Generations/Advanced Terms

Considering how touchy mortals can be about their children and their "values"; it is probably best to let such matters wait for a later date. You are already going to be asking quite a lot, but your services should suffice as payment.

"I would like to forge an alliance with your kingdom," you say casually. "As you likely know, while I have stolen livestock, and destroyed property in the past, I am usually able to spare your people." You leave out the part where Cinder avoided casualties to lessen the number of heroes that sought his death. "I would like to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement that will remove the need for any further aggression between us."

"Interesting," says the queen, "do please continue."

"I know that mortals have a tendency to fight one another on occasion. While the reasons for such are beyond me, I am fully aware that having a dragon to help you in the battles would benefit you greatly. I offer my services in this regard. In return I require that you build a tower for me onto your castle. The walls should be six feet thick, and made of your strongest stone. The only entrance should be at the very top of the tower; and it should stand taller than all of the other towers of the castle.

"Additionally I would like the title of Archduke of the Sky to be granted to me; with lordship over the air above Garia. As an Archduke, I also require a retinue of servants to see to my needs. I would like appropriate quarters for these servants to be built into my tower. I would also like to select these servants myself.

"Last and most important," you say getting to your feeding, then get sudden inspiration, and change what you were going to say slightly, "I wish a sky tax to be initiated and paid to me. In return I will patrol the lands of Garia. With the money from the tax I will be able to buy cattle with which to feed on, and no longer need to raid your farms. The remaining gold will add to my horde, which is very important to my kind."

She sits in thought for a time, then says, "Your proposition intrigues us, Great Cinder. We would be lying if we said we were not tempted by your words. We would not be a good queen if we did not try to get the best deal for our subjects however. Just how much of a sky tax do you propose, for instance?"

"My hunger is great, and if I am to be of service I will need to buy many cattle to avoid needing to enter my dragon-sleep." You think for a bit. You need to give her a value you can be talked down from if you are to keep your other conditions intact. "Ten thousand gold coins a month spread evenly across your lands should do."

She raises an eyebrow as the others around her begin to talk all at once in their disbelief and outrage. She thinks for a time, making you concerned that you may have asked for too much to even be talked down from, then she finally speaks. "Ten thousand is far beyond what is reasonable. We would be willing to go as high as five hundred gold coins a month. That should take care of your dietary needs with a bit to spare for your horde."

Your tactic seems to actually be working. Time to drive the nail home. "I am not certain that five hundred gold coins will even feed me. I admit that my original figure may have been a little high. Let us make it five thousands gold coins."

"One thousand gold coins is all that we will afford you," she replies.

You pause for a time to make it seem that you are pondering the deal. Unfortunately you are still not used to a dragon's perception of time.

"My Lord Cinder," says the queen, "what say you?" You notice that there is some concern and fear in the faces of those around you. perhaps your mistake was a lucky one after all.

"I will agree to this only if you acceded to the rest of my conditions."

"Very well," she says with a sigh, "we have an accord. I will have papers drawn up immediately. We will need to arrange a time and place to confer your title . . . and you will need to speak with the royal architect. The matter of the servants will have to wait until we have built your tower, of course."

"Very well," you say. "In the meantime, I will take my rest on this tower."

"As you wish," she replies. "We then take our leave." With that, she and her entourage leave the tower.

It will take some time to get all of this out of the way, what should you do in the meantime.

How do you pass the time?

• Find a mate that won't hinder your potential marriage to the princess.
• Try to spend time with the princess to warm her up to you.
• Work on developing your natural talent for sorcery.
• Find someone to teach you wizardry.
• You'd rather this was all out of the way first, pass the time in idle diversion.

Chosen - Generation: One Time Passed: 0y 0m 8d		Abilities	Equipment	Mate(s)	Children
Name	Cinder	Divine Spark, Armored Skin, Claws, Dragon Gold, Dragon Sleep, Enhanced Hearing, Enhanced Sight, Enhanced Smell, Flame Breath, Horns, Immune to Flame, Infrasonic Hearing, Infravision, Sharp Teeth, Ultrasonic Hearing, Weaponized Tail, Winged Flight	Nothing	None	None
Age	506y 7m 20d
Gender	Male
Race	Heraldic Dragon
Social Class	Monster
Attributes
Body	Extreme (10)
Mind	Superior (9)
Spirit	Superior (9)