Mango

Our story begins in the wake of the rebellion for the Magmablood Rebuke. As the rebel blacksmiths celebrated their triumph over the forgemasters for control of the newly formed, magic-rich volcano, news from across the Ashfall Waste began to trickle in and dampened the elation and morale of the camp.

Rumors crept in of the forgemaster’s seizure of Cinderslag, and that the rebel’s friends and kin had been forced into indentured servitude in the rebel’s absence. The news disquieted many of the rebels, and several of them decided to leave the island to find out the truth of these disturbing whispers.

Among the rebels was a Coatl of blue and gold plumage who despaired to think of the possibility of their mate toiling in chains. Together with the group of rebels they traveled with, they launched an assault against the forgemasters at Cinderslag in order to set their mate, a Coatl of bright scarlet plumage, free.

While most of the rebels and refugees leaving Cinderslag headed south towards the Magmablood Rebuke, the two Coatls fled west hoping to escape pursuit. The forgemasters were not so easily fooled though, and before long they were hot on the Coatl’s trail.

The pair half ran, half flew, as fast as they could to stay ahead of their pursuers for three days before they came to the wide river that marked the border between the Fire realm and the Windswept Plateau. With the last of their strength, they flew out to a small, rocky island about halfway out into the river and collapsed with exhaustion. They could not go on without food and rest, so they curled up together and quickly fell fast asleep, praying that they might sense their pursuers approach from the other side of the water in time to make their escape once, again.

Over night, a surge in the magical ley line energies pushed out into the water and enveloped the little island. As the Coatls slept, tall, dense clusters of bamboo grew up around them, shielding them from view from the Fire realm’s shores. So, when their pursuers arrived near dawn, they completely missed the snoozing Coatls, and turned south to continue hunting for them.

When the Coatls awoke, they were astonished by the appearance of the protective bamboo. Upon making their way to the island’s shores, they found that the water was fresh and clean, and they drank deeply. The river was also fully stocked of their favorite foods. The Coatls ate their fill of Brilliant Bobtail Squid, Chromodori Swimmers, Cinnamon Loaches, Discus, Green Banded Shrimp, Molten Gobies, Rainbow Trout, and Royal Oysters. And, as they lay on the shore sated, they noticed the tracks left by their pursuers heading south.

The pair recognized the blessings that this small island had bestowed upon them and were deeply grateful. They decided to stay and make their nest on the island, and as a final blessing, their hatchlings emerged with the most vibrant rainbow plumage imaginable. Scarlet faded into Sunset orange, Leaf green blended into bright blue, tied together by glimmering Lemon yellow. The envy of all other Coatls, everywhere.