AceOfSp4ce's Clan

Clan Lore
Many years ago, in a strange world where magic is a forbidden but natural gift, a young sorcerer - or escapee, depending on your view point - fled from the palace guards. Having escaped the almost certain death sentence in palace prisons with their magic, their energy was already drained when they began to run. They stumbled over rocks and branches in their path, with no particular goal in mind except escape. The clanging of the guard's armor was fast approaching behind them. Panting and running out of breath, they poured the last of their energy into the final spell they would cast on that plane. As the energy of the spell coalesced into an archway before the sorcerer, their legs began to fail them. They stumbled through the archway, which promptly closed behind them, leaving the guards stunned in the forest. When the mage had fallen through the magical doorway they had created, they could only manage one step before they collapsed into a heap of cloaks and limbs on the ground. To this day, they can not say how long they were unconscious. When they had woken up, they found themself in a place they could not recognize: the plains around them stretched on in an endless sea around them, in the distance rocky cliffs rose up in a beautiful natural staircase. A warm breeze danced in the air, rustling through the grassy steepe. The sky over the cliffs faded to a dark, broiling mass of clouds; a swirling storm of high-speed winds and lightning. Their body ached and their limbs felt stiff and heavy. They stumbled to their feet and began to trudge on in search of any sign of life.

As they marched onwards, hoping the cliffs offered some form of shelter, a distinctively purple-hued shape began to hold most off their attention. The shape spiraled downwards towards the astounded sorcerer. A beautiful purple dragon with black leathery wings landed in front of them, much to the magician's shock. The dragon explained, with the help of her strange looking smokey companion, that they wished to take the sorcerer to the Arcanist, who, from what the sorcerer could tell, was this dragon's boss of some sort. Increadibly confused after a discussion of the land's geography, the sorcerer agreed to let the dragon - Salainen, she had introduced herself as - take them to the Arcanist. Salainen's compainion dissipated as the dragon herself took hold of the sorcerer by the shoulders and began her journey.

They passed over a land of spikes the young sorcerer couldn't begin to wrap their head around. They eventually decided to stop trying to make sense of whatever happened to them at this point, as everything just seemed to get stranger the more they tried to understand. Slowly, an observatory came into view. The large metallic structure sat on the edge of a cliff, balanced percariously above the sea. Salainen began to descend at this point, circling towards the base of the towering telescope. The vibrant dragon insisted the sorcerer remain outside of the observatory while they addressed the Arcanist briefly. the sorcerer agreed, waiting patiently outside the large doors for Salainen's return. Soon enough, she stuck her head out of the two doors and called for the sorcerer to come inside.

The interior of the observatory was even more grand than its exterior. The cieling was decorated with magnificent paintings of stars and constellations the sorcerer had never seen before. A strange dark patch caught their eye, but they followed their new moto of "questions here only lead to more questions there" and decided not to mention it. Turning around, the sorcerer's eyes met the glowing purple eyes of a much larger dragon. A shock of magical energy raced through the sorcerer's body, leaving a static-like feeling on their skin. Instinctively, they bowed deeply. The Arcanist and Salainen talked some more, before Salainen was dismissed so that he may examen the mage on his own. Following what they knew of magic on earth, the sorcerer decided against giving the Arcanist their true name, instead introducing themself as Celyn. The two spoke extensively, at first about the peculiarity of the sorcerer's pressence there, but later, as their control of magic became clear to the Arcanist, the conversation shifted topics. As Celyn's full situation came to light, the Arcanist determined that the runaway magician would stay with Salainen, who turned out to be the dieties right-hand, while they continued to study Celyn and their magical capabilities (they were, after all, a completely different species than any other the dragons of Sornieth had ever seen).

Salainen and Celyn grew close over time, to the point where Celyn's magical connection with the dragon would alert them if she had been hurt. This was a fascinating discovery for the Arcanist, Celyn found. This connection was normally only established between dragons and their familiars, and Salainen possessed an increadibly strong familiar before Celyn ever appeared. Celyn asserted that the connection was much more common among magicians of their species, and not always recipriol. This lead to an uncomfortable series of experiments, much to the fascination of the Arcanist. Aside from the occassional poking and proding of experimentation, life with Salainen was relatively comfortable. Celyn was free to practice their magic at their will, with no worries of palace guards arressting them for their gift. They became quite skilled with shapeshifting spells, which vastly entertained the hatchling of the Arcane clans they visited on occassion. Life was peaceful and calm for the sorcerer for the first time of their life.

However, as the two were off scavenging one day, a swarm of black mist surrounded the pair. Celyn, who had eventually learned of the darkness called the Shade, knew their combined magical presence was likely what drew the swarm to them. Salainen, who had been leading the venture, was completely surrounded by the misty creatures faster than Celyn could react. In a desprate attempt to ensure at least one of them survived the attack, Celyn sent out a blast of magical energy far more powerful than they had ever released before. The shadowlings disipated, but their efforts had been in vain. Salainen was already showing signs of infection, and struggling through the Shade, she urged Celyn to leave her behind. The sight of the sorcerer's closest friend in the strange new world they had found themself in all those years ago reduced to such a state was enough to shake Celyn back into rational thinking. Taking Salainen's familiar, Thaumos, with them in an attempt to preserve their friend's memory, Celyn fled the woods, exhausted and horrified.

They returned to the Observatory, but life there was not the same without their dear friend. Although they tried desprately to reestablish life with the Arcane, the land seemed to painful to stay. Eventually, they decided to leave to the grasslands they first awoke in. They transformed their body in memory of their lost companion, taking on her name in the hope it would be remembered. Celyn wandered the world, joining with dragons who had left their clan in search of a fresh start, but always returned to the windswept steepe. Eventually, rumors of a clan of honorable outcasts spread, and "Salainen" didn't have to wander to find new dragons. The strange motley crew they formed settled in the Windsinger's terrirory, eventually establishing themselves as an official clan. Celyn, over time, became the clan's Arcane representative, continuing conversation with and alleigence to the Arcanist in an attempt to heal old wounds.

Now, the clan is begining to thrive on its own, but still relies on its original principals of forgiveness and acceptence. Newcommers are welcomed with open arms and minimal questions, and those that have voyaged with Celyn since the begining are regarded with great respect. Celyn takes a position of leadership within the clan, feeling that each dragon they take care of is a form of redepmtion from their flight in the woods. The same connection shared by Salainen and Celyn runs throughout the clan, a connection Celyn welcomes. And, somewhere, Celyn can still feel Salainen's connection, lost, and afraid, but alive. This drives them to research a cure for Shade-touched dragons, although they tell their clan that it is simply for the benifit of all.

User Info
Hey! Call me Cas or Alex, either is fine! I use they/them pronouns only, please be respectful. I'm honestly just a big nerd that loves writing and lore, so apologies for anything super long. Please don't be afraid to message me or talk or anything, I love making friends and am likely the least intimidating thing ever.