Greetings friends. I hope the day finds you far removed from the troubles of the grand designs of the powerful in your world. Here, I'm camped with various creatures on an exploratory excursion through the realm. It's not really an excursion though. For me, home is never far away.
Neither is Terra, which brings me to the point. I recently ran across some advice on your twitter to go fight dragons. Personally, I prefer to avoid fighting things that could kill me, but admittedly, this is after having slayed hundreds that I am pretty sure needed slaying. All that to say I can't really dismiss the enterprise outrightly. Here was the advice:
Fight dragons even if they're scary and frightening. Fight dragons because they are scary. Know that you do not fight alone. Know that you fight to protect others.
Fight.
One the one hand, I like to avoid mortal danger. On the other hand, I appreciate the spirit, and sometimes you can't really avoid it. So, I made some tips to go along with that advice. If you're going to go fighting dragons, then you better fight to win, and so you better go smart.
1. Train. Bleed now, among friends not foes.
I get the urgency. Why waste time while the beast wreaks havoc in neighboring villages and towns?! Maybe there is no time to train, in which case you will likely die, and if not you will not relieve much suffering. Train. If only when on the way, train. The goal should be to get all you can, not to go without all you can. It will save you and others much grief.
2. Enchanted arms or it might as well be a slingshot.
Sometimes equipment just gets in the way. Fighting a dragon is about such things as cunning and strategy. Without those, you'll end up a roasted gas station burrito in an armor wrapper, one that he eats whole. That said, if you don't know much about enchanted arms, learn or stay home. If you can't do those, God help you.
3. A roc might help.
A full grown roc is a mighty beast, and can be a great help. BUT that's only if you two are well accustomed to each other and have battle experience. Otherwise, it's easy to be just a bigger target and why lead a majestic creature into harm's way only to be used as a one-shot (at best) that dies soon thereafter? (Again unless you have to.) Personally, I've tried many majestic steeds, and I've settled with a gryphon, but that's me. I've not had much luck with magical companions in this area. (See rule 5.)
4. Go heartily and compelled mightily.
Duty is not enough. Nor is glory. Both may get you into the fight, but the vigor they inspire does not burn as bright and strong as- they aren't enough. Find better. That said, I have seen a few mighty and experienced slayers prevail on vain glory alone. They were good, but even they got lucky, and their luck ran out.
5. Don't go alone or with the new guy.
This should not have to be said. But lone-wolfing this is mad crazy dumb. Again, if you have to, fine. If no one else is qualified for the risk, maybe you have to go alone. Sometimes that's better than bringing along deadweight or a foible king. Anyway, it's also just endangering the newb. Dragon-hunts are kind of a suicide mission for most men- for most dwarves and elves too. (Though don't tempt the dwarves).
At this point, I wondered why a terran wouldn't just sit comfortable in their office and push a button to dispense with a dragon. So. Much. EASIER! Then, I realized he was probably speaking metaphorically in the first place. Still good advice though.
P