Creative Corner

Cont. from Shian's Lorebuilding 101

Advanced Lorebuilding

1. Let’s talk about invaders. Other dragons, beastclan, maybe an angry bug that just wants a new home and is drilling in your tree... How defendable is your lair? If something were to get in, how would it do it? Do you build your own defenses or are there natural structures in your lair that discourages such a thing. Now’s a good time to revisit that map of your lair…


TBD


2. How is justice dealt with in your clan? There’s bound to be squabbles and consequences. Do you have a jail? Maybe a full blown prison. Or maybe a guillotine.

As the Domina, Shakuntala is judge, jury, and executioner. Her power is checked only by the reality that if she becomes too tyrannical, someone will inevitably rise up and challenge her for leadership. She knows, because that's how she became Domina in the first place. To challenge Shakuntala means a battle to the death. There is no formal arena built, but only because no formal challenge has yet occurred. Space is reserved in the northwestern section of Indrali lands for such an occasion.

Small squabbles within each faction are largely handled internally. Rokshata has the power to decide who joins and leaves the House of Witches. Venera handles her Nightbringers, and Ravana directs his loyalists with a steady hand. And of course, everyone follows Sabine's rules when visiting the Fallen Streak alehouse.

---

3. Okay, focus on something more fun: The hoard!

Is it just in a giant pile somewhere like a traditional dragon hoard? Or is there someone who sorts things and your hoard looks more like a warehouse. Do individual dragons have hoards of their own? Where is that kept?

Like the clan, the hoard is split by faction. Much of the gold flows in and out of the clan through shops in the town. The House of Witches is by far the biggest breadwinner, though they have no mountains of gold to show for it. After all, what good are gold coins to a powerful witch? They use the 'commoners currency' in exchange for materials for their magicks. Between witches, the currency is magic.

Shakuntala has her own hoard, kept secretly and guarded by Brana.

Ravana, like the House, sees no value in a pile of riches. His wealth lies in his allies, and together they make their section of land as self-sufficient as possible. When they need things from town, Ravana barters, commonly trading food and leathers- things his warriors and hunters easily come by.

Lady Nightbringer and her followers are rich in artisan goods. Fine trinkets bundled safely (and obscurely) in cloth come and go from the dark towers. Rajnish, Master Nightkeeper, is also a renowned vintner.

Cont. from Shian's Lorebuilding 101 [b]1. What social structure do you use? [/b] Indrali is a tribal system. The chief (Dominus/Domina) earns leadership through a display of fighting prowess. Challenges to the Dominus/a are fights to the death. There are multiple factions within Indrali that all have varying levels of power, though they all ultimately answer to the Dominus/a. Each faction may have it's own 'chief', such as Rokshata leading the House of Witches. --------------- [b]2. Head on over to a personality trait guide and give it a quick look. Do any of these words stick to one of your dragons?[/b] [size=2]Grab a few index cards and use one for each dragon. Write down traits you think would match. If you can’t think of any a handy random number generator can help you pick. You can also use google docs to make digital index cards which are much easier to share, but I find having physical ones on hand next to my keyboard more convenient and I’m more likely to jot stuff down on paper when I have an idea. Also handy when you have a lot of dragons…[/size] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=29433186] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/294332/29433186.png[/img] [/url][nextcol] [b]Shakuntala[/b] Confident Resourceful Brutal [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=11031204] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/110313/11031204.png[/img] [/url][nextcol] [b]Rokshata[/b] Responsible Tough Greedy [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=28474979] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/284750/28474979.png[/img] [/url][nextcol] [b]Ravana[/b] Dutiful Skeptical Overly-cautious [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=32929721] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/329298/32929721.png[/img] [/url][nextcol] [b]Venera[/b] Elegant Obssessive Power-hungry [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=33237217] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/332373/33237217.png[/img] [/url][nextcol] [b]Sabine[/b] Fair Maternal Vindictive [/columns] ---------- [b]3. Okay, now that you’ve got a basic idea of personalities, how do these 5 dragons interact with each other? [/b][size=2]Are they lovers? Friends? Rivals? Are they higher or lower rank on the social structure? Maybe they don’t like how the other one operates. Or they do like it. How do they show it? Are they likely to be sneaky about it or upfront?[/size] Shakuntala, Ravana, and Venera are all rivals. Venera wields her power behind the backs of the other two. Shakuntala is upfront and personal whenever she has a problem with someone. Ravana and Sabine get along in that they both try to be mediators when conflict doesn't directly involve them. In a fight, Ravana likes to understand his opponent before engaging. Sabine doesn't start fights, but she's very good at ending them. Rokshata wields just as much power as Shakuntala and Venera, inside the House of Witches, but she's happy taking care of the House. She has no sights set on becoming Domina, unlike Venera. Rokshata gets along with anyone, provided they have something of use to her, or are willing to pay. Ravana, ironically, is probably lowest on the social ladder. He has his loyalists, but since his fall from power, not many others bother negotiating with him.

[color=red][b]NOTICE:[/b][/color] This lore post is no longer CANON. I'm leaving it up only because it was my first IC Lore post and I'm sentimental. [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/mqo1d3hef/Banner.png[/img] [columns][img]https://s29.postimg.cc/q23ynffmf/Banner-top.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/41nm6swyf/Banner-middle.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/41nm6swyf/Banner-middle.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/41nm6swyf/Banner-middle.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/5abhsfown/Banner-_Bottom.png[/img][nextcol][center][img]https://s29.postimg.cc/55linzlqv/Top.png[/img] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=29433186][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/294332/29433186p.png[/img][/url] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/f52mynsuv/Bottom.png[/img][nextcol][img]https://s29.postimg.cc/q23ynffmf/Banner-top.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/41nm6swyf/Banner-middle.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/41nm6swyf/Banner-middle.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/41nm6swyf/Banner-middle.png[/img] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/5abhsfown/Banner-_Bottom.png[/img][nextcol][nextcol][nextcol][nextcol] [center][size=5]The Queen of Shadows[/size] [i]An IC lore post[/i][/center] A new intruder arrives in Indrali lands, claiming to be the Queen of the territory Shakuntala has moved her clan into. Making a show of landing in the middle of town to announce her arrival, she draws a majority of the clan's attention to her stage to proclaim that they are all her subjects. Tantala is defeated, Ravana tries to intervene, and Shakuntala is forced to formally challenge this queen before her position as Domina is called in to question. [/columns][img]https://s29.postimg.cc/q9w6xofyv/Divider-640.png[/img] The female ridgeback was walking around as if she had a right to the place. Well, that was the crux of the problem, Shakuntala supposed. That was where their opinions differed. The female had already proclaimed that she [i]did[/i] have that right, while Shakuntala thought she should be buried alive just for the offense of saying such a thing. Shakuntala looked to her left. Most of the clan was gathered in the middle of Town, facing off against this new intruder. It all looked terribly cliche. As she looked, she spotted Ravana. The look on the other skydancer's face told her he was either trying to figure out how to best formulate or reply, or that he'd already thought of some elegant way of disagreeing with the ridgeback and he was simply awaiting the best time to speak. That was Ravana's biggest weakness. He tried too hard, for too long, to solve problems with words. He had a talent for them, certainly. Since she was a hatchling, his speeches had always sounded motivating. He hadn't lost that talent. He'd tried to use it on her, after she'd killed Krishna. A beautiful, reasonable argument why she was too young to handle the responsibilities of Domina. Then she'd challenged him, and he'd stepped back. He was weak, and she despised him. Her head turned, looking right. Shakuntala had brought Tantala with her, as usual. They'd heard the alarm rumble through the clan that an intruder had waltzed ever-so-casually into the middle of Town. Tantala had already been at the door to the manor, waiting for her. Her trusted guard, always ready for a fight. Now one had presented itself. Once she had her guard's attention, Shakuntala tilted her head ever so slightly towards the intruding ridgeback. Permission. Tantala took it in a flash. The skydancer tucked her wings and raced forward, her long, elegant legs carrying her with deadly speed towards the intruder. Who wasn't alone. A large, dark shadow materialized in Tantala's path. The warrior didn't slow, ready...but preparedness did not always result in victory. The shadow solidified in the form of a second ridgeback, and the two clashed. Tantala rose up, wings unfurling to assist her against the larger opponent, her jaws wide to clamp around the long neck of the ridgeback. In the next second, she was pinned. Outmaneuvered and overpowered as she struggled to grapple and rise. Her neon green wings beat against the ground, and then stilled. Defeat. A shock rippled through the audience of the Town. Shakuntala stared in disbelief. She realized at once that she hated the feeling. Shock, bewilderment. Terrible emotions that seized her body, and didn't help her at all. Her face recovered, drawing into a neutral tone. Gradually, her stiff pose relaxed. She eyed the now-two ridgebacks. The original intruder, all purples and reds and wearing enough extravagant clothing to make three outfits. The second, pinning down her beloved guard, was a walking contrast. Another female ridgeback, her body looking as if the night sky had dropped down and taken draconic form. She wore...ribbons. Dainty white ribbons and lace, more suited to a tea party than a takeover. Shakuntala saw Tantala crane her neck to snap up at the female, incensed. She wasn't happy to be defeated at all, better yet to someone who dressed as the ridgeback did. A noise to her left drew her attention away. She realized Ravana had recovered just as quickly as she had, and had been eyeing her while her attention had been on Tantala. His gaze was expectant. Waiting for her to do something? She sneered at him. Shakuntala would do everything on her own time, not when Ravana, or anyone else, wanted her to. The ex-Dominus took in her expression, and decided not to wait any longer. He turned forward, looking to the intruders. "Who are you?" He called out. The first female ridgeback, bedecked in silks and dark flowers, threw Ravana a smile. That was why Shakuntala wanted her dead on sight, she realized. The other female constantly looked as if she was a kitten in cream. Getting everything she desired, though Clan Indrali had yet to give her anything at all. "Why, haven't you been listening, darling?" The ridgeback responded, her voice deep and sultry. "I'm Queen Callista." Ah yes, Shakuntala had heard her say something like that earlier. Actually, the female ridgeback had been talking nonstop for several long minutes before Tantala had attacked. It was just that she hadn't deigned to listen. "Now I'm going to let my lovely Delphina release this rabid dog she has under her claws. I can only hope it runs back to its master without making the same mistake twice, hmm?" The 'queen' announced, nodding lightly at her lacy guard. The second ridgeback, Delphina, lifted her legs off of Tantala, who immediately jumped to her feet as soon as she was free. For a moment the skydancer held an aggressive stance, almost as if she would indeed attack again, but with a whip of her tail she turned, grudgingly returning to Shakuntala's side. It gained Shakuntala the attention of Queen Callista. "And now I know who leads this little band of peasants, hmm?" She called out, smirking at Shakuntala, who looked back at her like one might gaze upon a pile of worms. Ravana uselessly tried to break the tension between them. "I understand you think you rule these lands-" He'd obviously been listening to much more of the Queen's speech than Shakuntala had, "-but our clan has been here for...several seasons. We've never heard of you before. Nor seen anyone besides our own clan within this territory..." As Ravana droned on, something appeared in the sky. Distracted, Shakuntala watched the shape grow larger. A dragon, flying closer. From the shape, she could tell it was a skydancer and from the size she guessed it was a male. Rajnish, perhaps? The Nightbringers were mysteriously absent from this event, and Shakuntala didn't believe it was simply because it was the middle of the day. Venera wouldn't stop herself from showing up for such a banal reason. The female involved herself in everything related to clan politics. When the shape in the sky was almost directly above them, Shakuntala saw that it was no one she recognized at all. It was a bright, almost garish-looking male who dropped to the ground a few feet from the 'Queen', and carried himself over with a pretentious swagger. Yet another intruder. Now Shakuntala wondered just how many dragons this queen already reigned over. As if he'd been present the entire time, this new male seamlessly inserted himself into the conversation with Ravana. "My Queen's lands are vast. One such as she does not have time to keep an eye on every inch of shadow she rules. You can claim to have never seen her before, but she is here now. My mistress will graciously allow you to stay on these lands, and you will become her loyal subjects." Shakuntala threw back her head and laughed outright. Even the ever-logical Ravana's face flickered with anger. "We are an independent clan," He rebutted. "No longer," The other male decreed. "To ensure your allegiance, my Queen will move her Court nearby. You will see all of the benefits to being ruled under such a benevolent mistress such as she, and then you will submit. By will or by force." Finally, Shakuntala spoke. She stepped forward, unfurling her wings and letting all of her gilded glory shine against these dark, shadowy intruders. All looked her way. "I am Shakuntala, Domina of Clan Indrali. I lead in darkness, blessed by Light. I acknowledge your challenge. In Lightweaver's glory, I will smite you down. Your false queen will be taught to bow," she proclaimed the last bit almost cheerfully. Yes, Shakuntala would defeat this new faction making itself known to Indrali lands. But not now, before she knew just how many served Callista. Underestimating the enemy was Krishna's downfall, that night she killed him. His mistakes would not be hers. She would be Domina until the end. [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/q9w6xofyv/Divider-640.png[/img] [center][img]https://s19.postimg.cc/mrlwb6xb7/challenger.gif[/img][/center] [center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=21436818] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/214369/21436818_350.png[/img] [/url] [size=6][font=Century Gothic]Queen Callista[/font][/size][/center] [columns] [color=transparent]_________________[/color] [nextcol] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=44643946] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/446440/44643946.png[/img] [/url] [center][size=2]Delphina, Lady-in-waiting[/size][/center] [nextcol] [color=transparent]_______________[/color] [nextcol] [removed] [center][size=2][s]Caligaro, Queen's Consort[/s][/size][/center] [/columns] [img]https://s29.postimg.cc/q9w6xofyv/Divider-640.png[/img] [center][img]https://s29.postimg.cc/dros8kxqv/Swords.png[/img][/center] [center][color=black][size=1]Bio Code By: [/size][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2269324/1][size=1]ColoradoBlues[/size][/url][size=1], Image Assets By: [/size][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2257922/1][size=1]PoisonedPaper[/size][/url][size=1] and [/size][url=http://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2269324/1][size=1]ColoradoBlues[/size][/url][/center]

[center][url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=41314227] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/413143/41314227_350.png[/img] [/url][/center] [center][size=6][font=Helvetica]Priscilla, the Treasurer.[/font][/size][/center] I've decided! Priscilla has been in my clan for 5 months. She's from a subspecies I love, so I wanted to keep her, but in times of struggling with lair space I've come close to getting rid of her. The best way to solidify her place in my clan is, of course, to give her lore! Priscilla has been a part of the large 'neutral faction'. Dragons like Daire and Wild who are written & neutral, and others who I haven't written lore for yet but who I know aren't going to be aligned with any of the major players. Which makes her a perfect fit for treasurer. I've been thinking on this since I answered that related daily question about it, and decided the clan could use one. So here we goooo. ------------------ [i]A vault that looks more like a monument, decorated as if its a greenhouse...[/i] Built out of smooth white stone, with two immense rose quartz pillars to form an unmistakable entrance, the vault that stores clan Indrali's hoard of gems and treasure is the opposite of hidden. Situated on the northwestern side of town near Shakuntala's manor, the tall building features a gambrel roof made almost entirely of glass. Inside, the floor is tiled with glossy stone and largely empty except for a desk fit for a Skydancer, and one solitary staircase leading underground, tucked into the back corner. What the building lacks in furniture it makes up for in...plants. Potted flowers from all across Sornieth call the indoors of the Indrali vault their home, so many of them lined in neat rows all along the floor that the air has turned heavy and humid. It wasn't always this way. Before Priscilla, the entry floor of the vault stayed empty and cold. More similar to a museum. Upon her arrival, one potted plant turned to two. Little decorations for her desk. Then a visitor to the vault would come in and bring a potted flower with them as a gift. Suddenly it became a trend. Small single orchids, large rosebushes, and even flowery vines that required trellis' to be attached to the walls. The vault became an indoor jungle. When she isn't keeping track of deposits and withdrawals for the vault records, Green-thumb Priscilla takes care of them all. It turns out that record-keeping isn't as demanding as it seems; her exotic orchids take more time to care for than the clan accounts to.

[center] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=44263950] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/442640/44263950_350.png[/img] [/url] [size=6][font=Helvetica]Misrakeshi, Vaultkeeper.[/font][/size] [i]See, first, you stick an Imperial in the basement...[/i][/center] Something lurks in the underground vault. You might catch sight of a long, striped tail. The tip of an opalline wing...As long as one is down in the vault on authorized business, they have nothing to fear. Intruders, however, will eventually come face to face with an Imperial that competes with [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=34049626]Aurelius[/url] in size. A clay-colored female who won't hesitate to bite first and ask questions later. Misrakeshi safeguards all of the treasure and gems Clan Indrali keeps. Part of the underground vault is reserved for her personal use, an entire home built of caves. She never comes to the surface, though the staircase leading to the entry floor of the Vault is big enough for her to fit. Misra is a loner, a quiet girl who prefers tea and books to the company of other dragons. She was born deep in shadow lands, and has never left them to see the sun. Her eyesight is catlike in the gloomy underground of the vault, and despite living most of her life as an idle guard against nothing more than imaginary threats, her reflexes are catlike as well. Misrakeshi finds a sometimes-friend in Priscilla, who will venture down to visit her every so often. They've developed a routine: Priscilla descends the steps and stands near them for a few minutes. If Misra wants company, she comes to greet the skydancer. If not, Priscilla leaves her with food and a bouquet and returns upstairs to her 'greenhouse'. When the two are together, Priscilla likes to ask for help making sure the official clan records are accurate. Incredibly smart and with a near-encyclopedic memory, Misra keeps track of every piece of treasure and gem inside the hoard just as well as Priscilla's books do. Because of her frequent need for solitude, since gaining the position of Treasurer, Priscilla has had a dumbwaiter installed into the wall near her desk. She can carry food, flowers, and books down to Misra herself, as she often does, or she can simply put them on the tray and tug the rope to deliver them down to Misra without either of them needing to speak a word. Misrakeshi often returns the lift back upstairs with a handwritten thank-you note. Not many individuals enter the underground vault. Ravana frequented it when he was Dominus. Shakuntala comes only when she has to, otherwise she sends her guard Brana. This means that whenever there's a need for a new face to visit, it's become procedure for Priscilla to accompany them. Misrakeshi memorizes the faces of those who enter the Vault, and will kill anyone she doesn't recognize unless Priscilla is there to endorse them.

[center][size=7]Pirates ahoy![/size] [i]A swift wind be a-blowin' through the Shadows, and it be feelin' downright...spectral[/i] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=45140984] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/451410/45140984_350.png[/img] [/url] [b]Siren, Captain of the Night's Gale[/b] [i]A ridgier ridgeback you've never met. Who'da thought one of them spiny giants would step onto a boat to sail off 'n be surrounded by water? They hate the stuff! 'n miss lady Siren here ain't no different. Thinks the spray of the sea on 'er cheeks is like a slap in the face, this one. Must be why she always seem so angry, or is that just how 'er face looks? Ah, whichever it be, there's plenty more rumors where this one's concerned. Most seem to think she either be an evil spirit, or is haunted by 'em. Just look at her! What be all that glowin' business, other than the spectral limbs of the dead? Night's Gale don't need no Captain, it needs a priest![/i] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=2503933] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/25040/2503933_350.png[/img] [/url] [b]Mischief, Quartermaster[/b] [i]Ye begin to wonder how the poor bulk o' wood even floats, what with all the giants stompin' across her deck. A lil' longer than yon captain, is Master Mischief, but he's real slim-like. Does all the watery business the captain won't dare touch. Rumored to swim like a Ragesquid, he is. Fastest Imperial ye might ever lay eyes on, when he be in the waves. On deck? He be the one the rest take orders from, o' course. Tough yet tolerant, the two T's every good leader should be after, aye?[/i] [size=5][i]more to come...[/i][/size] [/center] ------------------- Yikes, my pirate-speak needs some work, huh? This is my newest, probably disastrous, lore idea! A ridgeback pirate. Wowee. They don't fit into clan politics much at all, but if they're out on the seas most of the year, they don't have to! Siren and Mischief are meshing so well already. Mischief, you might notice, looks EXTREMELY similar to miss Head Witch Rokshata! Only their terts are slightly different. I just know they'll be mates, but I haven't come up with anything romantic for them yet. Then I felt bad for Siren! She deserves love, too! Fortunately, I think she's found it in The Fallen Streak tavern, where she and her crew go every time they're on land...You see, there's an [i]awfully[/i] pretty ridgeback serving drinks behind the counter... When she's all GOOD AND GROWN, I'll do a little feature for Rowdy, one of the crew members! [img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/f4dbdf238e7b61bc3cdc278d012f1a6d/tumblr_pgpgdvXFml1sg72gko1_640.jpg[/img]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/mmN8XTR.gif[/img] [url=https://www.deviantart.com/cpl-pendulum/art/Ahoy-640798959][img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/7f99/f/2016/292/f/d/pship_by_izunamii-dalijn3.png[/img][/url][/center] [b]Ship type:[/b] Frigate. Three masts, square-rigged. Forecastle & Quarterdeck. [b]Natural Top Speed:[/b] 15 knots [b]Enchanted Top Speed:[/b] 21 knots [b]Outer hull material:[/b] [item=Redwood Log] [b]Hull frame material:[/b] [item=Pine logs] [b]Deck material:[/b] [item=Sanded pine plank] [b]Sails:[/b] [item=Snakeskin Cloth] [b]Description:[/b] Originally painted black to blend in with the night, since it's creation the Night's Gale has gained powers only magic can provide. With the help of Mischief's lover, the powerful witch Rokshata, the frigate is now enchanted with several powerful abilities. Firstly, as a crew that thrives in the Shadows, the Night's Gale is enchanted with 'daytime camouflage'. A magic coating of paint that makes it practically invisible in the daytime by letting the surface of the ship reflect its surroundings. Other nearby ships won't realize they aren't alone until its much too late for them. The magic gets its powers from the sun, so the effect is weakened during the night, but Siren doesn't seem to mind, as its the time when she and her crew like to hunt. The most powerful ability of the Night's gale, with magic weaved into the wood-grain of the keel of the ship, is the ability to travel up waterfalls. A very specific ability, but also the only thing stopping Siren and her crew from plundering the seas that surround all of Sornieth. After years of being stuck in the Sea of a Thousand Currents, the Night's Gale can now take the gigantic waterfall in the Sunbeam Ruins to journey out to larger oceans. ----------------------- [img]https://i.imgur.com/hGlFSyM.png[/img]

To start things off, let's address the Imperial in the room. You're a Ridgeback, and yet you're a pirate. Care to explain?

Siren smiles.
"I like doing things that dragons won't expect. A ridgeback on the high seas? Unheard of. Even fast ships are slow. Others would see a large figure on a ship headed straight towards them and start making assumptions. A guardian, maybe. Or an Imperial. Then we would get closer to them, and they would see me clearly. A ridgeback. Even little surprises can throw off your enemy. So that's what I did. Of course, nowadays my flag gives me away. But I also no longer need the element of surprise to defeat my targets anymore, either."

The most common rumor concerning your high bounty says that it's because you don't kill many of your victims. Is that another one of your 'unexpected' methods?

"Yes. The definition of a pirate, to me, is basically a thief-at-sea. Killing has never been a requirement. My crew and I defend our lives, but we don't take them needlessly."

And yet you take other things needlessly. Everything that you steal. Surely you don't need all of the treasure and riches you've acquired?

"Items can be regained. A life cannot."

I see. Let's change gears, then. Tell me about your crew.

"I let my crew choose me. It's easier to keep their loyalty if you have their faith. Maybe I'm a little egotistical, too. Even from the beginning, I wasn't willing to beg dragons to join my crew. I let them come to me, and drift away as they please. There are no harsh rites of passage or departure, like some crews have. I might still sob like some old hag if Mischief left me, though."

You're very candid. Would you be willing to tell me about the dragons of your crew, specifically? Like Mischief, for instance?

"And here I thought we were going to make this all about me. I like the spotlight, you know...Mischief is my right-claw. And my left. I fondly describe him as 'the one I send swimming'. You might catch me out at sea, but I'll be dead before my body touches the water."

Mischief is the very large imperial on your crew, correct?

"Are you trying to compliment him? He's not as large as I am, you know...Well, maybe a little longer. But I outweigh him by a good two thousand kilos. We've measured."

My mistake. You comport yourself so elegantly I forget.

Siren laughs.
"Such a charmer. No wonder I agreed to let you interview me."

Are you sure it isn't because of your aforementioned love for the spotlight?

"That too."

I don't want to take up too much of your time. You were halfway into a beer when I found you, and now you've finished it. Perhaps I can catch you on land again sometime, and really get you to tell me all of Mischief's secrets.

Siren makes an amused sound.
"If you're that keen on interviewing me again, you can always come with us. How does a months-long interview sound? You'll need a cutlass, though. And as for Mischief's secrets, I'll be sure to spill them to you as soon as he tells them to me himself."

Hmm, I see. A secretive dragon, this Mischief. Thanks for your time, Miss Siren...one more thing- your accent. You don't sound like a typical pirate at all?

Siren gives the phantom a coy smile.
"If I sounded like your average pirate, that wouldn't be very unexpected of me, would it?"

Indeed. Well then, I wish you fair winds on your next journey.

"Same to you, little phantom."

[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/g0gqypmS/hex-gif.gif[/img] [img]https://i.postimg.cc/xdf3b8DN/hex-nameplate.png[/img] [i]Evil comes in many forms, but rarely does it wear such an obvious mask...[/i] [/center] Hex is both the most out-of-place addition to Siren's crew, and the most formidable opponent on the ship. A dragon should worry more about being reduced to a piles of ashes than being sent to the bottom of the sea when facing off against the witchy Skydancer. Named Hannelore upon her birth, 'Hex' was born with a natural talent and capacity for magic. Destiny took hold of her path from the time she opened her fiery eyes, and carried her down a dark path even the most nurturing of parenting could not have turned her away from. For all her young might, Hex discovered that even more power hid in the Shadows. She turned into them without looking back. Hex has always braved the deep end of magic, the dark side most fear the consequences of. She's shunned family, friends, and lovers for the sake of her craft and, though she's become twisted in personality, the dark arts have paid her back in spades. She's become a master of her craft. Unfortunately, she's become such a terror to behold, that other skydancers who share similar traits might find themselves accosted just for sharing appearances with her. Whenever a ghoulish marigold visage makes it way into a town, dragons shutter their windows and lock their doors. Not that doing any of that would keep Hex from burning buildings from their rooftops to the dirt, but she's nonetheless received the message. It becomes inconvenient at best, that her power cannot get her a simple meal because everydragon is too scared to serve her. That very situation is what brought Siren and Hex together. Siren, who laughed when the busy pub around her started to clear like a plague had swept in when Hex entered the room. The two fearsome women have come to an accord: Hex won't burn The Night's Gale down to the last piece of timber and, in exchange, she's found a home aboard the ship. Siren finds anyone who can instill fear with their mere appearance an advantage to her crew. ------------- [size=5]Magic[/size] [b]Affinity:[/b] Fire [b]Specialty:[/b] Hex spells, especially ones that cause opponents to catch fire and burn. [b]Weakness:[/b] Defensive spells, especially shields. She relies on deflect and redirects. [b]Healing:[/b] Weak healing skills. Limited self-healing capabilities, and no ability to heal others. [b]Blessings:[/b] Can perform low-level fire blessings, learned when she was a young hatchling. Her blessings are most suited to warriors going into battle, hoping for victory against their enemies. [b]Potion-making:[/b] No ability to make potions, though sometimes she can effectively empower potions other witches have made. [b]Enchanting:[/b] Can easily hex opponent weapons to be useless against her, and is very strong at enchanting blades. She struggles the most with enchanting books and scrolls, which are easy for her magic to burn. Hex has consorted with dark powers to earn her power, which comes with some sacrifices. Offensively throwing spells, she is unmatched in talent and might, she's given up most other skills for the sake of it. --------------- [b]OOC[/b] A little intro for my newest witch girl who is...not a part of the House of Witches at all?! Actually, Hex is outright banned from entering Indrali lands. Poor girl. I'd feel sorry for her, but she'd just burn me to death. Hoping to greatly expand on magical shenanigans, since it's always my favorite thing. I want to figure out some sort of bio/form like I just did for Hex's magic, for all of my guardian witch girls. To list all of their specialties and weaknesses, etc. Hopefully I can figure that out soon!

[center] [size=7]Rokshata[/size] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=11031204] [img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/350/110313/11031204_350.png[/img] [/url][/center] [size=5]Magic[/size] [b]Affinity:[/b] Arcane [b]Specialty:[/b] Scrying, she can use almost any reflective surface to do so. [b]Weakness:[/b] Her spells and enchantments are weak to decay/rot techniques, such as plague spells. [b]Healing:[/b] Neither strong nor weak. She can heal both herself and others, but it would be better to find another witch if you lob off several limbs. [b]Blessings:[/b] Her blessings are most suited to fortunes, specifically monetary ones. She likes to use paper as a medium for her blessings. [b]Potion-making:[/b] A strong potion-maker, Rokshata is especially good at making consumable potions [i]taste[/i] good, which has put her potions over others several times. After all, which would you rather drink for your ails? A potion that tastes like raspberry juice, or one that is nothing but bitter herbs? [b]Enchanting:[/b] Again, a strength of Rokshata's. Like her blessings, her strongest enchantments come on paper, such as scrolls. She finds iron the hardest material of all to magick. Rokshata is an 'all-rounder', a well-balanced senior witch who has taken her education seriously and regularly studies up on new spells and techniques. Even her weakest points are probably stronger than a younger witch's strengths.