Quests & Challenges

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag [center][b][u]Day Thirty One[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: 100 coli matches, festival, romance, festival [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eojtxe9q91m67tz/lighttop.png[/img][/center] Banith, having written up her first lesson plan for training her former subjects, takes Gabriel and Maelstrom into the coliseum to level up. Gabriel hits level five and, to the surprise of absolutely no one, decides to become the newest knight of the kingdom. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zh57bc4xsa06f9p/lightbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rjd4vcyoayr6t1m/lighttop2.png[/img][/center] To celebrate their newest knighting, Queen Stonefury held a small celebration in Gabriel’s honor. Looking out over her kingdom, the Mirror felt a swell of pride in her breast at how far they had come from their meagre beginnings as fugitives, exiled to the wilds of the jungle. The queen closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of a new life spark within her. She wouldn’t let her mother down - she’d see this kingdom to glory. And it would be Queen Stonefury who achieved their long-desired vengeance, this she swore. She would see their former kingdom [I]razed.[/I] [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/o8um59emz54a3gs/lightbottom2.png[/img] [img] https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5c92eu0ldp517xq/naturetop.png[/img][/center] During the festival, Banith and Gabriel grew close. While Banith would always mourn the loss of her first mate, Gabriel made her happy, and she knew Malek would approve. The Obelisk only wanted her happy, after all. He would be thrilled to see her find love again. The Tundra and Mirror laid a healthy nest of three eggs. Only time would tell if all three would make it to hatching, however… [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/nests/10/3healthy_0dead.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qm74b50l7x2kgjh/naturebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rjd4vcyoayr6t1m/lighttop2.png[/img][/center] Another festival? Yes - a traveling group had braved the wilds of the jungle to come perform in Havenshire, and who was Queen Stonefury to say no to a free party? Even better, two of the members decided to stay behind; a common occurrence, the troupe assured her, and one they bore no ill will for. In fact, dragons joining and splintering off happened all the time, and the traveling troupe was more than happy to see Windsoul and Nichol having found their forever home. That’s why the troupe traveled, Queen Stonefury learned. The core members never changed, but they gladly picked up dragons who wandered, and traveled in the hopes that they would find a place that called to their hearts - and for Guardians, help them find their charge, which in Windsoul’s case happened to be Ria. It was quite sweet of the traveling troupe to do so, and the queen made sure to welcome her two newest subjects warmly. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/o8um59emz54a3gs/lightbottom2.png[/img][/center] Two festivals in the same day? Sheesh. My guys really love to party, don’t they?

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag [center][b][u]Day Thirty Two[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: quest, train the newbies x3, death streak, and Beastclan attack [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ggbjrd9lce69ae9/arcanetop.png[/img][/center] As Aixa was in need of some more ritual materials after the series of resurrections he’d just performed, he and Ria set out to gather the necessary reagents for the Resurrection Chamber. Despite their intended use for necromatic purposes, these were common materials used in everything from cold medicine to tanning solutions. The two dragons gathering what they could and shopping for what they couldn’t didn’t have anyone so much as bat an eye. Which was good, because the last thing they needed was to get attacked by a mob of anti-necromantisists. Necromancy may be welcome in Havenshire, but that was the exception, not the norm. Not everyone was so understanding, they knew. And so they kept their silence as to their intentions, and no one butted into their business to demand answers. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6wlpvlzjg2yhu20/arcanebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eojtxe9q91m67tz/lighttop.png[/img][/center] Banith and Gabriel took every single dragon below level five - those dragons being Maelstrom, Chip, Nichol, Misha, and Windsoul - into the coliseum for a group training session. They’d need to know how to work as a team, after all, especially since these dragons had never fought together. There were some…[i]hiccups,[/i] along the way, but everyone came out of the training three levels higher. And even better? Maelstrom found his calling as the first engineer of Havenshire! The future was looking bright. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zh57bc4xsa06f9p/lightbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rssip7p2a67i6ll/earthtop.png[/img][/center] Tragedy called Havenshire’s name. Without warning, the magical backlash of a death streak snapped out at Chip. Just as the Pearlcatcher thought she was doomed to die, Maelstrom - who had been right beside her - body-checked her out of the way and took the strike himself. It happened so fast, within seconds, the kingdom went from a population of thirteen to twelve. And it was Chip’s mournful wails and begging for Maelstrom to get up that clued everybody in to what happened. [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/2/coli_defeated.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jib5m0amd6p9cqq/earthbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/bpgp2hj1ng7adfz/beastclantop.png[/img][/center] It seemed the dragons of Havenshire had decimated the Beastclans’ numbers in the last attack, as this one consisted of a patrol of centaurs employing guerrilla ware fare against the mightier dragons. While they were chased away from Chip and Windsoul, they managed to catch Gabriel by surprise and murder him. Joke’s on them; as a knight of Havenshire, Gabriel has three lives to lose, not one. And when he rose again minutes later, he was alone in the clearing - the centaurs having left triumphant in their ignorance. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/wabr3z0lfz4q3gh/beastclanbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/cb0tthmoj1g6yo8/shadowtop2.png[/img][/center] It was time. The moon shone bright outside, empowering the ritual Aixa was about to perform. Everybody sat back with baited breath as the flightless Nocturne went through the necessary steps, chanting lowly, before finally paying the price of blood for the life to be restored. Chip, Nicole, and Windsoul had not, in fact, been informed that this was a necromantic ritual - the dragons entirely forgetting they wouldn’t realize what their ‘sacred magical ritual for Maelstrom’ meant. They thought they were witnessing a funeral, not, not - [i]this.[/i] Naturally, they and the newly-risen Maelstrom panicked accordingly. It took some doing for the others to calm the newcomers down, pointing out that wasn’t it good that their friend would not leave them for the Gladekeeper just yet? Aixa proudly proclaiming that while some necromancers enslaved their shades, he had nothing to do with such rubbish helped. After all, Maelstrom was living proof of such - the Guardian wouldn’t be freaking out if he were under the Nocturne’s control. After a few minutes of adjusting to the shock, the newcomers reluctantly accepted what happened. It was hard to argue with having their friend back, especially for Chip. Maelstrom had been with her since he was a hatchie, after all. She could start to understand why necromancy was held to be a sacred art in Havenshire. She still wasn’t entirely convinced, none of the newcomers were, but…it was a start. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/53jvjgw65g4qmp6/shadowbottom2.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eojtxe9q91m67tz/lighttop.png[/img][/center] Once the part-ritual-part-ceremony was over, Banith took the young Misha and Thunderspear into the coliseum, the pair having just reached their majority. Thunderspear, despite being a shade, hadn’t had his growth affected at all, much to everyone’s relief. The goal for this session was night combat - enemies were hardly so kind as to only strike in the daylight hours, after all. And the two needed the experience. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zh57bc4xsa06f9p/lightbottom.png[/img][/center]

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag [center][b][u]Day Thirty Three[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: romance, death streak x2, Emperor dragon slaughter, new arrival x2 [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5c92eu0ldp517xq/naturetop.png[/img][/center] There was, in fact, chemistry between Falcon and Ria. The graceful Coatl and the feral Skydancer; an unlikely pairing for sure, but it was clear in their eyes that they meant the world to each other. And the love in their eyes when they gazed upon their nest of four, healthy eggs… Falcon went and prostrated himself anew to Banith, the full weight of what he’d done to her son finally hitting home. Only now was the tribal mantras he’d grown up with being pushed aside - taken up instead by the love for his children. Only now did he understand why parents would fight for their weak ones, as well as the strong. And it was now, for the first time, that Falcon wept for his fell deed. (Would that he knew that Aion survived…) [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/nests/10/4healthy_0dead.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qm74b50l7x2kgjh/naturebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rssip7p2a67i6ll/earthtop.png[/img][/center] The morning dawned with twin thundercracks splitting the air, echoed by sharp squeals of pain. When everyone burst out of their homes, it was to see Windsoul and Ria dead on the the ground, the last of the magical backlash that killed them crackling away on their scales. Falcon screamed, running over to his mate, but did not beg or plead. Only sobbed, pressing his muzzle against her feathered scales. He looked up at Aixa, and then at Windsoul, and knew: Aixa would have to make a choice this day. And Ria, the love of his life, the mother of his children…she might not win out in the queen’s judgement. And he would have to live with that, whatever choice she made. [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/2/coli_defeated.png[/img][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/12/coli_defeated.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jib5m0amd6p9cqq/earthbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/fz2s7alqwhoe3lt/plaguetop.png[/img][/center] Everyone hadn’t thought this day could have possibly gotten any worse, save for an attack by the rival Beastclans that hounded them even now. No. Oh no, what came for them that afternoon was much, [I]much[/I] worse. It was Thunderspear who saw it first. Who came screaming into camp about a giant monstrosity coming their way, starting a mad scramble as everyone rushed to get ready to fight for their lives - they had eggs here, resting safely in the royal nursery. Each and every one, no matter the clutch. They couldn’t just leave them! And then…[I]it[/I] emerged. A six-headed abomination, Imperial mouths grinning wide, eyes somehow hazy and unfocused, and yet zeroed in on them with a feverish light. Nobody had the chance to do more than gape at the thing before it charged, and everyone scattered to get out of its way before swarming the thing like an agitated hive. Every time the Emperor turned even vaguely in the direction of the palace, it was bombarded by a screaming dragon. Little by little, they led the lumbering beast away from their castle town, trying to bait it to one of the great lakes they knew to be in the Shrieking Wilds. With any luck, Gladeskeeper willing, they would be able to drown the thing. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately?) the monstrosity caught sight of a rather large group of young Serthis and immediately abandoned pursuit of the dragons at the lake in favor of barreling down on the now-terrified Beastclan. Not wanting to be ungrateful for what was clearly a blessing from the Gladekeeper, the dragons returned to Havenshire; horribly shaken, but alive. Well, technically. Gabriel got bit in half by one of the Emperor’s heads during the baiting attacks, but as he had extra lives he was able to walk it off, thankfully. There’d already been enough death this day. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/335f8rj4xzh00m5/plaguebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/x1e1ansl1hjjm1v/watertop.png[/img][/center] Misha came back to town with a bright grin on her face, talking about how she met a pair of strangers out by the crossroads and that they were interested in joining the kingdom! She just had to get the queen’s permission of course before bringing them here; she didn’t want to lead them here only for them to be rejected and leave the Shrieking Wilds with a direct route to their location. For all that Havenshire was well-known among other kingdoms, no one had yet to narrow down their exact location, for which they were grateful. Havenshire was still weakened, and if they were going to stand strong, then they needed the protection of the Wilds for a little longer. When Misha led Queen Stonefury and Nichol back to the crossroads, though, they found no one there. Poking around led to finding some tracks leading off into the jungle in a different direction, followed them quickly revealed that they were made in haste. Whatever happened, it made them run as though the Plaguebringer herself was on their tails. All too soon, the trail came to an end: with only smears of blood to mark their disappearance. What happened, no one could say - only that the dragons clearly weren’t here anymore. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/q7bzkdkcca4yban/waterbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/cb0tthmoj1g6yo8/shadowtop2.png[/img][/center] It was time. Sunset had come and gone, the moon just barely beginning to rise. “You choose who to bring back.” Queen Stonefury had said when Aixa had asked - in front of everyone, no less! No matter what choice he made, someone would hate him for it. Either Falcon would tear him apart and nail his tail to the door if he chose Windsoul, and if he chose Ria, Nichol would be devastated at the loss of his best friend. The best friend who’d finally found his charge, only to have his life be snuffed out before the victory could fade. Ohhh, [I]why[/I] did the queen have to be like this?! In the end, the flightless Nocturne made his choice. Moving carefully, almost rhythmically, Aixa drew out the required ritual circle and let his blood drip onto the chalk. He watched with baited breath as the dragon within twitched, and then opened her eyes again. Falcon wasted no time in rushing over to his love’s side, the two immediately broadcasting their affection for all to see. Aixa couldn’t help but glance uneasily at Nichol. The Fae stood off to the side, a smile plastered on his face even as tears ran down his cheeks. Guilt pushed him forward, and Aixa found himself standing next to the distraught dragon. “I’m sorry.” Aixa croaked. “I could only raise one.” “I-I know.” Nichol said, giving Aixa a watery smile - a real smile, one that broke the necromancer’s heart into pieces. “I know.” Aixa merely nodded, too choked up to speak. Besides, what could he say to that? Abandoning words, the flightless dragon elected to simply stand by Nichol in support. “Whatever the arrangements are for funerals where you come from are, I’ll see them honored.” Aixa promised after a moment. “Windsoul would have killed me if I’d made any other choice tonight. He served with honor, Nichol. He deserves to be honored on his way to the Gladekeeper.” ?“Do you…think he’ll be one of her Exalted?” Nichol asked in a hoarse whisper. “One of the chosen dead, handpicked by her to champion nature’s cause?” “I don’t think it, I know it.” Aixa said confidently. “Windsoul wasn’t here for long, but his devotion was so clear even a blind dragon could see it. Windsoul’s among the Exalted, I have no doubt - I can only hope we’ll be good enough to be similarly honored when the time comes.” He murmured. “…Aixa?” Nichol asked. “Yes?” “What happens to you when you die? You uh, keep the dead from the Gladekeeper, so uh…” Nichol trailed off hesitantly, not really wanting to think about the implications, but caring too much not to ask. “Don’t worry. Death is inevitable, it’s a part of life.” Aixa reassured him. “As for necromancers, well…the Gladekeeper treats us differently than the other gods. We don’t ‘steal’ the dead from her, not at all. Nature is life, you see. It’s all around us. And we borrow some of that power to call the souls of those who have not yet left us back to their bodies, that they may live again.” Aixa explained. “It’s all rather complicated, the intricacies of nature necromancy, but that’s the gist of it. It’s why I had to choose - I can only do a single ritual in a night, and souls don’t hang around for very long. Why would they, when the paradise held by the Gladekeeper awaits?” “That’s…wow. I never knew necromancy could be like that.” Nichol admitted. Aixa gave him a wry grin. “Me either. I thought there was just the one kind, but nope. There’s a lot of this world that we don’t know, and I’m glad to be here to see it.” [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/53jvjgw65g4qmp6/shadowbottom2.png[/img][/center] Wait, is this [I]worldbuilding[/I] I see? :O All joking aside, I have zero lair space so I’m delaying the new additions to the kingdom until I can get more opened up - which might take a few days, sooo :/ It was so, so hard to decide between Ria and Windsoul, since I’ve been wanting to breed them both into the kingdom, but lorewise Ria’s been here longer and has an already established job. It makes more sense to bring her back than Windsoul (not to mention the Guardian would be [I]furious[/I] about being revived instead of his charge) So yeah. RIP Windsoul. May your soul champion the Gladekeeper in all the fights for dominance to come

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag [center][b][u]Day Thirty Four[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: Emperor dragon slaughter, large quest, royal’s illness, 80 coli runs, and the sacrifice [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/fz2s7alqwhoe3lt/plaguetop.png[/img][/center] They heard it before it came. The lumbering behemoth, here to dole out death again. Unsatisfied with the Serthis, the Emperor managed to find its way back to Havenshire, all six heads gazing hungrily at the dragons in town. But even as it came, Queen Stonefury enacted an evacuation plan. They couldn’t drive it off, and killing it would be near impossible, so the next best thing for them would be to lose it in the Shrieking Wilds, and build up their town again from another part of their territory. While Liam, Ria, and Ria hurriedly rushed the eggs out of town, the rest of the dragons began dive-bombing the Emperor, clawing at its eyes and dodging tooth and elemental breath. Fire, nature, lightning, plague, arcane, and ice - each of the rotting heads had its own element, spraying beams of elemental power after its more agile prey. However, Aixa could not fly; as he was harassing its heels, a head whipped back and launched a massive fireball at the Nocturne, enveloping him with a scream. Just as the Emperor reached down to devour the fallen necromancer, Chip flew at it with a scream and gouged out one of its eyes. Roaring, the fire head flailed back, blood gushing from its face, allowing Misha to grab Aixa and [I]go[/I]. The dragons redoubled their efforts to distract the Emperor, before scattering to the winds. Bellowing in rage, the Emperor gave chase, smashing trees and buildings aside as it pursued its prey. But the jungle was vast, and its branches thick; eventually, the Emperor lost sight of them, and vented its fury on the surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, as planned, the dragons circled back to Havenshire, where they waited for Liam, Chip, and Ria to return. As soon as they did, they guided them through the jungle to their new home - with Aixa being carried on Misha’s back as they flew due to his tattered wings. Finally, the dragons reached the place where the trio had hidden their eggs. It was still early in the day; there was time to build shelters before night fell. They wouldn’t be anything fancy, but they would do until they had the supplies to make something more. But first. As Aixa and all the Mirrors got to work on that, the rest of the dragons returned to their ruined town for their dead. It took multiple trips, but they managed to retrieve them all and bury them in their new graveyard. They were not about to leave anyone behind. Not the living, or the dead. And it was from here that Havenshire would rise again from the ashes. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/335f8rj4xzh00m5/plaguebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ggbjrd9lce69ae9/arcanetop.png[/img][/center] Misha, Chip, and Gabriel head out to collect the more specialized supplies needed for constructing actual houses rather than the huts the rest of the kingdom was hurriedly slapping together. The sheer amount they were buying got some raised eyebrows, but after explaining about the Emperor dragon the shopkeepers actually cut the price in half! It turns out Havenshire wasn’t the only kingdom attacked by that rampaging monster, and the dragons here wanted to do what they could to help with the rebuilding efforts. And while they couldn’t just give away their wares for free, they [I]could[/I] apply as hefty of a discount as they could. Thanking the shopkeepers, the trio took their haul back to their new castle town - which really needed a name - so they could be stored for future use. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6wlpvlzjg2yhu20/arcanebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dq1t3zrefr7dxcb/shadowtop.png[/img][/center] The dragons soon learned that there was another, more insidious catastrophe brought in the wake of the Emperor. The rotting hulk had all manner of horrible diseases festering inside, and many of the dragons had gotten sicker and sicker as the day went on. But not got as bad as Queen Stonefury; by the time the others started to recover, the queen lay dead in her sickbed, her extra life spent. At least when she rose again, it would be without the sickness that had plagued her body… [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/g6lz5e8a94pu7n6/shadowbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5c92eu0ldp517xq/naturetop.png[/img][/center] “You can’t be serious.” Chip said incredulously, staring at Falcon as he sanded down their new tree stump altar. “I’m afraid so. The Gladekeeper-“ “I heard what you said! But there’s no way she could possibly be demanding us to [I]kill one of our own!![/I]” Chip shrieked. Queen Stonefury put a paw on her shoulder in silent warning, before addressing Falcon. “Why [I]would[/I] the Gladekeeper demand a blood price of us like this?” She asked. “What would she gain from such a pointless death?” “Oh no, it’s far from pointless. She isn’t demanding blood for the sake of blood; rather, she’s asking for a tribute. For us to give one of our own into her care, that they may join the ranks of the Exalted.” The rest of the kingdom just stared at him, slack-jawed. Falcon tilted his head, confused. “What? We live off her land and her bounty, do we not? The least we can do is show her our undying gratitude by saying farewell to one of our own.” He said, and Banith shook her head. “That’s- no, what- what makes you think they’ll be Exalted?” Banith demanded. “That’s only for the worthiest of the dead! Why would the Gladekeeper take a random dragon into her ranks?” Falcon just raised an eyebrow. “Because of the sacrifice they are making.” He said simply. “They are giving up everything for her for the good of us all. And what is more worthy than that?” “I…alright. You’ve…got a point.” Ria admitted. “Then…how are we choosing who’s, who’s going to go?” “Well, it can’t be anybody sitting on a nest. Or the queen.” Nichol pointed out, before whirling around to point accusingly at Aixa. “Or you! I know what you’re about to say, and no! We need you! And Liam, for that matter. You two are vital to the kingdom.” “I’ll go.” Gabriel said simply, stepping forward. Banith whipped her head around, giving him a look of horror, before the expression turned into heartache. “Are you sure?” Falcon asked.? “I’m-“ “No, I’ll go.” A younger voice said, and Thunderspear pushed his way forward to stare down Gabriel. “I know I’m the youngest, and that I’ve been a shade the majority of my life, but that’s exactly why I should go! The kingdom needs you, Gabriel - [I]Banith[/I] needs you. She’s already lost both her mate and three of her children; would you ask her to lose anything more?” “I- no.” Gabriel wheezed, an anguished look on his face. Thunderspear nodded. “Exactly. Besides, I don’t have a job yet. I’m not contributing as much to the kingdom as Ria or Aixa or Banith.” Thunderspear pointed out. “Let me do this. Please.” Gabriel stared him in the eyes, before shutting them mournfully. “That’s not my decision to make. It’s the queen’s.” Everyone turned to face Queen Stonefury, who looked like a deer in the sights of a dragon for a moment before schooling her expression. ?“Are you sure?” She asked, in an echo of Falcon not minutes before. “You do understand what exactly it is that you’re volunteering for, right?” “I do.” Thunderspear said seriously. Queen Banith stared at him for a few minutes, before closing her eyes in pain. “Very well. Falcon?” “Here. Take this; it’ll make you fall asleep within minutes. And when next you open your eyes, you’ll be in the divine presence of the Gladekeeper.” Falcon said, holding out a pouch to Thunderspear. The Spiral took it, eating the berries held within before curling up on the altar. He closed his eyes, and as Falcon promised, was soon in a deep sleep from the sedative. Falcon stepped forward, ceremonial knife in hand. “Thank you for your sacrifice, Thunderspear. You will not be forgotten.” He intoned, in the voice of someone echoing a long-remembered chant, before swinging the blade down. The sharp knife cut right through Thunderspear’s neck, and the young dragon bled out within seconds. There was a moment of silence, before suddenly, the Gladekeeper appeared before the altar. There was a shocked gasp from the crowd, before everyone plastered themselves to the ground. “You have done well.” The Gladekeeper murmured, before reaching forward and taking Thunderspear’s hand. She pulled up, and it was a ghostly one that answered. Thunderspear’s eyes widened in awe as he took in the sight of the Gladekeeper, before also throwing himself onto the ground - or altar, in his case. “Rise, Thunderspear; not as a simple mortal soul, but as one of my Exalted.” The Gladekeeper said, and with a flash, the elemental symbol of nature shone bright above Thunderspear’s forehead. His jaw dropped open in shock, and the Gladekeeper smiled warmly at him. “Thank you! Thank you!” The Exalted spirit cheered, even as the pair shimmered out of existence, taken to the Gladekeeper’s abode. Thank you… There was a still silence at the altar, before Falcon spoke. “And thus does the Gladekeeper reward her loyal servants.” The Skydancer said, before smiling. “Did you feel it? That warmth, that vitality…myself and two others were deemed worthy of being granted an extra life.” As the crowd began murmuring to each other in shock and awe, Gabriel stepped forward and touched his nose to Thunderspear’s golden helmet, the Tundra closing his eyes as he did so. “I will wear your armor well, little one.” He whispered to the uncaring gold. “Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.” [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/7/coli_defeated.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qm74b50l7x2kgjh/naturebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eojtxe9q91m67tz/lighttop.png[/img][/center] After [I]that[/I] shock, and berating her mate for even [I]thinking[/I] about leaving her alone again before their eggs had even hatched- Just- Like- [i]Malek-[/i] No. Banith knew she needed a distraction, and so rounded up Nichol and Chip for some training, as they were the ones farthest behind in experience. And while it wasn’t enough for them to select a career just yet, it brought them close. And that was as much as Banith could ask of them in the state they were all in. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zh57bc4xsa06f9p/lightbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/u7au4j6lhw9i5dd/lightningtop.png[/img][/center] It seems Banith wasn’t the only one distracted today. Maelstrom managed to blow up whatever it was that he was working on, releasing a huge cloud of smoke that drove him from his shelter. When the smoke died down enough for dragons to enter, his project was found to be nothing but a melted mess. Upset, Maelstrom cleaned it up, already going over in his head what he’d done wrong. He’d gotten lucky; had he clipped that wire with the battery just a split second later, that explosion would’ve been more than just a little smoke bomb. If, Gladekeeper forbid, an explosion of that magnitude [I]did[/I] happen, he’d better hope it took him out with it, or Queen Stonefury would kill him herself! [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/u2wvfk0jxtnwtwk/lightningbottom.png[/img][/center] Well that escalated quickly. That was just supposed to be a little short about how sacrifices work with the Gladekeeper, but dang. Maybe I’ll be able to start writing snippets like at the start again, energy permitting. We’ll see As for what happens if a terrible person is sacrificed, well…there’s a reason why the Gladekeeper told Havenshire that they’d done well The castle town is actually going to be getting a proper name now, to distinguish it from Havenshire the kingdom. Not 100% sure what I’ll be calling it yet, but you’ll find out by tomorrow

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag Whew, just got this out before rollover! [center][b][u]Day Thirty Five[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: train the newbies, festival, studied the blade x2, assassin discovered, and quest [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eojtxe9q91m67tz/lighttop.png[/img][/center] Misha, Chip, and Nichol went into the coliseum to train, and each went up a level. Misha chose to be a familiar caretaker, Chip an alchemist, and Nichol a name scribe. Or rather, an architectural scribe - a job the kingdom badly needed. The newest scribe threw himself into his studies, outlining the designs for sturdier houses, and any dragon not currently doing something else lent a paw to building the structures according to said designs. Not everybody had a house yet, but slowly but surely, they were getting there. As for a palace, Queen Stonefury was adamant that that be build last, and so the queen slept in the same hastily-constructed shelters as her people. Something everyone was grateful for - that she was prioritizing houses, that is. Sure everyone had a roof over their head, but nothing beat the comfort of a home. It was a bit late, and they honestly should have done this earlier, but their castle town finally had a name: Prosperity. Queen Stonefury hoped to one day have many such towns dotting her kingdom, but their population had never grown enough to exceed the capacity of a single town. Or rather, the one time it had, their population was severely decimated. Hope springs eternal, though, and a dragon could dream. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zh57bc4xsa06f9p/lightbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rjd4vcyoayr6t1m/lighttop2.png[/img][/center] To celebrate Thunderspear’s Exaltation, Queen Stonefury held a small celebration in his honor. She’d make it a grand feast, but they barely have any food as it is. She just thanks the Gladekeeper that the annual Springstorm began today, providing a plethora of insects for their larders. Her subjects were filled with vigor, but none more so than Nichol, Falcon, Aixa, Misha, and Chip - they all felt the signature warming surge of vitality indicative of an extra life rush through their veins, and celebrated all the more for it. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/o8um59emz54a3gs/lightbottom2.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/x1e1ansl1hjjm1v/watertop.png[/img][/center] Two new dragons arrived at the castle town today, run ragged and exhausted. It seems the Emperor was terrorizing more than just the jungles of the Shrieking Wilds, and had driven them from their hometown. As Havenshire needed all the extra hands it could get, Queen Stonefury welcomed the gardener and teacher into the kingdom - provided Cait Sith and Cain proved they could pull their own weight. There was no place in Prosperity for those who only took and didn’t give, especially not now. Given that they were levels eleven and five respectively, Queen Stonefury rather doubted they'd let her down. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/q7bzkdkcca4yban/waterbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/w57d8ll9nuqntn4/icetop2.png[/img][/center] It turns out, the things Maelstrom had been working on were friggin [I]bombs[/I] - bombs the shade tried to use to bring down Aixa after luring him away from town. Nobody knew exactly when the Guardian had come under the employ of the Beastclans, but the new craters in their territory were proof of his gross betrayal. While Aixa came out of the fight badly injured, he managed to take down the shade before the Guardian could kill him, ending his second chance at life. Chip, who had known him the longest, was absolutely devastated at Maelstrom’s betrayal, and argued furiously with the queen to bury him in the kingdom’s graveyard; an honor the others felt he did not deserve. In the end, the queen was firm, and Maelstrom’s body was unceremoniously dumped into the river Lethe, the nearest river to Prosperity, the current sweeping the traitor’s body away to an unmarked grave. [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/2/coli_defeated.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qn8aoui4u4bzgpa/icebottom2.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ggbjrd9lce69ae9/arcanetop.png[/img][/center] Banith and Stonefury headed out on a quest to help restock the kingdom’s larders with plants, meat, and fish - they had plenty of insects, thank the Gladekeeper, but not all of them could digest them. Ergo, more food was needed. Though they were honestly terrified of running into the risen Emperor again - a beast someone had starting calling Nero, and the name stuck - the trip was quiet, and the queen and her mother returned without harm. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6wlpvlzjg2yhu20/arcanebottom.png[/img][/center]

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag [center][b][u]Day Thirty Six[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: train the newbies, 60 coli runs, assassin discovered, royal’s illness, and sacrifice [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/eojtxe9q91m67tz/lighttop.png[/img][/center] Liam split off from Gabriel and Cait Sith after they finished hunting, explaining that he wanted to bring back a surprise for his niece. To say they were shocked when he came back a few hours later and proudly presented her with an ashmane chimera - a beast she immediately fell in love with and named Shard - would be an understatement. They congratulated him profusely on stealing such a priceless gift from the Beastclans, and chattered happily among themselves on how he must’ve done it. In reality, Liam just went home and asked for one, claiming that it was to further ingratiate himself to the royal line. He also claimed Nero’s kills as his own so it looked like he was still doing the job they had assigned him - what they didn’t know wouldn’t kill them. And his herd was quite pleased to hear about it. ?So yeah. He literally just walked in and took it, and not in the way everyone was imagining. The thought made him crack up inside. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zh57bc4xsa06f9p/lightbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/w57d8ll9nuqntn4/icetop2.png[/img][/center] Gabriel screaming was what alerted Banith to the fact that something was wrong. She leapt out of their house, rushing toward the noise, only to find her daughter carrying her younger half-sister, Starfall, in her claws, a strange, manic look in her eyes. “STOP!! PUT HER DOWN!!” Gabriel roared, lunging at Queen Stonefury, who was quick to skitter out of the way. “Gabriel, stop!” Banith called, making her mate freeze in shock. “Queen Stonefury, what in the Gladekeeper’s name is going on?” Queen Stonefury looked Banith in the eye, and spat, “This hatchling is an [I]assassin![/I]” [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qn8aoui4u4bzgpa/icebottom2.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/dq1t3zrefr7dxcb/shadowtop.png[/img][/center] “…Excuse me, [I]what?[/I]” Banith demanded, absolutely floor. “Your daughter’s gone mad - she’s going to kill our baby!” Gabriel shouted in a voice of panic. “[I]Shut your mouth, usurper![/I]” Queen Stonefury hissed, making Gabriel take a step back in shock at the sheer venom in her voice. “I know what you want. I’m the only thing in the way of you putting your bloodline on the throne. Ohhh, you think you’re so clever, but I see. I see.” “Stonefury, Gabriel loves you. He-“ “Shut up, mother! He’s tricked you. Tricked everyone!” The queen snapped. “He’s training up these little brats to be cold-blooded killers, I saw him!!” “I was playing [I]ball!![/I]” Gabriel protested incredulously. “That’s hardly-!” “LIAR!!” Queen Stonefury howled. “You’re a traitor, and your whelps are traitors, and [I]I’ll show you what we do to traitors![/I]” The Mirror threw the squeaking hatchling to the ground, and before Banith or Gabriel could react, sliced open the little one’s throat. Starfall gurgled, choking on her own blood, her little struggles slowly coming to a halt as she bled out. “STONEFURY!!” Banith howled, lunging at the queen. The two Mirrors began fighting furiously with each other, each holding nothing back. That is, until Queen Stonefury’s head snapped up and to the side in response to something else. “DON’T YOU DARE, AIXA!!” She roared, kicking Banith in the chest to buy herself the time to lunge at the flightless Nocturne, who was trying to sneak off with Starfall in the chaos. He yelped as she sank her claws into his back, and even as he dropped the tiny body to defend himself the queen was already grasping his horns before yanking back with a sharp [I]crack![/I]. Aixa collapsed limply to the ground, neck broken, and Queen Stonefury stood over him, flanks heaving with rage. “[I]No one.[/I] Resurrects. That little monster.” She growled, before rounding on her mother and step-father. “I AM YOUR QUEEN!! You [I]will[/I] obey me, and you [I]will[/I] dispose of those little monsters!” She howled. The group was beginning to attract a crowd, all of who were looking on at the proceedings in shock. Aixa was beginning pushing himself upright, shaking a little at the sudden death. “O-of course, my queen. I’ll go dispose of them immediately. By your leave.” He said, bowing deeply. Queen Stonefury smirked, a smug look on her face. “Go. Throw them all in the river.” She hissed gleefully. Banith and Gabriel could only watch in horror as Aixa left, making his way to their house. Their daughter was going to have all three of her half-siblings murdered, and there was [I]nothing[/I] they could do about it. Nothing at all. The pair returned home, defeated. Crushed, they sank on top of their still-warm nest, sobbing at the loss of their hatchlings. Soon, there was a knock at the door, and as soon as Gabriel opened it to see Aixa he slammed it in his face. “Wait!” Aixa said, shoving the door back open. “Let me in! Please.” “Why should I? You murdered our hatchlings! Our children!” Gabriel roared. Aixa flinched, before glancing around. “I-I know. I did. But please, let me in.” He said. Gabriel let out a warning growl, but let the Nocturne in anyway. Who then immediately shut the door, before slumping down with a sigh. “I didn’t kill them. They’re just hidden.” Aixa said quickly, and hope blossomed in Banith’s chest. “I don’t, I don’t know where we’re going to go from here, since the queen wants them dead, but…I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t.” “Aixa…thank you.” Gabriel said, relief shining in his eyes. “For saving our remaining children.” “You went above and beyond for us.” Banith agreed, giving the Nocturne a watery smile. “It’s enough that Moriann and Roy are alive.” Aixa nodded, a determined look on his face. “And if nobody else dies today, I’ll bring Starfall back. The Resurrection Chamber is sacred; no one will dare to trespass without invitation. I can do it without the queen being any the wiser.” He explained, and then yelped as he was suddenly hugged by the two grateful parents. “Thank you.” Banith whispered in his ear. “[I]Thank you.[/I]” [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/3/coli_defeated.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/g6lz5e8a94pu7n6/shadowbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5c92eu0ldp517xq/naturetop.png[/img][/center] Queen Stonefury was pacing back and forth in front of the altar, hissing under her breath. Falcon just waited; he’d seen worse (and more murderous) tantrums from his former chieftain before. The queen wasn’t physically attacking her subjects to vent her frustration, which already made things ten times better in Falcon’s book. He’d been about ready to wring Aixa’s neck for what he’d done, hypocrisy be burned, but Aixa had been quick to reassure him otherwise. Where they were hidden, he wouldn’t say, and Falcon wouldn’t push him. The less who knew, the better their odds of survival. His queen was still pacing, tail lashing furiously. At this, Falcon hazarded speaking. “My queen, you have yet to choose a sac-“ “[I]None[/I] of this kingdom is worthy!” Queen Stonefury snapped, shocking Falcon to the core. “B-but, my queen-!” Queen Stonefury was quick to round on the stunned Skydancer. “Did I [i]stutter?![/I] No one is worthy of Exaltation, no one! The Gladekeeper will get nothing from me-“ “Queen Stone-!” “-because I [I]will not[/I] give her anything less than her due! And her due is the worthy, not traitors and sniveling cowards!” She spat. “Oh, I know what you all think of me. But I am your [I]queen;[/I] my word is law, and my rivals don’t deserve to live!” “Queen Stonefury, please, I beg of you, reconsider!” Falcon pleaded. “The Gladekeeper will judge the worthiness of our sacrifice - we are running out of daylight, and we need to give a sacrifice by tonight!” “I don’t care!!” The queen screamed. “I [I]will not[/I] give the Gladekeeper-!!” A sudden brightness blinded Falcon, and before he even screamed and staggered back, a deafening roar assaulted his ears. He whipped his head around, blind and panicking, until he felt a gentle paw touch his face, and his vision cleared. It was the Gladekeeper. And she was standing next to Queen Stonefury’s corpse. She smiled at his slack-jawed expression, before turning cold eyes to the dead Mirror. “[I]I[/I] will decide who among your sacrifices is worthy of Exaltation.” She said evenly to the unresponsive corpse. The Gladekeeper turned to Falcon then, who pulled his wits together enough to prostrate himself on the ground. ?“I-I beg of you, mighty Gladekeeper, please, spare this ki-“ “Peace, Falcon. You may rise.” The Gladekeeper said, and Falcon pulled himself to his feet. “I have no quarrel with your kingdom. You all would have given a beautiful sacrifice, I know.” She added, and Falcon near collapsed from relief. “Thank you, oh merciful Gladekeeper. We will not forget this kindness.” He promised. The Gladekeeper looked at him, as though assessing his truthfulness, before she smiled. “Yes, I don’t think you will.” She said lightly, before shimmering out of existence. Leaving Queen Stonefury’s body where it lay, in front of the altar. Falcon wasn’t stupid. He knew he should be blind, standing that close to a lightning strike. But the Gladekeeper had seen fit to heal him, believed in Havenshire as a kingdom enough to spare them her wrath at being denied her due. No, he would make sure this never happened again. For all that chieftains and kings ruled over mortal dragons, the divinity stood above all. And so long as he lived, he would make sure that was never forgotten. [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/3/coli_defeated.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qm74b50l7x2kgjh/naturebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/cb0tthmoj1g6yo8/shadowtop2.png[/img][/center] With Queen Stonefury dead, Aixa was able to bring the hatchlings back from wherever he’d hidden them, much to the joy of their parents, and also redeeming himself in the eyes of those who’d been out of the loop. He’d even brought back the tiny body of Starfall, and it was that body that lay on the ritual circle in the new Cavern of Resurrection. Not Stonefury. For when the Gladekeeper herself strikes you down, what fool would be stupid enough to have the gall to bring you back? No, it was little Starfall who he was calling back to the world; and with a drop of blood, the tiny baby rose again, fleeing to the safety of her parents’ embrace. This would be a trauma not easily recovered from, but her bloodline was strong. Aixa had no doubt that the hatchling would eventually overcome what had happened this day. But first. Havenshire needed a queen, and when brought up, everyone looked to Banith. “No. No.” She said, shaking her head. “I will not. I will be regent until Starfall grows up, but I will never take the crown again.” Banith said, her voice cracking a little. And while that wasn’t the answer Aixa would have preferred, well. Stonefury aside, Aixa knew Banith and Gabriel would raise their hatchlings well. He didn’t doubt that when the time came, Starfall would be ready to rule, provided she survived to adulthood. And looking around at the others, he could see that they didn’t harbor a shadow of a doubt either. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/53jvjgw65g4qmp6/shadowbottom2.png[/img][/center] Wow, today was a doozy. Thank heavens for necromancers; Aixa’s really been heaven-sent for me As for Stonefury, well. Congratulations, you’re going to go down in the annals of the kingdom’s history as an example of the consequences of disobeying the Gladekeeper. Good job Sure, it was a madness roll, but do you really think the elemental gods care about that? Intentions are nothing; action is everything. And Stonefury’s got her killed :(

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag [center][b][u]Day Thirty Seven[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: scandal, death bond x2, Emperor dragon slaughter, festival, and 40 coli matches [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/u7au4j6lhw9i5dd/lightningtop.png[/img][/center] To say everyone was surprised when Cain found a tiny hatchling in the middle of his burgeoning crop field would be an understatement. The little girl seemed absolutely adamant that her name was ‘Captain Quebec’, and since they had no idea who she was or where she came from, they went with it. Liam took the Imperial back to his house to care for, as there wasn’t a shared nursery/hatchery at the moment. Parents had their eggs in their homes - meaning Liam had to be ready 24/7 to drop everything and run when they started hatching. To be fair, everyone knows how long eggs take to incubate, but still. Just because you know what day they’ll hatch doesn’t mean you’ll know [I]when.[/I] Some clutches hatch at an unholy hour in the morning, others in the middle of the day, and still others one minute from midnight. You never really know until the first little hatchie begins to pip. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/u2wvfk0jxtnwtwk/lightningbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rssip7p2a67i6ll/earthtop.png[/img][/center] Well, you didn’t need a scholar to detect death bonds, as irritating as they were. Cain and Nichol were currently in the middle of an argument about theirs, whereas Ria was being extremely protective of little Roy. Everybody has their own coping skills. Here’s hoping it doesn’t end in tears. Aixa’s a good backup plan, but even he can only do so much. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jib5m0amd6p9cqq/earthbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/fz2s7alqwhoe3lt/plaguetop.png[/img][/center] This tragedy was of their own making. It was the screams coming from the graveyard that first alerted everyone to the fact that something was wrong. Dragons rushed over only to begin screaming themselves as they took in the sight of the abomination trampling the gravestones of their dead. They had forgotten - even when they had to move graveyards! - that you [I]could not[/I] bury multiple Imperials in the same area. You couldn’t. Or things like [I]Nero[/I] came into this world, bringing death in their wake. But this. This was an unholy fusion of the kingdom’s first knight, and a little hatchling who had died too soon. Vitra’s rotting head roared, accompanied by the higher voice of Aquila. The twisted Emperor’s proportions were atrocious, due to the size difference of the two dragons that made it up: four wings of two different sizes tried fruitlessly to bring the desiccated Emperor into the air, even as the thing stumbled forward on three tiny legs, the fourth being much bigger. Aquila’s head peeled off the side of Vitra’s neck, her little eyes filled with hunger and malice. Banith screamed in horror, having known both these dragons well. And while only she and Liam were left who knew them personally, everyone had heard stories. And now, they had been denied their rest. Because they were fools. (Honestly, it was a miracle this hadn’t happened sooner. A twisted, blessed miracle. But now it was too late.) The twisted husk wasn’t nearly as strong as Nero, thankfully, due to being made up of only two dragons. But even then, it was still an [I]Emperor,[/I] and even an Emperor with a single head was a calamitous event. As the abomination stumbled forward, they could see the little form of little Captain Quebec lying broken in the beast’s footprint, having been crushed under the single giant paw. And then the beast was on them, and the dragons had no attention to spare on anything else. Cain went down first, crushed in the monstrosity’s larger maw, taking Nichol with him. The larger of the twin tails crushed Misha against a tree, even as Vitra’s head roared in agony as Cait Sith successfully clawed through both of its eyes. Little Aquila’s head raised itself as high as it would go, surveying the area while the bigger head was reeling back in blood and pain. The great beast tripped and stumbled, and crashed right into Banith and Gabriel’s house, earning twin screams of horror from the parents. As Ria didn’t immediately keel over, that proved that Roy, at least, had survived; something that was confirmed when he and his sister Morainn scrambled out of the wreckage like panicked rats bailing out of a sinking ship. The queen regent and her mate went into a frenzy, sending blasts of nature and water flying even as they bit and kicked and screamed. Eventually, the titanic beast fell, the maddened light fading from the tiny Aquila’s eyes. Cait Sith, utterly horrified, started screaming about which idiot buried the two together, eyes wide and panicked. Knowing Banith wasn’t in any state to answer that right now, Liam stepped up to the plate, explaining that Aquila had died the day he’d hatched - while Banith herself was still a hatchling. Was it any wonder she’d forgotten? And with none else who still remembered… That mollified Cait Sith, at least, though the mournful wails coming from Banith’s house told Liam his adopted aunt would be hating herself forever for this mistake. Because the little form Gabriel was carrying out of the wreckage was none other than Starfall, the little one having been crushed in the rubble by the Emperor’s bulk. Surprisingly enough, it was Cait Sith herself who went over and lightly smacked Banith upside the head, and told her it wasn’t her fault. Being as this was coming from an Imperial, it had more weight than if anyone else had said it, but it would take more than a single conversation for the Mirror to overcome the self-loathing that had taken root in her heart. Time would be the only balm for that. The dragons spent the rest of the day tearing the carcass into the pieces small enough to be burned. It was far from easy, and took many hours, but it had to be done. And when there was naught but ashes left on the wind, that was when Banith finally allowed herself to cry. [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/8/coli_defeated.png[/img][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/2/coli_defeated.png[/img][img]https://flightrising.com/images/cms/breeds/3/coli_defeated.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/335f8rj4xzh00m5/plaguebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rjd4vcyoayr6t1m/lighttop2.png[/img][/center] To say the queen regent was shocked to find a party all ready to go when next she stepped out of her house would be an understatement. It had been Liam who’d come up with the idea, but the entire kingdom had pitched in with a will. They wanted to celebrate Banith’s reign as their ruler, and their survival as a kingdom. They were insistent on the fact that Banith had led them successfully through catastrophe after catastrophe, and that horrible mistake or not, that deserved to be commemorated. Banith could hardly stop them, and so allowed herself to be begrudgingly dragged into the proceedings. Even then, you can only be wallowing in self-recrimination for so long, especially at a festival like this. Banith felt tears gather in her eyes as she [I]felt[/I] the warmth and vitality of an extra life blossoming in her heart and rushing through her veins. A look to the side showed a soft smile on Gabriel’s face, one that said he felt it as well. A sign of the Gladekeeper that she’d done well. Banith closed her eyes, tears falling from them, and knew that if the Gladekeeper found her reign worthy enough to bestow such a blessing upon their kingdom, well, who was a mere mortal regent like her to say otherwise? That evening, Banith, Gabriel, Cait Sith, Aixa, and Morainn gained extra lives. The party was a success on all fronts, and the dragons cheered Banith’s name long into the night. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/o8um59emz54a3gs/lightbottom2.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/cb0tthmoj1g6yo8/shadowtop2.png[/img][/center] There was no moonlight tonight, the new moon hanging high in the air. But that, too, had a power all it’s own; one that Aixa would be harnessing tonight. Little Starfall had been a shade, and so could not be brought back, for all that her life had been cut so brutally short. But Cain and Captain Quebec, well…that was another matter. And of the two, it was the Guardian who had once been death bonded with Nichol who Aixa raised that night. He couldn’t chose, and so had fate choose for him: the life of those two dragons held in the flip of a coin. And it was Cain who destiny bid him rise. Havenshire had been weakened, but it would be strong again. So long as Aixa yet lived, death would not so easily claim them. …So long as he yet lived. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/53jvjgw65g4qmp6/shadowbottom2.png[/img][/center] Eeeesh, that was a nightmare. I had forgotten about Aquila and Vitra being buried in the same graveyard until yesterday actually, and mentioned in the kingdomlocke server that the next Emperor dragon slaughter I rolled would be from them. Poor guys; and Aquila was just a baby, too :( But sheesh, [I]two[/I] death bonds [I]and[/I] an Emperor dragon slaughter in the same day [I]DO NOT MIX.[/I] Honestly, I’m surprised I didn’t lose more dragons than I did. Thank heavens for Aixa and extra lives! Seriously, I don't know what I'm gonna do if he dies. That would [I]suck[/I]

@ladyspibe @theawesomew @brandonjui @amubun @naranciag [center][b][u]Day Thirty Eight[/u][/b][/center] Rolls: 100 coli matches, nature’s gambit, death bond, train the newbies, and royal quest [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5c92eu0ldp517xq/naturetop.png[/img][/center] Falcon and Ria’s clutch hatched today, and birthed four beautiful hatchlings. Liam’s expertise ensured that all of the babies survived the hatching; and with it, their greatest hurdle to survival. The Skydancer and shade spent the majority of their time in Liam’s house, cuddling their babies. It made for a crowded building, but Liam didn’t mind. He knew very well what it was like as a new parent, to see your children for the first time. To marvel at how small and fragile they were. No, he would not deny the pair this. That didn’t, however, stop him from wishing the palace construction would just finish already. Everybody had a house by now, and so construction on the palace had only just begun. It would take a while, but it would be a grand, impressive structure - Nichol had made sure of that. [center][img]https://flightrising.com/images/nests/10/4healthy_0dead.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qm74b50l7x2kgjh/naturebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5c92eu0ldp517xq/naturetop.png[/img][/center] Misha and Chip found evidence that the ill-fated newcomers from a few days ago were spotted in the area, and went out to look for them. They came back rattled and shaking, and minus one of their lives. All that they would say about the experience was that they didn’t want to talk about it, and that the newcomers were probably dead. Nobody pushed them any farther about it. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/qm74b50l7x2kgjh/naturebottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rssip7p2a67i6ll/earthtop.png[/img][/center] Yet another death bond snapped into place between two dragons: in this case, Banith and Liam. Banith had extra lives to survive the ordeal should the worst happen, but Liam…Liam was a shade. He wouldn’t live if the death bond activated - something that caused Banith great distress. Of course, if Aixa died and Liam was restored to a normal dragon, and gained extra lives, that would be a different story. But it was also a lot of ‘what-ifs’ - and Aixa was too valuable to the kingdom to sacrifice. No, if Liam’s time came again, he would be content; his only regrets being leaving his adopted aunt and niece behind. But oh, how he would get to see his family again…no, Liam would not fight returning to that good night. If he lived he lived, and if not, well. Either way, he couldn’t lose. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jib5m0amd6p9cqq/earthbottom.png[/img] [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ggbjrd9lce69ae9/arcanetop.png[/img][/center] A dragon of royal blood was once again requested on the quest board, though this time it wasn’t for the Dragonhome Preservation Guild. No, this was a privately-funded endeavor; one where the client sought a treasure locked behind rather finicky wards. It was a risk, but Banith had the lives to chance it. She took Falcon and Misha into the Sea of a Thousand Currents with her, water magic allowing them to breathe as they broke into the sealed temple. Though there were a few close calls, the mission was a success, and the dragons returned to Havenshire much richer in treasure for it. [center][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6wlpvlzjg2yhu20/arcanebottom.png[/img][/center] Such gorgeous hatchlings…I love them all so much. If Hoarfrost or Nebula die I’m keeping them for my lair; the girls are way too perfect to be Exalted. No way am I just letting them go. Also thylasupial has claimed Nightshade if he dies so there we go Also, Aixa managed to find a freaking [I]dinosaur[/I] of all things today. Nobody knows how on this green earth he managed to get his paws on a Styrantrum, nor do they want to. That’s one sleeping dog the kingdom is content to let lie

Liam just loves being in death bonds, huh?

All death bonds all the time.