Ossa

Ossa || The Unsettling Amalgamation
If only Father could see me now.
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The sight of this hulking failed experiment approaching startles, confuses, and horrifies most. Each plopping step or jiggling beat of his wings causes the translucent gray slime Ossa is composed of to wobble. The solid bones visible within him move just as if they were being worked by muscle and sinew, as opposed to being suspended in sludge. First impressions lead some to believe he is some sort of new, horrible Shade or Beastclan creature imitating a dragon. Those wary may move to attack - but hesitate when the slimy beast opens its maw, as if attempting to speak. The words that gurgle from its throat are barely intelligible and only lend credence to their theory of Ossa being some sort of mimicry. At that point, the terrified dragons may move to defend themselves against this strange amalgamation.

Initially, attackers of Ossa are pleased to find that their magic, claws, and teeth easily tear through the slime that comprises his body. To their horror, they soon find that it has little to no effect on the beast. Though Ossa appears to feel pain, his wounds quickly bounce back into their former state. Cracked or broken bones can be seen healing within him at a supernatural rate. Even cutting off his tail, limb, or head - all former injuries that he has endured - will leave this beast alive. The sludge will reform the lost body part rather quickly, even synthesizing bones in the same places they were. Theoretically, completely destroying the slime could keep Ossa from regenerating. By the time he has sustained wounds fatal to others, however, he will begin to understand that he is no longer welcome and flees on foot.

This lonely Skydancer was created by means of an incredibly careless art project. His creator worked in Purgatory at the time. Outside of his work, Ossa's creator, Salvia, had a fondness for pushing the boundaries of alchemy and for using his discoveries to make art. In this particular experiment, Salvia wanted to see if he could devise a way for the alchemical ingredients he put into the cauldron to synthesize themselves into a picture on a canvas. Foolishly, he put a Bogsneak egg, a Skydancer scroll, a variety of bones, gray slime, and a Shadowbinder effigy into the cauldron. Though he was uncertain what exactly would come of the mixture, Salvia hoped that a grayscale painting depicting eggs, bones, Bogsneaks, Skydancers, and the Shadowbinder would appear on the scroll.

As anyone with an ounce of sense could have predicted, however, that was not the case. The Bogsneak's penchant for mutating DNA integrated the other alchemical ingredients into the genetic makeup of the creature within, creating Ossa. When the slimy amalgamation emerged, his creator had long since left the Purgatory clan. The cauldron he had brewed in had been hidden away by Salvia, knowing that his art projects would annoy his research partner. Ossa stumbled out of his hiding place and out into the world. The Skydancer orb upon his head gave muddled readings of everything, leaving him unable to decipher emotions in the way that those of his breed typically could. Having no vocal chords or previous interaction with others left Ossa with much difficulty speaking. With this in mind, one could anticipate that his first encounter with the clan did not go well.

Surprisingly, it did not go as horribly as one could have anticipated, either. Once both parties communicated, Purgatory offered to raise Ossa as one of their own. Ossa declined, however, instead desiring to meet his 'Father'. Begrudgingly, Salvia's former research partner Setcreasea offered some potential locations that he could have went to. He warned Ossa, however, that Salvia was not likely to be the father figure he wanted. Setcreasea assumed (correctly) that Ossa was the result of an inane 'art project' and that Salvia would not care much for him. Heartbroken, but determined, Ossa still insisted on finding him. Grateful for their help, Ossa was quick to depart and set out to find his creator.

Unable to fly like a typical dragon, Ossa had to walk from land to land, often driven away at every turn. After searching for months, the fruitless journey came to an end. Ossa decided to return to the Scarred Wasteland to rejoin Purgatory, feeling as if he had no other choice. The long walk was pervaded by guilt and self-hatred. Ossa felt despised and unwanted by his creator, the world, and even the cult clan he would be returning to. All felt hopeless for the kind pacifist who only wanted to understand his place in the world.

Approaching the Plaguelands once more, Ossa felt dread as he neared. He balked at the edge of the territory, reluctant to go in. Finally, he took a step - and the orb on his head seared, blinding his sight with a hungry darkness. As Ossa stood there in the abyss, thousands of golden slitted eyes opened up around him. They reached far above and far below his claws, darting all around in different directions. Finally, the eyes slid towards and settled on staring at Ossa. He felt seen for the first time - felt like a true, living Skydancer. A heart pulsed within his meat chest and fleshy lungs filled with air. Blood ran through veins. Skin and feathers and scales adorned his muscled body. Wings stretched outwards, capable of catching the wind. He could detect the emotions of the eyes around him perfectly - and they wanted Ossa.

The searing sensation faded, and the slime Skydancer stood there at the edge of the territory, renewed. He bounded into the Scarred Wasteland. Though the emotions he detected from his orb were still murky, they guided him, as he could still sense the eyes deep within.

Their promise to wrap him in the flesh of the Contagion, to grant his bones blood, muscle, and tissue, to entirely recreate him -

It made him alive.



Backstory lore written by VivaPinata