Alhazred's Old Book Collections 3

Old Book Volume 11
"Trading Trade Secrets"

1. Buy Low, Sell High!

"This is the most basic of principles when it comes to trade. Do the
opposite, and you'll lose out! Anyone who doesn't understand this basic
principle has no business being in commerce!"

2. Do Your Legwork!

"The prices of tradable items are completely different from town to town.
Get those legs working! Find out for yourself which towns sell cheap and
which buy high!"

3. Believe Those Rumors!

"You can trust that gossip you hear at trading posts.
When the prices of tradable items change dramatically, that's your chance to
make a big profit! Keep your ears open!"

4. Build Up Your Achievements!

"The better your performance in trade, the more profitable items you'll be
allowed to sell! Even if the profit margin isn't very high at first, if you
steadily plug away at selling daily essentials, your achievements will surely
be recognized!"

"Now that you've taken your first steps toward becoming a great merchant, let
me leave you with these words: Every merchant should know not to rejoice too
much over a profit or lament too much over a loss!"


Old Book Volume 12
"The Feitas Dragon Cavalry"

"Dragon horses are native to the southwest of Falena. Although they look
fearsome, they are actually gentle and intelligent creatures."

"Due to these creatures' friendly, docile nature, those who lived nearby
began to live in cooperation and harmony with the dragon horses, eventually
forming a communal society together."

"This communal society was the origin of the Dragon Cavalry. At first, these
Dragon-Horse People were considered "barbaric nomads" too savage to submit
to the Queen's control, and were persecuted just like Raftfleet. The Queendom
made it a priority to subjugate the Dragon-Horse People."

"With the great mobility of dragon horses as their weapon, however, the
Dragon-Horse People would not easily nor quietly yield. They fiercely defended
their lands against the Queendom's incursions for years. At one time, the area
around present-day Port Spinacks and southward was virtually their own
independent territory, as the Queendom was unable to gain a foothold in the
region."

"But this antagonistic relationship underwent a sudden and dramatic shift, all
due to the founding of Nagarea. Nagarea was a violent theocracy, formed by
integrating a group of small nations in the south. Wanting to further expand
its power, Nagarea sent an 'armed missionary group' into Falena."

"In reality, though, these 'missionaries' were no more than an invading army.
Suddenly faced with a common enemy, the Dragon-Horse People and the Queendom's
Army fought alongside one another, with the partnership becoming closer as the
conflict raged on."

"Dragon horses only lay their eggs in a single cave on the banks of the
Feitas River. In cases where they've been forced to lay elsewhere, the eggs
have gone dormant, mysteriously unable to hatch."

"Thus, if forced to flee elsewhere, the dragon horse population would be
unable to sustain itself. According to the dogma of the Nagarist Order, dragon
horses are evil and wicked creatures that must be 'cleansed' from this world.
If Nagarea were somehow able to invade the lands of the Dragon-Horse People,
it would surely have meant the slaughter of the entire dragon horse
population."

"And so the Dragon-Horse People fought all the more desperately. The
Commander of the Queen's Knights believed that the Dragon-Horse People were
equal citizens of Falena."

"He fiercely led the main force of the Queendom's Army in furious fighting.
And they defended the dragon horse lair to the very end."

"It can be said that the most important consequence of this war was not the
defeat of the Nagarist invasion, but the strong sense of solidarity that
formed between the Queendom's Army and the Dragon-Horse People."

"After the war, the Queen officially recognized the service of the
Dragon-Horse People, and made the entire southwest area their territory.
The Dragon-Horse People, too, felt deeply indebted to the Queendom's Army
for saving them, and swore their loyalty to the Queendom of Falena."

"They were organized into a military force that would come to the aid of
the Queendom whenever it was in trouble, with dragon horses and swords at
the ready. Thus, the Feitas Dragon Cavalry was born. However, early on, the
power, justice, and might of the Dragon Cavalry would be greatly abused. The
Senators, constantly involved in vicious power struggles, were selfishly bent
on winning the Dragon Cavalry over to their own factions. This kind of
intrigue and subterfuge was alien to the simple Dragon-Horse People."

"Unable to deal with the devious plots and stratagems typical of courtiers,
they were often manipulated and used as little more than the Senators' pawns
and private soldiers."

"The Dragon Cavalry, tired of being used as pawns in a political game,
decided to impose a strict rule upon themselves.
They decided that their own priority should be to defend Falena's borders.
They vowed to never let themselves get involved in Falena's internal
disputes."

"The Sun Palace, which had also been uncomfortable with the Senators'
behaviour, officially gave its approval to this rule, too."

"Since divorcing themselves from internal politics, the Dragon Cavalry has
served as a high-profile border patrol against barbarian invaders, earning
them the grateful respect and trust of the Falenan citizenry."

"During the Great Earthquake of 164 of the New Capital Calendar, the land
route that connected Falena and Nagarea was destroyed beyond repair.
Thus, the once-terrifying Nagarist threat has become far less serious."

"However, today, with the ominous rise of Armes to the east, the Dragon
Cavalry's importance to the Queendom of Falena remains as high as it ever
has."


Old Book Volume 13
"Regulations of the Dragon Cavalry"

"The Feitas Dragon Cavalry is governed by a strict set of regulations.
These rules, and the regimented, disciplined behaviour they inspire in the
cavalry, are a source of great pride for Falena."

"But the vehemence with which they uphold these rules can make them appear
to be a little pigheaded at times. The best example of this is their
prohibition against women joining the Dragon Cavalry."

"While it's true that women didn't ride dragon horses among the ancestors
of the Dragon Cavalry in the dragon horse village, that was only a custom.
It was never defined as a hard-and-fast rule."

"In fact, the Dragon Cavalry was simply following the conventions of the
Queendom at the time."

"Back then, membership in the Queen's Knights was restricted to men only,
so the Dragon Cavalry simply followed that tradition."

"Later on, women were finally allowed to be appointed to the Queen's
Knights. But the Dragon Cavalry, insistent on upholding their own rules
and traditions, didn't follow their lead. Thus, women are excluded to
this day."

"However, rules shouldn't simply exist because of 'tradition'. The reason
for the existence of rules should always be considered and challenged. If
the times change, perhaps rules and regulations should, too."

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