Quests & Challenges

9940

November 02, 2019 08:54:37

This is Knick.

That is Knack.

Knick and Knack have always been at each other's throats ever since one popped out of their egg three seconds quicker than the other (both debate about who, exactly, it was, and it continues to be a sore spot in their relationship. Best to not press on it.) Feats, accomplishments, skills, and talents all were a measuring rod for the two to formally out-do the other, and their antics quickly earned them a reputation in their home clan, particularly after one incident that left the clan without drinkable water for a bit (again - best to not ask.) The leader of their clan demanded that their heated competitions come to a stop immediately, otherwise they'd face a permanent ban from their home.

Maybe, the two agreed (for the first time in their lives), their leader had a point. They hadn't been hatchlings for many moons. It was around this time that most dragons began to think about starting families, if not settling down entirely. Not entirely satisfied with how their last competition ended, they agreed (again!) that one final, massive challenge was in order - a winner takes all sort-of-deal. And it had to be subdued enough that their leader wouldn't catch wind of any of the ensuing craziness from the plan that they hatched...

Thus, the 200 Hatchling Challenge was born. Whoever could bear one hundred hatchlings first would be crowned the ultimate all-time winner of their life-long competition, and they would settle into a peaceful retirement of sorts thereafter.

Are you team Knick? Or are you team Knack? Set your wagers down below! (Or here, if you really want to.)

They'd also like to hear your opinion, so comment your questions for them down below. More about that here.

Who's currently winning?

KNICK is in the lead!

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Last edited on Dec 15, 2020 10:44:30 by Hyzenthlaay

[center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Introduction and Rules[/size][/font] [/center] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7f7fa701b926da868c46a758b113541d/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o1_500.png[/img][/center] [font=Baskerville]Sometimes, you log onto Flight Rising and say to yourself "well, I wasn't making things quite hard enough, time to start ripping up the floorboards with my fingernails." This can involve many things, such as blindly hoardeselling your entire inventory to start fresh from a blank page. Exalting your most precious dragons to remind yourself that all pleasure is temporary. Or starting two separate 100 Hatchling Challenges with a non-plentiful species. This is my shot at completing a 200-hatchling challenge, which is really just two 100-hatchling challenges rolled into one thread. It will follow the same basic rules of a 100-hatchling challenge... [quote] 1. [b]This challenge begins with the selection of your matriarch.[/b] She can be from your clan already, from the Auction House, have any breed / color / gene combination, be immediately RTB or not -- the sky is the limit. [LIST] [*]If you find that you're tiring of your matriarch's look, feel free to scatterscroll her, breed change her, or alter her genes as much as you'd like. The only thing you cannot do is replace her with any other dragoness after the challenge begins. [/LIST] 2. Select the first mate for your matriarch. You may retrieve him over the Auction House, borrow a stud, or pick a permanent resident of your clan -- literally the only requirement for him is that he's biologically male and thus can produce offspring with her. [LIST] [*]Note how this step says "first" mate. This is because [b]your matriarch cannot breed with the same dragon twice across the duration of this challenge.[/b] [/LIST] 3. Breed them once they're both RTB! Make a note of how many children they've had and keep it. Maintaining count is key. 4. When the hatchlings are born, you cannot just immediately exalt them or sell them over the Auction House. On the contrary, [b]you must ensure every hatchling gets a long-term home.[/b] This could be anything from becoming someone else's permanent dragon to being bred at least once in someone else's lair. Either way, they need to be kept by someone for a while before being exalted or exalt-trained, if ever. If you want, you may keep any hatchlings you get as long-term residents of your own clan. [LIST] [*]If you end up selling someone a hatchling and they change their mind and either resell or exalt it, then you are not held accountable for it; after all, the matter at that point would have been out of your hands. However, it might be wise to not sell that person another hatchling for the duration of the challenge. [/LIST] 5. Repeat the process from finding a new mate to sending the hatchlings off to find long-term homes until all 100+ hatchlings have found a place they belong! [/quote] [font=Baskerville]...but with a few special twists:[/font] [quote]1. Knick and Knack [b]cannot ever[/b] breed with the same stud. They're the competitive type, not the jealous one. Besides, their tastes in dragons are, like, [i]completely[/i] different. 2. Knick and Knack's children must all be given lore before being sent on their way. Just a basic summary of their personality and some fun facts will do; no need for a fully-coded biography layout or anything, but they've got to have something. Not only will this make the challenge more difficult, it will hopefully aid in helping these dergs find a permanent home - a little bit of lore goes a long way in making a perma dragon. 3. Knick and Knack may never breed with another Snapper (no matter how cute he is). They're crafty and know that the only way to a potential five-egg nest is through someone outside of their species.[/quote] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7f7fa701b926da868c46a758b113541d/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o1_500.png[/img][/center] [center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Interact With Knick and Knack[/size][/font] [/center] [font=Baskerville]This wouldn't be much of an interactive thread if Knick and Knack couldn't be, well, interacted with. Please feel free to send in questions, fanmail, and any little creative thing you can think of to my messages or this thread directed at Knick, Knack, or both of them. They will give you a response! Seriously, it can be anything - your dragons asking them for advice, an angry protest letter at how immoral their challenge is, fanmail from an adoring child fan, etc...I want you to feel like they are accessible to you! This isn't the RP channel, so I can't promise I'll go back and forth as them with you, but I want this to be a way to make the challenge interesting while we're waiting on that Snapper cooldown. ;) Particularly interesting interactions will be posted below:[/font]

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 02, 2019 08:54:59

Introduction and Rules

Sometimes, you log onto Flight Rising and say to yourself "well, I wasn't making things quite hard enough, time to start ripping up the floorboards with my fingernails." This can involve many things, such as blindly hoardeselling your entire inventory to start fresh from a blank page. Exalting your most precious dragons to remind yourself that all pleasure is temporary. Or starting two separate 100 Hatchling Challenges with a non-plentiful species.

This is my shot at completing a 200-hatchling challenge, which is really just two 100-hatchling challenges rolled into one thread. It will follow the same basic rules of a 100-hatchling challenge...

Quote:

1. This challenge begins with the selection of your matriarch. She can be from your clan already, from the Auction House, have any breed / color / gene combination, be immediately RTB or not -- the sky is the limit.

If you find that you're tiring of your matriarch's look, feel free to scatterscroll her, breed change her, or alter her genes as much as you'd like. The only thing you cannot do is replace her with any other dragoness after the challenge begins.

2. Select the first mate for your matriarch. You may retrieve him over the Auction House, borrow a stud, or pick a permanent resident of your clan -- literally the only requirement for him is that he's biologically male and thus can produce offspring with her.

Note how this step says "first" mate. This is because your matriarch cannot breed with the same dragon twice across the duration of this challenge.

3. Breed them once they're both RTB! Make a note of how many children they've had and keep it. Maintaining count is key.

4. When the hatchlings are born, you cannot just immediately exalt them or sell them over the Auction House. On the contrary, you must ensure every hatchling gets a long-term home. This could be anything from becoming someone else's permanent dragon to being bred at least once in someone else's lair. Either way, they need to be kept by someone for a while before being exalted or exalt-trained, if ever. If you want, you may keep any hatchlings you get as long-term residents of your own clan.

If you end up selling someone a hatchling and they change their mind and either resell or exalt it, then you are not held accountable for it; after all, the matter at that point would have been out of your hands. However, it might be wise to not sell that person another hatchling for the duration of the challenge.

5. Repeat the process from finding a new mate to sending the hatchlings off to find long-term homes until all 100+ hatchlings have found a place they belong!

...but with a few special twists:

Quote:

1. Knick and Knack cannot ever breed with the same stud. They're the competitive type, not the jealous one. Besides, their tastes in dragons are, like, completely different.

2. Knick and Knack's children must all be given lore before being sent on their way. Just a basic summary of their personality and some fun facts will do; no need for a fully-coded biography layout or anything, but they've got to have something. Not only will this make the challenge more difficult, it will hopefully aid in helping these dergs find a permanent home - a little bit of lore goes a long way in making a perma dragon.

3. Knick and Knack may never breed with another Snapper (no matter how cute he is). They're crafty and know that the only way to a potential five-egg nest is through someone outside of their species.

Interact With Knick and Knack

This wouldn't be much of an interactive thread if Knick and Knack couldn't be, well, interacted with. Please feel free to send in questions, fanmail, and any little creative thing you can think of to my messages or this thread directed at Knick, Knack, or both of them. They will give you a response! Seriously, it can be anything - your dragons asking them for advice, an angry protest letter at how immoral their challenge is, fanmail from an adoring child fan, etc...I want you to feel like they are accessible to you! This isn't the RP channel, so I can't promise I'll go back and forth as them with you, but I want this to be a way to make the challenge interesting while we're waiting on that Snapper cooldown. ;)

Particularly interesting interactions will be posted below:

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Last edited on Nov 21, 2019 21:33:41 by Hyzenthlaay

[center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Nests[/size][/font] [/center] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7f7fa701b926da868c46a758b113541d/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o1_500.png[/img][/center] [font=Baskerville][center] Total Knick eggs (including unhatched): [b]62[/b][/font] Total Knack eggs (including unhatched): [b]58[/b][/center] If you want a specific breakdown of the nests - how many offspring were born, which fathers were used - this will be listed on the sisters' bio-pages themselves for ease of access.

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 02, 2019 08:55:23

Nests

Total Knick eggs (including unhatched): 62

Total Knack eggs (including unhatched): 58

If you want a specific breakdown of the nests - how many offspring were born, which fathers were used - this will be listed on the sisters' bio-pages themselves for ease of access.

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Last edited on Apr 10, 2022 11:54:18 by Hyzenthlaay

[center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Badges, Profile Goodies, etc.[/size][/font] [/center] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7f7fa701b926da868c46a758b113541d/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o1_500.png[/img][/center] [font=Baskerville]Helping me by adopting Knick and Knack's offspring will be tremendously helpful, and as thanks, I have designed "badges" that can be added anywhere in your profile to indicate your usefulness to the cause. Wear your Team Knick/Team Knack pride with joy![/font] [center][font=Baskerville][size=4]Punch Cards[/size][/font] [/center] [font=Baskerville]For when you need to slip a curious dragon your business card regarding where you stand on the Knick versus Knack debate. [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/bcDBHI1.png[/img] [/center] [code][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/bcDBHI1.png[/img] [/center][/code] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4afw8nW.png[/img] [/center] [code][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4afw8nW.png[/img] [/center][/code] [center][font=Baskerville][size=4]Profile Badges[/size][/font] [/center] [font=Baskerville]I am interested in getting unique badges for this challenge to gift to people who adopt one, five, and/or ten dragons from the challenge. If anyone is interested in designing these, please contact me; maybe we can arrange something.

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 02, 2019 08:56:33

Badges, Profile Goodies, etc.

Helping me by adopting Knick and Knack's offspring will be tremendously helpful, and as thanks, I have designed "badges" that can be added anywhere in your profile to indicate your usefulness to the cause. Wear your Team Knick/Team Knack pride with joy!

Punch Cards

For when you need to slip a curious dragon your business card regarding where you stand on the Knick versus Knack debate.

Code:

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/bcDBHI1.png[/img]
[/center]

Code:

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4afw8nW.png[/img]
[/center]

Profile Badges

I am interested in getting unique badges for this challenge to gift to people who adopt one, five, and/or ten dragons from the challenge. If anyone is interested in designing these, please contact me; maybe we can arrange something.

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Last edited on Nov 22, 2019 13:39:26 by Hyzenthlaay

[center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Pinglist[/size][/font] [/center] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7f7fa701b926da868c46a758b113541d/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o1_500.png[/img][/center] [font=baskerville]Want to be notified whenever listings are updated? Give me your username and I'll list it below! Please do not be afraid to ask for specific pinglists (i.e. "ping me if you hatch a fae!" "ping me if you hatch this gene!"). General: @aquaticfeline @kiranagi @notchoco @blobfishlord @TheAwesoMew @REIBEETLE @DogeDog101 @Xayxayx @SakuraDryad @Rosesinger @fenshae @GoldenRidge @NearaMalfore @vibecheck @EnglishRose @Tidalgaze @inkfrog @AmethystSeaWing @Amphithere @Festivoog @astramaru @Fantivity @midnightserenade @grxndsxn @pupster1976 @Strangeflesh @eanthurium @Azureus @Lejsek @BlueEternity Skydancers: @BreezeFeather Pearcatchers: @BreezeFeather Imperials: @BreezeFeather[/font]

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 02, 2019 08:58:47

Pinglist

Want to be notified whenever listings are updated? Give me your username and I'll list it below! Please do not be afraid to ask for specific pinglists (i.e. "ping me if you hatch a fae!" "ping me if you hatch this gene!").

General:

@aquaticfeline @kiranagi @notchoco @blobfishlord @TheAwesoMew @REIBEETLE @DogeDog101 @Xayxayx @SakuraDryad @Rosesinger @fenshae @GoldenRidge @NearaMalfore @vibecheck @EnglishRose @Tidalgaze @inkfrog @AmethystSeaWing @Amphithere @Festivoog @astramaru @Fantivity @midnightserenade @grxndsxn @pupster1976 @Strangeflesh @eanthurium @Azureus @Lejsek @BlueEternity

Skydancers: @BreezeFeather

Pearcatchers: @BreezeFeather

Imperials: @BreezeFeather

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Last edited on Jan 23, 2022 12:29:11 by Hyzenthlaay

[center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Thread Q + A[/size][/font] [/center] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7f7fa701b926da868c46a758b113541d/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o1_500.png[/img][/center] [font=baskerville]If I notice that any questions keep being asked in the thread, they will be addressed here. Q: [b]Are all of Knick and Knack's children free for adoption?[/b] A: [b]Yes,[/b] under [b]two conditions[/b]: I haven't specified otherwise, and you are not adopting them for immediate exaltation, as per the rules of the 100 Hatchling challenge. Q: [b]If I adopt a hatchling, do I have to keep it forever?[/b] A: [b]No[/b], but the hatchling [b]must be "used" in some sort of way[/b]. This could mean it is bred, transferred to multiple lairs for temporary homes, turned into a travelling dragon, used in a gene project, used in another 100 Hatchling challenge...the point is not to ensure that Knick and Knack NEVER have their offspring exalted, but that they serve some sort of "purpose" before they are, or that the person you are giving them to intends to use them in some sort of way. Q: [b]How is this thread interactive?[/b] A: [b]I want this challenge to build the personalities of Knick and Knack[/b], and the main way I want to accomplish this is through users asking Knick and Knack direct questions/letters/etc. below. Knick and Knack are not passive baby-farms, as so many 100 Hatchling Challenges make their matriarchs out to be. I want people to interact with them! Send them letters and prompts! I want the challenge to unfold somewhat like a trashy but nonetheless engrossing reality television show. By helping me realize this, you are helping me make the thread interactive.

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 02, 2019 08:58:56

Thread Q + A

If I notice that any questions keep being asked in the thread, they will be addressed here.

Q: Are all of Knick and Knack's children free for adoption?
A: Yes, under two conditions: I haven't specified otherwise, and you are not adopting them for immediate exaltation, as per the rules of the 100 Hatchling challenge.

Q: If I adopt a hatchling, do I have to keep it forever?
A: No, but the hatchling must be "used" in some sort of way. This could mean it is bred, transferred to multiple lairs for temporary homes, turned into a travelling dragon, used in a gene project, used in another 100 Hatchling challenge...the point is not to ensure that Knick and Knack NEVER have their offspring exalted, but that they serve some sort of "purpose" before they are, or that the person you are giving them to intends to use them in some sort of way.

Q: How is this thread interactive?
A: I want this challenge to build the personalities of Knick and Knack, and the main way I want to accomplish this is through users asking Knick and Knack direct questions/letters/etc. below. Knick and Knack are not passive baby-farms, as so many 100 Hatchling Challenges make their matriarchs out to be. I want people to interact with them! Send them letters and prompts! I want the challenge to unfold somewhat like a trashy but nonetheless engrossing reality television show. By helping me realize this, you are helping me make the thread interactive.

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Last edited on Nov 21, 2019 21:27:08 by Hyzenthlaay

[center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Wishlist[/size][/font] [/center] [center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7f7fa701b926da868c46a758b113541d/tumblr_nj9kyb0AiI1r28672o1_500.png[/img][/center] [center][font=Baskerville][size=5]Find yourself rooting for a particular girl? Want to help me house their offspring? Just feeling generous? Consider donating to the cause![/size][/font] [/center] [font=baskerville]These are items that could potentially help the girls on their journey to parenthood. When gifting, please specify what you want done with the items (for example, if gifting a swiftbrood boon, specify which girl you want it given to). [b]Breeding items[/b]:[/font] [item=Swiftbrood Boon] [font=baskerville][b]Space Expanding Items:[/b][/font] [item=Earth Runestone][item=Primary Gene: Clown][item=Wind Runestone][item=Mystic Bark Mask][item=Princess Petal Gecko] [font=baskerville]Treasure/gems and well-wishes are nice as well.[/font]

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 02, 2019 08:59:06

Wishlist

Find yourself rooting for a particular girl? Want to help me house their offspring? Just feeling generous? Consider donating to the cause!

These are items that could potentially help the girls on their journey to parenthood. When gifting, please specify what you want done with the items (for example, if gifting a swiftbrood boon, specify which girl you want it given to).

Breeding items:

Space Expanding Items:

Treasure/gems and well-wishes are nice as well.

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Last edited on Nov 21, 2019 20:16:13 by Hyzenthlaay

There's a few things I need to fix, but this thread is open for business!

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 21, 2019 21:36:32

There's a few things I need to fix, but this thread is open for business!

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

[center][font=baskerville]Chapter 1: Beginnings[/font][/center] [font=Baskerville] The Mother's face was usually one of stoic kindness, rarely moving from its gentle smile. In fact, even now the tinges of a smile sat in her mouth, but it wavered as she spoke. A guardian stood by her side, obviously waiting for matters to draw to a close so he could proceed with more important conversation. [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=49881561] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/498816/49881561_350.png[/img] [/url] "Girls - well, I suppose I shouldn't call you that anymore, should I?" She paused, leaving Knick and Knack to find out on their own from the ensuing pause that it was not, in fact, a rhetorical question. [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=56392495] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/563925/56392495_350.png[/img] [/url] "No m'aam," Knick responded curtly. Even under dire circumstances, politeness did not come naturally to her. [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=56392496] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/563925/56392496_350.png[/img] [/url] Knack, careful in her response, took longer to respond, and settled on the following: "I suppose that we are adults." "No," Bitestrith said, shaking her head. "You don't [i]suppose[/i] that you are adults. You are adults." Her tone of voice was that of a disappointed mother. What with her formal clan title being "The Mother" and having several hatchlings herself, she had plenty of practice. Knick and Knack nodded dumbly, both wishing for a quick end to the current discussion. "Anyway, the water situation is being rectified as we speak. Ark has secured a temporary source that, praise to the Arcanist and Their infinite luck, will provide just enough drinkable water for [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?p=lair&id=452562&tab=dragon&did=50518553]both lairs[/url] until we can sort out your foolishness." "Mother," Knick interjected, "I can absolutely explain what happened there. You see, [i]Knack[/i]..." "Knick, I don't care what your sister did or didn't do. All I know is that for whatever reason, you though endangering the clan's water supply was a good enough sacrifice for getting one over on your sister. The same goes for you as well, Knack" - whose face threatened to contort into a smile at her sister's admonishment - "because as I understand, changing our water supply was your idea to begin with." "Hey, now. I was only trying to help out the clan! Y'know, give us more water or whatever, so we wouldn't run out." "First of all, even if that were true, I doubt flooding over our well was the way to go about it -" "And besides, you didn't even plan it out, idiot. You just stole a spellbook from the mages and starting chanting random water magics. If you had spent half a second figuring out what you were reading, you would have [i]known[/i] that you were summoning a typhoon." "I think the words 'storm of water, grant us your boon, open yourself to a great typhoon' are open for interpretation, frankly." "It literally has the word typhoon in it, idiot." "You're the idiot." "At least [i]I[/i] didn't flood out a bunch of homeless dergs." "At least [i]I[/i] didn't mess up the temperature inside the spire trying to dry up all of the water. I didn't even know scales could sunburn." [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=49881562] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/498816/49881562_350.png[/img] [/url] "You're both idiots," the male guardian muttered. He didn't interject in her politics, knowing his place, but sometimes, it was difficult to keep his opinions to himself. Bitestrith made a gentle jab at the guardian in a universal signal of "you're right, but shut up" and cleared her throat. "I can't believe I'm saying this to fully grown adults, but I frankly don't care who started what. What matters is that this is just one of many great disruptions you've made on clan life in a relatively short period of time. I know you girls - [i]adults[/i] - like trying to outshine the other, but this is getting to a dangerous point." Knack smiled, clearly jumping at the opportunity to respond with something snarky. "It's not 'outshining' if I'm simply better at helping others out, Mother." "Helping others ou-[i]who[/i] has been volunteering at the library ever since she was out of the egg? Because I sure haven't seen you so much as pick up a book since then!" "Oh, organizing books, the greatest sacrifice made to dragonkind. Talk to me when you've built dens for our refugee camps." "Dens that I immediately had to repair because of their construction," the Guardian mumbled once again. Bitestrith was kind enough to not mention [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?p=lair&id=452562&tab=dragon&did=49927254]Verona's[/url], the head librarian, disdain for Knack's uncanny talent for never filing away tomes correctly. "Knick, Knack," Bitestrith sidled into the middle of their budding argument, always the mediator, "have you considered that your competitions would be more meaningful if you actually liked what you were doing?" Her suggestion went unnoticed as the two increased the volume of their argument. "I won 'best claws' in that sculpting competition, Knick! I could build a den out of twigs better than you could with all of the materials in the world!" "Fitting, because your head is full of them." "What, twigs? That doesn't even make sense!" "You don't even make sense." "I'm going to-" "[i]Okay, you know what[/i]?" Bitestrith yelled in an uncharacteristically loud tone of voice. "Let me offer you two an alternative - end the competitions, or you're banned from Mavenlark." "[i]What[/i]?" the two yelled at the same time, breaking the flow of their argument. "You have no intention to correct your current behavior, and your absolute disrespect for myself and Ark's time" - she motioned to the Guardian, who was smiling at the ensuing commotion - "convinces me of such. As the head of Mavenlark, I will personally see to it that you will be removed from this clan if I catch wind of any more of your stupid schemes to outdo the other. This is not negotiable." "You can't do that! The other dragons will vote you down!" Knack exclaimed. "Will they?" The guardian Ark finally spoke aloud, amused by what was unfolding in front of him. "I have it on good authority that almost every member of the clan is growing tired of your antics. They would jump at the opportunity to get you removed from the clan if it meant a little more peace around these parts." "But our mother would-" Knack was cut off by a flare of Bitestrith's wings. 'As I have been attempting to remind you, you are both [i]adults[/i]. You cannot rely on your mother forever."She looked at Ark and nodded, satisfied. "That is that, you two. We're taking our leave to sort out more of your mess. With any luck, this will be the last time we will ever have to do so. Am I making myself clear?" The two nodded quickly. Bitestrith's smile returned in full force. "Excellent. Take care now."[/font] ------------- [font=Baskerville]"...so it's decided." "I mean, it's a fair challenge, I'll grant you that, but are you sure it's even possible?" Knack smiled. "You know me, sister. Would I ever propose an impossible challenge?" "If it would benefit you." "No benefits here. We see who can bear one hundred hatchlings the quickest, compose our image as loving family dragons, and with that replacing our past of, ahem, 'antics', we can start as new dragons. It'll be our last competition." "I didn't know that many dragons resented us in the clan," Knack said sadly. Knick shook her head. "I'm sure that the Mother was just exaggerating. Probably." "One hundred hatchlings," Knick said. "Wow. I can't even fathom how we're going to take care of them all." "You know how easy Snappers are. We grow up in, like, a week." "Yeah, but even a week of hatchling seems like a lot of responsibility." "Aww, is my little baby sister Knick backing out already?" "Hey! You know I'm the oldest! And I'm not!" Knick grinned. "Then it's game on, little sister. Game on."[/font]

Hyzenthlaay

9940

November 21, 2019 22:30:33

Chapter 1: Beginnings

The Mother's face was usually one of stoic kindness, rarely moving from its gentle smile. In fact, even now the tinges of a smile sat in her mouth, but it wavered as she spoke. A guardian stood by her side, obviously waiting for matters to draw to a close so he could proceed with more important conversation.

"Girls - well, I suppose I shouldn't call you that anymore, should I?" She paused, leaving Knick and Knack to find out on their own from the ensuing pause that it was not, in fact, a rhetorical question.

"No m'aam," Knick responded curtly. Even under dire circumstances, politeness did not come naturally to her.

Knack, careful in her response, took longer to respond, and settled on the following: "I suppose that we are adults."

"No," Bitestrith said, shaking her head. "You don't suppose that you are adults. You are adults." Her tone of voice was that of a disappointed mother. What with her formal clan title being "The Mother" and having several hatchlings herself, she had plenty of practice. Knick and Knack nodded dumbly, both wishing for a quick end to the current discussion.

"Anyway, the water situation is being rectified as we speak. Ark has secured a temporary source that, praise to the Arcanist and Their infinite luck, will provide just enough drinkable water for both lairs until we can sort out your foolishness."

"Mother," Knick interjected, "I can absolutely explain what happened there. You see, Knack..."

"Knick, I don't care what your sister did or didn't do. All I know is that for whatever reason, you though endangering the clan's water supply was a good enough sacrifice for getting one over on your sister. The same goes for you as well, Knack" - whose face threatened to contort into a smile at her sister's admonishment - "because as I understand, changing our water supply was your idea to begin with."

"Hey, now. I was only trying to help out the clan! Y'know, give us more water or whatever, so we wouldn't run out."

"First of all, even if that were true, I doubt flooding over our well was the way to go about it -"

"And besides, you didn't even plan it out, idiot. You just stole a spellbook from the mages and starting chanting random water magics. If you had spent half a second figuring out what you were reading, you would have known that you were summoning a typhoon."

"I think the words 'storm of water, grant us your boon, open yourself to a great typhoon' are open for interpretation, frankly."

"It literally has the word typhoon in it, idiot."

"You're the idiot."

"At least I didn't flood out a bunch of homeless dergs."

"At least I didn't mess up the temperature inside the spire trying to dry up all of the water. I didn't even know scales could sunburn."

"You're both idiots," the male guardian muttered. He didn't interject in her politics, knowing his place, but sometimes, it was difficult to keep his opinions to himself. Bitestrith made a gentle jab at the guardian in a universal signal of "you're right, but shut up" and cleared her throat.

"I can't believe I'm saying this to fully grown adults, but I frankly don't care who started what. What matters is that this is just one of many great disruptions you've made on clan life in a relatively short period of time. I know you girls - adults - like trying to outshine the other, but this is getting to a dangerous point." Knack smiled, clearly jumping at the opportunity to respond with something snarky.

"It's not 'outshining' if I'm simply better at helping others out, Mother."

"Helping others ou-who has been volunteering at the library ever since she was out of the egg? Because I sure haven't seen you so much as pick up a book since then!"

"Oh, organizing books, the greatest sacrifice made to dragonkind. Talk to me when you've built dens for our refugee camps."

"Dens that I immediately had to repair because of their construction," the Guardian mumbled once again. Bitestrith was kind enough to not mention Verona's, the head librarian, disdain for Knack's uncanny talent for never filing away tomes correctly.

"Knick, Knack," Bitestrith sidled into the middle of their budding argument, always the mediator, "have you considered that your competitions would be more meaningful if you actually liked what you were doing?"

Her suggestion went unnoticed as the two increased the volume of their argument.

"I won 'best claws' in that sculpting competition, Knick! I could build a den out of twigs better than you could with all of the materials in the world!"

"Fitting, because your head is full of them."

"What, twigs? That doesn't even make sense!"

"You don't even make sense."

"I'm going to-"

"Okay, you know what?" Bitestrith yelled in an uncharacteristically loud tone of voice. "Let me offer you two an alternative - end the competitions, or you're banned from Mavenlark."

"What?" the two yelled at the same time, breaking the flow of their argument.

"You have no intention to correct your current behavior, and your absolute disrespect for myself and Ark's time" - she motioned to the Guardian, who was smiling at the ensuing commotion - "convinces me of such. As the head of Mavenlark, I will personally see to it that you will be removed from this clan if I catch wind of any more of your stupid schemes to outdo the other. This is not negotiable."

"You can't do that! The other dragons will vote you down!" Knack exclaimed.

"Will they?" The guardian Ark finally spoke aloud, amused by what was unfolding in front of him. "I have it on good authority that almost every member of the clan is growing tired of your antics. They would jump at the opportunity to get you removed from the clan if it meant a little more peace around these parts."

"But our mother would-"

Knack was cut off by a flare of Bitestrith's wings. 'As I have been attempting to remind you, you are both adults. You cannot rely on your mother forever."She looked at Ark and nodded, satisfied. "That is that, you two. We're taking our leave to sort out more of your mess. With any luck, this will be the last time we will ever have to do so. Am I making myself clear?"

The two nodded quickly. Bitestrith's smile returned in full force.

"Excellent. Take care now."

"...so it's decided."

"I mean, it's a fair challenge, I'll grant you that, but are you sure it's even possible?"

Knack smiled. "You know me, sister. Would I ever propose an impossible challenge?"

"If it would benefit you."

"No benefits here. We see who can bear one hundred hatchlings the quickest, compose our image as loving family dragons, and with that replacing our past of, ahem, 'antics', we can start as new dragons. It'll be our last competition."

"I didn't know that many dragons resented us in the clan," Knack said sadly. Knick shook her head.

"I'm sure that the Mother was just exaggerating. Probably."

"One hundred hatchlings," Knick said. "Wow. I can't even fathom how we're going to take care of them all."

"You know how easy Snappers are. We grow up in, like, a week."

"Yeah, but even a week of hatchling seems like a lot of responsibility."

"Aww, is my little baby sister Knick backing out already?"

"Hey! You know I'm the oldest! And I'm not!"

Knick grinned. "Then it's game on, little sister. Game on."

tundra monolair (except when i'm not)

Knick and Knack are going to be bred now! Drumroll for their first time, please. I bred Knick first with this fine gentleman, a traveling tea sommelier. [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=51775906] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/517760/51775906_350.png[/img] [/url] Their nest was... [img]https://flightrising.com/images/nests/9/3healthy_0dead.png[/img] Three eggs big! Not a bad start. Then, we have Knack. She chose this similarly-patterned Nocturne for some baby-blues. [url=https://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=55241400] [img]https://flightrising.com/rendern/350/552415/55241400_350.png[/img] [/url] Her egg count is... [img]https://flightrising.com/images/nests/9/2healthy_0dead.png[/img] Two! Not too far behind her sister, but already lagging behind. Hmm...

Hyzenthlaay