, as opposed to some book.

So many questions, but Martin paces himself.

There's a single question that's been eating at him. ] I'm not sure if you would know this, but ever since I found awake myself...

Is Tamriel peaceful? I died during the Oblivion Crisis, and you're the first being I've met from Tamriel in this strange place.

[elderspeaksfirst]

[...Ah. Martin may not like this part.]

Rul los drem alun voth Taazokaan? It has been many years since the gates of Oblivion were sealed. Much has changed in the world.

[He pauses.] The coming of the daedra was among the last of many signs. Alduin daal. He whom you call the World-Eater returned once more.