Taming the Dragon

 Episode Name:  Taming the Dragon

   Written By:  Grey

         Cast:  Adansae, Goodwin, Grey, Lanie, Reian and Tailus.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Wed Aug 10 23:28:55 2005

     Stardate:  55180.3

Time: Wed Aug 10 12:41:25 2005

Stardate: 55179.2

As the holodeck grid fades and the simulation begins the small group finds themselves in the middle of a forest path. The path is really the parallel lines of wagon tracks leading through the trees. Ahead the forest opens up to the edge of a village. The village seems oddly deserted from where you stand. Clothes are hanging out windows, shutters thrown open but there are no people. A moment later though and you hear them. There is yelling and screaming coming from what seems like the center of the village.

Goodwin

This human male has a boyish smile that belies his mid-thirty years. He has Caucasian features and stands about five ten. His chocolate brown eyes shine with some inner-mirth and humor, and add to his younger look. On the other hand, his moderately dark brown hair is thinning on the top, though it still covers his whole head. The hair is tousled, even though it is cut short and professionally, like he does not spend much time tending to it each day. His body type his fit and lean, but it's the look of someone who gets very little joy out of the gym - a desk jockey, not a field operative.

Set up to be the fantasy version of the slumming noble class, Josh has chosen a breezy and flexible outfit today. A white linen poet's blouse billows around him, providing a freedom of movement in the way that bulky armor cannot. It cinches on up at the wrist, so that it does not interfere with his hands, though. Trousers, then, are earthen brown, and a simple cotton-blend affair. They are then tucked into study brown leather boots, designed for comfort rather than fashion.

Lanie

Despite the soft buttery-blonde shoulder-length hair bluntly cut straight across, pale hazel eyes that glimmer with sly intelligence and a wide mouth often tugged into a broad smile, this young human woman is really just a shade on the attractive side of average. Her nose is a little too pointy to be perfect, her chin has a faint shadow of a cleft in it and her body is toned and muscled where it used to be overly thin. She stands at 5'6" and is altogether unremarkable. On her left hand she wears a diamond solitaire ring with a beautiful matched wedding band and on her right hand she wears a simple gold ring with Starfleet chevrons engraved into the outer part. Dark golden curls cascade down her back, hanging almost to her waist where they've come undone from the thick braid. It's her outfit that gets the most attention, however: a long forest green hooded cloak over a pair of dark brown leather pants and green knee-high boots that offset the obligatory Xena-type armored bustier she has on. Tucked into a boot is a dagger and she carries a staff with her.

Reian

Telasa is a pretty, albeit not stunning woman. Clearly a Betazoid, her most striking feature is her race's black eyes, paired with a usually-present slightly-mischievious smile. A small woman, with a slight build, her bone structure reflects this, with high cheekbones in a well defined, yet slightly overnarrow face. Her tawny hair is straight, left loose so that it falls in a shining waterfall to her hips. She is garbed in a simple outfit, something of a peasant look to it. Her long hair is covered with a wide brimmed straw hat, her dress is of linen, forest green, falling almost to her ankles. A narrow belt hangs around her waist, carrying various items - a pocketknife, some bells that chime with each movement, and a large pouch for those less-frequently-required items. She carries a staff with her, for help over any rough patches of ground.

Tailus

Kitsune Tailus stands at around 5 foot 10, he has a thin body, not displaying any muscles. He has blond hair that is cut to around 2 inches, which he has just allowerd to grow. His eyes are a violet, flecks of a darker purple visible in the orbs.Under each ear runs a line of brown spots, suggesting that he's a Trill. He's also clean shaven, with a distinct flyboy look to him. He is wearing a ice blue overcoat, the top open to reveal a silver shirt underneith this, the light gleaming off the pearleascent buttons set along the front of the coat, the material of the coat seems to swirl around him as he moves, what before seemed to be shadows become patches oflight. The shirt is a light silver, barely a shade off white, the same pearly buttons gleaming. Around his neck is a cloak, falling to his knees, made of the same material as the coat, and in the same colour, the shifting patterns now more obvious than the coat. His trousers are again, ice blue, but fade to Jet black near his feet, which end in a pair of jet black boots, matching the colour at the bottom of his trousers..

Feeling a bit awkward in his fantasy costume, Goodwin looks over at Lanie. "I didn't realize the name of the program was so literal," he mutters. But then he turns to the group. "Well, shall we?" He gestures towards the Town Square.

Lanie's eyes squint a little, trying to make out the visual details of the village. She holds a hand out next to her, as if to hold back anyone behind her. Sort of one of those movements that a person makes without being aware of it. Let's take in where we are before we charge into the midst of who-knows-what. After all, it's a training scenario. In those, screams usually don't mean chaos over a beauty pageant. "Wait," she says to Goodwin, holding up a finger and looking down at her outfit, taking it in for a moment. "Okay, everyone... established? I'm ready if you are, sir," she mentions to Goodwin.

Adansae entered the holodeck with bright eyes and a brighter smile, but once the group is walking along the forest path, she assumes a more appropriate expression. When the screams from the village reach their ears, she picks up her pace, hurrying to Goodwin's side. To Lanie, she nods.

Reian is sticking reasonably close to Lanie, padding along quietly. Relatively quietly, at least, the soft chiming of the bells at her waist ensures she's not about to be creeping up on anyone. Her expression is a curious mix of nervousness and anticipation, but she's doing her best to keep it bland. It would be nice to at least give the impression of a calm and capable individual... Keeping quiet, and listening, rather than speaking.

Tailus pauses as the screams arrive, stopping at the hand. He glanceds down the road, glaring slightly, he glances over at Goodin and Laine, their meant to be in charge, and waits for orders

"Well," says Goodwin as he looks over the group. "Often it's good in these situations to pick a lead negotiator." He takes in the junior officers. "That'd be someone who sets the tone for the talks so you don't have people trying to different things and ruining the 'message.'" He looks to Lanie, and then the others. "Who wants to volunteer?"

"Well then, if everyone's set..." Lanie says, trailing off a bit as she waves a hand forward. "Just be on guard. Sounds like a fight or something to me. I don't see smoke or anything, so I don't think they're being attacked or something." She glances at Goodwin and nods, glancing over the others as well to see who volunteers.

Adansae glances back and forth between Goodwin and Lanie, her initial smile entirely gone now. She then looks to Reian and Tailus, waiting to see if either are interested before speaking up.

Volunteer? On her first training of this type? Reian's eyes widen, and then she takes a step of retreat, her body language displaying her nervousness better than her words. However, she does at least have a rational justification, "Sir, given that I am likely to be picking up a number of emotions from the group down there, I would suggest I not take the lead. I would surmise I can be of more use in the background than the foreground."

Tailus blinks for a second, then shuffles a bit, before glancing at Adansae, wondering who its going to be.

When Tailus doesn't volunteer, Adansae takes a deep breath and looks back to Goodwin. "I'll do it," she volunteers -- but one doesn't have to be a Betazoid to hear the nervousness in her voice.

"Good, then we have a winner," says the second officer, gesturing to Adansae. "Now, the lead negotiator isn't the only one who speaks. But she'll generally speak first, so everyone else knows how to 'blend' with her tone she sets." Goodwin waves. "Carry on, Master Adansae."

"Good," Lanie says agreeably when Adansae speaks up. "Well, whenever you guys are ready, I am."

With an anxious glance to Goodwin, the counselor gives a nod of assent. "On we go, then." A beat later, she forces her feet into action and begins towards the village.

Reian smiles to Adansae, taking a step or two back so that she settles into a position a little behind the other woman. Glad that someone else is taking the lead, but quite clearly, if mutely, showing her intention to be as much moral support as possible.

Tailus follows the group, remaining slient, glancing to Reian, then to Adansae, nodding his thanks. settling into position on the left side of the group

. o O Lanie feels pleased. Not that she's not in charge, but that Adansae stepped up without her or Goodwin having to pick someone to take the lead.

With Adansae in the lead the team makes its way along the wagon trail, slowly approaching the edge of the village. As they get closer they can hear an ebb and flow to the yelling and screaming. Sometimes its loud and chaotic, sometimes quiet or even stopping and other times a dull roar. When its quieter they can almost make out the words of someone talking or yelling, a single voice of sanity among the raised voices.

Ahh, a voice of reason. Adansae looks relieved beyond all reason to have at least one rational person to address. She stops long enough to make eye-contact with Goodwin and Lanie, then sets her slowly-picked course towards the calmly-speaking individual.

Reian glances to Adansae, her expression growing thoughtful as she considers what the group might be about to meet. But her step doesn't falter, for all that she draws a little closer to her fellow junior-officers, possibly to offer support. Possibly for the safety to be found in numbers.

"Often," comments Goodwin, the running commentary. "It's helpful to do research on the area you're entering before you even begin to talk. You can find out about the area and the sort of people you meet, so you can fashion effective strategies." Hint. Hint.

Tailus moves into the middle of the group, glancing about to make sure he's not scene, before pulling out a PADD, keeping it low in the shadows created, he glances at it, doing a search for any information in the data banks

Lanie's eyes, as she follows along toward the village and into it, scan the area, possibly looking for clues as to their location. She glances toward Adansae and flashes an encouraging smile and offers up a nod, but offers nothing in addition to Goodwin's words except: "And perhaps we shouldn't all walk into the midst of... whatever's going on until we know more about the situation."

At Goodwin's words, Adansae stops in her tracks. After glancing about to make sure that no one from the village is looking at her, she pulls out her PADD and begins tip-tapping into it. "What do we already know about this area, sir?" With no starting point, there's nowhere to go.

Reian slows herself down, letting Tailus do the digging through his PADD. Research is something she's not bad at, but she's concentrating on the village ahead. Hoping to get a feel for what's going on down there. "You mean it's always best to *plan* for the worst?" she enquires of Lanie. "We hope that strangers will be neutral down there, but just walking into the situation might be perceived in a different light?"

"I don't know," responds Goodwin, answering a question with a question. "There may be a lot of information in the databanks about the region." So he continues with the Socratic method, "What are some questions you'd want answered as a diplomat entering an uncertain region?"

GAME: Tailus contests his Computer/Research vs Moderate and Fails.

. o O Lanie thinks, "It's a village. There are people there. I'd imagine there's a lot of trade that takes place off to the... east is that? Whatever direction that is. At least, to judge by the wagon marks there is a lot of traffic in this area. There's nobody readily apparent, but the clothes that are hanging around don't look as if we're dealing with anything blatantly unusual in that respect, nor do the voices tell anything out of the ordinary about the people's physiology. This isn't a war zone or they wouldn't have things so scattered outside their homes. --/man/ do I need to work on my observatory skills."

"You /always/ plan for the worst," Lanie mentions. "It's best to be prepared for something that doesn't happen than something that /does/. But this isn't a ... war game scenario, so I'd imagine in this one case we should be alright to approach people. It's more a situation where we've got to talk our way out of things rather than shoot our way out. Maybe someone can go in and ask where we are, see what they can find out. Sort of a scout. Or we could just head in. It's your decision."

Tailus nods at the PADD, glancing up, "It seems that the village has been attacked by a Dragon, and carries someone away, to an unkown fate. The rich in the region have gone, and trade is no more because of the Danger the Dragon poses," he says, speaking in a calm manner, as though reading from a textbook

Adansae glances towards Tailus, who also has his PADD in hand. "If this were an actual world, we'd know something about it, wouldn't we? It's not likely we'd just wake up in the middle of the forest with no information at all... right?" When Tailus offers his information, she blinks, then grins. "Okay, then. Dragons." She tippy-types into her PADD.

GAME: Adansae contests her Computer vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

"So what else do we need to know to be effective negotiators?" poses Goodwin, raising his eyebrow at the group of junior officers in front of him as Adansae as works. "Or should we continue into the square?"

Reian nods thoughtfully to Lanie, before glancing to Adansae. "I'd be inclined to keep us as a two and a three, if we *must* split up." she notes, offering her opinion. "It's an unknown area... with a potential threat on the loose. We shouldn't leave anyone by themselves. Even as a scout into the village. My gut feeling says to keep us together, but I've been known to be wrong." All too frequently, at that, when she leaves her nice controlled lab behind her. "If they already have an external threat, I'd hope they'd not be too keen to turn on us." She looks towards Goodwin, "Is there anything we know about their culture? How they respond to strangers? Err... anything like that?"

GAME: Lanie contests her Computer/Research vs Moderate and Fails.

"Huh," Lanie murmurs softly as she listens to Tailus. "That's all it gives? You'd think they'd at least give us some idea of how long it's been going on, or how big this dragon is or what it's after," she gripes softly, mostly to herself. She tugs out her PADD and glances around before pulling it all the way out to work on it, paying attention to Goodwin's words as she works. She lets him do the bulk of the talking in this situation, it seems.

Tailus nods to Laine, and types away at his PADD again, keeping it low so none of the natives can see, digging for more information, seeing it it gets this time, before placing it back in his costume

Adansae looks to Goodwin first, considering his questions carefully before responding. "Usually, I'd want to know what sort of leadership or governmental system they have." She's reading from her PADD even as she speaks; a beat later, she looks up with bright eyes. "Ahh! The village is looking for dragon slayers to help with their problem, but no one that's tried has succeeded. Over half their village is missing." She looks to Reian. "What's the general mood down there? Are they out for blood, or just frightened?"

. o O Lanie thinks, "Kaitlyn A. Lanie, dragon slayer... no, that just doesn't have the right ring to it. Kaitlyn A. Lanie, dragon slayer /extraordinaire/. Yeah. That's better."

GAME: Tailus spends a courage point.

GAME: Tailus contests his Computer/Research+A vs Challenging and Marginally Succeeds.

Reian frowns a little, "It doesn't make sense. They're out for blood.. but not _dragonblood_." she responds to Adansae. "Which rather implies they know something we don't. If all *we* know is that there's a dragon on the loose, then it makes little sense that they would be turning their anger in another direction." She shakes her head a little, "I don't think going in and offering ourselves up as dragonslayers is the answer here. But I'm afraid I don't know what the answer *is*. I'm starting to think it's time at least some of us got down there to get more information from the source itself."

Tailus glances around, nodding at laine, "it seems the last of the dragon slayers went into the hilss to his lair a few days ago, fi their back, they've got here before us. I agree with Reian, We need to go in and ask about"

Lanie looks thoughtful. "Well, we're not getting anything accomplished standing around out here. I say we just go in, see what the story is."

Adansae frowns at Reian's information, her expression thoughtful. "Actually, when faced with a threat that they can't defeat, it's fairly common for people to turn against each other, to find scapegoats and assign blame. It's possible that they've decided a member of their own is responsible for the dragon's attacks." Again, her eyes turn towards the village. She takes a deep breath. "I agree. We need to talk to one of them. Perhaps we can find someone not involved in the conflict." With a nod towards Lanie, she begins walking again -- slowly, carefully.

Goodwin jabs Lanie with his elbow, but then shakes his head at her with a small smile. He then goes to follow after the mission leader, Ensign Adansae, towards the square.

. o O Lanie feels impatient.

Little enough to add to what's already been said, Reian stays close to the group. But moving with a little more determination now, as though to ensure the party keeps on the move. Enough talking done. Walking good now.

. o O Lanie thinks, "Whaaat? Look, fancy pants commander, sometimes you have to nudge them a little to get them to learn. Hmph!"

. o O Lanie feels amused, too.

Tailus follows on with the group, glancing about, trying to find someone not involved in the conflict. He keeps close to the group, not wanting to get seperated and lost in the crowd

Lanie gives Goodwin a bit of a look in return. Whaaat? She crinkles up her nose in response, apparently trying to hold back a smile of her own. She follows along after Adansae, falling into step with Goodwin and the others.

As the little group of officers turned fantasy heroes makes their way into the village it becomes clear there is no one who is not involved. The whole of the village is massed around a small group of people in the center. They're obviously yelling at those people, who are adventurers themselves. "Failures! Take their money! Stone them! Take everything and let the dragon eat them! Liars! Craven!" Its not too hard to guess that these are the other dragon slayers and they failed. One of the adventurers is trying to argue. "Our weapons couldn't hurt it! Look at our swords! They're ruined!"

Adansae pales at the shouting, commotion, and general atmosphere of bloodlust, but she stays her course until she's right at the edge of the group. She looks around for someone who appears remotely rational, and preferably not presently armed.

"Well," remarks Goodwin as they make their way towards the square, his PADD safely still tucked away. "Apparently violence has not worked. What can you think of to do that might defuse this situation?"

Lanie lets out a soft whistle as she sees what's going on. She tugs her hood up, pushing her hair back into the hood to keep it from blowing into her face while she watches the group. "Methinks we found the slayers," she murmurs. "And at least /they/ had swords. We're sort of lacking in that area."

Reian is outwardly calm as she regards the scene before her. "An alternate way of removing the dragon?" she wonders. "Traditionally, dragonslayers is the route to take. But..?" She frowns a little, "The dragonslayers might have information about it. I would suggest the first aim is to get everyone to stop *shouting* at each other..."

Tailus grins, and nods at Reian, "I've found a nice hot cup of tea is the best way of disfusing an arguement... don't think its going to work here...."

. o O Lanie thinks, "Well, maybe if we drown everyone in it until they shut up."

Poor Adansae. She was so well intentioned. Only angry people don't listen and she and the two people closet to her are jostled and actually pushed up to the front with the other failed slayers.

"Think about first getting them to listen. Not just hear, but listen!" calls out Goodwin, the little cheerleader that could. He needs to shout to be heard above the crowd. "And then how you can make your case!"

Adansae struggles not to be pushed over or trod upon. Once her feet find purchase against the ground, she takes a deep breath and holds her arms up in the air. "Everyone, please!" she shouts. Her voice, normally so low and soft, can really carry when she puts some force behind it. "The dragonslayers aren't the enemy here -- the dragon is the problem! These adventurers need to tell us what they learned, so that we can use that to our benefit!"

Lanie's jostled and shoved. She recovers, but realizes she's a few steps too far to the inside of the circle. She starts to step back into the group, but her way gets blocked and she turns, noticing the others with her. "What? You guys like picking on girls or something?" she mutters, holding up her arms a bit as she's greeting with violence. "Uh--" she starts to call out, apparently quite ready to talk their way out of it, but she instead turns to Adansae and nods toward the group. "Go on, you're the voice of reason in our group. Talk to them. And hurrying might be good. STOP YELLING AT ME!" she adds, shouting to someone near her who is screaming louder than the others who are screaming at them. And no, not Goodwin. Someone in the mob.

GAME: Adansae spends a courage point.

GAME: Adansae contests her Persuasion+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.

Good start, as far as Reian is concerned. She keeps close to Adansae's shoulder, not about to get jostled or pushed any further from the mission leader. Deserting the leader under pressure wouldn't seem to be a good move.. She uses her staff, planted firmly on the ground, to keep her purchase. Trying to keep calm, but not wanting to shift the mob's attention. Adansae is the person she wants their attention on right now. The woman is talking _sense_.. and she wants the mob to hear it.

The crowds quiets to a low roar, a grumbling mass that could go either way. For the moment Adansae has their attention, but they're clearly not convinved either. One man yells out, "What can they teach us? The dragon needs to he slain and they promised to do it! And took all of our gold and silver!"

Reian murmurs quietly to Adansae, "Well, if they still *have* the gold and silver, perhaps an agreement can still be reached... If they've spent it... more difficult, I admit.. But not impossible. The dragon is too much for the slayers? Maybe the slayers have the information for them all to work together on this?" Oh yes, Reian lives in a happy world where people work together. Ever the optimist.

Adansae takes a deep breath before gesturing towards the adventurers. "If they intended to steal your gold and silver, they would have taken it and run! Instead, they're back here, so let's listen to what they have to say." Pushing her way through the crowd, she approaches one of the adventurers. "Tell us," she directs him in a clear, loud voice. "Tell us what happened when you did your best to slay the dragon."

"And you're yelling at /us/ /why/ exactly?" Lanie mutters, though it's in a loud voice, but not as loud as the yelling from the crowd. She lets Adansae take the lead, though, doing nothing to impede the progress made by Adansae or Reian. "Good," she mentions. "Making sense. That's good," she encourages.

GAME: Adansae contests her Persuasion+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Reian contests her Persuasion vs Moderate and Fails.

The crowd quiets a little more, only a touch. They're still listening. The man yells out again. "How about you take care of the dragon!"

. o O Lanie thinks, "How about... no?"

Goodwin does his best to suppress a small smirk at this turn of events, waiting, then, to see what the individuals 'on stage' do to answer that.

Reian looks down at herself, then Adansae, then Lanie, "You want three girls to take on what experienced dragon slayers couldn't?" she wonders aloud, her voice projecting such a little. "Perhaps everyone should try a concerted attempt at finding out the best way to make the dragon leave. You don't *need* it dead. You do need *gone*.. Perhaps there is an alternate approach that no-one has considered yet..?" She then shushes, for Adansae, who is clearly a better public speaker than her.

"Please! Everyone!" Adansae pushes her way to the center of the commotion and steps directly in front of the would-be dragonslayers. "If we're going to find a way to defeat this dragon, we need to know exactly what they tried and what happened! Otherwise, we'll just be repeating the same mistakes again and again."

Lanie glances at Goodwin in the crowd, glances at Adansae, then glances at the guy who yelled. "And how about /you/ take care of it?" she whispers toward Reian, obviously meaning the man, not her. Louder, she mentions, "Might be a good time to disperse the crowd and see if we can talk this out over a... bottle of wine or ale or whatever it is they have. Us, the slayers and ... well anyone who isn't full of testosterone and holding a weapon."

GAME: Lanie contests her Persuasion vs Challenging and Succeeds.

GAME: Adansae contests her Persuasion+A vs Challenging and Fails.

GAME: Reian spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian contests her Persuasion+A vs Challenging and Fails.

Part of the crowd seems to be listening, but others take up the chant. "Take care of the dragon! Fight it for us! Get rid of it! Aren't you heroes?" The 'slayer' closet to Ada leans down and whispers to her. "We couldn't hurt it. Weapons did nothing. You'd need to do something else."

Ignoring the crowd for the moment, Adansae turns to exchange quiet words with the failed slayer. "Is it intelligent? Did you attempt to talk with it?"

"HEY!" Lanie shouts, eyes narrowing and her hands on her hips. Even her hood's almost off her head, so her hair blows a bit an she has to blow it out of her mouth where it flies into it. "Okay, has anyone /else/ here seen this dragon up close or tried to fight it?" she calls out toward the mob, allowing Adansae to continue talking to the slayer.

"*I* never said I was a hero." Reian mutters to herself, "Who volunteered me with that label?" She smiles though, stepping slightly sideways, to place herself between Adansae and the crowd, giving the leader the space to talk to the dragon slayers, one ear open for whatever might be being said. Pushing her hat back a little, looking out across the crowd, trying to read the expressions.. and emotions.. of those there. Seeking some sanity in the midst of the storm.

Tailus stays beside Goodwin, watching the group in the middle, his eyes narrowed as he waits for something he can see happen

Whatever control Adansae had managed to gather seems to slip through the cracks and the is now yelling again. They are unified with one thought; Adansae, Lanie and Reian agree to face the dragon. The slayer talking with Adansae says, "Yes, but it was angry and we barely escaped. It was yelling and cursing at us."

Adansae nods to the slayer as the crowd shouts and curses all around them. To Reian, she calls, "Perhaps we should go find this dragon. It might be angry and ready to kill, but at least there's only *one* of it." As opposed to the many bodies of the crowd which continues to press in around them.

"Looks like this will be our problem, Master Adansae!" shouts out Goodwin to the stage, straining to be heard over the crowd. He smiles at that. Aw. Poor folks on stage.

Reian looks to Adansae, lifting her eyebrows. But nods, "We might get more rationality there..." She frowns slightly though - so far their attempts at diplomacy aren't getting them anywhere. She flicks a look to Goodwin, trying to work out if the experienced officer thinks they should be staying here, or trying the other half of the debate...

. o O Goodwin thinks, "It's time to agree to take on the mission, folks."

"Okay!" Adansae is addressing the crowd again in her most forceful voice. "We'll deal with your dragon! Just STOP SHOUTING and tell us where we can find him!"

Reian winces a little, standing right by Adansae, she gets the full force of that generalised address. It is a good point.. just where *is* the dragon? Still, if it can *speak*... She tries to ignore the chaos of clamour about her, seeking outward, searching for any other intelligent thought in the surrounding area.

Well, the crowd reacts at that. About half them point off in one direction, towards hills in the distance. "In the hills." "There is a cave he lives in." "He lives in his cave with this hoard." And other such calls. In fact, the crowd parts to let the team walk that way. "We have horses," volunteers someone. "And swords!" calls another.

"Thank you!" Adansae shouts in return, smiling her best imitation of a confident smile. "We'll take the horses, but--" Perhaps realizing that refusing the weapons would likely stir the crowd again, she backtracks. "And the swords! Now, is there anything else anyone can tell us that would be helpful?"

"We don't need swords." Suddenly there is calm confidence in Reian's voice. "There will be no violence from us." She smiles brilliantly, "Everyone knows that dragons like young maidens anyhow. So we will either be safe... or doomed." Her dark eyes rake the crowd, meeting any set of eyes she can. She shakes her head slightly to Adansae... she doesn't care what the crowd thinks. Lowering her voice, "The dragon will likely see as as a threat with swords. Another batch of slayers. Take a sword if you must.. but let those without swords go first."

. o O Goodwin thinks, "We had a discussion about the 'lead negotiator' and why one is important..."

. o O Adansae thinks, "was just saying the bit about swords to placate them."

Goodwin frowns a little bit as Adansae and Reian talk at cross purposes and shakes his head slightly, disapprovingly, perhaps. But he doesn't say anything.

Tailus leans to Goodwin, and whispers, "Who do you think is right?"

"Well swords don't really /do/ anything," Lanie murmurs to herself. "But maybe we should just get out of here, with the swords, and decide what to do afterward."

The crowd continues to offer the weapons and horses while the team makes their choices. No one answers Adansae's question though.

"Take the swords," Adansae directs to the others, her voice firm and certain. She accepts a horse and a weapon with a confident-seeming smile still in place.

Goodwin makes his way through the crowd. "Either one can be right," he tells Tailus. "I just don't like them one contradicting the other. You need one message. One voice." He goes to meet up with the general group. "So what's our next step, Master Adansae?"

Reian is acceding to Adansae's decision. But her hands are firmly wrapped around her staff. No spare hand for sword. She's not picking one up. Although she doesn't appear to reject the idea of horses, and she doesn't make a thing of it. Simply going to a horse and stroking its nose gently. She can free a hand from her staff for that, it seems.

Tailus follows, and takes a sword and sheath, pulling it half way out to test its weight, before resheathing it, and putting it around his waist. Seeming to take that happily, his look at the horses however, could be easily described as conserved horror

Lanie doesn't seem to mind the horses. Or the sword. She takes one of the offered ones, smiling her best beaming smile at the person who offers it to her. Okay, so it might even be a bit of a flirty smile, even. He /was/ kinda cute, for a holographic scruffy testosterone-filled mob guy with a spare sword.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Animal Handling vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Lanie contests her Animal Handling vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Adansae contests her Animal Handling vs Routine and Fails.

GAME: Reian contests her Animal Handling vs Routine and Succeeds.

GAME: Tailus contests his Animal Handling vs Routine and Succeeds.

With swords and horses the group moves off. Most of the team can manage the mounts, but Adansae was handed an animal with quite a bit of attitude. She struggles the whole way, needing help from the others to control the spirited animal. From the village the team makes its way into the hills. There is quite a path to follow, so either lots of people have walked to this cave, or they travel to something else up here.

Once the group has traveled a safe distance away from the village -- out of earshot --, she circles around and stops for further planning. "I don't think we should bring weapons," she tells the others. "Let's leave them here, and cover them with leaves so they aren't discovered while we're away. Reian is right; we aren't going to solve with this weapons."

Reian even leaves her staff behind. No point in even *risking* antagonising the situation. Or, indeed, having it turned into firewood. She has gone quiet, her eyes a little downcast. Apparently planning on being quiet again for, oh, a few minutes at least!

Tailus purses his lips thinking for a second, "However, if we get in trouble with the crowd back there, the swords may be help in keeping order. But I think in general, we should leave them behind..."

Once the group has traveled a safe distance away from the village -- out of earshot --, Adansae circles around and stops for further planning. "I don't think we should bring weapons," she tells the others. "Let's leave them here, and cover them with leaves so they aren't discovered while we're away. Reian is right; we aren't going to solve with this weapons."

With the group in agreement, Adansae nudges her horse into motion again. It resists her, of course, but she holds on tightly and presses it into action. She remains silent as the group makes their way up the hill, not speaking again until the cave is in sight.

Reian's horse is being surprisingly well behaved for a horse being ridden by someone likely more intrested in its anatomy than its smooth gait. Reian does actually speak softly to Adansae as the group moves on, "I'm sorry." she murmurs, "I should have just taken a sword. But..." She glances over her shoulder towards Goodwin, "Guess I'm going to come out of this with egg on my face. You'd better rescue us by pulling off some wonderful diplomancy!"

Tailus grins, and nods, riding his horse forward as well, thinking aloud, "Its doing what I say, but its thinking as well, I can never get over that..."

Lanie seems to know what she's doing when it comes to horseback riding. She doesn't have any problems. "I agree. Weapons in hand might be seen as... bad. However, I'm not sure I feel comfortable without any form of weapon. Of course, it's a dragon. Swords? Not helping so much." She seems to change her mind even as she talks and gets off the horse at the cave. "Okay, swords here? We should leave a lookout to watch the horses and swords." She glances in Goodwin's direction.

The horses again set off along the path, making their way up into the mountains. The horses continue along as the aches and pains of riding set in. Transporters and shuttles are so much better. How did the people of the twenty first century ever get by with horses? In time the gaping maw of the cave comes into sight. Empty. Quiet. Its just a big cave with nothing else to see.

Adansae grins at Reian and lowers her voice. "It's fine," she reassures the other young trainee. "You were right with what you said -- it was pretty much exactly what I was thinking. I should have sent you some... uh, focused thoughts about what I was telling them." Lanie is acknowledged with a nod, but the majority of her attention remains, by necessity, on riding the reluctant steed. When the cave comes into sight, she pulls him to a stop and carefully, painfully de-horses.

After speaking with Adansae early on, and smiling in relief at the other trainee's understanding, Reian has lost interest in conversation, just waiting for the ride to end so she can get down. She stopped talking, stopped looking for dragons or caves. Just concentrating on the pain of her legs. Apparent disinterest in everything around her. Most unlike Reian, really.

Tailus gets off the horse, looking slightly relieved at being off it. He hid his sword, looking into the cave, "Dark foreboding..." He turned to Goodwin, "Why do dragons always live in those"

"It's tradition," Lanie notes, reaching a hand up to pat the side of her horse when she dismounts and sets her sword down out of the way. "Besides, I kind of /like/ it. Horrible burning death potential aside, that is."

Goodwin hops off of his horse and uses this as a teaching moment. "Now," he says, patting his horse. "Diplomacy is, at best, all about securing your interests while, at the same time, meeting the interests of the other party or making them believe their interests are met. What are our interests in this?"

Tailus thinks for a second, then answers, "Getting him to move out, but his is probally going to be a steady food line. We probally want to get him interested in horse meat"

"I'll do my best to ensure that none of us are transformed into charcoal," Adansae promises with a nervous half-smile. She turns to Goodwin. "We want the villagers who have been stolen returned to their home. We want no further stealing of villagers."

Lanie asks, "What if they're... dead? Or something?" She pats the horse again affectionately and heads toward the cave entrance, walking a bit stiffly because of the unaccustomed riding, but not overly so. Not so much that it'd be easily noticed.

"Not getting our heads bitten off?" Reian asks sweetly. "Likewise, not getting skewered by the villagers' swords." Tilting her head to one side, she twists her hair around her hand thoughtfully. "I'd settle for getting some peace and tranquility back around here." She nods in agreement with Adansae, "Those would seem to be pre-requisites for *getting* that peace back, yes... If..." Her voice trails off, and she turns, looking towards the cavemouth thoughtfully.

Goodwin nods his head. "More or less," he agrees. "So what we need to now find out is what the dragon's interests are. That is, what does he want, and how can we reach a result that will try to satisfy both results?"

. o O Lanie thinks, "Ya know, I'm glad I didn't dress up like a princess or something. Don't these things always go for the princess? I guess high maintenance means dragonbait."

"Well, if they're dead, they've likely been eaten," Adansae informs Lanie. Her lips twitch at an entirely inappropriate smile, but she fights it down. "I don't think the villagers are going to settle for anything less, and I don't think that they should. We need to find out *why* their people are being stolen--" She nods to Goodwin. "That's likely the key."

Lanie makes a bit of a face. Eaten people. Crunch crunch. Not a visual she really wanted to think of right then, but one that comes to mind all too easily when surrounded by the setting that they're in. "So, let's go in and ask. What's the worst that could happen, right?" She smiles encouragingly.

Reian starts forward, glancing over her shoulder to check that everyone else is moving with her. It's entirely plausible that the dragon can actually hear the gaggle already, and politeness dictates that a greeting be made sooner rather than later. She's more than glad to be leaving the metaphorical door knocking to Adansae, however.

Tailus follows the group as well, making sure to keep on the left flank, glancing around, waiting for Adansae to hail the dragon or something

"So why don't you take us on in, Master Adansae, and we'll see what we can do for our dear dragon," says the second officer, waving his hand at the cave.

Into the cave they go. Unlike the horrible stories some might heard this cave isn't full of bodies and bones and rubbish. Its rather clean actually. There is the requisite pile of gold, though its actually rather small for a dragon. The dragon itself is atop the pile with its eyes closed. Once the party is in the cave one eye opens, a dark golden red orb compared to the green of his scales, and it looks at the five officers. A little puff of smoke pops out of its nose. "Not more dragon slayers," he complains, his voice loud, yet low pitched and grumbly.

Lanie stops short, looking over the cave and the dragon and the gold and... well, the dragon again. She starts to open her mouth, but then closes it pointedly and looks at their fearless leader Adansae.

. o O Lanie thinks, "Well, at least he's /clean/?"

Adansae steps forward carefully, making certain not to trip over or upset any of the dragon's belongings. When she moves within the dragon's line of sight, she holds up her hands to show that she's unarmed. "Not dragon slayers," she reassures him. "It seems that you've had enough of those." She smiles -- the same disarming smile she'd offer an especially prickly client. "We're just here to talk."

Goodwin hangs back with Lanie like a good training officer, to allow the junior officer to take the lead in this negotiation situation. He quirks a smile at Kait, and then turns back to the dragon.

. o O Goodwin is proud of the junior officers, especially Adansae.

Reian is keeping quiet, allowing Adansae to speak. Apparently she has learnt her lesson. Let your negotiator speak *first*, and *then* think about how to back them up later...

Tailus also keeps quiet, listenig to the exchange between Adansae and the Dragon, listening otu for what might be useful...

The second eye pops open and another puff of smoke comes out. "Talk about what?"

. o O Lanie thinks, "Distract him and take the treasure! I could use some new jewelry."

Lanie keeps back toward Goodwin, sharing a bit of a proud grin with him. Her voice is quiet as she leans in a tiny bit toward Goodwin and murmurs, "They're doing pretty good."

Adansae moves a few steps closer, still smiling, still holding her hands where the dragon can clearly see them. "It seems that there's a bit of trouble with the village down the way," she begins in genial tones, tipping her head towards the cave's entrance and, presumably, the village itself. "They're a bit miffed about having their friends and family members removed... uh, without consent."

Reian bites her lower lip, concentrating on the dialogue between Adansae and the dragon. Nothing needing adding to Adansae's words, so she keeps out of it.

"I imagine they would be," grumbles the dragon, still laying quietly. His eyes turn to each of the party members in turn. Lanie gets a long look. "I like your armor. I'm almost bored enough to take it from you."

Lanie glances down at her armor and then back up again. "Well I'm glad it's /almost/ bored enough and not /quite/ bored enough to do it. I'm rather fond of it where it is. I don't think it would fit you, anyway. And it's not the right color for you. But about those villagers..." She trails off and glances at Adansae.

Goodwin nods his head in agreement with whatever Lanie says to him, but then smiles slightly when the dragon remarks on the armor.

Adansae nods to the dragon as if he were in complete agreement with her point of view. "And I imagine that you're a bit miffed by the endless stream of dragon-slayers invading your..." She pauses to glance around. "...your very nice cave. I'm sure they make quite a mess in here."

"Bored?" Reian blinks a little, "This is all about.. boredom?" Her dark eyes open wide in surprise. "Does that mean.." She sounds a little hopeful for a moment, "Does that mean the villagers are somewhere nearby? Where they can.. entertain you when you're feeling.. bored?"

The dragon turns to Reian now, head lolling a little. "They are alive, yes. They are in the back of the cave where I can watch them if I'm inclined." Another puff of smoke. "Really, being immortal is quite boring."

. o O Reian feels relief. Utter relief.

Goodwin creeps a bit forward so that he can talk to Adansae. "Think about the problems the villagers are having with trade in the city. How can the dragon's problem be resolved with the town's problem?" he asks, quietly, prodding her.

Adansae breathes a faint sigh of relief when she hears that the villagers are captives rather than past-meals. "So you're not hurting them? You're just... watching?" She frowns as Goodwin speaks, nodding. "Well, of course you're bored, living here in a cave. I bet you'd be much happier living closer to the village, where you can watch all of them, all the time."

Tailus walks forward, whispering to Adansae "Entainers come to the village with the trainers, you know, circuses and the like"

"You know," Lanie adds, "they could put on shows for you. With dancing and singing and costumes. I mean, if you liked that sort of thing." She nods, being the force of reason in the all-singing, all-dancing land of Lanieville. "But that is a /great/ idea. Living closer."

Reian nods in definite agreement to everyone's words. "It seems a shame... having you cooped up in a cave. Having to go and seek entertainment. When, perhaps, if you were willing to have the villagers understand your predicament, they might well be willing to provide it. People are always more entertaining when they're happy than when they're afraid."

Another puff of smoke from the dragon. "I want a challenge, not a show. The show I have is boring me. Though that armor is not."

Adansae considers this for a moment. "Okay, then," she returns. "What sort of a challenge would interest you?"

Lanie glances down at her armor and crosses her arms over her chest stubbornly. "It won't fit you. What would you need it for?"

"But everyone that might be willing to provide you with entertainment is staying away from the area because they don't want to be eaten?" Reian notes softly to the dragon. "So you're confining yourself to a very small pool of people to alleviate your boredom. Surely it would be worth encouraging more people in. Otherwise what you see.. is what you get. And, given long enough, the locals will start moving away as their village dies."

Goodwin continues to watch the situation in front of him unfold, but chooses not to cut in for the moment. He leaves it up to Adansae to probe the Dragon's motives.

Tailus Nods in agreement with his fellow officers, "And if you keep stealing them, they'll send more annoying dragon slayers, and you've obviously growen bored fo them

When Tailus speaks the dragon regards him too. "I think I think your clothing, but with her armor. Maybe I will make you wear it," he muses, before looking to Adansae. "I don't know, really. Maybe I could learn. Or learn to write."

Tailus blinks, the wind taken completely out of his sails. and He looked at the dragon, then glancing over at Laine, then back at the dragon, pursing his lips, thinking of somthing to say

"The villagers could teach you those things," Adansae returns to the dragon, shutting out everything save for her conversation with the creature. "They could teach you to read, write, draw, or any number of other challenging things. You could become a valued and respected member of their community, and never be bored or loney again."

Lanie's nose wrinkles up again and she shakes her head. No, she seems to conclude about something.

. o O Lanie thinks, "This armor totally clashes with /that/. Maybe he's colorblind."

Reian smoothes down her non-dragon-fodder peasant clothes. "I agree." she murmurs quietly, her tones soft, coaxing. "Wouldn't that be better? Rather than sitting alone, trying to work out how to break from your boredom for more than a short moment at a time. Having people to *help*?"

"Think about not just what the dragon wants, but also what the villagers want. How can the dragon help them so that there's an exchange, rather than a simple give?" prods Goodwin, in his role as Socratic-like mentor. His voice is a low murmur.

"And the villagers, they'd get you to stop stealing people and maybe you could ..." Lanie prompts, right when Goodwin speaks and just as quietly. She glances at him. "Stop stealing my ideas. Commander. Sir." She quirks a quick smile at him before looking back at the others.

"I suppose they could indeed," replies the dragon. In fact he starts shift, like he's going to stand. "I should go make them now."

Smiling now, Adansae eyes the dragon with admiration. "Those are awfully nice wing you have," she notes. "I bet you can cover a lot of distance very quickly. Do you enjoy traveling... seeing other places, new people?"

Goodwin slowly nods his head to Adansae and takes a step back so that she can pursue this thread where it goes. He looks over to Lanie.

Reian considers the words spoken by everyone - including the dragon himself, "No good teacher is ever *forced* to the role." She looks to the intimidating creature, eyes wide, ever hopeful that it will see the sense that Adansae is speaking. "And bringing trade back to the village.. working *with* them.. would suit what you wanted far more. More people. More learning. Is there nothing you could offer them? To tempt them to stay and bring more people in turn? A guarantee of peace..? Yes, indeed, travel..."

Lanie whispers to Goodwin, "They're doing better than I thought. They're really seeing all sides of the situation. It takes a little prompting, but... I have a good feeling about this. It's a good scenario. We should run it again."

GAME: Adansae spends a courage point.

GAME: Reian spends a courage point.

GAME: Adansae contests her Diplomacy+A vs Moderate and Dramatically Fails.

GAME: Reian contests her Diplomacy+A vs Moderate and Fails.

Poor Adanase and Reian, they tried so hard. For a moment the dragon seemed to settle back down. Then it roars, a loud, predator like roar and takes a big breath with its chest expanding. The small trail of smoke from it nose turns to a small column of fire, no doubt in preparation for what is coming next.

GAME: Goodwin contests his Athletics/Running vs Moderate and Fails.

GAME: Adansae contests her Athletics/Running vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.

GAME: Lanie contests her Athletics/Running vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.

GAME: Reian contests her Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.

GAME: Tailus contests his Athletics vs Moderate and Succeeds.

That's what Lanie gets for being with Goodwin on the far side of things. The dragon flames and they're caught in it. Great.

Reian obeys instinct and dives out of the cave.. It's not until she's at a safe distance that she pauses to look back, dismay on her face as she realises that the trainees made it out... leaving their senior officers to roast. "That... didn't work out so well then." she notes dismally.

Goodwin sighs and is 'dead' according to the simulation, and so he goes to lie down in the holographic flames, resting his head on his elbows. Time to sit this one out.

Tailus stops beside her, looking at the horses, "Errr, should we go and save them?" he asks, refering to both the senior officers and the steads. His chest heaving from running, he moves forward, helping Adansae to her feet, batting out the fire...

Screaming, Adansae turns and races from the fiery cave. She's not as quick as Reian, and lands in a whimpering pile of pain beside the other trainee. "Goodwin," she sighs, looking back to the cave with a look of despair. At Tailus' question, she shakes her head, wincing. "I think he'll just try to roast you again. I guess we need a new plan." She sounds dejected.

Tailus struggles to keep a straight face, but can't help it, and says, "Maybe we could get some marshmellows" he says, before becoming serious. "Perhaps a peace offering my sedatie him..."

After the mighty blast of flame, which nets the dragon that coveted armor (albeit a little roasted), the Dragon lets loose another roar and spreads his massive wings. Two heavy flaps later and he begins to head towards the village. As the massive body passes over them the whole programs winks out, except for a generic looking holo-officer. "While you failed the program, you did manage to identify all the key concerns and attempt to address them. Your effort was commendable." Then he too is gone.

Tailus winces as the dragon flies over head, "Ok... maybe no peace offering then"

Goodwin gets up off of the holodeck floor and nods his head in agreement, brushing himself off from some soot. "Not bad," he tells them. "We can work on the delivery skills, but it's the process that really matters. And in that sense, you did well."

Despite the holo-officer's praise, Adansae continues to look dejected and disappointed. "I guess we have some learning left to do," she notes to Tailus and Reian, offering the two a weak smile. When Goodwin speaks, her smile warms a little. "Next time, we'll do better."

Reian looks from one of her fellow trainees to the other. "Oops." she notes. "Oh, I'm never going to be able to look any senior officer in the eye again...." She takes a deep breath, "You were *way* ahead of the rest of us." she notes to Adansae. "Care to teach me some of your tricks?" She shushes as Goodwin speaks, biting her lower lip. Glad that he doesn't perceive it as a total failure. "We'll improve." she agrees.

. o O Reian feels sudden amusement, a bubbling of mental laughter that is only just contained.

. o O Reian thinks, "Roasting the senior officers.. Well that *could* have gone better..."

Adansae laughs. "Sure," she responds to Reian. "I'll be offering free lessons on infuriating dragons in the Warped Core next week." She grins. "Seriously, though -- we'll have to meet up for tea soon and talk about this. For now, I'm expected back in Counseling."

"And I need to finish packing for my conference on Duclais Prime," admits Goodwin glumly. "But if any of you would like to learn more about diplomacy, please, let me know, all right?" asks the second officer.

Reian nods to Adansae and Tailus, before suddenly grinning brightly, "It'd be good. I'll see you for a coffee any time! Give me a call! Just think, by the time we've embroidered this debacle a little we can have the cadets hanging onto our every word of wisdom on how to torch senior command crew..."