Text; un: 苣屋

[dispassioned]

I’ve been speaking with the oldest of the dragons here and I’ve learned a few things.

The dragons aren’t native to this world. They didn’t evolve. They weren’t bred. They're a product of the orb. It seems Queen Zefira made a deal that wished them into being to ensure her rule and protect her bloodline. The details are hazy, but the deal ensured their creation and continued existence as well as their safety here.

In short, the dragons have the orb or they know where it is. But presumably taking it could be detrimental to them. Unsurprisingly, they aren’t eager to part with it.

That’s what we’re working with at the moment.

Comments

text; un: toxicodendron

[greenpower]

Well shit, so much for the magic and science thing.

[dispassioned]

Well, we weren't wrong about them being connected to the orb.

[greenpower]

Uncomfortably connected as it turns out.

So does this mean the orb is currently still in a bargain?

[dispassioned]

It sounds that way. Apparently Zefira's deal is still powering it.

text — un: BADGERLOCK

[buckkeep]

You spoke with them?

( bitch are u crazy )

[dispassioned]

[He might be, yes.]

I spoke with one of them.

[buckkeep]

Do you need a reminder that flames burn when you see a lit candle? Do not bother them. We should abandon this orb.

[dispassioned]

He came to me. Should I have told him to go away?

text ↪ un: うちは

[blackfire]

Mr. Badgerlock, if I may interject.

（ sometimes he has manners. a single manner. ）

I understand your concern, but we are not positioned to abandon any of the orbs. Its presence here would necessitate our return at a later time even if we were able to leave in advance of our claiming it.

text ↪ un: うちは 🔒

[blackfire]

（ potentially genociding an entire species for their mission, haha, that raises no issues at all for him, haha. ）

What is your feeling?

（ on their position, on their direction. chishiya is the one who has chanced to speak with them, after all. ）

Perma-locked

[dispassioned]

I think the sisters might be the key.

It sounds like Zefira tied the bargain to her bloodline. If they claim their birthright the deal may come to a natural end. And the dragon was interested to know that they were here.

[blackfire]

（ the deal will end, and with it, the way of life native to these creatures.

itachi exhales, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly. then: ）

I'm sorry. It must have been a difficult discussion to have.

（ and a weight to carry. ）

[dispassioned]

[Was it? Chishiya didn’t really think about it. It was nothing compared to telling a mother her child was going to die because they couldn’t get a transplant in time. Especially not when, by rights, that shouldn’t have been the case.]

I’ve had worse.

{text} un: joric

[drawsblood]

Typical orbs. She didn't word it in just the right way and the orb found a loophole. It ensured her rule and protected her bloodline, but it didn't ensure the rule of her bloodline, which led the queen to need an escape.

Have you asked about that? Queen Lloria, I mean. Just wondering if she updated the deal with the orb somehow.

[dispassioned]

He didn’t mention anything about Lloria. He was specifically Zefira's protector.

But he is interested in meeting Cian and Hivin. The dragons have been waiting for Zefira's descendants to return to them.

[drawsblood]

Maybe they can release the orb to us as part of that bloodline. But I wouldn't blame them if they didn't wish to. Having a dragon as a protector would be hard to relinquish.

[dispassioned]

They may keep the dragons as protectors, but the dragons would lose the protection of the orb. I think that’s the concern. That the dragons left unclaimed would be vulnerable to the rest of humanity.

[And he can’t really blame them for worrying about that with people like Greybeard and Spiertower out there.]

text | un: andy

[oiorpata]

I spoke with Cian about the orbs, though I didn't call them that. She knows I'm working with people who want to take it from this world.

If they have an active deal with the bloodline, I believe she'd work with us to break it, though the fact that it's tied to the dragons' existence is an annoying wrench.

[dispassioned]

Do you think she and her sister would be willing to talk with this dragon? He's interested in them and I said I'd see about setting up a meeting. They've been waiting a long time.

From what he said he's most concerned about their continued safety without the protection of the orb. Humans could be a threat to the dragons left unclaimed by the Kalain family.

[oiorpata]

I think Cian would. She wants to help, and she's trying to figure out this legacy of hers. Who better on that front than the dragons that helped build it? I don't know Hivin as well, but she'd probably go along with her sister.

The girls have both been away from any sort of protection for a long time. But I don't know that I'd trust the rest of this world with dragon safety. Maybe they can work out something new.

[dispassioned]

He was the first, so he could tell her a lot about it.

I agree, though. I can’t blame the dragons for being concerned with their own safety considering what we’ve seen of this world.

But setting up the meeting could be a start to figuring it out. Maybe.

[Text, un: alwayswright]

[servesyouwright]

[ Okay, he knew the orbs were powerful and all but ... ]

The orb actually created sentient life???

[ Well, he hates this. ]

[dispassioned]

It looks that way, doesn't it?

[servesyouwright]

That's actually kind of disturbing. What will happen to them if we take it?

[dispassioned]

I don't know. I don't think they do, either.