"Do you believe in fate? Do you believe in defying fate? Do you believe in radioactive slime?"

June 10, Year 23

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Most of the rest of the clan had always looked at the animal visitors as a second, slightly more mysterious larder. But when prices for live familiars spiked due to the discovery of the alchemical process for transmuting lifeforms, a Great Purge occurred, the likes of which no one involved had ever imagined, but which was probably inevitable given how much dragons like treasure. Few familiars survived.

Shadowfire was devastated. These wild creatures had given him simple acceptance in this confusing world. He'd tried to learn their ways and organize a better home for them, a home where all the creatures in the world could find acceptance. He had promised safety, but when the time came he'd barely even been able to save Slick. What would he do if this happened again?

Out of tragedy came determination: Shadowfire would begin a solo quest to become strong enough to protect the people he cared about. He would travel the world, righting wrongs and rescuing smaller creatures until he was ready to face the likes of Bloodsore and Meatheart.

His solo quest failed. So he began a new quest, this time with Goodboy and Aureliano as teammates. Although Shadowfire barely knew them and fundamentally didn't know how to talk to other dragons, they'd proven their willingness to defend the defenseless, so he figured he'd shout some hot-blooded inspirational sayings at them and see if that was enough for them to accept him as their leader. It was.

May 27, Year 9

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Found as a hatchling in a cheaply made crate with a sign around his neck saying "I r Shadowfire." If no one took him in by nightfall, he probably would've been eaten by wild dodos. Humerus tried to rename him Sparkysmog- and even convinced him that he was Sparkysmog. But somehow everyone else can't help but call him Shadowfire. They can't explain it. It just feels right.

Shadowfire is beautiful. Radiantly beautiful. Grime doesn't seem to stick to him, nor dirt, stains, or mildew. He's never been sick a day in his life. What looks at first like gembond is just extra-shiny scales.

He's considered a dense boy even by Ship standards. Nobody can tell what's going on in his head. He never just goes up and talks to another dragon- he seems more interested in wild animals, such as his inseparable companion the radioactive slime (named Slick, but nobody else knows that). The number of creatures lingering around the Ship has increased dramatically since Shadowfire was adopted. Mostly they're busy snuffling and chirping and bustling around with each other, but sometimes they'll act as though they'd had an agreement with a dragon even though they'd never spoken to that dragon before. For example, a storm seeker might bring Meatheart a piece of an item she was hunting for and expect food in return. What is Shadowfire doing with these animals??

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His full name is Shadowfire Lightning because those are his elemental weaknesses.