Essa

The re-emergence of the Banescale breed came as a shock to most; in Light territory, however, scholars recognized something in those born within the Sunbeam Ruins--the plumed bodies of the Stymphalian Birds that colonized the forest before they were hunted to extinction, who only lived on in the intricate stonework of Beastclan architecture. The newly-freed Banescales flew fast and far, and as they extended their range into the realm they formerly occupied, the same selection pressures saw the Stymphalian Birds rising again.


- Stymphalian bird
- Mercenary
- Putting the "terror" in "terror bird"--the natural armor and ferocious disposition of Stymphalian birds invokes fear of the highest degree in their enemies
- Frequently allied with Nature dragons/clans; Stymphalians find refuge in the wilderness of the Viridian Labyrinth and the strength of their Light scours Plague like none other
- Transfem

WL: Accent: SS-Reed OR Skin: __scale Matador M

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Light seared the arena, branding a sparkling slash on the dragon before Essa. He toppled with a groan, and the Banescale shrieked her victory as a team of centaurs came and carried the defeated drake off to the medical tent. The barrier protecting the stands fell, and Essa merged with the stream of dispersing spectators as the set wrapped up for the day. A few fans tried to get her notice, but she ignored the attention and jogged across the packed earth towards the refreshments tent--the first on a series of stops before the next set; her peers had protested against the signing up for multiple sets in the day, but Essa reassured them that she would take care to not overexert herself, and besides, the fight within a Stymphalian Banescale could not be contained.

The next set returned the roaring crowd and echoing arena. As the barrier rose behind Essa's steps, though it dampened some of the noise, it seemed the structure itself was cheering and chanting its excitement; the pressure was disorienting--would and had cause lesser dragons to buckle--but she took it in stride.

Leaving the gate on the opposite side of the battlefield came an Imperial, larger and more imposing in person than hys image on the banner-bearer. Hy hadn't won that by looking good... though Essa thought it somewhat egotistical, even as she eyed the scars on hys silvery scales--the hallmarks of the truth: this guy was good.

The arena had been sprayed with oil to keep dust out of the fighters' eyes, so the Banescale adjusted her tread to walk steadily, flaring her wings to keep balanced. The Imperial was weighed down by the alabaster armor protecting hymn, perhaps a trait to take advantage of.

"Three! Two! One! BEGIN!"

The Imperial wasted no time in calling forth a truly massive plume of water, flooding the arena and buoying both dragons off their feet. Advantage lost. Essa fought to regain her orientation in the liquid onslaught, deploying the same strategy she used to balance on the oily dirt to stay upright. Wings resting on the waves, she looked exactly like the sitting duck she was, and her opponent had leapt into the sky to avoid hys own hazard. Hys shadow fell over the water like a hawk circling.

The Banescale fought to lift off, but her opponent had other plans--diving to meet her struggling and pinning her underneath the deluge, leaving her gasping for breath and thrashing against the significantly larger dragon. Hy only had to sit there while she kicked endlessly.

vv
Essa narrowed her eyes and plunged into the flood,