me:  "Sorry for the wait, my "group members" were chatting quite a bit longer than I had expected."
 Tyler:  "it's alright, i love talking"
 me:  Do most dragons enjoy talking?
""
"Socializing I should say"
 Tyler:  brass dragons do
 me:  "I have an okay knowledge of dragons, but nothing too specific"
 Tyler:  they fucking love it
thats why she kept threatening to keep you from leaving and stuff
because she wants to talk
 me:  "Is that one of the reasons your kind is so intelligent?"
"Or is it just a strange trait, no offence calling it "strange""
 Tyler:  "Intelligent? all of our kind are intelligent. we specifically have extraordinary charisma though."
 me:  "ah. I noticed a bit"
"The large dragon seeemed to show it"
 Sent at 12:53 AM on Tuesday
 me:  "Anyway, you said previously you wanted to discuss elven culture..."
"How so?"
 Tyler:  "of course. i love to discuss most of anything though. i just thought elven culture would be appropriate considering your race."
 me:  "Understood"
 Tyler:  "it should be ample payment for riding lessons at the very least"
 me:  "I definitely agree"
"I'm afraid I don't know an extreme amount about all elves in general. I didn't grow up like the average "living thing""
"I traveled a lot, and there was never much discussion of other elven groups outside of my own"
 Tyler:  "how were you raised?"
"i see"
"where did you travel?"
 me:  "Well, from what I can remember, I started my journeys as a very young lad, just west of the mountain ranges to the far east, just past the desert"
 Sent at 12:57 AM on Tuesday
 Tyler:  "oh the serpentcoil mountains?"
"have you ever encountered any of the red dragons there?"
 me:  "I'm afraid I don't remember much. I believe I was born in the forest somewhere"
"I never knew the name of the area, and I was probably too young to remember seeing any dragons, though that would have been incredible"
"Have you been in that area?"
 Sent at 12:59 AM on Tuesday
 me:  I rolled a 20 to calm that thing down
 Tyler:  "oh i see"
 me:  pretend it was freaking out
 Tyler:  "i have never been there but i have heard stories of the red dragons"
"they have been our most dire enemies in the past"
"not during my lifetime though"
 me:  "Oh, not what I was hoping to hear. Red dragons sound like they would be beautiful"
"Wait, they aren't enemies currently?"
 Tyler:  "they are, but there haven't been any wars in the past couple thousand years"
 me:  I'm going to ride the ashworm next to the dragon in the back
22 ride rofl
holy shit
my bonus is 11
 Sent at 1:03 AM on Tuesday
 me:  "Any reasons the wars have slowed down?"
"Well, I was supposed to be sharing my knowledge with you. I can continue to tell you what I remember growing up, and the few stories I was told about my group of elves if you wish"
 Tyler:  "the wars kind of come and go as they please"
 me:  ^
 Tyler:  "its mostly up to our parents though"
"that would be excellent"
 Sent at 1:06 AM on Tuesday
 me:  "So let's see."
"My group, traveled across the mountain ranges. Actually, we went north along the range for a while, before crossing the mountains"
"This journey took a really long time, due to us traveling extremely slowly. There were a lot of people who would stop and setup little establishments that were permanent. We would usually stop and spend one day with them before continuing on"
"I'm currently 115 years old, and I've only met these fellows a few weeks ago"
"I learned a lot of survival skills during this time"
 Tyler:  "that's an extraordinary tale"
"is that when you learned to ride?"
 me:  "Yep. It was very nessecary"
"Well, for me it wasn't, but a lot of the group would ride things quite often"
"I could've walked the journey, though it would've taken me a long time"
"Learning to ride was well worth it though"
 Tyler:  "i see. well it's pretty clear you haven't had to deal with sentient mounts yet"
 me:  "Not only is it extremely useful, but it's almost a passion"
Sentient?
 Tyler:  capable of thought
intelligent thought
 me:  "ahh, like yourself"
 Tyler:  "yes, like myself"
 me:  "Do people actually ride dragons as mounts?"
"That seems quite rude"
 Tyler:  "some do. there have been a few in our tribe who have taken to mounting them"
 me:  "Knowing that dragons are very respected"
"Well if it's within the tribe I assume it's alright"
 Tyler:  "it can be rude. generally a strong bond is formed between rider and dragon."
 me:  ERAGON
out of game
lol
 Tyler:  "they see each other as partners rather than master and servant"
 me:  "I was about to ask that"
 Tyler:  "that can be equally rude though, depending on the human"
 me:  "Are the riders always human?"
 Tyler:  "dragons rarely lower themselves. or humans rarely raise themselves to such degrees of honor"
"no, not always"
 me:  "So, any reason you asked if I had dealt with sentient mounts before?"
 Sent at 1:16 AM on Tuesday
 Tyler:  "you just seemed to have little experience"
"you called me an animal for one"
 me:  "That is true *chuckles*"
 Tyler:  "lucky i'm a brass dragon and not some red dragon"
"they'd kill you for such"
 me:  "Yea, I apologize for that. I get my head wrapped up in the fact that I'm face to face with dragons, I turn into a little kid"
 Tyler:  "it's alright"
"we are very imposing. as we should be"
 me:  "Hm, I'm trying to think of other things that our group did while I was growing up"
"Nothing else was really extremely interesting. I know alot about nature, which is nice, and I'm very comfortable where a lot of people aren't"
"However, do have a few questions"
 Tyler:  "go on then"
 me:  "During my journeys, I was told that the generation above me, that traveled with us..."
"Their parents and grandparents were part of a relatively large city west of the mountains, towards the southern end"
"So that was probably a few hundred years ago"
"What happened, was quite unfortunate"
"The city was overrun by orc"
 Tyler:  "ah, yes, i was a scout in that direction during that time actually"
 me:  "Were you really?!?"
(I say very excitedly, yet quite nervous)
 Tyler:  "yes actually, very surprising business"
"the humans were in league with the orcs there, essentially let them through their city walls so they could raid the elven towns"
"i believe the humans wanted control of the mines in the mountain and also the land under the forest the elves lived in"
"very interesting times"
 me:  "Wow"
 Tyler:  "we made a lot of gold around then"
 me:  "How long ago was the elven city formed?"
"/settlement"
 Tyler:  "there were a few cities in the area, but altogether it was relatively young. I was not around when the settlements were founded but I am told that the elves came from another continent and set up an encampment there only a thousand years ago or so"
 me:  "From another continent?"
 Tyler:  "your parents were probably only second or third generation descended from them"
 me:  "Wow, that's almost scary"
"Do you know what continent they came from?"
"I don't know much outside of the areas I've traveled"
 Tyler:  "yes, yes, they probably came from one of the eastern continents. there are many more elves in those lands"
 me:  "Are the seas between this continent and those great in size?"
 Tyler:  "massive. the ships they built for the journeys were exquisite"
 me:  "And the size of those continents?"
 Tyler:  "about the size of this one"
 me:  "So much information"
"I can't believe I've found someone who can actually tell me the things that were very unclear about my past"
"It sounds weird, but it's bothered me quite a bit"
"My group members know exactly where they came from it seems, I've just kind of traveled in a group that slowly diminished over 100 years"
"Almost depressing now that I think about it
"
 Tyler:  "there are probably many histories written on the subject. though, considering your lands were invaded, the histories are likely written by humans and are thus not exactly even handed."
 me:  "Yes, I was about to ask if there were any sort of documents of the like"
"Do you think any of your kind would have less biased books?"
Or information at least?"
 Tyler:  "much of the old elven lands have been ransacked by now and overrun by humans. after the orcs invaded they were pushed back almost immediately by the humans in the area."
 me:  So the humans betrayed the orcs after sort of betraying us"
"They allowed the orc into our land, and ignored our cries for help"
 Tyler:  "our information pertains only to ourselves. we are not historians. if you wish to find out more of your history you should travel to those forests and look for elven script, however unlikely it may be to find any remaining"
"precisely"
 me:  "That might be a journey I'll have to take some day"
"So your information, are you not curious about other beings' histories?"
 Tyler:  "i wish you the best of luck in your travels then"
"of course i am curious. history does not dwell in books though, history must be heard directly from the mouths of those who lived it"
 me:  "Ah, I see"
 Tyler:  "i have seen it, and i have spoken to those who have seen it, and that is enough"
 me:  "I assume you can remember most of it quite precisely?
"
 Tyler:  "my memory is relatively clear, yes"
 Sent at 1:32 AM on Tuesday
 me:  "Well, I've probably learned quite a bit more than you did laughs a bit So I thank you greatly for the information. Is there any chance there could be some sort of "riding lessons" before I have to depart?"
 Tyler:  "of course. a promise is a promise."
he kneels down as the dragons did before and allows you on
 me:  "Why thank you" (I climb on)
 Tyler:  he lifts off into the air
"I am going to try and knock you off my back"
 me:  "Kind of, start off easy"
 Tyler:  "of course"
 me:  "Stay low to the ground if you can, I'd prefer to not die from falling"
"Though it's obviously a risk I'm taking"
 Tyler:  "i can dive faster than you can fall"
 me:  "Let's begin!"
 Tyler:  the dragon stops flapping his wings and leans forward into a dive
 me:  rolled a 14 for the first bit
 Tyler:  you start to slide towards his back
his tail that is
"what's happening?" he growls at you
 me:  "I've already started slipping backwards, I'm not getting off to a very good start which is really embarrassing"
 Tyler:  "quiet. what must i do?"
 me:  "Dive at less of an angle, so I stop slipping and can regain my position, and then we'll try again"
 Tyler:  he stops diving
"I have a tail, you know"
"I could have just lifted it"
 me:  "That is true... I was a bit nervous, didn't really think of that"
 Tyler:  "you must speak to me"
"i am not an animal"
 me:  "Okay, I'll remember that"
 Tyler:  he flies up again
he begins to fly parallel to the ground (horizontally) very quickly
 me:  27
 Tyler:  "tuck in and hold on"
 me:  "Okay"
 Tyler:  he starts to spiral into a few barrel rolls in the air
you hang on with great aplomb
he pulls out of the rolls and ascends into a steep climb
(ride)
 me:  "Does leaning forwards help keep the air from holding/pushing me backwards?"
 Tyler:  "precisely"
 me:  15
 Tyler:  as he climbs at breakneck speeds you again begin to slip backwards
 me:  "Lift your tail!"
 Tyler:  he lifts it, slowing down the ascent and catching you simultaneously
"very good. you are learning at least"
 me:  "I'm becoming less scared now, and I'm glad I'm riding something that I can actually speak to. It's a  brand new experience"
 Tyler:  "hold on"
he flies again parallel to the ground
 me:  check?
 Tyler:  not yet
he starts to ascend and begins to perform a loop
check
 me:  18
 Tyler:  you hold on fine
as he approaches the apex of the loop (you're both upside down)
he growls to you
"let go"
 me:  "Alright, I trust you" I let go
 Tyler:  he continues his loop
make a ride check
 me:  17
 Tyler:  you fall vertically downwards
he slides under you as he finishes his loop and catches you
you manage to land in a relatively comfortable position
"very good"
 me:  "That was amazing!"
 Tyler:  "you drive an ashworm, do you not?"
 me:  "Yea I do"
 Tyler:  "close your eyes"
 me:  "Alright"
I close them
 Tyler:  "put your head directly behind mine"
"and get as low as you can"
 me:  "Okay"
 Tyler:  you feel little air rushing over your face as his neck protects you from it
however you can tell you're going extremely fast, and it feels as if he's diving straight downwards
after a couple of seconds, you feel a great thud
make a ride check
 me:  13
oh boy
 Tyler:  you open your eyes from the shock of the thud
the force of the sand slamming into your chest knocks you off the dragons back
you suddenly realize that he was submerging
he disappears into the sand for a short while
he reemerges shortly thereafter and alights next to you
"not yet then"
"you did very well though, for a human"
 me:  "Well, practice makes perfect, I can't expect to do it the first time"
"And thank you"
 Tyler:  "you're welcome"
"the ashworms can perform that last trick as well"
"i'm sure you've had to fight that instinct if you've driven them"
 me:  "Definitely, those bastards try to pull under every few seconds"
 Tyler:  "i thought they might. never driven one myself (he chuckles). my only advice, if you ever have to submerge with one, is to get as close to its body as you can. you'll become part of its slipstream through the sand"
"it can be a useful tool to be able to travel underground out here in the desert"
"you of course still cannot breathe"
"but you can hold your breath for a time at least"
"that's what we do, anyway"
 me:  "and it probably helps us cool off a bit"
 Tyler:  "you'd be surprised how hot sand screaming past your scales can become"
you realize his skin is shimmering slightly
 me:  "I doubt the ashworm would go nearly as fast as you did, diving from extreme heights, and wow you look extremely warm"
 Tyler:  "it's not too bad. you've seen my mother's breath i believe? and that is true, but there is more surface area on the worms"
 me:  "I have seen your mother's breath, I've felt it from a distance as well"
 Tyler:  "you can feel it from outside of the damn plateau most of the time"
 me:  "Holy crap"
 Tyler:  "it's hot."
 me:  "Don't the villagers complain?"
"Can they stand the heat?"
 Tyler:  "villagers? they all worship us."
 me:  "Complain was the wrong word"
 Tyler:  "that breath is the hand of god to them"
 me:  "And I see now"
"Well "dragon", you've given me the experience of a lifetime. I owe you more than the little knowledge I was able to give you today"
"How about this..."
"If I find out anything more about my family's history, and I am within a few hudred miles of here, I'll be sure to stop by if you plan on being around here for a while
"
 Tyler:  "I relish any opportunity to chat"
"that sound's splendid"
 me:  "Very well. And maybe I'll have improved on riding a bit more."
 Tyler:  "we'll see about that"
he grisn
grins*
 me:  GRISN
HOLY FUCK
 Tyler:  he girls
 me:  "WELL THAN BUUUUDDDDDDYYYYYY"
no
 Tyler:  "i am afraid i must take my leave now. it is late and i am needed at the brood"
 me:  "I should go too, I need some rest before we begin our journey"
"However, mind if I ask you one more question?"
"Should be quick"
 Tyler:  "sure thing"
 me:  "The orcs, that invaded my ancestors city.."
"A few of them rode raptors"
 Tyler:  "of course"
 me:  "A type of creature that stood on it's hind legs I believe
 Tyler:  "mighty beasts"
 me:  "Yes"
 Tyler:  "might, for beasts, that is"
mighty*
 me:  "Less than a dozen of our elves apparently, were able to ride raptors"
 Tyler:  "i don't remember any elves riding raptors into battle except in very unusual circumstances"
 me:  "Yes, that's what I've heard"
 Tyler:  "like if the elf was a corpse being carried by an orc"
 me:  "Not exactly what I heard"
"*chuckles*"
"Anyway, I was curious if they exist out here int he desert"
the*
 Tyler:  "the raptors?"
 me:  "Yes, I was told they do"
 Tyler:  "they should be on the southeastern edge, bordering the plains to the east
"
"that is the only place i can think of the orcs getting them from, at least"
 me:  "This may sound like a suicide mission, but I plan on aquiring one of them."
"And learning to ride it"
 Tyler:  "there are still orcs in the area, you know"
"they were only driven back, not destroyed"
 me:  "Are there?"
"Ah"
 Tyler:  "huge masses of them"
"they're not all hostile of course"
"although, to an elf, they may be"
 me:  "I assume there are still raptors out in the wild, far enough from them to get my hands on one"
"a few at least"
 Tyler:  "i wouldn't know, unfortunately"
 me:  "Well, at least I know the location of some of them now"
"That was the last question I had, and I apologize if I've made you late to anything important"
 Tyler:  "i should be alright"
 me:  "I greatly appreciate your help though"
 Tyler:  "thank you for the conversation"
"always a pleasure to meet a new face"
 me:  "Of course, any time I stop by"
"Take care"
 Tyler:  "farewell for now"
 me:  "Yup!"
 Tyler:  "one second"
"what is your name, anyway?"
 me:  "My name is Hybodo"
 Tyler:  "very well. I am called Sel'thon."
"until we meet again"
 me:  "Are you sure I will be able to use a name?"
"No issues there?"