[Hlaeth] Ch 18 - The Worth of a Wyrm

« Chapter 17 | Index | Chapter 19 »

            I flicked up the Holo of the black-scaled Mire Dragon in front of us, pausing so everyone could survey the list of parts, what they were used for, and the gold value equivalents.

            Skull, for Greater Baneskull. 10K gp right there, just to start it off.

            Dragonheart, full Greater Half-Dragon Template and empowerment. 200K+

Scales, full set, for making Armor, Shields, Barding, and Plating. 120K+ for the whole set.

            Teeth, eyes, voicebox, brain, tongue, fundamentallum, stomach, intestines, sinews, flesh (for Potions and Alchemical Cooking!), claws, bones, spinal crest, heart, liver. Over 75k for all of those.

            Blood, 1100 gp per quart, expected up to 160 gallons, used in Scrolls, Potions, tempering fluids, magical acid production, and the very finest inks and paints!

---

            It was a pretty complete list. The Wyrms all had interesting expressions on their faces as they took a look at how much they were worth dead.

            They were incredibly valuable!

            “Much of the value is based on the fact this was a Wyrm. Dragons and Spawn are worth correspondingly less, effectively being of lower quality than their elders. But, quantities of kills over quality, as it were.” I flipped up the corresponding lists for an Adult Dragon and a Young Spawn, and the prices were indeed considerably less than that of a Wyrm, especially for things like the Dragonheart and the blood.

            “You… take our Dragonhearts?” Coronus asked grimly, pointing at the three listings for emphasis.

            “We’ve taken THEIR Dragonhearts,” I corrected him mildly. “It should not surprise you that some humans would be very, very happy to take yours as well, given their value.”

            “And what do you use them for, that they command such value?” Coronus asked sharply.

            “Among us? The primary use of a Dragonheart is to gain the Half-Dragon Template, becoming the equivalent of a descendant of a dragon, which, among its other many benefits, allows a human Primos to join the ranks of the Powered, as they will then be able to access Sorcery and potentially Clerical Magic.” I made the prices glow. “It should not surprise you that the chance to gain such power would command a very high price, be it for themselves or their children.

            “The Powered of my homeworld do not have Powered children. All of my children, for instance, were born completely normal Primos humans with no natural magical ability, for instance.” They all looked at me in astonishment and disbelief. “They, in turn, might have Powered children of their own someday, but that is a matter of grandchildren.

            “By taking a Dragonheart, they are no longer Primos humans, they can wield magic, and in addition they get a fairly broad spectrum of racial benefits inherited from Dragons.” The Holo of the prices faded away, and was replaced with a listing of the benefits of being a half-dragon.

Racial Hit Die to d12 (12) and six Skill Points per Racial Hit Die.

If Large, gains wings and flies at twice ground movement speed (Max 120, average maneuverability).

Natural Armor Class +4.

Gains claw and bite attacks.

Gain Breath Weapon appropriate to Dragon species (6d8 damage base), nominally usable once a day.

Gain darkvision, low-light vision; immunity to sleep and paralysis effects; immunity to energy attacks based on Dragon species.

Strength +8 (triple normal), Constitution +2, Intellect +2, Charisma +2.

Automatic access to Dragon Racial Class, Dragon Disciple, and Dragon Adept, if desired.

May always advance as Sorcerers (Arcane Magic), or Dragon Hands/Warriors (chi-users), and are considered Powered individuals.

Full access to Draconic Feats, Skills, Techniques, Spells, and Traits.

Counts as a dragon for magical purposes (Banes, magic item use, etc) as well as original race/species.

            Their expressions were interesting as they digested the sight of that, Comprehend Languages interpreting all the Stats to their frame of reference.

            “These… are the benefits of being a dragonchild,” Elder Styllaris spoke up after a moment of analysis. “It is not something restricted to humans…”

            “That is correct. Any non-true dragon child of a dragon basically gets these benefits. A Dragonheart merely allows someone to gain them for themselves,” I emphasized. “I doubt it would surprise you to know that the Chromatics spread their bloodline everywhere they go, gaining children they can command and use them to command the species they are born of. Half-dragon bears, crocodiles, serpents, sharks, lizard men, great cats, and dinosaurs. Lots and lots of dinosaurs...

            “We’ve killed a LOT of half-dragons,” I added dryly, noting the revulsion on their faces at the idea of breeding with non-intelligent creatures. “If you will recall, a Greater Dragonheart was worth more than a lesser one. That is because a Greater Dragonheart instantly powers up many of the benefits of the Template, while less powerful ones only grant some of the benefits, and the rest must be gained on one’s own.

            “I believe a Wyrm’s Dragonheart is one hundred percent empowerment of the Template, and thus commands a very high price for the benefits it grants. We have never actually sold one, or gone to a market where they were for sale to be purchased, but just the benefits it grants are worth over 200k in gold if you were to attempt to replicate them with magic, and it can take a long time for those who have gained a Dragonheart to fully power up.

            “It’s a powerful Template, it grants a lot of abilities, and it is worth a lot. Ergo, Dragonhearts are worth a lot, as they are about the only way known to gain the Template if you aren’t the actual child of a dragon.”

            “A dragonchild does not have a Dragonheart,” Coronus stated with authority. “So, you gain nothing like those benefits from killing one…”

            “Correct. There are minor alchemical benefits from killing things with draconic blood, such as their blood being eligible for Potions and Scroll Inks and the like, but nothing like true dragons,” I agreed with him. “They are basically considered extremely powerful pests and predators that need to be cleared out, or they change whole ecosystems around themselves. Half-dragon dragonflies, half-dragon shamblers and hangmen trees, half-dragon ground wurms, half-dragon lobsters and crabs and eels… just, blah.”

            The tips of their elven-esque ears were a little bit bright. I was basically discussing bestiality with them, on the dragon side of things!

            “That is why we have to kill so many of our distant kin,” Bronze Clangrill stated in an iron voice. “Such depravity among them…”

            All the Wyrms nodded in affirmation and revulsion.

            “And that’s why we’ve continued to kill them all as they come, and you can imagine why there would be a lot of people suspicious of your motivations if you were to come to my homeworld. Dragons just have not set a good example to anyone there.”

            “Very understandable,” Silver Styllaris spoke up in her soft voice. “We all know that you have killed a considerable number of dragons, Master Aelryinth. Yet… you have not used a Dragonheart for yourself?” she asked me directly.

            “It is not like I haven’t considered it,” I confirmed for her. “But there’s a hidden penalty for a Human talking a Dragonheart. They aren’t a true Human any more, and can’t take Human Racial advances.”

            Their expressions were rather blank, which made me smile slightly. “Not impressed by humans, I take it? The local humans probably don’t know about the advances, but I do. The benefits of becoming a half-dragon do not compare to the benefits of becoming an Exemplar, and I will gladly defer the taking of a Dragonheart until I walk the road of an Exemplar to the end.”

            “An Exemplar?” Coronus repeated cautiously. “I believe they are called Paragons here. Such creatures are… truly legendary in their power…” he said deliberately.

            “Yes. A Human who reaches Twenty can become a Lesser Exemplar. We have to pay the full cost for the privilege, which is not cheap, but we can DO it. A half-dragon has no such right. They are a mix of two races, not truly a species of their own.

            “Likewise, dragons do not gain the right to make themselves Exemplars. You gain power by dint of time and growth. To gain power, you need only survive.”

            There was a moment of contemplation by the Wyrms as they considered that startling fact, until Captain Fyanyl spoke up, “Is there a similar path for elves?” she asked me anxiously.

            “Almost all of the main humanoid species have the same rights as humans as regards such things, Captain,” I informed her casually. “They simply have to know they can do so, and how to do so, the requirements, and so forth. Note that if you miss your opportunity, you might not be able to go back and take it, so you have to take them as they come.”

            “So, I may have missed my chance?” she asked, dispirited.

            “You, no. Commander Tellusian is a Sixteen, however, and almost certainly has gone past his moment. You’re actually a Ten, and you have the capability to take the Atlantean advance at Ten, then the Advanced improvement at Fifteen, and potentially Lesser Exemplar at Twenty.

            “Like us, this is not a cheap investment on your part, but it will definitely improve your foundation and affect your future.”

            Her bright green eyes opened wide in delight, while Commander Tellusian looked vaguely disappointed, missing out on an avenue of power he hadn’t known existed.

            “What do they do, Master Aelryinth?” Fyanyl asked eagerly.

            “The Atlantean Advance is also called the Primal Advance. You gain a +2 bonus to all of your foundational ability scores. By comparison, it is like Casting the lesser version of all of the Animal Affinity spells on yourself, but it is a permanent change and improvement to your mind and body.”

            Her eyes widened slightly again. “That… is indeed a benefit!” she exclaimed.

            “The Advanced Template at Fifteen improves that by another +2. So, like the main Animal Affinity spells active upon you, all the time.”

            I could see the hidden excitement and resolve in her eyes. “And the Lesser Exemplar?”

            “That has a broader array of improvements, outside mere statistics. Your Spellcasting ability improves in Power. You gain the ability to bend Luck and Fate to your desires in marginal ways, you become much harder to kill, and if you complete it, you’ve basically achieved the start of an Eternal Template and can advance to Twenty-One without effort.

            “Exemplar leads to Eternity,” I quoted a certain Solar.

            I heard a gasp from Commander Tellusian behind me. “The, the only way known to the Life Eternal for elves is High Magery!” he exclaimed in shock, the statement enough to make me stop walking, turn around, and look at him. Sort of. Blindfolded, you know.

            “And,” I said acerbically, “upon whose knowledge is that fact based? The High Mages, perchance?” 

            Before he could figure out a proper reply, I waved it away and turned back on our stroll. “All true career paths offer a Road to the Eternal. Wizardry is simply a natural one for the elves, and the easiest. 

            “But any who achieve Exemplar may walk onto the Road of the Eternal. Fate and Luck are with you, and Eternity beckons. That’s all there is to it.”

            “Warriors and rangers may walk the Eternal?” Fyanyl exclaimed in near-disbelief.

            “I absolutely refuse to consider that you do not have master archers and legendary huntsmen among your own gods. With them as an example, what makes you think you cannot rise to similar levels of those tales? Magic is more than casting spells and glowing fingers!

            “Dragons are magic incarnate! Do you not think that a warrior’s magic cannot be as potent as any spellcaster? Do you think a dragon would give up its size, strength, ability to fly, ability to breathe devastation, long years, and elemental domination for just the ability to Cast spells?!

            “My wife can split a castle’s wall and hew one of your Elder Trees down with one blow. She can and has slaughtered dragons with one strike of her blade.

            “She will walk the Road Eternal and nothing is going to stop her save Death itself come for her!”

« Chapter 17 | Index | Chapter 19 »