Request for an official response to clarify

[Nutz]

I'm not sure that Shiva's actions are necessarily related to the AuRa, but yes you got the idea. I do think some clarification might come to light about the actual nature of dragon kind. They're not just beasts but actually an intelligent sentient race as far as I understand and likely can take a humanoid form.

[Anonymoose]

The race is described as being half-dragon and half-elf.

By whom? The only official description I've heard so far is, "reptilian demi-beastmen." Admittedly, line about how Saint Shiva "lay down" with dragons could foreshadow the Au Ra's origins, but it could just as easily be an obvious a red herring.

While Iceheart herself may not have lain with dragons, Shiva most certainly did.

Maybe. The story is thousands of years old and appears in an obviously biased book of scripture. Why wouldn't you claim that the first heretic had carnal knowledge of the beasts you're sworn to fight? It can mean anything from "she made common cause with" to "she literally had sexual relations with" (in which case I do believe the game uses the wrong term to begin with. "Lay down" should be "lie down," no?). Either way you end up at the general concept the scripture is trying to convey - her association with the dragons has made her unclean. The whole thing is meant to be murky, imho.

Unfortunately, the biggest hint is dependent on an unknown nature of primals. Shiva's final words are, "Forgive them, my beloved..." Were those the sentiments of the true Shiva, or simply the sentiments of the aetherial deiform created by Iceheart's conviction?

likely can take a humanoid form.

We at least know that they can make you think they've taken human form. The Dravanians have strange and powerful glamours at their disposal. The same thing in reverse, the heretics who use Dragon's Blood are able to project the form of scalekin, though the main scenario confirms that this is just an illusion. I'm not sure if the dragons can truly shapeshift, though. We'll see in time, I suppose!

[Viridiana]

It can mean anything from "she made common cause with" to "she literally had sexual relations with" (in which case I do believe the game uses the wrong term to begin with. "Lay down" should be "lie down," no?).

Lay is the past tense of lie, so to say she lay down with dragons would be the correct term. Everything about the presentation of it (in English, at least) makes it clear they're saying she had sex with a dragon. As you correctly note elsewhere in your post, though, that's only what the characters are saying, not necessarily the truth.

Edit: And, of course, the game is entirely silent as to whether there were offspring from the union. . .

[Anonymoose]

Lay is the past tense of lie, so to say she lay down with dragons would be the correct term.

Aha, there's where my reference failed me. Lay is the past tense of lie specifically when pertaining to position...

I suppose that clears up a thing or two about context...

Thanks!

[Viridiana]

Thanks!

No problem. I'm always surprised that people have issues believing that this is what the characters are saying happened (whether or not it did). I guess because the idea is somewhat outlandish? I mean, even the characters seem a bit baffled by the idea. . .

Of course, many who accept it then go on to assert that Au Ra are the resulting offspring, which, while an interesting idea, is something the game has been silent about. There's no reason yet to rule it out, but it isn't established yet, either. People just seem to be asserting it as fact around here. . .

[Alice_89th]

Of course, many who accept it then go on to assert that Au Ra are the resulting offspring, which, while an interesting idea, is something the game has been silent about. There's no reason yet to rule it out, but it isn't established yet, either. People just seem to be asserting it as fact around here. . .

I remain sceptic on both accounts. I still doubt that Shiva litterally did the horizontal tango with a dragon, and as a result am also sceptic on Au Ra being of dravanian origin.

It irks me a bit that people indeed think of it as fact, while we know little to nothing about their origin.

Of course, they may turn out to be exactly that, in which case I will eat my words.

[Sapphic]

I remain sceptic on both accounts. I still doubt that Shiva litterally did the horizontal tango with a dragon, and as a result am also sceptic on Au Ra being of dravanian origin.

My thoughts exactly. That the phrase laying with a dragon doesn't imply sexual contact but used as another way of saying "Sleeping with the enemy" Which, of course, does not imply actually going to bed with the enemy.

The case of Au Ra. Lets take humans and apes. Way back in time you had (i'm simplifying here) Apes, one branch of them developed differently and over the centuries slowly evolved (in some cases just spend enough time on internet forums, devolved:P) to how we are now A race didnt have sex with a gorilla and make humans :P, plus the other branches went on to become different types of monkeys (gorillas, chimpanzees etc), The same may apply to Dragons and Au Ra, and also Miqo'te.