Summer 2016 Session V: The Book of Dragons

The Book of Dragons
Micron Pen & Colored Pencil
R L McNulty 2016

The fifth session of the summer will feature a mystery for ages 12 to 16. The adventure is "The Book of Dragons," based on one of my favorite paintings, the Nine Dragon Scroll by Chen Rong. This painting is part of the collection at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. I wish it came on display more often, but here is a website where the entire scroll may be viewed:

http://scrolls.uchicago.edu/scroll/nine-dragons

Chen Rong painted this circa 1244 during the Southern Song Dynasty. This is the period between the rules of Genghis Khan and the rise of Kubla Khan--a very turbulent time for China when the Mongol threats from Genghis' descendants in the northwest and internal battles for control of China made life risky for the common folk.

We'll be discovering some fictionalized secrets about this scroll, and learning why this minor official was painting dragons at such a dangerous time. The secrets lead to another manuscript known as the Book of Dragons.

This legendary book records the names and skills of the most ancient dragonmages. Can the Detectives find the book before it falls into the wrong hands? And will the book include the newest dragonmages?

Our activities this week include printed Books of Dragons and Time Jewels. Experienced Detectives will know that this is one of the first times that Time Jewels have appeared. Let's hope our team can handle them with care!