Editing Empire of Ivory

[[Image:Empire.jpg|thumb|350px|''The front cover of the U.S. version -- artwork by Dominic Harman'']]

[[Image:Empire.jpg|thumb|350px|''The front cover of the U.S. version -- artwork by Dominic Harman'']]

== Story ==

== Story ==

After the disastrous campaign in [[Prussia]], [[Temeraire]], the [[feral]] dragons from the Pamirs, and young [[Iskierka]], hatched in South Prussia, flee to [[Great Britain|Britain]], carrying many Prussian refugees aboard them. [[William Laurence]], captain to Temeraire, meets with Admiral [[Lenton]] at Edinburgh, where he is given the reason for the lack of British reinforcements; a deadly plague has struck the English dragons, and none have recovered yet.

After the disastrous campaign in [[Prussia]], [[Temeraire]], the [[feral]] dragons from the Pamirs, and young [[Iskierka]], hatched in South Prussia, flee to [[Great Britain|Britain]], carrying many Prussian refugees aboard them. [[William Laurence]], captain to Temeraire, meets with Admiral [[Lenton]] at Edinburgh, where he is given the reason for the lack of British reinforcements; a deadly plague has struck the English dragons, and none have recovered yet.

A journey is thus planned to Africa with the dragons of [[Lily’s Formation]], aboard the HMS [[Allegiance]]. Laurence is approached by Reverend [[Josiah Erasmus]], an ex-slave who was at the dinner party, who seeks to travel with him to Africa that he may spread the gospel to the native tribes. Laurence invites him along, but this serves to aggravate the ship’s captain, [[Tom Riley]], whose family own many slaves in the West Indies. The friendship between the two becomes more strained when Temeraire steps in to lift the aboard the family of Erasmus, who had been ignored by the crewmen.

A journey is thus planned to Africa with the dragons of [[Lily’s Formation]], aboard the HMS [[Allegiance]]. Laurence is approached by Reverend [[Josiah Erasmus]], an ex-slave who was at the dinner party, who seeks to travel with him to Africa that he may spread the gospel to the native tribes. Laurence invites him along, but this serves to aggravate the ship’s captain, [[Tom Riley]], whose family own many slaves in the West Indies. The friendship between the two becomes more strained when Temeraire steps in to lift the aboard the family of Erasmus, who had been ignored by the crewmen.

The journey is largely uneventful, and Temeraire and Laurence fly ahead to Cape Town to search for possible cures, with no success. The rest of the formation soon arrives, and after some brief problems getting the sickly dragons off the ship, settle down to continue their search, asking the locals for any possible remedies or ingredients. Eventually, a group of children bring them a special mushroom; an ingredient in the dinner that Temeraire ate before being cured. They make a mixture from it that manages to cure both [[Dulcia]] and [[Maximus]], and thus they begin to search for more of the mushroom in the wild; a plan that ends with little success at the cost of injuries to [[Chenery]], Dulcia’s captain.  

The journey is largely uneventful, and Temeraire and Laurence fly ahead to Cape Town to search for possible cures, with no success. The rest of the formation soon arrives, and after some brief problems getting the sickly dragons off the ship, settle down to continue their search, asking the locals for any possible remedies or ingredients. Eventually, a group of children bring them a special mushroom; an ingredient in the dinner that Temeraire ate before being cured. They make a mixture from it that manages to cure both [[Dulcia]] and [[Maximus]], and thus they begin to search for more of the mushroom in the wild; a plan that ends with little success at the cost of injuries to [[Chenery]], Dulcia’s captain.  

Laurence is then taken to a vast amphitheatre, where Temeraire waits in chains. A vast group of humans and dragons soon arrive, and many speeches are made, although Laurence, not understanding the language, is unsure of what is being said. However, he sees that Dulcia has snuck into the amphitheatre, and she holds up a signal flag that means “Tomorrow”. The following night, Lily flies over the cave and sprays acid against the cliff, creating hand-holds for the aviators to climb down on. In the forest, they find Dulcia and Lily waiting with Temeraire, also freed by Lily, and they flee, along with Mrs. Erasmus back to Cape Town, which they find under attack by the Tswana natives. With the settlement lost, the aviators frantically ferry the colonists aboard the Allegiance, including Demane and Sipho, the former of whom was mistaken for an invader and attacked. As they prepare to flee, Mrs. Erasmus tells Laurence she intends to remain behind, as she has no future in Britain. She and her daughters are rescued by a joyful Kefentse, and the Allegiance flees the settlement.

Laurence is then taken to a vast amphitheatre, where Temeraire waits in chains. A vast group of humans and dragons soon arrive, and many speeches are made, although Laurence, not understanding the language, is unsure of what is being said. However, he sees that Dulcia has snuck into the amphitheatre, and she holds up a signal flag that means “Tomorrow”. The following night, Lily flies over the cave and sprays acid against the cliff, creating hand-holds for the aviators to climb down on. In the forest, they find Dulcia and Lily waiting with Temeraire, also freed by Lily, and they flee, along with Mrs. Erasmus back to Cape Town, which they find under attack by the Tswana natives. With the settlement lost, the aviators frantically ferry the colonists aboard the Allegiance, including Demane and Sipho, the former of whom was mistaken for an invader and attacked. As they prepare to flee, Mrs. Erasmus tells Laurence she intends to remain behind, as she has no future in Britain. She and her daughters are rescued by a joyful Kefentse, and the Allegiance flees the settlement.

As they sail for Britain, it is discovered that all the other colonies on the African coast have been attacked and destroyed; the survivors also fleeing on ships for Britain. At one settlement, Cape Coast, two slavers, [[George Case]] and [[David Miles]], are found to have survived with two hundred and six slaves, unfed and malnourished. When the slavers suggest Laurence buys them, he angrily orders his crew to release them, and they return to the Allegiance with the slavers. Riley also approaches Harcourt, having realised the consequences of their brief relationship, and he marries her onboard to ensure a dignified future for her unborn child.  

As they sail for Britain, it is discovered that all the other colonies on the African coast have been attacked and destroyed; the survivors also fleeing on ships for Britain. At one settlement, Cape Coast, two slavers, [[George Case]] and [[David Miles]], are found to have survived with two hundred and six slaves, unfed and malnourished. When the slavers suggest Laurence buys them, he angrily orders his crew to release them, and they return to the Allegiance with the slavers. Riley also approaches Harcourt, having realised the consequences of their brief relationship, and he marries her onboard to ensure a dignified future for her unborn child.  

Before long, the French heed Laurence’s words and realise that the mushrooms will cure their dragons, and thus he and Temeraire are freed, and taken before [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] himself, who thanks them and offers them safety in the French lands. Laurence refuses and asks to return to Britain, despite knowing that he will be executed for treason. Temeraire accompanies him, but knowing that the lords would leave him in the Breeding Grounds, Laurence tells him to leave Britain should he receive no word.

Before long, the French heed Laurence’s words and realise that the mushrooms will cure their dragons, and thus he and Temeraire are freed, and taken before [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] himself, who thanks them and offers them safety in the French lands. Laurence refuses and asks to return to Britain, despite knowing that he will be executed for treason. Temeraire accompanies him, but knowing that the lords would leave him in the Breeding Grounds, Laurence tells him to leave Britain should he receive no word.

== Characters ==

== Characters ==

== Appendices ==

== Appendices ==

Several excerpts are included from a (fictional) book written by [[Sipho]] in 1838, detailing the history and customs of the [[Tswana Kingdom]]; the kingdom founded following the attack on Cape Town.

Several excerpts are included from a (fictional) book written by [[Sipho]] in 1838, detailing the history and customs of the [[Tswana Kingdom]]; the kingdom founded following the attack on Cape Town.

== Trivia ==

== Trivia ==

* The dragon depicted on the cover of the US version of Empire of Ivory is that of King [[Mokhachane I (d)]].

* The dragon depicted on the cover of the US version of Empire of Ivory is that of King [[Mokhachane I (d)]].

*Jane Roland refers to Saint Patrick or Merlin legendarily talking dragons out of trees. This is probably a reference to a myth that Saint Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland.

*Jane Roland refers to Saint Patrick or Merlin legendarily talking dragons out of trees. This is probably a reference to a myth that Saint Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland.