Zeta - Paokus Ethnicity
"At the edge of the heavens, amidst terraces etched into the mountain itself, dwell the watchers of the sun. With wings spread wide like living gold, they chant the sky into alignment, weaving ancient songlines that guide stars and fate alike. To glimpse their rituals is to witness history breathing, written in cords of flame and woven knots of memory."
"Above the clouds, Impa sleeps, watched eternally by guardians whose names resonate in celestial harmony. They measure life not in years but in solar cycles, preserving a delicate balance between earth and sky, past and future, known and unknown."
Introduction
The Zeta Paokus of Impa are the revered guardians of ancient rites and celestial wisdom, a people whose lives intertwine seamlessly with the rhythms of the sun, the whisper of flames, and the quiet strength of stone. Distinctive for their noble eagle-like forms, larger than their Rai cousins and resplendent in golden and russet hues, the Zeta embody grace, structure, and profound spiritual devotion. Their society thrives high amidst the terraced slopes and mist-clad heights of the Impan Mountains, protected by vigilant watchers and guided by rituals as old as the mountains themselves.
Impa, a realm of steep terraced villages and breathtaking cliff temples, is nominally bound within the Directorate of Valenfar. Yet, the Zeta retain strict spiritual and cultural independence, guardedly allowing only select outsiders access to their realm. Their hierarchical society is organized around castes of Voice Bearers—hereditary fire chanters—and Ember Seers, whose chants and rituals uphold the purity and balance dictated by their sacred Sky-Fire Creed.
Fire lies at the heart of Zeta spirituality, revered as the breath of the gods, a gift first entrusted to the legendary First Emperor and now protected by chosen bloodlines. Their intricate rituals include maintaining perpetual sacred pyres, performing rites of renewal through fire-walking, and meticulously guarding against spiritual corruption—what they term the "soul cold." Visitors to their land must carefully observe these hearth rites, demonstrating respectful caution in the presence of sacred flames.
To outsiders, the Zeta Paokus appear as custodians of mysteries, dignified and welcoming yet insistent upon ritual respect. Their harmonious existence reflects an ancient balance between their earthly obligations and celestial reverence, preserved meticulously within their mountain sanctuaries and memory-rich chants.
"Their language is song, their scripture knots, their temple the sky itself. In silence, they speak truths we have yet to learn."
Appearance and Lifestyle
Zeta Paokus are immediately distinguished by their noble stature, standing between 1.3 and 1.6 meters tall, with broad, powerful wings well-suited to the sweeping vistas and shifting skies of Impa. Their plumage shines in striking hues of gold, bronze, and warm russet, resembling the noble eagles they venerate in their ancestral tales. These avian forms require little clothing, and the Zeta instead express themselves through sophisticated and symbolic adornments.
Their mountain lives are highly structured, woven seamlessly around communal obligations, spiritual observances, and careful cultivation of terraced slopes that sustain their isolated realm. Daily life is punctuated by rituals tied to solar alignments and sacred flames, overseen by the spiritual caste of Voice Bearers and guided by the visions of Ember Seers.
The Zeta Paokus possess robust and majestic physiques, built for soaring long distances and maneuvering in high mountain winds. Their wings are expansive and powerful, with plumage that ranges from shimmering golden hues to rich, warm earth-tones. Their posture conveys dignity and calm authority, movements deliberate yet graceful, often reminiscent of ceremonial dance.
Eyes of deep amber or molten gold reflect their close communion with sacred flames, often described by observers as holding an almost hypnotic intensity, radiating both warmth and profound wisdom.
Their feathers exhibit intricate natural patterns subtly enhanced by finely powdered mineral pigments or ceremonial paints, carefully applied during rituals to signify caste rank, spiritual achievements, or ceremonial roles. Complex geometric symbols and celestial motifs adorn wing-tips and tail feathers, speaking silently of each individual's personal history and spiritual path.
These markings, renewed at key rituals throughout the year, serve as constant reminders of communal ties and individual purpose, binding the Zeta closely to their traditions and to each other.
With no need or inclination for full-body clothing, the Zeta Paokus instead wear elegantly crafted harnesses, woven from sturdy mountain fibers, beautifully adorned with polished stones, precious metals, and sacred charms. Golden, copper, or silver ornaments, intricately hammered into shapes inspired by solar imagery, adorn wrists, ankles, necks, and head-crests.
These decorations hold symbolic significance, each piece representing spiritual achievements, ancestral connections, or specific celestial events. Younger Zeta may wear simpler adornments, while Voice Bearers and Ember Seers are distinguished by elaborate and refined ornamentation.
Zeta villages, built upon carefully terraced slopes, integrate seamlessly into their mountainous environment. Structures are made from natural stone and wood, positioned to align precisely with solar events and celestial patterns. The capital, Var-Qurel, stands as the spiritual heart of Impa, its basalt spires shrouded perpetually in mist, while the monastery-town Kishmar Echo preserves centuries of unbroken oral tradition.
Each settlement is oriented around sacred hearths and ritual pyres, centrally positioned in communal areas for regular ceremonial observance and communal gatherings.
Physical variations among the Zeta largely reflect caste or spiritual roles. Voice Bearers often exhibit richer, deeper feather coloration, symbolizing their proximity to sacred flames and their hereditary spiritual duties. Ember Seers might have subtly paler feathers or distinctive markings considered indicative of their visionary capacities.
Such variations are respected and considered signs of ancestral favor or spiritual destiny, deeply influencing personal identity and communal status within Zeta society.
Daily routines among the Zeta Paokus are defined by spiritual observances, communal agriculture, and ceremonial tasks. Rituals mark dawn and dusk, each involving communal chants and the careful maintenance of sacred flames. Terraced agriculture, conducted cooperatively, provides staple crops, sustaining their remote settlements.
Rest periods involve quiet communal gatherings, often accompanied by storytelling, reflective chants, and artisanal crafting, creating intricate knotted scripts and woven textiles.
Zeta cuisine emphasizes high-altitude staples—such as mountain grains, roots, and fruits—supplemented occasionally by alpine game or fish from remote mountain lakes. Meals are communal and ceremonial, often involving symbolic dishes and beverages crafted to reflect celestial events or ancestral remembrance.
Sacred meals are shared regularly during important rituals, highlighting purity, renewal, and communal bonds, incorporating carefully controlled use of ritual spices and herbs that symbolize spiritual qualities or celestial alignments.
"Their rituals dance in firelight, their songs resonate with mountain echoes, and their spirits ascend in smoky spirals toward the stars."
Beliefs and Values
For the Zeta Paokus, belief is not a matter of faith, but of alignment—an intimate synchrony between the self, the community, and the cycles of sun and fire that guide their world. The Sky-Fire Creed defines their spiritual identity, centring upon the sacred flame as both the breath of the gods and the ancestral essence that binds generations. To the Zeta, fire is life and transformation: it cleanses, renews, and binds the living to the memory of the dead. Every aspect of life, from birth to burial, is touched by ritual flame, and those who neglect these rites risk the insidious threat of what they call the 'soul cold'—a spiritual withering that estranges one from the cosmic order.
Their world is structured around reverence: to the sun, to the ancestral pyres, and to the intricate songlines passed down by the Voice Bearers. The Ember Seers, mystical guides drawn from among the most spiritually attuned, interpret dreams and celestial signs, guiding the community in times of change or uncertainty. The Zeta do not proselytise aggressively, yet they expect all who enter their lands to show respect for their rites—sharing fire is both a symbol of hospitality and a subtle rite of initiation. To fail to honour this gesture is to court quiet exclusion, a slow fading from the communal memory that sustains their world.
Beauty among the Zeta is measured in balance and radiance—how one carries themselves within the harmony of the flames. Composure, clarity of voice, and the ability to harmonise with the community's chants are marks of attractiveness. Courtship is subtle, involving shared tasks, gift-giving of woven cords or carved symbols, and mutual participation in ritual chants. Partnerships are seen as sacred covenants, ideally reflecting celestial alignments and ancestral approval, formalised during solstice or equinox ceremonies.
Gender among the Zeta is less a matter of physical difference and more a reflection of spiritual alignment and societal role. The caste system shapes expectations: Voice Bearers are predominantly hereditary, while Ember Seers may emerge from any lineage, their calling marked by visions or signs. Fluidity is permitted within boundaries—those who feel the call to a different spiritual path may shift roles, but only through sanctioned rites of transformation and communal acceptance.
Marriage is a formal, communal act among the Zeta, often marked by elaborate fire-walking ceremonies, offerings to the ancestral pyres, and the inscribing of shared names into the community's knotted records. Partnerships are not merely personal but considered a reflection of cosmic order, requiring careful observance of auspicious dates and celestial alignments. The union is celebrated through ritual chants and shared meals, sealed by the blessing of the Voice Bearers.
Rites of passage are integral to Zeta life: from the first flame-blessing of an infant, through adolescent trials of endurance and song, to the fire-walk of maturity that marks full societal status. Each stage is accompanied by ritual observance of celestial patterns, connecting the individual's growth to the greater cycle of sun and flame. The most revered rite is the Ember Vigil, a solitary trial wherein an aspirant must tend a sacred flame from dusk to dawn without speaking, moving, or allowing it to falter—a test of devotion, patience, and inner balance.
Death is not an end but a transformation. Zeta funerary customs involve ceremonial cremation upon high-altitude pyres, the ashes dispersed by wind to merge with the sky. The deceased's name is woven into communal songlines and knotted records, ensuring their memory persists within the living flame of the community. Remembrance rituals occur at solstices and eclipses, marked by silent vigils and the lighting of new hearth-fires in their honour.
Social norms revolve around strict respect for caste duties, sacred sites, and communal rituals. To interrupt a Voice Bearer during chant, to enter a temple without purification, or to mishandle sacred objects is considered a profound offence. The highest taboo is to damage or defile the ancestral knotted records—an act equated with erasing the very memory of a soul. Hospitality is a sacred duty, but guests must accept the gift of flame to be fully welcomed. Those who violate the harmony of the community are met not with violence, but with quiet exclusion: their names unspoken, their presence unacknowledged, until atonement is sought through ritual confession and fire-cleansing rites.
Culture and Expression
Zeta Paokus culture is a living tapestry of reverence, ritual, and remembrance, woven together by generations who see their role as both guardians of tradition and humble stewards of the flame. Every act, from the rhythmic intonation of their chants to the careful arrangement of their homes upon the mountain slopes, is imbued with layered meaning and cosmic alignment. Their artistic expression is not ornamental but devotional: a ceaseless dialogue with the ancestors, the stars, and the elemental fires that sustain them. To an outsider, their customs may seem opaque—dense with symbolism, precise in timing, and suffused with quiet intensity—but within Zetan society, each action is a note in a vast, ongoing hymn that binds the community together across time.
The Zeta believe that culture is not static but cyclical, echoing the sun’s passage and the pulse of the sacred pyres. What they create is meant to endure—not merely in material form, but as a pattern woven into the collective memory of the people. To speak carelessly, to sing without precision, or to craft without ritual is seen as a fracture in this sacred weave, a dissonance that must be healed through communal observance and penance. Their expression is not meant for the fleeting gaze of outsiders; it is a private, cyclical dance between the living and the ancestors, a flame tended with unwavering care.
The Zetan language is as much a form of music as a mode of speech. Its structure is deeply intertwined with the celestial cycles, with tonal shifts that mirror the sun’s daily arc and seasonal cadence. Words themselves are only fragments of a larger whole; true meaning emerges from the pattern of delivery—rhythmic, measured, and harmonised with the speaker’s breath and the time of day. A phrase spoken at dawn may carry an entirely different resonance when uttered at dusk, and certain words are considered sacred, their use restricted to formal rituals or high ceremonial chants. Language is seen as a form of flame: potent, dangerous, and requiring careful tending. The Zeta believe that speech shapes the world, and to speak carelessly is to risk inviting spiritual dissonance or ancestral displeasure.
Their written tradition does not rely on ink or scroll but on an intricate system of knotted cords—known as the talahara—woven from strong, dyed fibres and adorned with beads of stone, polished metal, or carved bone. Each knot holds a fragment of memory: a name, a date, a celestial alignment, or a vow. The cords are stored in sacred archives, tended by archivists known as Knot-Keepers, who alone are entrusted with interpreting their layered meanings. To harm a cord, or misread its significance, is an act of profound sacrilege, believed to sever a vital connection between the community and the ancestors who watch over them.
Zeta artistry is an act of devotion—every creation a reflection of their place within the celestial order. Stone carvings grace temple walls, depicting spirals of flame, solar discs, and the abstract forms of ancestors whose names echo still in the chants. These carvings are not merely decorative; they are mnemonic devices, aiding the memory of sacred chants and rites, their patterns harmonising with the rhythm of the spoken word. Textiles, woven with mountain fibres and adorned with fine metal inlays, are crafted in precise geometric patterns that mirror the sky’s alignments: sunbursts for the solstice, flame-spirals for rites of passage, and angular motifs for the Ember Seers’ visionary insights.
Music is the heartbeat of Zeta culture. Communal chants resound at dawn and dusk, their layered voices rising around sacred pyres, blending in harmonic intervals that resonate with the pulse of the mountain itself. Percussion instruments—hollowed stone drums, bronze chimes, and sun-discs strung with fine wire—are played sparingly, each sound a measured offering to the flame. Even in the quietest moments, the Zeta hum or whisper melodies under their breath, weaving the threads of their lives into an unbroken hymn that reaches toward the sky.
The stories of the Zeta are not told for entertainment, but for remembrance, caution, and continuity. Their myths speak of the First Ember, carried by the ancestral Flame-Bearer who emerged from the heart of the mountain and gifted the sacred fire to the people. They tell of the Oath of Ash, when the Voice Bearers first pledged to preserve the balance between flame and community, and of the Whispering Pyres that burned without fuel during the Eclipse of Silence, a sign of divine favour that marked the birth of Kishmar Echo. Each tale is woven into the chants, its verses remembered and performed by generation after generation in carefully timed ceremonies aligned with the movements of the sun and stars.
Other stories are darker, cautionary threads woven into the collective memory: of those who failed to tend the flame and were consumed by the soul-cold, or of the Seer who spoke a forbidden name and vanished into the mists, leaving only a single charred feather behind. These stories serve as guideposts and warnings, anchoring the community in humility and shared purpose. To forget them is unthinkable, for they are not merely stories—they are the breath of the ancestors, the song of the mountain, the whispered warnings carried in the smoke.
Among the Zeta, history is not measured in years but in deeds remembered and honoured. Figures like Yura the Ember-Tongue, whose chants stilled a raging firestorm and whose name is still sung at every solstice vigil, hold a place of deep reverence. Inta-Var the Seer of Dawn is remembered for her visions that guided the Zeta through the first contact with the Alemni, preserving their autonomy through carefully measured words and a gift of flame. Calen-Ran, the Flame-Keeper of Kishmar Echo, is honoured for standing guard over the sacred pyres during the Stormfall, even as lightning split the cliffs and winds howled like grieving spirits. Sayri the Ash-Binder is invoked at funerals, her chant a solemn call to remember the dead and tend the living flame with care.
These figures are not merely commemorated; they are woven into daily life. Their names are spoken with care, their deeds recounted in the context of ritual, and their stories braided into the community's understanding of who they are and who they must strive to be. The Zeta do not build statues—such monuments are transient. Instead, they carry their memory in chants, in knots, and in the warmth of the flame that burns at the heart of every gathering.
The Zeta Paokus hold their history as a living continuum, not a closed chapter. Their earliest chants recall a time when the mountains were young, and their ancestors ascended the slopes of Impa to escape the soul-cold that gripped the lowlands. The founding of Var-Qurel is told as a convergence of celestial signs: a sunburst in the sky, a plume of flame rising from the earth, and the first Voice Bearer stepping into the sacred fire unharmed. Their history recounts the establishment of the Ember Vigils, the silent guardians who watched over the sacred pyres through the Long Night, and the forging of the flame-pacts that secured their place within the Zetan Tributary without surrendering their cultural autonomy.
Recent history remembers times of tension with the Alemni, the subtle negotiation of tribute and trade, and the careful preservation of Zetan rites amid shifting tides of political change. Yet through all this, the Zeta remain steadfast, their culture anchored by the unbroken chain of memory: each chant, each knot, each flickering flame a testament that the past is never lost, but burns ever-present in the hearts of those who tend the fire.
“They sing of suns and ash, of names whispered into flames. Their stories are not written, but woven, chanted, and remembered by the breath of generations.”
Naming and Lineage
To the Zeta Paokus, a name is not simply a label but a sacred pattern—an echo woven from the breath of ancestors, celestial alignments, and the fire’s memory. Names are given with great care, inscribed into the community’s living history through ritual chants and knotted cords, and carried with reverence throughout one’s life. A name marks a person’s place within the cosmic order, linking them to the cycle of sun, flame, and stone that sustains their people. Each Zeta name is a fragment of a greater song, a syllable within the chorus of their ancestry, a promise to carry forward the weight of memory and the responsibility of tending the flame.
Names are typically bestowed during a ritual known as the Ember Calling, held at dawn on the first solstice or equinox following a child’s birth. The community gathers around the sacred pyre, where the Voice Bearer invokes celestial alignments and ancestral blessings. The Ember Seers listen in silence for signs—patterns in the flame, whispered echoes in the smoke—and, through these omens, a name is chosen. This name is sung into the community’s chantlines and woven into the talahara, ensuring the individual’s memory is preserved even beyond death.
Zeta naming traditions reflect their cyclical worldview and their belief in the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. A Zeta name is typically composed of two parts: the Ember Name, which reflects a spiritual quality or ancestral link, and the Flame-Bound Name, which denotes the individual’s personal destiny or a sign witnessed during their Ember Calling. For example, a child born under a rare celestial alignment might bear the name Quispe-Tahu, meaning “Precious Flame Under Radiant Star.” Names are not fixed for life; they may evolve through significant rites of passage, spiritual visions, or acts of profound communal service. Such changes are formalised through ritual and are meticulously updated in the talahara.
To speak a Zeta’s full name is an act of power, typically reserved for formal rituals or moments of deep spiritual significance. In daily life, shorter forms or titles are used, with the Ember Name often taking precedence in casual address, while the Flame-Bound Name is invoked during rites or ancestral offerings. Names are never given lightly; each one is a gift, a burden, and a thread in the eternal weave of the Zeta's cultural memory.
Lineage among the Zeta Paokus is a collective inheritance, not confined to strict bloodlines but encompassing the full spiritual community. Kinship is understood through the lens of shared flame and chant, with familial bonds extending across generations and encompassing those who have tended the sacred pyres, sung the ancestral chants, or contributed to the community’s continuity. Each settlement maintains a featherline archive, a record woven into knotted cords and preserved within sacred archives, detailing familial connections, spiritual achievements, and notable life events. These records are meticulously tended by Knot-Keepers and consulted during rites of passage, marriages, and spiritual guidance ceremonies.
While direct parentage is acknowledged, emphasis is placed on communal upbringing: children are seen as belonging to the flame, raised collectively by the community, with Voice Bearers, Ember Seers, and elder artisans all contributing to their moral and spiritual education. Roles within the community are often guided by lineage markers—certain families renowned for producing Voice Bearers or skilled artisans, others for tending the sacred gardens or serving as ceremonial attendants. However, spiritual calling and demonstrated merit can transcend bloodline, with individuals occasionally adopted into new lineage branches through formal rites of belonging. To be forgotten by the community is the deepest fear; to be woven into the chants is the highest honour.
- Amaru — “Sacred Serpent,” a name often given to those born under a rare convergence of celestial events, symbolising wisdom, resilience, and transformative potential.
- Inti — “Sun’s Heart,” a name reserved for those born at solstice or during significant solar flares, often seen as destined for roles within the spiritual hierarchy.
- Quispe — “Precious Flame,” a name given to children born after prolonged hardship or those who survive difficult births, believed to carry ancestral blessings.
- Killa — “Moon’s Embrace,” a name marking a child born under the glow of a full moon, associated with introspection and visionary potential.
- Tupac — “Royal Flame,” a name denoting lineage tied to prominent Voice Bearers or significant historical figures, often conferred after notable achievements or rites of passage.
- Sumaq — “Beautiful Spirit,” a name expressing admiration for one’s grace, harmony, and contributions to the community, usually granted later in life after spiritual milestones.
- Chaska — “Star-Born,” a name marking one who has undergone a significant vision or who is believed to carry a unique connection to celestial patterns.
These names are not static; they may be combined, extended, or adapted as an individual’s journey unfolds. A person who once bore the name Quispe-Tahu may later be known as Quispe-Tahu Sumaq after completing a significant Ember Vigil or leading a successful community rite. Such naming transformations are inscribed into the talahara and marked upon the communal memory, ensuring that the individual’s life is forever woven into the chant of the people.
“A name is not spoken, it is carried. It burns in the voice, knots in the cord, and echoes long after the breath has stilled.”
Geography and Demographics
The homeland of the Zeta Paokus is Impa—a realm of soaring stone and shrouded cloud, where the very land seems carved by the hands of forgotten gods. Here, jagged ridges and mist-cloaked terraces rise from the montane forests, forming a labyrinth of precipices, sacred sites, and ancestral aeries. No road penetrates Impa’s core; access is a matter of wings, not wheels, and all who seek passage must do so with humility, under the watchful gaze of Zetan guardians. To step into Impa is to enter a world apart, one where the sun’s path is charted in ritual, and the breath of the mountain is laced with smoke from sacred pyres.
The Zeta Paokus constitute the vast majority of Impa’s population, their settlements woven into the landscape like threads into a tapestry. Each village, each monastery, each terrace is both a place of dwelling and a reflection of cosmic order—aligned with solar and stellar movements, encircling central pyres that burn in perpetual homage to the Sky-Fire Creed. Among them live small enclaves of lowland traders, Alei delegates, and a few Zari artisans—outsiders who are permitted entry only under strict conditions and who must observe the rites of purification and flame upon arrival. These foreign presences are tolerated, but they exist on the periphery, watched always, and their movements carefully circumscribed by Zetan law and custom.
Though part of the Zetan Tributary within the Directorate’s grand structure, Impa remains stubbornly distinct. The Zeta acknowledge the Directorate’s authority in form, yet their true allegiance lies with the ancestors, the flame, and the cycle of the sun. They trade sparingly—offering medicinal herbs, rare mountain stones, and the knowledge of celestial alignments—but they do not bend. To an Alemni official, Impa is a subject province. To the Zeta, Impa is a sacred trust, a flame that must never falter, and a home shaped by ritual and reverence beyond the reach of foreign maps or mandates.
Impa, the sacred heartland of the Zeta Paokus, is a realm of precipitous cliffs, mist-shrouded terraces, and hidden sanctuaries. The capital, Var-Qurel, is perched atop a labyrinth of basalt spires veiled in near-perpetual fog, its temples aligned with solar cycles and housing the central flame that has burned, uninterrupted, for generations. The city is not merely a seat of power, but a living temple: its streets arranged as concentric paths around sacred pyres, its stones inscribed with chants and solar glyphs, and its plazas designed for communal rites beneath the open sky.
Kishmar Echo, a monastery-town etched into a vertical cliff face, is renowned for its unbroken oral history spanning over three hundred generations. Here, Voice Bearers chant the chronicles of the people, their words resonating through hollowed caverns, while Knot-Keepers maintain the talahara archives. Smaller aeries dot the cliffs and terraces, their forms harmonising with the mountain’s contours, each serving as both dwelling and shrine. These settlements are connected not by roads but by a network of flight paths, wind-beacons, and rope bridges—each a testament to the Zeta’s intimate bond with their unforgiving landscape.
No one enters Impa uninvited. Outsiders must undergo a rite of purification at the flame-thresholds, offering gifts of woven cord, fragrant herbs, or polished stones to the communal pyres. Even then, they are permitted only in designated areas, and always under the quiet, watchful presence of Zeta guardians. To walk Impa’s terraces is to feel the weight of history, the eyes of ancestors in every stone, and the heat of sacred flames in the air itself.
Beyond Impa’s sacred heights, the Zeta Paokus are rarely seen, but they are not entirely absent. Small enclaves of Zeta artisans and scholars can be found in select locations across Perivarun and, more rarely, in distant realms where they serve as celestial advisors, healers, or custodians of rare knowledge. These diaspora Zeta maintain strict adherence to ancestral rites, establishing miniature sanctuaries where sacred flame is tended, chants are sung, and woven records are kept, however small. They remain tightly bound to their kin in Impa, sending messages through traders or coded signals woven into trade goods, and their presence serves as a quiet reminder that the flame of the Zeta burns beyond the mountains, even if faintly.
Assimilation into foreign cultures is rare, and those Zeta who venture far afield often remain at the periphery, respected for their wisdom but regarded with a mixture of awe and caution. To see a Zeta in the markets of Alaru, the halls of the Directorate, or the caravan routes of Pyra is a rare and memorable thing—an encounter often described as unsettling, as though one has brushed against the edge of something ancient and unyielding, a flame that burns quietly, waiting, watching.
“They speak in the wind, walk in the flame, and carry the weight of the mountain upon their wings. Impa is not merely their home—it is their body, their breath, their endless song.”
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