LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 70: Q&A (and wiki docs)
Question from Eternal Reader to Pryce:
Since humans had legends of dragons, do you suppose that in the distant past a dragon managed to reach the mainland? Is it also possible that dragons used to exist on the mainland? Besides that, are you excited for what might be on the third island?
Pryce: “That is possible, but not very plausible. Considering the sheer difficulty involved in crossing such a distance – the Mainland is about 6600 kilometers away, which means it would take 110 hours or over four-and-a-half days of straight flight, and that obviously isn’t feasible given that they need to eat, sleep, and drink fresh water – though dragons get most of their water from their food. Hunting in the ocean is dangerous albeit not impossible, as proven by Aurum, but that still leaves the former problem. It is possible that a dragon was lucky enough to find a few islets to rest, but I still find it incredibly unlikely.”
[He pauses for a moment.]
Pryce: “Another issue is a lack of consistency – the dragons of legend are generally depicted as oversized versions of lanaries, which are small, hexapedal, flying creatures who bear a superficial resemblance to dragons (though they do have toothed beaks instead of a muzzle).
In essence, dragons of myth are to lanaries as rocs are to birds.
Pryce: “Dragons of myth are also usually likened to divine beasts, capable of controlling (or at least acting as an omen of) the weather. I have never heard of any legend where they’re capable of speech, though some local myths involve a human being cursed into the form of a dragon…either way, if a dragon had ever arrived upon the Mainland then it would have happened a very long ago, with the details lost to time.”
[Pryce scratches his head, thinking for a moment.]
Pryce: “...This is getting a little off topic, but it really is quite mysterious that there is such a discrepancy between the prevalence of hexapeds and tetrapods between our environments. I hypothesize that – for whatever reason – tetrapods became land-dwelling creatures on the Mainland before hexapeds did, and by the time the latter were able to do so the tetrapods were too well-established to displace. Another thing to consider is that the colder climate makes extra limbs less beneficial, as it causes an organism to lose more heat through their increased surface area. More limbs also require more brainpower to control, which means they’d need more calories to survive.”
Pryce: “The heart of the Mainland is rather arid, and it can be considerably cooler in the winter. Those factors mean that there’s less energy in the environment to sustain hexapeds, and thus, over time, the more efficient tetrapods dominated the ecosystem.”
Question from ABirbThatReads to Fathom: I know that Pryce has given a name for both you and your species. And that you have given Pryce a new name, but what do you call humans in Draconic? And how did you come to that answer?
[Fathom shrugs]
Fathom: “I never bothered coming up with a new name for humans…but I have a few ideas. Translated, they would be: stick-limbs, flat-faces, neckless, thin-hides, or crab-hands – because if you put your hands together and wriggle your fingers then it looks like a crab. Or a spider.”
[Scott opens his mouth to argue, but reconsiders to put his hands together and wriggle his fingers.]
Scott: "Holy shit. He's right."
Question from Bloov for Devotion and Fortitude: Hello! Sorry if I am too nosy, but my question is... how did you two meet each other?
Fortitude: “Not at all. Our parents introduced us so we could play and fight with one another. Ghorrah usually won.”
[Devotion tosses her head in exasperation]
Devotion: “Of course I won. I’m two years older.”
Fortitude: “Details. Anyway, we became fast friends, and when we were old enough we decided to live together – but we did not become partners until half a year after my wing was broken, of course.”
Question from Bloov to Kerak: What is your favorite game? Do you play a lot with your mum and dad or do you play mostly alone?
[Kerak plays with the lighter by flicking the spark wheel.]
[Question is repeated]
Kerak: «Oh!...I like to play hunter* with mother! Sometimes I play with father too, but he’s always so sleepy!**»
*Note: A game where the parent helps the hatchling catch small prey.
**Note: Kerak’s father does most of the hunting and other miscellaneous activities. He also tends to work while Kerak and his mother are sleeping, which is why from Kerak’s perspective he seems to often be ‘sleepy’.
Question from Bloov to Celeste: Hi! May I ask? If you were able to, would you go to a university to learn about human knowledge? If so, what subjects would you like to learn the most?
[Celeste shrugs]
Celeste: “How am I supposed to know what I don't know? But if I had to give an answer, I would say that your technology in general is very interesting…but so is your history. Pryce has not been able to explain it very well, and I am curious to see how different human culture is from ours.”
Question from Bloov to Kharno: Hello! It seems that you find human appearances amusing. Would you like to have human plush?! 😀
Kharno: «Of course!...though I might accidentally damage it with my talons…would it be possible to make one out of something more durable?»
*Note: most dragons wouldn't object to such a gift, though it would be more out of an unwillingness to turn down something freely given - especially for something so unusual.
Question from Bloov to Pathogen: Damn, I feel sorry for you, but you're reaping what you've sown as humans say. But if you could somehow return, would you try to change something to get a better outcome? Was there any chance that you would heed Huroumh and stand down?
[The flies on his corpse buzz with a distinct lack of understanding.]
Actual answer:
[Ighnahr remains motionless for several moments, his eyes locked upon the ground.]
«...No.»
[Raising his head, he stares at the sky.]
«...I had already lost, even before the humans interfered. In the end, I was just too weak. I never stood a chance at all.»
If he was convinced of the true nature of infection:
«Then it was all…because of bad luck? That can’t be right. There has to be a reason. If there isn’t…I…»
[Ighnahr pauses. A moment later he chuffs in amusement before bursting out in unhinged laughter.]
[He falls silent half a minute later.]
«…but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised; it was a fitting part of this wretched mess. Pointless, from start to end…»
A variant of this question by Quantumphaze: If you could go back and correct the trajectory of your life and not get so held up on obsessing with fighting strength, would you?
[Ighnahr snorts derisively]
Ighnahr: «Change the trajectory of my life? And what would that entail? Are you saying I should have given up without ever trying? Or should I have given up on fighting together with my tail tucked between my legs?»
[Ighnahr freezes abruptly, seeming to realize something]
«…spoken out loud, I suppose that is not any more shameful than the life I lived. Still, as the only child of Igansa, I do not think I could have done it…I may have been nothing but a source of shame for my parents, but at least I did not choose to disappoint them.»
[Ighnahr sighs, and slowly closes his eyes]
«If only that had meant anything at all.»
Question from Bloov to Qnaoro: Hello! Imagine if one day people were able to go to the Moon. Would you join them, even if you'd be stuck in the tiny compartment of a spaceship, unable to move or fly? Would you accept this opportunity to explore a whole new world or would you like to wait until travel to the moon is safer and more comfortable?
Aurum: «Are you mad? What’s a little discomfort if I can be the first to walk on the moon?»
[He glances up at the moon]
«To go to the moon…what else could be worth risking your life?»
Question from Rackiera to Callan: What would you have done if Pryce didn't survive and you really were the only human?
Callan: “My original plan was to have Aurum bring me to the Plateau on the day of the Solstice, where our gathered allies would reveal themselves to be on our side. Obviously I had no idea what was going to happen, so everything after that was more or less going to be improvisation.”
[If asked what she thinks would’ve happened if she was the sole survivor.]
Callan: “Well…the Daybreak arrived on day 100, so the big question is if they get discovered between then and the solstice or not. That ol’ bitch (Vosae) might’ve been looking for a ship, but that was only because Trespasser found the Horizon in the first place, which means it’d be a toss-up as to when and how the Daybreak gets discovered.”
[She pauses for a moment to think.]
Callan: “If the ship doesn’t get discovered before the Solstice then they wouldn’t be able to affect the big meeting. In that case I imagine my allies and I would be able to garner the interest and support of a good number of dragons, but that Vosae probably would’ve rallied the rest against us. Not sure how many would’ve joined our side or theirs, but I sure am glad I didn’t have to take those odds.”
Callan: “If the Daybreak were discovered then…well, that would be a lot messier. I can’t even begin to guess what would happen. I’m not sure how either scenario would end, but it would probably involve a lot more deaths than just one. Now don’t get me wrong – I didn’t want anyone dead, but sometimes you just gotta give people a reason not to mess with you; and that’s why I think what happened was for the best.”
Question from Rackiera to Pryce: "Did any of your crewmates consider eating some of Pathogen's meat when he was just killed, or was it different because he could talk?"
Pryce: “Gordon did ask if he could try making some ‘dragon steak’, but he got scared off when Fortitude asked if she could try cooking human meat – she had to clarify that this request would only extend to those who had died of unrelated causes.”
Question from mpmxyz to Icahna: "Icahna, humans learn many things at a place called 'school'. Are you interested in a visit?”
Icahna: «Of course! But I hope they won’t use many complicated words…I am learning, but there are so many of them to memorize! Oh, and I want to see what human children look like. Don’t tell them I said this, but their faces are so soft and round, it makes all of them look like they’re not fully grown!»
Question from mpmxyz to Kerak: "Kerak, how do you like humans?" (I'm hoping for food-related shenanigans!)
Kerak: «Humans look funny! But human food smell good!»
[Kerak nervously glances around.]
Kerak (whispering conspiratorially): «Human food taste gooder than mother food!»
Question from jesper537 to any dragon: "Would you be willing to try going into the movie industry?”
Fathom: “It sounds interesting, but I’m not sure if I will be good at ‘acting’...it feels a little dishonest, like a type of lying-”
[Pryce informs Fathom that he would be fed and paid.]
Fathom: “-but it would be a good way to learn about human culture!”
Question from Abowden to Qnaoro/Aurum: What are you most looking forward to seeing on the human continent?
Aurum: «I'm not sure, actually. I’ve found that island animals are often very different from the ones most of us are familiar with – examining them is usually one of my favorite parts of exploring, but this time there’s so many new things to see that I’m not sure what to expect. I’m looking forward to the food, of course, but I think one of the first things I want to see are the ‘skyscrapers’ that Laishaka mentioned, which apparently are half a kilometer tall…I do trust her, but I still find it difficult to believe that humans can make constructs that stretch so far up towards the sky.»
Question from Abowden to Vosae: Pryce spared you repeatedly when most would have eventually relented, either out of fear, anger, or both. Afterward, he healed you of your agony for no other reason than he doesn't like seeing people in pain when he can help.
Are you impressed by Pryce's bravery in showing you mercy at such great risk to himself?
Do you feel indebted to him for the healing, sparing your life, or both?
Vosae: «His bravery is commendable, but I cannot honestly say that I understand him. Still, he risked himself to avoid harming my clan, so he has my gratitude and trust – If he did not, then I would not have agreed to ally with his kind.»
Question from Abowden to Kharno: Are you looking forward to meeting infant humans?
Kharno: «Of course! Humans are so strangely cute; their babies must be even cuter!»
[She thinks for a moment]
Kharno: «…Do you think anyone would let me care for their child for a day or two?»
Question from Kougar to Fathom: If you close your eyes and spin around, can you tell which way north is?
Fathom: “Of course; that is very easy. Anyone – any dragon – can do that.”
Question from Kougar to Fathom: What exactly do you mean by getting a headache when near a magnet for a while?
Fathom: “I would not say that it is a headache, exactly…it is a bit like when you get dizzy, and it feels like the ground is moving beneath you, even if you know it is not. Pryce has taught me that a magnet and the Earth both produce the same ‘fields’, so a magnet can make it feel like ‘north’ is suddenly in a different direction.”
Question from X-leen to Pryce: Pryce, since there are dragons on the second continent, can't there be others on the third? Or that there are dragons and humans living in that place?
Pryce: “The third continent is significantly closer than the Mainland, but the prevailing winds generally go eastward. A dragon presence on this mystery island isn’t out of the question, but if it exists then no dragon who made it there has ever returned, which seems unlikely.”
Pryce: “Likewise, no expedition ship has ever returned to the Mainland. The only cause for this would be if their ships were incapable of making it back home, and in that event the best case scenario would be if they set up camp after their damaged ship made landfall. Even that would only be a temporary solution, as I don’t believe there were any women on those ships, which means that any survivors would not be able to establish a real population.”