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[Mamorien]

Chapter Trigger Warnings: Mention of Threat of Torture, Implied Act of Murder

That's right, the author's computer is up and running, so we can hope that A Thing of Vikings will be back to regular weekly updates!

Buffalord: Mystery-class dragon

Overview: Metaturnal infrastructural dragon, medical.    One of the primary dragons on the International Model List of Essential Dragon Breeds, the Buffalords form the backbone for much of the worldwide health systems in the treatment of acute infection and disease, thanks to their medicinal saliva and venom.    Militarily useless, the deliberate killing of a Buffalord has been classified for centuries as a war crime by multiple international treaties, since the only purpose in such an act would be to promote disease.    Docile in temperament unless deliberately provoked, they are easily kept in a positive mood by providing them their preferred food: human-produced refuse.

Breath Type: Aerosolized Kerosene; due to some of the Buffalord's adaptations, they have difficulty controlling their fire and prefer not to use it.

Identification: Medium-to-Large size.    Brown, bronze, green, yellow, purple or blue hide and scales, with lighter underbellies and darker dorsal surfaces.    Bronze, green or brown eyes.    Four pillar-like legs with basic digging claws, large single wing pair.    Large egg-shaped central body studded with rows of launchable spikes.    Blunt head with one horn spike growing atop the skull and two forward-curved horns growing from the cheeks.    Can inflate its central body to twice its usual size as an intimidation tactic.    Proportionately small tail, with vestigial thagomizer. 

Strategic Role: Strictly rear-echelon medical supply, and disposal of hazardous waste and spoiled foodstuffs.    Buffalords are too valuable as medical support and too fragile to be allowed anywhere near active combat. 

Known Weaknesses: Slow airspeed.    Large target size.    Hide comparatively unarmored to allow for stretching of signature skin-inflation.    Poorly controlled fire-breath.    Extreme docility.

Phenotype Cluster: B8!F6+S ØSØS2+M7TØT2+

Populations: Significant and widespread, and found in nearly all human settlements of sufficient size.    As carrion and detritus eaters, Buffalords are also used as organic waste disposal, which further aids in priming their symbiotic bacteria to the antibiotic, antitoxin, antifungal, and antiviral needs of the communities which they serve.   

In Vedrarfjord, Hákon talks about the city's development, ranging from an explanation of why he's leaving some older housing in place to discussing with Munia and Fishlegs the last's proposed university. On his estate in Kappadokia, Sigurd spends some relaxing time with his loves, who work out what drew him to them. In the chief's hut on Berk, Hiccup and Magnus talk about what it means to be a good king, then Fish arrives (with the cough he's been nursing since the Vedrarfjord scene) with some books that might help them figure that out. At Höfn, Eret stalls for time on a dilemma, then captures a household pet. And we close in the woods near Inbhir Aora, where Toiréasa goes walking and talking with Dagur, then runs into Rodhlaug...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/104089...s/65767891