Taibhse

Taibhse (pronounced Tao-shuh) which means Ghost in Irish (Diem speaks Sylvan - the language of the fey - and I head-canon that as being a Gaelic language when I want a specific word for whatever reason)

This "original" version of Diem's changeling form as an identity of its own will be just another mask as Diem struggles to figure their core identity out, who they are underneath all the masks. They will eventually realize the core identity is Diem. At that point Taibhse will just be another split personality they sometimes revisit, a different person from Diem-as-the-core-identity in their changeling form. Yeah...Diem's fairly unique shapeshifting abilities and traumatic past have led to more than a bit of dissociative identity disorder when it comes to the various identities they have created.

Each personality is aware of the others, but not always "conscious" to share in the waking personality's memories. This literal becoming of the people they shapeshift into only happens with identities of their own making and never when they're impersonating someone else.

Perhaps all shapeshifters consider themselves as such? I wouldn't know, I've never knowingly met another. I grew up having to hide my gift: The ability to change every detail easier than most dragons can change apparel - looks, personality, gender, species. I'm limited only to forms with the same number of limbs. When you include the two-legged forms* most dragons can shift into already, that's not much of a limitation at all. Either way, that means there isn't even an original me - only another painting, and this one from the broad, forceful strokes of other claws. I neither like, nor frequently use that first painting, it is more my gran's work. She and I never got along. I've created many paintings of my own over the years since I left home. Each with their own names, even their own personalities - a mask for every occasion. Paintings all the way down. Masks under masks. I don’t know who I am. Lately, I've spent most of my time as a pearlcatcher, an androgynous storyteller by the name of Diem. I still hide my true nature from others, but I've permitted this painting my inherent flexibilities regarding gender. They are my sixth completed work, following directly after a skydancer named Rowan, whom I still shift into on regular occasions. Beyond those six I've worn many other, more temporary masks. Not yet completed works in their own right - however complete any one of us can be at various points in our lives. Diem loves a good story more than anything - telling them and hearing them. They might’ve cooped themself up in a library if they weren’t so wretched at reading. Give them people to interact with any day over words on a page. We share that in common, our attention has a tendency to wander too often from the written word. They make friends easily and love to encourage creative pursuits in others. Their…our first taste of true acceptance came after washing up on an uncharted wildland, near death and weak. There we met an archfey - one who took on the form of a skydancer made of the starlit dark blues of the night sky. They saw through the masks, taught me how to let go and slide into my natural state - a colourless form and visage that my gran reviled and my mother feared. My father was never in the picture, though it seems I got this gift from him. For the first time someone accepted and even delighted in me, the real me, whoever that is. Falling in love with that archfey was the easiest thing I’d ever done, though I know it is something of a one-sided thing. Oh I’ve somehow won their favor, attracted their attention, even affections, but they are far older than anything I know, far beyond me. It’s a little like having a whole galaxy take special note of your existence. At best you’re a beloved pet. An entirely devoted, beloved pet. They watch over me through our bond now, never truly apart no matter how far my newest adventure takes me. My life is an exciting wonder thanks to their blessings and gifts - magic I’ve used to embellish my storytelling and even save people alongside the friends I’ve made since my return. Friends Diem has made. None of them know the truth, only this newest mask.

* Gijinkas/humanoid forms are IC in my lore. It's the form most of my dragons adopt to use communal spaces such as libraries and shops. It is assumed that the humanoid figures in ancient Azerothian records and art were also dragons. Normally this is a limited magic that grants little control over that appearance (which is instead based on dragon colours, genes, flight, etc.)

A storyteller bound to an arch fey...

Diem loves stories in every form with all their heart but has difficulty focusing enough to get much benefit from the ones written down (much to their embarrassment and regret). The truth is relative. They are an impulsive, charismatic dragon with a tendency to befriend anyone and everyone. They do love attention, but they are also very fond of encouraging others toward creative pursuits as well. They are also known for taking the time to show an interest in those who seem lonely and generally overlooked. Has pretty much willingly and unhesitatingly sold everything they ever were, are, or will be over to an archfey without regret or without fully realizing they've done so out of naive, entirely trusting and smitten devotion. They don't make the mistake of over-estimating their importance in turn, no matter how much attention Ulaigh lavishes on them. It is enough that they somehow managed to catch the attention and favor of the stars incarnate. That wreathed pearl in Ulaigh's bio? Yeah. It's Diem's soul lol. Generally speaking, they tell no one about their true nature, fake the appearance of their pearl, and never mention Ulaigh by name. Even the story they tell of their patron to audiences is widely different from reality. That being said, they won't hesitate to secure new deals for their patron. These days they can mostly be spotted traveling with a group of friends. As a group they call themselves "The Silver Scale Pack" in honor of a boon granted to aid in the first quest that truly unified them - a mysterious silvery dragon scale of unknown composition (Diem, Selphina, Rana, Hickory, and Ixayl'anu). They are a master of disguise and mimicry - not the most intelligent, but means well and is full of the ADHD. Also: Diem might be the meta story-teller of my collection. Which is to say all the stories in finished bios? They are stories Diem is telling the visitor. Imagine much magic special effects, many voices, much wow! A+ mimicry. The umbra wolf is meant to represent their blink dog, Sciath (pronounced Shkee-uh), which means guard/shield. The reskinned medium fey they summon with the "Summon fey" spell in D&D.

Ceo (Kee-yoh), the cat, is actually an adorable, dainty russian blue, more like the cat to the left and not a Scottish fold (referencing the apparel cat). I so wish the black cat came in silver lol. Ceo (Misty) is a nickname for Ceobhránach (Mist). This is their fey familiar in D&D.

Diem tags on my FR tumblr

Playlist on spotify

Tome of the Archfey ********************

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Myrid gifted by HawkMartian. Paternal gen1 ancestor: Friggle #8133 Maternal gen1 ancestor: TheDarkeningBlue #14650 Exalted to the Tidelord

Layout & Writing by Saronai. All images link to their sources. ******** Lore Pinglist: Lundlaeva and Kaimon.