Gaiman

Riverglints
Concept and Lore by KittyHamilton

After their creation, many Imperials settled along the great, fish-filled river running through the center of Sunbeam Ruins. Their descendants remain to this day. You might never notice them, swimming by just under the surface. Their markings allow them to blend in, matching the pattern of light reflected through rippling water.

Riverglints subsist on the bounties of the river, enjoying a diet of snapping turtle, golden rainbow trout, green algae, and more. Their lairs are built with underwater and land entrances, though always with enough architectural artistry to keep the water away from their living space. Riverglints tend toward solitude. They may live alone, with a mate and hatchlings, or with a few non-Imperial dragons.

Like many Light dragons, Riverglints love knowledge. They're omnivorous readers, amassing huge personal libraries. They keep in contact with fellow Riverglints, borrowing, trading, and gifting volumes up and down the river. (They've developed sophisticated techniques for keeping books dry on such journeys.)

While most Light dragons value only knowledge in a tome, Riverglints place deep importance on the object itself. When a Riverglint is moved by a work, be it the rare journal of a celebrated Paladin or a tiny collection of poems from an amateur fae, they seek to uplift it with a vessel worthy of the words inside. Many become obsessed with particular subjects or authors, and devote their life to transcribing their own versions of these works.

A glintmade book is resistant to water, heat, and cold. The oldest works look like they were finished yesterday. Each one is a highly personalized piece of art, including illustrated editions to enhance the text and covers decorated with everything from beading to fish scales. There' a subtle, strange magic to a glintmade book. Because they take ages to make and most are of such personal significance to the Riverglint creators, they are exceptionally rare and expensive. It takes piles of treasure and rare books to convince most Riverglints to take on a commission.

A Riverglint hatchling is taught how to grind pigment for ink and dry pulp for paper. They practice their calligraphy until their signature is perfect, and bind illuminated manuscripts into gilded covers. They're formally recognized as an adult when they complete their first book or scroll. Courting between Rivergints involves the exchange of personally constructed books. Handwriting and signatures are paramount in their correspondence-focused culture, and bad handwriting is seen as a serious character flaw.

The great central river of the Sunbeam Ruins has smaller branches, which are also populated with Riverglints. The farther a Riverglint is from the main river, the less connected they are to Riverglint society. These "Branchers" are more likely to join larger lairs, or treat bookmaking as a hobby instead of a way of life. The second habit has earned them the contempt of mainstream traditionalists.