Goldentop

A beautiful sparkly artwork by JackdawShark! A gloriously glittery Goldentop, delicately reaching for cake- a cake made of solid gold, on a pressure-sensitive plate, atop a fragile temperature-sensitive ice pillar, in a booby trapped spike-lined cave at the bottom of an active volcano. Cos that many locks and spells and wards and traps and signs saying 'NO! DO NOT TOUCH' just HAS to mean the cake's gotta be delicious, right? Or else why go to all that bother? It's practically *asking* to be stolen.

Goldentop Hoards: Anything That Glitters, Eats the Rest



Deception and magic runs through Goldentop’s blood. Born to an illusionist and a bruja, she grew up in a magic shoppe high on the Sunbeam Ruins. Her earliest memories are of dried Manaweed hanging, swaying in the window, and cauldrons bubbling in the basement.
She could have had a happy life, but her mother had other plans. Her mother wanted her children to be better off, and so urged them to toil hard on alchemy, to become apprentices to the Great Baldwin himself.
Goldentop hated it. While her brothers mixed potion after potion, she burned her fingers, got bored, and stole her father’s magic-trick kits to amuse herself. It was during these long, tearful days that she learned to steal.
She also learned the art of vanishment – how to fold her wings and disappear in a puff of shining golden dust.
The dragons of the Sunbeam Ruins often found little things missing – a pair of Footpads, a Heartred Croaker. No one knew who could be responsible. Goldentop sat on her own minor hoard at night, hidden deep in a closet, cackling.
When the day came to be apprenticed to Baldwin, her brothers succeeded and became minor alchemists. But Baldwin rejected Goldentop, and her mother was very angry. They returned home; her mother threatened her with exile; and Goldentop decided to run away.
That night, when she cast one final look on her secret hoard, the door opened and startled her. There was her father, a kindly gold Fae like herself. He took her by the shoulders and whispered, “Your mother and I both want what is best for you, though we do not agree. I say you go now and make your living how you like. Only free will you find happiness.”
Goldentop agreed and, with one final hug, left her father. He watched her go and creep into a shadow –
Then vanish, in a puff of golden dust.

Goldentop wouldn't easily be considered a 'friend'. She is such a trickster, a magical vanishing kleptomaniac cake-fiend and glitter hoarder, that very few people would never trust her with anything not nailed down, let alone trust her enough to be friends. Mostly she engenders a sort of mild tolerance, sometimes comic relief, sometimes just plain annoyance. Her one friend, however, is Mephala- but cynical dragons like Leto sneer and say it's just that Mephala hasn't voice to deny it. Once Tigress growled that Goldentop should leave Mephala alone, because she was just taking advantage of the gentle Pearlcatcher's kindness, and was no friend at all.
Goldentop very nearly cried about that, later, when she told Mephala about it. Her eyes grew very wide and stung painfully so she pulled down her goggle disguise so no one could see. But for a dragon who couldn't speak, Mephala could be remarkably expressive in her dismissal of the idea, and furthermore hugged Goldentop until she squeaked.
In truth, they have a very close bond- Mephala is Goldentop's moral compass, her only confidant, and Goldentop is the embodiment of the impish fun-loving and rebellious child which Mephala never had a opportunity to be.

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Goldentop was not used to dragons considering her in personal terms. At all. Like a pest, a nuisance, a thieving child perhaps- at best, someone bemusedly tolerated.
And this was fine by her. She felt comfortable keeping others at arm's length; never relating to them on a deeper level. The closest friend she had was Mephala, whom she trusted with her life, but she was the exception. Mephala was mute, and had a heart of pure gold, and would never have let down or betrayed anyone, ever. Goldentop had once had a soulmate, her first love, Goldenglow- he and she seemed to be almost like twins, or kindred spirits- but they were too similar, it turned out. They fought like tigers, and both were equally immature and bloody-minded, and refusing to give in or compromise- they were too young, and had gone into it too quickly. Eventually their love spoiled to hatred, and Goldenglow left her, abandoning her and the clan in one night of furious cruelty. The things he said when he left, cut deep wounds in Goldentop's heart, and she swore she would let no one close enough to hurt her that much again. She spent her days instead hoarding things which made her happy; chiefly glittering objects, gold, gems, jewellery, fabrics, and cake- all trying to surround herself with things which made her happy, and fill the gaping hole in her heart. She had no respect for other people's property; why should they deserve a thing more than she? Often they hoarded things away, where they would never be seen, looked at, smiled over- instead, she valued them, treasured them, lined her spherical cave-nest with them, and made a hole where the sun would pierce during the daytime and make the entire inside of it glow like a furnace. The warmth made her smile, made her heart relax a little. But the full feeling of happiness always faded when the sun did.

So it was not her intention, to fall for Mal. But like many things around Goldentop, it came as a happy accident.

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Mal, when he awoke, he was blind. He blinked a few times, but could still see nothing. Every sinew in his body felt overstretched, every muscle ached, his blood roared in his ears when he tried to lift a hand, so he gave up. He felt the sun beat down on him, bare and exposed with the sea salt drying on his scales as the heat became almost intolerable- but then a reprieve, as a shrill breeze came up, and he could smell the change in weather- a storm, then. Like that which had driven him here. It was a Tidelord blessing that he still breathed; that his lifeless corpse was not now at the bottom of the ocean, torn apart by sharks or just drifting; dancing the slow gavotte of the drowned.
But was that better than the fate in store for him now, baking slowly on this unknown shore- hoping for a quicker death than dehydration and starvation.
He slipped in and out of consciousness awhile, and became distantly aware of a voice, humming to itself, growing louder- then it stopped, sharply.
"Shipwreck! Shipwreck!!!" It shrieked, and he felt something tickling near his left wingtip.
"Knew it! So much for punishment duty, one scouting run of the far shore and what do I find?! Pirates! Shipwrecks! And that means one thing- TREASURE!"
He heard the patter of feet joyfully dance across his wing, but he couldn't feel it plainly- finally he realised why he couldn't move; he was entombed in sand and debris. He yearned to call out, to beg for help- but he couldn't move his chest enough to inhale that far.
There was still the scrabbling noise though, as of sand being heaved manfully away with great enthusiasm.
A gasp. "Lightweaver's great glimmering baubles, Treasure!! Gold!! All mine-!" Something tweaked at one of his long whisker-ends. He couldn't protest, but the tug did smart- "Here, of all places!! Oh, the glitter- it must be big though! Big, big! Might have to bring it back in stages, don't want anyone else finding it… treasure, and it's all mine!"
Some weight was starting to shift from his chest. He heard groans and panting as someone made a large piece of flotsam slide sideways, freeing his lungs- they burned as he forced new breaths into them, and prepared himself to call out and request help-
At that very moment, a piece of driftwood was pushed off his face, and his eyes snapped open, to reveal a jaw-droopingly enormous fae.
The fae looked down at his eyes, still gripping the piece of wood. She was vast, a monster at least twice the size of himself, and her sharp fae teeth were like long katanas as she hissed instinctively and reared up in shock- he blinked, and goggled at her. She blinked. Then they both screamed.

Mal didn't actually remember much more of that incident, because Goldentop then proceeded to knock him out violently with the plank of wood, but ultimately help was summoned and a team of dragons excavated him from his living tomb with some degree of difficulty. It was a relief to find out Goldentop was not a monstrously large fae, but an ordinary-sized one; merely the effect of her being extremely and unexpectedly close had confused him. And in her defense, a submerged tentacled (well, whiskered) sea monster with enormous eyes blinking up at her, would have been quite off-putting to the most hardened sailor. Knocking it over the head was the best course of action, all things considered- though that didn't stop Mal needing head bandages for a few days, because it had been a tough piece of wood. He took a good week to get his legs working, and longer still to get his strength back. But all the while, the mischievous fae (somewhat subdued by guilt) served as a semi-constant companion, bringing him choice morsels stolen brazenly from the kitchens and fetching herbs to help with his aching joints. Most in the clan assumed this was lingering guilt, which was somewhat out of character for the kleptomaniacal fae, but not so unusual if she had been anyone else.
He was quite enchanted by her, in all honesty; her cheerful mischievous attitude he found very appealing, and her thievery and trick some antics reminded him of himself, when he was younger and carefree, back before he saw himself as unsatisfactory. She was beautiful; she fairly glittered like a handful of gold herself, and her eyes glinted like stars, especially while they spoke. He started engaging with her schemes, but also regaling her with tales of what he had gotten up to in his wilder days. She sat for hours, listening enraptured, eyes wide and glittering with awe at his tales of adventures on the high seas, being a pirate and the high jinks they got up to against the fat cat merchants and their hired goons. The odd couple became increasingly close as his strength returned, and it seemed that the two of them were amongst the last to predict what happened next.

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Her lineage, made by Juri01:
http://i65.tinypic.com/6qftxh.jpg
http://i66.tinypic.com/xfw7cy.jpg


Luka, Light Sprite and swashbuckling adventurer; they are the boldest and bravest of all pioneers.
(Exquisite engravings by Poisonedpaper:)
And their much less well-known sister, Goldentop, as she was in her youth;

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Travelling Dragon 'Braveheart' Pontus

Memoirs of a Travelling Dragon: Kryles

Travelling Dragon 'Windfall' Finlay

Glittering Hoard of Trick-Or-Treats:

Bright Bolt

Ability Stone

A focused beam of bright light. Deals Light damage to one target. May only be used by light dragons.

500

Required Level: 5

Fool's Gold

Minerals & Ores

Close enough. (Special thanks Ank.)

80

Silver Horn

Organics

Sadly, not made from real silver.

36

Seeker Brooch

Dragonmade

Scavenged deathseekers are a thrifty way to craft swell jewelry for that special someone in your life.

46

Sacridite

Minerals & Ores

Lay down a Sacridite shard somewhere remote and it will start growing as long as there is anyone living nearby making wishes. (KS-Sponsored by Darrin P.)

72

Impure Sacridite

Minerals & Ores

It is particularly strange in the fact that it grows based on the wishes of those around it. (KS-Sponsored by Darrin P.)

72

Infused Crystal

Minerals & Ores

This crystal pulses with an unnatural energy and strange shapes move within. One should not stare overlong into it, lest they begin to stare back at you. (Special thanks Artorias.)

80

Silver Ore

Minerals & Ores

Particularly useful should you ever meet a werewolf.

60

Rose Quartz

Minerals & Ores

A rose quartz by any other name would smell as sweet- ...why are you smelling quartz?

70

Ice Crystal

Organics

A perfectly formed ice crystal. Incredibly valuable, until it melts.

35

Silver Muck

Transmutation

A bubbling mass of silver muck with a brilliant metallic surface. It is pockmarked with tiny gaseous boils.

0

Sparkling Blue Arm Bow

Apparel

The height of elegance, this shimmering blue ribbon is tied into the perfect bow.

1100

Amber Flourish Necklace

Apparel

A finely-wrought amber necklace.

1400

Golden Tail Bangle

Apparel

A fine piece of golden silk, elegantly draped to echo the movements of the dragon wearing it.

1675

Rusted Treasure Chest

Chests

A dented chest that is rusted shut. A deft dragon may be able to pry the lock open. A strong one could probably smash it.

0

Skipping Stone

Minerals & Ores

This stone was born to skip! You could probably get 5 skips out of it if you threw it just right.

30

Red Linen Fabric Scrap

Dragonmade

An intact scrap of linen fabric. Red is the color of action.

79

Nickel Ore

Minerals & Ores

Perhaps the most disappointing of ores, nickel still has its uses.

15

Silver Pocketwatch

Trinkets

This pocketwatch is in excellent condition, but the time it keeps is always too early.

90

Teardrop Pastel Spinel Wing Loop

Apparel

A delicate wing loop of splendid pastel spinel.

680

Scholar

Augment Stone

Grants +5 Intellect, +3 Quickness and +1 Agility.

600

Required Level: 17

Enchanted Candle

Trinkets

Just the sort of thing you wouldn't want to see floating on its own at the end of a dark hallway.

47

Unicorn Dust

Organics

A pinch of unicorn dust and happy thoughts can allow a dragon to fly! It seems impossible, but it is true!

48

Shining Acuity Fragment

Augment Stone

When assigned, this fragment empowers one Light dragon with +2 Intellect.

400

Required Level: 5

Amber

Minerals & Ores

Legends say that most of the realm's amber was formed in an ancient battle between the Flamecaller and the Gladekeeper, where terrible forest fires polymerized resin within the trees in the Viridian Labyrinth.

45

Celestine

Minerals & Ores

Massive quantities of celestine are found in the pillar-like rocks that stretch out below the Observatory, but almost nowhere else in the realm.

45

Brown Wizard Hat

Apparel

A wide-brimmed, leather mage's hat. Placing this upon your head fills you with the urge to decide the fates of children.

500

Gold Muck

Transmutation

A bubbling mass of gold muck with a brilliant metallic surface. It is pockmarked with tiny gaseous boils.

0

Bright Bolt

Ability Stone

A focused beam of bright light. Deals Light damage to one target. May only be used by light dragons.

500

Required Level: 5

Diaphanous Sylvan Headpiece

Apparel

A graceful diaphanous headpiece.

1550

Sunspot Clouddancer Hide

Organics

Removing this pelt in one piece is a challenge for any dragon.

46

Berserker

Augment Stone

Grants +5 Strength, +3 Quickness and +1 Agility.

600

Required Level: 17

Illuminated Emblem

Apparel

A glowing light rune; the sign of a true magical adept. (Brightshine Jubilee Holiday Item)

0

Enamor

Ability Stone

A brilliant sunshaft stuns the enemy into speechlessness. Has a chance to apply Silence. (The target cannot use abilities.) May only be used by light dragons.

500

Required Level: 12

Chrysoberyl

Minerals & Ores

Of particular interest in its gemstone form, chrysoberyl is one of the Ashfall Waste's biggest export materials. Large and consistent quantities of this mineral are created by the constant expansion of the Blacksand Annex.

45

Intact Parchment

Dragonmade

Perfect for diaries, manifestos, and shopping lists.

15

Food:

Spotted Grasshopper

Insect

Particularly vibrant specimens are collected by Fae dragons and pinned to the walls of their dens. Fae dragons are weird.

58

5

Dwarf Mushroom

Plant

Eating this mushroom is rumored to make a dragon shrink.

25

3

Jumbo Shrimp

Seafood

Strong and mysterious on the outside, sweet and tender on the inside; so dreamy!

50

5

Flameburst Waterstrider

Insect

This insect controls neither flame nor water.

42

4

Sugarmelon

Plant

Though it is technically classified as a fruit, this melon is not considered to be particularly nutritious.

43

5

Cicada

Insect

You had fifteen years to invest in a set of earplugs and you didn't. Have a good summer!

40

4

Luminous Shortfin

Seafood

The Luminous Shortfin absorbs sunlight then, when startled, it emits a blinding flash to blind predators.

45

4

Familiars:

Autumn Dryad

Familiar

The autumn dryad is often seen guiding local fauna to burrows or caves so that they are protected from the approaching colds of winter.

1675

Sundial Imposter

Familiar

There's something jarring about this bear...

0

Lux Spectre

Familiar

These impish spectres appear at the edges of one's vision when the nights are darkest. It remains unknown if they truly exist, or if they are a figment of the mind.

2750

Goldentop Art by Fellefan!


Complements on Goldentop from others: