Bermarek! Oh my troubled progenitor, Bermarek! Created, apparently, by Windsinger himself and tossed into the world, he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself or what was his purpose. As a mirror dragon back then, he searched for that purpose. He then met Zaphylta, a guardian with a similiar story. With her travelled Noire, a grouchy doctor fae with much less troublesome background.
Together, the three travelled and settled into a place called Wind Woods. Soon enough, other dragons started to gather around them and soon they were looked up to as guidance and leaders. Bermarek was sure this was the destiny they were meant to have. So, Wind Woods Clan was born.
But eventually, as peaceful it had been, things started to change. Bermarek strayed from Zaphylta, who was now his mate. He ended up having a son with another lady, but it was kept secret. Group of strange arcane dragons appeared near the woods, it was allright at first. But something happened. A life was lost. It was the fault of the arcane ones, Bermarek was sure. He would not let them get away with it. Wind Woods Clan found itself in a conflict. It wasn’t a clan of fighters. But Bermarek pressed on. He was injured himself, a magical blast from opponent causing red smoke appear on his skin, twisting, changing. They won, the arcane dragons weren’t fighters either. But Bermarek was distraught.
It didn’t help when his illegitimate son challenged him for the leadership of the clan. And he was going to tell everybody about his orgin. Bermarek would not let that happen. Damian, the young and fierce, if not a bit troublesome warrior, was never heard from again.
Bermarek began to neglect his duties as a leader, leaving the work to Zaphylta. In his mind, arcane dragons were all to blame of their troubles, so he shunned them, wouldn’t let them join his clan anymore. Those were difficult times. Could the clan trust it’s leader anymore?
Then arrived Conlaodh. A strange priest of fire, he offered his help to the distant leader. For some reason, Bermarek accepted. He would only listen to the priest, only feel certain that the skydancers opinions were right. He no longer cared for opinions of his other clanmembers, not even Zaphylta or Noire. Conlaodh was a clever deciever. The clan did not trust him, but Bermarek did.
Conlaodh had his own plans. He was not here to help the clan, he was here to help himself. He was a priest of fire, yes, but one called The Phoenix Priest. A fancy title yes, but few knew what it truly meant. Like a pheonix, he was born anew in a way. With fire, he could prolong his life. But it was not him that burned. It was others. The life of others, all those years given to him by the fire. This clan was small, but it was enough. With these lives, he could add so many years to himself.
So, eventually, when others accepted that the priest wasn’t going to leave… the Wind Woods were set ablaze.
Destruction. Complete destruction. It was all that remained. Conlaodh was gone, fled to live his new years in somewhere else. Bermarek realized what a fool he had been. And he paid for it dearly. Zaphylta was missing. He didn’t expect that she was still alive after that. There were survivors, yes. But Bermarek couldn’t face them, not after his failure. So, like Conlaodh, he fled.
He changed his appreance to that of a wildclaw, in hopes no surviving clanmember would ever find him. He wandered without a destination. He was lost. He had lost his purpsose. He was a failure.
He doesn’t remember how it really all happened, he must have collapsed from exhaustion. When he woke, with him was another wildclaw. A healer, despite being plagueblood. His name was Less. He cured Bermarek, even from his smoky markings. Bermarek wasn’t sure what do with his life, but Less was eager to help him. He said he was on his way to Skyhelm City, the richest, most beautiful city in the lands of Wind. Bermarek could come with him. So, thats what the old wildclaw did.
He now resides in Skyhelm City, living with Less. The past still haunts him, but Less helps. He always helps. Bermarek doesn’t know what would have happened to him, if Less wasn’t there for him. He misses Zaphylta. But that’s in the past. He has Less now. The two old wildclaws are happy with their life.
Bermarek was granted a new purpose, in a way. Being still a skilled fighter, he gained some following. Young dragons tought he was pretty cool. And wanted him to teach them in both physical battle and magic. Bermarek didn’t want that. But one child was persistant. Sigrun. A young orphan ridgeback with a gleam in her eye. Bermarek would not admit it, but he did soften to the young one. So, grumpily, he took her in as his apprentice. And to be raised by him and Less.
Sigrun is friends with the heir of the city, Erryll. She introduced the heir to her mentor. The council heard that Bermarek was quite good at what he was doing, so they allowed him to teach Erryll too. Or, well, made him do it. But Erryll is a sweet kid, so he supposes it’s allright.
Such fame does bring attention, however. Bermarek is not aware, but his troublesome son, Damian, is still around. He has heard of things, that boy. He will find his father. And he will get his revenge.
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Whoops, this turned more into Bermarek’s story than the lore of my clan. But it sides the plots of that, even if Erryll is actually the main character of all the nonsense now!
