Chapter 32: First Flakes...

''Draconic social structures grew, much as human social structures, based on the general social and communal nature of the species. Much like humans, dragons have a distinct tendency towards obedience to social authority and power structures. However, unlike humans, draconic society was vastly affected by the species' dependence on breeding nests in order to incubate their eggs. These rare locations, the only ones suitable for the raising of dragon whelps prior to Hiccup Haddock's creation of artificial Brooderies, rendered dragons vulnerable to human hunting parties. A successful attack by dragon hunters could wipe out an entire cohort of young dragons with ease. This location-based dependency also made them vulnerable to control by powerful individual dragons. ''

''Case in point for this last aspect was the classic example of the Green Death; this dragon controlled a single breeding nest for nearly three centuries in the Alban Hebrides. The dragon operated by essentially demanding food as rent in order for prospective breeders to be allowed to access the reproductive potential of the nesting site—and, according to primary sources, she also did not hesitate to use more direct force to get her way, up to and including the use of deadly force and cannibalism on her subjects if they failed to pay up.''

—The Dragon Millennium, Manna-hata University Press, Ltd.  

Foreshadowing
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Epigraph Tie-In

 * The epigraph mentions that humans have a tendency towards obedience of social authority and power structures. The chapter shows:
 * Sigurd being scared off any temptation of violating the rules of the palace looting by Harald's planned punishments.
 * A group of Varangians being punished by being placed back on duty by a Roman officer for harassing a local girl.

Links to the Chapter
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