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Summerset's Clan

ego habet rediit

Lesser Lair

on the

Sundial Terrace

Clan Info

VALOR OF THE DAWN

***

"Aurum pluris omnium hominum."

It took all of your willpower to focus on where you were walking. The tranquil landscape around you easily tore away your attention and refocused it on the distant roar of the sea and the mellifluous song of the avian choir residing in the pines. The sun’s rays seemed to spread everywhere; perhaps the only place they failed to penetrate was the mass of dark mist hanging thick and unrevealing over the faraway Hewn City. However, you were far away from those ruins. Your attention was focused on other ruins- those known as the Sundial Terrace, home to the smaller Light clans.

Eventually, the stone became hard on your paws. Turning away from the Terrace at the next sight of downward-leading marble steps, you gratefully walked into the fresh green grass that swayed gently in the calm zephyr currently blowing. You walked down a well-worn dirt path that weaved its way around a cluster of pine trees and skirted limestone cliffs overlooking the sea.

Halfway down the trail, you noticed glowing globules strung through the pine trees running parallel to the path. Taking this as a sign that a clan perhaps lived nearby, you set along the path with newfound eagerness and vigor. Quite nearly bounding down the trail now, you failed to notice the increasing number of globules and your entrance into a circular sandy area. Behind you lay the path; a ways ahead loomed towering limestone cliffs, dotted with caves. The pine trees continued to grow on the camp’s fringes, and were still strung with the glowing spheres. Right in the center of the camp was a tall pole made of what seemed to be the skeleton of an ancient tree; at the top, a cream-colored flag was waving in the breeze, with the Light Flight symbol emblazoned in the center.

You started when someone spoke up behind you. You whipped around swiftly to find yourself face-to-face with an elegant male Skydancer with cream feathers and friendly yellow eyes. He wore daisies around his neck and on his head, above which shone the symbol shown on the flag fluttering above. He wore golden leg and wing armor that shone like the sun itself.

“Hello,” he said, grinning. “Welcome to the Valor of the Dawn. My name is Lumos- I lead this humble clan. Care for a tour?”

Before you could respond, he had already started off at quite a swift lope. First, he led you right up to the cliffs and motioned towards the small caves at the top.

“Our homes. The inside is also strung with those spheres you see all over the pine trees. Illumination of all the hours is a law in this clan. Never turn your back on the light in favor of the darkness. We are never in total darkness. In fact, near all dragons have some fear of the dark, even the Shadowborns.” Lumos then walked straight ahead, right into a large cave that could have fitted more than 50 Imperials both ways, with their wings fully outstretched. Shelves packed with books and scrolls were dug out of the rock, and floors stretched up until you could see a shining hole at the top, which let in light and warmth. Despite this, there were gleaming lamps placed at every table in the room.

“This is the library,” Lumos explained. “Though you could probably tell already.” The Skydancer suddenly walked off to one of the shelves and plucked a book off of it. It was old and faded, and the golden Light symbol on it was barely visible. You couldn’t read the title at all, but that wasn’t a concern, for it seemed like Lumos already knew it.
“The Lore and Traditions of the Valor of the Dawn,” he stated, handing it to you. “Now, if you would please sit down peruse it. It’s a fascinating read, and you’ll have to read carefully the whole way through if you’d like to understand us at all.”

Lumos nodded, smiled at you, and walked out of the library. At his departure, you opened the ancient tome, being extremely cautious with turning the pages to make sure they didn’t rip. Entranced at the first glance of the faded pages, you began to read.

LORE OF THE VALOR OF THE DAWN
A turncoat clan at first glance, and for good reason: the dragons of the Valor of the Dawn used to be pious in worship to the Shadowbinder, until they were drawn to the Light.

ORIGINS
One night, the Tangled Wood was darker than usual. The shadows themselves seemed to attract each other, until they coalesced into one large shroud. The mass of darkness began to take on a shape; it built itself legs, all the better to run with; a tail, so as to balance; a body to hold the heart, and most importantly, a head to think with.
The corporeal shadow had now taken the form of a Mirror dragon. Its four eyes of amethyst sparkled without sight. Now was the time for divine intervention.
Shadowbinder, the mother of all shadows, knew this was a time of plentiful creation. For a week shadow-dragons had formed, and it had become quite easy for her to breath life into them. So she did to this shadow, which became a live Mirror dragon, with dark obsidian skin and midnight wing membrane. The Mirror looked upon her mother, who christened her Nyctea. Nyctea bid Shadowbinder farewell immediately after being granted her name; it was, after all, time to form her clan.

On her journey through the dense bramble and tall, monstrous trees, Nyctea met a Tundra named Akellor. His fur was bright, colored aqua and rust, and giving him the look of some Windsong abomination. Despite his unsightly appearance, Nyctea took him in, and the two founded their clan right in the clearing they had met. They called it the Nightinguild- a play off of the name of the nightingale bird.

A TIME OF TREASON
Nyctea and Akellor had lived in the Tangled Wood for quite some time. They had already taken in a few residents, and were still building upon their clan. One newcomer was an elegant cream Skydancer. He was of the Light Flight, and clearly expressed his distaste for the darkness of the Shadow Flight territory. He was always in a sour mood, and refused to speak directly to his superiors. This Skydancer, Lumos, knew that there had to be a way to return to his old Flight- and cause the others to do the same.

It wasn’t magic that caused them to move. Not a spell or potion, but simply a change in opinion. Lumos managed to build such a glorious argument that everyone decided that the Light Flight was superior to the Shadow Flight in every way possible. He built this argument mainly on dominance. Since the dragons of the clan were prideful and greedy, he knew that to cause them to make the move, he’d have to point out Shadow’s failure in dominance.

All the dragons, including Nyctea and Akellor, acknowledged this.

The next morning, when the sky was only slightly lighter than usual, all the dragons packed their belongings and set out for the Sundial Terrace, on the far side of the Sunbeam Ruins.

Nobody noticed Lumos’s smug look.

Upon arrival, Lumos immediately took authority as his elemental powers strengthened in their native territory. Nyctea and Akellor still remained advisors, but weren’t allowed to make many decisions. A strict hierarchy and many laws were enforced quite quickly, and the new camp was done within a day, and looked surprisingly good for having been built in such a short span of time. A formal renaming ceremony was held the morning after the camp’s establishment.

So is the origin of the Valor of the Dawn. May it be blessed by the rays of the Lightweaver for eternity and beyond.

CELEBRATIONS OF THE VALOR OF THE DAWN
Like most other Sornieth clans, the dragons of the Valor of the Dawn enjoy themselves at annual festivals and celebrations celebrating the Light Flight and the Lightweaver.

FIRST LIGHT FESTIVAL
Held on the last night of the year, the First Light Festival celebrates the fading away of the previous year into history and the coming of the new year. Legend says that the festival itself brings the new year. During the First Light festival, the dragons of the Valor of the Dawn feast, dance, sing, and play games. Common foods of the festival include grilled seafood, Arctic Lemmings stuffed with Potash Peaches, and a wide variety of plants, including illuminated Dayglo Thresh and Glowing Mushrooms to celebrate the clan’s Shadow Flight roots.
Games played at the First Light Festival include scavenger hunts and food-eating contests. Debates are also held, and dragons quite enjoy poking fun at each others’ resolutions made for the new year. The Glowing Threestep is often danced in the hour before the year turns. Dragons hold hands in a circle and take three steps in a grapevine pattern before switching directions. An inner circle does the same, and the innermost circle (which is only two dragons) performs a series of incredibly complex movements that may or may not cause the duet to become airborne.
The festival usually ends at dawn.

SUMMER SOLSTICE SOIREE

Six months after the First Light Festival, the Valor of the Dawn puts on another celebration. This festival, known as the Summer Solstice Soiree, lasts five days, from the seventeenth of June until the twenty-first. There is feasting every day of the festival, though it is less celebratory than the First Light Festival. No games are played and no contests are held. Instead, dragons gather under the light of the moon and the globules strung through the pines and waltz. However, the last day of the soiree is much like the First Light Festival.
The festival is annual, and ends with the beginning of summer.

FOUNDERS’ FESTIVAL
This festival, held in December, celebrated the founding of the clan. This festival is more wild than both the First Light Festival and the Summer Solstice Soiree. The reason is because it is the only day during which laws are not enforced at all. All clan members have the right to do whatever they want, and while this usually ends devastatingly, it honors the clan’s Shadow Flight roots of unlawfulness and trickery.
The festival is annual and lasts only one day, ending at dawn the next day.

LANTERN SENDAWAY

In October, dragons of the Valor of the Dawn will begin to make lanterns for the Lantern Sendaway, an event that occurs on the thirty-first. The lanterns may vary in intricacy, though each is created for the same reason. Starting when darkness falls upon the Sunbeam Ruins, all other sources of light around the camp are turned off. Then, the dragons make their way to the seashore, where they let their lanterns fly away into the night. The event is done to honor all the dragons who have passed away, whether in the clan or not.
The event is annual and often looked upon somberly, but with respect.

CLAN ANTHEM
The clan anthem celebrates the Light Flight as well as the Shadow Flight; surprising, considering the tension between the two Flights.

From the darkest of forests we came to the light,
To join the glow and glamor of the Light Flight,
To look at the day’s sky and out at the sea,
And know of our glowing superiority.

Born of deceit and trickery we’ve reverted our ways,
To uncover knowledge, illuminate it with the sun’s rays,
And illuminate we shall, for with the light we stand,
And bring to the world a time so grand!

For with Light’s ascension will come a golden age,
During which we will stand upon the sun’s stage,
Kept safe under Mother’s wings…

CLAN LAW
To prevent the rotting away of manners and good conduct, the Valor of the Dawn is enforced by many laws- some sensible, and others that are quite frankly unnecessary.

- Do not steal.
- Do not murder a fellow clanmate.
- Honor the Lightweaver and remain loyal to her.
- Never be in complete darkness. Have lights in your den and spend your days outside and in the sun.
- Pursuit of knowledge is crucial.
- Do not leave the Sunbeam Ruins unless you are an ambassador from another Flight.
- At the age of one week, all dragons must take the Final Exam. Dragons who fail to pass will be exalted effective immediately.
- Never express views of disloyalty or favor of the Shadow Flight.
- Honor the Coliseum team.
- Respect all dragons, no matter their breed, colors, genes, or Flight.