Nessi

Uh-oh, looks like this dehydrated Bogsneak wandered a little too far from her home lair (Volrin, #261879), and now she's off to see the world! If ever you feel the need to exalt, she'd really appreciate it if you could just return her to her home lair, or to the 'Dragons Off To See The World' thread, here.
This is not necessary, but she would be very grateful!

Owners I've Had:
Volrin, #261879, Light (Home Lair)
gbot13, #276686, Lightning
ZenithNadir, #44542, Lightning
GrinningWolf24, #212075, Plague
ApostasiaAin, #282121, Ice
LadyMer, #345441, Water
Petall, #256252, Wind
Lirillith, #149136, Nature
RockPaperScizor, #355146, Nature
Hounds, #72740, Plague
Continlula #388810, Light
whalesongstories #404605 Ice

Username, #ID, Lair Element (put your info here!)

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Luggage:

Everglade Lasher

Familiar

Everglade lashers swim in colorful, shining schools. They migrate up rivers to the base of The Behemoth every spring.

2400

Her companion, Sharklet (now lost)

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Nessi was unfortunately born to the wrong flight, and being a water dragon at heart, she was constantly parched in the Light clan that served as her childhood home. She would take any opportunity she could to roll around in the (uncomfortably hot) rivers and ponds that stood against the scorching heat, but her lungs still spasmed at any breath of dusty sand that she inhaled and her paws boiled and blistered as she walked across the sun-baked, desert-like land. Her family could see the immense discomfort this environment was causing her, so with their blessings, she was sent off on an adventure to find more suitable conditions.

Before she left, her parents entrusted her with a juvenile Everglade Lasher (who she later named Sharklet), hoping that his migratory pattern would lead Nessi to her destination.

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On his way from the Sunbeam Ruins, Sharklet led her into the Shifting Expanse, through the very small river at the bottom of the Carrion Canyon. The water is dirty and not suitable for drinking, lending to a very hazardous journey. On patrol, Sawyl discovered the hatchling and brought her back to the Cerauno clan. Sharklet was deposited in a small pool kept in the main cave for aquatic Familiars, while Yohn evaluated the hatchling's condition.

He decided that Nessi should rest and recuperate for awhile with the clan before she could continue her journey to the Sea of a Thousand Currents.

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The Suncircle Clan, located on a mesa near the coast of Sornieth, was the next stop on Nessi's journey. The little Bogsneak was at first overwhelmed by the chaos of the aboveground marketplace - how would she ever find out information or get directions when she was surrounded by so many loud and busy strangers? For a while, she wandered the market aimlessly until she came to a stand selling a large variety of fresh fish. This intrigued her. How was a desert clan able to get so many fish so consistently?

Through a few inquiries, she was eventually directed to a blue-and-green Imperial named Baikal. Baikal lived near an oasis that was fed by water that flowed out of the mesa from a source that Nessi could not see. The Imperial was in charge of aquaculture for the clan, and grew a number of rare plants and herbs that normally could not thrive in the dry desert conditions. He also raised fish, although not all of them were for eating - some of them were his personal pets.

The Imperial explained to Nessi that they were near the sea, but that the nearest ocean was not the one she sought. The seas on the outskirts of Sornieth were wild and lawless, battered by storms and controlled by schools of Maren who did not care for the intrusion of dragonkind. The Sea of a Thousand Currents was some ways away, but the merchants and messengers of the Suncircle Clan had business with allies in many parts of Sornieth. If Nessi was willing to be patient, there would certainly be an outbound messenger soon who could carry her to her next destination.

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GrinningWolf24, #212075, 8/23/17

Everyone seems to arrive in Namesong in practically the same manner: literally falling down one of the entrance holes to the massive underground burrow. It always comes as a slight shock to arrive there, whether purposefully seeking them out, or accidentally 'entering'. But once settled in, it is quite the interesting place to explore! An event, dubbed the 'Borrowed Time Program', had been put into place. Partially a rigorous training program for fighters, and partially a plea for help from the weakening clan, it acted as a sort of militia; a bolstering force to assist the clan in their mission. To keep a long story short.... she joined the Borrowed Time Program to try to help Namesong fight the Story Vortex, as well as to grow stronger and train. The clan recorded her time within the program, to better educate future travelers and clans of the danger.

Baikal had been right- it wasn't too long, only a day or two before an outbound courier came along who was willing to take her with. The guardian had been gruff, but kind, letting her and Sharklet perch up on his shoulders while he headed out towards the sea. The gentle rolling of his shoulders as he flapped his wings was soothing, and before she knew it, she had nodded off-

She awoke with a start as he landed deep in the Plague territories. Terrified, she had asked where they were and why she was here. He had responded that this was the clan closest to the midway point between where he was going, and the sea. She would have to make her own way from here- he had a schedule to keep, after all!

Watching him take off, she started to panic, and likely would have bounded off in an unknown direction had a trapdoor not opened a few hundred yards from where she currently had been. Nervous, she approached just as a tundra's furry head poked out. His deep blue eyes were startling in this landscape, but all the same, their color and meaning soothed her enough to talk. She was ushered inside, and here she bedded down with the tundra and the rest of the hatchlings under his care.

And here she stayed. It almost seemed her quest was forgotten for a while- so relieved was she to be in a moist, comfortable area with such good company. She grew up under the water tundra's gleeful care, and came to know and love many of the clan's other residents. As travelers came and went, she would get to know some of them too, and news of what the world was like. The most fascinating were a sweet-smelling wildclaw who had become a long-term boarder, as well as a fae who was helping the clan dig better wells. Their deep blue eyes were just as comforting as the tundra who had helped raise her. And their stories of the sea.... they made her heart ache in a strange way.

She was torn when she spoke to them. She wanted that sea so much, but.... what about the clan here? What to do?

The very earth itself mad her decision for her in the form of a massive earthquake. The clan itself was destroyed, almost half of its members being lost or perishing below the ground. She herself had been one of the first to emerge, and she had been immensely relieved when the wildclaw had been dug out by others. A few days later the fae followed as well. Seeing them alive, their eyes dulled but still blinking and filled with the cool glow of water was shallow comfort in this trying time.

When her caretaker, PoisonParadise had emerged, he was incredibly injured. She was surprised that he even still was alive, judging by his condition. But apparently his old stamina from being an imperial had carried him through. She barely left his side, be he encouraged her that this was a sign- a sign to break ties. To follow her dreams. Go to the sea. View it and experience it herself. But... she just couldn't do it. That tear in her heart widened, torn so much by the decision.

He told her how even the wildclaw and fae that she adored so much were leaving. That made her pause. They were both going out into the world.... and were still working to help the clan. Perhaps that was her compromise. She had nuzzled the water-eyed tundra one last time before trotting off and declaring to the fae and wildclaw that she would be accompanying them. They had looked doubtful... but did not argue. Thus she joined the cause.

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GrinningWolf24 #212075, 2/25/18

Months, she had lived in the wilderness. She had found love. Started a family. Worked through the unforgiving environment around her.... and lost it all. This thing that Namesong had asked her mate to hunt...... she understood now why they had asked for help. This monster- all it did was take, and take, and take, leaving you with nothing but bitter memories and hatred. Letting the anguish and anger from the loss of her young children fuel her, she had further pressed into the forests that she now loathed, indescriminately striking down any flora or fauna that got in her path. She was reckless, and hurting... and it came back to get her.

Unthinking, unflinching, her mate strode into the territory of a centaur herd, leading the group with him. The centaurs were none too kind, and immediately Nessi's hide was peppered with arrows. Half a dozen shafts poked out from the bogsneak's shoulder and throat. She glanced over to her companions in sudden horror. Fruitloop had even more arrows sticking out of his chest and hip. The world spun.... Ground above, trees below.... spinning spinning spinning..... She hit the ground, dead to the world. Her mind slowly darkened, and her final thought was of the surprise in those deep blue eyes she loved so much..... and then the peaceful waves of unconscious took her....

The centaur herd gathered around to look over the dragons they had brought down. With practiced movements, they began to tie up the bodies, dragging them off. The dragons' chests rose and fell with shallow breaths. They were alive, but they were in no state to argue with whatever the centaurs did or where they would end up....

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LadyMer, #345441, 3/21/18

Nessi awoke, falling. She groggily struggled to get her wings to work, only barely managing to open them before she hit the... water? She fell back into unconsciousness as a strange dragon surfaced and looked at her in curiosity.

Nessi came to once again in a strange lair. The dragons there explained that she had finally come to the Sea that she had been searching for. The signs at the top of the cliffs showed that the centaurs had thrown her off before carrying their other captives onward to an unknown destination.

Nessi tried to enjoy herself in the water, and in truth she did have times where she could lose herself in the joy of the currents and waves... but her concern and curiosity about the fate of the others never quite left her. In the end, she explained her dilemma to the clan's founder. "It's only natural," the wise tundra told her. "Water that is content to stay in one place is no longer water, but ice. Good luck to you, and know you'll always have a home here." Heartened by her words, Nessi took her leave of her new friends...

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Petall, #256252, 4/26/2018
As Nessi left the Sea of a Thousand Currents, tragedy once again befell her. She had not gone far when she saw a strange shape from the skies. As it descended, it became clear it was a ragged skyship, though Nessi did not have long to ponder that before something swooped down on her and hit her in the head, knocking her out.

The skyship belonged to a group of slave traders, and Nessi was their prisoner. She was helpless to watch as they loaded up the ship with more and more dragons. Eventually, they ran out of supplies and was forced to dock down at Windkeep Tower, which housed a series of ports for both sky and sea ships.

A slave traders was discovered during the night of their stay, sneaking stolen supplies back to the ship, and their horrendous deeds were found out. Horrified, the dragons of Windkeep Tower prepared for a fight. It was difficult, but they won, and the slaves were set free and allowed to recover, free of charge, at Windkeep Tower for as long as they wanted.

Not long after she was freed, Nessi was approached by another bogsneak, who introduced herself as Neptune and explained that they were sisters. Nessi was overjoyed to, after having lost everything (even Sharklet had been stolen away and sold by the slave traders), found something new.

As she recovered and rested and enjoyed the comforts of the friendly wind clan, Nessi got to know her sister, and learned of her quest to find one of their other sisters. She agreed that when the time came for them to leave, she would join her sister in her travels, if only for a bit.

(Explaination: I found Nessi on the AH, being sold for 25kt, so I bought her to save her from potential exaltation. I figured I should incorporate that into the story somehow.)

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Lirillith, #149136, May 10, 2018

The sisters arrived in the Viridian Labyrinth just as preparations began for the Greenskeeper Gathering. The hunting party that offered to host them directed them to a large lair in the Behemoth, where they found an entire section of the lair set aside to lodge travelers, and a number of traveling dragons in those lodgings.

Nessi was somewhat saddened that her sister threw herself into assisting their hosts with preparations for the festival. They barely knew each other, even after their stay in Windkeep Tower, and she'd hoped they'd be able to spend more time together. It felt, right now, as if Neptune was all she had. Neptune, and memories.

She tried not to brood, but it was difficult; there was so much activity around her, yet so many places that were relatively quiet, even deserted. If she kept to their lodgings, she had company at times, in the other travelers, but they inevitably fell to swapping stories, and she felt guilty meeting their tales of adventure with her own stories of loss, just as she felt wrong listening to a story and then saying she preferred not to talk about her own past.

It was a young guardian who finally spurred her into action. It wasn't anything he said directly to her; he was asking after his father, saying they'd been separated while traveling. Nessi didn't recognize the description, but his search reminded her of her own lost companions, her mate... they'd never left her mind, but she'd given them up for lost without realizing it. She should at least ask after them, seek out any word of their fates. If she'd lived, she might not be the only one.

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RockPaperScizor, #355146, 6-11-18

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Continlula, #388810, 7-21-2018

After her and Neptune decided to go off on a journey to find her lost family, their adventures brought them back to the Sunbeam Ruins. After nearly getting killed by the Emperor that has been raging in the Hewn City, they where transported to a nearby Clan that has been taking in refugees. Nessi is very grateful for Tahitian and Confusionite's hospitality and feels like she has to make it up to them. Confusionite has been working with her to help her mental state, and to help come to terms with what has happened.

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whalesongstories, #404605, 7-29-2018

After heading back out on their journey, Nessi and Neptune were thrown way off course by a nasty cold front that whipped up relentless winds, tough for even the most skilled navigators to fight through. Straying farther and farther north, it wasn’t long before they were thrown into a blizzard, their visibility all but gone. When the raging winds finally died down, the sisters found themselves lost in the Frigid Floes, unsure of where to go or what to do. Luckily, they were found by a young Guardian, Tundra, and his fledging clan. Though their numbers and resources were small, then clan took Nessi and Neptune in for a short while.

While grateful for the clan’s hospitality, Nessi didn’t fully trust the dragons that resides there. Besides, now that she had rested and eaten and shaken off the deep cold in her bones, Nessi was eager to start traveling again. The stark landscape of snow and ice amplified the loneliness in her heart and the cold only reminded her of the ice frozen in her own heart. However, when Nessi announced that she planned to take her leave, her sister Neptune was torn. However much Neptune wanted to keep traveling with Nessi and keep searching for their other sister Oakley, she had quickly grown to enjoy the company of a fellow Bogsneak called Luan. Eventually, the sisters came to an agreement that it would be best if they parted ways. Neptune decided to stay with Tundra’s clan a bit longer, resolving to continue her search for Oakley a bit, and Nessi left to continue her journey.

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Exactly what happened was hazy. She'd been traveling on foot, and some noise had caught her attention, and then - nothing. Nothing until she woke up, shackled, in the hold of a stinking ship. She could smell seawater, and fish, and more than that. There were both dragons and Beastclan on board this ship, and she soon learned there was a reason for that. She'd fallen prey to slavers, again; this time, the leaders were Maren and Harpies, but they were assisted by dragons they'd raised to serve them, and there was no way she'd escape.

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