Desdemona

(Art by Veehrix)

Desdemona was born in Wyrmwound, to a nature-born pearlcatcher named Gabriel and a native plague-born imperial named Judas. On her birthday, her father attempted to throw her into the coliseum for her first battle but was disappointed to learn that dragons that young were not permitted to fight. Unwilling to accept no for an answer, he instead brought his newborn daughter with him on an expedition to find uncontaminated food, hoping he could at least teach her how to kill. He was tracking their prey when little Desdemona spotted a wildclaw approaching her father from the back. Determined to take down her first prey, she grabbed her pearl and threw it at the wildclaw as hard as she could.

The wildclaw, Grave, caught the pearl and returned it to the little hatchling, laughing. He said, "Little one, pearlcatchers must protect their pearls - it is their most precious possession." The tiny Desdemona, puffing out her chest, responded by telling him that dragons did eat meat, but didn't eat pearls, and she was hungry so he needed to just "get dead already." Grave laughed, and laughed more as Judas tried to apologize for his daughter's behavior. When he finally caught his breath, he offered Judas a deal: if he gave Desdemona to his clan, he'd teach her to be a real warrior, so that she would never go hungry again. Judas, having many other children, all of whom needed to be fed and trained, agreed to this deal and so Desdemona became a part of the Strigoi clan.

Grave kept his promise and Desdemona was raised as a warrior. He gave her the warrior name "DEATHCRUSH" so that her very name might inspire fear in others. From an early age, she was taught not only how to fight, but how to identify thousands of types of contagions, infections, pestilences, and diseases. She learned how to use every part of every kill and how to survive during long trips on very little food and water. Most importantly, Desdemona was taught to control her emotions, so that she would never again be so rash as to throw her pearl at a dragon many times her size. Eventually, Desdemona grew into a warrior known for her cold, calm efficiency. Desdemona slaughtered monsters by the hundreds, and after each kill, Desdemona would thank the Plaguebringer for her bounty. She held the firm belief that only the Plaguebringer had the power to decide which of the Plagueborn deserved to live and was determined to stay on her deity's good side. One day, however, she suddenly disappeared with her things. Later, she sent back a note to her family, informing them that she had traveled to the land of the Lightweaver and become part of Clan Pineapple, a whimsical, glitter-filled clan that seemed to hold no similarities to any clan Desdemona had known previously. (Art by Palatine) Desdemona explained this bizarre transition as follows: "I remember the first time I saw him. Wounded, fighting off infected monsters, clearly out of his element in The Wandering Contagion. I saw this coatl, red belly, flamboyant feathered hat, completely unskilled as a fighter.. and I felt a compulsion. I had to go to him. I had to save him. You know I don't feel very often. Most of my life, I've taken pride in that. When dragons wasted away, whether from starvation or disease, I would go on, accept that this was the way of the Wasteland. I do not know what it is that suddenly made me feel that day. Maybe it was seeing that he was not a young dragon. Maybe it was the fine shimmer of his wings being covered in blood. I cannot say, but I entered the fray. It was an easy victory for me: monsters know not to mess with a native daughter of the Plaguebringer. Plague dragons do not lose in battle. They know to lose is to die. (Art by QueenParda) After the battle, I tended to his wounds. I am not much of a healer, as you well know, but one does not go through as many battles as I have without learning the basics of treating wounds. It turned out his name was Angel and he was a scout on assignment from a light clan. We talked. And talked. And talked. I learned of his clan, a place full of light and warmth, with no disease, no strife... a friendly, whimsical place with warriors who fought for fame and glory rather than survival. A place where dragons raised children and didn't fear they would succumb to disease or starvation. I couldn't really imagine what that was like. When he got better, he asked me to come with him. To see his clan. I debated whether I should go, of course. However, looking into that coatl's green eyes, and imagining that light-filled clan, I couldn't say no. (Art by dragoonwys) So I said yes. That is why I left. To start a new life, in a new clan. To feel the sun on my scales. To have children whose eyes are not red from constant infection. To find out what it is like to not worry. To feel something again. To be with him, in his world. I hope I have made the right choice." Since her arrival, Desdemona has taken on the role of Plague Representative, teaching dragons of Clan Pineapple the skills of the plagueborn. She has also entered the nesting grounds with her beloved Angel and is excited about starting a family. --- Desdemona treasures this present from her mother, Gabriel: (Adoptable by Anayre)