*title Land of the Dragon *author Hilsee Foo *scene_list startup chapter1 chapter2 *create Surname "???" *create Name "Long" *create Fullname "Long ???" *create Title "???" *create Prince "Prince" *create his "his" *create him "him" *create he "he" *create brother "brother" *create Eye "???" *create Hair "???" *create Persuasion 30 *create Intelligence 30 *create Combat 30 *create Magic 30 *create Religion 30 *create Ambitious 50 *create Humble 50 *create Trusting 50 *create Cautious 50 *create Cold 50 *create Empathic 50 *create Subtle 50 *create Direct 50 *create Long_Qing 30 *create Fang_Yun 30 *create Jin 30 *create Qin_Lan 30 *create Chen_Kun 30 *create Long_Qing_RO 0 *create Fang_Yun_RO 0 *create Jin_RO 0 *create Chen_Kun_RO 0 *create lqscent false *create fyscent false *create ckscent false *create qlscent false *create jscent false *create trialpass false *create crlq false *create crfy false *create crck false *create cral false *create epqknowledge false *create dragondream false *achievement primogenitorofzoos visible 5 《动物园始祖》Primogenitor of Zoos Pioneer the first Zoo in the Land You created the first Zoo in the Land. *sm_init land-of-the-dragon | 5 *image dashpic.jpg Welcome to the Land of the Dragon! Here you shall experience an adventure in an ancient land, navigate court politics, forge friendships, and maybe even pursue romance if you so choose! The Dragon Emperor sits upon the throne, as he inherited it from his father before him. But all is not well in the realm. In the provinces, an Uprising is gaining both strength and popularity. At court, the Elder Prince plots in secret to usurp his brother's throne. And within the Emperor's harem, the Empress and Imperial Consort vie for power. As the Emperor and Empress' only trueborn child, you are at the centre of this power struggle. When all hell breaks lose on your 21st nameday, what will you do to find your place in this world? All this, and more... In the Land of the Dragon. *page_break Prologue In the beginning, there was a single god. His name was Pan Gu, and his fate was tied to the universe's very own life-force; as he slumbered, the world slept, content to be mystical dust revolving aimlessly around its master. And as he awakened, so did the universe reshape itself in his will. His breath became the wind of the four seasons and the ever-shifting clouds; his voice the crack of thunder. His eyes shaped the pale moon and the burning sun; his limbs the swaths of land and the great floods of oceans. Thus the first god of the world as you knew made the greatest gift of his body - to this day, it is said that his immortal lifeblood runs in every inch of the lands and every meter of the seas, and that it is the origin of all mortal life. Then came the goddess Nü Wa, who formed your ancestors in her image in the soil from whence she herself came, becoming the Mother of the Earth, the Great Creator. Soon there arrived others, decreed down from above the clouds by the Jade Emperor, ruler of the Heavenly Court; majestic beasts and monstrous creatures alike. *page_break Chief among these great creatures is the dragon. Golden-scaled and possessing a mane of spiky locks, its colossal body powerful but liquid in its agility, the dragon became the symbol of and lent its name to your home: the Land of the Dragon. And one of them stands before you now. Landing with a muffled thud on its four clawed feet, the dragon snorts, exhaling a trail of steam. Its long maw parts for a moment, revealing wickedly sharp teeth. The heavy tail thumps down against the ground. Even with its haunches resting at your feet, the creature is taller than you. It is a majestic being indeed. Though its massive mass is wound up, almost as a snake's, the overwhelming power tensed in its body is unmistakable. It stares at you with unblinking pupils the size of both your fists put together. Something washes over you at the sight of the dragon. It is a familiar feeling. *choice #Reassurance. The dragon's gaze is heavy, but there is a benevolent twinkle in its eye. As if sensing your sentiment, the dragon yawns. For a creature with such deadly weapons for teeth, the sight is oddly comedic. Yes. Surely this majestic being cannot mean you any harm. Besides, dragons are supposed to be your family's protectors, aren't they? Even the character of your family name is your language's word for 'dragon'. Watching the dragon blink liquid from its huge eyes, you are struck with the sudden image of a tearful puppy. No, not fear - you feel only strangely comforted under the dragon's attention. *page_break *goto A #Dread. Its sheer strength and might inspires a strange fear of disappointing within you. A cold weight sinks like a stone in your stomach. This creature before you is something that you can never compare to. Even though your family name is taken from your language's word for 'dragon', the connotation has always weighed heavily on you. How could a mortal ever become anything remotely equal to something divine? And yet your family has prided itself on aspiring to - no, achieving - the feat of being the living personification of dragons on earth for uncountable generations now. *page_break *goto A #Calm. The being in front of you might seem real, but you know it cannot truly be. As you steadily return the dragon's stare, the world around you ripples. For a second, there is only darkness, and the curious sound of meowing. That's right. This is only a dream. Dragons do not really exist in your land - at least not anymore, as your tutor would have you believe. And what sense is there to be rattled by something that is only a product of your own mind in restless sleep? Your heart is as calm as the undisturbed surface of the Yangtze River. Serenely, you blink. The dragon's unrelenting gaze reappears before you. *page_break *goto A *label A Regardless, something deep within compels you to meet the dragon's persistent stare. With effort, you raise your head and do just that. The divine creature's eyes glint like the glittering stars you remember from long nights spent under the skies. Then abruptly, they glaze over into flat, silver panes. Suddenly, you are looking into a mirror - or, no, perhaps a portal into another world. You look deeply into them, and feel all your senses narrow down to the two gateways. A trance takes hold of you. When you next regain your senses it is to light blinding your sight. You blink the sting away to find yourself in a grand hall bathed in yellow light from its backdrop of gold-layered partitions. Four great pillars, each as thick as your waist thrice over and tall enough to hold the looming ceiling above adorned by a thousand woven prints of golden dragons, surrounded the sole furniture in the room - the Dragon's Chair, horizontally more long than wide, cushioned with the finest satin in the land. This is the throne room, where the most important decisions of governance are debated over and legislated by the highest power in the land, the Dragon Emperor. Over the years, you have been more than familiar with it. You blink again, and when you open your eyes the Emperor is reclining in his seat, arms open in a clear gesture of welcome. It is a plain display of affection that you have not received for years. Something unnameable swells within your heart. Before you know it, your feet are moving of their own will - without even the most remote show of propriety! your tutor screams in your head - and you are running towards the Chair in a way you have long been too old to attempt without flouting the strict traditions regarding the sacrosanct nature of all things within the palace walls. The Emperor's embrace is as warm as you remember. And silky - you giggle as your finger traces the embroidered dragon on the folds of his official robes. The sound of your voice is too high. Childlike. Your raise your head in confusion. The face of the Emperor above you is the same as the one you are used to greeting every morning, but - younger. The lines on his face are not yet so pronounced, nor are his hair and brows flecked with grey. The young Emperor reaches up to steady his headpiece, knocked awry by your enthusiasm. The strands of multi-colored jewels trailing before and behind the hat clink with a tintinnabulation that harmonizes musically with his deep laughter. A large hand ruffles your hair fondly. The Emperor gazes lovingly down at you. *choice #My dearest [i]huangzi[/i] (Prince). *set Title "Prince" *set Prince "Prince" *set his "his" *set he "he" *set him "him" *set brother "brother" *goto name #My dearest [i]gongzhu[/i] (Princess). *set Title "Princess" *set Prince "Princess" *set his "her" *set he "she" *set him "her" *set brother "sister" *goto name #My dearest treasure. *set Title "Princet" *set Prince "Princet" *set his "their" *set he "they" *set him "them" *set brother "sibling" *goto name *label name "Papa!" It is only what any child in the land might call ${his} father - but for the scion of royal family, it does not befit the honorable status of the ruler of the lands. And yet the Emperor's eyes soften as he hears you innocently use the informal greeting. A warm, grounding hand touches your cheek. In return, he calls you by your given name. *choice *if (Title="Prince") #Long An 龙安, your birth was a symbol of the Emperor's Heaven's Mandate bringing peace & stability to the realm. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "An" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"An" *goto color #Long Huan 龙欢, your birth was hoped to be a promise of eternal joy & happiness to the realm by the gods. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Huan" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Huan" *goto color #Long Jue 龙珏, king of jades and jewels & prized above all material and immaterial things in the world. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Jue" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Jue" *goto color #Long Li 龙礼, manners maketh man much less a proud prince of the realm fit to rule with grace and reason. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Li" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Li" *goto color #Long ---, you were born as the pride and joy of the realm and the royal family. What is your name, royal child? *input_text Surname *set Name "Long" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"${Surname}" *goto color *if (Title="Princess") #Long Mudan 龙牡丹, queen of flowers & your mother's namesake as you were born to be a queen like her. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Mudan" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Mudan" *goto color #Long Ling 龙铃, bells of celebration that rang in honor of your birth & the tintinnabulary of your silver voice and tongue. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Ling" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Ling" *goto color #Long Jiao 龙娇, the cherished jewel of every palm & adored by all the realm at your birth. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Jiao" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Jiao" *goto color #Long Hui 龙慧, knowledge & wisdom was what the realm wished for you at your birth. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Hui" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Hui" *goto color #Long ---, you were born as the pride and joy of the realm and the royal family. What is your name, royal child? *input_text Surname *set Name "Long" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"${Surname}" *goto color *if (Title="Princet") #Long Ling 龙铃, bells of celebration that rang in honor of your birth & the tintinnabulary of your silver voice and tongue. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Ling" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Ling" *goto color #Long An 龙安, your birth was a symbol of the Emperor's Heaven's Mandate bringing peace & stability to the realm. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "An" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"An" *goto color #Long Hui 龙慧, knowledge & wisdom was what the realm wished for you at your birth. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Hui" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Hui" *goto color #Long Huan 龙欢, your birth was hoped to be a promise of eternal joy & happiness to the realm by the gods. *set Name "Long" *set Surname "Huan" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"Huan" *goto color #Long ---, you were born as the pride and joy of the realm and the royal family. What is your name, royal child? *input_text Surname *set Name "Long" *set Fullname ("Long"&" ")&"${Surname}" *goto color *label color To your right, a familiar voice hums admonishingly. You turn to see your birth mother, the Empress, exchanging a knowing glance with her personal guard, stationed by the foot of a pillar. She is attired in pure red, an honor reserved for the Empress of the realm. The cut of her gown reaches to just above the chest, as is the custom of your times. A shawl three shades lighter drapes over her shoulders before disappearing under the gown. In her hair nests a peony matching the color of her dress, both her namesake and a subtle show of her power. As if noticing your gaze, she turns. *choice #Possessing the olive undertone and pale skin of your people, the Empress was promised from birth to the future Emperor of the Land of the Dragon - and that happened to be your father. *goto tiger #The Empress is a Shah's daughter from a distant sandy realm, married to the Emperor to sweeten an alliance. Her bronzy skin always lends a warm glow to her perfected smiles. *goto tiger #The brilliance of her eyes gleam like diamonds out of the unblemished palette of the Empress' dark skin. A Kandake's daughter, she was wed to the Emperor to consummate the alliance between the lands. *goto tiger #With creamy skin as flawless as marble, the Empress is the daughter of an Imperator from a distant land. She was betrothed to the Emperor to maintain an alliance between the two lands. *goto tiger #The daughter of a Priest-King, the Empress has a fawny complexion. She travelled to the Land of the Dragon to join hands in holy matrimony with the Emperor, solidifying the bond between the long-established allies. *goto tiger *label tiger With her circumstances and the cloistered nature of the palace from the rest of the realm, your mother never had much chance to build up her reputation amongst the noblemen and courtiers in her youth. But she is warm, well-spoken, virtuous, graceful; in her decades as Empress, she has become all the people of the land want and love. To you, she is ever loving, but never indulgent. You know that she has high hopes for you as the only true-born child of the Emperor by the Empress. As for her relationship with your father, the Emperor... It is his heaven-mandated right to take as many concubines as he wishes - be it for political or personal favor - and he has certainly exerted his right. Even though the royal harem was nowhere near the famed number of three thousand, you suspect that your mother never really forgave him for forcing her to share when her station would have guaranteed her monogamy with any other husband. There may have been a time - around your birth - when they were as attached by the hip as any newlywed couple in the land. But these days, it isn't an exaggeration to say that the Empress spends more time with her personal guard than her husband. Your eyes travel to the gauntlet that covers the guard's right hand. It is a symbol of unyielding loyalty and dedicated protection, one that every personal guard to any master worth their salt wears, always. And as thoughts move in that direction, the scene before you shifts once more. *page_break This time, you are running freely in an open field. The rough, tall sheaves of grass that reach up to your waist reluctantly part to form a quickly hidden path as they regain their original shape after you pass through. Such untrimmed vegetation would no doubt give your palace gardener a fit, but this is no Imperial Garden. There may be no expensive lavender lotus flowers from Imperial Consort Nefertari's homeland, nor elegant red peonies which the Empress loved and meticulously cultivated, here, but this unkempt field out on the fringes of palace grounds offers something you are learning to prize above the extravagant frivolities of palace life: Freedom. For once, you are alone, free from the numerous palace maidens, nursemaids and eunuchs whom make up your royal entourage. You fully intend to go adventuring to your heart's desire before they inevitably catch up with you from where you gave them the slip at your tutor's residence in the palace. The afternoon sun shines behind you, casting its golden beams and bathing you in its warm favor. Ten yards, twenty, forty... You are slightly out of breath now, your small child's body heaving with the effort of running the distance. But still, you are reluctant to stop. There is so much more to explore - the field stretches out before you for as far as you can see. Then - suddenly - out of the corner of your eye, you see a blur of orange bounding towards you. *page_break Call it instinct, call it premonition - a bolt of panicked fear strikes you. There is something going horribly, terribly wrong - You must not let that thing - whatever it is - near you - Adrenaline gives you a renewed surge of energy. You sprint across the field running on pure intuition alone, and realize only too late that you're headed further into the unknown instead of turning back towards the palace grounds. You risk tossing a glance behind you. What you see quickens your trembling legs and doubles your heartbeat. It's - a tiger. Striped, orange and its bunched legs - blurred with motion - bursting with raw, animal power, it barrels towards you with each pouncing stride. Impossible. Tigers don't live out on open fields - only up in the mountains - and definitely not so near palace grounds - Your thoughts come in jolts that match the jack-hammering of your pulse and the jerky strides of your feet. Your heartbeat pounds pounds pounds in your head with dizzying force, near enough to debilitate you. And that's when the idea comes to you. *choice #You have always possessed an exceptional aptitude for persuasion. It sounds crazy, but anything is worth a try at this point... Here goes nothing. Forcing yourself to slow down and turn around takes a gargantuan effort of willpower, but you somehow manage it. [i]This is crazy this is crazy how did I think this would work -[/i] In that second, you full well expect to feel the excruciating pain of the tiger's powerful claws sinking into you. But to your immense relief - and not a small amount of astonishment - the animal loses speed until it eventually slows to a prowl a few yards before you. There. Fantastical as it is, this is your chance. Confidence, that's what makes persuasion work. You banish your doubts to the back of your mind as best you can. An impossible calm falls over you like a veil. Like one caught in a soothing spell, your heartbeat decelerates. And though the fear never leaves you - how can it, with such a force of nature right in front of you, ready to pounce? - yet your steady hands and unwavering smile do not betray your inner turmoil. [i]Fake it till you make it, you can do this -!![/i] Turning your gaze upon the animal before you, you hold out your hands, palms out, in the universal sign of peace. At least, you hope its universality extends to the animal kingdom. Have there not been tales by your tutor of animal whisperers, folk with souls so attuned to nature that they could communicate with creatures with the barest of gestures? With bated breath, you hope for the best. *set Persuasion %+30 *page_break *goto reaction #Thank the gods that you've always been attentive during your tutor's lessons. But following his advice has never seemed so perilous... [i]Listen, young one. Though all in their kingdom know not our speech nor our ways, yet the creatures of the wild too be our relations in kind. They respond to our movements, and indeed possess keen senses for our wordless communication. Your tutor's words ring in your head. [/i] Marshaling your wits about, you force yourself to gradually slow down while keeping your eyes focused on the tiger - not a difficult feat when the fatal orange blur of fur and the overwhelming odds of death is understandably all you can think of at the moment. For a terrifying first few seconds, the animal set on you closes the distance you painstakingly maintained thanks to your head start. Your legs tremble and threaten to bolt or give out altogether. [i]This is crazy this is crazy how did I think this would work - [/i]You full well expect to feel the excruciating pain of the tiger's powerful claws sinking into you. But to your immense relief - and not a small amount of astonishment - the animal loses speed until it eventually slows to a prowl a few yards before you. Turning your gaze upon the animal before you, you hold out your hands, palms out, in the universal sign of peace. At least, you hope its universality extends to the animal kingdom. *set Intelligence %+30 *page_break *goto reaction #Both your body and mind are done with running away. If you're going to be caught anyways, you won't go down without a fight. [i]Between fight and flight - only fight, dear child, when you can no longer fly. [/i] Ever the pacifist, those are the words your tutor imparted once. But it is equal parts the red-hot rage boiling up within you as the growing gnawing of spreading desperation that drives you to take a stand. As most other children in the land, you grew up on tales of the army's brave deeds of valor. The fearless warriors of the Dragon Land win hard-earned victories abroad whenever their presence is deemed necessary - for though the Emperor prizes peace he does not shy from assertions of raw power either. Like many others, you idolize their heroic adventures and long to serve your land in the ranks of the army one day. [i]Now is my time to stand and fight - to prove that the blood of the Dragon flows within my veins -[/i] Thinking thus, you dig your heels into the soil and propel yourself around. A loud, high shout escapes your mouth, tearing at your vocal cords. A challenge, from opponent to opponent. Adrenaline thumps through your blood, throwing caution to the winds for a blessed moment. And still your pursuer closes in, its mighty orange frame borne along by the powerful muscles in its limbs. You full well expect to feel the excruciating pain of the tiger's powerful claws sinking into you. But to your immense relief - and not a small amount of astonishment - the animal loses speed until it eventually slows to a prowl a few yards before you. *set Combat %+30 *page_break *goto reaction #A tingling spark runs up your arm. Could that be - magic? They all say you're too young to manifest, but it's not uncommon in a time of need - The unfamiliar yet strangely soothing tingle zips up and down the ridge of your arm, uncontrolled. Your heart jumps in joy. The gift does not manifest in every human, although it runs near unbroken in your family tree. Sudden confidence floods you like a gulp of hot tea, warming you to the core. Have you not heard tales of other children, prodigal mages, creating the impossible with their newly harnessed powers? Surely now you have a better chance of fending off your attacker. Slowing down to shift your concentration to your tingling senses, you are delighted to feel the latent energy obediently curling into a ball that centers down in your open palm. Remembering the few lessons your tutor gave you regarding magic, you extend your palm out before you facing the tiger, shouting a triumphant incantation meant to direct your will. The spark of magic concentrated in your palm seems to grow in size - then abruptly fizzles and refuses to heed your commands. [i]Oh gods, no...[/i] [i]This is crazy this is crazy how did I think this would work - [/i]You full well expect to feel the excruciating pain of the tiger's powerful claws sinking into you. But to your immense relief - and not a small amount of astonishment - the animal loses speed until it eventually slows to a prowl a few yards before you. Its eyes follow your desperate - and futile - attempts to reignite your magic with something like interest. *set Magic %+30 *page_break *goto reaction #[i]Oh ye holy gods above.[/i] It should sound insane, but did not the royal astrologer cite accounts of your gods delivering followers from great dangers? [i]It is not - scientific. But it may be that sometimes, the gods deem their worshippers worthy of divine intervention. Our gods are kind, though you must remember never to slacken in your offerings to them. [/i]You recall your tutor's skeptical advice, no doubt nevertheless choosing to promote religious fealty over the possibility of driving another royal sibling towards atheism, for which he had drawn much criticism. Closing your eyes, you press your palms together, pointed towards heaven above. [i]O gods, please deliver your devout follower from demon-driven danger.[/i] For surely the tiger before you cannot have been set on you by chance. This overgrown field right on the outskirts of palace ground is far from the orange-fur, black-striped creature's natural habitat - that at least is scientific knowledge your tutor can be proud of you for remembering from him. With your eyes closed, all you can hear is the ragged breaths tearing out of you, the violent swishing of grass bending around you and your pursuer, and above all, the thundering of your heartbeat. The diversion of fervent prayer, together with the mounting ache in your legs, has worn down your speed. [i]This is crazy this is crazy how did I think this would work -[/i] You full well expect to feel the excruciating pain of the tiger's powerful claws sinking into you, anytime now. But to your immense relief - and not a small amount of astonishment - when you open your eyes, the animal is prowling a few yards before you. *set Religion %+30 *page_break *goto reaction *label reaction The tiger's limbs bunch up, taut with restrained power. But the fur all along its back, once bristled, smoothed over, relaxes. It remains in place, not moving an inch. A drop of sweat dripping off your hair down the side of your face shocks you out of your strange trance. Now that the danger seems over, the realization of all the terrible ways this could've gone wrong play in your mind in a series of vivid, feverish images. You exhale; a shaky, relived sound. You look closely at the tiger, trying to maintain your newly established camaraderie long enough to make a safe escape - And that's when you catch the angry red glare, sharp like the cut edges of a ruby, in the striped creature's eyes. A cold shock of fear strikes you down from your open mouth to your stomach. Time, that usually efficient keeper of our lives, seems to fail in that moment. It bends and warps instead of moving steadfastly onward. You are treated to the horror of watching your attacker lift off into a lunge with a push from its powerful hind-limbs, heading straight for you. You mouth opens, comically slow. You can feel the very air around you protest and resist as it widens into an 'O'. The tiger is in the air now. Its maw stretches wide, revealing canines as long and sharp as daggers. That's when an arrow soars through the air and embeds itself in the tiger's chest. *page_break And then time unravels, before snapping back to its normal flow. You lose your balance, having exerted too much force in trying to accelerate your slow movement, and tip backwards into the steadying embrace of ready arms. It is only then that you realize the strange time lapse you experienced was not an illusion produced by your panicked mind, but deliberate magical interference. Your eyes cannot move from where they watch the tiger whom had tried to attack you fall under a rain of arrows. The sound of its roars, both enraged and afraid, reverb through your throbbing brain. What do you feel about this creature, now that it has been subdued? *choice #Satisfaction. It dared assault you, and now it is only getting what it deserves. Of course. As the Emperor's blood flows through your veins - and as a potential successor to his will - you are the flesh and blood vessel in which heavenly will is invested. For anyone attempting to assassinate you, getting caught is an immediate death penalty. No - even an unsought touch to your body is grounds for capital punishment. Now that the fear of being in peril has abated, a surge of satisfaction floods your mind. This is no less than what this animal deserves for daring to attack you, and giving you such a fright. A look of contempt enters your eyes as you stare on at the tiger, now laying on the grass field with growls of pain and ineffectual rage. Then the tiger's roaming, glassy gaze meets yours. Whatever the red madness was, it is gone now. [i]You're just as much meat to me as any 'commoner',[/i] the look seems to say. [i]No more, no less. [/i]Immediately ear-splitting, building-leveling roar resounds in the glade. You nearly jump out of your skin. A small whimper escapes your mouth. Okay, so maybe taunting fate isn't a good idea. You cast your gaze down to the grass. The tiger's roar fades into agonized groans after a while. This time you keep your silence. *set Empathic %-20 *page_break *goto ckintro #Pity. Although it tried to attack you, can it be blamed for its natural instinct? You observe the swiftly spreading wounds punctured by the multiple arrows now sticking out of the tiger's orange fur at cruel angles. Though its roars remain no less terrifying, you now remark the helpless pain in its eyes. Whatever the red madness was, it is gone now. Blood, dark with grievous injuries, stains the proud black stripes across the creature's fur. Pity wells up within you despite yourself. Although it is true that during its chase, you were terrified and would have rained a dozen blows down upon the tiger were you only able - now that it has been subdued, and the danger over, you mourn the harm done to such a magnificent creature. [i]To live in this mortal world is to experience life and death endlessly [/i]- that's what your tutor says. You too consume the meat of the palace chickens and exotic beasts from beyond the land which you have never seen in life. Is it then judicious of you to despise the tiger for following its own natural instinct to hunt for food? Perhaps not. Your compassionate eyes meet the tiger's own, pained and glassy. It lets out a piteous groan that is not difficult to interpret in tone. Unable to help, you cast your gaze down to the grass and keep your silence. *set Empathic %+20 *page_break *goto ckintro #Indifference. Now that it is over, what does this creature matter to you? After the potent mixture of shock and fear that overwhelmed you for the past minutes, the cool indifference that replaces it almost comes as a relief. Looking upon the pained creature before you tortured by the many arrows now sticking out of its orange pelt at all angles, you feel a clear disconnect its suffering. It is in pain. You do understand that. Briefly, compare it to the terror you felt only moments before, then swiftly cut off the vivid emotions threatening to surface. What does it matter now? Sooner or later, its suffering will end, one way or another. Thinking thus, you school your features into a mask of placid indifference. You are safe now. It cannot touch you. Once you are back in the palace you will ask your mother for permission to scour the grounds for any other wild beasts. You will be safe. You will be. By chance, your roaming eyes meet the tiger's own, glassy with pain. The orange-furred creature emits an agonized groan. Whatever the red madness was, it is gone now. Very calmly, you cast your gaze down and away to the unruly grass, silent. You do not feel anything. You do not permit yourself to. *set Empathic %-10 *page_break *goto ckintro #Fear. The cold realization of what might have happened cycles through your mind. [i]Torn to shreds by the blunt, powerful claws, eaten by that cavernous mouth with its icicle-sharp teeth... [/i] Images of all the terrible, excruciating possibilities of being caught by the animal plague your mind like a stubborn mirror spell stuck on repeat. No, no, no... It's all over, you try to reassure yourself. But your efforts are in vain. An insuppressible shiver rocks through your body. How can you forget the terror of being alone in that field, far away from all help that you gleefully eluded mere hours before? Of knowing that father and mother would find you - or your barely recognizable remains - buried in tall, unruly grass, and the devastating sorrow that would follow? And knowing that all of this began with the mistake you made, of being a disobedient child? Your eyes trail across the tiger's hurt frame, unconsciously empathizing with its pained groans and glassy eyes. Whatever the red madness was, it is gone now. Oh, and how can that be? To find solace in mutual fear with the cause of all your terrors! Shuddering, you cast your gaze down to the grass and keep your silence. You are safe now. You must begin to believe it. *set Empathic %+10 *page_break *goto ckintro *label ckintro The buzz of shouting and heavy footsteps approaching from behind you startles you out of your daze. Instinctively moving to stand up, you draw a cry from behind you. It is only then that you realize that the person who intercepted your fall has not left - so complete was your rapture. You turn to see that your savior is a boy with darker skin than is native to your land. Hair the color of honey in a jar is cropped close to his head, a sign that he has recently passed the Adult Ceremony on his fourteenth year. His eyes are a disarming shade of hazel, akin to sunlight filtering through thin paper fan filters at sunset. As he stands you note that he is tall for his age - taller, in fact, than most adults you know. Under your gaze, the boy stutters, cheeks warming. "My... My liege..." Although he looks to be your elder by some years, his hands tremble as they abruptly leave their hold around you - almost as if he is afraid of touching you. And yet his expressive eyes are glowing with reverence, tinged with disbelief. A cry cracking across the air breaks the strangely intimate moment between you. "Get your hands off the ${Prince}!" *page_break You recognize that voice. It belongs to one of your retainers - the redoubtable eunuch Mingzi, whose name means [i]bright one[/i]. That is, redoubtable in the way he never fails to see through all your little schemes to escape him. You have no doubt that he will not be pleased that you managed to elude him this time - and landed yourself in such trouble, too. Looking over your companion's shoulder, you see the plump, energized figure of Mingzi leading what looks to be a small army of the Imperial Guard in a war charge. The boy's eyes widen. A note of panic enters those fawn orbs, but he stays where he is. He appears to be looking to you for instruction. "Uh..." "There he is! Your deserting apprentice! Captain, I hope you are ready to account for this treacherous, conniving behavior - if our liege has come to any harm by his hand -" "With all due respect, Honorable Eunuch Mingzi, my apprentice is only fourteen. He is only recently come under my charge, and besides somewhat naive. And as your own eyes have seen, he somehow stopped time long enough for my arrows to take effect." The entourage is near enough now for you to observe Mingzi's fit of impassioned speech. The Captain of the Imperial Guard, a burly but well-groomed man in his forties, marches in stride beside him, appearing harassed. A great wooden composite bow looms over his broad shoulders. You have long heard tales of the enchantment technique - aptly named Thousand Mile Arrow after the God of Thousand Miles' Sight - that allows wielders skilled in both archery and magic to shoot arrows that find their mark with supernatural speed at impossible ranges. Was that why the arrows that now stick out of the tiger's pelt were unaffected by the time lapse spell? *page_break Shadows fall over you in the dying light of dusk as the Imperial Guard surrounds you and the boy. "${Prince} ${Surname}!" Familiar hands grab at your robes, pulling you away from the hazel-eyed boy. Mingzi's surprisingly calloused fingers pat you down worriedly, unappeased by the scrapes of grass littered all over your child's robes. "Captain, your apprentice -!" But the Captain has already begun his interrogation without the eunuch's instruction. "Chen Kun. Do you know what you have done?" His tone is grave, a solemn frown creasing his weathered face. Although he and the boy - Chen Kun - are of a height, he towers over his charge with a firm, undisputed aura of authority. As you watch, Chen Kun lowers his head. It is a clear sign of penitence, but Mingzi is unimpressed. "Captain, you must -" You remember your overwhelming relief at being rescued from the tiger attack and the warmth of Chen Kun's eyes. Now is the time to intervene, if any. *choice #Appeal to Mingzi. You know him well enough to be confident that you can persuade him to see things your way. You turn to your childhood caretaker. Mingzi might be overprotective - which is his job - but he is also loving, even behind your parents' backs, even when he's scolding you for running off alone again. Which, you know, he isn't contractually bound to do. That's part of the reason why he has always been among your closest and most reliable retainers (the other half might have something to do with his palace sweetheart's delicious rose puffs). "Mingzi..." You curl yourself into the eunuch's blue robes. Immediately, your guardian brings his arms around you comfortingly, even as he reprimands with his usual [i]I-told-you-so voice[/i]: "${Prince} ${Surname}, have I not said countless times -" "I'm safe now," you gently redirect the flow of your conversation before he can launch into his tirade. "But when I was alone with that tiger... I was - so - scared, Mingzi. Running, running, running but it wasn't ever fast enough. I could feel its eyes on me -" At this you shudder. You don't have to feign the fear in your voice. A pause. Mingzi holds you close to him. You think you detect an emotional tremble. Half of the Guard is openly staring at you with a mixture of concern and curiosity. While the Captain remains focused on his task, Chen Kun is sneaking worried glances your way with those expressive eyes. "But I'm safe now, Mingzi. Because of his time spell." You take one of the eunuch's hands in your own and guide them towards the boy. It is definitely shaking - with compassion, not anger, you can only hope. The final nail on the not-so-metaphorical coffin you have narrowly escaped has been driven in. As you were banking on, your caretaker caves. Leaving you with a pat on the shoulder, the eunuch steps up beside your rescuer. "This boy may be impulsive, ignorant and an incredible upstart - daring to touch our liege with his bare hands! But his -luck - in somehow playing a part in preventing our liege from falling under great harm is his saving grace." Mingzi levels an even glance at the Captain, who is staring at him measuredly, as if silently wondering what caused his change in attitude. "You will, I hope, allow me to pardon your charge for his offense to my own? Captain?" *set Persuasion %+20 *page_break *goto empressarrival #Look towards the Captain. You are skilled enough in archery to distract him with expressive admiration and gratitude. Although you are yet too young to draw the string back from a bow with any real ability to strike a target, the art of archery has long fascinated you. Countless hours spent at the archery hall on palace grounds have yielded insight regarding the skill that your even tutor's books cannot deliver. Despite its roots as a form of violence meant to shoot airborne meat down onto humans' dining plates, archery too possesses qualities that elevate it to an art form. There is a beauty in the posture every capable archer adopts when they nock the arrow to their shoulder, a grace in the arc of the arrow flying through the air, that captures your rapt attention. Indeed, the palace honors the art of archery by ordaining a target-hitting competition annually during New Year celebrations. You think that as a master of archery the Captain will agree with you. Stepping away from Mingzi with a reassuring squeeze of the eunuch's hand, you walk towards your target. The Captain gives you a cursory bow and greeting, but it is clear that his attention - and concern - remain mostly with his charge. "How may I be of service, my liege?" You turn to gesture at the fallen tiger. "Captain - sir - those arrows! I saw them penetrate true to their target even through the time lapse. That's incredible! Can all enchanted Thousand Mile Arrows do that? I'd never seen one in action before. Will you teach me how to do that? I've always loved archery..." You allow yourself to be carried away by your passion, all the while carefully observing your companions' reactions. The Captain's expression is shifting from polite interest to genuine gratification. His subordinates are split between eyeing you curiosity and being amused by their superior being caught in your trap. Only a few remain vigilant over their object of investigation. Even Mingzi is watching you with a suspiciously paternal smile of pride. Now's the chance! You try to sneak an encouraging wink at Chen Kun. But the boy's expression when he catches your gaze is conflicted. After a few seconds of awkward eye contact, he avoids your increasingly explicit suggestions. Some of the more responsible Guards have noticed your signals. Anxiety mixed with exasperation swells within you. *set Combat %+20 *page_break *goto empressarrival #Forget relying on an adult. You are proficient enough in magical techniques and spells to defend Chen Kun yourself. Magic. There is nothing else like it in the world, to you. Your tutor, scholar that he is, scorns the idea that magic is any worthier a study than science. But science, though wondrous in its own way, cannot capture your fascination like magic never fails to. What else in the world can conjure crystal-shaped snowflakes on a slow, burning, boring summer day? Or compel objects towards you with a mere concentrated thought? Sometimes, doubtful thoughts enter your mind. The gift does not take root in everyone, although it is near unbroken in your family tree. As long as you do not manifest, you suspect the doubts will always remain. But if there is one thing your interest in magic has benefitted you in, it is your extensive knowledge of its ways. Although you are as yet too young to manifest the gift, you have long poured over the royal library's extensive books regarding magical spells and techniques. Now, everything you have ever read about time lapse spells comes flowing back through you. "Mingzi, Captain - hear me. Back there, the tiger was mere yards away from me. It was attacking me, and not in feint. I should be - dead." You gesture towards Chen Kun, who has raised his head at your words. "If not for him. Captain, you know your arrows the best. Even enchanted with the Thousand Miles technique as they are, could they have reached me in time without a time lapse spell slowing the passage of time in my surroundings? Mingzi, he didn't harm me, he [i]saved[/i] me." "And a time lapse spell is no small feat for one so young - only fourteen, did you say, Captain? Surely you do not wish to dismiss or alienate such a young talent for a righteous deed done." Laying out your argument to both parties, you prepare to defend Chen Kun yourself. The Captain's expression is shifting from polite interest to genuine consideration. His subordinates are split between eyeing you curiosity and being amused by their superior being caught in your trap. Even Mingzi is watching you with a suspiciously paternal smile of pride, indignance on your behalf momentarily forgotten. "Men of reason as you are, you must let your good judgement guide your interpretation of this boy's actions." *set Magic %+20 *page_break *goto empressarrival #You clearly remember several similar anecdotes from historical studies. With deft application you can turn the situation around. This is definitely not the first instance of royal pride implicating a man whose conduct would otherwise be faultless, or even praised, in the long recorded histories of the Land of the Dragon. Too long, you have bemoaned during your tutor's seemingly endless lectures on the numerous historical events deemed to be necessary knowledge for nobles by ancestors long since joined the ranks of history books themselves. Some anecdotes are interesting enough; Zhu Geliang's ingenious military exploits never fail to fascinate you. Others are more dull - you cannot imagine why your predecessors thought of all twenty books of the Analects as invaluable knowledge. Still, you can say that overall, the study of history has attracted your interest more than your fellow nobles. In your few years of study under your royal tutor, you have already read a quarter of the books in the palace library. But there is at least one good thing come out of all your time-exhausting interest - you can borrow references from historical texts with the barest inspiration. Now, you rummage through your brain for suitable analogies to defend Chen Kun. "Mingzi, I am no Zhao Gao, that should demand courtiers to accede to things that their good judgement rebels against just because of my status. Nor am I Song Gao Zong, to eliminate generals for the simple crime of being too prominent an officer." You gesture at Chen Kun, who has raised his head to watch you speak. "This boy has done no wrong. In fact, he has saved his Emperor's child. How can that go punished instead of rewarded?" Glancing around you, you observe the reactions to your speech. The Captain's expression is shifting from polite interest to genuine consideration. His subordinates are split between eyeing you curiosity and being amused by their superior being caught in your trap. Even Mingzi is watching you with a suspiciously parental smile of pride, indigence on your behalf momentarily forgotten. Time for the finishing stroke, then. "Men of reason as you are, you must let your good judgement guide your interpretation of this boy's actions." *set Intelligence %+20 *page_break *goto empressarrival #The rules that govern palace life often bend when measured against religion. Surely the gods are in favor of you aiding Chen Kun... Palace rules are strict to the point of inhumanity, but at least they are equal in their enforcement. From the youngest serving maid to the Emperor himself, each is bound by a different set of code. But all must obey those meted to them or risk punishment that rarely deviates from the archaic penalties written by courtiers long since turned to dust. You yourself have been on the receiving end of many of these after your frequent escape attempts from your retainers. Mingzi has certainly never spared you the rod just because of your status... But after years of observing punishments for the sake of finding loopholes to evade them, you have discovered one particularly effective method: pleading the call of religion. Caught sneaking out of your lady Consort's chambers in hopes of attracting the Emperor's attention by waylaying him on his usual route? Insist that it was the Lady of Childbirth whom instructed you to visit the meeting place through a dream. Want to eliminate a rival concubine after planting false evidence in her yard? Instigate an investigation by claiming the Buddha revealed her crimes in a vision when you last visited the temple. The creativity of the nobles inhabiting the palace is endless; you have picked up a few excuses of your own just by sitting at the sidelines of the trials deemed suitable for your youthful eyes - and a few others beside. Now to apply them to this situation with Chen Kun... "Wait! Can this not be fate? I was out here all alone unbeknownst to even my closest retainer" - at this you shoot a sheepish glance at Mingzi, who frowns reproving - "and the rest. For him to arrive here right at the moment where the tiger attacked me - what are the chances, if this not be the gods' will?" The Captain's expression is shifting from polite interest to bemusement. Evidently, the Imperial Guard is unused to hearing glib religious excuses. Well, from the way some of his subordinates are looking at him now, that is soon going to change. Mingzi, on the other hand, shakes his head. As an experienced retainer he is only too knowledgeable about such schemes. You sneak a glance at Chen Kun. The boy's eyes are shocked, but not clueless. You try your best to convey your encouragement of him to corroborate with your statement. *set Religion %+20 *page_break *goto empressarrival *label empressarrival But before an agreement can be made regarding Chen Kun's fate, the shrill voice of a familiar herald cuts through the air. "The Empress has graced us with her presence! All hail the Empress!" At once, the assembled crowd drop into bows. As the young trueborn child of the Empress, you are usually given the privilege of waiving formalities. But given the public audience, and the solemn situation... You sink into an unpracticed bow. "At ease." The Empress' voice is as lovely and even as always. But her greeting is u nusually curt. Flicking your gaze upwards, you see eyes the same shade as yours scanning you subtly. To a stranger, her dress might look no worse for wear. But your practiced eye picks up the kinks and creases that line the folds of her gown. She must have rushed over as soon as she got the news. Composed as your mother usually is, this is your secret way to detect her concern for you. Her gaze shifts to land on Chen Kun. "Are you the boy?" Clearly, she has already received reports about the situation. Chen Kun raises his head, hazel eyes unplagued by guilt. "I am, your Majesty." With bated breath, everyone awaits the Empress' response. Her expression is impassive, but then it always is the moment before she proclaims pardon or condemnation when exercising judgement. But the Empress presses on with her line of questioning. "Did you cast the time spell by yourself? You must know that that is a high-level spell that the Academy does not teach at your age." "I'm - not in the Academy, your Majesty. I learnt it from some books that Teacher Huang lent me when she noted my interest in magic." The boy's voice is steady and earnest. Your mother raises a finely drawn eyebrow. Mingzi lets out a disbelieving scoff, earning a glare from the Captain. You pace uneasily. *page_break But the Empress' gaze turns from Chen Kun without another word. "I heard of a tiger attack. Where is it currently resting?" The Captain cups his right hand over his left fist in report. "Your Imperial Majesty, the men have surrounded and subdued the beast. What does your Majesty wish us to do with it?" "Please attend to it. Dispatch a messenger to prepare transportation." "Yes, your Majesty." The Captain would not be head of the Imperial Guard if he didn't recognize a dismissal for what it is. He nods and retreats with his guards over to where the tiger lies. Mingzi leaves with him after one last glance at you, pulling a bemused Chen Kun away with him. Finally, you are alone with the Empress (as alone as one can be in the palace). *page_break Your mother envelops you in an uncharacteristic hug that smothers your face against the front of her gown immediately. In the midst of your shock, you vaguely think, [i]her dress is going to be all crimped now. [/i] At long last she lets you go. The laces on her queen attire are indeed rumpled, but for once she does not seem to care. Her delicately gloved fingers are, you realize, trembling. Your mother closes her eyes briefly. When they open again the Empress faces you with her usual polite expression. "Are you well, child?" "Yes, Lady Mother." The Empress nods. "I will increase security around the palace henceforth. And your retinue will be... revised." You nod back meekly, the obedient child she wants and expects. Composed once again, the Empress rises and walks away. And with that your brief interview your private moment is over. *page_break The Empress stops in front of Chen Kun, who was staring resolutely down at the ground. You cannot tell how much of your audience with her he saw. You suspect that is his intention. "... spell is a consuming one. Why did you risk casting, when you could well have been attacked by the tiger too?" "Because - I wanted to save - my liege, your Majesty." "Do not lie." But the Empress' tone is kind. "You cannot have been sure at casting distance." Chen Kun swallows. "Someone was in need. Your majesty." And you see in his big, expressive hazel eyes that that is all which mattered to him. The Empress' eyes glitter with genuine interest. "Is that so? Yes... I believe so. Tell me, young man, do you think that a cause worth dedicating your life to?" "I... don't follow your meaning, your Majesty." "The land needs men of talent whom are willing to serve always, young man. Are you willing to serve your liege, for as long as that may entail, -?" "Chen Kun," you mutter, feeling strangely sidelined from the conversation. "Chen Kun... Quite a lovely coincidence. My brother's wife too is a Chen." The Empress glances up, examining his face. "Yes, a few shades too dark to be native, but no matter. If you accept you shall be a Chen affiliated to the royal family itself. With your skill... I may train you myself." "Are you willing to swear everlasting fealty to your liege?" And Chen Kun kneels before you, down on one knee like the knights of the west. "It would be my honor to serve, Master." His hazel eyes are solemn and sincere. Staring into them, you feel the wheels of fate turn soundlessly in the heavens. From now on your destinies will be tied. *page_break Like sand rearranged by a sand artist, the scene before you changes once more. You are staring at the subdued tiger as it is loaded onto a cart by the Imperial Guard. Before it arrived, the Empress had questioned you about it in an undertone. You know that this is a test, and that your choice will decide this animal's fate for the rest of its life - or cut it short. What did you say in reply? *choice #Cull it, of course. It attacked you! It's dangerous! You remember the terror that consumed you as you ran desperately from the tiger's pursuit. The helplessness which overwhelmed your senses as it leaped to attack you. Rage boils up within you, attempting its best to mask the insidious fear lurking underneath. [i]Never again.[/i] You will not allow this beast the opportunity to put you through what happened again. Even if it means cutting its life short now. You watch the guards grudgingly load the animal up onto the cart with some difficulty. The tiger is struggling despite its severe wounds, as if it somehow senses the fate meted out to it. [i]This is what it deserves,[/i] you remind yourself. [i]For daring to attack me.[/i] On unhappy chance, your eyes catch its mournful glare. A jolt of emotion shocks your system. But it's not fear, it's - You take a deep breath before forcing your gaze away. Slowly the tiger's whimpering growls and the guards' cursing fade away together with the rumbling of the cart. "That orange pelt will make a good rug," you remark conversationally to the Empress. She does not reply. Her impassive expression makes it impossible to determine if she approves or not. You keep a satisfied smile plastered across your face for the rest of the day. But alone in the darkness of your bed your cannot ignore the fact that you feel less pride than self-disgust at your own actions. *set Trusting %-10 *set Empathic %-10 *page_break *goto progend #Let it go free. The mountains will welcome it back into its natural habitat. You remember the terror that consumed you as you ran desperately from the tiger's pursuit. The helplessness which overwhelmed your senses as it leaped to attack you. Then... you let it all out of your system. How can you blame it for its natural instinct to hunt for sustenance? It is only an unfortunate alignment of space and time that made you its prey. And now that you are safe, how can you in good conscience repay Lady Luck by dealing the tiger a bad fate in turn? You watch the guards grudgingly load the animal up onto the cart with little difficulty. The tiger is surprisingly plaint in the hands of the very men whom injured it, as if somehow aware of the pardon it has received. Yes, let it go free into the mountains, where it might reunite with its brethren with whom it has somehow parted ways, you think. By chance, your eyes catch its mournful gaze. A jolt of emotion shocks your system. [i]That's right.[/i] Although you remember from your tutor's lessons that tigers are solitary animals, being so far away from its hunting grounds cannot have been easy for it. At once, you feel reassured of your decision to release the tiger back into the mountains. "It will find more suitable prey back home," you say to the Empress. She does not reply. Her impassive expression makes it impossible to determine if she approves or not. But alone in the darkness of your bed at night you are content with yourself. *set Trusting %+10 *set Empathic %+10 *page_break *goto progend #It deserves to live, but not where it could hurt someone. You remember the terror that consumed you as you ran desperately from the tiger's pursuit. The helplessness which overwhelmed your senses as it leaped to attack you. You let out a long breath. You may not blame the tiger for being in the wrong place at the wrong time with you, but you have no wish for another unsuspecting human to share your fate of being set upon by it. So, not complete freedom in the wild, then. An... Enclosure? You raise the suggestion to the Empress. She tilts her elegant head, considering. "The Emperor himself has been thinking on this. In recent years our allies have been given to offering exotic animals as fealty." "Perhaps a garden space in the palace for them can be procured." And so it is that a year later the Emperor decrees the field be expanded, and constructs fenced structures separating the different exotic beasts reared within. It is publicized as the first animal garden in the Land of the Dragon. At times, you - after first obtaining permission - visit the garden yourself. Once the tiger even casts a glance your way. You recall feeling a strange jolt of emotion upon meeting those restless, cagey eyes. "It's... happy there, isn't it? And we are safe from it, and it from us?" You hesitantly ask the Empress once. But she does not reply. Her impassive expression makes it impossible to determine if she approves or not. And so alone in the darkness of your bed at night you are left to ponder over the question yourself. *achieve primogenitorofzoos *set Trusting %-10 *set Empathic %+10 *page_break *goto progend #These animals need to have a taste of their own medicine. You remember the terror that consumed you as you ran desperately from the tiger's pursuit. The helplessness which overwhelmed your senses as it leaped to attack you. Rage boils up within you, attempting its best to mask the insidious fear lurking underneath. [i]Never again.[/i] You will not allow this beast - nor any other - the opportunity to put you through what happened again. No, as long as beasts such as this run free in the wild, you will never be completely safe. Paranoia speeds your pulse up, driving your thoughts wild. [i]You have to, you have to -![/i] The tiger is struggling violently despite its severe wounds, as if it somehow senses the fate meted out to it. On unhappy chance, your eyes catch its wrathful glare. You shudder all over once more, clenching your hands into fists. It seems a century before the tiger's furious growls and the guards' cursing fade away together with the rumbling of the cart. The next week the Emperor implements reforms facilitating the hunting of wild creatures throughout the land for sport, and issues decrees for the culling of dangerous beasts on sight. Many a thrill-seeking noble are pleased, while those whom seek to protect wildlife devastated. As for you? You lie alone in the darkness of your bed at night, alternatively tormented by your fears and an insidiously gnawing that you are afraid might be your conscience. *set Empathic %-20 *page_break *goto progend *label progend The amber eyes of the tiger resurface before you. As if possessed by tunnel vision, you cannot look away. They lead you down a path composed of all the memories of your life, scattered like leaves in the wind. Hazy infant-hood sounds and sights of adults cooing and fussing over you, half-forgotten promises and how they were broken, the sweet warmth of your mother's kisses, the cold sting of the Emperor's growing distance... When you regain your senses, you find yourself once more standing in front of the golden dragon. It raises a clawed paw, palms up. An irresistible force compels your own to mirror it. The dragon leans down and presses its scaly forehead against yours. You feel an indescribable, untamable power ignite from deep inside you. It winds tendrils around your heart, heating and expanding until your chest feels fit to burst. Stars explode behind your eyes. And then you feel nothing at all.