Walkabout investigators

[leftbehindagain]

...So I think I found out how one loses a dragon. One of the kids here said she read in a book that a large enough dragon can change its shape.

So who knows what, or possibly who, the damn thing even looks like now. We're going to have to be careful.

Comments

[willyousee]

Shape change. Of course. If I am recalling correctly, they are also said to be incredibly crafty and the greed of their younger selves has been increased and refined. It may be able to be bargained with if we can determine what it is it desires.

So the question becomes: Are we here to kill it, or help it to escape the city?

[leftbehindagain]

Or send it back to where it came from, which would possibly be as good as killing it.

[willyousee]

The people of Dolorosa have suffered enough in recent history. They may not have the resources to be able to deal with such a creature in the first place, which is why it is here.

[leftbehindagain]

You know more about this place than I do. I'm happy to take your word for it.

What we could stand to find out is how to spot a dragon when it doesn't look like a dragon.

[willyousee]

Mm... They grow faster and produce more quickly when there is copious amounts of ambient magic. It seems likely that when Dolorosa became too hostile for it, it left. Likely searching for a new home where there is less competition and less likelihood of it being killed on sight. Being able to blend in would give it the ability to move around quickly and unsuspected and go about collecting whatever it is that it desires with little to no impact on its daily life other than being restricted in form.

...ah, forgive me. My apologies. I was simply thinking aloud.

If we had anyone with access to Indigo magic, there might be something of a divinatory nature which might be able to give us clues as to the dragon's nature and identity, or there may be items which might help narrow things down. Alas, that was not ever my speciality.

[leftbehindagain]

No, it's fine. We could use all the theories we can get right now.

Any chance there'd be something in a non-magical library? It might be easier to get to one of those than to the magic information.

[willyousee]

It is certainly a possibility. My last visit here did not include much in the realm outside of magic, I fear, but I do believe there are non-magical scholars of the creatures and other cultures, and Dolorosa was clearly rather a small and under-developed kingdom. This place has much more in terms of resources and access to the outer world. It would not surprise me to find more information in their libraries.

[leftbehindagain]

So, worth a shot if I can just get to the library. The way things have been going, that's going to be the real trick.

[willyousee]

If you can achieve a way into the marketplace, and find robes suitable for a scholar or student, you may be able to attach yourself to one of their retinues as they make their way back into the scholar's district. That, I believe, is where you are most likely to find the libraries.

[leftbehindagain]

Something to work on over the coming weeks, I guess. If we're really lucky, I'll find out something useful before the dragon flattens the city or something.

[When in doubt, Naoki takes refuge in sarcasm. It better not get that bad.]

[canbebrave]

Killing it seems cruel-- but if we let it escape the city, who knows what torment it might unleash?

[willyousee]

That may depend on the dragon. If it searches for a remote location where it may eat wild animals and hoard treasures and be left in peace, it may not be of much trouble. But if it finds itself content in the city, we may have no choice.

[canbebrave]

I've never heard of a peaceful dragon.

[willyousee]

I have heard tales of one at least, in Dolorosa no less. ...Though that was some time ago.

[canbebrave]

You will have to forgive me for my slight disbelief, my lord, for the only tales I have heard are of their bloodthirst and terror. When we were young, we were told fearsome stories of dragons swooping down from the sky and stealing children-- though the last of them were dead before my birth.

1/2

[willyousee]

The drakes here do not usually steal children, but livestock. They are difficult to fight, but most are killed before they are old enough to speak human language. If this one is old enough to have mastered shape shifting magics, its tastes may have shifted and been refined. We cannot know what it wants until we speak with it.

[Private] 2/2

[willyousee]

My lady... please... Especially here, just Alcuin will be more than sufficient.

[Something about the cadence says he's shaken or hurting and almost pleading with her.]

[canbebrave]

[ and to one with skills of observation such as hers- it does not go unmissed. ]

Ah-- but ...

I apologize, I did not mean to wound you so. A force of habit.

[willyousee]

It is all right. Truly. You could not know that it would so affect me. ....Do you remember the last time we were here? When you saw me at the tournament?

[canbebrave]

Yes. I know a little, of what happened after, from Armin...

[willyousee]

Do you. [Even without inflection it sounds a little flat. Then there is a pause and the equivalent of a mental sigh.] Then you know what I was. What I was capable of. That creature viewed itself as a lord even among its own kind. And this place brings back too many memories. If you can find it in yourself to refrain from using that title around me, I would be very grateful.

[canbebrave]

The trumps are too cruel, to bring us back to this place, to remind you of such memories. I apologize again, Alcuin, for bringing any unintended hurt to you. I won't call you by it again, not here. And if you need any company, to distract you...

[willyousee]

It is already forgiven and forgotten, my lady. Thank you.

To be in my presence might endanger you if I am recognized, and yet... it is coming toward midday. If it would not be troublesome to you, I should very much like your company.

[canbebrave]

With your hair redened as it is, and your nature the way it is, you could easily pass as my elder brother. If anything, I may be able to help you blend in. It would be my pleasure to keep you company.

[willyousee]

Your-- Are you quite sure? I have been hiding my mental faculties and magical abilities to seem less suspicious. I will not be able to behave as myself if there are others about.

[canbebrave]

Of course. I believe it would help keep you safe, and you and your sister are already as dear to me as my blood siblings.

[willyousee]

Sansa... [It's almost a whisper, likely not meant to be broadcast even across this private line. There's a few minutes' silence while he gets himself together.] You honor me. Thank you. I do not know what Joscelin has told you of Phedre and I, but where might I find you?

[canbebrave]

He's told me very little- I know what I needed to know. My Lady gave me more... ah... shocking details, and you have taught me some on your Gods-- but aside from that...

It matters not. I remain in the Tyrian Quarter-- it's distasteful, but I've yet to find anywhere else to stay that would not arise suspicions.

[willyousee]

Hm.

[What he feels you need to know and what Joscelin feels you need to know are likely two entirely different things, as Alcuin has recently discovered. He'll have to test things out. Perhaps he can tell you a bit more, even, or find reason to ask Joscelin again what he has told to whom.]

I'll come see you, then, and perhaps we can find you better accommodations, though, alas, i think it unlikely there will be any befitting your station.

[fridgeninja]

If we know more about it, maybe I could equip a Persona that thinks like it does.

What Arcana would a dragon be? Hierophant? Temperance?

[leftbehindagain]

[There's a long pause, of the sort that might indicate the person on the other end is cracking up.]

I have a feeling that'll depend on the dragon, Souji-san.

[fridgeninja]

I haven't met that many.

[leftbehindagain]

And I have?

Do most of the dragon Personas even fall into one Arcana more than another? It's not exactly a question I ever had to ask Kanji.

[fridgeninja]

Kohryu was Hierophant, Seiryu was Temperance. That's all the dragons I collected. Unless serpents and nagas count in general.

[leftbehindagain]

Kohryu's... the giant gold one, right? Can't remember what Kanji had it under, but if it was Hierophant it must've been not long before Horus.

[fridgeninja]

That's him. I fused him using my bond with my uncle.

[leftbehindagain]

Of course Dojima-san would be a Hierophant type. [Naoki hasn't really gotten a good look at this Dojima-san's Persona card, but it would still make sense.]

I think Kanji's was Sofue-sensei.

[fridgeninja]

... She was my favorite teacher. I'm a little jealous I never got a Social Link with her.

[leftbehindagain]

She's the only competent one in the school. And the only one who actually gave Kanji a real chance.

[fridgeninja]

It's a shame we didn't have some of those teachers from American movies about tough schools.

[leftbehindagain]

I don't know how much that would have helped, overall. But it's a good thought.

[creativefool]

...Damn. That explains a lot. Wonderin' how many people even here know that that's somethin' that can happen?

[leftbehindagain]

That I don't know. But at least now we have the information to work with.

[creativefool]

Yeah. I'm tryin' to see if I can work my way into some'f the academic areas or the mages' quarter... Or maybe see if I can get in with some'f the other groups around here.
I dunno. Keepin' my eyes open.

[leftbehindagain]

If you figure out how to get in with the academic types, let me know? It's probably our best bet for a library.

[creativefool]

Sure. Gotta be somethin' interesting in there, anyway.

[leftbehindagain]

Thanks. I'll be working on it myself, but it can't hurt to have both of us trying to figure it out.