Darenthal

Name: Darenthal
Mate: Bianca
Role: Ambassador of the Runemarked

Darenthal is the oldest and the wisest of the Runemarked, or at least he is now. Thus while the Runemarked no longer have an official leader, they turn to him in times of trouble and for guidance. And that is exactly what the Runemarked needed when their clan was decimated by the Mad.

Next to the Crystal Sages, the Runemarked are one of the oldest dragon groups to call the Crystalline Caverns their home. However unlike the Crystal Sages, the caves did not gift them the protective crystal hides. Thus they were left to the mercy of the Sphere. As the early Runemarked settled, subtle changes first began to occur, a change in pattern here and there, the appearance of strange markings etc. But it wasn't long before more severe changes occurred, dragons swapping from one species to another or changing colours. And finally, there were those who would grow multiple eyes along their sides. The multi gazed dragons would slowly lose their minds, becoming increasingly paranoid and savage. They would mutter about the will of the sphere and hunt their own clanmates, devouring their flesh. They claimed they would wipe out all. At the same time, the random nature of the Sphere also generated a benefit, the Runes. A dragon could be changed by the Sphere many times throughout their lifetime but once they were Runemarked, the sphere could no longer influence them. And thus the Runemarked were able to prosper in the caves despite the Sphere. However there was still a great danger: The Mad.

One night, the normally random and distrusting Mad had organized themselves and attacked the Runemarked. Unprepared, the already small clan was decimated, leaving only 6 members and Darenthal to deal with the fallout. Their home was wrecked and loved ones lay bleeding on the cave floors. It was a dark time. The remaining Runemarked turned to him and he had to put aside his own sorrow and conflicting emotions to be there for them. They started the daunting task of sorting through the wreckage, worried that the Mad would return to finish them off. As they worked, an energetic fae dragon stumbled into their caves. With the recent Mad caused chaos and destruction, the Runemarked were weary. Darenthal was the first to approach the fae and he saw that he had two eyes both in the right place on his head. His only markings were brown stripes upon his body. He was not Mad. Darental learned the fae dragon was called Sunwing the Explorer adn he was a soon to be father who was searching the caves his new clan had called home. Sunwing's mate had founded the clan which was set up near the entrance of the Crystalline Caverns. As such the young dragons knew nothing of the Mad nor of the other dangers the caverns could bring to those without the protective runes. Sunwing explained he was looking for what had caused him and his mate to develop strange patterns on their scales when none had existed before.

Darenthal explained that the cave has magical properties that act upon all life that calls it home. These magical properties alter living things including dragons. It could lead to more aggressive wildlife, mutated monsters that try to attack all, or even a simple color change. And it included dragons. Their conversation was cut short as a member of the Mad attacked them. It was only a single member but to the small Runemarked clan, it stirred fear in their hearts. Darnethal and Sunwing worked together to subdue the many eyed dragon as they listened to it babble about the Sphere of Oblivion. This was the first time Darenthal had heard the full name of the Sphere. He searched his clan's ancient records, recorded back before Runes were prevalent in their faction. While the majority of the records were burned, a single page described the Sphere as a deadly device rumored to be sealed away in teh absolute depths of the caverns. The Sphere's magic consciousness exerts it's effects on living creatures, hoping one day it could be free to enact it's chaos upon the world.

Of course both Darenthal and Sunwing as well as the rest of the Runemarked were shocked. They did not know what it meant for their respective clans. But Darenthal hypothesized that it was safer near the entrance of the caverns, further away from the Sphere's influence where the worst it could do was change their patterns. Sunwing stayed with the Runemarked for 3 days, helping them to sort through their destroyed home. On the third day, when the fae was patrolling with Darenthal, they saw something sinister that sent their hearts racing. The Mad were gathering once more, moving as if they were a swarm. Darenthal gathered the remaining Runemarked and they abandoned their home. With no where to go, Sunwing took them back to his clan. There Darenthal and the rest of the Runemarked would be welcomed by Kylara and her adopted children. They would be provided food and shelter while the they kept an eye on their home. Even when the Mad activity had passed, Darenthal and the rest of his Runemarked would still fear for their lives. It was clear they were safer with the ShadowStar clan. Many of the Runemarked had already bonded with members of the clan, including himself as he had found a trusted friend in Bianca. They made the decision to join the clan permanently. Form there, small raiding parties were sent back to the former home of the Runemarked to gather what was left of their hoards. As they settled, Darenthal would become the Ambassador of the Runemarked.