Here there be Dragons, Part I

[Inquisitor]

Here there be Dragons

I spend allot of time thinking about dragons.

For a Galka, I spend allot of time thinking.

I make my living as many do in Vana'diel. I am a mercenary of sorts. A sell sword. Mage for hire. Errand-Galka. I spent a fair amount of time in the wilderness, hunting and trapping various wildlife to sell their skins, seeking rare crystals used by the craft guilds, and collecting interesting objects to sell to the highest bidder in the main city auction houses. There are very few things I won't do for gil.

Galka are a warrior race. They excel at physical activities, so much, that Bastok employs them nearly exclusively as a mining force. What they are not particularly well know for is intellect. Not many Galkan mages out there. The ones that exist are ridiculed by all, including other Galkans. No Galkan in their right mind would take up mages robes.

They say the first step to defeating a personal problem is admitting you have a personal problem. I'm a Galkan Mage. My name is Ariones. That makes me a masochist.

But that's all unimportant at the moment. Racism and ignorance are something everyone who is different must face. How you face these challenges defines who you are. And if there's one thing I live for, it's a challenge.

Which brings me to dragons.

Several things about this world are mysterious to me, puzzles I feel compelled to solve regardless of cost. I am compelled in part by a desire to prove a Galka CAN solve the puzzle, to show the world that we can contribute more than brawn, that brains are something to expect from us.

When I found the Crag of Mea, I was astounded. Tahrongi Canyon possessed a new puzzle for me, one that would prove a distraction from my quest to understand the mystery of the Crags. Scattered throughout the canyon, and in the caves surrounding the area, were the bones of immense wyrms. Dragons. I heard stories of a huge spine that stretched across the Meriphataud Mountains. Some speculated that it was part of the remains of a truly giant dragon.

I had heard of an adventurer who had visited much of the land, leaving monuments to document the journey and mark the regions for future generations. The first one I found was, fortunately, in the Tahrongi Canyon, as I documented the location of the bones of the wyrms.

"If you take a look at Tahrongi itself, it is an inhospitable place to be in: undulating terrain, harsh weather, and not forgetting the monsters that dwell here! But what pains me more than all of the above, is to be struck down with heatstroke. Before I embarked on my journey on this continent of Mindelcia, I thought I had enough traveling experience to handle most difficulties. And yet, I have no idea how to deal with a heatstroke. Not even White Magic helps...

As the high temperature sapped my energy away little by little, I struggled to look for a safe and shady spot to rest, but there were none to be found. At that very moment, I looked up and saw a white object in the distance... it was the fossil remains of an ancient dragon! And nearby, I found a cave by the side of the canyon wall. I learnt that I can replenish some fluids by picking the cacti that grow around the cave, and rested inside this cave until I was well again.


I am grateful that I'd chanced upon some kind men who taught me survival skills in this arid desert and so I engraved their names below in honor of them. For the three brothers who perished later under a heat wave: Gilbo, Maji and Naville - I salute you."

C.E. 774
Enid Ironheart"

She had seen the dragon's bones too. I began to wonder if I was fated to follow the footsteps of the Ironhearts. The Crags held my interest, but so did dragons.

----

"Good evening, Ariones," Convict, as he was known, was a Tarutaru Dragoon, a tamer and sometimes slayer of dragons. In a way, his path was not dissimilar from mine. Taru were supposed to be scholars, magicians, not fighters, and this taru was a fighter, through and through. Convict was always followed by Sasavi, a small blue Wyvern. The relationship between dragoon and wyven was another puzzle for me, but, one that could wait. In the past, I have made the mistake of making one too many jokes about it, and that is not something I care to repeat. It will remain a mystery a while longer for me.

"Hello, my friend! Hello Sasavi!" I reached down and scratched the wyverns scaly head. "How was your trip from Jeuno?"

"Long, but uneventful. Are you going to tell me why I am here, or do I get to guess?"

"Eat first, lets catch up, chat as friends should and relax a bit. Trust me, I think you'll like why I asked you back to Windhurst. Let's have a drink here and then head to Timbre Timbers for some dinner." I motioned for him to sit, my moogle provided some juice and we chatted about old times, the health of friends, and the weather. We left my rent-a-room and headed for Windhurst Waters, and the Timbre Timbers Inn for a dinner.

A mithra server approached our table. Mithra make me nervous. I stammer. I act like a child. I barely form complete sentences. It's very embarrassing. All of my friends enjoy this discomfort very much. I could see a mischievous smile forming on Convict's face.

"Can I get you gentlemen something to eat or drink?" she asked as we sat at a table in the corner.

"I LIKE PIE!" I blurted out. Convict fell of his stool, unable to control his giggles.

"Errr, I mean, uh, can I have some apple pie? Errr, for desert, errr...."

Convict regained his composure and took over, "Yes, what my large incoherent friend is actually trying to ask for is 2 dinner specials, some ale, and some nice faerie apple pie for desert."

"Coming right up!" The mitra winked at me and spun to get our food. I felt queasy.

"We have to get you out of your studies more often, girls shouldn't scare you like that," he chuckled. Before I could protest, he continued, "So, what can I do for you my large, socially inadequate friend?" His mood had lightened, which was good. We had repaired our relationship long ago, but, I was about to ask him a dangerous question. My fumbling unintentionally served a greater purpose.

"Dragons," I finally said, with authority. "I need your help in discovering things about dragons. And I don;t mean Sasavi," I winked at the wyvern, I think he winked back.

"Go on," Convicts tone was cautious, the last time we talked about my interest in dragons I ended up accidentally insulting him, he appeared to be bracing himself.

"I was in Bastok, investigating the Parlborough Mines, looking for traces of mythril," I began, "When I ran into a group who were seeking dragons."

"You know my interest, ever since I saw the Tahrongi, I couldn't resist I had to quiz them about their mission. They had been unsuccessfully trying to locate one for days, and had given up. They were adventurers, something about slaying dragons for glory, but their story was interesting."

"We're not in Bastok, Ariones, we're in Windhurst."

"Yes, I know, I am getting to that. As I was saying, they had given up, but, in our discussions they told me some interesting things about the world. Supposedly there are several dragons around still. The one they couldn't find is one of three, that they were aware of, one's in San d'Oria, supposedly somewhere beyond the orc stronghold, and one is," I lingered for a moment, sure he'd guess.

"Somewhere around Windhurst," he remarked. "I have heard of it, People say it is a myth, an old wives tale. There ARE dragons around, but not there as far as anyone knows. That's something we tell children who aren't afraid enough of Yagudos to keep them from wandering into places they should avoid. The one you are talking about is in Giddeus."

"Exactly. It may be a myth," I said, "No one has seen a dragon, present company excepted, Sasavi," I exchanged winks with the wyvern again, "since the war. However, in my travels I have found some corroborating information. I think there are at least these three dragons here, one in each realm, and that those adventurers were simply unable to find the Bastok one. Then there are the stories of he dragoons," I looked knowingly at him.

Convict looked interested. He couldn't help it. Dragoons and dragons have an unusual bond. I suspected Convict has seen a real dragon, but I could never get him to tell me about it. Must be something about the dragoon code I keep hearing about. I never pressed it. He did not take this opportunity to elaborate either.

"And what, exactly, do you want to do?" he looked up at me, "I suppose you want to kill it and examine it. Dragons are not play things, Ariones. They are very serious, very dangerous creatures."

"I know. No, I don't want to kill it, well, not if it can be avoided."

"What then?"

"I want to talk to it."

Convict laughed in total disbelief, I had caught him off guard.

"You want to WHAT?"

"Talk to it. I have a plan, it's a good one, will you help?"

Convict stopped smiling, "You're serious?"

"Yes."

"Ariones, you don't talk to dragons," he said flatly.

"You talk to Sasavi all the time?" wink number three exchanged with the wyvern.

"That's different, these dragons are different."

"Come on, you know I need to know. Besides, Sasavi wants to see his bigger cousins. Look at his eyes, you can't say no to that face," on cue, Sasavi looked up wide eyed at Convict and blinked several times.

Resigned, Convict looked at me, then at his wyvern, "If I didn't know better, I'd say there was a conspiracy here. All right, I'll help, tell me about your plan."

We discussed the details till the wee hours of the morning, the Timbre staff had all retired.

"It's a good plan, but we will need help," he concluded.

"Yeah, and I know just the Taru!" I smiled.

Dragons, here we come. But he was right, we would need help.

-----

** Monument text (C) Square Enix, I did not get permission to reprint it, it's flavor text from the game

[Inquisitor]

---
I heard Pixistix before I saw her. I had been at the San d'Orian Consulate getting information and local intelligence on the situation in Giddeus. Giddeus was a Yagudo stronghold, and we needed to be prepared as possible. I don't much care for most beastmen, memories of the war, the raids from Ghelsba, and my general distaste for orcs account for that sentiment. The Yagudo though, as vicious as they are, always hold my curiosity. Bird men with swords.

Of course, they were never happy to see me or my friends. But I digress. Our help had arrived in the form a red headed taru healer named Pixistix.

I owe Pixi a great deal. She has helped me many times on many adventures. Pixi encouraged me to study magic, a decision which altered my life significantly. She's encouraging, and kind, and she seems to live for helping her friends.

I heard her speaking quietly with Convict as they came down the path towards the fountain. I have excellent hearing, even for a Galka. It helps a great deal in my life and my studies.

"He wants to what?"

"He says he wants to talk to the dragon. I know this particular dragon, or at least of him, this is not one who will entertain a conversation. However, he seems determined to try, and you know how he gets when he's 'determined' to do something. Anyway, he's got a decent plan, and I can handle the dragon if it DOES backfire."

"Yah, he's a bit stubborn that way. I guess I am here to be a heal monkey?"

"Pretty much. He's been at the Consulate looking for a sell sword or two to fill our ranks. I see him up ahead."

I knew Convict knew more about dragons than he was letting on, I decided to file that away for future questioning. Undoubtedly, something in the dragoon code prevented him from telling me to much. That he could tell Pixi was curious, but, they had a relationship I could never fathom. They had known each other a very long time, I was the relative newcomer to our group. And when it came to questioning Convict's relationships, I knew better. Besides, I knew in my heart that he would tell me what I needed to know, when I needed to know it, and he would not let any harm come to his friends. I had seen him throw himself into battle without concern for his own well being in defense of his friends. And, I was the one who needed to learn about dragons, and I needed to study one up close, so, that he knew this was dangerous was good. It meant we had a good chance of succeeding.

I waved at them as they approached. Pixi looked up at me and smiled.

"Hello, Galka."

"Hello, Taru."

We giggled a bit at the exchange. It was always good to see Pixistix.

"So, Convict tells me we're to meet a dragon. Planning to ask it to tea?" she quipped.

"Something like that, actually. I have a plan."

"So he tells me, lets hear it."

I outlined my plan, it was simple. The best plans always were. It involved magic, cunning, and some brute force. Pixi listened intently, nodded at all the right places. We had moved to the fountain while we talked, and we were all sitting on the stones around it. When I finished, Pixi sat silent for a minute, looking from me to Convict, down to Sasavi, who had curled up and was asleep, and then back to me.

"That sounds workable, when do we start?" she finally said. I sighed in relief, she was integral, especially if things did not go well.

"As soon as you two are ready. I located some volunteers earlier, paid them in advance, and told them to meet us at Giddeus. They are there now waiting for us," my plan required some additional swords. I had worked with the Humes that were meeting us there before. It was a good group. We would be fine.

"Let's get started-aru!" Pixi exclaimed as she hopped up. Convict wobbled after her, and I climbed to my feet and started towards the port. Off to Giddeus.

-----

We walked across the Sarutabaruta, passing the outpost on the way. Various traders were exchanging goods, even the occasional Yagudo was seen peacefully wandering the area. The weather was always pleasant here, the Sarutabaruta had a distinct consistency to it's weather. It was warm, slightly humid, and a sift breeze flowed from the West. I didn't spend enough time here, I resolved to correct that. It was peaceful, perfect for meditation.

I'm tall. Even for a galka. I never bothered to measure myself, but I alwasy seem to stand a head taller than even other galka. One overly large galka following two very small taru. We made a fine picture as we made our way towards Giddeus.

We were meeting two humes. Adventurers we had worked with before. The father-son team of Gondolin and Bretton were fighter-mages by training and choice. They, like me, we're San d'Orian, which meant they were more tolerable than your typical humes. Bastokan humes tended to be very unpleasant, especially to galka. These were different. We shared a bond that can only come from being an outcast in your own homeland. The Elvaan were not known to be the most tolerant. Both handy in a fight and tended to be quiet. I liked them.

We approached Giddeus from the east, I could see three figures ahead. Two of them would be Gondolin and Bretton, the third I did not recognize. As we closed on the trio, the third figure, he headed off west into Giddeus.

"Who was that?" I asked as we got within earshot of Gondolin.

"I'm not sure, he asked us if we were planning on entering Giddeus soon, I declined to answer, then he just left," replied Gondolin.

"Curious. No matter. Good to see you again Gondolin, and you Bretton. You remember Pixistix and Convict?"

Pleasantries were exchanged, and I outline out plan. Everyone knew their part. It's always exciting working with professionals, with people you respect. We set into Giddeus.

Pixistix's magical barriers allowed us to work our way deep into the heart of the area, without drawing attention from the Yagudo patrols.

We arrived near the area supposedly containing the dragon. I was off my map, but I was sure we were in the right place. Bretton was fidgeting with his sword and chatting with Gondolin while I conferred with Convict and Pixi.

"This looks like the right place, there must be a hidden entrance," I was confused, we had to be in the right place.

"I'll scout ahead a little further," Convict ran ahead. "I think I found it," came the call after a few minutes. We rounded the corner as a group and say it, a large black circle on the ground, glowing orange with magic.

"How do we activate it?" came the query from Gondolin.

"I believe, we use this key," I produced the key I had 'acquired' from the San d'Orian consul. As I approached the circle, the orange glow intensified till the whole area seemed ablaze.

"Yeah, that looks like it will do it," came the sarcastic shout from Convict.

"IS EVERYONE READY?" I shouted over the din that the magic circle was generating. It was clear we were committed, something was happening, it felt like a teleport. I looked around at my band of adventurers, they all nodded vigorously. Pixistix was preparing protective wards for the group, the humes swords were drawn and charged with faint lightning and other enhancement magic, Convict and Sasavi were bracing themselves. I began my incantation, it was important my spells worked the first time, so I needed to meditate. Black magic was fickle, and I was no master yet.

The world faded.


-----

[BlackDove]

Hmmm. That's actually...pretty good.

I can dig it.

[Inquisitor]

-----

It took a minute for my eyes to adjust. Teleportation always makes me a little dizzy, and my eyes take a minute to focus. I feel disconnected, something brushed my leg, and I realized it was my own tail.

Feeling began to return to my body. I shivered.

Looking around, I counted my compatriots, two taru, 2 humes and a wyvern. I was able to make out their faces, everyone was here. Torchlight burned ahead of us, and we heard a low growl from the cavernous opening.

My plan called for us to work our way quietly towards the beast. Well, my original plan was to verify the beasts existence, then work our way quietly towards it. The heavy breathing and snorting from beyond the torches indicated to me that some beast existed.

"Do you suppose that's the dragon?" I whispered to Convict.

"No doubt about it," he spoke with certainty. There was a look in his eyes, I couldn't identify it.

We neared the entrance to a great, circular chamber. The small torches played light across us. We were illuminated. The rest of the room was filled with shadow.

I saw movement, I squinted. Your eyes play tricks on you in the dark, I was looking for our dragon, but I couldn't make out anything recognizable. "Where is it?" I asked. Convict stopped my advance with his spear, "Right there in front of you. Look up Ari."

I mentioned I was tall. I tend to look at eye level and down while scanning a room. That was a mistake. I looked up in the the maw of the immense wyrm. It wasn't quite as big as the bones of the beasts I studied in Tahrongi, but it was big. Very big. And black. Very black. I wasn't looking into shadows, I was looking at it.

"Oh," I gasped as I looked at the beast. It studied us, as we gawked at it. It stared quietly, seemingly considering what to do next. I don't think it expected company. As my mind came to grips with the size of the beast I saw the body of a hume on the floor off to the side. "I guess that's where your acquaintance went, Gondolin." Gondolin grimaced in agreement.

Pixistix tugged on my tail, "Shouldn't you be casting something about now, before he decides to have us for desert?"

As if on cue, the dragon reached its decision. A deafening roar erupted and it charged, clearly meaning to include us on it's snack menu. I barely had time to act. My plan didn't anticipate it would be so big, and take me so off guard.

My hands came together as I finished the chant for my spell, purple-black magic streamed from my body, focused through my hands. The stream touched the dragon mid charge, mere feet from me. It fell completely limp, mid-stride.

Funny thing about something that big, it doesn't stop instantly. Momentum carried the unconscious dragon forward. Convict screamed something as I was body tackled by both Bretton and Gondolin, knocking me clear of the path the sliding beast was taking.

A few moments of chaos followed, as we all shook off the surprise of the charge. I muttered a thanks to my hume saviors and picked myself up. My tail really hurt. I don't think about my tail much. It balances me, but it's like my ears. I don't expect humes think much about their ears. It's part of me, and sometimes I forget it's there.

Except now. I looked back over my left shoulder trying to catch sight of it, then my right. I tried reaching back to feel for it, to see if I could figure out my pain. I gave up and gave a wounded look to our healer. "Pixi, could you tell me what I have done to my tail."

She looked, "Oh my," and she started fidgeting her hands together. "That should help the pain, but I think you broke it. When we get out of here into some light, I'll have a proper look."

I felt a little better, she must have cast a healing spell. I should have done that myself, but I wasn't thinking clearly. I looked at the unconscious dragon. It was sound asleep from the pattern of it's breathing. Convict looked approvingly at me, "Nice job, he's asleep," he confirmed, "Now what?"

"Well," I began, "Let's have a look at the big fella." I made a circuit of the beast. Finally, a real dragon, up close. It was very similar to the bones in the Tahrongi, that much I could discern, but it was somehow, slightly different. Convict saw my look of consternation and tried to explain, "It's a Northlands beast. It shouldn't be here. I don;t expect that when it wakes up it will do much talking. I am not even sure it can talk. These are evil creatures. They don't do much but kill and eat and sleep. We should destroy it."

Hearing him talk about a dragon this way surprised me, I looked as Sasavi circled the room on patrol. "Are you sure?" I wanted to be sure, destroying it while it slept seemed wrong somehow, but Convict was the expert, that was becoming clear.

"Reasonably, I can't tell you why or how I know, but I know," he looked at me, with a kind of sadness in his eyes. I think he expected us to find some other creature here. Possibly something more noble.

"Well, my spell should hold for a few minutes, rest up, and then prepare yourselves, I'll take some notes," I looked at the slumbering beast and sighed. My notes would be incomplete. I sketched it's form, poked at it's scales. Such a shame. It was an amazing looking beast.

I came up to it's head again and looked closely. Large, curved fangs lined it's mouth. There was a faint stench of rotten meat and a definite sense of dread surrounding the creature. I caugh a glimmer of what look like metal. I leaned in close to look at it.

"Ari, be careful, don't wake it up before we're ready," Convict warned. I nodded in agreement and looked back to the locate the glimmer.

And found myself looking straight into it's now wide-open eye.

It grunted and rose in a flash, staring down on me. I instinctively began to cast a defensive spell, but it roared and knocked me back, interrupting my casting. Pixi screamed my name, I think, and I saw Gondolin and Bretton rushing towards me, swords unsheathed and raised.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Convict vaulting high into the air screaming a battle cry, Sasavi flanking him. It was amazing.

Then the dragon struck me and the world went black.

Death is a funny thing. Some say your life flashes in front of you as you die, others tell of seeing a warm inviting white light. Still others claim to meet Altana. I saw none of these things, just blackness.

I floated in space for a while, contemplating my life. I wonder how my friends would get along without me. I felt sad.

Then I felt sick. The blackness dissolved to fuzzy light. My eyes made out small forms, calling my name. Maybe this was the light? Am I supposed to feel ill when I am dead? The light got brighter and I thought I saw Pixistix, 'oh no, the dragon got her too, what have I done,' I thought to myself.

Then the view sharpened. Pixistix was looking at me with a small weak smile. She looked tired. I gagged a bit, bile rose in my throat. I couldn't hold it anymore, I wretched. Pixi had revived me, I knew this feeling. I was alive though, so I could be thankful for that. After my lunch was thoroughly emptied from my stomach, I was able to take stock of our surroundings. We were no longer in the cave, but everyone was here. They were all looking at me. They all looked relieved.

"Next time, Ari, let ME try to talk to the dragon," Convict smiled.

"Next time?" I croaked.

"Well, that creature was not supposed to be here, and from what you told me there's at least one more of these in Bastok, and I would wager there's one in San d'Oria. Someone needs to look, and I should come along. Look at it this way, you'll get to see more dragons, and perhaps this time, you won't miss the action. You can't be a slacker let me have all the fun."

I looked at our band. They had apparently discussed this while I was indisposed. I nodded.

"I suppose you are right," It would be an adventure. A challenge even. I mentioned I live for challenges, I think.

I smiled weakly at my friends. Yes, an adventure.

Then I threw up again.

---

That's it for now.

[winbrian]

whoa not alittle thinking but a lot ^^