[Pax Draconica Chapter 4]

ProfesseurRenard · June 16, 2026, 04:18:57 PM

04-01 - Happy dragons are less likely to rampage, so there are lots of parks and amusements

This mass-barrier sounds like interesting tech. I wonder how much trial and error went into making it.

Starcat5 · June 25, 2026, 01:11:31 AM

04-02 - Infiltration

Nothing is more "fun" then the crashout of a Handler finding out that their spy has "Become the Mask".

ProfesseurRenard · June 25, 2026, 01:53:35 AM

Quote from: Starcat5 on June 25, 2026, 01:11:31 AM04-02 - Infiltration

Nothing is more "fun" then the crashout of a Handler finding out that their spy has "Become the Mask".

For some reason, the look on Colonel Quaritch's face when he sees Jake Sully's avatar smashing a bulldozer's camera comes to mind.

ProfesseurRenard · July 15, 2026, 12:26:32 AM

04-03 - Tell me the good news first

Interesting way of getting Fardon's signature. I wonder how dragons signed for delivery before modern electronics arrived on the scene...

vladspellbinder · July 15, 2026, 01:40:49 AM

Quote from: ProfesseurRenard on July 15, 2026, 12:26:32 AMI wonder how dragons signed for delivery before modern electronics arrived on the scene...

Probably either very carefully or on something very sturdy like a stone tablet.

ProfesseurRenard · July 22, 2026, 05:55:28 AM

04-04 - Two wrongs

We once again encounter the prospect of the thing authority figures fear most: panicking civilians.

Tapewolf · July 22, 2026, 10:55:07 AM

Quote from: ProfesseurRenard on July 22, 2026, 05:55:28 AM04-04 - Two wrongs

We once again encounter the prospect of the thing authority figures fear most: panicking civilians.

When a number of those civilians are bus-sized, proportionately strong and able to breathe fire/frost you really don't want them panicking.

ProfesseurRenard · August 05, 2026, 12:15:10 AM

04-05 - An awkward business all around

I'm a little curious how the knight's execution rota works and how they keep track of who last did the chopping.

vladspellbinder · August 05, 2026, 01:45:51 AM

The murder victim being alive has no bearing on the fact they were indeed murdered. Just because they didn't stay dead doesn't mean the murderer shouldn't be brought to justice. And in this case justice is a swift execution so they can't murder anyone else.

Mermul is a bit too kind and a bit to naive. Not necessarily bad things mind... .

ProfesseurRenard · August 06, 2026, 06:21:18 PM

Quote from: vladspellbinder on August 05, 2026, 01:45:51 AMThe murder victim being alive has no bearing on the fact they were indeed murdered. Just because they didn't stay dead doesn't mean the murderer shouldn't be brought to justice. And in this case justice is a swift execution so they can't murder anyone else.

Mermul is a bit too kind and a bit to naive. Not necessarily bad things mind... .

The kindness might not be...

Tapewolf · August 06, 2026, 07:35:31 PM

Quote from: ProfesseurRenard on August 05, 2026, 12:15:10 AM04-05 - An awkward business all around

I'm a little curious how the knight's execution rota works and how they keep track of who last did the chopping.

At one point, just before they got food, Fardon went into a guard building where he ditched his armour and sorted out the paperwork for Mermul.

The rota would probably be kept in the guard HQ as a chart on the wall.

While some of them might be wondering if it could be computerised, the sheer convenience of simply being able to glance at the wall versus the awkwardness of altering data on a tape makes it a tough sell. (Is this the latest cassette? What if the machine chews it up again? Is it the right side of the tape? Did someone leave a gap and there's a later record after this one? Is there enough tape left to store the updated record?)