In honor of the fact that I just recently got my vanity project coli team to level 25, I want to start my very own 10-Drop Coliseum Challenge! Original rules (by Zyxx) are in the link, but basically the gist is that you start in a venue, grind in that venue until you get 10 interesting/notable drops, then you move on to another venue. No repeats, but breaks are allowed. I'll just be going through all the venues in order, but there is no reason you have to do this.
To make it more interesting, I'll be lore-ing it up with aforementioned coli team, to hopefully get some more character development on them. They're a troupe of 3 young Imperial women, all transplants to a Lightning flight lair, who enjoy living it up and causing trouble together in their off time. Together, they form...
Rhuella is the daughter of a spirit of lust and an unnamed mother. Some of her father's magic bled over into her, which led her to pursue a career as an assassin, specializing in killing any targets attracted to women. She gained a somewhat undeserved reputation as a protector of women as a result. Rhuella craved nobility, legitimacy, and so took up the mantle of a guardsdragon. Rude, standoffish, and performatively Woke(TM), Rhuella is having to unlearn all the toxic nonsense she picked up along the course of her short but very productive career. Maela and Wave are her only friends, and she will not hesitate to do Horrible Things to anyone who would threaten them.
Maela is a second-generation Imperial, daughter of the god-touched Zia(now Enkai). This makes her a princess in her own right, with massively powerful magical reserves to match... although she would never, ever tell you that. She fled her heritage, and all the pressure that came with it, to make her living as a jeweler. Warriors sought her out for her armor, which was forged with magic to protect against the Shade. Royals sought her out for her intricate and ever-gorgeous jewelry. For herself, though, Maela remains humble... and vigilant. Always a bit testy. Always sarcastic. Always a bit on edge. Always ready to defend herself from those who want a piece of her. All those hidden frustrations seem to come out in full force in battle, where she leads the charge with a mighty scream and a howling maelstrom of claws and teeth. She only seems to relax around her mate, Wave. Maela loves Rhuella dearly as well, in a different sense, though the red imperial irritates her fairly often.
Wave is an oracle, and an uncommonly gifted one at that. Growing up, she attempted to warn her clanmates away from danger. At first, she despaired for them when they didn't listen. Then, she despaired for herself when they did. She was locked away in a gilded cage, and when the confinement and pressure to mate with similarly gifted males became too much to bear, she fled. Wave chased fleeting visions of Maela all across the globe, learning to fight despite the fact that she is blind outside water. She uses her prophetic gifts to compensate, making her eerily silent in battle and in flight. Wave is patient, but very nervous in personality. She loves Maela more than life itself, though, and thinks of Rhuella as a sister to be taught and guided. Wave is nurturing and kind, but trying to take advantage of her, her mate, or their gifts can often lead to a surprisingly quick strike.
Wave's Bluefin Charger. Male. Very mild future sight. Adores Wave, terrified of Rhuella, will tolerate handling by Maela, grouchy and bitey toward everyone else. He's as loyal and eager to please as a puppy where Wave is concerned, but everyone else can shove it unless they have food. He likes to bring back little hunting "presents" and deposit them at Wave's feet. Sassy little creature. Hates being dirty.
A Painted Centaur with four white feet who has learned some rudimentary Draconic. Male. Hrothga-syl is from a small, isolated sect of centaurs. They have uncommon, though not entirely unknown, traditions among their kind. He is undergoing his Proving, which is a tradition where young males among the herd must prove themselves worthy to be men. They do this by performing a task, usually dangerous but not always, that benefits the herd and demonstrates the proficiency of the individual stallion. Going up to a trio of aggressive dragons, all three of which are in peak fighting condition, and throwing himself at their mercy is considered suicidally dangerous among his kin. Luckily for him, Rhuella is curious about him and his people. We'll learn more about him.
To make it more interesting, I'll be lore-ing it up with aforementioned coli team, to hopefully get some more character development on them. They're a troupe of 3 young Imperial women, all transplants to a Lightning flight lair, who enjoy living it up and causing trouble together in their off time. Together, they form...
The RGB Brigade!
Red: Rhuella
Rhuella is the daughter of a spirit of lust and an unnamed mother. Some of her father's magic bled over into her, which led her to pursue a career as an assassin, specializing in killing any targets attracted to women. She gained a somewhat undeserved reputation as a protector of women as a result. Rhuella craved nobility, legitimacy, and so took up the mantle of a guardsdragon. Rude, standoffish, and performatively Woke(TM), Rhuella is having to unlearn all the toxic nonsense she picked up along the course of her short but very productive career. Maela and Wave are her only friends, and she will not hesitate to do Horrible Things to anyone who would threaten them.
Green: Maela
Maela is a second-generation Imperial, daughter of the god-touched Zia(now Enkai). This makes her a princess in her own right, with massively powerful magical reserves to match... although she would never, ever tell you that. She fled her heritage, and all the pressure that came with it, to make her living as a jeweler. Warriors sought her out for her armor, which was forged with magic to protect against the Shade. Royals sought her out for her intricate and ever-gorgeous jewelry. For herself, though, Maela remains humble... and vigilant. Always a bit testy. Always sarcastic. Always a bit on edge. Always ready to defend herself from those who want a piece of her. All those hidden frustrations seem to come out in full force in battle, where she leads the charge with a mighty scream and a howling maelstrom of claws and teeth. She only seems to relax around her mate, Wave. Maela loves Rhuella dearly as well, in a different sense, though the red imperial irritates her fairly often.
Blue: Wave
Wave is an oracle, and an uncommonly gifted one at that. Growing up, she attempted to warn her clanmates away from danger. At first, she despaired for them when they didn't listen. Then, she despaired for herself when they did. She was locked away in a gilded cage, and when the confinement and pressure to mate with similarly gifted males became too much to bear, she fled. Wave chased fleeting visions of Maela all across the globe, learning to fight despite the fact that she is blind outside water. She uses her prophetic gifts to compensate, making her eerily silent in battle and in flight. Wave is patient, but very nervous in personality. She loves Maela more than life itself, though, and thinks of Rhuella as a sister to be taught and guided. Wave is nurturing and kind, but trying to take advantage of her, her mate, or their gifts can often lead to a surprisingly quick strike.
The Supporting Cast
Bluebell
Wave's Bluefin Charger. Male. Very mild future sight. Adores Wave, terrified of Rhuella, will tolerate handling by Maela, grouchy and bitey toward everyone else. He's as loyal and eager to please as a puppy where Wave is concerned, but everyone else can shove it unless they have food. He likes to bring back little hunting "presents" and deposit them at Wave's feet. Sassy little creature. Hates being dirty.
Hrothga-syl aka "Rothy"
A Painted Centaur with four white feet who has learned some rudimentary Draconic. Male. Hrothga-syl is from a small, isolated sect of centaurs. They have uncommon, though not entirely unknown, traditions among their kind. He is undergoing his Proving, which is a tradition where young males among the herd must prove themselves worthy to be men. They do this by performing a task, usually dangerous but not always, that benefits the herd and demonstrates the proficiency of the individual stallion. Going up to a trio of aggressive dragons, all three of which are in peak fighting condition, and throwing himself at their mercy is considered suicidally dangerous among his kin. Luckily for him, Rhuella is curious about him and his people. We'll learn more about him.
