Lest

Despite her birth in Arcane territory, Lest's sturdy build, thick pelt, and coloration are a throwback to her true heritage as a descendant of the Icewarden's children. Her dedication to Gaoler law and duty was unparalleled, and her mind and body were strong. By all accounts, she should have been the picture of what a Gaoler should be, both inside and out.

But she was not. Her peers looked into her deep purple eyes with disdain, and her gaze was either met with chilling intensity or avoided entirely. Though only Arcane in birth, not heritage, her clan could not shake their distrust of the element whose god had caused such chaos in the world. Rumors spread that the magic within her would only bring about more Shadebeasts.

Amid growing tension and pressure from all sides, the council asked Lest to leave the clan. Ever the perfect, obedient, noble Gaoler, she did so voluntarily.

Disgraced and consumed by a purpose she could no longer fulfill, Lest roamed the land, stalking and killing all Shade-consumed monsters she came across. But a Gaoler's duty was never meant to be done alone, and Lest was ill-equipped for survival outside of the clan. Malnourishment and severe wounds were inevitable.

Her body finally gave out in the Plains, covered in dirt and dried blood. Hours would pass before a Gaoler of a nearby clan spotted her. Worryingly light for her size, she was lifted onto his back with ease and carried into their lair.

---

Lest's first thought upon waking was that she'd been captured by one of the savage dragon clans that overwhelmed modern Sornieth. She bared her fangs and gave a rumbling growl at the feeling of foreign claws upon her side, which quickly retreated at the noise. Smart. She righted herself as much as her exhausted (but far less sore) body allowed, if only to glare at the mewling modern dragon properly.

When another Gaoler entered the room, though, she stilled. Introducing himself as Gorogan, he briefed her on the state he'd found her in and her current location: a clan-run natural springs called the Mudrest Baths.

Gorogan was able to calm her enough to where she (begrudgingly) allowed an attendant to scrub her fur and horns. By the time it was over, she had realized two things. One was that, despite her reservations, these scrawny modern dragons were at least good at using their tiny claws for something. The second was that Gorogan was barely a Gaoler at all.

He was a Gaoler by birth, yes, born to a powerful sect to the north of where her own clan lived. That was where the resemblance ended. His appearance was clearly influenced by being born in a foreign territory, far more than herself. He was raised by modern dragons, in a very modern clan that sought business rather than peace or war. He had no proclivity for combat. He had not chosen an order.

She was inclined to stop listening to him right then and there, and in truth, the Lest of a few months ago would have. But was she much better off? A Gaoler separated from her kind by exile, rather than upbringing? She admitted, reluctantly, that this was likely the best company she could keep now.

Admitting she knew little of survival in the outside world and already growing accustomed to the pace of clan life, Lest decided to remain in Mudrest. She remains unwilling to part with her Gaoler customs and thus acts as a Sentry, circling the territory protectively and warding off any threats. Over time, she'd tell Gorogan everything there was to know about their heritage (though she'd huff at his ignorance of the most basic concepts).