Quests & Challenges

Ah, new blood! New eggs! And... vampires??
Admittedly I had taken a peek at the Gate in your lair a little while back and was excited to see some very familiar faces in Atlas's bio! Gosh it's been so long since all of that. We'll see what sort of trouble this descendant gets into!
Also I absolutely understand the silhouette scroll dilemma. On the one hand, it's a nice item to reach a particular aesthetic, on the other hand, it doesn't necessarily have to be used to uphold a strictly defined physical disparity for a binary gender system. I just use it if I like a particular pose for a dragon better than their standard one. Maybe a little for lore reasons, if I feel strongly enough about it.
... I hope that doesn't come across as too political or aggressive, I'm really not trying to be lol. What I'm really trying to say is I agree with your feelings on this and I think you're doing great and I love the inclusion of trans/non-binary characters in your stories~.

Vampires... [emoji=special eyes size=1][emoji=special eyes size=1] I've also been getting more diverse dragons more recently, but I think in my case it's had more to do with how much I've learned! I'm what some might call cis+ myself (did some gender exploration, don't have a complex about gender expression, still identify with my birth gender), but I've experienced and interacted with so many more different people and expressions of self now! I've come a pretty long way from "ok I have one gay couple because I learned you can put same-sex dragons in Assay Bloodlines and that's stuck in my head now" lmao. I even have a dragon using it/its! (Actually two, one in my main lair and one in Roots! Although Rio doesn't use it/its exclusively - and I still have a bit of a Thing about using whatever pronouns are most clear in writing, so the introduction of this has been really subtle so far)

@Sabariel

Hehehe (I obviously don't have Estos anymore, but this is making me feel like I should bring in some werewolves as well into this locke!)

You didn't come across as aggressive at all! You reflected exactly what I've been thinking. Honestly, I think it was less my own hang ups stopping me form having non silhouette scroll trans dragons, and more concern that people would consider my dragons "not trans enough" or misgender them, and I just had to realize that if people do feel that way, that's on them and not me. But your affirmations certainly help reassure me I am doing the right thing!

@Leopardmask

I love vampires so freaking much, so it is making me excited to see everyone else getting excited about them too!

That's so cool thanks for sharing your journey with this, it helps me feel like I'm not alone. I always feel bad when I look back at my entirely cis/straight clans pre-2020, and I have to remind myself that what matters is that I am growing and changing now! I love that you use more diverse pronouns. I know I gave Anguilla xe/xem/xyr pronouns, but I definitely could have done better because I feel like I was constantly misgendering or almost misgendering xem. In the future of my lore, I want to explore more neopronouns. A while ago I saw a cool chart of flight specific neopronouns someone made up (I'll have to track down the source if I use them so I can credit them properly, I just know I saved the chart to my phone). It's a constant process, and I am excited to be making my lore more diverse!

----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/32#post_54601755]Previous[/url][/center] ----- [center][b][u]Day 23: Answers[/u][/b] [item=fungus cutter] Sentence: 20-30 Coli Battles[/center] ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86551097][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=1&body=52&bodygene=128&breed=21&element=9&eyetype=0&gender=0&tert=1&tertgene=111&winggene=131&wings=8&auth=0f139b700929696078bc6dfaa1afb08aa9db2c10&dummyext=prev.png[/img][/url][/center] Shingle was alone in the tent, looking after the nest. Octavia and Pearl were off having fun, doing flips or whatever, and despite himself, Shingle couldn't help but feel resentful. Why did he [i]always[/i] have to be the responsible one? Why couldn't Octavia and Pearl look past their adrenaline obsessions? He was kind of done with all the wild shenanigans, but that didn't mean he wanted to be responsible all the time. Just as he was feeling like he wanted to cry from frustration, a familiar face crossed through the opening of the tent. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87121424][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=1&body=75&bodygene=135&breed=21&element=8&eyetype=2&gender=0&tert=124&tertgene=170&winggene=114&wings=65&auth=318d46c8e8770d3966df6347004a56aff0d479bc&dummyext=prev.png[/img][/url][/center] "Oh, thank the deities!" Shingle exclaimed, racing over to give Taper a big hug. "Uh, the deities had nothing to do with my arrival," Taper sputtered. "It's just an expression, don't worry about it," Shingle said, giving the other undertide an easy out. "Are you okay?" Taper asked, changing the subject. "You look... upset." "I'm fine, seriously," Shingle shook it away. No need to bring Taper down with his relationship issues. "Look, if you watch the eggs, do you mind if I go get a quick drink of water. I'll be right back, and then we can do something together." "Of course, you look like you need a break," Taper affirmed. Taking a deep breath, Shingle emerged from the tent. He was trying not to think about the difference he felt around Taper versus around his actual partners. Instead, he went straight to the well that the residents of the clan had managed to build. It was some of the only safe water around. Shingle soon realized just drinking wasn't enough, and dove down within it, letting the refreshing water wash over him. He was surprised to find he was not alone. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84744590][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=1&body=87&bodygene=128&breed=21&element=9&eyetype=6&gender=1&tert=17&tertgene=111&winggene=131&wings=98&auth=7bc22c25476bfb7715a977c15dd2e31c36807360&dummyext=prev.png[/img][/url][/center] "Lister? What are you doing here?!" Shingle exclaimed. "Have you been living at the bottom of this well all this time? I've been looking for you." "Of course not," Lister laughed. "I've been watching you, trying to find the right moment to reach out. It appears now is a particularly important moment. It seems like you need guidance." "Wait, you've been watching me?" Shingle said. "Why haven't you told me! That's the entire reason I left the deeps, looking for you!" "It's not that easy," Lister sighed. "I'm a god now, a small one. The deity of love. I have certain responsibilities, and I can only appear to mortals if they are having troubles with love." A million questions raced through Shingle's mind, painfully aware there would not be time to answer most of them. He had to pick and choose. So, all he said was, "I'm not having troubles with love." "You know that's not true," Lister said softly. "You have feelings for Taper, and you feel guilty, because you are becoming a different person than you used to be, a person that is incompatible with the lifestyle Octavia and Pearl live. They are not good for you anymore, and that's okay. There is a time for pushing through and making things work, and there is a time for accepting that the relationship is not working." Shingle's mind was racing. How was she putting all of this into words, making it all seem okay, like it was the most natural thing in the world and not just an utter betrayal for the life he had built with Octavia and Pearl. "But they mean so much to me," Shingle protested. "And I can date them and Taper, the two aren't mutually exclusive." "I mean, it's up to you to reach conclusions when you are ready for them, but in my opinion, as your big sister, I think you will be much happier with Octavia and Pearl as friends. I don't think this romantic partnership is working for you." Lister said simply. "But the kids-" Shingle began. "You don't need to be romantically linked to their biological parents to be their father," Lister pointed out. "Why are you pushing back so much? What's stopping you? You know all these things deep down, and me telling you won't change your mind if something is forming a mental block." Shingle sighed. Lister was right. "I don't want to hurt them. They mean so much to me, we've gone through so many things together. I'm scared if I tell them I just want to be friends, they'll hate me, and I'll lose some of the most important people in my life. And I'm scared that without me keeping them safe, they'll do something stupid and die." "There it is," Lister said, eyes sparkling. "Sit with that for a while. Nothing needs to be immediate. But think about it. It's hard to see you hurting in this way." "How did you get so wise?" Shingle laughed. "It's the god thing, I think," Lister teased. "How did that happen, by the way? How did you become this?" Shingle asked, hoping he could fit in the answer to at least one more question. "You don't know, do you?" Lister said suddenly, as though something was dawning on her. "You really don't know what's going on here? What Shui is doing?" "No, why would I? He's very secretive," Shingle shrugged. "And we haven't cared about why, we just cared the challenges were fun." "Shingle, Shui's trying to become a god." [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87042621][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=87042621&skin=0&apparel=492,13801,13777,13793,13833,13817,13809,13841&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87416641][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/scry?sdid=3968977&skin=7318&apparel=21853,1253,1107,300,318,324,312&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] Glacier did not like being used for fetch quests. Her skillset was for the more brutal side of things. Murders, doing the dirty work. Shadowing Shui's every movement so she could gain his power. Not fetch quests. But Glacier knew that if she refused, she would lose her position, and she hated the thought of that more than she hated fetch quests. "Where are we going?" The wildclaw behind her asked, looking around. "To see your father," Glacier explained. "How that you are grown up, your time with Drew is done, it is time for you to learn how to carry your bloodline well." "What about Hurri?" Mato asked, turning their head back to look at the main camp. "Your father has decided that he is doing well enough on his own. It's you that needs some toughening up," Glacier said, looking Mato up and down with disdain. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/30081270][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=30081270&skin=0&apparel=29244,32034,768,23290,28149,32705,32701,744&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] "Ah, Glacier, thanks for filling them in," Shui said, stepping out on the snout of the giant skull and gliding down to meet them. "I'll take it from here. You are dismissed, until the time comes for Mato to be trained." "Training?" Glacier snarled. "I'm above [i]training[/i]." "You are not above anything, so long as I command it," Shui frowned. "You knew the conditions of your job when you took it. Now, Mato. Are you ready to be a god?" "No?" Mato said. It was the last Glacier heard of that conversation, and it confirmed her loathing for the task at hand. For a child of Shui, they had very little fire, very little drive or cruelty. And it was going to take a lot of work to train it into them. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84847674][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=84847674&skin=0&apparel=12900,431,44227,12914,20581,21848,12924,12931&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/79904493][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=79904493&skin=0&apparel=32410,448&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] "I mean, the base premise seems simple enough," Lewsyn said, taking a sip of tea. "Clearly those of us that reach level 25 are granted immortality, but beyond that, I have not been able to figure it out." "Level 25?" Hansel said, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Ah, excuse me, I forget not everyone understands the workings of the universe as I do," Lewsyn shook his head. "It is difficult to explain, so it's better that I do not." The skydancer had made a rather interesting conversationalist ever since he had arrived. Hansel quickly found out that if he put a pot of tea on the fire, Lewsyn would stick around until the pot ran dry and share his theories with whoever was gathered there. As someone who wanted to learn more about what Shui was up to, this was of great interest to Hansel. If only he would stop saying such confusing things and then refusing to explain. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/83964737][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=83964737&skin=50670&apparel=23028,23034&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] "Sorry to interrupt, but neither of you have seen Mato, have you? It's not like them to disappear," Drew said, approaching the campfire with concern written all over their face. "I was going to go hunting with them this afternoon. "Ah, let me look," Lewsyn said, staring off into the air as if he were reading something no one else could. "Shui took them. He intends to train them." Drew swore violently. "Maybe we can get them back? Or maybe they'll come back on their own? They have their own free will," Hansel offered. "You don't know Shui like I do," Drew sighed, slumping into a sitting position and putting their head in their hands. "I knew this day was coming, I just thought it wasn't coming yet." "We were actually just discussing Shui," Lewsyn offered. "We've been trying to sort out what he's up to." "Wait, do you not know?" Drew said, looking up. "I thought he would have advertised it? But I guess I could see the benefit to keeping it secret." "Wait, you've known all this time?" Hansel's jaw dropped. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?" "Didn't come up," Drew shrugged. "And I thought you already knew." "So what is he up to then?" Lewsyn pressed. "I must know if I have any hope of beating him." "Shui is gather followers - disciples he calls us. You know how sometimes on Sornieth, mortal dragons ascend to godhood and become minor deities? That's what Shui is trying to emulate. Only, to become a god, you need the blessing of all of the eleven. Normally there is an intricate ritual, or it's granted as a reward for exceptional deeds. Shui tried, but the eleven wouldn't give it to him. So he's trying to put together these challenges to manipulate the gods into giving their favour. The roses we gathered in the Challenge of Light? Those can only grow with the Lightweaver's will, but the tower, the challenge itself, became a machine to draw out the Lightweaver's favour by combining traits and skills she values. And it worked." Drew said grimly. "He's going to do it with the other ten. Then, he will attempt the ritual, without the will or hands of the gods, and ascend. Anyone who he has deemed worthy will ascend with him. Hence the promise of immortality." "Wow. Of all my theories, that's not what I expected," Hansel said. "That makes a lot of sense though." "Of course, if he himself is to become a god, he would view any dragon of his flesh and blood as divine as well, or at the very least want to ensure their ascension, which is why I think he's taken Mato. I do not know why he has not taken the same interest in Hurri, perhaps he thinks he is displaying enough strength that he doesn't need intervention. Shui has very strange values." Drew sighed. "I can't believe I fell for it all." "It's not your fault. With enough influences, any dragon can be manipulated. Any dragon can find themselves on the wrong end of a power dynamic." Hansel said. "And you did your best with Mato. And not all is lost, there is still time. I'll help you get Mato back. I swear." "Thank you," Drew smiled slightly. "Even after the time that has passed, I forget sometimes I don't have to do things alone anymore. Even with Shui, he barely gave me my support. It's nice to have friends who care." "Godhood," Lewsyn said. A thoughtful expression had found its way to the skydancer's face as Drew had explained, and he had clearly not heard anything else after that. "Now that will be a fascinating gamble." ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/34#post_54611182]Next[/url][/center] ----- [center]@Pocketdog @Lixue @pancakeswithabs @Brasil @Disillusionist @VeniVidiVici @sedge122 @Crescentstar711 @RedSiren @Khyriana @Aquasparky @Leopardmask @BarbaraFett @SakuraSundae @Jaspernoir @Glitchtrap @Sabariel @Aetherstorm @Mutequill @LaSilva007 @chippertowns @Tirtouga678 @Murvax @Drachenschwinge @Calyrex @Lightwolf57 @QuietGhost @queerkestrel @GrinningWolf24 @NewmoonWasTaken @LeafyGaming77 @Reshiramu @clementine2017 @MagicSpyglass @xobrynnx[/center] ----- Finally, some answers about what Shui is up to!!! [b]By the way, the following are dragons that I have hatched that did not survive the coin flip. If you want either of them, let me know, first come first serve! They will be around until they grow up![/b] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87583389][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/875834/87583389_350.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87583391][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/875834/87583391_350.png[/img][/url][/center]

Lewsyn is such a fun character! Definitely a dragon I'll enjoy in this story. Also, it's great to finally get some more thorough answers!

OKAY so my theories were half-right, I was just a bit ahead in the god part haha. Speaking of, Mato is not going have a fun time around Shui oof, he is not good father-material at all.

Anyways I feel the need for a: Lewsyn’s 4th Wall Break Counter: 3

S H I V E R S!!!! I love this so much I just am so impatient for the next update to come out!!

Well that answers the question! Shui here is trying to become a god. The only question is whether he will succeed or not. Also, I like Lewsyn and his fourth wall-breaking so far! Shingle is definitely not fitting with Octavia and Pearl since he has more braincells than both of them combined.

Lewsyn LMAO xD I love him just. Backreading his own chapter to find out what happened.
(also, last chapter I forgot to mention that Octavia's nest sounded like something off of r/stupiddovenests lolll)