Rhynia

Occupation: Mortician, microbiologist, mycologist, taphonomist
Partner(s): Tephra (deceased)
Birthplace: Clan Macrophage
Pronouns: she/he/they
Personality: inward, curious, eager, unshy

Rhynia was among one of the first generations of dragon to be hatched and raised entirely within Clan Macrophage. As the hatchling of two nature dragons, Rhynia always held a strong fascination with life and the biological processes she witnessed around her. She spent most of her childhood studying the contagion itself, and when she was given a microscope for her hatchday one year, she couldn’t imagine herself studying anything else but microorganisms.

Rhynia and her half-sister Peat shared much of their scientific interests, and jumped at the chance to collaborate once the Matriarch extended a grant to have them study the ecosystem of the Plagueland’s many bogs. However, a rift formed between them when they also found themselves sharing a common interest in Tephra, another childhood friend of theirs who tended ranchland nearby. What began as a friendly competition between Rhynia and Peat to woo her interest mounted into a tense divide that fractured their work. After an especially ugly argument, Peat made a snap decision to abandon the study and pursue a relationship with Tephra instead.

Rhynia was crushed, but a discovery she made some time after gave her pause. A sample of particularly infectious and deadly fungus had gone missing, and after finding the glass shards of its container, she feared that Peat had accidentally tracked it outside of the bog and into Tephra’s ranch. Once she arrived, her worst fears were confirmed; Tephra was already beginning to show signs of infection. By the time they were able to secure proper medical care, the infection had attacked and destroyed most of her outer dermal layer. She survived, but remained in very frail condition.

Peat was inconsolable and blamed herself for being so careless, but Rhynia only cared for her safety. Over the next few months, they spent their time on Tephra’s ranch, assisting her in the chores she could no longer do on her own. Together, the three of them mended their anger.

Tephra eventually succumbed to her compromised condition, and Rhynia honored her dying wish to use her remains to prevent her fate from befalling others. The ranch where Tephra once worked now serves as the center for Rhynia’s mycological foundation. She spends the majority of life studying the effects of decay on the bodies of dragons and other life forms in the hopes of ending the suffering of those they have left behind.