Creative Corner

[i]Title is pending because I don't know how to make titles.[/i] I am going to do a modified Nuzlocke. Why? Because I have an existing main lore clan that I have been putting together and wish to keep. (I also need to keep breeding pairs to fuel my sales thread.) Additionally, I want to focus on writing lore for this challenge, rather than just the RNG battles. As such, some of the rules will be changed up to suit my needs. Since I've not done a real Nuzlocke before, some things might be adjusted as I progress through the story. [b]Obligatory warning: There will be conflict, which means there will be mild gore content in-line with Flight Rising's terms.[/b] [i]Navigation[/i] [Rules and Guidelines] | [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_33523398]Chapter List[/url] | [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_33523437]Dragons[/url] | [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_33523463]Ping List[/url] | [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_33523471]Reserve[/url] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/frd/1525830]Original Pinkerlocke Thread[/url] [b]Basic rules[/b] [LIST] [*]A death in the coliseum means that dragon must be exalted. This is the most essential rule of a Nuzlocke. [*]All loot obtained in the coliseum is irrelevant, as is the loot obtained from gathering. [*]There are no restrictions about applying apparel to my dragons. I will do whatever makes sense to me. Same goes for familiars. [*]All Nuzlocke activity corresponds with the loot I obtain daily from Pinkerton's plundered pile.[/LIST] [b]Sentimental Rule[/b] If a dragon reaches level 25, it "retires". It will join the ranks of my main lair. [b]To Start[/b] [list] [*]I will purge the eligible dragons using RNG until there is one adult remaining. [*]The remaining adult will be my Survivor. [*]I will then hatch an egg I have either scavenged up or bought. [*]This hatchling will be my Orphan.[/list] [b]Rules[/b] [list] [*]I will collect my Pinkerton item each day. [*]The item I get from Pinkerton will affect a number of succeeding actions: [list] [*]Food [LIST] [*]Plants: 5-15 matches [*]Insects: 10-20 matches [*]Seafood: 15-25 matches [*]Meat: 20-30 matches [*]Easymode: Choose whichever team and venue I want and go for it. Running from battles, using health pots, and ending the battle streak is fine. [/LIST] [*]Materials - Extra writing. [*]Trinkets - Art or extra writing. [*]Familiars - I get a new dragon based upon a dice roll. [*]Apparel - I can breed a pair of dragons. [*]Battle Items - Coliseum trip[/list] [*]I can only hatch one egg per month (be it bought or scavenged). This count does not include nests or my Orphan. [/list] [b]Familiars[/b] I will buy the cheapest dragon in the auction house of a specific breed. A random number generator (between 1-14) will determine which breed I get. [LIST=1] [*]Fae [*]Guardian [*]Mirror [*]Pearlcatcher [*]Ridgeback [*]Tundra [*]Spiral [*]Imperial [*]Snapper [*]Wildclaw [*]Nocturne [*]Coatl [*]Skydancer [*]Bogsneak [/LIST] [b]Apparel[/b] [LIST] [*]For each egg in the nest, I need to flip a coin. [*]If I get tails, the hatchling has died. [*]If I get heads, the hatchling has survived. [*]If I have no eligible dragons to breed, I can buy the cheapest egg on the AH. It will automatically survive. [/LIST] [b]Battle items[/b] [LIST] [*]I need to flip a coin. [*]Heads will result in a trip to the Coliseum. This is a Death Streak. [*]Tails will have no result. [/LIST] [b]Death Streak[/b] [LIST] [*]I need to randomly select three dragons using a random number generator. [*]I will fight in the coliseum for 10 rounds consecutively (without leaving the venue), quitting midway if a dragon dies. [*]If I have fewer than three adults, the Streak is made void. [/LIST] [b]Deaths[/b] [LIST] [*]If a dragon faints during battle, they are dead and must be exalted. [*]Exception to this: if a reader of the thread wishes to claim the fainted dragon. [*]Fainted dragons will remain in my lair for three days, unplayable, to ensure an opportunity to be claimed. [*]After three days, the dragon will be exalted. [/LIST] [b]Ending[/b] [u]Win[/u] - My dragons reach their end destination, the Viridian Labyrinth, and make their new home. [u]Loss[/u] - My dragon count falls to zero (I have no more living dragons).

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0. [Prologue] 1. [Lost] 2. [Frozen] 3. [Chapter Three] 4. [Chapter Four]

Space please

0.5 [Journal Logs] 1.5 [Journal Logs] 2.5 [Journal Logs] 3.5 [Journal Logs]

[i]Navigation[/i] [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_2451658]Rules and Guidelines[/url] | [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_33523398]Chapter List[/url] | [Dragons] | [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_33523463]Ping List[/url] | [url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2451658#post_33523471]Reserve[/url] [b]The Former Clan[/b] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42089383][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/420894/42089383.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42089931][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/420900/42089931.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42093451][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/420935/42093451.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42093503][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/420936/42093503.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42036866][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/420369/42036866.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=31611111][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/316112/31611111.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=31729074][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/317291/31729074.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=35496962][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/354970/35496962.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=41677614][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/416777/41677614.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42064697][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/420647/42064697.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42094790][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/420948/42094790.png[/img][/url][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=41979947][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/419800/41979947.png[/img][/url][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/40257114][img]http://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/402572/40257114.png[/img][/url] [b]The Survivor[/b] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=40206993][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/402070/40206993p.png[/img][/url] [b]The Orphan[/b] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42332300][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/423324/42332300p.png[/img][/url] [b]Dragons[/b] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42500458][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/425005/42500458p.png[/img][/url] [b]The Graveyard[/b]

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A list of members who wish to be pinged for each Nuzlocke update.

/Mnkn10 /ToastyThief /Rocwylde /CrAZDragon

Pings for when a deceased dragon can be claimed.

/Mnkn10 /ToastyThief

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[b]0. Prologue[/b] [center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=40206993][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/402070/40206993_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Emerald eyes blinked as a narrow face rose. Something wasn’t right, he could feel it in his blood, in the very magic that filled his long body. Joria unrolled himself from his scarcely-used nest, aqua-colored scales glinting with pale light reflected against the crystals that gave his mountainous home its name. Stretching his long form, the Spiral quickly scratched behind his ear before emerging from his den. The Starfall Isles spread below him, the Observatory visible on the horizon. The Crystalspine Reaches surrounded the Arcanist’s domain like jagged teeth, encircling magical wonders that Joria had only imagined about in his youth. A sea breeze filled his nostrils but his nerves would not be soothed this morning. “Joria!” Turning his head, the Spiral found the owner of the familiar voice - a peacock Tundra and the only other Nature-born dragon within the clan. “Anesia, you’re awake this early?” Unusual; she preferred to sleep until at least noon. Her wingbeats stirred the breeze, buffeting the male until she lighted upon the outcrop, tucking her tanned wings against her flanks. “Aye. And you look no better - your body hasn’t dropped from sheer exhaustion yet?” Joria shook his head, frowning. “I thought I finally passed out but something’s woken me.” “You feel it too…” Her voice softened abruptly, her words trailing off as he stared at her. He nodded solemnly. “What do you think it is?” Anesia’s gaze shifted from him out to the land that stretched beneath the Spire. “Do you think the rest of the clan has noticed it?” Shaking his head again, Joria inhaled deeply. “I don’t believe they [i]will[/i] notice it. There’s something about it… Our magic -” “Anesia. Joria. Good morning, you two!” Someone interrupted Joria, beating wings punctuating the cool air as claws dug into the mountainside. A Pearlcatcher with Arcane eyes grinned down at the duo, her shadow-colored scales patterned with asymmetrical blocks and stone-colored stripes. “Hello, Romeria,” Anesia greeted, shifting in her position to allow the other dragon some room. It was getting crowded but the three of them could fit in the close quarters. Romeria fixed the Tundra with an odd look, tilting her head slightly. “What’s wrong?” Joria was still convinced that the Pearlcatcher made a fair leader, intuitive at the least and welcoming to boot. Exchanging glances, Joria stared at Anesia who stared back at him. Finally, Joria spoke, “Something doesn’t feel right. We think something might be wrong. We just aren’t certain what. I don’t even know if it’s occurring now or might occur in the near future,” he explained, lowering his head. She didn’t respond immediately but Romeria held a steady gaze with the Spiral. He stiffened slightly, wondering what she might want to do with the unease the Nature dragons felt. The clan was mostly made up of scholars, researchers. Maybe she would want t- “We’ll wait the next few days out and see if anything comes of your unsettled nerves. Write down your observations.” Yes, that was exactly what Romeria wanted to do. Nodding, Joria and Anesia watched the Pearlcatcher fly off, presumably to attend to other matters with the rest of the clan.

[center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42093451][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/420935/42093451_350.png[/img][/url][/center] The Starwood Strand was aglow with blue, shining through the night like a bioluminescent blanket covering the ground. Hayate’s red eyes were bright with the strength of her magic. Restless, she sprang into motion, sprinting through the marvelous wood. The mirror watched the land streak by in a dark blur on either side. [i]”Hayate, you’re my best dragon for the ground. I need you to pair up with Anesia. The Nature dragons are disturbed by something. Keep a watchful eye out….”[/i] Hayate didn’t enjoy being on watch duty but the Pearlcatcher would always refuse to settle if a clan member was upset for whatever reason. Even as three days had passed without incident, and the wary tension dissipated into mild inconvenience, Romeria was adamant. The Mirror dug her claws into the fertile soil of the Star Wood, skidding to a halt, chest heaving from exertion. Before her was the border shared between Arcane and Plague. The Wandering Contagion met her, its festering tendrils and encroaching disease barely held at bay by the warped magic of the Arcanist’s territory. Had she meant to come this far, to this border? Hayate had turned her back against the Scarred Wasteland years ago, her infected wounds finally healed but leaving scars behind to crisscross her hide like spider webs. She could feel the Plaguebringer calling her. Shaking her head furiously, the mirror snarled at the rotting territory. With a snort, she turned around and started her trek back home. Unfolding her wings, she powered them and lifted off the ground, flying above the Star Wood and hurrying towards the Crystal Spire. There were no thermals in the evening, the sea breeze stirred into being every day dying down with the chill of nightfall. Home came into sight and the Plaguebringer’s call ebbed into nothing more than a whisper at the back of her head. Narrowing her eyes, she focused on the heat signatures of her clanmates. Almost all of them were convened in the main den. [i]Odd… What’s happened tonight?[/i] Flying towards the unusual spectacle, Hayate came to light at the edge of the group where she picked up the middle of conversations. “- can’t be good. What does all -?” “- nothing! It’s just a ruse! Someone’s -” “-sense. I trust the source of this ne-” “- anything? -” Too many voices. Too many loud conversations. Hayate couldn’t keep up with them all, let alone discern enough of what was being said. Finally, Hartwig noticed her, the silver-scaled Snapper rising up on her hind legs to slam her thick paws into the crystal floor. “Hush! Hayate’s back!” The voices died down and suddenly numerous pairs of eyes fell upon the Mirror. “What news? When Anesia returned on her own, she said you were out of sorts?” And yet, no one had come to check on her? Frowning, Hayate sat down and hugged her wings to her flanks. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Have I missed something? What’s all of this about?” Vorrutyer snarled, jerking his pointed head towards the two Nature dragons, his red eyes lit with aggression. “Ask [i]them[/i]! Trouble has befallen the land, the strange occurrences that Sornieth has been experiencing. It’s all added up finally!” the Ridgeback hissed. Romeria was in the middle of the gathering, her wings stretched out and back in a display of size. “That’s enough, Vorrutyer. I will have no more false accusations tonight. Hayate, a messenger from Earth arrived only a few hours ago. He says the Armistice between Plague and Nature has ceased.” It felt like a Snapper had body slammed into her side at full speed, the breath catching abruptly in her throat. “What…? How?” she questioned, voice strained. “The details are sparse. However, the Druid Liefa was allegedly diseased and not in the right state of mind. She… She nearly unleashed the full power of the First Seed in Plague territory,” Romeria explained. This clearly wasn’t the first time the situation was explained. None of Hayate’s clan mates had reactions of surprise or horror. Instead, there was only a visible friction between the Nature dragons and the other three Plague dragons. Joria and Anesia were obviously agitated but the Mirror couldn’t sort out the cause. It could have been a blending of sources, for all she understood of the pair. Her fellow Plague dragons, on the other hand, were openly hostile. Low growls and hisses crept from their snarling maws. She didn’t feel their rage. “What will happen now then?” “We get rid of Nature!” Oracle shrieked. The female Spiral, rash in her decisions as always, apparently wanted some sort of revenge or perceived justice. She was an endless string of movement, twisting and turning in her place among the gathered dragons, making knots in her body. “No. We mustn’t be hasty. We don’t know the full story,” Revenant replied, his crystalline scales nearly matching the surface of the Spire. The Wildclaw closed his purple eyes, sighing as his wings shifted. “We’re better than this. I know we are. We can’t let blind rage get the better of us. We’re all confused. Until we know more, any decisions should be staved off.” Hayate would have preferred Revenant as the leader but he had long ago explained to her that he held no interest. “I don’t like it,” Bainisk started up. The Tundra shook out her misty-toned fur. Hayate watched as several strands fell to the floor as a result. She always did shed under stress. “If the Druid was diseased, then Plague is to blame. The dragons in the Scarred Wasteland are known to be treacherous, especially towards Nature dragons. I wouldn’t put it past them to sabotage the delicate peace that was in place for centuries.” Bainisk’s dangerous words earned a chorus of snarls and unsavory remarks from the Plague dragons. Even Hayate felt a twinge of betrayal from her clan mate. Was she profiling the [i]Mirror[/i], too? Further shouting filled the cavern, echoing in Hayate’s ears as she watched Vorrutyer stand, wings beginning to stretch upward. Several others rose to their clawed feet, faces drawing closer as insults finally made their appearances. “That is enough!” Romeria boomed, rising on her hind legs and beating her wings to disrupt the chaos. “All of you, go to your separate areas! I am ending this discussion tonight. Until we know more [i]no one[/i] is to act on their speculations. You will return to your studies. Do I make myself clear?” Murmurs of resigned obedience rippled through the clan. Hayate caught the Plague dragons’ glares upon Joria and Anesia.

[center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=42036866][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/420369/42036866_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Her nerves were too wound up with tension. The night had passed with Anesia unable to sleep and joining Joria in his den to find company. To her relief, none of the Plague dragons had further disturbed the pair after Romeria’s orders for the clan to confine themselves in their dens the night before. Staring toward the Observatory, the Tundra wondered what the Eleven thought about all of the changes that had been happening. Several dragons had come and gone over the last several weeks, carrying news of strange occurrences all around Sorneith. All of it troubled her. A sigh escaped her maw and she lowered her gaze, trying to refocus on the parchment before her. Held up in her den, she had taken to surrounding herself with stacks of tomes, numerous spell scrolls, and an assortment of inks and pens. She needed to continue her research but her thoughts, her worry, kept returning to her home. “Anesia? Good, you’re here...” Romeria’s voice drifted into the crystalline den. Immediately, Anesia’s fur ruffled and her eyes widened. [i]Something smelt wrong.[/i] Turning to face the Pearlcatcher, Anesia met the dragon’s confused expression. “What’s the matter? You look like something’s startled you.” “Romeria, you -” Anesia inhaled deeply, audibly snorting to expel the foul stench of… What was it? [i]Disease…[/i] The poisonous word flashed into her thoughts as she placed what she was smelling. And it came from the Pearlcatcher. “Romeria! Something’s wrong! We need to get to the Healer!” “Wha- Anesia! What are you…” Her words drifted into silence as the Tundra watched her leader stagger. “Yes… Healer…” Romeria mumbled, collapsing to the floor of the den. Crying out, the Tundra rushed forward, quickly but carefully feeling along Romeria’s body for anything out of the ordinary. A wound, some kind of infected sight. Nothing. “Vestrit!” Anesia shrieked. “Vestrit! I need you!” she roared for the red-toned Bogsneak. A whimper slipped from the Tundra as she started to scoop Romeria into her furred arms, hobbling awkwardly to the opening of her den before stretching her wings. The Pearlcatcher was too heavy for Anesia to fly properly but she needed to get to Vestrit’s workspace. Her den just wasn’t the proper place. “Ves-!” “Anesia, what’s happened?” “It’s Romeria! She’s diseased!” Her wings strained as she lifted into the air, the extra weight already working with gravity to pull her towards the ground below. She let it. Vestrit neared, a couple dragons some distance behind her and likely attracted by the commotion. The Bogsneak took some of Romeria’s weight and the two drifted towards the ground where Vestrit could obtain a better, thorough, examination. [center]~_~_~[/center] She was pacing, she couldn’t help it. Having worn the grass down where she circled, Anesia continued to stare at the nervous path that she made. Night had fallen and all Vestrit could do for Romeria was make certain the Pearlcatcher maintained a decent level of hydration while the Bogsneak hunted for the cause of the illness. There had been no open wounds tainted with infection, no tainted insects or poisonous plants consumed. “I’ll tell you what’s happened. She’s been infected by one of the Plague dragons, that’s what.” Bainisk sat only a few paces away, head high in her accusation and eyes narrowed at the Honeydew Fae that flit past. “Oh, sure! Blame [i]us[/i] for the unknown illness!” the Fae, Euryl, snapped. Indignant, he landed on a low tree branch. Gathered just before the line of trees and blue glow that marked the Star Wood, the dragons sat, stood, or otherwise laid down in wait. [i]Without Romeria, what should we do?[/i] Anesia questioned. “I [i]said[/i] the Nature dragons are to blame! They’re the gardeners! They know how to slip poison to a dragon without being detected!” Vorrutyer’s snarl cut through the Tundra’s thoughts and she looked over, gasping. The Ridgeback shoved Thymara away, knocking the Nocturne to the ground as he stomped towards her. “How did you do it?” he sneered, pointed nose far too close to her face. “Wha-What? I haven’t done a thing!” Anesia wailed, leaning back in an attempt to move away. The Plague dragon snarled, the stench of his breath nearly overwhelming her olfactory sens- [i]Wait…[/i] That wasn’t how his breath normally smelt. Why? She heard Kestral shriek as Vorrutyer lunged with an open maw. Tumbling sideways to avoid his snapping teeth, Anesia hurried to her paws and scurried away, gasping. Oracle had wrapped himself tightly around the blue Pearlcatcher, her pearl bouncing and rolling away into the Star Wood. "Joria, look out!" Thymara warned, ramming into Euryl's side. The Fae tumbled to the ground from the collision. "Come to your senses!" Revenant cried out, trying to pull Oracle and Kestral apart. The Spiral managed to get his teeth into the Wildclaw's arm, the Pearlcatcher's flanks torn by claws. The stench... Anesia powered her wings and jumped back from Vorrutyer as he tried another bite at her, following with a swipe of his claws. "You... [i]You're[/i] responsible! [i]Why?"[/i] "I forgot about your blasted sense of smell," the Ridgeback growled, quickly closing the gap. Anesia screamed in pain as his teeth found purchase in her shoulder, warm blood oozing into her fur. Rage wormed its way into the Tundra's chest and she snarled, batting the Ridgeback away. Hayate rushed past her, slamming into Vorrutyer and driving him to the ground. Anesia's anger melted away instantly, replaced with horror as the Mirror savagely dug into the soft flesh of his belly before securing a hold on his throat. The Tundra jerked her gaze away wincing as she knew the brutal deed was finished. Before she could question the Mirror, Hayate was already leaving, her footsteps marked with red. In her wake, Anesia saw the damage done by the Plague dragons. Every dragon was injured and Oracle and Euryl were subdued.

0.5 Journal Logs

Second Day of the Fifth Month

Romeria is a strong dragon but this disease seems troublesome. Since she fell ill two days prior, she has not gained consciousness for long. Her states of lucidity are few and far between. I am still researching her ailment but I fear this may be something new, perhaps even mutated. Others have fallen in her wake. I need help but we are being quarantined for the safety of other Arcane clans. Hopefully someone will provide us with assistance. I cannot do this on my own.

Third Day of the Fifth Month

Romeria has perished. She left us during the night, in between my scheduled checks for the ill dragons. As of now, Thymara, Euryl, and Hartwig are struggling against their infections. Hayate and Anesia explained to me that Vorrutyer and Oracle were responsible for this illness. Perhaps Euryl, too, but he has remained unconscious since the disruption. I can't help but feel a little... satisfied, in karmic justice. Unfortunately, it isn't enough to brighten my sinking heart.

Forth Day of the Fifth Month

Bainisk, Kestral, and Hayate have now fallen ill. The list of dragons I need to care for keeps growing by the day. I worry greatly. There still is no word or sign of assistance arriving any time soon.

Sixth Day of the Fifth Month

So many things went wrong. In her illness, Hayate became too aggressive. She's attacked Oracle and Benny. I can't say I'm particularly heartbroken over the loss of the deranged Spiral but I will hurt for the rest of my days over the loss of Benny. We had to stop her from harming others. I only wish we could have succeeded in a different method.

Seventh Day of the Fifth Month

Supplies have arrived but they're too late to save Thymara and Kestral. Both succumbed to the disease before the experimental treatments could possibly take effect. Shockingly, Euryl had an adverse reaction to the treatments and he, too, perished.

I fear this disease may be starting to affect me as well...

Tenth Day of the Fifth Month

I located Vestrit's journal and, after skimming through its contents, I feel it is a service of remembrance to continue it for her. Due to the passing of the only Healer we had, our shrinking clan has lost Bainisk and Hartwig. That leaves only Anesia, Joria, and myself. However, I am increasingly distressed about the Nature Tundra. While she has been strong up unto this point, even I can smell the infection of her wound and the taint in her blood. Joria is ever more restless, fretting ceaselessly over his dear friend. I don't blame him.

Fifteenth Day of the Fifth Month

All of them are gone...

My dear Anesia... I thought she would make it.

And Revenant - if only I knew he had been afflicted, too. I could have helped him.

I should have been able to save them both.

...

...

...

Why am I alive?

[center][item=Scaleskin Marlin] x3 Seafood x15 [img]http://flightrising.com/images/layout/icon_insect.png[/img] | x15 [img]http://flightrising.com/images/layout/icon_meat.png[/img] | x18 [img]http://flightrising.com/images/layout/icon_seafood.png[/img] | x15 [img]http://flightrising.com/images/layout/icon_plant.png[/img][/center] [b]1. Lost[/b] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/402070/40206993p.png[/img] [i]I shouldn't be here...[/i] Curled up within Anesia's den, I sigh, inhaling deeply her ever fading scent. She always smelt like the trees of our home after a heavy storm-fall: fresh and rejuvenating. But now, as that scent grew stale with the days that had already passed, it only reminded me of heartache. Even the sharp tang of ink and musty aroma of parchment made my stomach churn from the loss. Lifting my head off the scattered pieces of parchment and uncoiling my serpentine body, I drag myself out of Anesia's den. I couldn't stay here any longer. My heart ached too much and, if I allow myself to admit it, someone was calling to me. I can't explain what it was, but at the same time I can't make myself seem to care. With a weak flutter of my wings, I drift out of the den. Sunlight warmed my scales as I traveled down to the base of the Spire. Vestrit's notes had detailed her observations from the handful of autopsies she could perform before becoming too ill and passing away. She had suggested that maybe the Plague dragons weren't in their right minds, that whatever disease that wiped out my clan had first infected them. However, being Plague dragons, they withstood the fatal effects longer before finally falling victim to it. It made sense to me but it didn't deny the betrayal and despair I felt. If it weren't for Hayate acting as swiftly as she had, I don't know what sort of damage might have been caused. Still, something nagged me... [i]Why did I heal without trouble?[/i] Landing, I trekked towards the clan's storage. Made from whatever wood we could find, the storage was a crooked little shed, magicked to protect its contents from weather and invasive scavengers. With a creak, the door opened when I pushed against it. Inside, an assortment of belongings met me. I bit back the sob that threatened to overwhelm me, swallowing painfully around the lump in my throat. Reaching in, I snatched up a satchel and examined its condition. Worn down, it had no rips or loose threading. It would suffice. Not knowing where I would go or what would happen to me (and, frankly, I didn't care), I stuffed a set of bandages, some provisions, a blank journal, and writing instruments into the red bag. For a moment, I considered hurrying back to Anesia's den to grab something of hers. I knew of at least one item she cherished most and would hate to lose. Exiting the shed, I flew back up the Spire, lighting once more in Anesia's den. Scanning the space, I found what I wanted. A little blue lamp that stood upon her desk, the oil unlit and in need of replenishment. Grabbing it carefully, I studied the lamp, recalling how fond of it Anesia was. Revenant had given it to her as a birthday gift. Finding cloth to wrap it in, I poured the oil into a small, sealable container before storing both items into my bag. From there, I left the den for the last time. Looking back over my shoulder, I stared at the Spire. That strange call tugged at my blood. Inhaling deeply, I fled from my home, heading who knows where. [center][b]Acquired[/b] [item=Owlcat Journal][item=Forgotten Poet's Tools][item=Stardust Sap Lamp] [item=White Linen Arm Wraps][item=White Linen Chest Wrap][item=White Linen Neck Wrap] [item=White Linen Wing Wraps][item=White Linen Leg Wraps][item=White Linen Tail Wrap][/center] [size=2][b]Author's note:[/b] I did not spend my Gathering turns on food today. Instead, I took the opportunity to set up the initial food storage. Every day, the food points will increase or decrease by a few points, based on how much is eaten or collected. A thing to be aware of: real-life time will not uniformly reflect time passage in the story. Any familiars paired up with my Nuzlocke dragons are, unless otherwise mentioned, simply placeholders to keep my dragons safe from accidental things.[/size]