I use these theories as an excuse to collect my thoughts on various subjects, and the circumstances surrounding the birth of Lagi who played host to the Heresy Dragon Program have always intrigued me. The Ancients thought they were gods, or were at least perceived as gods because they could create life on a whim using their advanced technology, which distorts the image we have of them into a race of people far too arrogant for their own good. The (appropriately named) “Heresy Dragon” (as Lundi calls the dragon in his journal), for all intents and purposes, was activated to end their reign which persisted despite their deaths. Lagi was born in Elpis where the people adopted a policy of exterminating all mutants, in whatever form they took.

In the Panzer Dragoon Zwei introduction sequence three Elpis villagers kill a mutant coolia with crossbow volleys at close range. The blue-white (green) light pulsating on the surface of its neck is a clear sign of mutation. Afterwards, one of them says, “Too many mutant khourieats are born these days” (khourieat was a mistranslation for coolia in the original script and even pronounced “cooria”), which alone suggests that mutant coolias have been born before now and that their birth rate has recently risen. However, Sestren’s second memory orb in Panzer Dragoon Saga shows that Sestren was watching and recording this recent rise in the birth mutant coolias for reasons of its own. In the memory orb, one of the villagers who aids in the death of the particular mutant coolia shown above says, “Too many mutants are born these days”, suggesting that this outbreak of mutant coolias was perhaps a recent phenomenon. I’m far more willing to place my trust in a translation of a game known for being well written (Panzer Dragoon Saga) than one riddled with imperfections (Panzer Dragoon Zwei). Sestren wouldn’t record the villager’s words if they weren’t relevant to the hunt for its prey.

These mutant coolias are identifiable by a patch of vibrant green energy on their necks, which the villagers of Elpis believed to be ominous. No one knows where this belief stems from, though I can imagine the villagers simply associating the light itself with the worthlessness of a mutant coolia. I must admit to having a fondness for a darker, more mysterious source of their omen, as it leaves us open to a greater range of possibilities. The Heresy Dragon Program could’ve been the cause of all the mutations, or could’ve only manifested itself in mutants. Whichever you think is closer to the truth, I believe the Heresy Program scattered its essence among the population of coolias in the village, giving rise to the new mutations, only some mutant coolias were less developed than others. I also believe the Heresy Program’s essence was more concentrated in Lagi, affording it the freedom to manipulate his growth at a faster rate. The location of this glowing green light on the throats of all these hapless coolias means it is not the sign of a random mutation or of impending doom, but is none other than a Bioluminary Oscillator (an organ responsible for converting energy into bio-lasers) in the early stages of development, which is inseparable from all dragons.

When we observe how these events take shape, what are the chances of Lundi saving the life of the only coolia destined to evolve into a dragon? I’d say somewhere in the region of zero to none. If Lagi had been killed as a result of the Elpis villagers’ code to kill all mutants, then the Heresy Program’s essence could find its way into another coolia. Spreading its essence among many coolias would increase its chances of survival.

Glowing on the throats and coalescing in the mouths of the dragonmares in Panzer Dragoon Orta before they unleash searing balls of mucus is the same green light emitted by the mutant coolias in the village of Elpis; were the villagers wrong to fear it? The source of their superstition could’ve gone all the way back to the dragons of the Ancient Age. You have to wonder if this is even remotely true.

In Panzer Dragoon Saga, Edge can stumble over fossilized coolia dung which might lead us to believe that coolias were natives to this world and have been for quite some time. However, according to the encyclopedia found in Panzer Dragoon Orta, which is regarded to contain more up to date information on the Panzer world itself, coolias are in fact listed under mutated monsters. The latter source of information doesn’t leave much room for us to trust the former, nor can both sources easily be reconciled unless the world is far, far older than any of us imagined.

It’s ironic, then, that the villagers are killing mutated coolias when you consider the fact that coolias are already probably mutants themselves, albeit of the more friendly kind. The light on their necks that someone once said was ominous could originate/stem from the darker origin of myth and legends themselves. When we trace them back to their beginnings, bad omens always have their roots somewhere and in something. By now, it’s hard to imagine that dragons wouldn’t strike fear into the hearts of even the most fearless of people. And even harder to imagine that their victims would be quick to forget.