In the wake of the shattering of the Pillar and the birth of the Dragon race there were those who were determined to learn from history and avoid past mistakes by maintaining harmony between the Flights, no matter how difficult the task might seem. While unable to prevent the constant small conflicts that arise due to the often inimical natures of the Elemental Flights, these peacekeepers have managed to prevent conflicts from turning into all out wars that might jeopardize the safety of the very world. These peacekeepers are remarkable both for their devotion to their Flight and Element as well as their willingness to leave it and live as an impartial observer and occasional judge in a distant and often hostile realm. The rare individuals chosen are unequaled in loyalty and must possess numerous skills in areas as varied as military, diplomacy, magic, history and reason to name a few. While not all individuals possess all such skills in equal measure, they each have something that sets them apart. These are the individuals chosen to watch over the Nature Flight, and all that dwell within its comforting branches.

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One of the most renowned golem makers in the entire world, Lightningborn chose to relocate to the Viridian Labyrinth after deciding that there was nothing more that he could accomplish with metal. Having already experimented with crystal and stone he decided that the next step would be to use live wood to create a construct, not that anyone knows the true motivation behind his studies, they simply assume that he went on his Search and found his Charge in the lands of the Gladekeeper. This assumption is wrong, not that he will ever correct it, for the true reason is his secret source of shame.

When he was young he was one of the rare few Guardians to discover his Charge very early on in life, one of the great laboratories near the Tempest Spire. From a young age he worked hard to protect the facility and assist the researchers. Naturally adept at all things mechanical, he quickly learned the art of golem crafting and became a virtuoso at animating metal constructs. This earned him respect of dragons far older than him, but it also ate into the time he spent patrolling the corridors and protecting the building. In fact, he was in one of the laboratories, helping assemble the power system for one of the most ambitious golems ever made when a Spiral dragon, ever curious, went wandering down the wrong corridor and found one of the building’s main reactors. The Spiral, fascinated by the crackling and glow, began to toss small objects at the reactor’s unshielded core. Bits of paper burst instantly into flames, but metal things sparked all manner of fascinating colors before burning away. Somehow the Spiral managed to push some large piece of equipment into the reactor, causing it to overload.

The ensuing blast destroyed the facility and left Lightningborn severely injured. Both his wings were torn beyond repair, but it was nothing compared to the destruction of the building and the loss of his Charge. Never one to waste time or resources, the Stormcatcher had the remaining researchers relocate to new facilities and take what equipment could be salvaged with them. The building was eventually repaired, but not for the same purpose and as far as the Guardian was concerned, it was no longer his Charge. He found himself with nothing to live for, but allowing himself to die was not an option, his talents were too great for his Flight to lose. At the same time his own body got in the way, useless wings and crippled paws leaving him unable to work at anything more that the slowest pace. Working alone so as to not hinder others, he began to craft a great bronze and copper shell to repair himself, servos and cylinders that used the energy of his heartbeat and pulse to power them rendered the construct mobile and when he climbed inside he was physically whole. Yet with no Charge he would never be spiritually whole again.

More than that, the parts of the metal shell wore down quickly and needed constant maintenance, distracting him from other projects he could be working on. Realizing that the nature of the metal itself was working against him, he started to theorize about a self-repairing construct. After several frightening failures with crystal he began working with wood due to its dual nature, both living and inert. There he began to have his first successes, but the Shifting Expanse had too little to offer in terms of trees. The only logical conclusion was for him to move to the Viridian Labyrinth to continue his research. Upon arrival he was given the title Lightningborn and since then he has made some truly remarkable discoveries involving bioelectric fields, which he has shared with the researchers back in the Tempest Spire in his regular communications with them.