"I think everything is a trap. That's why I'm still alive."
Those with significant Folk Ken may realize that Iapetus is not nearly as discomfited by the robes as he is pretending - while they are ugly, the Magi who spent time with him know he doesn't usually show much a care about the robes at all - he really is just putting on a bit of a show for the new members.
"None of us have much knowledge on dragons, it seems. Does anyone know someone who does? Although I've perused our library, do we have any books that might offer clues or hints as to these dragons in particular, as they are local to the area?" Iapetus brushes his damp hair back from his face again, the Spaniard sighing a bit and finally reaching out to snag a honeycake.
Sinmore is thinking deeply about the topic of dragons, she had studied them a bit, mainly with regards to Viking folklore. Was there something in what they described at all familiar?
((Sinmore has Magic Lore 3, has she heard of anything like what was described? Plus awhile back there was talk of her getting a Drake familiar so she's likely to be interested once she figures anything out.))
"Well...if these are the fire breathing types, I should be safe to visit them. The teeth, the claws, the scales, the tails...that's a different issue of course."
[i]((Sinmore rolls a 1 followed by a 4, for a roll of 10; +2 Int +3 ML gives a total of 15. Sinmore knows the whole dragon lifespan: An adult dragon mates only once in her lifetime, and may lay up to three stone eggs. The incubation period is about a year, during which the eggs must be kept hot (even dragons which do not breathe fire have extreme body heat; fire-breathers tend to bathe their eggs in flame as often as possible, but other types must still be kept hot). Dragons' intellectual maturity is based entirely on time-- it takes about a hundred years to become an adult. However, their physical maturity is based entirely upon how much they eat and how large their territory is. Dragons have no metamorphosis stage. They will live naturally until killed, never dying of old age.
Furthermore, 15 Magic Lore is sufficient to have heard the tale of two dragons, one red and one white, bent on killing each other. Merlin trapped them underground and segregated them, to mitigate the destruction they wreaked in their constant fighting.))[/i]
Sinmore finally speaks up.
"My pater William du Soleil had researched quite a bit about dragons. He told me that he was going to win a bet by either taking a drake for a familiar or take a giant as an apprentice. He went with me in the end. I read a bit on magical lore due to my nature...and so I know, that dragons typically are not the type to do such a thing. This coccoon or shell or whatever it is, it's not normal. The dragons may have been attacked or imprisoned."
Sinmore continues. "As for these two dragons, have ye heard of the tale of Merlin trapping a pair of dragons underground, one white and one red? He supposedly did it to keep them from destroying the countryside above with their battles against each other. Now then, presumably Merlin, or whoever, knows that poweful magical creatures are tied to the land and for magic to flourish they must not be slain if it can be avoided. Maybe the shell is a precaution to protect them? Maybe Merlin trapped them underground and used magic to keep them from killing each other."
[color=red]"But hasn't Merlin been asleep for hundreds of years, waiting for Arthur's return?" Cygna asks, as she tries to remember the legends. Something about Merlin being asleep, and Arthur going away until England's greatest need or something? ((She has Magic Lore, various Area Lores (Blackburn and Duos Flumen), Order of Hermes Lore - all at 1. Plus, she's English. Don't know if any of those would be applicable.))
Cygna also rolls a one followed by a four (this d10 is weird) for a total of 15. And yes, all those Area Lores are applicable, as is the Magic Lore (but not OoH Lore).
There are various tales of Merlin-- some say that he slumbers for Arthur's return. Others say he was ensorcelled by Niamh, a fae of surpassing beauty, who stole his magic away from him. Still other stories say it was Morgana le Fay who trapped Merlin in Avalon, for love of him, though some conflicting tales claim that Merlin lives with his lady love in Avalon by his own choice.
Arthur and Mordred killed each other at the Battle of Camlann, and the reign of British kings ended with the death of Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon. There had been tales and hopes for ages, that one day Arthur would return to throw off the yoke of the Saxons, but instead the Saxons ruled until the Normans conquered them. Some English commonfolk who resent the rule of the Normans believe that Arthur will return, and cast down the Normans, restoring England to English rule. The Welsh, however, believe themselves to be the true people of Albion, seeing the English as Saxon-Norman bastardy; THEY believe that Arthur will one day return and lead the Welsh to independence. Whether or not there's anything to any of those tales, or if they are born simply out of xenophobia, remains to be seen.
"Ah hah! Very educational, Sodales. It is glad to find someone studying such things. My own studies are more into legends and items of power." He gives Sinmore a nod and a broad grin. "Knowing the coccoon surrounding them is external in nature, we may wish to have it examined by a specialist in Intellego..." He pauses and glances to Lily. "Have you tried such while you were there?"
"I do alright with Intellego. I might be able to assist. I don't recall when this particular vis source is normally harvested, can anyone refresh my memory?"
Lily's sapphire eyes blink. "Yes, while I was there, I also wished to have it examined by an Intellego specialist."
"There is a certain hill; Michael or Keith can guide you there. Once there, anyone with blond hair and blue eyes will hear the sound of a bell ringing. Note that an Imaginem effect will not suffice; it requires Muto Corpus. Should you follow the sound of the ringing bell, it will lead you within the hill and underground, where there is a long and narrow hallway running between two separate caverns, where a white dragon and a red dragon are trapped. The dragons each produce one piece of dung per season, and each of these are pawns of Perdo. There is nothing special to the collection, beyond getting into the hill, and keeping one's hands clean."
When Cygna's reaction to the robes is made evident Attravere winces slightly, but offers, "I was told it was intended as a sign of commitment to the covenant. At least it isn't as bad as the apprentice robes."
Sweating for a bit and remaining mute after his gaffe, though fully intent on still sharing a drink or two with Sophronia after the council, Attravere's smile slowly returns as the discussion escapes the undertow of unnecessary conflict and flows toward the healthy headwaters of unified action.
"It seems we have another task before us. How many of us will be going? I'm fairly curious as I've not seen dragons before." Attravere pauses, lowers his eyes a few degrees and murmurs, "My pater wasn't one to collect from this source."
[color=red]"Quite." Cygna agrees. [color=red]"As bad as the yellow robes are, at least they're not that ghastly green."
[color=red]"I would be willing to go, if it won't take more than a day or two. I do have some very pressing House business to take care of," Cygna says as she glares at Liliana.
Sinmore smiles at the prospect. "I could go, it all depends on what you'd like me to do. I have some services to do to make up for the book that got ruined."
She leans in to the nearest Maga and whispers. "Plus it'd really chap my Pater's bum if I were to find a drake and somehow bind it to me!"
"Excellent. Attravere, I trust you organize the expedition. Next up is--"
A knock sounds at the door, and in walks a tall, heavily muscled man with a bald head. "Salvete, magi. Someone send for me?" he asks in awkward Latin.
Cygna turns at the interruption and regards the newcomer with a surprised o_O expression, which likely mirrors the one on Hiems's face.
"Marcus, I presume? Yes, I believe I was the one who sent for you. I am Sophronia. I require more information before I consent to release archers into this Prince of Gwyedd's service. What can you tell us of him? How would this affect our force disposition if we consented to the release?" Sophronia says, ignoring the lack of introduction or presentation of Marcus by Lily.
Marcus shrugs. "I am not man of politic. I am not knowing who is Prince or King, here or there. Gwynedd, Powys; Wales, England. What does matter?
"If archers go, leaving only ten soldiers here. You do maths."
"Ah, he would be the soldier called." The Tytalus has been around the training yard often enough to recognize the man, and likely be recognized in return. He gives a nod of greeting to the captain and leans forwards to take another honeycake.
"Quite a loss of forces," he says. "Just for comparison, how upset would the Welsh archers be if we told them we were unable to release them for some reason?" He trusts Marcus as to the disposition of the troops under his command. "I do remember they have seemed a bit restless when I watched them training."
Marcus inclines his head with respectful acknowledgement.
His brow furrows in thought. "Some see Thomas, rightful they liege. ALL would angry, if must stay. Archers not slaves, but receive salary. Military campaign is lower pay, but looting cities? Much more pay than here. I not care about Wales prince, but I want going, if able."
"Are you suggesting some other activities to keep them from getting restless, perhaps?" Attravere muses aloud. "Some hunt that the isles are so famous for? A small local tournament? I'm not sure how much such a thing would cost or whether we could afford it, even with the recent aid to the covenant finances. Still, being a little pocket poor in the short run is worth ensuring the covenant's long-term strength."