Shadow

A handful of ancient individuals from the Seeker Order strayed from the Icewarden in their hunt to contain the Shade. As generations passed with a severed connection to divinity, the Shade began to change this subset of Gaolers. They became more like beasts than dragons, with a leopard-like coat and protective scorpion-like armor from their shoulders to their tails. More magical individuals could shapeshift. Their appearances were even more strange, taking a more snake-like form or growing extra heads and limbs.

A few of these Chimera-Gaolers survived into modern times. Until recently, they took the forms of modern dragons, the memories of their old lives buried deep in their minds. When their Gaoler brethren returned, they did as well.

A new generation of these Chimera-Gaolers has arrived. While they have never known the world of their ancestors before them, their parents have guided them on how to continue the legacy.

Shadow hatched from a very full nest on a dark new moon night. Her parents arrived to the freshly hatched nest to see four sets of eyes reflecting the starlight and another set of eyes projecting a starlight of their own. As soon as she hatched, Shadow and her nestmates began exploring through the frosted underbrush of the Deep Woods, getting a taste of the winter to come.

Shadow was the first of her nest to hatch. She was much more quiet and independent than her siblings, and usually preferred to stay out of sight. She could easily sneak up on her siblings without making any sound. With this talent, she was able to join her parents on hunts from a young age. Her parents knew that sooner or later, Shadow would follow her prey far away from the Deep Woods and to a new home of her own.