Dragon Nest Legend

[Charise Farag]

Monthof the Dragon is racing right along, and we have arrived at a favorite time of mine, Tell-a-Dragon-Tale Week. It is a time to gather in the mead hall and spin the most fantastic yarns of draconic daring-do. To talk of Dragon books and stories.

Now, to capture two warring Dragons is no easy task, but, with the help of vast quantities of mead (Dragons do love their mead), King Lludd and Prince Llefelys were able to bind the Dragons and bury them deep underground on the southern verge of Snowdonia in Cymru. The mound that kept them contained is Dinas Emrys.

What images this conjures up! Daenerys Targaryen chaining Viserion and Rhaegal in a dungeon under Meereen [Mother of Dragons lost major cred with that move; than goodness Tyrion was wise enough to set them free.]

In later years, a much better king than Vortigern, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last king of Cymru, constructed a great citadel atop Dinas Emrys. It was perhaps his reverence for the Red Dragon that made it possible for him to build without draconic interference.

Squinting beneath shaded brows, the village was all-but sure the little dragon had kited away. But on the back of their collective remorse, the painted dragon began to grow right before their eyes. And not just a little, either. Wings stretched wide, their fragile paper shed for sturdy leathern sails; body muscled, all covered by hard, iridescent scales. Her tail arced like a rainbow, then flicked and twitched, ruddering her across the sky. She was a real dragon now. Wild as the wind and big as childhood dreams.

The sky sheds its cornflower blue of August for the vibrant sapphire of October. The nights chill, the forests adopt a warmer palette, while winds dance, branch to branch, picking them skeleton clean.

* Note: Contrary to popular myth, Dragons are smart enough not to fight over mates. They know their numbers are too few and their enemies too many as it is. Autumn for Dragons is a time of renewing life, not taking it.

Every October 6th, we here at WAFDE give our True Dragon friends the day off and lavish our attentions on the scores of their lesser kindred: the strange and unusual pseudo dragons of the world. For today is Jabberwocky Appreciation Day.

Large and small, benevolent and notoriously bad-tempered, these are the extras and cameo players in the draconic universe. They strut and fret across the planetary stage, taking their bows in local tales and ancient legends.

Note: When in the field, safety first. Always use a cautious abundance of common sense. Pseudo dragons are not as cultured as their True cousins and, if startled or threatened, are apt to be nippy. All are equipped with tooth and talon & some also sport venom for which crypto-toxicologists are just beginning to develop antidotes.

Decade after decade, generation after generation, this tradition continued until, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the tide finally began to change. Perhaps it was the strength of the Enlightenment, driving out the darkness of superstition, perhaps the resurgence of mysticism and neo-paganism. Either way, it was the opening Dragons needed, the glimmer of hope that the worst of the anti-Dragon madness had passed.

Happy Samhain, everyone! When you are out trick-or-treating tonight, keep your minds open and your eyes peeled. And remember, if it is true that Dragons need us, it is the greater truth that we need them more.

Seldom more than a meter in length, these nimble globetrotters are the toy breeds of the pseudo-dragon world, snuggling up close to human habitations, bringing good fortune to those who treat them well, travesty to those who treat them ill.

Sadly, even Lithuania could not hold back the tide of the times, and Grand Duke Jogaila Christianized the region in 1387. This did not prevent some on the more zealous Teutonic knights from rampaging through the duchy, routing out the few remaining Pagans in the land.

So it was that the fortunes of the family improved. Giedre was wise enough not to flaunt their dragon-found prosperity, but, over time, the roof was repaired, an extension added to the barn for the new goats and extra hens. Daina wore new ribbons in her hair and Lukas got a soft tunic to replace the one two-years outgrown. The family knew meat when they wanted and wood when they needed. Like was good. Life was terrific.

Posted by Shawn MacKENZIE in Asian Dragons, Dancing Dragons, Dragon Keeper's Handbook, Dragon Keepers, Dragons, Dragons for Beginners, Magic, Month of the Dragon, Music, Mysticism, Myth and Lore, Rhythm, WAFDE

In the East, the pleasure of Dragon dancing is a riotous display of public art with festive cloth and bamboo Dragons coursing through the streets. In a tradition dating back to the Han Dynasty, the Dragon Dance is a form of sympathetic magic for the whole community. Traditionally, the dance honors the great Lung, cosmic guardian of the Chinese people, the Children of the Dragon.

A team of dancers brings the Dragon to life, mimicking his serpentine grace and power. With every sinuous twist and turn the mystical nature of the Dragon is invoked, his luck, wisdom, fertility, and dignity. Thus, the Dragon is exalted and her favor entreated for fine harvests and prosperity.

Author's Notes: Okay, this is not yet entirely complete. I know I'm missing the Magician Faust sidequest. Sorry. I'll get to it. A rewrite is also in the future but not right now. If you have questions, use the email above.

Greetings and welcome to my Legend of Dragoon walkthrough. I have tried very hard to ensure that there will be no spoilers, except the unavoidable ones inherent in writing a walkthrough. I spent over 200 hours of my personal time working on this, so PLEASE do not copy it! If you would like to post it on your page--unaltered--give me credit and email me at ri...@rpgplace.net.

As of this version (version 1.0), the only sites that have permission to post this guide are HonestGamer.com, RPGamer.com, and The RPG Place (www.rpgplace.net). If you see this walkthrough posted anywhere else, please let me know! It may be that I have that person my permission, but then again, I may not have been asked about it.

After the opening cinema and the scene with Feyrbrand, the Green Tusked Dragon, you will enter the ravaged village of Seles. An ! will appear, prompting you to jump over the fence (press X). You will fight two Knights of Sandora. They are easy enemies, particularly if you are able to complete the Double Slash Addition. There is a Burn Out in the chest. After you retrieve that, go in search of Plos, the mayor. You will fight two more Knights of Sandora and a Knight Commander. Kill the Knights first, then take their commander out. You will win two Healing Potions and a Burn Out. After the battle, head up to speak to Master Tasman. If you think your playing skills are shaky, agree to fight him. He'll teach you some of the basics of the game. (This is Sony's cop-off of Square's in-game tutorial.) Before you leave the village, check the tombstones. One of them has a Stardust hidden on it. This stone will become rather important in the later parts of this game. Having gotten the Stardust, make sure your fighting skills are up to par, and battle with Master Tasman if you need to. When you're ready, leave Seles and head to the forest.

Enter the forest. There is a merchant above you and to the left. He will explain some of the basics of shopping, if you need him to, and using Items. He will also sell you items. Having concluded your business with him, head upward. Where the two paths come together, follow the downward fork for a Burn Out. In the next screen, climb up the tree trunk. There is a treasure chest with a Charm Potion near the top of the screen. In the next screen, go around the bend of the path you find yourself on. The path immediately below you leads to 20G. From the chest, take the upper path to get to a four-way crossroads. There, take the southwest path for a Burn Out.

Go back to the crossroads and take the northwest path to leave. Go down the next tree trunk and you will see a brief memory sequence. In the next screen, just follow the path. You will be back on the world map. Head for Hellena Prison and save outside! Once there, hop on the merchant's cart by pressing the X button when the ! appears. When you hop off, there will be a save point. Head up to get a Burn Out. Head out the door to your left. Go right and up the path, then up the ladder. In the next screen, head down the path to the save point. Head into the door to get into the guards' barracks. Here you will find an Angel's Prayer, a Leather Jacket, and 50G. (Those guards must be paid well for what they do, considering the scarcity of money in this game.) Head back out and take the elevator up. Go into the door on your left and you will meet the Knights of Basil. Lavitz will join you. Behind the gate in this room is a skeleton . . . poor thing. Head left, staying on the outer part of the circle.

The first cell door in the second room will yield you a small amount of information and a Spark Net. In the next cell, hop on the boxes to reach a treasure chest with 20G. Don't ask me how a prisoner in Hellena managed to hide away 20G, because I don't know. Keep heading left. You can leave this area of the prison where blue light shines through a gap in the outer wall. Fight the Warden and take the elevator up. Check the door to the right, and you will find out that it is locked. Well, where there is a lock, there is generally a key. (Unless you're traveling with Locke Cole of FF6, in which case you pick the lock. ^_^) Head left and go up the steps to your immediate left. Cross the bridge and examine the sparkle on the box. Guess what? It's a key! Go back to the locked door and open it. Once inside, head left. The first cell yields 20G. Then fight the three guards. After you find Shana, equip her with a Leather Jacket. Head to the left and into a cell for 20G. Keep heading left. As before, the way out is where you see blue light through the gap in the wall. Take the two elevators down and save. Head right and speak with your old buddy the merchant again. As you try to leave, the Head Warden Freugel and his goons decide that they don't like that idea too much.

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