[HQ Ignorance] Scene 119: A Dragonewt's Tale

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene 119: A Dragonewt's Tale

Impressed by Rikku's pleas and satisfied with Azhur's exclamations to
act against the Amethyst Dragon and that the Exarch will note invade his
lands Kui Hui, The Giant Hero, agrees to let the Fellowship members
approach the city of Laonan Tao. Surrounded on the north, west and south
by rice fields, the city is not unlike others in Kralorela that the
Fellowship has been to. What is different about this one is that on the
east it faces Suam Chow, the shallow sea, that teems with life. Stout
dikes and and complex cages form massive fish farms which seem to
stretch as far as the rich paddies do in other directions. Hui Kui seems
most interested in Rikku's tale of woe and asks him to elaborate even
further. In the meantime Azhur scopes out the limits of the giant's
non-martial promise, whilst Jareena ponders on whether the flail that
the giant carries is really *the* flail. 

Aside from this the dragonewts obviously travel with the Seeker. Oddly
enough, they have company with Rotterex who in his new form, seems to
have taken much leadership and initiative from Kalen Ironhand. It is
almost that much of this legion creature that the Dwarf created has
taken some of his spirit, or was given up as part of the process, if it
can be said that Dwarves have such a thing. By the seaside, Guilliarme
Rotterex's nose quivers as he draws in a deep breath of the fishy air.
"Ahh, it reminds me of that Elf.. I wonder what happened to her?"

But the Seeker is not interested in the smell of fish or even with
concern of the aldryami. The Dragonewt's gaze is cast far, far out to
the sea, past the fish farms, past the bridges, past the One Hundred
Rice islands that dot the Suam Chow sea. His bristles rubbed against his
neck, his long tail sluggishly swished across the jetty.

"You look different", specified Kalen, in his monotone. "Tail extended
positive 112.7 per cent, neck bristles developed. Body mass reduced to
75% from meeting time. Nascent wings in development." He placed a hand
on the Seeker's arm. "Body temperature 29 degrees, and falling."

"You are dying."

Distantly, the Seeker responded. "I need to go to Hum Chang. I must go
to the court of the True Dragon."