The human clerk runs his finger over the scale. “Now, because of how varied and widespread dragons are, we would need to run some proper tests to confirm, but it might be worth more to you to sell this than have it crafted into something.”
Rosha, “And I’m sure you can understand my confusion at that. Dragons have a certain amount of social cache.”
The clerk smiles and shrugs, “Oh, don’t worry, I understand. There is a reason that despite actually being common compared to others in the category, they are still Mythical creatures.
“A full-grown Dragon is the type of beast who if in civilized lands? Well, all the adjacent kingdoms are going to be paying tribute to them. Which kind of compounds the problem as a proper hoard actually enhances a Dragon. Well, many Dragons. The long-bodied Dragons, not as much.
“Thankfully, most Dragons live in the Dragon Spine mountain range. Named such not because there are Dragons living there, but because some of our earliest myths tell us that it is a literal spine of a Dragon the Deities killed to protect civilization.”
Rosha’s eyes go wide, “That’s a cool story. Any proof of that?”
The clerk shrugs again, “Nothing direct, though there are things that don’t add up to it being a normal mountain range.”
There is a pause, then Rosha rolls her eyes, “Don’t keep me waiting for the suspense. Out with it. What things don’t add up.”
The clerk laughs, “Well, they aren’t that big. The entire range is a single line. Most mountain ranges will have smaller mountains coming off at points. Not with the Dragon Spine range. Also, they are in the middle of a large tectonic plate, not at the edge between two.
“Though that all simply points towards it not being the most natural of mountain ranges. Deities are more than capable of pulling off such things. There are numerous ‘Holy’ mountains around the world. Besides that, the Deep Wilds don’t exactly follow the rules, so if they were from there? Well, it isn’t likely, but would explain it. Plus any number of other possibilities.”
Rosha, “So then why does the myth persist? It doesn’t sound like it’s a new one.”
The clerk nods, “A fair question, and that mostly comes down to the Dragons and their descendants that live there. See, bloodlines have a hard time maintaining themselves beyond the baseline. Some lines are stable, such as the Halvyr. Though humans and elves are ridiculously compatible, the same with humans and dwarves. Even if strangely, not elves and dwarves. Then again, humans are sort of like Dragons when it comes to ‘family planning’.
“Anyway, while the Dragon bloodline is self-stable. A child between two Dragons will be a Dragon, even if they are the same kind of Dragon. Beings that are not full Dragons will have their Dragon heritage fade within 3 generations if nothing is done.”
Rosha, “We are truly off track right now, but I have to know. What can be done?”
The clerk shrugs, “Grow more powerful. Evolve correctly. Eat mystical herbs and use powerful alchemical mixtures to purify or grow the bloodline. That or gain access to one of the rare and very much System suppressed skill manuals that teach you the Skill to do that on your own.
“There are infinite possibilities, and most won’t work for any specific person. So not only do you need to find an answer, chances are it won’t be the correct answer for yourself. Which is why most people with a bloodline will focus on the first two.
“Sure, search for the right potion recipe to help skip decades of hard work, but keep doing the work. If you grow personally stronger than the bloodline? Well, that locks in the bloodline for any descendants you have after that. Though the ‘personally’ part is important. You not only need the levels, but also the strength sans what your bloodline gives you. Which makes the Draconic bloodline quite hard to maintain unless you have a dragon on hand to keep it topped up.”
Rosha, “But what about that talk about a lingering bloodline and how most reptiles have some Dragon in them?”
The clerk laughs, “There is an enormous difference between having a wisp of the Draconic bloodline and actually activating said bloodline. A little bit of leftover genetics means nothing without the magic of their bloodline. It is like having a stone wall that once had a recipe carved into it, but is now worn away.
“The stone is the same. The wall is even in the same place, but you aren’t going to learn the recipe from it. Awakening the bloodline from that state either requires some outside force to re-carve the recipe into the wall or special magic to find traces that otherwise can’t be seen with the naked eye or touch.”
Rosha, “And I guess you need both the recipe and the right stone?”
The clerk nods, “Yep.
“And that is why this scale not having any of that bloodline is important. If you’re familiar with how some gems have the same source despite very different colors? Well, this works in the same way.
“Even a trace amount of the Draconic bloodline will change the outcome of certain rituals, crafting processes, and also affect compatibility. Which makes any reptile, fish, and so many more a pain if you want to do anything unrelated to a Dragon. Though in particular snakes, carps, and lizards. Which, good for you, this is after a second look not a lizard scale, but a snake scale. Though either would be worth a lot.”
Rosha turns to Courtney, “Are there any instructions for this? It was supposed to be a simple turn-in.”
Courtney frowns, “I wouldn’t suggest it, but it is only expected that maybe one of these would succeed.”
Rosha turns back to the clerk, “Well, let’s hear the details of the component itself. Don’t think I missed the fact that you talked around it. What is up with the component itself? There must be something more to it.”