Baxter

(Starting lair: Glacora)

Baxter is a kind hearted cook that loves his job more than himself. If he's a good cook is up for debate, but he tries his hardest. He also has a tendency to either dose off while working, or get so caught up in it that he won't sleep for days. He knows it's not healthy, but he loves his job so much that he just can't help it. His dream is to become a world renowned chef and to cook for the deities. To do that though, he needs worldly experience. He needs to learn all the great wonders of the world, even ones that aren't food related. Even when he leaves, he'll still love his lair more than anywhere else. Leaving Living Dreams Lair is not something he has ever wanted to do, but it's something he must do.

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Oceanreach-ChihoriAnigma

Baxter landed with a heavy thump on a stone balcony. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, but there was a promise of rain in the air. Baxter didn't care about that though. Right now he was wondering if it really was such a good idea to leave Living Dreams. He knew he must to succeed in his dream but now that he had been flying for an hour or two and was about to leave not only Living Dreams, but the Starfell Islands, the reality of leaving began to hit him.

"Hey, Baxter!" A purple coatl stuck his head out of the lair that opened up onto the balcony Baxter had landed on. "What are you doing here? Are you making food for us?"

"Hey, Angelo." Baxter, Angelo and Gali (Angelo's sister) had been in school together. "No. I'm leaving. I need to learn to cook recipes from all over the world-so I can cook for the deities eventually."

"Are you sure you're not going to make me any food? I'm starving!" Angelo complained and flopped down on his stomach next to him.

"You know what? I will!" Perhaps it was procrastination on leaving the islands but what better chance to practice his cooking skills? He unpacked his taboon, some flour and other stuff.

"You know you're not getting any if you don't help me, right?" he joked as he mixed the ingredients together.

"Fine, fine." Angelo came over to help him mix and knead the dough. Then, while Angelo threw the round pieces of dough on the taboon Baxter mixed together dipping sauces.

"What smells so good? Hi Baxter!" Gali asked, flying down onto the balcony, covered with dust from wherever she had been.

"Definitely not you." Angelo threw a piece of dough at her.

"Hey!" She threw it back at him. "I'm going to shower and then I'm going to eat all that."

"Can you put this in your oven for 20 minutes on a low flame?" Baxter asked handing her an already seasoned fish.

So Baxter managed to have one last meal before he left home, dairy fish wrapped in lafa bread, eaten under the stars, above the ocean.




Spiderfrog15's Clan



Baxter began to journey into a forest. He had heard from his friends that some of the best food they had ever eaten had come from the most unexpected places, and what was more unexpected than the realm of the mysterious shadow dragons? He knew his efforts were fruitful almost immediately, when he saw a tree covered in glowing fungi. This certainly would be a stunning looking meal! He began to choose the best looking mushrooms, and cut them into small pieces. To his delight, they retained their luminescent aura! He put them onto a pan and started frying them up, adding some spices from his bag as he went. Suddenly, he heard a voice.
“What. Is that.” He turned around to see a Nocturne, stark white and pink in contrast to the dreary terrain, staring in disgust at the mushrooms.
“It’s my latest advance in creating the best cuisine in the history of Sornieth!” Baxter smiled, displaying his creation with pride.
“It’s a monstrosity, that’s what it is!” The Nocturne said, wrinkling his nose. Baxter frowned.
“Why’s that?” He asked, slightly annoyed that this random guy was insulting his cooking skills. He hadn’t even tried it.
“First off, no good food should glow. That’s like cooking 101. Seriously.” He stopped and looked at the food again. “Honestly how did you even make this glow like that? It’s so unnatural.”
“I used fungi that’s growing on like… most of the trees here? You do live in this forest right?” The dragon seemed taken aback by this remark, but rebounded quickly.
“You’re one of those travelers right? The ones that keep showing up over here?”
“Keep showing up?”
“Yeah we’ve had like five separate people just appear, for wildly different reasons. I guess I should take you to the clan.” While Baxter certainly did not enjoy the company of this dragon, he was pretty tired.
“Alright.” He replied, packing up his supplies. He put the mushrooms into a container, to try later. “I don’t think I caught your name. Mine’s Baxter!”
“I’m Salt.”
They got to the clan, and Baxter immediately found some dragons much nicer than Salt. Everyone seemed super excited to see a new face, and gathered around Baxter, wondering where he came from. When he mentioned he was a cook, an excited murmuring spread throughout the group.
“You think you can make some food for us?” A dragon from the back of the group asked. Many of the other dragons nodded in agreement. “We only have Salt here as our cook, but we want some variation!” Salt looked very annoyed at this, and exclaimed-
“When I saw him, he was making food that was literally glowing. Glowing I tell you!” This did not seem to have the desired effect on the crowd, who only seemed more excited at the prospect of eating Baxter’s cooking. Baxter saw only one way to settle this.
“I challenge you to a cook-off!” He yelled out, and the entire group of dragons went silent. Salt turned to face him. He seemed to consider the offer, then finally came to a conclusion.
“I accept!”
“TWICE THE FOOD!” A dragon yelled, and the rest of them cheered. The rules were set. Baxter and Salt would both have 2 hours to gather ingredients, and then 2 more hours to cook up the food. The rest of the clan would be judging. Baxter set out into the forest, but could not find any exotic food.
“How am I supposed to win if all I have is ferns and clover?” He asked himself, sighing. Suddenly something bright and blue caught his eye. He turned, hoping to see a fruit or vegetable or something, but instead he saw a crab. “Oh hi there little guy!” He said, looking at the small creature. It seemed to be motioning to him. “Do you want me to follow you?” He asked, getting up. He had nothing to lose, he thought, so he started following the crab. A few minutes later, Baxter almost yelled in happiness. The crab had led him to a whole grove of assorted plants! He looked through the countless rows, picking many kinds of food until his gathering baskets were overflowing. He began to make his way back to the clan, the crab still in tow. On his way back, Baxter passed another tree with glowing fungus on it. He shrugged, and grabbed some of that as well.
Finally, back at the clan, the two competitors began cooking. Baxter felt like he was on fire! Slicing, cubing, stirring, frying, kneading, he flew through his workspace. When he glanced over at Salt however, he began to worry. It seemed Salt had traded for some materials that would otherwise be impossible to get. Baxter shook off his worry. He needed to get this done! He continued. A dragon announced there was 10 minutes to go. Baxter looked proudly at his dish- Zucchini noodles, some bread, and steak. It looked so bland though. Baxter knew what he should do. He ripped the glowing fungi out of his bag, and began cutting and cooking it. He drizzled it over the steak, grinning at the annoyed look on Salt’s face. Baxter finished plating the food just in time, and stood back to admire his work.
The rest of the clan turned out to be terrible judges, they couldn’t decide whose food was better. Baxter did try Salt’s dish, an expertly cooked salmon, and had to admit, it did taste pretty good. Baxter looked over at Salt, and saw him about to try his dish. He waited in suspense, and almost laughed when Salt finally at a bite. Salt’s eyes had widened like he had just eaten the most amazing thing in the world and he immediately stood up, almost running over to Baxter.
“How did you make that steak so good?” Salt asked, still looking very surprised.
“I think… it was the mushrooms.” Baxter said.
“They were amazing!” Salt gushed, and then seemed to remember his words back in the forest. “I’m sorry for calling you an inexperienced cook and saying you had no taste” Baxter smiled.
“It’s OK. I enjoyed competing against you!”
“I did as well!”
Baxter continued to talk the night away. He finally got to bed, and in the morning, set off again, with the crab, who seemed to enjoy Baxter’s cooking so much that he wanted to follow Baxter on his journey. Baxter waved goodbye to his new friends and was about ready to take off again when he heard Salt, running towards them.
“Wait!” he yelled, coming to a stop near Baxter. “You should come back at some point! You know, so we can have a rematch!” Baxter grinned.
“That’s an amazing idea!” he said, and with that, he took off into the sky once again.

Obtained- Plantation Pincher

---

Baxter made sure to take lots of ingredients from the Sea of a Thousand Currents during his passing. But, now that he was in Windsinger territory, he wasn't necessarily sure where to go to get it all cooked. No one was willing to house him, for various reasons. He wasn't mad at them; maybe there was a good reason.

Then he stumbled upon a a gate, one like that for keeping hoards of animals in their designated areas. Maybe he stumbled upon a pen? If this was for food or for pets, he wasn't sure - but that must mean there was a clan nearby. Why else would it be here?

An arrow thunked into the ground a tooth's width from his foot. "State your business, Snapper boy."

"E... excuse me?" Baxter's Arcane eyes blinked several times, trying to clear the fog from his mind. Snapper boy?

"State. Your. Business."

"I, um... well, I was just traveling. I came from the Thousand Currents, and have been wondering around, trying to find lodging. Would you lodge me? I can cook!" Baxter bartered.

"Search him."

"WHA-"

Then invisible hands were searching him, patting around his body at a quick pace; and he began giggling. Those paws tickled!

"He's clean," a feminine voice said.

"Tell Skyway we have another visitor. Stay here, Snapper," the male voice stated.

"A-alright, no problem. Stay here. I can do that." Baxter sat down, looking around at the entrance of the pen area. He could hear a small trickle nearby, maybe their was a pond or waterfall nearby? The wind whistled through the trees, causing a sort of off-kilter skittering sound to bounce around. The Windswept Plateau was very green and very beautiful, he had to admit.

His head sanpped toward the small pen gate as it opened by itself, a white and blue female Guardian coming through it. "Hello, Snapper. My name is Skyway, and I am the matriarch of this clan. What brings you to us?"

"Ah, well, I am here because I traveled through the Thousand Currents, and now I am here, seeking lodging. I don't - well - I kind of have a specific reason to be here? It's almost night and I would like to rest, if that is all right with you, clan leader?"

She hums, a rumbling sound that shakes her little delicate crown. "We are currently under a reconstruction of out clan, so there is a mess. I would say no, but due to the frequency of typhoons at night, I'll grant you lodging. But, only for one night. As I said we are bust reconstructing. Come, follow me."

"Thank you so much! I can cook to repay you? I have many different fish with me! I can cook - mostly well."

The Guardian hums again. "We in this clan eat our food raw. We are dragons, we eat clay when our stomachs are upset."

"You - wait, dragons actually do that?" Baxter questioned.

"Yes. One of our Fae had an upset stomach and nibbled on clay to feel better."

"Oh. That's interesting."

"Maybe you should add some to your recipes? Create new ways for dragonkind to feel better."

Baxter froze, screaming AHA! in his mind. "That is a brilliant idea! Why haven't I though of that before?"

"We have plenty of clay to go around. We will give you some to test out that theory. For now, the sun is setting. If you can fall asleep you'll sleep here," Skyway said as she jetted her chin to a small cave that would fit two of him. There was some leaves placed haphazardly, but they seemed soft. "We currently have no visitors sleeping quaters, so this is the best we have. I'm truly sorry for the unfortunance."

"I am greatful either way! Thank you very much!"

"Of course. I understand Snappers are insomniacs, but try to sleep well."

"I will try. Thank you, again."

|

Baxter rose from a little bit of sleep, happy to be away from the apparent typhoons that run rampant at night. The leaves, as he expected, were soft, exaltation on his weary claws.

He got out of the small cave, seeing in the distance work upon the clan had already started. He thought that it would be better for him to leave before anyone noticed he was up; they all seemed very busy anyway.

Baxter walked toward the small gate he entered in last night, expecting to fully slip away without being noticed.

Then he squealed as something touched his back. He freaked out, thinking he had been ambushed for his meat. He had heard rumors about dragons who cannilbilized and in that moment he thought he was next.

A very small face was next to his. "Calm down," and small unassuming voice said. "I've been tasked with giving you some items."

Baxter sighed heavily. "Oh, thank deities. Sorry, I thought you were going to eat me."

Baxter's not sure but he swears he sees the small Fae roll his eyes. "Here you go," he says as he hands some things to the Snapper. "A gift from Skyway herself. She says safe travels from the Bloodfang Clan," he says unenthusiastically. He then hops off, zooming for some bamboo branches.

"Thank you?" Baxter says, but it's more like a question. He's happy to recieve gifts, though. The gate opens on its own as he reaches it, and he's off to continue his adventure.
Sandcastle's Clan
It was getting dark by the time Baxter reached the Wastelands. While he hadn’t exactly been planning on travelling to Plague, he was curious as to what the locals did with the scarce food. He touched down near a towering collection of bones and sandstone. It didn’t look like a lair from a distance, but when he got closer, Baxter was surprised to find lanterns and vines draping most of the structure. Jack-o-lanterns grinned out from dark crevices, and warm candlelight seemed to pull the snapper in.

An old black and orange guardian was hanging lanterns from some skeletal remains when she noticed me standing nearby.

“Hello there little one! What might bring you here?” She said warmly.

“Oh! Well I’ve been travelling Sornieth to get some cooking experience, I’m going to cook for the deities themselves one day.” I said with pride. The guardian chuckled, “Well, good luck with getting the Plaguebringer to let you use her infernal stewpot. Not many dragons are brave enough to venture near the Wyrmwound, but I can see that you would have it in you. At any rate, if you want some experience, why not come inside the lair? Our clan is just getting ready for Riot of Rot, so there’s plenty of festive treats for you to try.” Descending from the air with a heavy thud, the guardian went inside, waiting for me to follow.

It seemed dark when I first stepped inside, but then a warm glow met my eyes, and we emerged into a massive cavern, with all manner of dragons inside. Most of them were sitting around a fire, roasting various foods. Excitedly, I ran over to look at what was for dinner. The guardian made some room for me, explaining that every October, the clan put all of their efforts into gathering as much food as they possibly could, before devouring it at the Riot of Rot. Several Fae were perched delicately on benches around the flames, soaking up the heat and tending to their tiny meals. Meanwhile, nocturnes hungrily eyed a massive roast as two imperials turned it over the roaring fire.

“We get the meat from the creatures in the wasteland, some featherback boars can grow to a surprisingly large size. Our hunters and gatherers are quite resourceful, and nothing’s quite cooked yet, if you wanted to ask a few questions.” the guardian murmured. Stooping down to one of the fae, I examined the greeny-brown mush he was cooking. My face scrunched up as a noxious odor hit my nose. The smaller dragon looked up at me with an expression that seemed both annoyed and confused. “What are you doing?” he asked cautiously. I smiled and walked away without answering, going back to sit with the guardian who I had been talking to before. She placed a dish of seafood in front of me, decorated with... diseased fungus. I hesitantly took a bite, and almost instantly regretted it.

“What’s wrong?” the guardian asked. There was a concerned look on her face, and I could tell that she meant well by bringing me the food, “It’s just the mushrooms, they weren’t my favourite.” I said apologetically. The guardian frowned, “But everybody knows that diseased fungus are more zesty than the regular kind!” I understood that these dragon's were celebrating Riot of Rot, but did the food have to be so gross?

“Hey, do you know where I can find some kind of head chef?” I asked. The guardian pointed to a vibrant coatl near the back of the room. After providing a quick sample of some different food from my bags, the coatl tasted it, and his eyes widened. “How did you do that?” he asked excitedly. I smiled, and we got on with changing up the menu a little bit. Soon enough, everyone was enjoying a delicious meal, and I left a few days later, ready to learn from whatever flight I would meet next.

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Isolation Cavern [Harvestmooon’s lair]