first. }{ video.

[iwillnotlookback]

 [ The girl on the screen looks younger than her years, and she is still rather young. Only sixteen, the burnt-away stubble of silvery-blonde hair highlights her sharp cheekbones and draws attention to her large violet eyes in a way that makes her look like a doll. A very feral sort of doll. Her expression can be best described as a mixture of irritation, weariness, and childlike curiosity. And over it all a mask of regality. Nearly bald and ragged-looking she may be, she still looks every inch a queen. ]

Tell me, are all our dear hosts so exceptionally skilled in making obeisance and providing obfuscation for their master? I ask the reason for my presence and they tell me that knowledge is the Emperor's. I demand to know where my dragon is and they simper and apologize. Not one will deign to give me a clear answer, only riddles. More riddles. I am weary of riddles.

[ Dany sighs, a certain something in the way her eyes slip briefly closed betraying just how very tired she is. It never ends, does it? At least she is clean now. The first thing she did when the kedan led her to her quarters was bathe, soaking away her aches and pains and scrubbing off the accumulated weeks' worth of filth and blood in water heated near to boiling. Merely world-weary is marginally better than being both world-weary and filthy. ]

Very well. If we are to be companions in entrapment, we might at least know one another. I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, a khaleesi of the Dothraki, Queen of Meereen and rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. I would know you, and whatever you can tell me. [ Pause. ] And if you have seen a dragon, say, the size of an aurochs, colored black and red, I would know that too. You will be well rewarded, I swear. Though I beg you not to approach him, as his temperament is…quite volatile.

Comments

video;

[shadowroads]

My, those are some impressive titles you possess. Do you have much in the way of subjects here?

[He doubts it. He doesn't have many either.]

I've only heard of one dragon here, I'm afraid. He's quite a lot bigger than that, and he seems very talkative, too.

[iwillnotlookback]

Perhaps I do. Am I to know their presence if I do not declare myself?

Dragons do not speak.

video;

[disfavored]

The Emperor sees it fit to keep us here while denying us information which I believe we are entitled to. Unfortunately, she only makes herself available for questioning infrequently.

I am Tarrlok, Head of the Republic City Council, Representative of the Northern Water Tribe, and Master Waterbender. [He wouldn't usually introduce himself with ALL of those titles. And he'd rarely ever bother calling himself a 'Master Waterbender' - because frankly, a waterbender would have been expected to have mastered it at his age. But most people here didn't know what a waterbender was, and she had a long list of titles, so he figured he may as well mention everything.]

[iwillnotlookback]

A ruler who make herself inaccessible to those she means to rule is poor indeed.

To my great regret I must confess myself unfamiliar with your land. You will not begrudge me, I hope?

video;

[imaginate]

Ma'am. [He does not look particularly well off, and his hair is a little messy. He's standing, not tense, but holding his own ground, and nods, respectfully. Anyone can list their titles but she has an air of authority, which he recognises. And there is something else - in her eyes. Fire.

Steel.] It's likely your dragons are not here.

[He doesn't qualify with it 'I'm sorry' or 'I regret to inform you' because she doesn't truly want her family to be trapped here with her.]

[iwillnotlookback]

Is it known what happens to those left behind?

[video]

[relentlesstide]

Quite the title. [More royalty, huh? If the Emperor has any choice over who shows up, she's certainly getting bold.] I doubt your dragon is the same one I've noticed around here, he seemed quite pleasant.

[He doesn't go out of his way to use a title or an honorific, and the straight set of his shoulders and lift of his chin speak of a man who doesn't bow to anyone.]

[iwillnotlookback]

My full titles are longer, and more cumbersome. I would hardly fault you for forgetting any of them, so for simplicity's sake you may address me as Khaleesi or Your Grace.

[ She likes that straight-forwardness; it's something she can respect. ]

No, not the same at all. You would recognize Drogon by description were he here.

video;

[assassinates]

You are the Mother of Dragons? [It's not as though Shelby's ever met a goddess before, so she supposes she could look however she wants.] I'm afraid I asked the same question and got nowhere with it. There is only one dragon here. [:c]

[iwillnotlookback]

I am, though mother only to three, and none of them this other dragon I hear so much about.

video;

[singed]

The Mother of Dragons? [He tilts his head and then smiles at her, gently] You certainly have the bearing of a goddess, my lady. If I should happen to find a dragon of your description, I assure you that you will know it from the sounds of my high-pitched screaming.

Re: video;

[iwillnotlookback]

Should Drogon appear, I hope you would not approach him near enough that you would scream.

Might I know the name of my flatterer?

[thetyrant]

[Logan's kneejerk reaction is "you're not queen I'm king" but he knows that's a little ridiculous right now. It would be a response meant for his sister the revolutionary, unfair to put it on this woman. And truth be told, he's impressed how she can look so calm and queenly while she's so obviously been through hell.]

I will keep an eye out for this dragon, though I'm afraid I don't know what an aurochs is nor its size.

The kedan like their secrets, alas, but we "honored guests" tend to stick together, at least. My name is Logan, king of a land called Albion.

[iwillnotlookback]

Though your land is unfamiliar to me, I am honored to meet you, Your Grace. I hope I might rely upon you as a friend.

An aurochs is a sort of cattle, larger than the common breed. Drogon is half again as long as an aurochs, his scales colored black with red wings.

video;

[fotia]

[Well that's a mouthful isn't it]

Hi! Got a nickname, Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Mother of Dragons—

Wait. Mother of Dragons?! Either that's some weird curse word where you come from, or you mean it in the most literal way possible.

[iwillnotlookback]

[ She chuckles, amused despite herself. ]

You may call me Khaleesi or Your Grace. And yes, it is quite literal, after a fashion. I hatched my dragons from petrified eggs and nursed them at my breast, so they are my children.

[audio]

[gathersnomoss]

As others have said, I've only spoken to one dragon, and he doesn't sound like the one you're looking for. And I don't know about some people, but I certainly know enough to be cautious about dragons that I don't know the type of.

My name is Zelgadis Graywords. No fancy titles: I'm a mercenary sorcerer-swordsman.

[iwillnotlookback]

It is a pleasure to meet you, Zelgadis. I have engaged the services of several sellsword companies and find them to be men of great valor.

video

[sophos]

[Well whatever happened to her before she arrived can't have been great. But Annabeth doesn't draw attention to it.]

We're here to combat a threat against the kedan. The Emperor told me she summoned us under a "call for heroes." As for the nature of whatever the threat is, we'll apparently know when we need to. Got that from both the Emperor and her police commander.

[iwillnotlookback]

Where I am from, proper diplomacy dictates ruler ask for help from those who are not her subjects.

What is this term--"police commander"?

video

[district7]

Is any of that supposed to mean something here?

[iwillnotlookback]

It would be poor of me to withhold my own name.

video;

[virginprice]

Greetings, your grace. [He bows respectfully, white hair falling over his shoulder.]

I am Alcuin nó Delaunay. Welcome to Tu Vishan. I am afraid I have not seen your dragon and have little to add to what others have told you. Is there any other aid that you require at this time?

[iwillnotlookback]

Greetings in return, Alcuin nó Delaunay. I've yet to hear how my fellow heroes find the city of our entrapment.

Video;

[thequeensown]

[Dany's appearance is unquestionably that of someone who has been through any number of challenges. Talia's own expression is calm, but sympathetic as she responds. She has spent the last ten years living side by side with royalty, one of which was a princess that needed some rather tender guidance.

She bows her head as her video feed begins, taking care to address Dany correctly and as gently as she can. Though she can't know the child's connection to her dragon without further questioning, Talia herself was forced to abandon one she considered just as dear when she was brought here.]

Your Grace, my name is Talia, Chosen of Rolan and Queen's Own Herald of Valdemar. I... I regret to tell you that your dragon is unlikely to be anywhere upon Tu Vishan.

[iwillnotlookback]

[ So many names of lands she does not know; so many strange people, strange customs, strange new objects whose purposes she can hardly divine. Dany had thought herself well-traveled, but this makes her feel a small child again. ]

So many others say, but a mother must hope she will see her children again even when all odds speak against them.

video;

[dracobin]

[Temeraire is near bursting with curiosity, and there are a hundred and one questions he wishes to ask by the time he finishes poking through everyone else's posts. He does not wish to seem rude--the girl on the screen does not look very much like a queen to him, with no jewels, or hair, but her expression makes him think she is being serious after all. She is the second girl in as many days who is looking for a dragon, and it does not seem very fair to him that two companions should be here, and neither of them his. That disappointment loosens his tongue, even as he feels some empathy for her situation.]

I am very sorry, but as everyone has said, I am the only dragon in Keeliai, as far as I can tell. But I will keep an eye out for Drogon; it is always hard to lose your companion, however temporarily.

[He hesitates, then:] Pray, how is it you are the mother of dragons, if you are a human?

[iwillnotlookback]

[ To her credit, she does not show her surprise. But she feels it, a shaky leaping of her heart. The tales Viserys told her spoke of dragons as surpassing clever, kings among beasts—but beasts still, and incapable of human speech. ]

They were stone eggs when I was gifted them, their kin long dead and gone, and yet I hatched them from my lord husband's funeral pyre and nursed them with milk from my own breast. Thus, I am mother to the only three living dragons in the world. Where I am from, it is a wonder.

Naturally, it is a great honor to meet a dragon full grown. I had not thought to have that pleasure for many seasons yet. Temeraire is your name, is it not?

video;

[wintershepherd]

I think Temeraire's the only dragon here at the moment, your majesty.

[ trying not to stare but gosh you are pretty ]

[iwillnotlookback]

Your Grace.

[ The correction is automatic, rote. The stares of men and young boys are as common as flies in summer to Dany, though it is gratifying, she supposes, that even an unblooded boy may find her beautiful with all her hair burnt away. ]

And him I have met. Alas, it seems my Drogon is not here.

video.

[traitre]

[on one hand, it's hard to take such a child seriously.

on the other, she speaks more regally than men and women much older than her-- and it's clear that no one would get away condescending to this little queen.]

The only thing one enjoys more than their own riddles is pushing them on others. I hope you've found answers elsewhere, because at the moment I'm afraid I have few to offer myself.

It's a pleasure, Your Majesty-- at least, if that's your preferred title. [a pleasant smile!] My name is Qilby. In lieu of any other titles of my own, I suppose you could call me a sort of... Brother of dragons, if you will.

[iwillnotlookback]

"Your Grace" is the Westerosi style.

[ Oh, she has been condescended to plenty, and there are times when being viewed as a child is advantageous. But what Dany wants now are answers provided by equals. ]

Brother of dragons? Pray tell me how this is possible, my lord.

video; sorry for the late tag!

[chiot]

'Ey! Missus. There's a dragon 'ere. I know, I rode on 'im. Maybe he's yours?

better late than never!

[iwillnotlookback]

He is not mine, but you are good to offer your aid. You must be a stout and ferocious boy indeed, to ride astride a dragon's back.