Corpus Tamrielicum - The Imperial Library

156 2. THE ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER 2: DAGGERFALL
reasonable warmth for the smaller beings, with some protection from the elements during the
colder months."
Edward responded, "It is difficult for me to get used to the notion of a village without some
central concentration of buildings, but perhaps these will be developed in the future; at least, a
few buildings for meetings and socializing. And, I suppose that there are also some beautiful
sunsets to be seen."
The dragon smiled again, but replied "Quite so, but I am the only one of the dragonkind to
show any interest, and that was not a legitimate consideration when we chose this site." Then
wistfully: "I wish that I could assemble the words to describe some of them. I have attempted
this many, many times, but the results just are not...very admirable." More briskly: "And by
the way, we do intend to erect a meeting hall for the humanoids, and also some stores for
barter and other exchanges of goods."
Moraelyn had wandered over and seated himself, and he asked, with a notable absence of the
usual humanoid respect for dragons, "Whatever possessed you to attempt such a crazy
experiment, Akatosh?"
The dragon paused thoughtfully, and then replied "As is my wont I had been analyzing, in this
case one might say the history of dragon behavior. Clearly our lengthy contest of resistance to
these new Aurielian gods was futile, but it took many of our generations for us to realize and
accept this. Then, our next pattern was to isolate ourselves, even from each other, and to resist
intrusion from any and all beings. The exception of course was to mate among ourselves and
procreate our race. However, aside from that one activity, we fought any and all for our
precious privacy, and really for no good reason except that we can be an especially stubborn
race."
Edward said, "Then you maintained a pattern of behavior long after the reason for it was
gone?"
Akatosh looked a bit embarrassed. He said stiffly, "I believe that is what I just said. We are
not the only sentient race to fall prey to that."
Edward said, "The Archmagister has told me that much behavior is inborn."
Moraelyn smiled at him, "And inborn behavior patterns are a particular problem for longlived
species who change slowly as conditions change. We elves suffer from it even more
than you short-lived humans, which is why we like to keep things as they are, though life is
change and to resist it utterly is death. Dragons live far, far longer than even elves, and, in
consequence, breed even more slowly. Still, who can say what alterations being born into a
social setting may produce, for good or ill, in dragon behavior."
Aliera had by this time joined the conversation, and observed: "The Daedra must have been
long pleased with dragon behavior."
Akatosh responded, "Perhaps so, but I approached our queen with this suggestion moreso
because it seemed clear to me that as a race we had fallen into a stasis, and we needed to
break this shell in order to invigorate ourselves. She didn't quite agree with me, but, perhaps
because of my reputation, she told me to go ahead and make this attempt."