I said I wouldn’t fall behind, but obviously that didn’t work out. Due to the amount of catchup I’m going to be playing a lot of these answers are going to be fairly brief. However, due to the sheer volume it will probably still be a very long post. Sorry about that.
For time’s sake, only question centered on dragons will have dragons mentioned. Some questions will go unanswered if I have no ideas for them and may be returned to later.
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18. May 2016. Let's think about site lore today: Pick a dragon with a problem related to their breed (for example communication in Faes or Coatls, ridgeback phobias, a guardian with an impossible charge) and tell us about a friend of that dragon. How do they help or support them? How do they aggravate them about it? Why have they chosen to stick close?
This question is not totally applicable as magic compensates for most breed related problems including communication.
However, Eruvusuth and Rikahtusuth do have a particularly close relationship. And it’s thanks to the magic of Ira’vighet that such is possible as Eruvusuth and her mentor Rikahtusuth are a Fae and a Coatl respectively. Due to the unique communication and physiology of those species neither can naturally speak to the other. Under normal circumstances the two would have a difficult time associating, but thanks to the magic of Ira’vighet it’s not an issue.
Eruvusuth is in fact quite close with Rikahtusuth as he knows better than anyone the pressure Eruvusuth often feels as the first Child of Sjeldiem. Eruvusuth admires and looks for guidance from Rikahtusuth and gives him more regard than even Iraneth (not to say that Eruvusuth doesn’t also respect Iraneth greatly because she does).
Even though the magic of Ira’vighet compensates for their communication issues Eruvusuth and Rikahtusuth are awe inspiringly good at understanding one another even without it. Rikahtusuth has learned much Eruvusuth’s body language including crest movements. In turn Eruvusuth is not as monotone as most Fae and Rikahtusuth can actually hear her a little bit. Additionally, Eruvusuth has trained herself to be more sensitive to vibrations both naturally and through her own spell work so even if she can’t “hear” Rikahtusuth she can understand most of his native tongue.
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18. May 2016. Inventors and engineers: who are they? What do they usually do? What have they invented so far? How do they work? What ingredients do they use? Are they generally good or are they evil masterminds?
Currently my only engineer/inventor is Dusk and she’s been in the spotlight many times.
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19. May 2016. How is the world outside of your clan? Does your clan make up what is essentially a city? A state? A country? Do you view each clan as a separate ruling group, or do multiple clans work within a government? Is it more loose or structured?
The Clan is akin to a country in a sense. The “Capital” would be the Nexus where Iraneth resides. Most members of the Clan exist in various clusters in Clan territory according to their own preferences.
Other Clans are viewed as sovereign nations in their own right. If multiple Clans are banded together in a ruling partnership than such is acknowledged by Ira’vighet. R’lyeh, our closest ally, is just that an ally not a co-partner in ruling.
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19. May 2016. Jobs that require dragons to create or fix something to make a living. For these jobs the need is always there, unlike jobs like fortune telling or art, which depend on dragons who are well off. Whether that's being a carpenter, a baker, a blacksmith, a cartographer, an engineer, today, show off your hard workers!
Again Dusk has already seen the spotlight numerous times.
Silkestrith is not a blacksmith, but a jewel-smith. His wares are more luxury items than necessities. However, while Silkestrith favors small and intricate metal work in his jewelry he is not incapable of metal forging larger and stronger designs like weapons and armor or even more mundane things like bolts and rivets.
As there is currently no designated blacksmith Silkestrith is the go to dragon for such things. However, due to trade, markets, and Ira’vighet’s more magical inclinations such demands are not high leaving him free to pursue his preference of jewelry creation.
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20. May 2016. What about age? What do you think of the age range of your dragons? Does it vary between breeds? Occupation? A simple question, but there are so many ways it can be considered!
Ages vary and there aren’t many distinct patterns. Iraneth and Malrith are the oldest dragons in the Clan because they’re progens. They were already adults when Ira’vighet formed and they spent their Fledgling years elsewhere.
Nocturnes due to their relatively new emergence as a breed are by default the youngest in general.
Occupationally, warriors and gathers tend to attract younger dragons that are eager to explore. However, many of the most skilled warriors are older simply due to experience.
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20. May 2016. Let's talk about rites of passage! Does your clan have any? Children? Teenagers? Young and old adults? What are they?
The first “celebration” is a dragon’s Hatchday or Arrivalday. This is the day a dragon is either born into the Clan or joins it. Unless the dragon wishes to celebrate this day not a lot of fanfare is given to it.
Non-Arcane dragons must undergo the Nedsenket ritual in order to be able to live in the Starfall Isles.
For this next segment it’s important to note that when I refer to years I mean real time years. However, a year in real time is a much longer period in the universe of Sornieth. This is because in my lore dragons are long lived, but realistically I can’t match such a development to real time years.
Actual rites of passage begin once the brief Hatchling period is over. Dragons grow very rapidly into their adult bodies as dragons are inherently magical. It’s also an evolutionary survival tactic to grow quickly in order to have better defense against other dragons or beings. Once they grow into their adult bodies they are considered Fledglings as they are still very young. Upon gaining their adult bodies and entering their Fledgling years there is a small celebration to note such growth called Stor Vekst.
Dragons are considered Fledglings for a very long time. In fact dragons are Fledglings for a minimum of one year, after that year the time for a dragon to be considered a Mature Fledgling varies. To be considered a Mature Fledgling a dragon must prove that they understand the need to be responsible, productive, and know how little they actually do know. When a dragon can demonstrate this understanding they pass the rite of Å Vite Novi and are then considered a mature Fledgling.
To be considered an Adult a dragon must do more than prove an understanding, they must put it into practice. This can be done in various ways such as gaining sufficient mastery of a skill to gain an occupation or acquiring a lot of knowledge to be a reliable source or guide. The rite for this transition is called Gjøre. Dragons like Guardians with specific requirements to be considered Adults must also meet such requirements.
An Elder has less to do with a dragon’s age and more to do with their seniority and contribution to the Clan. To be considered an Elder a dragon must make significant contributions to the Clan and have been a part of the Clan since within six months of its founding or for five years. The ceremony to be inducted as an Elder is called Medvirke Diu.
An Ancient is an older and experienced dragon. They must be a minimum of six years of age, have a mastery of at least two skills, and have at least fifteen dragons that look to them for guidance or greatly respect them. The rite for this is called En Illustrata.
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21. May 2016. Today, let's bring out the storytellers! Who are they? How often do they tell tales? What type of stories do they tell? Are there any particular myths, legends, stories that they know? Is it a folk tale, or a true story? Have the characters in the said story ever been alive or is it based on a true event? Come on friends! Let's tell stories!
Briinqoth was the former Water Ambassador. Her charisma and extroversion served her well, but she enjoyed travel and interaction with others much more than the official duties of an Ambassador. When Vthyarilops came to Clan and she was both willing to be the Ambassador and suited to the role, Briinqoth happily stepped down.
Now, Briinqoth travels Sornieth collecting and telling tales of all types. However, not only does she collect and tell other dragons’ stories she also writes and shares her own. Briinqoth’s collection is eclectic ranging from comedy to tragedy to epics to short poems and everything in between. She also delights in having esoteric pieces in her collection gathered from the furthest corners of Sornieth.
Unfortunately, I don’t have time to actually write out or find a story, but I will likely return to this at a later date.
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21. May 2016. "They said no." - I saw this writing prompt recently and immediately thought of the individual announcing this being the bearer of such news to someone who either isn't used to or can't take no for an answer. Who in your lair is used to being unquestioned? Who might have a request that mustn't be denied? If you don't have one, randomize it and make a story!
Malrith is the co-founder of Ira’vighet and is unused to being denied or questioned. In fact he’s used to denying other’s requests as he is one of the stronger fighters in Ira’vighet, a co-founder as aforementioned, and in possession of the largest private collection of knowledge.
He can also be rather wrathful. Fortunately, his age has granted him patience and wisdom so even if he dislikes being denied he will accept it if the justification is reasonable. If it’s not then the force of Malrith’s temper comes into play. He does also take matters of the Clan’s protection (and the dragons that inhabit it) seriously and that is one matter where he is completely uncompromising.
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22. May 2016. There seem to be writers here who haven't a second thought about possessions and food availability. Then there seem to be those who have hinted at both being precious. How hard is it to live where your clan lives? Are materials and food in abundance or a rarity? How are hoards viewed?
It’s easy to live as a part of the Ira’vighet Clan. The Clan has territory that covers the majority of the environments available in the Starfall Isles. There is an abundance of both food and materials. Additionally, there are several dragons who both enjoy and are capable of long distance travel. They sometimes go far and wide across Sornieth to seek out needed items. Trade and markets are also a regular staple of Clan life.
For the matter of hoards, Iraneth actually prefers to hoard things and has at least one of each item she has come across. This is because while Iraneth has a personal Hoard for the most part her Hoard serves as the main Hoard of the Clan. There is a good deal of food in the Hoard and even more food locked away in the Vault in the event of an emergency.
Other dragons also have personal Hoards of their own. This is not looked down upon and is even encouraged as long as the hoards have some measure of organization and cataloging.
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22. May 2016. There are holidays which feature King Fools in which a person gets to be the kingly authority for the day and others in good fun obey their orders. Use a randomizer to pick a King Fool in your lair. Then randomize as many dragons as it amuses you to follow what they order. Who are they? What are the orders? What are the responses?
This isn’t really applicable to Ira’vighet considering its normal governing structure. Even though it would just be for fun it wouldn’t really appeal to any of the dragons that reside in the Clan.
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23. May 2016. What is technology like in your clan? Minimal? Advanced? In the greater world? How does it work with magic, or are they separate? Who is technology savvy? Who is the one others get a chuckle about?
Ira’vighet uses a blend of magic and technology as the two work together. Technology uses electricity a specific energy form while magic is a more diverse energy form. The degree of technology may vary between dragons due to personal preferences. However, overall Ira’vighet is advanced in its technology and magic use.
Despite the high quality and versatility of the technomancy used by the Clan, the appearance of Ira’vighet is fairly natural overall. This is because a great deal of the technomancy used is small, visually minimalistic, or invisible to the naked eye.
Currently, only Dusk can be considered particularly technologically savvy while there are no dragons that are noticeably inept.
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24. May 2016. Less of a lore question today. What are the mechanics of your writing? Where do you start? Where do you draw inspiration? What is easy for you and what do you have difficulty with? If you had someone to write with as a lore sounding board instead of writing, would you take it, or do you prefer to fly solo?
When writing lore explanations I tend to blend a conversational style of writing with an underlying essay structure. I try to answer questions in order and be coherent in my responses. When it comes to actual characters or histories I tend to revert back to my own writing style. It tends to favor description and metaphors to create the images and feelings I want.
I draw inspiration mainly from my own imagination which of course has conscious and subconscious influences from my own experiences both in real life and with other people’s writing.
As I have a good imagination it’s easy for me to generate a lot of ideas however due to this quantity it’s hard for me to commit to any single one of them.
I do have a lore sounding board. colorsoutofspace and I are good friends and often debate and brainstorm lore together. Frankly, if I didn’t personally know someone who did lore I probably wouldn’t have done it at all. Colorsoutofspace is the one who pushed me to do some anyway.
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25. May 2016. For whatever reason, some of the hatchlings are placed under the mentorship of a dragon or dragons who never have anything to do with hatchlings. How does your dragon handle this? What is the mentorship about? (For added challenge, randomize this dragon from a list of unlikely candidates!)
I have no ideas for this.
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26. May 2016. How does housing work in your clan? How is a shelter made? Are there common rooms or is every room intended to be private? Do any smaller dragons make personal rooms that are massive just in order to fit large friends inside? What sort of specific purpose rooms are there? What happens in multipurpose rooms?
Housing is individual unless two or more dragons are partners and choose to live together. Likewise Hatchlings and Fledglings will live with their parents or caretakers for a certain degree of time. Like with most things in Ira’vighet the size of a dragon’s residence is up to personal preference.
Due to the amount of resource available to the Clan and its vast territory no dragon needs to live where they don’t wish to. The shelters that are built are for either emergency purposes or social gatherings.
However, there are building that serve different purposes. In Ira’vighet some of these buildings include the University, the Temples, the Embassy, the Vault, the Fortress, the Tower, and the Guilds.
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27. May 2016. For fun! Your clan can no longer have any lore similar to what it has now. So in this alternate universe, what is your basic idea for new lore?
As Ira’vighet’s foremost principle is freedom and individuality, in an alternate universe Ira’vighet would be a totalitarian state. Iraneth would be a dictator of a military or autocratic state with a very rigid hierarchy. Freedom would be the sacrifice for ensured safety and security.
There would be a standing military force as well as a draft. Scientific and magical research would be sponsored by the state and directed to investigate better weapons, defenses, and improved amenities. There would likely be less art as there would be an emphasis on utility. The Ambassadors would only have small personal shrines that would be very minimalistic, and they would all require combat and espionage training.
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28. May 2016. Pick one dragon from every page of your clan. You can either choose or randomize which one, but pick only one dragon per page. They have to make something that represents your clan (either an object, a speech, a play, or anything you feel is fit) and present it to a committee of all the Deities. What do they make? How well fit are they for the task? What is the reaction of the committee?
I have no ideas for this prompt either.
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29. May 2016. It's children's day, so let's talk about hatchlings! What activities are obligatory for them? Do they have playmates among adults? Are there toys and games for them? Are they mentally similar to human children, or are they generally more mature?
In Ira’vighet Hatchlings are only considered Hatchlings for the few days it takes them to grow into their adult forms. Therefore, they have no obligations. As the period is so brief they don’t have playmates among Adults, but they do have caretakers in the form of their parents or other guardians that watch over them and protect them while they’re growing.
While the rapid growth period is not painful it can be uncomfortable and the sometimes random spurts of growth can make physical activity awkward. The games and toys geared toward Hatchlings are therefore more mentally based like puzzles. There are also group games that require limited movement that use cards and/or maneuverable pieces. Some dragons may do something artistic with paints or clay.
Due to their quick growth and magically bolstered bodies Hatchlings are more mature than their human equivalents. Developmentally dragons skip the newborn phase as technically their newborn phase can be included in the time they spend developing inside their mothers and their eggs as they have a consciousness and are aware of their surroundings. Hatchlings are the equivalent of a toddler. Fledglings are the mental equivalent of a young child developing into a teenager. As dragons are long lived their mental maturity plateaus for a while in a young adult like stage.
In comparison to their lifespans dragons develop quicker than humans, but plateau for longer in the young adult mindset. However, in terms of comparison for raw years spent in each developmental phase dragons spend a longer time in each. For example a human will develop from newborn to young adult in about twenty years. A dragon will develop the same amount in a minimum of a century. However, dragons will live for millennia while a human is luck to live a century. Therefore, in terms of the fraction of their lives spent developing dragons take a smaller span of time.
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30. May 2016. It's almost summer. Does it change anything for dragons? Are there seasons where your clan lives? Are there activities only done when it's summer? Are there food specialties? Are there clan celebrations when seasons change?
I have no ideas for this at the moment.
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31. May 2016. How is your clan territory? Is it only your lair, or is there something more? Are there hunting/gathering lands inside the boundaries, or does your clan need to hunt outside their territory? Are there nice landscapes inside? How big is your territory? Is there a place for lair expansions, or do you have to move the whole clan when you need more space?
I believe I have partially answered this in past questions.
The Clan’s territory is just that territory. There is the capital, The Nexus, where Iraneth resides. The Nexus also contains most of the Clan’s public buildings and other nonresidential structures. Everyone else lives clustered or individually according to preference. As residential sites are far flung and fairly random there are expanses of “wild territory” within Ira’vighet’s borders. This is where the bulk of hunting/gathering occurs. However, it is not unusual for dragons to travel outside of the Clan’s territory to hunt/gather or even outside of the Starfall Isles entirely.
There are numerous beautiful landscapes within the Clan’s territory as it cover pieces of the Crystalspine Reaches, the Starwood Strand, and the Focal Point. The Nexus is particularly beautiful as it is located at a point that contains parts of all three regions.
Considering the area covered by Ira’vighet the Clan’s territory is rather large. Due to the layout of the Starfall Isles an actual move has not been required in the past. When lair expansions happened the borders were simply widened and more buildings could be built in the capital. When Ira’vighet finally grows large enough to spill into Observatory territory the same thing will occur for the most part. However, The Nexus will have to shift a bit in order to better center itself across all the territories. Thankfully magic will make shifting the capital doable.
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1. June 2016. When someone joins your clan, do they have any test to be able to do so? Is there a ritual of some sort to show a dragon is a permanent member of the clan? Is there a ritual or farewell party when a dragon leaves the clan?
Arrivaldays are not hugely celebrated unless it’s desired, but they are recorded. There is no test to become part of the Clan, but dragons must of course abide by the laws of the Clan and respect the practices of other dragons. Nedsenket is performed only on non-Arcane dragons out of necessity.
There is no official send off for dragons that leave the Clan, but most are seen off by their friends and family. Out of a feeling of duty Iraneth attends all send offs.
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2. June 2016. Are dragons with double or triple colors different from the rest? Does the same color repeating on the dragon mean good or bad omen? Are they thinking of themselves as different? Do they search for similar company?
Double or triple colors often occur when their parents have a small range of colors between them. Whether the repetition of the same color is seen as a good or bad thing depends on the color. Some colors have genetic links to other traits. Therefore, some colors indicate a predisposition toward a good trait, others a bad trait, and some have no linkage thus the appeal of those colors is purely aesthetically based.
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3. June 2016. Working with site lore. Arcane dragons are hungry for knowledge. They are often experimenting and most of the time magic is involved too. Who is your most arcane-like arcane dragon? Who acts like an arcane dragon despite having a different element? Who acts totally different despite coming from an arcane clan?
I have many, many Arcane-like Arcane dragons and to pick just one is quite hard. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it I don't have a great deal of lore profile written up. So if I had to pick a dragon that probably best exemplifies Arcane I would go with Viimqeth.
Viimqeth is technically a mage although she prefers to call herself a mystic. Like most Arcane dragons she is curious and intelligent. She is greatly driven by her desire to know and understand the world around her. However, her focus is Astronomy and magic affected and based around the movements of celestial bodies.
Viimqeth greatest flaw is also typical of an Arcane dragon which is why I picked her. She becomes entirely absorbed in her work and becomes oblivious to her surroundings. Not only does she sometimes fail to notice what's happening around her, but she also sometimes fail to notice the effect her work has on others. In other words, she's an Arcane dragon through and through.
Nahgahdinoth is most likely most like an Arcane Dragon despite not being one. This is probably due to the fact that although he was born in an Ice Clan he was raised nearly from birth in an Arcane Clan.
He is intelligent and intuitive. It also helps that he is the sole Necromancer in the Clan. As Necromancy is a somewhat obscure and very difficult branch of magic he needs to be both intelligent and intuitive to properly practice it. The dangers inherent in practicing necromancy makes him far more cautious than the stereotypical Arcane dragon. However, said difficulty also fostered a love of experimentation and a need (and it really is a need) to understand the mechanics of his craft.
Haven is likely the least Arcane-like of my Arcane dragons. In some ways she is like Malrith as she prefers her own company. Her personality is also on the surly side. However, she does have a soft spot for Hatchlings and beings that become Familiars. Unlike Malrith who collects knowledge, Haven longs to wander. However, this is not because she wants to study the world or collect obscure things. Haven simply wants to find a nice place to be a hermit to spend the rest of her days.
In the meantime she cares for Familiars and Hatchlings when others are unavailable.
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4. June 2016. Are weekends different for dragons from the other days of the week? Are there days when they don't have to work? Are there special days they just rest and have fun?
Weekends have no meaning for dragons in Ira’vighet. There is no designated day in a week that dragons do not have to work. However, Festivals disrupt normal working patterns for the entire Clan. For individual dragons leisure days (or at least an alteration in their normal activity) may occur when any type of ritual or rite occurs in their lives. These days include developmental rites, courtships rites, and Navnediem. More solemn disruptions may be caused by the sendoff of a dragon or Ild Avgårde.
The one day no one is required to work is Dannelsediem the anniversary of the formation of the first four Deities. There is a grand celebratory festival in The Nexus while individual dragons may also have their own ways of celebrating and honoring the day. Visits to the Temples, particularly the first four, are very common on Dannelsediem. It is also the only day where there is an official service at the Temples.
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5. June 2016. Is there anything artificial on any of your dragons? If they had no real need for it, just got mechanicals to be faster or permanent tail feathers to be swifter, how are they viewed? Artificial colors can count too.
Yes, some dragon do have artificial pieces like permanent tail feathers and the like. As it’s readily accessible to everyone it’s not looked down upon collectively. However, some individuals may have a measure of disdain for it as they believe natural ability is the true show of a dragon’s power. Conversely, other dragons may see such artificial pieces as innovative and clever. They often frame their opinions to Traditionalists as it being the utilization of natural intelligence.
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6. June 2016. What happens when you expand your lair? Does it involve paperwork and bureaucracy? Does it involve prayers to the deity? Does it involve fighting for new land? Does it mean moving territories? Are there houses ready, or does your clan need to get building?
When lair expansion occurs it means the borders of the Clan are widened and buildings may be shifted if necessary. The movement of buildings is fairly easy due to numerous transportation magicks. Border expansion is also simple as far as the literal expansion of the border goes. However, the border of Ira’vighet is very literal as it’s a line of protective wards. Therefore, the border expansion is done carefully and one piece at a time with teams of scouts and warriors to protect the dragons doing the literal border movement.
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7. June 2016. Is the new colorwheel going to affect your dragons? Are the new colors on the first dragons viewed as odd? What happens when a dragon uses a scatter scroll? What is your clan's opinion on the changes coming tomorrow?
Color is influenced by genes and the environment. The sudden expansion of the colorwheel is due to environmental magic shifts that have been studied by the scholars of Ira’vighet for the past few months.
As the phenomenon is being studied the new colors are not viewed as an oddity. Likewise the views on scatter scrolls has not changed. Dragons are either indifferent to the new colors or interested in the new possibilities. The Scholars and Mages with a genetic focus are having a field day with understanding the potential new linkages between colors, traits, and the environment.
~Question of the Day~
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I am sure most of you hatched eggs/nests today. Who are the keepers? What will their lore be? Who is a new dragon from the AH? On an other note: is your clan celebrating the birthday of the site in any way? Do they even know of it?
I forgot to set nests in time, but I do have some unhatched eggs, I hatched a nocturne one. I also impulse bought several dragons off the AH. The entire last page of my lair are new dragons bar one. Although not all of them have new colors, most do. As of right now they have no lore.
(These are unlinked because there are so many. If you want to see them full size go to the last (full) page of my lair as I said. That's page 4)
The anniversary of the site is not known to the dragons of Ira’vighet therefore they are not celebrating it per se. What they are celebrating is the day the first four Deities formed. Today is known as Dannelsediem.
The particulars of Dannelsediem have already been mentioned.
