AC-011 Garland/Stories
Quotes
- When Entering Dragon's Roost
- Greetings. I trust nothing untoward has occurred in my absence?
- Is something amiss? Would you seek my counsel in matters of war?
- Let us pledge to work toward a new future for people and dragons alike.
- After Receiving a Gift
- I am awed by your abiding kindness.
- I am grateful for your kindness. May this offering go some distance to repaying it.
- After Bond Level Increase
- I shall open the way to a new era at your side.
- I aim to use what strength I possess in service of your great cause.
- Idle After Bond Level 1
- I have been appointed to serve as your shield.
- I am pleased you have received my service so openly. I shall show my thanks in battle, I assure you.
- The commander of my unit expressed extraordinary interest in you.
- Idle After Bond Level 10
- This armor is a symbol of my unit's harmony and resolve. In human terms, you might call it a uniform.
- By the old ways, dragons were to steer clear of mortal conflicts, but we have cast that precept aside.
- Alberia's prosperity far exceeds what I had imagined. It is worlds apart from where I hail in the north.
- Idle After Bond Level 20
- You are an anchor to your people. I am certain you will be a good king.
- By your light, we may finally find our way out of these troubled times.
- There are some who are displeased with my unit's involvement, but revolution can never please all.
Dragon Story Episodes
The Wings of Revolution
On the outer edge of North Grastaea,
the small kingdom of Norn was under
attack by a neighboring nation. Just
as they began to give up hope,
a figure descended from the sky.
It was a dragon, clad in majestic
golden armor. "I am AC-011
Garland of Pravda's Air Force,"
he said. "I have been sent
here to aid you in battle."
The name of Pravda was known
to all. Its battalion of armed dragons
had interfered in wars throughout
North Grastaea for hundreds of years,
with the aim of ending war forever.
Norn castle was uneasy at the
dragon's arrival. Some saw the
benefits of a strong ally like Pravda,
while others wanted nothing to do
with the group of rogue dragons.
For Pravda's very existence broke an
ancient law that forbade dragons
from involving themselves in
human conflicts.
It was a law born in tandem with
the religion that revered dragons,
and knowledge of it was common
amongst people of the time.
Many feared breaking this law would
toss the world into chaos, but Pravda
continued its crusade unabated. And
so came Garland's arrival in Norn.
Finally, the king himself stepped
forward. "Your offer is most
gracious, Sir Garland. But I
am afraid we cannot in good
conscience accept it."
"Our country is small, but it is also
proud. Even in our darkest hours,
we have never accepted outside aid.
We will not change that today."
Garland narrowed his eyes.
"Your confidence is laudable—
but should a king not act in the
best interest of his people?"
The king raised his chin. "Indeed.
And accepting help from a dragon
who so readily ignores the ancient
laws would no doubt anger the
dragons who support my people."
The king then led his soldiers to the
battlefield. "Old laws are not always
good ones," Garland thought. "And
clinging to this one will spell your
end." He flew after the king.
As the Kingdom of Norn endured
attacks from a neighboring nation,
a member of the armed dragons
of Pravda, AC-011 Garland,
arrived to offer aid.
But the king of Norn was proud,
and refused the dragon's assistance.
He set off for battle with only his
soldiers behind him, determined
to win the day by their might alone.
Arrows and boulders rained down
upon the Nornians as the battle
began. The odds of victory
appeared slim indeed.
But still the king refused to retreat.
"Steel yourselves and fight to the
last!" he cried. "Fill your hearts
with the pride of giving your
lives for your country!"
Though its destruction was nigh, the
king cared only for preserving the
proud history of his nation. And so
his men charged forward, meeting
the next wave of arrows head on.
But before they could strike,
the arrows were blown aside
by a sudden gale. Garland
had arrived.
"We do not require your aid, dragon!"
the king spat. Garland turned to him.
"Are you fighting for your country's
future, or for days long past?"
"Our forces seek to protect the land
as it is NOW. Thus have we shed the
shackles of ancient laws. But what
of you? Do you value the past
over the present?"
Garland left the speechless
king to consider his words,
and charged forth to meet
the advancing enemy forces.
His wings cleaved through their
ranks with ease, and with a flash
he struck down the enemy
commander. The tide of battle
had been irreparably turned.
Silence fell over the battlefield, until
Garland himself broke it. "Norn has
the support of Pravda. If you value
your lives, you will return home and
issue a truce at once."
The air itself seemed to bristle at
the word "Pravda." The enemy
soldiers heeded the dragon's
words, and turned on their
heels to leave.
The soldiers of Norn cheered in
disbelief, while their king could
only stand with his mouth agape
at the dragon looming silently
over the now-still battlefield.
Several days later, the invading
nation issued a truce.
Garland subsequently received
orders to return home.
The king refused to thank Garland,
to the very last. People are often
reticent to cast aside principles they
have protected their entire lives.
The people of Norn spoke not of their
savior, or their brief disregard for
ancient law, and returned to the
ways of old. Garland had witnessed
such regression time and time again.
He spread his wings and took to the
cold, cloudy sky—but as he did, he
noticed a figure standing outside
the keep of Norn castle.
It was the king of Norn himself.
He did not wave, or smile,
or call out to Garland.
He merely watched the dragon
rise ever higher into the sky.
Garland smiled at this, for he
recognized the proud man's
intentions. He had come to
see him off, in his own way.
"I am honored by your gesture.
Should this land ever find itself
threatened by wanton violence
once more, I shall return to
offer my aid."
The ancient laws that govern humans
and dragons may still be honored,
but the winds of change appear
to be picking up as well.