Cailleach

May 9, 2020

They had finally done it! They reached level 25! Cailleach lagged behind, since her compatriots were a little to excited to train someone and ended up a bit too advanced.

They would now be off to their separate ways, reminiscing the times they were fighting alongside each other.

Bandearg was already continuing training, and in dramatic fashion, even took two at a time under her wing. Set was somewhat indecisive as to what path to take.

For now, Cailleach was going to rest.

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That rest wouldn't last long enough, of course.

Ever since she had to console a young dragon who was selected to serve the Icewarden, it had dawned on her that whenever dragons were exalted, all of their personal writing, art, just disappeared. Nowhere to be found...unless copied.

So she then deigned to keep the records and retell the stories. This was busy work, as the Icewarden had called for more help in the eastern quarter of the sky---the shade had too many minions there for them to deal with in limited numbers. Not all of the dragons who came and went left behind much, and not all of the old dragons she was with would be leaving. (But some did, including her son. Most of her children had gone away.) She collected the stories even of those still here, in case they had to leave as well (for whatever reason).

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circa May 2021
There wasn't much happening anymore. The small orb that was guiding them was more and more distant and eventually didn't return for months on end. Cailleach was beginning to think that things would be peaceful. Perhaps she could rest and reminisce.

Or so she thought.

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December 2021

With barely any activity in the lair, Cailleach decided to reminisce on her life. She was the second dragon in the lair, and so she knew every dragon that flew in, flew out, hatched, and left to serve the Icewarden never to return. But in her old age her memory would start to fail her. Most of her archives had been entrusted to the tiny flickering orb. But when this orb returned in the midst of the Nocturne festival, it was downcast.

"What is wrong, little one? For your countenance betrays your deep sorrow." (How an orb could have a countenance, no one can understand. Perhaps she was clairvoyant.)

The orb told her of it's life's work. It spoke of strange machines and phenomena, but what she could understand was that its work of archives had been lost to a combination of water and intense heat. It was devastated at such a loss, and had only been able to save a few documents.

Cailleach comforted the orb, but then she had a moment of panic herself. She had entrusted her life's work to this orb. With a moment of hesitation, she decided to ask the question.

Fortunately, it seems that it was among the few items he had been able to save from the fire (?). But the orb was still apprehensive, as it hadn't been updated for over a year before the disaster.

"It is fine. Then we'll begin the difficult task of recollection."