[X] If that's Edaine's dream... The binding probably isn't intended to give you a view into Edaine like this, so this must be a function of the inoculation? ...You hope you have a copy of the instruction manual you can review because you never expected to need to know how it works.
This might be a construct of the anti-binding wards, a kind of mental safe-house intended to let you plan and relax without fear of discovery.
[x] consider meditating as you dream, maybe you can work out what is going on with the rest of your energy issues while you are technically asleep?
[X] just watch
Spying on Edain's dream(?) might give some insight into what kind of person he is. Information is ammunition!
Alternatively;
[X] Explore the space. It looks like your arcology room but it might be changed in some ways, especially if it's designed to be an anti-binding mind palace.
-[X] Maybe there's a manual lying around. "Self-selecting buffets: Summoners and the short, sharp road to emancipation" perhaps?
-[X] Check to see if the rest of your apartment exists here.
If you hadn't you'd be regretting that instead. Now you both have extra motivation to find each other again.
Considering how rare breach events like that are in modern-day Fulcrum, it's quite likely a large amount of resources are being mobilized to try and rescue everyone.
[X] If that's Edaine's dream... The binding probably isn't intended to give you a view into Edaine like this, so this must be a function of the inoculation? ...You hope you have a copy of the instruction manual you can review because you never expected to need to know how it works.
I wonder if it's a function of the inoculation or if Edaine just didn't quite cast it right and left the connection 'wider' than it should be or similar feedback. He clearly had no idea what he was doing, after all. Which makes it terrifying that it would have worked anyway if not for the inoculation. Just how vulnerable are dragons to binding?
[x] A dream through the Binding. It's a dream you're having, influenced by Edaine's inner thoughts...
[x] Try to push it into a direction that will let you learn more about this world, and Edaine.
Might be a contact from the Dragon goddess, she seemed to be really unhappy about that whole incident. Or from someone else ...
[X] Investigate the dream.
Just going back a little, I think these lines are noteworthy.
"We DO have a chance," she says. "With or without you. We don't even know the enemy's true intentions. War can take many forms."
"All of them, a catastrophe," Edaine says softly.
To me, they show that Edaine really is taking the war seriously. We already knew that, and I think it's clear that's why he tried to enslave Zalan, which I think is worth remembering for whenever we eventually reveal it didn't work.
But also, I feel like they show that Adia isn't really taking it seriously. I get the impression she's fitting that spirited, hotheaded archetype of someone who's never fought before. Like she doesn't want the war to be happening, but in her head she doesn't feel like they're going to lose. That's probably why she's also being a lot more casual around Zalan, because she doesn't believe they need him like Edaine does.
I don't think this really matters right now, but it's worth keeping in mind.
Zalan's probably going to need to wait to fix his long-term imbalances, until his short-term imbalances from the black elixir are more cleaned up. And he can't exactly meditate those away. Not without some much more advanced meditation than he has, anyway.
It's hard just to focus on dreaming about dreaming...
[X] Explore the space. It looks like your arcology room but it might be changed in some ways, especially if it's designed to be an anti-binding mind palace.
-[X] Maybe there's a manual lying around. "Self-selecting buffets: Summoners and the short, sharp road to emancipation" perhaps?
-[X] Check to see if the rest of your apartment exists here.
Zalan can't find anything so straightforwards as an instruction manual. Imprinted deep in his soul when he was young, he suspects the inoculation magick will work more by instinct and feel.
...With that in mind, this interpretation feels right.
He makes a note to check around the representational apartment.
But first, his attention moves towards the window into another dream...
...But if they were watching one another's dreams at once, shouldn't there be a feedback loop, like staring down a hall of mirrors?
From what little Zalan remembers, a "properly" functioning binding should mostly make a dragon steadily receive the summoner's will, to grow more familiar and friendly, to learn their language, and to anticipate the summoner's needs. Not so much the reverse.
[X] It could be an amalgation. Consider what it would tell us about Edaine if it was.
-[X] The part of you that makes dreams being thrown off balance (or even more off balance) by the Binding Ritual (which did settle into crown node), combining our senses/memories/fantasy (the room) with that of Edaine (the display table). And Edaine doesn't know our wings, his fantasy would probably substitute what he imagines dragonwings to be like.
It's Zalan...
Not his wings, not his attitude, but it's his body.
Zalan watches his dream self though the scrying effect. He feels himself falling steadily inside, as the separation between his own dream and Edaine's grows thinner and thinner...
The deep darkness of the dream become the shallow darkness of an inactive display. The connection's gone silent, leaving Zalan to fade into a merciful, dreamless rest-state.
That doesn't last either. Something's thumping him and dragging him back to awareness.
"-up. Wake up. Wake up! Time's up!"
Zalan wakes up. It feels like surfacing from a swimming pool of honey.
Adia is alternating between shoving Zalan's shoulder and lightly kicking his flank.
"Buh," Zalan says. "Wh-what happened to your [good cop]?" he garbles. His Personal Attendant has trouble translating.
"I'm actually being extremely nice," Adia says. "Which is why I'm herding everyone out of the forest of night-terror before the sun sets."
"Wh-"
"Up! Up up up up! Go go go go!"
Zalan does go. He's suddenly very aware of the mass of his head, and how high he needs to lift it. He gives an exhausted rumble.
"I'm up," he announces.
Edaine's already awake. Adia must have woken him up first, ending the dream connection. Zalan notes that he didn't return to his [mind palace] afterwards to explore. It must be a little more delicate than that. Presently, Edaine is standing by the Atelier, raising his hands to fuel a magick effect. The mana Zalan sent him wasn't so poisonous as to ruin the enchantments, it seems.
Then I am of immediate value, even if I don't agree to fight. That's good, I guess...
Edaine returns, looking dour. Zalan mirrors his expression, but focuses on making the strength return to his limbs.
Wordlessly, the three walk into the forest. It's old and dark, with trees tall enough that Zalan can easily slip between them, which choke the light from plants short enough to slap his face.
Idly, he checks the internexus.
<no connection>
Yes, well, obviously, he thinks. Come on, get your head together.
A few moments later, he checks the internexus.
<no connection>
Slowly, Zalan begins to consider just how bored he's going to get.
"So, can you-" "Where do-" Edaine and Zalan talk over one another, after a minute of awkward silence. Zalan suppresses the moment of annoyance, by letting his exhaustion overpower it, leaving Edaine to speak first.
"Some dragons can," says Zalan. "I can't, though. I'd need the right chakratic module."
"Wait, you're serious?" Edaine says. "I thought that was like asking if you eat food."
"Sorry," says Zalan.
Eating and respiring are just about all I can do here... Zalan thinks with a soft grumble.
He'll need think of something better than that to say next...
Ask something about local geography?
...how people fight here? Especially how Heivolur fights?
...something about what Heivolur wants with these lands? Delicately put.
...what people do for fun around here before he goes crazy?
...on something else entirely?
Should he push through his headache and start talking about magic-science?
Or maybe he should worry less about a conversation and more about something else.
Ah, perhaps someone on the internexus knows what to do when the internexus is down! You should check the internexus to see if anyone's had this problem before.
In all seriousness:
[X] Consider playing up the fact that you've been bound, say you were receiving odd messages in your dreams and that it behooves you, as a good bound dragon, to inquire about things that disturb your illustrious master in his dreams.
[X] Offer, as much as you dislike it, that they can sit on your back so you can get to their home faster. Also so you can sprint away if there IS something terrible that wants to hurt them.
[X] Ask about Edaines Master
If they aren't lying, this forest could be dangerous.
<edit> to be clear, there is no reason to believe that they are and their story makes sense. So they are probably right</edit>
And lets be honest: Zalans best battle tactic is "can't catch me" while supplying mana to Edaine so he can keep fireball-ing (or whatever it is he'd do in a fight) the threat.
The more we know about Edaines Master, the better we can try to look like what we are: a sentient being forced from home and put under enslaving magic. First impressions matter!
[X] Offer, as much as you dislike it, that they can sit on your back so you can get to their home faster. Also so you can sprint away if there IS something terrible that wants to hurt them.
[X] Ask about Edaines Master
