When to Track Down a Dragon
First, let’s clear the air. Dragons like to relax on Basking Day. April First is a breath of elemental change and dragons will be out and about. Approach at your own risk.
You are gonna be fifty-fifty in the air on whether a dragon is the type that wants to talk or the type that can’t be bothered. If you are bothered about the idea of being eaten, searching for dragons is not for you. Dragons are hardly the only predators you will run into if you go looking. Not to mention the variety of dragons that permeate this world we live in.
So hey, Xela here. It’s time to talk about why you would track down a dragon.
If you are looking to track down a dragon you probably have one of five reasons.
- To gain its knowledge
- Intents toward its hoard
- To see a dragon
- To steal a dragon egg
- To Appease it and act as liaison for the locals
One, to gain their knowledge.
Scholars can be the most relentless but least prepared when it comes to searching for answers. I am aware that the dragonology handbook by that hack Drake says that getting a dragon’s perspective on things is interesting, but he does not go into nearly enough detail on how stupid it is to go on your own or without a known dragon guide.
The second reason is to find their hoard.
Treasure hunters die early for good reason. If you have intents on a dragons hoard know you will be putting your life into your own hands and into the swiftness of your legs. If you intend to go through with a hoard heist do your research. Not all dragons hoard gold. From knowledge and books, to accountants and teapots a dragon’s hoard is as individual as the dragon though there are certain proclivities depending on the type of dragon you are tracking down.
For gold and jewels, you will be tracking down geode cave dragons and volcano dragons. Be aware many of these dragons are millennia older that the first stories that mention them.
Why I once met a dragon whose entire hoard consisted of diamonds who still scoffed at the blow that led fluffy mammals to take over from the dinosaurs, apparently he couldn’t believe the dinosaurs hadn’t just slept for a couple thousand years while the earth recovered.
Though I would throw you a caution for hunting a photograph. If you want to admire a hoard, not to steal it, make that very clear from the outset or you will be jormangander bait.
The third reason is to see the dragon themselves.
Beautiful and proud though dragons are. Some of them are u-ugly. If you are a biologist this shouldn’t bother you as you find beauty in all the things that run and scitter but if you find an algae covered water gate dragon with their beady little eyes and their twiggy little wings, don’t be surprised if your gag reflex offends it.
The fourth reason is the aim to steal a dragon egg.
This is probably the most dangerous intent on this list and surprisingly common. Despite dragon riders being 10,000 years gone and not to come again for another five thousand if the age turns again, people still keep trying to brute force their way to a dragon alliance. That is not how magic works. But they keep trying.
If this is your intent be aware that getting between a momma bear and her cub is tame compared to even touching a dragon’s egg.
The fifth reason to track down a dragon is appeasing it.
Maybe the locals are sacrificing you so the dragon stops eating their cattle. Maybe you are a diplomat sent to negotiate territory disputes in the magical community, or maybe you just want a fairie dragon to stop stealing your strawberries.
However you go about it, remember these three things about negotiating with dragons. Dragons always tell the truth and they can smell a lie. Dragons care about equivalent exchange and can calculate the emotional weight something has to you. And finally, Dragons are incredibly intelligent, no matter how stupid the one you are talking to looks. Whether pretty or fugly a dragon can speak circles around you if it wants to. Proceed with caution.
So there you go. Don’t be a stupid adventurer. Stay safe my fellow sentients.
And please tell me if I missed the reason you want to search out dragons.
