Avetlarinyarenesaar... Is currently trying to force herself to walk another few steps. She hasn't managed it, yet. Her reason for stopping was perfectly ordinary - check the address, make sure it was correct, be sure she was in the right place. She'd been quite sure, but there wasn't any downside to double checking, so she double checked. And triple checked. She stopped herself from quadruple checking, but she wanted to anyway. To - be sure that she was right. Yes. Not because she was procrastinating, or nervous, or thinking what am I going to say? She wanted to be sure that she was right.
Well. She's right. She checked three times, there's no doubt to it.
"Look," she mutters to herself, "I get it, it's scary, but deal. You are not allowed to - to -" To what? Go home? Maybe try to work up the courage later? Maybe try and avoid the shren house like so many other dragons?
It was a door. It's idiotic to be afraid of a door. Sure, there were shrens on the other side of it, but there could conceivably be shrens on the other side of lots of doors, some of them were in hiding, hair dye existed. Subtle colors existed. She could have been near shrens any number of times.
That - did not actually make her fear go away. Instead it makes her want to curl up in her little apartment and not go outside again.
Great. Okay. Stop that train of thought, it's not useful. If she stands here any longer, people are going to stare. (Is that person over there staring? Probably. Damn.) Just - door. Go. Walk.
She forces herself to walk to the door, somewhat stiffly. And then she is at the door. ... Does she knock? Does she just open it and go in? She has no idea. It's customary to knock, so... She takes a deep breath and does so. Resisting the urge to flee and teleport away (or scamper into the bushes) isn't easy, but she manages it.
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Post last updated:
Come on wuss it's just a door
Avetlarin
An empathic signature (blunted, businesslike curiosity over background self-assured dissatisfaction) approaches. The door opens.
A turquoise shren is there. She glances at Avet's hair. "Can I help you?"
A turquoise shren is there. She glances at Avet's hair. "Can I help you?"
Avetlarin
"Um," she says, because she didn't actually write out what she would say for fear of it being too impersonal and stilted. She fidgets a bit. "Maybe, I'm doing some research and I thought it would be a good idea to er. Look at shrens. For the research?"
"Research," says the turquoise.
Avetlarin
"I," she says, in a rush, "am trying to figure out why baby dragons die. And stop it. And er, shrens always live."
"So we do," says the turquoise, exasperated, inwardly eye-rolling. "I don't think you'll get many takers if you offer to let parents make the swap, and if you would, there's already a way to do that."
Avetlarin
"It doesn't work," she sighs. "Obviously. But there's - I want to understand why shrens always live, what factors are causing it, maybe whatever it is is involved with the death thing, maybe there's a - a - I don't know, a line-based -" She stops herself from saying disease, that is so hilariously rude, she is not going to say that. "- ... Something. I don't know. And no one knows because dragons don't look at shrens and shrens pretend they don't exist and damn it all if I am going to sit on my ass because you are scary psychologically when I could potentially fix it!"
... Pause.
"Um. Sorry. Shrens in general, you are - um, you seem very nice, you are not personally scary." Pause. "... Okay, maybe a little. I'm kind of nervous."
... Pause.
"Um. Sorry. Shrens in general, you are - um, you seem very nice, you are not personally scary." Pause. "... Okay, maybe a little. I'm kind of nervous."
"What do you want to do?" inquires the turquoise. "Look at us? Here I am. You're looking at me. When you aren't averting your eyes in dismay."
Avetlarin
"I am trying not to," defends Avet. "Really. I - sorry, I'm working on it. I - I have analysis spells, as many as I could find, I've read up on the subject. Nothing's - helpful. I don't plan on, on, doing horrible things or poking the babies while they're -" She looks away. "I just." Handwave. "Wizard spells, magic, maybe talk to a witch expert and see if they have thoughts on the matter besides painkillers."
"I feel fully informed now," says Jensal dryly. "Certainly this suffices to convince me to hand you an infant for whom I'm responsible."
Avetlarin
"I don't actually want an infant," she says. "Or. Not at first, it's not like whatever it is shrens have that makes them shrens goes away. It's likely pointless to even touch the babies, unless they were very young. So, adults are fine as anything else."
"In which case I might be able to find you a consenting volunteer, but this is obviously less likely if they'd be volunteering for a mystery experiment."
Avetlarin
"Right, yes." She takes a deep breath and begins going down the line of analyses she wants to do.
It is a long list, all of them wizard spells, and none of them actually harmful (or even uncomfortable). Many of them have been tried, but some of them haven't.
It is a long list, all of them wizard spells, and none of them actually harmful (or even uncomfortable). Many of them have been tried, but some of them haven't.
"Are you actually a wizard?" wonders Jensal.
Avetlarin
She looks at Jensal like she's grown a second head.
"Yes," she says, blinking. "Why would I be offering to do those things if I wasn't?"
"Yes," she says, blinking. "Why would I be offering to do those things if I wasn't?"
"Just checking. Is this the first shren house you've tried?"
Avetlarin
She nods.
"I can ask around. What's your name so I can send you a note if I find a volunteer?"
Avetlarin
"Avetlarin. Thank you," she says, sincerely.
"Mm-hm. If you don't hear from me in a week, most likely the house has nobody who wants to be analyzed."
Avetlarin
"I understand." Avet smiles at her. It's kind of tentative, but genuine.
Jensal doesn't smile. Jensal steps back and closes the door.
Avetlarin
Well. She made it to the door, at least. Avet: 1, World: Probably fifty billion or something.
She teleports home and curls up on her couch and thinks about shrens. Maybe she'll eventually be able to manage to talk to one without constantly flinching. Some day.
She teleports home and curls up on her couch and thinks about shrens. Maybe she'll eventually be able to manage to talk to one without constantly flinching. Some day.
Two days later she receives a letter in a sky-blue Esmaarlan-flagged envelope. The note says that Jensal's found her a volunteer from another house who will be around to meet her at Jensal's house anytime in the next few days.
Avetlarin
That's promising! That's really promising!
She schedules a time to meet, and then is there at that time. Looking nervous, vaguely excited, and hopeful. Progress!
She schedules a time to meet, and then is there at that time. Looking nervous, vaguely excited, and hopeful. Progress!
When she knocks, a short silver-haired woman answers the door.
"Hello."
"Hello."
Avetlarin
"Hi!" says Avet, smiling a little. "I'm Avet, it's nice to meet you."
She doesn't ask are you my volunteer. She wants to, but she doesn't.
She doesn't ask are you my volunteer. She wants to, but she doesn't.
"I'm Ehail. Jensal said you wanted to analyze a shren."
Avetlarin
She nods. "Nothing invasive or uncomfortable, I will just be standing in the same room as you, waving my hands, saying words, and possibly staring uncomfortably. I apologize for that last on in advance."
She's decided that her best method to get over aaaaah shren is to focus on how excited she is about possible progress. Even if it's not the actual tangible progress of baby dragons not dying. It counts. She defeated the door.
She's decided that her best method to get over aaaaah shren is to focus on how excited she is about possible progress. Even if it's not the actual tangible progress of baby dragons not dying. It counts. She defeated the door.
"Do you mind explaining what you're doing while you do it? I'm a wizard."
Avetlarin
Avet blinks.
"Sure," she says, realizing that of course another wizard would want to participate. "If you have suggestions as well, I'll take them. I don't think I've read literally everything, I bet I've missed some possible angles."
"Sure," she says, realizing that of course another wizard would want to participate. "If you have suggestions as well, I'll take them. I don't think I've read literally everything, I bet I've missed some possible angles."
Nod, nod. "I'm staying in the - there's a room we can use."
Avetlarin
"Okay." She smiles. "Lead on."
Avet? Don't flinch when you are in the shren house. Don't. Don't. You are not allowed.
Avet? Don't flinch when you are in the shren house. Don't. Don't. You are not allowed.
Ehail leads her in. There is slightly audible wailing off to the left, but they don't go down that hallway. Instead they go straight back and then to the right and then left again, and up some stairs, and then they're at a bare little room with a bed and a chair and a desk. Ehail sits on the bed, leaving the chair for Avet.
Avetlarin
Avet makes a complicated pained expression at the wailing, looking in the direction of the hallway. Her thoughts are not, 'Oh no more shrens,' but 'Poor darlings.' Regardless, she follows Ehail to the room, and sits in the chair.
"Any reason we shouldn't immediately start? I'll explain everything I do before I do it, I even brought my notes." She hefts the notes. They're written in Draconic, but that's hardly a problem here.
"Any reason we shouldn't immediately start? I'll explain everything I do before I do it, I even brought my notes." She hefts the notes. They're written in Draconic, but that's hardly a problem here.
"Go ahead," says Ehail. "May I have a copy?"
Avetlarin
"Of these? Sure. I can do it now if you have paper, I don't know better spells for it off of the top of my head."
Ehail has paper. She produces it from her little bag that is stashed under the bed.
Avetlarin
Avet copies her notes onto the paper! And now Ehail has them, too.
"Let me know if you have any questions, or want to look up my sources. I don't think I cited everything properly."
"Let me know if you have any questions, or want to look up my sources. I don't think I cited everything properly."
Nod.
Avetlarin
And with that, she starts going down the list of analyses, explaining as she goes. A lot of things she wants to try have been tried before, but she would like data of her own rather than just trusting far away sources. But there are a few things that aren't commonly known that she tries, and one or two things that she's invented.
None of them let her look at dragon magic. This might be relevant.
None of them let her look at dragon magic. This might be relevant.
"I have," says Ehail, "a dragon magic analysis. Do you not have one?"
Avetlarin
"Nnnno, I don't. I couldn't find one anywhere and wanted to check the obvious routes before I went and tried to invent one." She smiles at Ehail. "And now I suppose turnabout's fair play. May I have a copy of your notes?"
"I can teleport home and get them."
Avetlarin
"I'll be happy to wait."
Ehail nods and teleports away. She is back a couple degrees later with some notes, which she offers to Avet.
Avetlarin
"Thanks." Avet looks them over.
"You haven't analyzed any dragons with this," she observes. "... Do you want to fix that? Right now?"
"You haven't analyzed any dragons with this," she observes. "... Do you want to fix that? Right now?"
"Okay."
Ehail casts her analysis carefully and squints at Avet.
Ehail casts her analysis carefully and squints at Avet.
Avetlarin
Avet holds still and resists the urge to ask a thousand questions.
"You have a little bit more magic than a shren," says Ehail. "And it doesn't... wobble."
Avetlarin
"... That. I wonder if that's it. Shrens - aren't missing any dragon abilities but flight in natural form, right? Nothing obscure that I'm not aware of? All forms present and accounted for?"
"Right. Well. White-groups don't have group abilities."
Avetlarin
Avet winces. "Yes, right, for - obvious reasons."
She looks at Ehail. "You know the obvious thing to do with this is to go analyze baby dragons," she points out. "Do you want me to send you notes on things I find with your analysis? I'll credit you for it, or - er, leave you anonymous if you'd like. Or - actually, are you okay with me running off cackling with your darling analysis to analyze everything even vaguely dragon-like?"
She looks at Ehail. "You know the obvious thing to do with this is to go analyze baby dragons," she points out. "Do you want me to send you notes on things I find with your analysis? I'll credit you for it, or - er, leave you anonymous if you'd like. Or - actually, are you okay with me running off cackling with your darling analysis to analyze everything even vaguely dragon-like?"
"You can analyze anyone you like with it," says Ehail. "I'd - I'd appreciate copies of further notes you make, of course. But I haven't been able to, myself, you understand -"
Avetlarin
"Yes," she says, realizing the obvious implications. "I'll - send you all of my notes. What's your line name, I'll mail you religiously."
"I'm just Ehail."
Avetlarin
"Oh."
Avet looks at Ehail. She realizes the other obvious implications.
"... I - sorry. I'm sorry, I'm a social klutz, I um. Sorry."
Shrug.
Avetlarin
Awkward, tentative smile. Avet wants vaguely to hug Ehail, but she's pretty sure that is a Bad Idea. So she doesn't offer.
"So, uh, I'll send you updates. Do you want me to mention your name when I say who's responsible for the analysis, or remain anonymous? I won't take credit for your work..."
"So, uh, I'll send you updates. Do you want me to mention your name when I say who's responsible for the analysis, or remain anonymous? I won't take credit for your work..."
"You don't have to mention me. There's no point."
Avetlarin
"I don't want to take credit for your work," says Avet, more gently. "It's - wrong." She uses the draconic word for morally wrong and also a bad idea. Draconic: convenient like that. "But I'll leave you anonymous? If anyone asks?"
"Okay."
Avetlarin
Avet makes a complicated face at Ehail.
"I would happily write your name on a giant banner and wave it around like a madwoman while loudly proclaiming that you invented your fancy spell," she says, lightly. "If you wanted me to. But you don't seem to? Or am I misreading you?"
"I would happily write your name on a giant banner and wave it around like a madwoman while loudly proclaiming that you invented your fancy spell," she says, lightly. "If you wanted me to. But you don't seem to? Or am I misreading you?"
Blink. "Why - would I want you to do that?"
Avetlarin
"Well, I don't know, I wouldn't want anyone to do it for me, but if you wanted me to I would."
"Please don't."
Avetlarin
"I will not," she promises.
"Thank you."
Avetlarin
"You're welcome. But, seriously, if you want credit, by name, I will give you credit, by name, and then glare at any dragon that scoffs at it and then ask them if they would like to keep letting their children die because a shren invented the spell that maybe might help stop it."
"I don't - no, please."
Avetlarin
"Okay. Then I won't do that." Pause. "And - er, sorry, for being pushy, I - want the world to be fair to you." Draconic, again. Fair as in morally right, fair as in logical, fair as in everyone gets it. No exceptions.
Ehail looks away.
Avetlarin
"... Sorry. Social klutz," she sighs. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's fine. It doesn't matter."
Avetlarin
Avet wants to ask Is it because you think you don't matter? but doesn't.
"I think it matters if you're upset," she says, instead.
"I think it matters if you're upset," she says, instead.
"I'm fine."
Avetlarin
"Okay."
She doesn't believe that. But she also doesn't want to go crusading on Ehail's behalf and upset her in the process. Especially when the person she'd be crusading against is also Ehail. What a complicated situation.
(She hasn't noticed, but all of the fear of shrens is gone. Maybe not permanently, but for right now? She could be talking with another dragon for all she cared.)
"So," says Avet, all kinds of awkward, "Um. My line name's Larin, don't be afraid to mail me?"
She doesn't believe that. But she also doesn't want to go crusading on Ehail's behalf and upset her in the process. Especially when the person she'd be crusading against is also Ehail. What a complicated situation.
(She hasn't noticed, but all of the fear of shrens is gone. Maybe not permanently, but for right now? She could be talking with another dragon for all she cared.)
"So," says Avet, all kinds of awkward, "Um. My line name's Larin, don't be afraid to mail me?"
"All right. I don't work very fast, though. I probably won't have anything new to tell you soon."
Avetlarin
"That's fine," she assures. "I'll send you updates when I have them."
Nod.
Avetlarin
"These are a copy of your notes, not your actual set, right? And it's fine if I take them with me?"
"It's a copy. You can have them."
Avetlarin
"Thank you." She smiles, a little. She wants to hug Ehail, again. She doesn't, again.
"Well. That's everything on my list, are there any analyses you'd like to use on me? Aside from the dragon magic one."
Step right up, she doesn't say, and see the dragon crazy enough to happily wander through a house full of shrens. Analyze her and see just how insane she is! She suspects the tone would be lost. Why hasn't anyone done this before, talked to anyone in here even briefly and learned that Ehail has a -
Nope, nope, don't go down that road, down that road lies darkness and pain and losing your shren wizard penpal, do not do that thing.
"Well. That's everything on my list, are there any analyses you'd like to use on me? Aside from the dragon magic one."
Step right up, she doesn't say, and see the dragon crazy enough to happily wander through a house full of shrens. Analyze her and see just how insane she is! She suspects the tone would be lost. Why hasn't anyone done this before, talked to anyone in here even briefly and learned that Ehail has a -
Nope, nope, don't go down that road, down that road lies darkness and pain and losing your shren wizard penpal, do not do that thing.
"I don't have any others."
Avetlarin
"Okay. Let me know if it changes."
It is so depressing that Ehail hasn't had a dragon to cast her analysis spell on. So depressing.
Damn it she needs to be out of this room before she starts ranting.
"I think that's all, then. Thank you," she says, sincerely.
It is so depressing that Ehail hasn't had a dragon to cast her analysis spell on. So depressing.
Damn it she needs to be out of this room before she starts ranting.
"I think that's all, then. Thank you," she says, sincerely.
"You're welcome."
Avetlarin
Smile. Stiffled ramblings about how Ehail deserves so much better.
"Bye. It was nice meeting you."
"Bye. It was nice meeting you."
"Thank you."
Avetlarin
She waves, and the wave turns into a teleportation gesture, and she disappears.
Once home, she checks the soundproofing on her room, and finds it working just fine. Then she screams wordlessly into a pillow.
It's not fair. It's not right! She's angry and upset and wants desperately to fix it, yes the concept of shrens is awful and sad but it doesn't excuse treating shrens themselves awfully, and, and - that's guilt, that's definitely guilt. She didn't go sooner. She just - thought they were all awful, tried not to think about them, avoided the idea of them entirely.
She gets up, finds the records of her finances, and does math. She works out a reasonable sum she can afford to pay monthly and maintain. She mails that reasonable sum to the shren house in Esmaar, anonymously, and silently vows she is going to keep donating that sum. At least until a miracle comes along and cures all shrens. Which is hilariously unlikely, but hey, it could happen.
And then she retrieves the appropriate crystal, calls up her line representative, and asks about seeing some baby dragons to analyze so she can possibly fix the dying thing.
(And possibly fix the shren thing. She doesn't think she's a miracle worker, but she thinks she can make it easier for someone who is. At the very least.)
Once home, she checks the soundproofing on her room, and finds it working just fine. Then she screams wordlessly into a pillow.
It's not fair. It's not right! She's angry and upset and wants desperately to fix it, yes the concept of shrens is awful and sad but it doesn't excuse treating shrens themselves awfully, and, and - that's guilt, that's definitely guilt. She didn't go sooner. She just - thought they were all awful, tried not to think about them, avoided the idea of them entirely.
She gets up, finds the records of her finances, and does math. She works out a reasonable sum she can afford to pay monthly and maintain. She mails that reasonable sum to the shren house in Esmaar, anonymously, and silently vows she is going to keep donating that sum. At least until a miracle comes along and cures all shrens. Which is hilariously unlikely, but hey, it could happen.
And then she retrieves the appropriate crystal, calls up her line representative, and asks about seeing some baby dragons to analyze so she can possibly fix the dying thing.
(And possibly fix the shren thing. She doesn't think she's a miracle worker, but she thinks she can make it easier for someone who is. At the very least.)
Her line representative recommends her a clutch of malachites in Imilaat.
Avetlarin
She hasn't been, but there's a teleportation circle that'll get her there fast enough. She takes it, finds the correct address, and knocks on the appropriate door.
The door is answered by a green-eyed fellow in elf form with a baby draped over each shoulder. "Hullo. Are you that wizard?"
Avetlarin
"Hello. I am, yes. My name's Avetlarin, it's nice to meet you."
(Her empathic signature sings grim determination.)
(Her empathic signature sings grim determination.)
The man is humming with tired dread. Reasonable for someone with babies. "Tovarthamik. Come in."
Avetlarin
She smiles a little sadly, and does. (Sympathetic reassurance. Also, she is going to fix this.)
"Would you like me to explain what I'll be doing before I do it?"
"Would you like me to explain what I'll be doing before I do it?"
Nod.
A baby nuzzles him under the chin. He pets her.
A baby nuzzles him under the chin. He pets her.
Avetlarin
"I suspect," she says, "that it has something to do with dragon magic. I have an analysis that'll let me see it. I'd like to analyze you and your children, and compare. It's not guaranteed to diagnose the problem, but it might."
"If you diagnose it can you fix it?"
The second baby slides off his shoulder into his lap and turns around twice and curls up and purrs.
The second baby slides off his shoulder into his lap and turns around twice and curls up and purrs.
Avetlarin
"... Probably not today," she admits. (Guilt. Sorrow. Grim determination.) "And I can't make any promises. But I swear that I will not stop trying."
He's not really hopeful. But he says, "Go ahead."
Avetlarin
That's okay. He doesn't need to be hopeful. He just needs to be the subject of her spell.
She casts it, and observes him. Yep, all magic present and accounted for, no wobbling.
She casts it on one of the babies.
She casts it, and observes him. Yep, all magic present and accounted for, no wobbling.
She casts it on one of the babies.
The one on his lap has a normal amount of magic, just like his daddy.
Avetlarin
Okay. Well, let's try the other one, too before she gets disheartened about this angle.
That one's got nothing.
Avetlarin
She doesn't move, but her empathic signature screeches 'NO BAD WRONG NO'
"It seems," she says delicately, "I was correct."
The malachite fellow draws both of his children into his arms.
"What...?"
Avetlarin
"Your -" she points, "son, there, has all of his dragon magic present and accounted for. Your. Your daughter..."
She trails off, and looks pained. She looks at her lap. She takes a deep breath and meets him in the eyes. "I'm sorry, but she doesn't have any."
She trails off, and looks pained. She looks at her lap. She takes a deep breath and meets him in the eyes. "I'm sorry, but she doesn't have any."
"So you think she's going to die. But he'll be okay?"
Avetlarin
Nod.
"Yes. I might be wrong, this is very experimental. It might fluctuate while they're babies." (She doesn't think so.) "I'll work on it regardless."
"Yes. I might be wrong, this is very experimental. It might fluctuate while they're babies." (She doesn't think so.) "I'll work on it regardless."
"They're three weeks old," he murmurs.
Avetlarin
"I will work on it very quickly."
Nod.
Avetlarin
She can't manage to smile. Sympathy. Determination. A little bit of triumph, it's progress, she's closer, she will do this.
"May I analyze your spouse while I'm here? I haven't analyzed many dragons yet, I wanted to get to this as soon as possible."
"May I analyze your spouse while I'm here? I haven't analyzed many dragons yet, I wanted to get to this as soon as possible."
"He's at work."
Avetlarin
She nods.
"All right. Thank you, anyway. I will let you know if there's anything I can do."
"All right. Thank you, anyway. I will let you know if there's anything I can do."
Nod, nod.
Avetlarin
"Goodbye," she murmurs. "I will be working on it."
"Thank you," he says, perfunctory, soft, looking at his daughter.
Avetlarin
She nods, and then she teleports back home.
She doesn't let herself break down crying.
She writes a letter to Ehail explaining everything and what she found out from her analysis, and sends it. She then gets to trying to figure out how to fix this problem. She - has no idea, honestly. How is dragon magic assigned? Why do some get dragon magic and other don't? What happened to cause shrens? How do unusuals and uniques fit into this?
She needs more information, frankly. She calls up her line representative again. She explains the situation, explains her prediction based on dragon magic for the malachite's children, and asks to analyze an unusual and (if possible) a unique.
She doesn't let herself break down crying.
She writes a letter to Ehail explaining everything and what she found out from her analysis, and sends it. She then gets to trying to figure out how to fix this problem. She - has no idea, honestly. How is dragon magic assigned? Why do some get dragon magic and other don't? What happened to cause shrens? How do unusuals and uniques fit into this?
She needs more information, frankly. She calls up her line representative again. She explains the situation, explains her prediction based on dragon magic for the malachite's children, and asks to analyze an unusual and (if possible) a unique.
Her line representative refers her to a telepath who lives in Gibryel and gives her Keo's address.
Avetlarin
Okay then. Keo's closer, but slightly scarier. She tells herself to suck it up, because there are little babies that are dying.
She finds Keo's address, and she knocks on the door.
She finds Keo's address, and she knocks on the door.
Keo lives in a school. She can go right in the front door and then take the lift to the headmaster's office.
Avetlarin
Oh. Well. That. That works too.
She does that, and then she knocks on that door.
She does that, and then she knocks on that door.
"Come in," says a man's voice.
Avetlarin
She does!
"Hello," she says, "I'm Avetlarin, I'm a wizard looking for a cure for dragon babies, I have a high reason to suspect it has something to do with dragon magic. Does Keo live here?"
"Hello," she says, "I'm Avetlarin, I'm a wizard looking for a cure for dragon babies, I have a high reason to suspect it has something to do with dragon magic. Does Keo live here?"
"Yes," he says. "I'm in a mindlink with her. Can I help you?"
Avetlarin
A mindlink? Okay. Creepy, but okay.
"I know a spell that lets me see dragon magic," she explains. "I've seen dragons and baby dragons, and I suspect that a lack of dragon magic is what kills babies. I'm trying to understand where dragon magic comes from and what factors are involved with how dragon magic is assigned. Since Keo has a lot of dragon magic, I'd like to use the analysis on her."
"I know a spell that lets me see dragon magic," she explains. "I've seen dragons and baby dragons, and I suspect that a lack of dragon magic is what kills babies. I'm trying to understand where dragon magic comes from and what factors are involved with how dragon magic is assigned. Since Keo has a lot of dragon magic, I'd like to use the analysis on her."
"Would your analysis disrupt the class she's substitute-teaching?"
Avetlarin
"No. But I would need to be in the same room. Would you like to hear the results of it after?"
"Yes. She's in room 112, on Tharaad Hall, if you'd like to take the lift there."
Avetlarin
She nods.
"I'll be back in a little while."
And then she goes to room 112 on Tharaad Hall. Is it a good time to slip inside and cast the spell?
"I'll be back in a little while."
And then she goes to room 112 on Tharaad Hall. Is it a good time to slip inside and cast the spell?
The door is a little open. Keo is lecturing about Vansalese grammar. She gives Avet a small wave when she peers in.
Avetlarin
Good to know.
Avet smiles back, slips into the classroom, and casts the spell very softly.
Avet smiles back, slips into the classroom, and casts the spell very softly.
Keo has lots of dragon magic!
Avetlarin
You know, Avet really isn't surprised anymore.
She nods to Keo, and then returns to the headmaster's office.
"Keo has quite a lot of dragon magic, more than is ordinary," she informs him.
She nods to Keo, and then returns to the headmaster's office.
"Keo has quite a lot of dragon magic, more than is ordinary," she informs him.
"That seems unsurprising," says the headmaster.
Avetlarin
She nods. "I had to be sure. More information to be able to make a more informed decision. I'm checking everyone I can, after I check an unusual I'll see if I can find a thudia or a parunia."
"We have a thudia," Kanaat says. "If that would be more convenient than finding one in whatever way you've been using."
Avetlarin
"Bothering my line representative a lot," she explains. "Sure, if you don't mind."
"She's on her way."
Avetlarin
"Thank you."
Presently the lift opens up and an elf with a strong family resemblance to her father steps out. "Hi."
Avetlarin
"Hello," says Avet. "I'm Avet, it's nice to meet you. Has your mother explained everything?"
"Yeah."
Avetlarin
"And, totally fine with me waving my hands and staring at you briefly?"
"...Yeah? She explained it. Go ahead."
Avetlarin
"Just checking."
Gesture! Words! Spell! Staring!
Gesture! Words! Spell! Staring!
Korulen has a little teeny flicker of dragon magic. Orders of magnitude less than even a shren.
Avetlarin
... But she's not dead? That's interesting.
"I think you're more informative than your mother," observes Avet. "You have a bit of dragon magic. Not very much."
(Less than a shren, she doesn't say, because she does not want to piss off Keo The Terrifying Unique Who Can Melt Minds.)
"I think you're more informative than your mother," observes Avet. "You have a bit of dragon magic. Not very much."
(Less than a shren, she doesn't say, because she does not want to piss off Keo The Terrifying Unique Who Can Melt Minds.)
"Huh, really?" says Korulen. "Neat."
Avetlarin
She nods.
So. She doesn't actually know if the magicless baby dragon is definitely going to die. But she - highly suspects it. But a thudia has some magic, and the lack doesn't kill them. So where does dragon magic come from? Is it random? Or is there some kind of pattern to it all?
She needs to go to dragon island. Analyses first, then dragon island.
"Thank you for your help," she says to Korulen and Kanaat and Keo. "I suspect analyzing an unusual and a parunia will get me exactly what I think it'd be, but I need to check anyway."
So. She doesn't actually know if the magicless baby dragon is definitely going to die. But she - highly suspects it. But a thudia has some magic, and the lack doesn't kill them. So where does dragon magic come from? Is it random? Or is there some kind of pattern to it all?
She needs to go to dragon island. Analyses first, then dragon island.
"Thank you for your help," she says to Korulen and Kanaat and Keo. "I suspect analyzing an unusual and a parunia will get me exactly what I think it'd be, but I need to check anyway."
"Good luck," says Kanaat.
"Yeah," echoes Korulen. "Bye."
"Yeah," echoes Korulen. "Bye."
Avetlarin
"Thanks. Goodbye."
Off she teleports, to take a teleportation circle to Gibryel. If she keeps this up she'll be able to teleport all over Elcenia on her own.
Time to find a telepath.
Off she teleports, to take a teleportation circle to Gibryel. If she keeps this up she'll be able to teleport all over Elcenia on her own.
Time to find a telepath.
The telepath is a green dragon who lives in a cute little bungalow with a wife and two thudias. Avet arrives while the wife is preparing dinner and the telepath is trying to get the kids to wash their hands.
Avetlarin
She winces internally for interrupting dinnertime, but it's not like she'll take up much time. And it's not like it isn't important. She knocks.
<Hi?>
Avetlarin
< Hi, > she replies. < Sorry to bother you, I'm Avetlarin, I'm a wizard trying to find the reason baby dragons die, and then find a cure for it. I strongly suspect it has something to do with dragon magic. If you don't mind, I'd like to run a quick analysis on you to see if your dragon magic is what I think it will be. >
<Door's unlocked, come on in.>
Avetlarin
< Thank you. >
In she goes!
In she goes!
And in it is the family. <Keo gave me a heads-up. Just do whatever you need to do.>
"Who's the lady?" asks a thudia.
"She's just here to cast a spell."
"Is she staying for dinner?"
"Nope."
"Who's the lady?" asks a thudia.
"She's just here to cast a spell."
"Is she staying for dinner?"
"Nope."
Avetlarin
Go Keo.
< Thank you, I will. >
She smiles at the thudia, and then casts a spell.
Dragon magic: exactly as expected? Above average, below Keo?
< Thank you, I will. >
She smiles at the thudia, and then casts a spell.
Dragon magic: exactly as expected? Above average, below Keo?
Yep!
Avetlarin
< Exactly as expected. Thank you for your time! >
"Have a lovely dinner," she says out loud.
"Have a lovely dinner," she says out loud.
"Thanks," says the wife from the stove.
<Luck!> says the telepath.
<Luck!> says the telepath.
Avetlarin
< Thanks! >
And off she teleports.
Parunia, or Dragon Island? Island or parunia?
... Her stomach growls.
Right. Food. Food exists.
Food, then Dragon Island, then parunia if she doesn't get any obvious leads from Dragon Island. She makes a quick sandwich and eats it while she writes an equally quick letter to Ehail. Explaining her observations, and explaining where she's going next to figure out what exactly is going on. Hey, she said she'd keep her updated, and she's damn well going to. Write write. Nom. Nom nom. Write write.
She runs out of food before she runs out of letter, but soon one is consumed and the other is sent, and then she's off to Dragon Island.
And off she teleports.
Parunia, or Dragon Island? Island or parunia?
... Her stomach growls.
Right. Food. Food exists.
Food, then Dragon Island, then parunia if she doesn't get any obvious leads from Dragon Island. She makes a quick sandwich and eats it while she writes an equally quick letter to Ehail. Explaining her observations, and explaining where she's going next to figure out what exactly is going on. Hey, she said she'd keep her updated, and she's damn well going to. Write write. Nom. Nom nom. Write write.
She runs out of food before she runs out of letter, but soon one is consumed and the other is sent, and then she's off to Dragon Island.
Dragon Island is large and has dragons on it.
Avetlarin
Yep. It is all of those things.
She shifts to dragon form, and then goes off to find birth records.
She shifts to dragon form, and then goes off to find birth records.
There is a genealogist and her assistants in the office, sorting mail and updating family trees.
Avetlarin
"Excuse me," says Avet. "I'm Avetlarin, I'm a wizard working on figuring out why baby dragons die and if there's a way to fix it. May I look at your records?"
"Of course," says the head genealogist, a red. "Thyell will help you."
Thyell, a white opal, puts down what she's doing and says, "What in particular are you looking for?"
Thyell, a white opal, puts down what she's doing and says, "What in particular are you looking for?"
Avetlarin
"Thank you," she says.
To Thyell: "I strongly suspect that the problem with babies has something to do with a lack of dragon magic. I know an analysis that lets me look at it. But - before specifics, you know the records better than I do, what's the general population density of unusuals, uniques, and ordinary dragons? If I remember correctly it stays around the same?"
To Thyell: "I strongly suspect that the problem with babies has something to do with a lack of dragon magic. I know an analysis that lets me look at it. But - before specifics, you know the records better than I do, what's the general population density of unusuals, uniques, and ordinary dragons? If I remember correctly it stays around the same?"
"There are fluctuations, but yes. In general uniques are so called because on average there will be one per color group around at a time, although there may be two of one, none of another for centuries on end, etcetera. Unusuals are usually present at a rate of between ten and twenty per color group."
Avetlarin
"Are there records of how many, er, attempts there have been to have baby dragons? If it's a population plateau I could understand it. Or - percentages, do we know what percentage of baby dragons die?"
"We don't require reports on attempts when none survive. Of surviving babies it's a fairly flat distribution of number of deceased clutchmates, zero to three, with a bit of a dropoff at four because clutches rarely exceed five and sometimes two will live from a clutch. Seldom three."
Avetlarin
"Mm. I don't know, maybe we've hit a plateau, but you'd think that we would have at least a slow population climb."
"The dragon population's been basically static for as long as we've been keeping records," blinks Thyell.
Avetlarin
"Well, yes, but I mean - in other species, they don't do that. Fairies and merfolk have high infant death rates, and while they have a lot of them at a time, you'd still think that there would be some change with dragons."
"I'm not sure I follow. We don't have nearly as many children as the average fairy, even particularly unlucky families."
Avetlarin
"No, I - yes we don't have as many children as the average fairy. But populations do a thing where they snowball. One family has three kids that survive and those three kids manage to have five between them and so on and so on. I don't know. Maybe I'm hilariously wrong about how it works, it's not like I'm an expert on the subject."
"Well, the dragon population has held pretty steady."
Avetlarin
"Even with - have there been any - I don't know, dragon plagues? Dips in the population due to extremely inclement weather or large flaming scoot accidents or angry people with pointy sticks or something?"
"Well, that plague that left all the vampires so religious got some of us in natural form, and when south flu appeared back in lost Egeria likewise it didn't go well for dragons who caught it natural-formed, but we bounced back soon enough."
Avetlarin
She blinks.
"That. Doesn't make sense."
"That. Doesn't make sense."
"Hm?"
Avetlarin
"If it were a natural plateau, due to what percentage of baby dragons die, it wouldn't - we wouldn't bounce back quickly. If we bounced back at all it would take a while."
"I can look up hatching and survival rates from one or both of those periods if you like?"
Avetlarin
"Yes, please."
Thyell goes and looks things up.
"The blood plague was a factor in the death rate for... four years, and then between its decline and our better safety precautions it stopped killing substantial numbers of dragons. In the second half of that period infant mortality dropped pretty sharply, and then returned to its normal rate over the next ten years."
"The blood plague was a factor in the death rate for... four years, and then between its decline and our better safety precautions it stopped killing substantial numbers of dragons. In the second half of that period infant mortality dropped pretty sharply, and then returned to its normal rate over the next ten years."
Avetlarin
Avet wants to ask Thyell why the hell nobody noticed this sooner. She doesn't do that thing.
"So. It's not the survival rates. Those - we stay at a stable population, they change based on how many dragons are kicking around. So we have the same population."
"So. It's not the survival rates. Those - we stay at a stable population, they change based on how many dragons are kicking around. So we have the same population."
"It's not exactly the same. It can vary by a few hundred millennium to millennium."
Avetlarin
"... During the times that there were less dragons, were there more uniques and unusuals?"
"Not substantially. The most uniques at once on record was twelve and that was during a fairly average-population time. I'd have to go through and do a lot of math to check if there's a small effect."
Avetlarin
"Hmm. I suspect babies dying has something to do with dragon magic, and I think that there is a limited amount of it."
She turns, and walks, mostly ignore Thyell now. "If those things are true, what are my repositories for dragon magic? Dragons. Uniques. Unusuals, thudias, parunias... shrens."
She spins to look at Thyell again. "Do you have records of thudias and shrens, too? Their population?"
She turns, and walks, mostly ignore Thyell now. "If those things are true, what are my repositories for dragon magic? Dragons. Uniques. Unusuals, thudias, parunias... shrens."
She spins to look at Thyell again. "Do you have records of thudias and shrens, too? Their population?"
Thyell shudders delicately. "Thudias, yes. Sometimes people report on their shrens but we don't require anyone to talk about it so those numbers will be incomplete and their incompleteness will vary with the other mores of the time."
Avetlarin
Avet wants to hit Thyell. Suck it up, wuss, trying to save baby dragons, here. Shudder in horror at shrens on your own time, right now you're Avet's minion. Minions are not allowed to shudder in horror.
"Okay," she says. "So. If it's dragon magic that's causing all of this, which, admittedly it might not be... shrens are a factor, they have dragon magic too."
"Okay," she says. "So. If it's dragon magic that's causing all of this, which, admittedly it might not be... shrens are a factor, they have dragon magic too."
"Is there anything else you need a dragon genealogist's help with?" asks Thyell, testy.
Avetlarin
She looks at Thyell. She contemplates screeching her opinions, about how when people are dying, especially children, you put aside your emotions and you fix the fucking problem. About how she's not the enemy here for trying to understand a situation in its entirety. She muses on thoughts as to why no one has made progress before, of course they haven't. Shrens are scary. This is the way things are, always have been, and always will be. The Dragon Council has it covered. She considers gathering up all evidence she has that it is not covered and throwing it in this woman's face.
"... No, thank you," she says, instead. "I'm sorry for bothering you. You've been a great help. Have a lovely day."
"... No, thank you," she says, instead. "I'm sorry for bothering you. You've been a great help. Have a lovely day."
"Best of luck with your project," says Thyell mildly.
Avetlarin
"Thank you," she says, not quite managing to make it out of icy, but the effort's there.
She doesn't want to be on Dragon Island anymore. It's probably better to stay, she bets they have some records of shrens here, but she can't stay. She'll end up shouting at someone. Time to go.
She teleports to the shren house in Esmaar, and storms to the door, and knocks.
She doesn't want to be on Dragon Island anymore. It's probably better to stay, she bets they have some records of shrens here, but she can't stay. She'll end up shouting at someone. Time to go.
She teleports to the shren house in Esmaar, and storms to the door, and knocks.
Jensal answers it.
Avetlarin
Avet is pissed. Not at Jensal, but definitely pissed.
"I'm sorry to bother you again," she says, sincerely, despite that. "Do you have records on the number of living shrens? Please?"
"I'm sorry to bother you again," she says, sincerely, despite that. "Do you have records on the number of living shrens? Please?"
"We don't get information on home shrens and don't necessarily hear how many have died once they leave houses, but I know how many are in houses right now and can extrapolate the rest."
Avetlarin
"Okay, if you could get me those records without freezing up the minute you hear the word shren and getting testy and unhelpful with me for stupid reasons when I am trying to save uncounted babies from death before they're a month old, that would be great." Pause. "... Sorry, not directed at you."
"I gathered. If I froze up when I heard the word 'shren' I would be unqualified for my job," snorts Jensal. She lets Avet in and leads her to an office that appears to suffer from chronic paperwork and starts flipping through some of same.
Avetlarin
"Yes, that is specifically why I'm here," says Avet, dry. She waits.
"... I don't know if Ehail's told you, but we've made progress."
"... I don't know if Ehail's told you, but we've made progress."
"She hasn't been reporting to me. She lives at the Petar house; if she's been reporting to anyone it's probably Ludei."
Avetlarin
"Oh. Well. Do you want an explanation? It's somewhat incomplete, but it's more of an explanation than there was before."
"I'm not academically interested in the subject. Do you have results?" asks Jensal, pulling a file.
Avetlarin
"If I'm correct there is a spell that can accurately predict whether a baby dragon is going to die or not. Aside from that, no."
"I'm not sure how many parents would perceive that as a blessing," she remarks. Flip flip. "Extrapolating from house populations there are something like ten thousand total shrens in the world. More likely to be an overcount than an undercount."
Avetlarin
"Some might. Some might be smart enough to time their attempts to have children until after another dragon dies. Some -" She freezes.
She looks at Jensal.
"Oh fuck."
She looks at Jensal.
"Oh fuck."
Jensal puts the file away. "What?"
Avetlarin
"The - I suspect that there is a limited amount of dragon magic. The population is not stable because babies die, babies die because the population is kept stable by an outside source. That is, the amount of dragon magic. There is only so much that can go around, apparently, everyone who doesn't get it dies, and anyone who barely gets enough is a shren. Shrens have dragon magic."
Avet looks very horrified by the implications.
Avet looks very horrified by the implications.
"Are you anticipating dragons getting close enough to our houses to murder us all, or are you just very sensitive to the prospect of egg destruction? We don't even know how many dragons destroy their shren eggs."
Avetlarin
Avet winces.
"I. Don't know. I don't know what I'm anticipating. I don't want you to be murdered, and I don't want shren eggs to be destroyed before they hatch. I don't like the, the - there will be a lot more dragons working to kill shrens, I think. I don't like the extrapolated social and murdery results. If it gets out."
"I. Don't know. I don't know what I'm anticipating. I don't want you to be murdered, and I don't want shren eggs to be destroyed before they hatch. I don't like the, the - there will be a lot more dragons working to kill shrens, I think. I don't like the extrapolated social and murdery results. If it gets out."
"So, infant mortality's better?" wonders Jensal neutrally.
Avetlarin
"I. No?! It's not better, it's awful, I want it to stop! But I will not - shrens deserve to live. They should not die because they are inconvenient or so another baby dragon could live, everyone should live. No, no - if you play the pick and choose game, where does it end? Kill your neighbor so your babies don't die, sneak into your cousin's home and smash their eggs so yours will have a chance - no. No! It isn't better, but I refuse to start playing this horrific, sick game of, of, 'it is better for a shren to die for the sake of a baby dragon,' I refuse to say that one baby dragon can live over another, I refuse to say this is the way things are and let them die, before any of them are even hatched, or before they're a month old. No. I will find something better."
Jensal listens to this impassioned speech... impassively.
Avetlarin
Avet huffs, and buries her face in her hands.
"On a separate note, I am kind of disappointed in my entire species as a whole right now."
"On a separate note, I am kind of disappointed in my entire species as a whole right now."
"I'm familiar with the sensation."
Avetlarin
She giggles a little.
"Anyway. I have no reason to tell anyone, and perhaps more relevantly no one to tell. My crystal to the dragon council is for rogue shren reports only."
Avetlarin
"Mm. I - the dragon genealogist I talked to might be able to extrapolate," she sighs. "But considering how she froze up the minute I asked a question that involved shrens, I don't think she'll come to the correct conclusion on her own. I'll check. I - don't know, I might lie about it, if anyone asks, I am actually likely the expert on the subject now. And they will expect me to dutifully tell them everything because they know best."
"Checking with the genealogist might give her the idea if she doesn't already have it," points out Jensal.
Avetlarin
"Yeah. And I mentioned to several people that I thought dragon magic was the cause of it." She sighs. She contemplates the ceiling. "Right. So. I have a limited amount of time until the other dragons figure out the problem. Goodie."
"Do you need anything from me?"
Avetlarin
"No, thanks. I'll get out of your hair. Thank you for listening to me ramble."
"You seemed to need it."
Avetlarin
"A bit, yes." She smiles at Jensal. It's genuine, and also kind of tired. "I'm going to get back to work. I'll let you know if I come up with anything."
Nod.
Avetlarin
And off she goes, back to work. She writes an explanatory letter to Ehail.
The most pressing problem is the one involving baby dragons dying. She - isn't actually sure it's dragon magic. Just mostly sure. Almost entirely, completely sure. But she has to check. She can check while also working. She calls up her line representative, and asks to be kept informed of the fate of the dragon babies whose fates she predicted. Then she gets to work trying to invent a spell to see where dragon magic comes from, and where it goes after a dragon dies.
The most pressing problem is the one involving baby dragons dying. She - isn't actually sure it's dragon magic. Just mostly sure. Almost entirely, completely sure. But she has to check. She can check while also working. She calls up her line representative, and asks to be kept informed of the fate of the dragon babies whose fates she predicted. Then she gets to work trying to invent a spell to see where dragon magic comes from, and where it goes after a dragon dies.
She gets a letter a few days later.
The one she thought would die has done so. The other is still kicking.
The one she thought would die has done so. The other is still kicking.
Avetlarin
She looks at the letter, buys herself an extra box of chocolates when grocery shopping the next day, and gets back to work. She can't put off her job indefinitely, the one that earns her money instead of possibly saving lives. She goes to it, and she casts spells that are really rather petty in comparison to that other thing she's doing. She doesn't flinch at the first couple that want a spell to let them conceive, she nods and casts the spell and collects payment and tells them to have a nice day. And during the breaks between clients she works on the thing that matters quite a lot.
She collaborates with Ehail, and they go over her notes, and together they figure out a way to scry the dragon magic reserve.
She collaborates with Ehail, and they go over her notes, and together they figure out a way to scry the dragon magic reserve.
It's a variant on the spell that lets wizards look at the wizarding reservoir, the one Sand Dusk Chanters think is God.
The dragon magic reservoir is... smaller.
The dragon magic reservoir is... smaller.
Avetlarin
Yes. Yes of course it is.
Emptier, too, she expects.
I think, she writes to Ehail, That we'll do more if we invent a conception spell based on the reservoir. As in, a dragon cannot conceive with another dragon unless there is enough magic for the dragon to live. Without any chance of death or shrenhood. That way the number of babies dying and in pain from esu is capped while we work on solving everything else. For example: shrens.
Emptier, too, she expects.
I think, she writes to Ehail, That we'll do more if we invent a conception spell based on the reservoir. As in, a dragon cannot conceive with another dragon unless there is enough magic for the dragon to live. Without any chance of death or shrenhood. That way the number of babies dying and in pain from esu is capped while we work on solving everything else. For example: shrens.
Ehail writes back. That sounds like a good idea. I guess if it's a spell conception it also means they don't have extra siblings beyond the one there's enough magic for.
Avetlarin
Yeah. Which will make clutch sizes significantly smaller, but I don't think anyone will complain, considering, she agrees.
So. To work on that.
They do. Progress is made. Avet gets into the habit of setting alarms to remind herself to manage bodily functions such as eating and sleep. Lots and lots of letters are exchanged.
And then the spell is invented. Avet informs her line representative, and explains how the spell works.
So. To work on that.
They do. Progress is made. Avet gets into the habit of setting alarms to remind herself to manage bodily functions such as eating and sleep. Lots and lots of letters are exchanged.
And then the spell is invented. Avet informs her line representative, and explains how the spell works.
Her representative wants to know if it's relatively easy to cast or if people wanting to use it will have to come to her personally.
Avetlarin
It isn't very complicated. It's just a conception spell. She mails several copies of instructions to cast it to the line representative and sincerely asks for them to be distributed to every possible dragon. She will provide more copies if required.
It only takes a few days for there to be a formal order by the dragon council that dragon couples attempting to reproduce form an orderly queue and then visit one of the listed conception spell providers until they get a successful result. (She's on the list.)
Avetlarin
Avet is vaguely offended that they didn't ask if she wanted to be a listed conception spell provider, but she would have volunteered anyway, so she doesn't make a fuss. She provides conception spells when asked, and continues to write to Ehail.
They've distributed the spell and there's a formal order out that dragon couples use it, she informs. So that's taken care of. I don't know about you, but I'm doing a happy dance.
Now, on the subject of shrens -
And it's back to work.
Avet doesn't see an obvious way to fix shrenhood. This isn't surprising, it's a subject a lot of wizards have looked into and come up empty. But she felt she had to check, because no one invented the conception spell, and so she no longer trusts dragon wizards that aren't also named Avet. After a lot of analyses, it becomes clear that shrens are incapable of permanently holding provided dragon magic from the reservoir. They have a hole. With it in place, all extra magic provided spills right back out into the dragon magic reservoir. The hole cannot be patched without killing the shren, at least not by any obvious method Avet can see.
But really, she writes, curing shrens is a minor problem in comparison to preventing esu. And I think that it's possible we could temporarily give a shren the ability to fly with a sustained spell. What do you think, should we try it, or is it too dangerous?
They've distributed the spell and there's a formal order out that dragon couples use it, she informs. So that's taken care of. I don't know about you, but I'm doing a happy dance.
Now, on the subject of shrens -
And it's back to work.
Avet doesn't see an obvious way to fix shrenhood. This isn't surprising, it's a subject a lot of wizards have looked into and come up empty. But she felt she had to check, because no one invented the conception spell, and so she no longer trusts dragon wizards that aren't also named Avet. After a lot of analyses, it becomes clear that shrens are incapable of permanently holding provided dragon magic from the reservoir. They have a hole. With it in place, all extra magic provided spills right back out into the dragon magic reservoir. The hole cannot be patched without killing the shren, at least not by any obvious method Avet can see.
But really, she writes, curing shrens is a minor problem in comparison to preventing esu. And I think that it's possible we could temporarily give a shren the ability to fly with a sustained spell. What do you think, should we try it, or is it too dangerous?
It wouldn't be hard to find a volunteer, Ehail says, which isn't really an answer, is it.
Avetlarin
Avet is kind of used to this, actually, Ehail is sometimes bad at answering questions like these.
A lot of shrens would risk death for the chance to fly? she asks, catching the drift.
A lot of shrens would risk death for the chance to fly? she asks, catching the drift.
I don't know how many, but some.
Avetlarin
... Okay. Well. I'm willing to try the avenue if we're careful and we check our work twice and we have an adult volunteer to test it before we let it near the babies.
Jensal's probably going to be better at finding a volunteer than I am.
Avetlarin
I'll let her know, she agrees, and once that's mailed she teleports to the Esmaar shren house and knocks on the door.
Jensal, as usual, gets the door.
Avetlarin
"Hi. Have you heard about the dragon conception spell yet?" she starts off with.
"It filtered down," says Jensal blandly.
Avetlarin
"Okay, good, making sure. .... Any black groups that can hear us right now?"
Because she does not want to start a panic about 'There might be a way to let shrens fly.'
Because she does not want to start a panic about 'There might be a way to let shrens fly.'
"Probably. My office is soundproofed. Do you want to talk there?"
Avetlarin
Nod. "Yes please."
To Jensal's office they go.
Avetlarin
Once they're there, and the door is closed:
"Ehail and I don't think there's an easy way to cure shrens anytime soon. But, a sustained spell to let them temporarily fly might be possible."
"Ehail and I don't think there's an easy way to cure shrens anytime soon. But, a sustained spell to let them temporarily fly might be possible."
"That would be absolutely invaluable for the babies," says Jensal. "Do you have such a spell now ready to test?"
Avetlarin
"That was the train of thought, yeah. No spell yet, I'd like adult volunteers before casting experimental spells on babies. I thought it was important to let you know so you could get a volunteer ready to go beforehand, so that when the spell's ready we can test is as soon as possible. Spare the babies as much esu as we can."
"I'll ask around. I can probably turn someone up in less than an angle if you want to wait."
Avetlarin
"Sure, thanks."
Jensal leaves her alone in the office.
Avetlarin
Avet sits, and waits, and wonders if there are any other obvious dragon and dragon-related problems she'll have to fix. And if she can let baby shrens fly temporarily.
In ten degrees, Jensal comes back with a mousy gentleman who is copper just like Avet.
Avetlarin
Well, that's quaint.
"Hello," she says.
(Her empathic signature is one of a person who would like very much to get back to work. She's antsy. Antsy, determined, a little proud (of the conception trick) and backed with quiet sorrow over the baby shrens. Also a smidge of guilt, too.)
"Hello," she says.
(Her empathic signature is one of a person who would like very much to get back to work. She's antsy. Antsy, determined, a little proud (of the conception trick) and backed with quiet sorrow over the baby shrens. Also a smidge of guilt, too.)
"Hello," he says.
"This is Tziret. He'll be happy to serve as your test subject in some suitably isolated location," says Jensal.
"This is Tziret. He'll be happy to serve as your test subject in some suitably isolated location," says Jensal.
Avetlarin
"Nice to meet you. Bottom of the world's probably the best place, unless you can think of a better spot? If not, I'll make a trip and we can teleport there when the spell's ready for testing."
Tziret just nods.
Avetlarin
"All right, then. Back to work for me."
"Luck," says Jensal, waving Tziret on his way.
Avetlarin
"Thanks!"
And off she teleports. Work awaits.
It's a harder problem than the last one. There isn't another spell to lean off of, here. It all has to be painstakingly invented. Neither she nor Ehail are brilliant at spell invention, but they are both going to keep at it.
Avet calms down, a little. She is still obviously working on the project, obviously making progress, but it does not rule her life. She flies to the bottom of the world, finds a nice spot in the middle of nowhere to let shrens fly, and then teleports home. She quits her job (because it is boring, she never liked it, and it was always something she planned to be temporary, anyway) and gets something more freelancy. Word of mouth from dragons that come to her for conceptions? Useful for that thing.
It takes a while. Almost a year. Avet feels vaguely guilty for every hour she steals for herself, but if she doesn't she suspects that by the end she'll be an empty shell of her former self. So she doesn't do that. But she does keep at it, and she does keep sending anonymous donations.
And then the spell is done.
She and Ehail check it multiple times. They are as sure as they can be that it'll work.
So. Avet knocks on the door to the Esmaar shren house, and tries to balance out worry, anxiety, and excitement.
And off she teleports. Work awaits.
It's a harder problem than the last one. There isn't another spell to lean off of, here. It all has to be painstakingly invented. Neither she nor Ehail are brilliant at spell invention, but they are both going to keep at it.
Avet calms down, a little. She is still obviously working on the project, obviously making progress, but it does not rule her life. She flies to the bottom of the world, finds a nice spot in the middle of nowhere to let shrens fly, and then teleports home. She quits her job (because it is boring, she never liked it, and it was always something she planned to be temporary, anyway) and gets something more freelancy. Word of mouth from dragons that come to her for conceptions? Useful for that thing.
It takes a while. Almost a year. Avet feels vaguely guilty for every hour she steals for herself, but if she doesn't she suspects that by the end she'll be an empty shell of her former self. So she doesn't do that. But she does keep at it, and she does keep sending anonymous donations.
And then the spell is done.
She and Ehail check it multiple times. They are as sure as they can be that it'll work.
So. Avet knocks on the door to the Esmaar shren house, and tries to balance out worry, anxiety, and excitement.
Avet receives some anonymous (and less anonymous) donations of her own, from grateful dragons; the Council can't throw around cash awards but individuals can.
Jensal answers the door.
Jensal answers the door.
Avetlarin
Avet is pretty okay with getting anonymous and non-anonymous donations from dragons!
"Spell's ready for testing," she says. "... Also, hi."
"Spell's ready for testing," she says. "... Also, hi."
"Hi. I'll get your test subject."
Jensal goes and gets the test subject.
Jensal goes and gets the test subject.
Avetlarin
Avet waits! Smiling, impatient, nervous, trying not to fidget.
Jensal returns, plus one copper fellow. He smiles a little.
Avetlarin
She smiles back. "Jensal, would you like to supervise, or...?"
"If it won't be inconvenient."
Avetlarin
"Nope." She holds out a hand to teleport them both. "Already have the spot picked out."
Shrens touch her hand.
Avetlarin
And she brings the both of them to the bottom of the world!
"You'll need to be in natural form for the spell," she informs, "I don't know how it would react if you shifted while under it. You're welcome to check the area for dragons besides the obvious one, first."
She doesn't actually have a flight form that isn't her dragon form. She's not old enough to make commuting difficult, and leaving her options open is appealing. But she doesn't volunteer that information, it seems like it would be rude.
"You'll need to be in natural form for the spell," she informs, "I don't know how it would react if you shifted while under it. You're welcome to check the area for dragons besides the obvious one, first."
She doesn't actually have a flight form that isn't her dragon form. She's not old enough to make commuting difficult, and leaving her options open is appealing. But she doesn't volunteer that information, it seems like it would be rude.
Jensal performs a check as a peregrine. She lands and gives the all-clear and the copper shifts. Scales tumble to the ground in a clattering rain.
Avetlarin
Avet takes a deep breath. She casts the analysis so she can see what will occur, then she casts the spell. Nothing horrible immediately happens. The spell does exactly what it's supposed to. Definitely temporary, but it should let him...
"Fly," she murmurs.
(Oh no what if it all goes horribly wrong...)
"Fly," she murmurs.
(Oh no what if it all goes horribly wrong...)
He spreads his wings. He flaps.
He is not graceful in the air.
But he gets off the ground.
Jensal holds her breath.
He is not graceful in the air.
But he gets off the ground.
Jensal holds her breath.
Avetlarin
Avet doesn't have anything in particular to say. Nothing has gone horribly wrong. Nothing at all. It's. Working.
She. She just made a shren fly.
Holy shit.
"We. Still don't know if it fixes esu," she squeaks, wide eyed but trying to maintain some hint of professionalism. "Or if the spell can be ended safely. Ready, or do you - want more time...?"
She. She just made a shren fly.
Holy shit.
"We. Still don't know if it fixes esu," she squeaks, wide eyed but trying to maintain some hint of professionalism. "Or if the spell can be ended safely. Ready, or do you - want more time...?"
"Come down," says Jensal. Tziret lands. "The babies, Avet. Take the spell off him."
Avetlarin
"Right, yes, sorry," she agrees, blinking. Off goes the spell.
... Nothing horrible happens there, either.
Avet grins. "To the house?"
She holds out her hand for teleportation.
... Nothing horrible happens there, either.
Avet grins. "To the house?"
She holds out her hand for teleportation.
Shrens again touch her hand.
Avetlarin
And then they are in the house.
Avet motions to Jensal to lead on. She doesn't know the house. She could conceivably follow the screaming, but she's worried it'll get her lost.
Avet motions to Jensal to lead on. She doesn't know the house. She could conceivably follow the screaming, but she's worried it'll get her lost.
Jensal leads her to the babies room. It is indeed in the direction of the screaming. Jensal presents her with a gold baby.
Avetlarin
Analysis, in case something goes horribly wrong, and then spell.
And then she nods to Jensal.
And then she nods to Jensal.
Jensal tells the baby to fly.
And she does.
Jensal then gets a ruby baby to go next. (The remaining babies are all suddenly very excited.)
And she does.
Jensal then gets a ruby baby to go next. (The remaining babies are all suddenly very excited.)
Avetlarin
Avet can't blame them. She grins. She grins and she casts some spells.
When the last baby has flown for a moment: "I'll call Ehail," says Jensal.
Avetlarin
"Whisper spell's faster," says Avet, and she casts one, and she says to Ehail, "It works, esu's fixed, we're in the room with the babies -"
Ehail teleports to Jensal's office and then hurries out to the babies' room and offers Avet her hand.
Avetlarin
Avet takes it.
And Ehail teleports them and they are in a different room of screaming babies, minded by a jade man who blinks at them. Ehail finds the largest baby and gives her to Avet.
Avetlarin
Avet casts the spell, and then says, "C'mon, fly -"
And thus did all of the babies at this house fly.
"I can't teleport to the other two," says Ehail.
"I can't teleport to the other two," says Ehail.
Avetlarin
"I've been to Gibryel," she says, "I can fly to Tenebirokalamikikek from there, are you willing to grab a teleportation circle to Corenta and grab it yourself? Faster that way, though I might be able to find a wizard that can teleport me to both countries -"
"Yes. Just write the spell down for me. Is it intentionally complex...?"
Avetlarin
"No, it's not -" She retrieves paper and a writing utensil, and writes down the spell, and hands it to Ehail. "Would have mailed it, kind of was in a rush. Questions before I teleport and start flying, or...?"
"No. Go."
Ehail teleports away.
The jade guy, festooned with baby shrens, blinks at Avet.
Ehail teleports away.
The jade guy, festooned with baby shrens, blinks at Avet.
Avetlarin
She waves, and then she goes.
She flies dragon most of the way, it's faster. But she doesn't stay dragon. That would be a great way to lose her ability to fly in natural form entirely. She walked to get to the Esmaar house, the first time, but now's really not the time for that. Time to stop sitting on that one single chosen form. And it's not like she hadn't thought about what her non-dragon flight form would be. Just - waffling a little. In case of an emergency.
Gyrfalcon, she thinks, and she is a pale while bird with coppery markings that doesn't stop flying after she shifts.
She's at the shren house in Tenebirokalamikikek soon enough. She lands and shifts human, and tries to figure out how to get in.
She flies dragon most of the way, it's faster. But she doesn't stay dragon. That would be a great way to lose her ability to fly in natural form entirely. She walked to get to the Esmaar house, the first time, but now's really not the time for that. Time to stop sitting on that one single chosen form. And it's not like she hadn't thought about what her non-dragon flight form would be. Just - waffling a little. In case of an emergency.
Gyrfalcon, she thinks, and she is a pale while bird with coppery markings that doesn't stop flying after she shifts.
She's at the shren house in Tenebirokalamikikek soon enough. She lands and shifts human, and tries to figure out how to get in.
The iceberg has an entrance, but it's filled with water.
Someone swims up in merfolk form presently. "Jensal called. Are you Avet?"
Someone swims up in merfolk form presently. "Jensal called. Are you Avet?"
Avetlarin
"Yes. The babies, please...?"
"Do you have a merfolk form? I have to call the council to bring them up, but there's a small pocket of air in the iceberg with enough space for a baby to fly a little..."
Avetlarin
She considers, very briefly, if using a form up for a merfolk form is worth it to get to the babies sooner. Merfolk is a pretty good choice for an aquatic form. And she'll be back later for the babies. And does she really want to make children wait in agony because she didn't want to use another form? And then she is not considering anymore, because she has stepped forward so her ankles are in the (freezing) water, and she is then a merfolk.
"Do now," she says, lightly. "Lead on?"
"Do now," she says, lightly. "Lead on?"
The water would be comfier if she'd wound up with a luckier subspecies of merfolk, but it's livable even for a shallows-Eem one. The amethyst shows her the way into the iceberg. There are babies; they are ushered into the air pocket, which is used mostly for storage but is quickly cleared out to let them fly.
Avetlarin
She is not here to be comfy, she is here to help some babies.
Once everything is ready: spells. Well, just the one, really, cast multiple times. But it's an important one.
Once everything is ready: spells. Well, just the one, really, cast multiple times. But it's an important one.
And the babies are flown and very happy and damply affectionate.
Avetlarin
She giggles, and pets one while she whispers Ehail. Is she over her fear of shrens? It sort of looks like she's over her fear of shrens. Also babies are cute.
"Got Tenebirokalamikikek," she informs.
"Got Tenebirokalamikikek," she informs.
"I've gotten Corenta," says Ehail. "I don't know how to find the home shrens."
Avetlarin
"I will ask the dragon council, they'll have records. Countries you've visited and can teleport to in case you have one I haven't and it's faster for me to tell you?"
"Petar and Esmaar. Reverni. Corenta, now. Aveha. I passed through Tava on the way to Corenta. I went to Aqathe once."
Avetlarin
"Okay. Thanks. I will let you know."
"Excuse me," she says to the nearest person in charge, "I'm going to go take care of home shrens. I'll be back later to reset them again, but - yeah, gotta go."
"Excuse me," she says to the nearest person in charge, "I'm going to go take care of home shrens. I'll be back later to reset them again, but - yeah, gotta go."
"Thank you," call the amethyst and babyminder in unison.
Avetlarin
She smiles and nods, and teleports to Dragon Island to go find records of shrens. It's a bit weird to be in natural form after working so hard to not around shrens, but she'll cope.
Records of shrens are found, easily located since dragons need to know where not to fly. She writes down all addresses of the little ones stil in esu. Locations are relayed to Ehail where appropriate. And then Avet starts teleporting to places, and flying from there. In her falcon form, because she's aiming for shrens specifically and it's really better to be safe in these circumstances.
She reaches the first house reasonably quickly, lands, and knocks on the door.
Records of shrens are found, easily located since dragons need to know where not to fly. She writes down all addresses of the little ones stil in esu. Locations are relayed to Ehail where appropriate. And then Avet starts teleporting to places, and flying from there. In her falcon form, because she's aiming for shrens specifically and it's really better to be safe in these circumstances.
She reaches the first house reasonably quickly, lands, and knocks on the door.
This house has an exhausted jet lady and a screaming jet baby.
Avetlarin
"I am a wizard who can let her temporarily fly," she explains. "With a spell. It will reset esu."
"Him," corrects the mother blearily, and then, "wait, what."
"FLY!" screams the baby.
"FLY!" screams the baby.
Avetlarin
She casts the spell.
"Fly," she agrees.
"Fly," she agrees.
The baby escapes his mother, scratching her in the process, and flies.
Avetlarin
Good.
"Come down, please, I can do joyrides later but right now I'm resetting esu across the board," she calls.
"Come down, please, I can do joyrides later but right now I'm resetting esu across the board," she calls.
"NO. FLY," says the jet.
Avetlarin
"... Other babies are in pain like you were," she hisses. "I need to get to them too."
"NOOOO," screams the jet, flapping off into another corner of the house.
His mother chases him. "Myak! Myak, you come down right now -"
"NO! NO! FLY FLY FLY!"
His mother chases him. "Myak! Myak, you come down right now -"
"NO! NO! FLY FLY FLY!"
Avetlarin
"Is there a light nearby?" wonders Avet. "I don't want to drop him out of the air but kind of important -"
"I can't bring him to a light," exclaims the mother. "Myak! Land at once!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO HAVE TO FLY!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO HAVE TO FLY!"
Avetlarin
"Right. Of course," she sighs.
Eyetwitch.
"I can make you stop flying, I do not want to hurt you, but other babies are suffering."
Eyetwitch.
"I can make you stop flying, I do not want to hurt you, but other babies are suffering."
"NO DON'T MAKE IT GO BACK TO HURTING MORE NO I FLY I FLY LOOK I FLY!" wails the baby.
Avetlarin
"You will not hurt when you stop flying. I will be back to let you fly later. You will not hurt again. No more hurting for anyone. Ever."
"LYING," hollers the baby.
"For goodness' sake, Myak!"
"For goodness' sake, Myak!"
Avetlarin
Avet is officially through arguing with a baby. The stakes are too fucking high.
She judges the height of the baby, recalls times when she's crashed from higher without injury, and casts the spell's reversal.
She judges the height of the baby, recalls times when she's crashed from higher without injury, and casts the spell's reversal.
The baby screams and divebombs an ottoman. His mother scoops him up.
Avetlarin
"Sorry," she says. And then she teleports away, to the spot where she can fly to the next location.
Myak is by far her most obstinate patient.
Avetlarin
Good. She's very happy about that.
Eventually she is out of addresses.
She whispers to Ehail that she's finished hers, then goes to retrieve the crystal to her line rep. To actually explain the thing she just did.
Eventually she is out of addresses.
She whispers to Ehail that she's finished hers, then goes to retrieve the crystal to her line rep. To actually explain the thing she just did.
Her line rep doesn't love having to talk about shrens, but agrees to forward this information up.
Avetlarin
Her line rep can suck it up.
With that out of the way, she teleports back to the Esmaar shren house to tiredly inform Jensal that all shren babies have been reset. Because no one but her seems to tell Jensal anything directly.
With that out of the way, she teleports back to the Esmaar shren house to tiredly inform Jensal that all shren babies have been reset. Because no one but her seems to tell Jensal anything directly.
"Thank you for letting me know," says Jensal. "Should we expect you back here at some point?"
Avetlarin
Nod, nod. "I will work out a schedule when I am less. Exhausted. I'll distribute the spell, as well. Publish, maybe. Thought you should know before I curl up and sleep for a week."
"Go home and sleep," advises Jensal.
Avetlarin
"That," she says with a grin, "is really great advice."
She teleports straight to her room, falls in a bed-wards direction, and...
Sweet, blessed, delightful sleep. No obstinate babies that she has to drop out of the sky. No flying all over creation for hours.
Sleep.
She assumes that someone will contact her if she missed a shren. She - second guesses that assumption, calls her line rep again, apologizes for the subject matter, and asks very politely for parents of home shrens to please contact her if she missed them. Via mail, not through the line rep, so the line rep doesn't have to, 'Deal with this upsetting subject matter.' She doesn't think that, or anywhere close, but she doesn't want to burn bridges with Dragon Island. She'll - think of something better than mail. Eventually.
There are no mail-based interruptions of the emergency kind. She has several glorious days off. And then she pulls herself out of her rest, and goes to sort out scheduling for esu resets so no shren baby has to suffer through it again. She doesn't charge anything for an esu reset for babies. She - realizes that she should probably capitalize on the fact that she's got the market for shrens that want to fly almost entirely cornered. She snorts and doesn't do that thing, and publishes the spell publicly. Any competent wizard can cast it, if they care to look it up. Other dragons will make faces at her, but her explanation for it's an innocent, 'I think it's important to share research so that a miracle can eventually be achieved.' Really, she wants shrens to be able to fly. For fun. Not just because of horrific pain from esu.
Apparently she is the known expert on dragon magic now. That's. Sort of weird, actually. How did that happen? Well. She can't complain, people are still donating her money. She keeps at studying dragon magic. She answers questions about it when asked, she shows up when called by the dragon council. Not because she likes them, but because she genuinely has stopped trusting them to competently run things and is quietly convinced that if she doesn't show up to spot large glaring mistakes something will be on fire when she next looks. If she's supposed to be the expert in it, she's going to actually be the expert. She doesn't bring up Ehail, per Ehail's wishes, but she keeps writing to her. Maybe they can solve more of dragon magic's bullshit. Maybe they can figure out a way to get more dragon magic to exist. Maybe they can figure out how to turn non-dragons into dragons.
Maybe, just maybe, they can cure shrens. Eventually. With creative application of magic.
She beat the door. What's a miracle in comparison?
She teleports straight to her room, falls in a bed-wards direction, and...
Sweet, blessed, delightful sleep. No obstinate babies that she has to drop out of the sky. No flying all over creation for hours.
Sleep.
She assumes that someone will contact her if she missed a shren. She - second guesses that assumption, calls her line rep again, apologizes for the subject matter, and asks very politely for parents of home shrens to please contact her if she missed them. Via mail, not through the line rep, so the line rep doesn't have to, 'Deal with this upsetting subject matter.' She doesn't think that, or anywhere close, but she doesn't want to burn bridges with Dragon Island. She'll - think of something better than mail. Eventually.
There are no mail-based interruptions of the emergency kind. She has several glorious days off. And then she pulls herself out of her rest, and goes to sort out scheduling for esu resets so no shren baby has to suffer through it again. She doesn't charge anything for an esu reset for babies. She - realizes that she should probably capitalize on the fact that she's got the market for shrens that want to fly almost entirely cornered. She snorts and doesn't do that thing, and publishes the spell publicly. Any competent wizard can cast it, if they care to look it up. Other dragons will make faces at her, but her explanation for it's an innocent, 'I think it's important to share research so that a miracle can eventually be achieved.' Really, she wants shrens to be able to fly. For fun. Not just because of horrific pain from esu.
Apparently she is the known expert on dragon magic now. That's. Sort of weird, actually. How did that happen? Well. She can't complain, people are still donating her money. She keeps at studying dragon magic. She answers questions about it when asked, she shows up when called by the dragon council. Not because she likes them, but because she genuinely has stopped trusting them to competently run things and is quietly convinced that if she doesn't show up to spot large glaring mistakes something will be on fire when she next looks. If she's supposed to be the expert in it, she's going to actually be the expert. She doesn't bring up Ehail, per Ehail's wishes, but she keeps writing to her. Maybe they can solve more of dragon magic's bullshit. Maybe they can figure out a way to get more dragon magic to exist. Maybe they can figure out how to turn non-dragons into dragons.
Maybe, just maybe, they can cure shrens. Eventually. With creative application of magic.
She beat the door. What's a miracle in comparison?