Creative Corner

[center][item=raw lapis lazuli][item=overflowing fishbasket][item=historical text][item=tidelord seashell decoration][item=giant sand dollar][/center] [center]Sunbeam Grotto[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/9A871R3p4Zw]swimming in the shallow blue water[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] The network of caves that currently houses the clan began as a littoral grotto, eroded by ages of waves and tides wearing at the rock. Twice a day for eons, the tide has risen and flooded into the sea-level portion of the grotto, slowly wearing away at the rock and creating a web of tunnels and caves. This natural formation housed the fledgling clan for a while, but as the population grew, it became necessary to carefully extend the existing cave network. Tunnels were carved to connect the underwater caves with those above sea level, and more openings were created of various sizes to allow all types of dragons to pass through. As the clan continues to grow, architects have added common areas, guest dens for travelers, and occupation-specific workspaces for the wide range of dragons who make up the clan. As most outsiders choose to occupy the Cliffside Caves, which boast a beautiful ocean view, there are housing options for dragons of any preference. Living spaces have been dug out deep within the earth for those who prefer to live in dark solitude. Along the tunnels, a Fae may spot a niche in a cave wall and claim it as the perfect rustic abode. Some caves are but a shallow mouth in the cliff wall, holding just enough space for a meager hoard. Other cave entrances open into well-furnished homes, complete with size-appropriate rooms for multiple family members. Since preferences vary so widely among species, and new members to old, there are nearly as many styles of home here as there are dragons in the clan. residences: [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/den/100277/2030068]coastal caves[/url] - Many dragons prefer to live in the sunkissed tunnels of the upper grotto, where they can look out over the sea and sky - but the expansive cave system extends deep within the cliff the clan calls home. Dragons below operate under artificial light, content to be surrounded in cool dark rock. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/lair/100277/1902503]elders' council[/url] - The active Elder Council of Sunbeam Grotto oversees the clan's loose structure and rules. Those who live within the Grotto occupy the areas where the natural structure of the caverns has been preserved. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/lair/100277/1944142]travelers' den[/url] - Dragons passing through Sunbeam Grotto are welcomed to the cozy cave den crafted by Blight, a former traveler.

[center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/62911325][img]https://i.imgur.com/DWYi0U5.png[/img][/url] by [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/clan-profile/100277]perfectoranges[/url][/center] [center]Fishspine Reef[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/7o4ikrg3Pn4]a rainbow forest beneath the waves[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] The expansive Fishspine Reef covers much of the floor of the Sea of a Thousand Currents. Just a corner extends within the borders of Sunbeam Grotto, sectioned off by the lush kelp forest that acts as the clan's northern boundary. Fish and dragons are attracted to the colorful, healthy coral reef. Further inland, the clan's nesting grounds rest in the shallow water, where hatchlings can be seen playing or snoozing. residences: [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/den/100277/1941666]coral reef[/url] - Many of the grotto's underwater caves open upon the Fishspine Reef, providing seadragons easy access to their briny home. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/den/100277/2030069]deepsea dwellers[/url] - While not situated in or below the reef, these dragons' cave homes are connected to the expansive tunnel system, allowing access to the warm, shallow waters of the Fishspine Reef as well as hidden apertures deep within the Sea.

[center][item=sweet grass][item=water lettuce][item=myosotis][item=chickweed][item=fairy ears][/center] [center]Viridian Forest[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/Lf0d47mkxF4]the sun-dappled woods[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] The Viridian Forest, an offshoot of the lush greenery coating the Zephyr Steppes, spreads to the west of Sunbeam Grotto. A dragon may meander from the clan proper down the beach to where a river flows into the sea. A rudimentary bridge of large stepping stones allows passage for dragons unable to fly over the stream. After crossing the river, a visitor's vista will fill with thin sweetgrass and native wildflowers soaking up the sun. The area is encircled by evenly planted fruit trees, each marked with a wooden sign. Dragons of all sizes flitter among the sundrenched flowers, tending to the soil and pollinating the blooms. An overgrown wood lodge is situated near the entrance of the forest, overlooking the garden, river, and woods all in one. From here there are a number of treehouses visible - huts of all shapes and sizes built into the treetops, some with walkways hanging between. A narrow path leads from here into the forest, with many vines and branches growing over the thin pale blaze. Tread carefully! Further down the path, the canopy thickens and sunlight dapples the area sparsely. More treehouses can be seen in this darker, wilder part of the forest, with some dwellings taking up entire trees from trunk to high branches. Most of the dwellings within Viridian Forest tend to be located near its perimeter - the carved footpaths provide easy access to the sea and clan locales. The forest grows wild and labyrinthian further inward, up until its transition to the Skunkweed swamplands near the border of Plague. While the heart of tropical Sunbeam Grotto basks in constant sunshine, Viridian Forest is under the influence of its own climate. The area is a true rainforest; the densely packed vegetation traps moisture within as heavy humidity. Dragons unable to bear the climate reside nearer to the forest's seaside edge. residents: [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/den/100277/1941668]Wildflower Garden[/url] - These dragons dwell among the flowers marking the entrance of Viridian Forest. Those who inhabit the garden itself are, curiously, only the size of insects! What a marvel... [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/den/100277/1941668/2]Viridian Forest[/url] - Treehouses and overgrown huts within the forest's borders serve as home to these dragons. //notes - this is the only part of my lair that features dragons who notably differ physically from the rest of their breed. while Crispr, Meiosis, Chrysanthemum, and Elrose are about average for their breed size, the rest of the dragons living in the wildflower garden with Butterfly or Bee wings are the size of large insects. in the garden, the curiously tiny dragons frolic among the safety of the wildflower blooms.

[center][item=diseased fungus][item=pinwheel paddies][item=cattail][item=jar of slime][item=strangling vine][/center] [center]Skunkweed Swamp[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/c7JpJO8W_iA]welcome to the swamp![/url][emoji=music notes][/center] The roots growing over the forest path become thicker and gnarled as the path winds deep into the dense brush. Be careful not to step off the trail - while the soil is springy and moist in Viridian Forest, here it is saturated into mud that will envelop a dragon's entire leg! At this point the tame forest has given way to the wild Skunkweed Swamp, an area characterized by the buzz of insects and patches of standing, stinking water with an oily sheen on top. It is here that Water becomes contaminated with Plague, and the dragons who choose to make their home here cherish its unique charm. The lush greens and browns of Viridian Forest are barely visible underneath the colorful, slimy spread of the swampland flora. Giant mushrooms, hulking mangroves, and sentient vines are interspersed through the area. The unique intersection of contaminating Plague with life-giving Water here creates and sustains a diverse and lively (though toxic) biome. residences: [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/den/100277/2016744]Billabong Bellows[/url] - Dragons living in the heart of the radioactive swamp enjoy their isolation from the outside world.

[center]Lilypad Pond[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/zAOuCBzDRBw]tranquil forest oasis[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] This hidden oasis rests deep within the intersection of Viridian Forest and Skunkweed Swamp, accessible by a twisted route known only to its residents. Most wouldn't believe such a beautiful and serene rainbow forest could be the result of Plague's spread! At the heart of the region, a still blue pond sparkles in the sparse sunlight. Errant magic has settled here over eons to enchant the flora and fauna - insects and plants born here grow to a massive size. A full-grown Snapper could comfortably rest on a mushroom here - if they can, as the enchanted fungi spits out rainbow bubbles when touched. residences: [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/den/100277/1941665]Lilypad Pond[/url] - The local dragons rest comfortably in and around the pond, as sunlight filters through the thick canopy above.

[center]Glittering Library[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/FSnQLe9gcYw]the heart of sunbeam grotto[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] The glittering Grotto's heart was carefully hollowed out into the very core of the cliff this clan calls home. The library's main entrance leads down from the beach, and a hidden passage provides access from the deeper channels of the grotto. An offshoot of the library's main chamber serves as living quarters for Unearthly and his mate Warpwind. Originally, the giant room was the den of the clan's leaders, and where they raised their offspring - but after they'd retired to a small cavern at the top of the cliff, the great space remained empty. Ideas were volleyed back and forth over the years, but it took Unearthly's inspiration and hard work to transform the space! The library's main room is brightly lit despite being underground, with its tall ceilings clustered in glowing lanterns and enchanted light bubbles. Shelves are bored into the cave walls, sparsely stocked with reading materials in the form of tomes, scrolls, and loose papers. Pillows of various sizes blanket the rough cave floor to provide a resting spot for reading dragons. The air smells of a natural blend of herbs and spices, setting a comforting atmosphere. It is between these walls that [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/18285051]Unearthly[/url] works to organize and maintain the clan's ever-growing collection of library materials. Much of the available catalogue comes from wandering storytellers like [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/66960037]Dusk[/url], or [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/7042888]Warpwind[/url] before his retirement. Some visitors to Sunbeam Grotto have lent their legends or original stories to the library, as well. Even a few clan members have contributed to the shelves in their own unique ways! This morning, the library is far from quiet - Warpwind is seated towards the back reading an original tale to a group of hatchlings. His animated retelling and the squeals of the little dragons echo off the hard cave walls of the library. Unearthly has made himself comfortable at the front desk, awaiting any dragon who may need assistance. He must have been waiting for some time, as the elder is nose-deep in a gray book with a rune on its cover, absentmindedly twirling his beard between his claws. Some more clan members mill about the open floor of the library, minding any long tails or unwieldy wings that may pose a hazard.

[center]Twilit Teashop[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/hidOUzpY1FY]a warm, hazy room full of whispers[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] Deep within the cliffside caves, accessible by a different route every time, a beaded curtain partitions the dark tunnels from a low-lit establishment filled with an array of mismatched seats and expensive-looking knickknacks. The essence of warm, fragrant herbs fills the air alongside the hushed voices of the shop's patrons. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/18454717]Thyme[/url] can be spotted front and center, hovering over the bar where his blends are presented in elaborate glass jars. A low fire covered with a grate smoulders at his hip, where a teapot and a few hardy mugs are heating. His apprentice [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/70520730]Aen[/url] is crouched behind the bar over a basket, identifying and sorting leaves into the blends that give the teashop its fame. What began as a daily tea service for the residents of the clan long ago has evolved into the hidden gem the teashop is known as in present day. Thyme had always planned to found his own shop, but he hadn't counted on using his own cave den as the starting point! Once his home-brewed tea services became popular enough to need a larger front-of-house, the cave was expanded as much as possible. Due to the presence of a tunnel located just a few feet above, the ceiling of the teashop is unusually low - it's difficult for Aen to stand up straight in certain spots. For this reason, the area behind the bar has been dug down a few inches, meaning any new servers must learn quickly where to step up so they don't end up tripping with a tray full of hot tea.

[center]Zephyr Postworks[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=https://youtu.be/hVfhRQf18MA]a breezy clifftop lookout[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] On the tallest cliff above Sunbeam Grotto, so tall it's closer to Wind territory than Water, operates the postal system that connects the secluded clan to the outside world. Within a thick copse of bamboo stands a sturdy shack that serves as headquarters, facing a jagged outcrop of rock used as a runway for couriers coming and going. The shack is empty of dragons, but full of carefully organized chaos. Maps paper the walls, over bins of outgoing post sorted by region. A wide table in the middle of the room holds a mess of colorful packages, waterproofing wax, sundry office supplies, and an identical smaller replica of the table on top. Long ago, the eremitic clan of Sunbeam Grotto never required more than a single postal dragon in employ. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/8805622]Phantasm[/url]'s humble lair was a mess of maps and satchels of various regions and sizes. Years later, after the clan's magical disappearance forced her into retirement, Phantasm felt herself overrun upon the clan's reawakening and subsequent reintroduction to greater dragon society. She's taken on not one, but two apprentices - the prodigal [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/64086080]Flitter[/url] and Phantasm's own son [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65670779]Alfonzo[/url]. The dragons attempt to work in tandem, but their personality differences keep the office in a constant state of disarray. Still, it must be said that they've never failed a delivery! One thing the trio shares in common is a belief in earning a strong reputation. When it's time to work, Flitter and Alfonzo are able to put aside their differences and get the job done, flying fast and true to their destination. Whether it's express shipping across the Sea of a Thousand Currents, or a delivery to the edge of the Wyrmwound - choose Zephyr Postworks for all your postal needs!

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/e9Qas3J.png[/img][/center] [center]Hot Springs[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=x]theme[/url][emoji=music notes][/center]

[center][item=potato onion][item=miniature potash peach][item=true rainbow trout][item=game fowl][item=horn of plenty][/center] [center]kitchens[/center] [center][emoji=music note][url=x]theme[/url][emoji=music notes][/center] Between the heart of the clan and the waterfall, a long cave slopes in a horseshoe shape around a curve in the cliffside. When the kitchens are open, dragons file into the east-side entrance, following the cavern slightly below sea level, where the grotto was eroded by tides long, long ago. In the embrace of cool, dark rock, the air is significantly cooler than the beach - for this reason, the very first branch of the cave leads to the larder, its adjacent location allowing for quick delivery of perishable foodstuffs. For the hungry dragons in line, though, the subtle scents of chilled food filtering through the first cavern are smothered entirely by the aromas of fresh-cooked feasts emanating from the next fork in the narrow cave. A sharp zigzag in the branching tunnel prevents curious eyes from seeing what exactly is going on in the kitchens, but echoes of clanging dishes and snippets of conversation between the chefs are easily audible. Just ahead, the line surges forward - it's almost time to order! "Welcome, welcome!" calls a red-scaled Snapper - [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/69427931]Lanelle, the hostess[/url], shuffling over from where she's just dropped off two steaming bowls of stew. She straightens her glasses as her next guests step up to the shallow counter. "What can I get for you?" Propped up on the counter beside her is a large frame featuring sketches of four different dishes, each listing a name above and a short ingredients list below. Looks like today's menu offers battered flounder with potato-onion fries, roast squash and acorn medley, turtle soup with cheesy bread, or garlic-braised grubs over rice. It's a difficult choice... The process wasn't always so seamless - previously, hungry guests were greeted by the [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/11252879]surly head chef[/url] (or whoever was closest to the counter when the customers arrived) and then waited for their food to be cooked-to-order. There were no directions on how to enter or exit the cave, so there would be dragons flowing in and out both sides of the very narrow tunnel (and, occasionally, not flowing because someone had gotten stuck). The menu varied upon what fresh food was gathered that day, and whatever the chefs felt like cooking - leading to a lot of wasted food at the end of each day, when pesky little things like the shelf life of fish and different breeds' dietary needs came into play. It was a short while after Lanelle was hired on to organize the larder that she realized the greater needs of the kitchen crew, and really got down to business! Clearly, having a dedicated, competent manager helps a workplace run smoothly - who'd have imagined? Since the kitchen's optimization, [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2977411/5#post_53662602]the staff[/url]'s numbers have grown to meet the demands of the clan and its visitors, and the operation now runs smoother than ever - save for the occasional hiccup.