"I'm fine with those terms. I'm not expecting a miracle here, and I would not be surprised if she DID become a vampire out of her own free will - but there's something seriously fucked up going on around here, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it. If not, well... I guess I wouldn't want someone else to carry out the execution." You say.

Okay, so do you want to snoop around the Bear Shrine Library or just head back to Bronze Peak? Your three days start tomorrow, but the trip back will use up nearly all of the day, you'll be able to maybe visit one person or place and just briefly.

If you want to stay you can, and leave early and arrive at Bronze Peak early enough to have a full day of work.

>>24158237
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/23858749/#p23864811
> "Also, here...this is something we retrieved from Lady Glenn's apartments, after the watch searched it." It's an old journal, it's written in code...more importantly embossed on the leather cover are the Dramatae masks.

I don't think we ever decoded it. Do we still have it with us, I hope?

I'd suggest we stay and investigate the Bear Shrine, and aim to get back to Bronze Peak by tomorrow morning.

We only lose a single interrogation by staying here?

Can we read the book on the way?

>>24158280
Peri/Mari tried working on the journal for a bit, and then they gave up and got distracted with stuff like the Underwasp Witch and then Donovan.

Either way, it's something that needs a cipher. There's barely any chance to crack it solo.

>>24158309
>We only lose a single interrogation by staying here?

Yes, but you could also get to Sandover's place BEFORE news arrives.

>Can we read the book on the way?
You can certainly try.

good timing the thread just died.

darn priorities should go towards Sandover, though if we should spend the rest of the day here and leave early tomorrow we could research the Dragon Book, pre-citadel Times. The first Lightbringer etc.

>>24158360
can we have the news of the arrests suppressed or delayed, and have it be said the book was not recovered?

>>24158237
A few points of investigation:

Let's talk to Ted about the book. Why was he so paranoid about it, including about Balles knowing about it? Any chance it's in lizard or dragon and we can read it? Failing that, can Ted read it?

What do the other three books look like (without touching their cages or pedestals)? What does the indentation that wants a circular key look like? Not like any of our medallions, I assume?

What does the outside of the red dragon book look like, apart from red?

>>24158337
Fair enough; hopefully we'll get more information as we look into Lady Glenn, Sandover, Lord Holting, and that whole mess.

>>24158360
That'd require us to beat Balles back to town, right? Which I suppose we could do, hastily, and/or by using Ted's trail (presumably the Occuli used the Conclave trail).

>>24158360
>Yes, but you could also get to Sandover's place BEFORE news arrives.

That is a good idea. Let's roll, hoopsnake style!

alright I vote trying to read the book on the way back and surprising Sandover with a full blown Paladin investigation.

>>24158360
Let's go right away then. We should be able to walk'n'read. We probably won't trip, being not-actually-walkers.

>>24158360
>Yes, but you could also get to Sandover's place BEFORE news arrives.

As much as I want to stay at the Bear Shrine we really should get a jump on him, if he is involved at all.

>>24158409
Balles can keep exact details about what happened quiet, the whos, and the whats, but he wont be able to keep Occuli from talking and gossip, not to mention bringing in a bunch of people into Cups. News will spread that there was an attack at the Bear Shrine, and that the Paladin Serpent won.

>>24158402
We definitely have time to do that after we resolve time-sensitive stuff; not like the Bear Shrine will disappear after we leave (I hope).

>>24158360
If we did, say, 10-20 minutes worth of investigation, could we still beat the news back to town?

>>24158448
I was thinking more along the lines of he does that, but says a valulable book was taken from the shrine, and remains outside the shrine.

a technicality, in that We took the book, but would leave the sense that we did not stop the theft.

>>24158452
Basically what's happening is that you're riding back with Balles on the emergency dog sleds down the Conclave trail. You'll be able to get back to Bronze Peak and get to Sandover house before anyone knows what happened.

Ted cannot read the book. Human eyes can't.

The other three books are actually labeled. The Iron Book of Sky, the Iron Book of Water, the Iron Book of Earth.

You have the Iron Book of Dragons...but you could also read it as the Iron Book of Fire. Same word in Bear Tongue. It has a thick red leather cover of iron plates. There's a carving of a dragon on the iron cover. The inside plates have letters etched into the plates and the etchings were filled with gold.

>>24158545
So, Balles is leaving right away, if we want to stay and investigate at all we can't go with him, and if we don't leave with him there's no way we can beat them back to town?

Fine, then I guess we're going back to town and coming back later.

>>24158545
If we are starting votes, then I vote sledride. We get to surprise sandover! And also maybe read a book a bit!

Ask ted if he's seen enough of the library, or if he'd like to join us on our next trip. We did sort of say he could.

>>24158545
>Ted cannot read the book. Human eyes can't.

Interesting choice of wording. Can Lamia eyes?

>>24158545
I say we go back immediately, we can come back to the Bear Shrine at a later time.

>>24158592
I'm beginning to think that lamia may technically be a subspecies or offshoot of dragon kind.

>>24158637
Dragons. Fuck. Everything.

>>24158637
Some kind of biological connection was definitely implied there:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/23768347/#p23769801
>oh yes, you can't breed with humans. It's lamias, nagas, lizard people only...maybe dragons, but you'd have to find one first.

>>24158637
I am certain we are, considering dragon bites are also venomous, and one of the few we have no resistance to.

also we can breed with a dragon, unlike humans.

>>24158545
Oh just so you know. Air = Rocs, Water = Leviathans, Earth = Trolls.

You know, just the three other most well known legendary monsters.

You CAN read the book on the ride back to Bronze Peak.

Ted doesn't care about the Library. He wants the Dragon book.

>>24158545
So the pages are made of Iron and the Ink is made of Gold.

How in the fuck are we carrying this thing?

And who are we going to beat the shit out with it?

>>24158673
>You CAN read the book on the ride back to Bronze Peak.

If it doesn't hinder our progress on the way to Bronze Peak, I say read it.

>>24158678
We could read it to Ted and whoever else from our group is up for story time. Any interruptions and met with a swift thwap.

>>24158678
>who are we going to beat the shit out of with it?

Sandover.

>How are we carrying it?

A naga weights like 800 pounds.

>>24158545
>Basically what's happening is that you're riding back with Balles on the emergency dog sleds down the Conclave trail. You'll be able to get back to Bronze Peak and get to Sandover house before anyone knows what happened.

Given that there are multiple sleds, any chance we can end up sufficiently separated from Balles and the rest that we can talk more or less privately to our party and Ted?

>>24158678
It's about as big as a kindle and it has eight slabs inside double sided. It's heavy, but a person can carry it.

>>24158708
I don't mind reading it to them. It's not like it's a secret of the state.

>>24158673
read the book, but no matter what Ted does not get it, as I highly doubt he would give it back, and that would break our worth that we would return it.

>>24158767
we told ted we would destroy it if it contained anything harmful.

We may have told two bits of word that are mutuall incompatable.

>>24158767
Okay, you can have one other person on the sled with you. (You kind of take up a lot of room, apart from the occuli driver. If you talk low he wont be able to hear you.)

>>24158790
We can discretely tear out the dangerous pages if we have to..I thik we can anyway..how thin are these Iron Pages?

>>24158810
Argh. OK, is there anyone who we could get *more* information out of than Ted on the trip back?

And are we close enough to any other sleds that we can talk to the people on them, assuming we don't mind others overhearing?

>>24158826
The whole book has eight. I think people would notice an eighth of the book missing.

>>24158810
>choose: TRICIA OR TED

goddarn echo. What's with the hard choices every thread.

>>24158790
we made no such promise to destroy it, we said we would decide what to do with it afterwords.

"That's not your call, Ted. I'll decide if the book is worth preserving or not. That book has important information that I need Ted, and if you want to find your new master you'll need to take a look too. We'll decide what to do to the book after we learn what it contains. "

>>24158859
yeah okay, nevermind then. Phew.

>>24158845
Pfft.

It's kept under Lock and Key all day erryday. Just have Quentin forge us up a nice little filler page and nobody will be the wiser.


Though, that's not exactly a paladinish way of doing things.

>>24158847
Hi, I'm EchoGarrote, welcome to my quest. Are you new?

>>24158859
Yeah. Pretty much. Ted is already on my shit list for trying that crap back at the Shrine so I'm not even going pretend to have his interest.

>>24158810
I say bring Tricia because cold.

>>24158810
I am leaning towards Tirica, i dont entirely trust Ted anymore, especially alone with us and the book.

>>24158847
>Implying Tricia will take up more room
>Implying she can't just snuggle up in our coils

>>24158923
You have a rather good point there.

Echo: if Tricia didn't mind getting cozy with us, which she almost certainly doesn't, could get have Tricia and Ted on a sled with us?

>>24158847
Just be grateful you weren't here for the Painter.
Or the dresses.

I say ted. He did sort of take a vampire for us.

It'd be mighty neighborly.

>>24158923
Echo will probably say its a weight limit, we are quite a few hundred pounds of snake.

Tricia I say.

>>24158810
Business before Pleasure I'm afraid.

We'll give Tricia some extra snugglings later on. Right now we've a book to translate.

>>24158966
Heh, thanks for giving me that idea. Okay, yeah. Weight limit.

You DID just suggest that you were about 800 pounds of snake. (It's more like 550-600, and it's all muscle anyway)

>>24158982
Agreed, if we have to choose, then Ted, sadly.

>>24158997
>Heh, thanks for giving me that idea. Okay, yeah. Weight limit.
Archivist, you'd think you'd have learned by now.

>>24158997
well, I remember I read some math on lamia dynamics a while back.

they needed to be HUGE to rear themselves up like that. Moreso to do snake strikes and be mobile.

>tricia attempts to lift us on wedding night
>we have to lift her instead

>>24158982
>>24158998
Ted cant even read it, apparently only we can.

>>24159015
its more interesting this way, and stuff like weight limits keep it based in physics, ie why I argued we have to be 15ft minimum, probably closer to 20ft for most of our antics.

>>24159076
we were planning on reading it to him quietly.

And yeah, I love having to deal with us being 700 pounds. Imagine our DRAGOON LEAP attack

>>24159033
Yeah, but remember you're an infant as far as sane lamias go. Some wild ones who haven't gone berzerk, but who are feral can be up to 60 feet long and go into four digits, and do NOT ask Scheherazade about her weight. Ever.

>>24159076
>Ted cant even read it, apparently only we can.
True, but Ted seems to know something about it, and he knows quite a bit about dragons. At the moment, I think we need to bring along whoever can help us most with the book. Can anyone else help us with the book more than Tricia can?

Also, unless there's something better for him to do on the way back, Mage should start investigating the mace.

>>24159100
Good thing we don't have to leap. We can just hold Beacon 5 feet above them and slam down.

>>24159108
well then, I hope we stick around with ssen until then.

Also find out scheherazade's weight one day.

>>24159076
He cannot read, but perhaps he can contextualize.

>>24159133
>True, but Ted seems to know something about it, and he knows quite a bit about dragons. At the moment, I think we need to bring along whoever can help us most with the book. Can anyone else help us with the book more than Tricia can?

Er, than Ted can?

>>24159133
We need Ted with us just to shut him up. We know he'll hassle us about the book later if we don't throw him a bone.

>>24158810
Tricia, I don't trust Ted around the book.

>>24159144
Honestly for me. It comes down that I don't truest Ted anymore after the what happen in the Shrine. I don't want him anywhere near the book until after we read it fully.

>>24159173
Let him hassle us. He needs to get over himself anyways.

>>24159108
even a 'small' one like us would probably weigh on the upper end of 600/700 pounds.

>>24159144
i still say Tricia, we can tell Ted what the book contains once we arrive, nor do I trust him alone with us and the book.

Since we are hoping to read this before we get back we will likely be doing nothing but reading anyway. Ted WOULD be useful for understanding draconic metaphors if they are used.

If we were going to have anyone with us I'd say Mari, she IS our scholar after all.

>>24159205
He unlocked an electrical cage with goddamned throwing axes.

He doesn't need to get over anything from anyone.

>>24159242
>If we were going to have anyone with us I'd say Mari, she IS our scholar after all.
OK, that's a reasonable thought. If nobody else wants to take Ted, then Mari would be more useful at the moment. We don't need cuddles right now (as much as we might want them).

>>24159185
Add on top of that, he's made it pretty clear to me he wants that book gone.

>>24159248
>respect me because I server dragons!
Yeah, fuck that noise. If we didn't end that fight then and there we might be chasing him down for that book.

>>24159294
I made my argument and voted for ted.

I wasn't posting again to avoid beign re-counted.

>>24159300
All right fine. Tell me what bringing Tricia along accomplishes and I'll change my vote.

Thus far, I haven't heard many good reasons aside from her being our Waifu.

>>24159384
I'm fine with anyone but Ted. Hell, Mari will be useful over Tricia.

>>24159300
People fear what they don't understand. Knowledge is power. Ted's afraid that the book is some how2killdragons 101 manual. If we read the thing to him chances are he'll calm his shit about it.

>>24159441
would you want to be on the sled with him if it IS a dragonslayer 101 though?

>>24159441
I suspect the same. Or he doesn't think people learning more about dragons would be good for dragons, in general.

>>24159495
if it is, then we have to forge a convenient replica and store the real one in the lighthouse.

Because apparently we're the blood ravens.

>>24159495
I'm pretty sure we can push him off if it is.

>>24159495
He'd have to be very stupid to try anything but snatching it and running. I'd like to think he has more presence of mind than that considering that he didn't attempt to do so back at the library.

>>24159495
I assumed that, unless it was incredibly laborious to read, we'd read or skim the whole thing first and then read it to him and ask him questions.

>>24159553
And there was all friends with us at that time. It be us and him on a moving sled. Nothing like a snatch and run in the forest never to be seen from again.

>>24159575
Because he'll totally get far with an iron book in the snow, yep.

>>24159575

Let's bring Mari with us, then. We can tell Ted about it later when all of our group is assembled and probably ready to act in case of any treachery.

Alright, I'll make this simpler, cause this was going to happen anyway.

You need to roll to read the book, Mari gets you a reroll, Ted lets you take a basic success if you fail.

>>24159612
>>24158736
>It's about as big as a kindle and it has eight slabs inside double sided. It's heavy, but a person can carry it.

Yeah I think he can.

>>24159641
take Mari then.

>>24159641
Hmm. What do we have to roll to get that basic success?

>>24159575
Anonymous, we're a Lamia. We can crush his legs with a well placed tail hug. Even if he gets far, we can sniff his ass out with our crazy ass smelling tongue.

Teddy can run. Teddy can hide. But he can't escape.

I don't trust /tg/ dice not to fuck us on a re-roll.

Ted.

>>24159683
Oy, stop feeling so smug about being a lamia.

We still haven't invented tailsocks.

>>24159641
Yup. Ted.

Willing to go with Mari only if consensus says Ted is a threat that we somehow can't deal with.

>>24159710
Agreed.

>>24159683
>>24159710

Remember he's a hunter, knows bronze peak (or whatever this place is called) better than most. His ass would be gone. And everything you suggested would have us roll for. Just like you I don't trust dice for us to get him or the book back if he pulls any shit.

>>24159641
Still voting Mari.

>>24159641
Mari, rather take /tg/ dice then a chance of ted bolting with the book.

>>24159772
I don't recall there being a roll for running someone's ass over with a Sled.

aaaaand, its tied

Man, that theme song sucks something fierce.

i like it.

>>24159772
Yeah. He's gonna outrun a Sled on foot in knee deep or higher snow.

>>24159731
>>24159720
>>24159710

Ted eagerly watches as you open the book and look at it. Humans couldn't read this book. It's not just a visual issue or the language. There's a...a smell-taste to it. To the gold, to the iron, even to the old stretched Leather-That's-Not-From-A-Cow that covers it. Those eight plates aren't just a few words...there's enough here to fill dozens upon dozens of shelves...and four of these...you're not holding a book from the library, you're holding an entire fourth of the library, just untranslated.

Roll 1d20

Rolled 2

>>24159809
1 ted
2 mari

Rolled 18

>>24159828
!

Rolled 14

>>24159828

oh nice, first linked post is an 18.

>>24159839
Aaw yeah.

>>24159839
Looks like we didn't need Ted or Mari.

>>24159841
>>24159839
>>24159837
Did we just troll the shit out of /tg/ dice?

i think we did, first roll after was a 2, but it didn't count

>>24159905
Hey Citadel, follow the shiny coinflip over there!

>>24159823
>>24159810
Eh, it doesn't really fit perfectly any more. That was more for when we were in the self-discovery paladinstage.

We need a season 2 song.

>>24159905
A 2 on a d2 is a good roll.

>>24159969
It's a coin flip. There's no 'good roll' on such a thing. It's like saying heads is better than tails.

>>24160010
Are you suggesting heads is equal to tails you sick fuck?

>>24159839
There's just so...so much you can see. History, stories, tales, legends. This was written by the Bear Tribe and these bastards were...were...heh...they were like Father. They didn't think that Monsters were all mindless beasts, they wanted their help in fighting the Dragon Who Was Of Shadow, so they travelled around trying to get their stories and they used this very very old way of writing to protect the secrets that they slowly won. Only someone who was allied with the Other-Races could get to learn these secrets.

No wonder the Dragon Who Was Of Shadow came down upon the Bear Tribe so hard, and now you get why and maybe how, parts of the Shrine were preserved. The translated books are all written in old Bear Tongue though, until now.

There's some options you can choose to look through. There's stuff on Dragons themselves. The Dragon Who Was Of Shadow. Dragon servants. Dragon-kin (Apparently a separate race unto itself.) Lizard People. The Beautiful Ones. Location of Lairs and Titles, basically Dragon Heraldry. Combat techniques used by and to use against dragons and their kind. Spells innate to Dragons and Dragon Off-shoots.

"Well? Well? What does it say?" Ted asks curiously.

>>24160037
>>24160010
>implying tails aren't the best
We've been proving that this entire quest

>>24160046
Granny is gonna love this. If only we could get it to her.

>>24159966
>We need a season 2 song.

You can pick one, but I like 'Embers' by Owl City.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5si7w3uS9tU

>>24160046
"It is literally a fourth of the collected works of an entire civilization. An entire civilization that believed in assisting people like me, or your masters, for the greater good of all.

Ted, I cannot tell you how valuable this book is."

>>24160046
"Everything. Everything forever."

>>24160010
In this quest, higher is better. If that had been a d20 that counted, it would have been in the top half and probably a success. People seemed to be implying that we'd got the bad roll out of the way without it counting but it wasn't even bad.

>>24160104
>In this quest, higher is better.

Not always man.

>>24160120
Well not necessarily if it's a random table. But it was in this case.

>>24160046
"Basically? Everything one would ever want to know about Dragons. It's astounding."

>>24160046
"It's about the history of the Bear Tribe and their relations with other races. I haven 't gotten to any of the details yet but they were allied with many, including Dragons."

So...

How are we going to convince the overseer to let us keep this book?
"I can read this shit?"

>>24160046
Look up dragons first. We need to know how to predict what the Old One will do.

Then look at the Dragon's Shadow.

"Its a fourth of the collected knowledge of the Bear Tribe. Specifically on the Dragon's Shadow and the so called 'monster races' including dragons. They believed that the only way to defeat their foe was through cooperation. I can understand why Citadel would want to alter this."

>>24160046
>Only someone who was allied with the Other-Races could get to learn these secrets
Or you know, somebody with a load of brainwashed lamia sex slaves.

>>24160046
And as for Options:

Dragons themselves
The Beautiful Ones
Combat Techniques..gotta get through that in Case Ted gets some very bad ideas.

>8 iron plates that only we can read

GREAT.

we're mormons now.

>>24160095
<Everything. Everything forever.> You say in an amazed voice. Instinctually going into the Dragon Tongue. <It is literally a fourth of the collected works of an entire civilization. An entire civilization that believed in assisting people like me, or your masters, for the greater good of all.

<Ted, I cannot tell you how valuable this book is.>

<There were a few Tribes in the days before the Gathering of Light that called the Bear Tribe the Betrayers..." Ted says amazed. "I...I won't. I can't...not if it's what you say it is...but my new master. he MUST see this. Please?>

>>24160046
First of all, I'm assuming that this book is way older than Whitefire, so there's little point trying to look up the local dragon or its immediate family.

First, because it has come up so often: look up lizard people, since we are one.

Second, look up the Dragon who Was of Shadow, what it really was, and its fall.

>>24160244
<Sure, once we find him. There are entire appendixes on dragons, I'm not sure where to start.>

>>24160248
We're a "beautiful one" according to Ted. The book has a category for it too. Lets look there instead.

>>24160244
<First we must find him or her, but this will NOT end up in Old Ones Hoard.>

>>24160244
<Not until I'm finished with it, and once we are, we're taking it straight back to the library like I promised.>

>>24160046
Look up the beautiful ones!

Please!

>>24160244
<The book still technically belongs to the Bear Shrine, so unless I somehow get permission to hang onto it, I don't think that's my right to grant. But I understand perfectly, Ted.>

<How old was Whitefire? Any chance we might find him in here?>

>>24160303
Agreed, this book needs to stay with us now.

>>24160244
<Absolutely. We have to protect this. There's so much knowledge here, so many knots this could cut, paths it could clear.>

>>24160317
>>24160289
Agreed. Look up the beautiful ones and also the section on spells specific to dragonkind, particularly lamiae.

>>24160289
Oh yeah. We gotta say how the Bear Tribe saw Nagas and Lamias.

<Certainly. I just hope your master doesn't do anything..covetous. I mean, the last we need s the Order trying to repossess it from a dragon.>

So.

We need a harpy or something, a trollkin of some form, and a merwoman.

Because we totally can't read any of those other books.

You guys know that right?

>>24160289
Yeah, you're right. Lizard people later; I'd intended to find out more about ourselves.

>>24160371
Troll battle waifu.

Gertrude

>>24160416
>Gertrude

He sounds very pretty

Holy shit, what are the odds. I actually found this on 1d4chan for the first time like 20 minutes ago.

>>24160265
<Sure, once we find him. There are entire appendixes on dragons, I'm not sure where to start.>

<We'll find your Dragon, but this will NOT end up in Old Ones Hoard.>

<The book still technically belongs to the Bear Shrine, so unless I somehow get permission to hang onto it, I don't think that's my right to grant. But I understand perfectly, Ted.>

<How old was Whitefire? Any chance we might find him in here?>

<Her, Whitefire was a She, umm...try...try...she she was also know as...> He makes some mangled hiss-rattle-cough sounds. You actually do 'see' the equivalent.

It's here, a tale of this young little dragon, where she lived, how many servants she was given, who she is related to, and at the point in time when she was exiled by the others for 'giving into the gifts and lies of Dragon Who Was Of Shadow.' (Well they don't use that word, but that's what you recognize it as)

considering how echo has been running for about 10 hours now, pretty damn good.

>>24160474
well strap in, you stepped in right when shit's gun get gud. Maybe not, if you don't want spoilers. Spoilers ahead.

>>24160474
I advise going and reading the archived threads before jumping in, if just to catch up on the storyline or much will go right over a new readers head.

>>24160490
Well, maybe look up some relations, but I really want to get to the beautiful ones tonight.

>>24160490
I am sorry Ted, but she was corrupted long ago. First by teh Dragon Who Was of Shadow and then Citadel who turned her scales white.

>>24160490
<Huh, even her corruption is in here. How old are you, Ted?>

>>24160545
Have some delicacy and don't word it as a "corruption".

Say it as an exile or some shit.

No he knew she went mad, he probably doesn't know why. We want him mad at citadel.

>>24160490
>It's here, a tale of this young little dragon, where she lived, how many servants she was given, who she is related to, and at the point in time when she was exiled by the others for 'giving into the gifts and lies of Dragon Who Was Of Shadow.' (Well they don't use that word, but that's what you recognize it as)

Do they have their own metaphor in Draconic, or is it a proper name?

For now, just tell Ted she's in there, both her rise and her corruption, without going into detail.

Look up the Dragon who Was of Shadow. What was it, if not an actual dragon? What does the book say about its fall, and what happened after? Does the book mention Citadel at all?

Then look up the Beautiful Ones.

captcha: "index"
Yes, we could use one.

File: 1365569407158.png-(295 KB, 1000x800, Inquisition for Dummies.png)

295 KB PNG

I'm getting this image as Ssen reads more of this book.

>>24160573
He already knows.

>>24160602
>giving into the gifts and lies of Dragon Who Was Of Shadow

Shadow Dragon =! Citadel

Unless that got changed somewhere along the way.

>>24160545
<Huh, even her corruption is in here. How old are you, Ted?>

<80.> Huh, Dragon Servants get good health benefits. He looks late 30s max.

But apparently the book says that Whitefire took a 'single gift' a long long time ago and was cast out. The records stop at a certain point, but if you can guess the Bear Shrine was destroyed just around the same time the Lightbringer's first army was destroyed and he was rescued by the first Caligo Clarus.

(The First Lightbringer was from the Hare Plains tribe. The first Caligo Clarus was from the Wolf Mountain Tribe.)

There's a LOT of Dragons who took a gift, or several, from the Dragon Who Was Of Shadow. Apparently all it takes is one 'Yes' to him and the other Dragons kicked you out of the club.

>>24160640
>Do they have their own metaphor in Draconic, or is it a proper name?
Just really the "Thing-Mighty-As-Dragon-Who-Is-No-Dragon-But-What-Came-From-The-Shadows"

>>24160670
Dragons are very covetous creatures. They probably were at least partially jealous.

>>24160670
Damn it, Echo. Now you've got me scouring my music collection for a theme song.

I've got this one so far: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKFoTHwu73k
For days when the mantle grows particularly heavy

>>24160743
That's actually an informative name. Confirmation that it *isn't* a dragon, then.

So, what is it, how did it fall (did it in fact die), is there anything about it having literal children, and what happened after it fell?

>>24160782
already been answered, the histories stop before its defeat

>>24160816
Sorry, you're right; the answers to how it fell and what happened after won't appear in the book. But what it is might.

Then Beautiful Ones.

>>24160670
check what it has on Beautiful Ones next.

>>24160743
The section on the Dragon Who Was Of Shadow is...well...apparently he was the Monster's Citadel from what you can tell. It was a force that kept the humans down, and weak, and afraid. In return the monsters, or in this case, the Dragons, would give sacrifices unto it, their young or their old to be 'made in its image to expand its power' and in exchange, they would be given strength, power, size, food, and anything they wanted. All they had to do was devote their love/obedience/future (Same word three different meanings) to it.

Of course Dragons are proud creatures, and refused to be subjugated by any. Ever. So they formed a group to try and beat the creature back, by themselves. They lost. Badly. Of course, they would never stoop so low as to admit the weakness of needing help from others, but they told the Bear Scribe this story so that they could pass it onto their servants and the next generation of eggs, when (but now you get the feeling it was 'if') they hatched.

The Dragon Who Was Of Shadow was not a Dragon though.

The Dragons refused to call anything mightier than they were, so they said it was AS mighty...but they were lying.

>>24160914
>The section on the Dragon Who Was Of Shadow is...well...apparently he was the Monster's Citadel from what you can tell. It was a force that kept the humans down, and weak, and afraid. In return the monsters, or in this case, the Dragons, would give sacrifices unto it, their young or their old to be 'made in its image to expand its power' and in exchange, they would be given strength, power, size, food, and anything they wanted. All they had to do was devote their love/obedience/future (Same word three different meanings) to it.

That's shockingly parallel, just inverted. "Our" Citadel keeps the "monsters" down, and weak, and afraid. Humans give it sacrifices (the Lightbringers), and reap the benefits. Now I'm seriously wondering if Citadel and the Dragon are just two of the same type, on slightly different sides. Or the same spirit, having switched sides from "monsters" to humans.

>>24161003
We knew the Citadel was bad news for a while.

But that it's such a symmetrical bad news is..troubling.

>>24161003
this makes far to much sense.

Citadel may be the Dragon Who Was Of Shadows after all, which we theorized may threads ago when we first learned of the dragon and citadel.

Citadel is the human daughter of the Dragon, we were told this. A new spirit just like the Dragon but for humans.

>>24161102
Maybe it's far simpler and sadder than that. maybe these land spirits are simply the product of an overwhelming sentiment of bias. In the day of the Dragon-who-was, the environment was one of monstrous oppression, and once that regime was felled, the oppressed filled the vacuum and became the oppressors.

>>24161155
Honestly?

We already have the spirit we need to take this shit out. It's just not sustainable.

We can bring about an age of the light, but due to its nature, it will change into an age of something... else.

>>24161155
Exactly. Perhaps it serves whoever the largest or most dominant group is, or perhaps it's the literal manifestation of the unfiltered desires of the people.

>>24161175
Take the good where we can get it. Remember that change is inevitable and must be as welcomed as it is feared.

>>24161203
I really hope that isn't the case, I'm not so sure our serpent Paladin can handle fighting the desires of an entire world.

>>24161230
we're gonna have to do some more speeches.

>>24160914
Beautiful Ones.

They have absolutely nothing to do with Humans or the Dragon Servants.

So, apparently some Dragonesses fell in love with Leviathans/Rocs/Trolls. Well, less love and more 'temporary lust and the dragonness was in heat.' Apparently, Dragons periods of heat last MUCH longer than yours, and don't have to worry about that clock thing. There's no comment about the sex being consensual...but there's no term for 'consensual sex' in Dragon.

These offspring were called the Beautiful Ones...because it was a joke. An insult. Dragons are supposed to be mighty, dominant, imposing, and fearsome. NOT pretty. They were, to a one, abandoned.

The Beautiful Ones that survived were cast out as exiles, and tried to live on their own. A good many of them killed themselves trying to go back to one family or another, none would have them. Some were killed by humans, because thats what humans and monsters did back then.

Most of them went mad, or gave themselves to the Dragon Who Was Of Shadow.

And some were not killed by humans...once more the Bear Tribe steps up and takes in these Beautiful Ones, and tried to care for them. Then the Dragon Who Was Of Shadow came, and then the Bear Tribe and the sane Beautiful Ones were no more. They gave their lives to help the Bear Tribe survive for another set of seasons.

Apparently, they recorded about how later they heard of Beautiful Ones who were mad how they 'took' humans, and their offspring were even more 'twisted.'

'Degenerate offspring' is what you are called.

Nagas are Dragon/Troll. Lamias are Dragon/Leviathan. There's no record of a 'degenerative offspring' of a Roc/Dragon.

That's the truth. You're the end result of a Dragon's 'mistake.'

>>24161003

Although Granny or someone said that Citadel rewards the monsters for acting their part, though perhaps not in a way that is conducive to creating a stable civilization like the humans/elves/dwarves have. I think she cited that Naga/Lamia who act monstrous get very strong as a result.

>>24161269
"Hah! I'm part dragon! Eat it, nature!"

Nature, right?

>>24161269
<..Figures.>

I already dislike the dragons now.

File: 1365571366312.png-(20 KB, 200x300, huh.png)

20 KB PNG

>>24161269
>Ssens face

Yeah, I don't see how most this going to affect her.

Though this part:
>Apparently, they recorded about how later they heard of Beautiful Ones who were mad how they 'took' humans, and their offspring were even more 'twisted.'

Is there more detail on that?

>>24161347
>don't see how this is going to affect her
Ssen's totally a dragon.

>>24161269
>but there's no term for 'consensual sex' in Dragon.
knew it was coming but still laughed.

I bet the Harpy's are the roc and dragon degenerates. That would make sense. Also sweet we have Leviathan in our blood. Maybe we should look up those next.

<Hah, this 'mistake' is going to do what they could not.'>

>>24161269
Oh well. This doesn't really affect us or bring any earth-shattering revelations. Either way, we're a living species, and a paladin.

>>24161269

Well, Ssen and who knows how many Naga/Lamia there are living out in the wild. in which there is a noted dearth of dragons.

File: 1365571430409.png-(88 KB, 206x232, 581814_526144770761526_11(...).png)

88 KB PNG

>>24161269
>'mistake'
Like peanut butter and chocolate, motherfuckers. We know we hot.

>>24161361
Part, some, a little. Neat fact ... but beyond that big whoop.

>>24161269
>Nagas are Dragon/Troll. Lamias are Dragon/Leviathan. There's no record of a 'degenerative offspring' of a Roc/Dragon.

Phoenixes come to mind as a likely candidate, if they're real and not just part of the Phoenix Empire mythology. Not that it matters much right now.

In any case:
>That's the truth. You're the end result of a Dragon's 'mistake.'

<Best. Mistake. Ever.>

>>24161269
>There's no comment about the sex being consensual...but there's no term for 'consensual sex' in Dragon.
Welp.

>Lamias are Dragon/Leviathan
Sweet. We know we have stuff from the dragon side, do we have any leviathan powers? We should try reading the water book later.

>>24161383
Dude. Father's cryptic last words.

You're a dragon? We're totally a dragon.

This is just the best.

With all of this "epiphany of the cyclic nature of the world" business and what with our being on our first real adventure, starting to see parts of our life after they've finally come together, I think this may be an appropriate theme song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3pSv5R9ryE

I am spent on appropriate music for this quest.

>>24161269
>and don't have to worry about that clock thing

As if dragons would record that they grow old and die, whether it's true or not.

>>24161407
>Sweet. We know we have stuff from the dragon side, do we have any leviathan powers? We should try reading the water book later.

Do we, or Ted, know anything about leviathans? Not likely that we know anything useful, but it can't hurt to ask.


>>24161269
Next, look up the spells innate to Dragons and Dragon Off-shoots, make sure that includes Beautiful Ones, and do a quick skim. Not trying to learn any quite yet, just trying to get a quick flavor. Pay particular attention to anything that protects the mind, nullifies magic, or ensures truth.

Also it now makes sense why the Fifth contacts Naga and Lamia if he is indeed the Dragon Reborn. His original pupose was to strengthen dragons and so of course he looks to those with dragon blood to solve his problems.

>>24161495
I now remember our kickass swimming prowess.

>>24161500
...

No wonder peace thought we might want in on genocide with the help of the 5th.

This is some heavy shit. Am I right in saying meeting out lamia friends in river crossing is higher priority?

>>24161516
we could swim with the whole team grabbing our tail.

We can slither with the whole team riding us.

There are no brakes on the snake train.

except bags

>>24161541
Not really. They're insane Citadel-slaves, not friends. Also they can kill us instantly if we make one wrong move.

>>24161560
Dirty pillows

sad thing is the Citadel still gives the creatures under it more power. They just lose all capacity to be anything other then the monster.

>>24161269
okay, as for actions.

<Hey Ted, this book says I'm part dragon. And leviathan? Do you know what a leviathan happens to be? >

God damn Echo, you have the endurance of a damn Nigerian.

>>24161667
Yeah, on the off chance Ted doesn't already know what the Beautiful Ones are, tell him and see if he shows just a bit more deference.

>>24161408
<You were right Father...and this 'mistake' is going to do what they couldn't.>

<Sorry?>

<Nothing. Personal stuff. Do you anything about Leviathans?>

<They're as big as Dragons, have shells and giant flippers, some get mistaken for islands, and they're the source of sea serpents, mer-folk, the slimes, and any other low-creature that crawls out of the water. They're supposed to be extinct.> He says. That's about what you know of the subject as well.

Dragon Spells

Well, you know all of Granny's powers? Her endless strength, her ability to heal, and her arcane knowledge that rivals the Citadel Mages? Yeah, she's the equivalent of Mage according to this. Dipping her toe in the water, and reverse engineering the shreds of other spells. Full Dragon magic, can raise entire armies from the dead, cause mountains to be ripped apart, and bathe fields in fire...you do get the idea that a lot of this is the Dragon bragging to the Bear Scribe. But apparently the Dragons weren't all that concerned with magic, they HAD power, they WERE power, they didn't need to TAP into anything to USE power, as if they needed permission.

So if you parse it down, it's not THAT impressive. Healing magic that actually caused wounds to heal, instead of just instant clotting and adrenaline jolts like it is now. A little fire manipulation here, some earth manipulation there...heh Mage actually uses most of the spells here regularly. Ghoul Magic looks like it ripped off a lot of Dragon Magic.

It probably explains why the Dragon Servants live so long. In fact...

You check the Dragon Servant part for a brief moment...yep...the first Ghouls were Dragon Servants who were masterless and went rouge. Mis-using their powers and were then disowned by the Dragons.

Huh. Here's an interesting thing that cross-references the Dragon Magic, the Beautiful Ones, and the Dragon Servants...sort of.

Dragons do not mate. Dragons do not have 'family.' But Dragons have those that they 'bond' with.

>>24161715
It's...hard to say in human terms, but basically it's saying 'This is Part of my Horde, but it may have its Own Horde that is Not Mine, and I am part of Their Horde.' Which is as touchy-feely as Dragons get.

>>24161715
Bonding cross reference?

Read that, and then follow up on magic.

>>24161754
I take it shared bank accounts is a nobueno for Dragons then.

>>24161715
Does anything about the dragon spells seem fundamentally harder for modern folks to do (dragon or otherwise), or does it just seem like anyone who had this information could cast the original spells rather than the less-capable modern versions?

In other words, leaving aside any inherent property that only allows those with draconic ancestry to use them, does anything stop Mage, Mari, or Ssen from using the original spells at their full awesomeness?

>>24161715
Did Whitefire have one she bonded with?

Any more details on if bonding means anything more to dragons than their feelings? Any ceremonies/rituals/etc? Any associated benefits?

im headed to bed, don't get us killed.

>>24161819
>does anything stop Mage, Mari, or Ssen from using the original spells at their full awesomeness?
Game balance.

>>24161754
The record of the Beautiful Ones say that a few of them bonded with each other sucessfully, and with other Tribe members. There were 'unforeseen blessings given upon those who had the tender heart and steel heart to go through it.' and it says what was done. It's not that complicated, really. A drop of blood, a drop of sweat and a tear. Mix them all up, divide them, drink it, and then apparently survive what happens next, which isn't given detail.

Then boom, a bond has been formed. There's not many details that you can tell...well...maybe one. Lifespan shoots WAY up, on both sides.

>>24161863
We'll be fine, just take your dice with you.

>>24161868
The fact that they aren't Dragons. A good deal of Dragon Magic is as such:

Step 1: Be a Dragon.

Steps 2 Through XX aren't that hard, but it all comes back to step 1.

>>24161868
I'm assuming that's called "study" and "training", together with the fact that the dragons have at least somewhat exaggerated how awesome the spells are. Even given a modern spellbook, Mage can't just instantly learn a new spell. I'm just asking if these spells are inherently any harder to learn.

>>24161871
ah jeez.

Ah jeez louise.

>>24161871
> then apparently survive what happens next, which isn't given detail.

I must know what happens. It's more than likely very painful.

>>24161898
I imagine it will require significant out-of-mage support.

If I was a dragon spellcaster, I'd use my naturally monstrous power to fuel my spells.

If I was a normal spellcaster, I'd use latent environmental energy.

>>24161892
Well, the spells say they're usable by dragon offspring as well. Are the originals better because the modern versions have lost something over time, or just because the casters were dragons rather than dragon-servant descendants (like Mage) or lamia (like Ssen)?

>>24161927
(Also pointing out that, since we know the offspring of lamia and non-lamia aren't full lamia, Ssen is half-dragon, not some smaller fraction.)

>>24161871
by other Tribe members, they mean humans right?

if so, I think we just figured out how to extend Tricia's life, if she will have us.

>>24161963
Yeah, that was the first thought that came to mind. We'll tell Tricia as soon as we're not racing against a clock (probably this evening before we sleep).

>>24161911
The Bear Scribe doesn't say.

Dragon-Kin are the legitimate offspring of a Dragon and something else. Again, details are not given on how these beings came to be but Dragons have no word for 'courtship,' surprise, surprise.

There's the Lizard Folk who are runts of litters who managed to survive and breed. They were allowed to be, because Dragons always need something to be subservient to them, and having a species that worshipped them as Gods was peachy keen by them.

The Dragon Slaves were humans that were taken on, once that Dragons discovered the utility of Thumbs and how nice it is for someone to scrape lichen off your back.

Salamanders are listed, the big ones, as being the eggs who survived getting a lava bath due to a volcano erupting over a nest.

There's a little mention of some dragons who live 'across the sea with the birds' but they are quickly mentioned and then moved on.

That's the information of that part. Most of it is the Dragons telling the Bear Scribe how awesome Dragons are compared to everything else.

>>24162023
Can we find any more references to eggs?

we should really find a few. Is it possible to raise a dragon whose greedy dickitude works to the benefit of society?

>>24161927
>Are the originals better because the modern versions have lost something over time, or just because the casters were dragons rather than dragon-servant descendants (like Mage) or lamia (like Ssen)?

Actually, the only thing that makes the original spells 'better' is that they had crazy power behind them. These days spells are much more power-efficent, and versatile, the accuracy Mage does with his Stone to Mud, let alone his Rosetta Light, could NEVER be done by a Dragon.

Old stuff isn't better just because it was there first. It's just you hit someone with a fireball with Granny/Mage/You and they'll hurt, hit someone with a Dragon Magic fireball, and there's not even ashes...for a radius.

>>24162023
Any spells we can try out from the dragon magic section? Or is that mostly, "Lol, our magic is ~soooo~ kewl."

>>24162023
>The Dragon Slaves were humans that were taken on, once that Dragons discovered the utility of Thumbs and how nice it is for someone to scrape lichen off your back.

Are those the same as the Dragon Servants, or something different?

Apart from that, the only things we *haven't* looked up that was in our original skim are Locations of Lairs and Titles (Dragon Heraldry) and combat of and against dragons. Let's start with the latter.

>>24162057
>we should really find a few. Is it possible to raise a dragon whose greedy dickitude works to the benefit of society?

Yeah, but his name's Itzak Solomon Elegante Newgate.

File: 1365573963794.jpg-(44 KB, 550x336, Nice.jpg)

44 KB JPG

>>24162077

>>24162077
Don't scare me like that Echo.

>>24162069
OK, that makes sense. So there's not much point in us looking up the spells for which we have modern analogues. There *is* a point in us looking up spells with no modern equivalents, such as the mind-protection or truth-detection spells that Citadel or the Paladins have suppressed, respectively. Could we, please?

>>24162076
There's a Difference, a BIG different.

Dragon Servants are humans bred to serve and slave for Dragons. Ted is one and Mage is descended from them.

Children of the Dragon are humans who took 'Gifts' from The Dragon Who Was Of Shadow. That's ALSO in Mage's ancestry, as were a bunch of other raiders and warlords who terrorized the First Tribes.

Hey guys, Rocs, yeah the giant birds, there in the Phoenix Empire. Just saying....

>>24162126
Just as Monsters can get gifts from Citadel by behaving how it wants, so too could humans. Just be an instrument of subjugation, death, and fear and boom, power, prestige, whatever you want. Just sign on the dotted line in blood...no it doesn't have to be yours.

>>24162077
>>24162090
>>24162095
>giving a dragon to iztek to raise

You're a dad now, iztek! Raise it well.

>>24162173
Remaining topics: Dragon combat (by and against), spells with no modern equivalents (mind-protection, truth, anything else that jumps out at us), and names/lairs/heraldry if there's anything specific we want to try to look up there. Any other major topics covered in the book that we haven't looked at?

>>24162228
When're we going to hit town?

>>24162255
Round-trip to town and back with the emergency dog sleds took four hours, with the first half done by "rookies", so somewhat less than two hours from the Bear Shrine to town.

>>24162173
Combat

Ohhh, Julian and the Paladins would KILL for this thing. The Dragon who gave this bit the the Bear Scribe is giving a detailed account on how to kill a Dragon, how to defend from its attacks, and what are its best weaknesses. (Wing joints aren't as vital as you think, however, the space under the Dragon's maw to where it meets it's neck? Sweet spot of sweet spots. Pain and damage and stops fire breathing if done right.) The Dragon told the scribe this because the Dragon wanted the Bear Tribe to kill the corrupted Dragons.

As for combat? Eh, that's just a lot of Dragon boasting about their conquests and victories and how invincible they are.

You check in the spells. There's nothing about protecting the mind of a Dragon because, of course, NOTHING could make a Dragon do anything against it's will. Those that were commanded by the Dragon-Who-Was-Of-Shadow did so by the result of their own personal weakness by giving into them and DESERVED to be controlled.

The Lairs and Locations is basically a 'who's who' of Dragons. You get the feeling that there's a lot more PR in this bit as well, dragons pumping up their own accomplishments and bashing others.

Ah! Here it is. (Unpronouncable Dragon Name) 'Old One' or 'Keeper of Stories' or 'The One Who Speaks To The Pink One In Furs Far Too Much For His Own Good But It Amuses Me, Yes I Want You To Write Down The Whole Thing. Good.'

There's not much actually. He was born on some date that you assume makes sense to Dragons, he was NEVER tempted, EVER, and will NEVER fall. He's credited as being the reason most of the other Dragons even bothered looking at the Bear Scribes. There's also his home. 'The Lair Within The Peak Of Black Snow That Falls Upon The Tree Of Blood Blossom Flowers.' Apparently he was as good with names and as titles as you guys are.

>>24162228
>>24162322
I say spells first, then ted's dragon's family, then lamia in our region if possible, then dragon combat.

>>24162348
<Well Ted, you were right that the Old O e is /somewhere/ in the Dark Peaks. Sadly he's about as bad at names and descriptions as myself so there's no telling where.>

File: 1365575224327.jpg-(14 KB, 190x198, METAPHORIANS.jpg)

14 KB JPG

>>24162348

At least the dragon language isn't vague. No nonsense with figurative language or flowery verses or hidden messages in iambic pentameter within the patterns of the letters. Just plain and simple descriptions of what it is. It's pretty refreshing, to be honest.

>>24162403
>dragons can't name shit
This is just so good

>>24162348
>'The One Who Speaks To The Pink One In Furs Far Too Much For His Own Good But It Amuses Me, Yes I Want You To Write Down The Whole Thing. Good.'
I like this guy already.

>>24162403
<Well Ted, you were right that the Old One is /somewhere/ in the Dark Peaks. Sadly he's about as bad at names and descriptions as myself so there's no telling where.>

<Dragons are always descriptive. Please, tell me anything. I'm so close!> He's bouncing up and down in his seat, he's so excited.

>>24162348
>You check in the spells. There's nothing about protecting the mind of a Dragon because, of course, NOTHING could make a Dragon do anything against it's will. Those that were commanded by the Dragon-Who-Was-Of-Shadow did so by the result of their own personal weakness by giving into them and DESERVED to be controlled.

And nothing about how to protect the minds of the obviously-weaker offspring of dragons, so they can better keep dragon secrets?

> There's not much actually. He was born on some date that you assume makes sense to Dragons, he was NEVER tempted, EVER, and will NEVER fall. He's credited as being the reason most of the other Dragons even bothered looking at the Bear Scribes. There's also his home. 'The Lair Within The Peak Of Black Snow That Falls Upon The Tree Of Blood Blossom Flowers.' Apparently he was as good with names and as titles as you guys are.

Does Tree of Blood Blossom Flowers mean anything to us, or to Ted?

>>24162432
<Do you know of a "peak of black snow" that "falls upon the tree of blood blossom flowers"? If we find these blood blossoms, then find the nearest mountain, we have the last known location of the dragon I'm looking for. >

>>24162432
Start by telling Ted the dragon's full name, yes we want to tell him the whole thing, good. See how he reacts.

>>24162432
<The Old One is also known as 'The One Who Speaks To The Pink One In Furs Far Too Much For His Own Good But It Amuses Me, Yes I Want You To Write Down The Whole Thing. Good.'>

>>24162432
<Does "The Lair Within The Peak Of Black Snow That Falls Upon The Tree Of Blood Blossom" mean anything to you?>

>>24162467
<The Old One is also known as 'The One Who Speaks To The Pink One In Furs Far Too Much For His Own Good But It Amuses Me, Yes I Want You To Write Down The Whole Thing. Good.'>

Ted just stares at you blankly, blinking.

<If that's a joke, I don't find it funny.>

You smirk. <Does "The Lair Within The Peak Of Black Snow That Falls Upon The Tree Of Blood Blossom" mean anything to you?>

Ted gasps. "YES! I KNOW WHERE THAT IS! HA HA!" He regains himself and his composure. <Yes, I had been slowly exploring the Dark Peaks piece by peace, but the Blood Blossom trees...oh I wouldn't have gotten there for MONTHS, and I would have tried THREE different areas first. Yes yes yes yes! My Master! I AM COMING!>

The gates of Bronze Hill have come into sight now.

You're back.

>>24162564
>Ted gasps. "YES! I KNOW WHERE THAT IS! HA HA!" He regains himself and his composure. <Yes, I had been slowly exploring the Dark Peaks piece by peace, but the Blood Blossom trees...oh I wouldn't have gotten there for MONTHS, and I would have tried THREE different areas first. Yes yes yes yes! My Master! I AM COMING!>

<You'd better be planning to take us with you, Ted.>

>>24162564
"Ted, I'd suggest waiting on that expedition a few days. We could go with in a few days, once we're done with our investigation one way or another. Unless you really want to go off right now."

>>24162599
cut out one of those "a few days"es. editing error.

>>24162588
<You'd better be planning to take us with you, Ted. I'd suggest waiting on that expedition a few days. We could go with in a few days, once we're done with our investigation one way or another. Unless you really want to go off right now.>

Ted shakes his head. <Oh no. A few days is fine, sure. I have supplies to get an everything, not to mention I need to chart a course and some back up courses if my maps are out of date. The whole thing will take a week and a half journey to get there, anyway. Besides, a servant arriving alone with no tribute? No no no. But a Servant arriving with a Beautiful One and the Great Book Of Wisdom that my Master wrote Himself? Ohh, now THAT would ensure a place at his side. I've waited this long, three more days wont kill me."

He narrows his eyes at you as the sleds enter the city. "But don't expect me to help you on this. I'm done with the undead. They are unclean and beneath all of us."

>>24162644
"Oh, you don't need to. heck, helping in the library was going above and beyond. "

>>24162644
>Ted shakes his head. <Oh no. A few days is fine, sure. I have supplies to get an everything, not to mention I need to chart a course and some back up courses if my maps are out of date. The whole thing will take a week and a half journey to get there, anyway. Besides, a servant arriving alone with no tribute? No no no. But a Servant arriving with a Beautiful One and the Great Book Of Wisdom that my Master wrote Himself? Ohh, now THAT would ensure a place at his side. I've waited this long, three more days wont kill me."

<Also, even knowing where it is, I've been told that we'd have a very hard time navigating in the Dark Peaks without a certain compass that Sandover has, and that otherwise the Dark Peaks may end us. With instructions this precise, we may not need it, but I don't want to take that chance.>

>>24162644
I resent their nature as much as you, I think, but it sounds like you have some deeper reason of which I am not aware. Care to share?

>>24162679
I'd change "not taking the chance" to "it may be beneficial to have". The dude's spent literal years mapping the place constantly. He's got the more actual experience with the Dark Peaks other than anyone living there.

>>24162644
>>24162644
"Remember what I said about the book. It's not going into his hoard. Show off? Sure. Staying? Not a chance.

"At any rate, we'll meet up again after the investigation. Alright?"

>>24162644
"Why would the Old One need the book? He was the one who WROTE it."

>>24162644
>"But don't expect me to help you on this. I'm done with the undead. They are unclean and beneath all of us."
"Aye, they're beneath all of us. But I need to find out who's been making them, and stop them before they ruin any more lives."

>>24162679
<Also, even knowing where it is, I've been told that we'd have a very hard time navigating in the Dark Peaks without a certain compass that Sandover has, and that otherwise the Dark Peaks may end us. With instructions this precise, we may not need it, but I don't want to take that chance.>

Ted nods. <We need that compass then, even knowing where the lair is wont get us there. Dragon's description of their territory is very generous, so there might be three or five peaks that look the same that he calls 'his' plus Dark Peaks shift all the time. We need that compass.>

The sleds stop and everyone gets off and gets situated. Prisoners are escorted, wounded are carried, and Balles gets to work with his paperwork and dictation already.

Ted actually gives you a hug before he runs back to his house. He's honestly skipping.

"So..." Tricia asks. "What was THAT all about?" She points at the book. "Were you two able to make sense of that?"

>>24162735
"He found what he was looking for. We're going on an expedition to the dark peaks after our investigation.

Yeah, we made sense of it. It actually was all magicaled up to be a whole sheaf of books. It turns out I'm part dragon! And leviathan. Or so this dragon book says."

>>24162735
"Turns out I can read it as easily as a normal can read a children's book. There's just... SO MUCH."

>>24162735
"A lot of interesting stuff in here. Somethings I want to talk to you about later.

"But to summarize, for the most part it's what we thought. A book about dragons and everything related to them."

>>24162735
>"So..." Tricia asks. "What was THAT all about?" She points at the book. "Were you two able to make sense of that?"

"Yes, quite a bit. It's not just a book, it's a quarter of the Bear Shrine library, everything about Dragons. Among other things, where the Old One is, some disturbing history of the Dragon that Was of Shadow, and some potentially very good news for the two of us personally. Oh, and apparently I'm half-dragon and half-leviathan. Who knew?"

>>24162735
"It's a history book that you have to taste to read! There's 3 others, one about Trolls, one Rocs, and one Leviathans. Honestly the whole thing boiled down to 'Dragons are the best, even when they're not quite so.' "

Meanwhile: an oculi is talking with his buddy about how the paladin just HISSED at him the entire way back.

Just hissed.

He's terrified.

His friends tell him that's how lamias tell you they're into you.

>>24162814
The Paladin Serpent and Crazy Ted, both.

>>24162838
I love the rumors this will start.

>>24162814
Alternatively, they realize Crazy Ted was hissing back at us. More rumors spread about why the Paladin Serpent put up with a fool mocking her.

>>24162765
>>24162758

"He found what he was looking for. We're going on an expedition to the dark peaks after our investigation.

"Turns out I can read it as easily as a normal can read a children's book. There's just... SO MUCH. It's not just a book, it's a quarter of the Bear Shrine library, everything about Dragons. Among other things, where the Old One is, some disturbing history of the Dragon that Was of Shadow, and some potentially very good news for the two of us personally. Oh, and apparently I'm half-dragon and half-leviathan. Who knew?"

The others all stare at you for a moment. Mage lets out a low whistle. "So..." He looks at the book over your shoulder. "Can only people with liz-dragon eyes read it?"

"It's a history book that you have to taste to read! The three others back at the Library are the same, but different races. One about Trolls, one Rocs, and one Leviathans. Honestly, the whole thing boiled down to 'Dragons are the best, even when they're not quite so.' "

Lea shakes her head in wonder. "We have to share this. We can't just let this knowledge just sit in the dark!"

"Agreed, we could make a bundle off of this!" Peri says.

"That we should donate to the Conclave." Mari says.

"The Conclave that has people who try to kill us?!" Peri snaps.

"Not all of them are evil!"

"No, the others are merely incompetent."

"ANYway..." Tricia interrupts. "We going to go kick down the doors on a creepy whorehouse?"

>>24162845
Stop shipping us, please.

>>24162814
And thus your legend grows...you're the only Lamia who doesn't need to give into Citadel and gorge yourself in order for your tail to grow.

Been waiting to use THAT one for AGES. Not sorry at ALL.

>>24162863
"Oh, absolutely. What, do you think I just enjoyed sled rides?"

>>24162884
I was really looking forward to a 60 ft Ssen too.

sadface.

>>24162890
I am pretty sure we're gonna get long. Echo confirmed it several times saying we were practically infants.

just not, you know, chinese dragon long. Unless we become literal millenia old or something.

>>24162884
...That was bad, Echo.

You should feel ashamed of yourself.

>>24162890
Tricia can't cuddle 60 ft. of us at once. We get more snuggling per unit surface area with this bodily format.

>>24162863
"The knowledge in this book is too dangerous to reveal to the public right now, and as we've just saw with Passion, there are very few people we can trust."

"Plus we still haven't solved our main problem, which is preventing Sandover from becoming a Dramatae."

>>24162884
See? Totally canon. I knew it. Confused oculi soldiers.

>>24162915
Naw, we should totally reveal a lot of the knowledge. And ask for an official requisition of book guard transition form.

File: 1365577828847.gif-(996 KB, 230x138, boo.gif)

996 KB GIF

>>24162884

Anyways ...

>>24162863
"Duh? Lets get going before someone tips him off."

>>24162901
no, only the ones that give in to the Dragon of Shadow get long, we just get faster.

>>24162890
I could see us growing a little more, I think we where ~16ft last time we tried to figure it out, I could see us hitting 19 or 20 ft if we have any more growing to do.

unless echo says we are done growing.

>>24162884
Note: we have a slightly higher cashflow.

Consider taking the luxury of eating another chicken every meal in town.

>>24162943
I really don't know where you get that faster-not-bigger business. We just don't get bigger AS FAST as citadel lamias.

>>24162951
Nagas get thicker and stronger. Lamias get longer and faster.

>>24162967
yeah. Longer and faster.

Citadel ones get longer and faster at a faster rate than us. Also we might get bigger if we ate more. maybe.

File: 1365578207253.png-(7 KB, 640x480, dice.png)

7 KB PNG

Side note since we just spent so much time in research mode: with all the comments about the dice, I figured I'd do some research. I grabbed all the past Lamia Child Quest threads (1-25 and the Q&A), parsed out all the rolls and results, threw away all the +s, and counted each d20 roll (for simplicity of analysis). No obviously interesting biases in the data as a whole, but I did some checking of 1s and 20s since those get so much attention.

Overall: 2330 total, expected 2330/20=116.5, 124 1s, 120 20s

So nothing particularly surprising overall. However, the numbers by poster are amusing.

: 4 total, expected 4/20=0.2, 0 1s, 0 20s
Anonymous: 898 total, expected 898/20=44.9, 58 1s, 36 20s
bobptidou: 4 total, expected 4/20=0.2, 0 1s, 0 20s
Caged Songbird: 2 total, expected 2/20=0.1, 2 1s, 0 20s
Citadel: 2 total, expected 2/20=0.1, 0 1s, 0 20s
EchoGarrote: 880 total, expected 880/20=44.0, 28 1s, 44 20s
Essvee: 2 total, expected 2/20=0.1, 0 1s, 0 20s
Questling: 44 total, expected 44/20=2.2, 4 1s, 2 20s
redaeth: 284 total, expected 284/20=14.2, 18 1s, 18 20s
SageofTimes: 4 total, expected 4/20=0.2, 0 1s, 2 20s
Secretary General: 10 total, expected 10/20=0.5, 2 1s, 0 20s
Story Stitcher: 42 total, expected 42/20=2.1, 2 1s, 6 20s
The Archivist: 154 total, expected 154/20=7.7, 10 1s, 12 20s

So: Echo rolled an expected number of 20s but far fewer 1s, Anonymous rolled more 1s and less 20s than expected, and both redaeth and Archivist had more extremes than expected but not biased either way. The results for Echo and Anonymous are certainly enough to give us a general feeling of Citadel dice.

I didn't make any attempt to check which rolls "counted" (e.g. only the first linked roll for each post by Echo.), or do full statistical fairness analysis.

This book. We need to visit Stone Hall after this is over. We'll have many day-long sessions of us reading this, dictating it to Ambrose, who'll transcribe it for printing. First topics to cover will be any and all objectively benign information, especially any which would aid communications, technology, medicine or the sciences in general. I'm kinda hoping there might be some form of communications magic in there.

>>24162915
"The knowledge in this book is too dangerous to reveal to the public right now, and as we've just saw with Triv...with Passion, there are very few people we can trust.

"Plus we still haven't solved our main problem, which is preventing Sandover from becoming a Dramatae. Let's get going before someone tips him off."

You all head towards Sandover House. It's very bright and cheery on the outside. The house is nice and large, with that big sign welcoming any and all, saying that they fit all shapes, sizes, and models. There are cheery paper lanterns and little pinwheels that spin around in the small breezes that whistle through the cave. It looks like there's a...kind of picnic/barbeque out infront of the area. There's people standing around chatting, talking, and laughing. Someone's manning a keg, and there's a pig on a spit and everyone is in a good mood.

"Hello!" Says a pretty woman in a red dress. You notice that a lot of the women and men are also dressed in red. They're all good looking, fit, and not shy about being touched. "Welcome to Sandover House! Come on in...oh my...what are you?" She asks with honest curiosity with no sense of malice.

>>24163017
>"Hello!" Says a pretty woman in a red dress. You notice that a lot of the women and men are also dressed in red. They're all good looking, fit, and not shy about being touched. "Welcome to Sandover House! Come on in...oh my...what are you?" She asks with honest curiosity with no sense of malice.

"A Paladin."

Do we want to try to track down Sandover himself, or see if we can sneak around here and find things like that compass? Or both (but let's *not* split the party, please).

Rolled 11

>>24162994
...What? I literally only used this name for like 3 posts in one thread and managed 2 1's? Gosh.

>>24163017
We're looking for Mr Jeremy Sandover. Occuli business.

File: 1365578570797.jpg-(21 KB, 200x258, occuli.jpg)

21 KB JPG

>>24163017
"Ssen Patrick, Paladin of the citadel. Some ladies claiming to be from this establishment have contracted cases of vampirism, and we're authorized to conduct a follow up search of the premises."

Flash your caligo symbol while doing this.

>>24163036
And "Citadel" rolled two d20s, and got 18 both times.

>>24163017
>what are you?
Smile. Kindly and honestly. "I'm Ssen; a pleasure to meet you, Ms. ...?"

>>24163031
Let's see if we can talk our way in so we can "look" for him inside.

>>24163048
That sounds rather plausible, actually, assuming we don't mind drawing some attention.

>>24163017
Anyone around wearing a mask?

>>24163055
>>24163048
we want to go in quiet though, the entire idea of rushing back was to investigate without anyone knowing we where investigating.

>>24163017
"Oh, don't worry about little old me. Say, have you seen Mr Sandover anywhere?"

>>24163065
Ah, right. Ideally, if we *do* run into Sandover, we want him thinking that his vampire successfully stole the book he wanted.

(Speaking of which, how stupid is it for us to walk into this place still carrying the book? Oh well, too late now.)

>>24163065
We've already made our presence known, and we don't exactly blend in.

>>24163048
change "of the citadel" to "of the light"

>>24163079
no, our reason for getting here early was so we could bust the hell in and catch him unawares.

If we searched tomorrow, he would have hidden all the shit.