Cass

Cass x"I got here by the sweat of my brow."x xxxxxx Azurite Minerals & Ores This deep blue mineral is most often used as pigment due to its tendency to convert into malachite should it encounter too much heat. When not being harvested for crafts, they are admired for their large and beautiful crystal formations. 385 Sanded Birch Plank Dragonmade A finely-sanded plank made from the trunk of a birch tree. Dragons use planks to construct barrels, tables, or wagons. 60 xxxxxx Toolbox Chests Something rattles inside this rusty toolbox. Tools will be needed to pry it open if the box is to be left intact. 0 Ragepuff Familiar Sweetpuff and Ragepuff are actually of the same species. Couples typically consist of one of each disposition; one doting parent, and one ball of protective fury! 1500

History Cass was raised in one of the least prestigious pearlcatcher families, and his bitter parents taught him that advancing in status and finding a well-off mate was what it took to have a pleasant life. He was a construction worker like his father from a young age, but his plan was to study engineering at Light Academy South. There, he hoped to make a name for himself and attract a wealthy young lady with his incredible good looks. He was in the botany class with Tel and Edwin when they discovered Glowtree Grove. When he heard their story, he realized that this was a situation ripe for drama and gossip, and that being an insider on it as it developed could make him information-rich and famous. Sure, they would actually need his help, but what was a little more construction work? If he got bored, he could go back to school. This plan cost him more than he had expected. The Grove's magical effect marred his pristine off-white skin with patches of brilliant blue. Without his looks, he thought, the rest of his plan was forfeit. But as he looked around at the young clan, each member of which seemed to sincerely care about him, he realized that it might not be so bad if he never moved up in the world. After all, what more could one ask for than good friends and the meeting of one's physical needs? Some dragons didn't even have that.

Information

NICKNAME LIKES DISLIKES STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES FEARS GOALS

(none) being important animals observant thin-skinned lacking status security

AGE BODY PHYS ATK PHYS DEF MAGIC SKILL MAGIC POWER SPEED

young small w/ big wings low low average average average

Occupation: Construction worker
Cass was a construction worker before founding the clan with Tel and Edwin. He had lots of experience with buildings for mid-sized, large and mixed-size dragons.

Role in clan: Building and grounds administrator
As the building administrator, Cass oversees other workers in making new buildings and maintaining existing ones, as well as any landscaping work. However, Glowtree Grove is not under his domain.

Skills and hobbies
Cass is handy with virtually anything mechanical in nature.
He has very large wings for his size, which allows him to stay in the air for longer periods of time.
He has strong leg muscles and a strong grip with all four feet.

Personality and quirks
He doesn't wear clothing while working (except for things like protective gloves) because it would just get dirty. Because of this, it's usually not practical for him to wear it at all. This is common for laborers.

He seems to have gone through some very difficult things in his life, though few dragons actually know what they are. He's known for being grumpy at times, and to have a short fuse with regard to careless mistakes. However, once he decided to try actually caring for people instead of having merely transactional relationships, he started to become one of the kindest dragons one could hope to meet.

Clan interactions
Cass is good friends with Quaranir, as they are both pragmatic and skilled workers.

Cass finds Zinnia to be unnerving. Her natural charm reminds Cass of shady salesmen, though Cass knows she's not likely to be a charlatan.


Story
It was mid-morning, and the day was already getting warm. Cass had a long day ahead of him, working on the roof of the dormitory. He was thankful there was enough of a breeze to keep it tolerable. After driving in some nails, he paused to wipe his brow with a wing-arm, and looked up to see Luin approaching. Unless she was planning on taking a nap while construction work was ongoing, she was probably coming to talk to him.

Cass' initial reaction was annoyance. Luin... had difficulty communicating, sometimes, about things other than science. Their last real conversation had been over a month ago, when he was trying to explain something to her about pearlcatcher politics. He didn't want to repeat that. He didn't hate her, it was just a lot of work. Oddly, though, today he looked at her purple coat that used to be blue and couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was, in a skydancer-y sort of way. (He wasn't into feathers.)

For now, he pretended not to notice her. She walked up to a point with clear view of the roof and sat down while Cass continued to install shingles. Hw became increasingly uncomfortable with her watching him. When he reached another stopping point he called out, "Ay Luin, need something?"

"Yes," she said, and then paused. "Good morning."

If Luin was remembering pleasantries, she definitely wanted something. Oh well. It was his policy to be polite with everyone. "Good morning. What can I do for you?"

She paused again, then cleared her throat and began. "I wish to go somewhere slightly dangerous, and I wish to have another dragon with me when I go there. I can provide compensation. Will you do this?"

Yikes. "What kind of dangerous?"

"The amount of danger varies. I plan to visit an apothecary in Lantern Corridor, and there are two stops I plan to make along the way."

"Where's that?"

"In Hewn City."

Cass sat down on the roof and scratched his head. "Man, I didn't even know sane people went there, let alone that there was a place with a name and a shop. I don't know if I can commit to protecting you when I don't know what the danger is. Aren't there ghosts there?"

"Some dragons believe so, but I do not. What makes it dangerous are the dragons. Because of the darkness, dragons go there to do illegal things. It's sort of like that one alley at the port, but a little worse."

"You're really selling it."

Luin didn't even crack a smile at that. "What I'm planning to do is not illegal. I believe this apothecary does sell some illicit substances, but all I wish to do is purchase some high-quality selenite. It's difficult to get elsewhere. I have not had trouble there in the past, but I have not been there since I joined this clan."

That didn't sound too bad. "Okay, I'll have to think about it. When do you want to go?"

"Today."

"I can't go today. I have all this work to do. I can give you an answer tonight about going tomorrow or not."

She scrunched up her face, obviously displeased with this, and sighed. "Very well. I expect your answer at supper." With that she unceremoniously hopped up and walked away, pausing only a moment to say over her shoulder, "Thank you. Goodbye."

Cass thought it over as he worked. He had recently said openly that he had been in fights before, which was probably what made Luin pick him. It had been a while, though. His beams might not be up to snuff. But he did have confidence in his telekinesis, since he used it all the time. Throwing something in an attacker's face was often enough to get away. And while he would normally avoid walking into a dangerous place like this, Hewn City was practically on Brightleaf's doorstep. He could not afford not to know about it.

Now resolved to go, he made the necessary arrangements. He had to tell Telperion what he was doing, in case something happened to him. It wouldn't, of course, but just to be on the safe side. They were both very uncertain about it, but they didn't want Luin to go alone, either. They urged him to take some sort of weapon, but as he pointed out, getting away would be much more effective than trying to fight with a pearl and other cargo in hand. They were finally satisfied by a demonstration of his battle magic, and they provided him with a pack that could hold his pearl and be strapped tightly to him. He didn't tell anyone else where he was going. Some clan members saw him practicing magic, but they probably figured it was a clan leadership affair.

The next morning he got up at dawn, packed his bag for the day trip and met Luin at the eastern edge of the clan territory. Her pack was of a similar style to his and seemed to have much more in it than he would have expected. He decided not to ask about it. Maybe she would be bartering for the selenite.

"Good morning," said Luin, flatly. Still attempting the pleasantries.

Cass yawned. "Good morning. I assume you know where you're going? I brought a compass just in case."

"Yes. I have a map and compass in case we end up in unfamiliar territory, but it's unlikely. The good thing about the darkness is that it's concentrated low to the ground. If you can get up high, you can see where you want to go." With that, she took flight, and Cass had to scramble to catch up.

"Where are we going first?" he shouted into the air.

"The nearest bridge," she shouted back. "We'll land there and walk in."

After an hour or so flying almost due east, the sun fully came up, and they found an ancient cobblestone path that Cass had heard of but never traveled. They turned and followed it southeast, and now he caught his first glimpse of Hewn City. He didn't know what he had expected, but it wasn't this. It looked as if the whole place was covered in an even layer of slightly purplish smoke without fire. He kept expecting it to move like smoke, but it did not. It was as if a haze had been permanently affixed, not to the air, but to the space. The effect was unnatural. Cass felt more uneasy with every wingbeat. It had not occurred to him just now much this darkness was going to affect his ability to see what was going on around him. No wonder criminals liked it there.

They reached the bridge and landed. The haze had already begun here, though it was thin, and it was a long walk in silence to the beginning of the corridor. As the grey fog drew closer around them, Cass instinctively walked closer to Luin until they were brushing against each other frequently. She didn't seem to mind.

There began to be lanterns on either side of the path, though their light could barely be seen. Finally, after another few minutes of walking, there came perhaps the strangest effect of all: they seemed to step out of the darkness into an area full of light, and the border between the two regions was flat and clean. Eventually he realized that there was still darkness here, just not as much, but the difference was stark. In this brighter area they were now facing a makeshift archway with "Lantern Corridor" written on it in large letters. Dozens of lanterns surrounded the sign and lined the pathway in front of them, which had buildings and booths packed on either side of it as far as he could see.

"We'll stop here for a moment for your vision to adjust," said Luin. As he blinked and took in the scene, he suddenly realized that there were dragons, not only going up and down the corridor, but surrounding the gate. The ones that seemed to be guarding the gate were of several breeds, but they had matching armbands with a symbol he did not recognize, and they were armed. One of them, a female pearlcatcher, saw him staring and greeted him. "First time here?"

"Uh--" Cass started to respond, but Luin stepped on his foot. He wasn't sure exactly what was meant by this, but he shut his mouth, only giving the pearlcatcher a head-bow of greeting. As the two swiftly passed under the gate and beyond, the pearlcatcher said "Have a good time!", as if this was some sort of carnival.

Once they were out of earshot, having already passed multiple businesses that Cass didn't get to get a good look at, Luin spoke to him in loud whispers. "Don't talk to them, or anyone with their mark. I've never seen them here before."

...


* entering the corridor: guards, oil
* apothecary
* ginger
* pawn shop
* leaving
* halfway house
* traveling home

Trivia He's almost as proud of his work as he is of his appearance. Occasionally he can be caught telling outsiders that he built the first clan residence entirely on his own, though this isn't true. He has bad seasonal allergies, and he is allergic to a couple of common animals. His favorite food is blueberries, which he was known for long before he got the blue opalescent patches of scales.

Relationships CO-FOUNDER CO-FOUNDER FRIEND

Out-of-universe notes Origin of name: I chose his name because "Cassius" means "vain" (or so I've heard). For more information about the world this dragon lives in, see the Brightleaf lore thread and the canon notes. Credits Image next to History section by skyarising Icons to the left of this text by Limanya Inspiration taken from the following templates: The Grass Is Always Greener by Rexcaliburr High Above by Rexcaliburr Verlaine by Toxin