Quests & Challenges

Eyyyy, welcome back!!! Good to see you writing again~ Excited to see what happens in the 'locke from here - and will of course be checking out your og lore~.
A lot to react to in this chapter, so mostly I'm just AAHHHHHHH-
I'd forgotten about Bloodrush and I love her all over again (I think I'm going to have to go back and reread some stuff, my memory is spotty lol).

You're baaaaack! I actually gritted my teeth when I first saw this chapter at work, because I wanted so badly to read it then and there! But I'm home and can actually concentrate on it now. X3

Having Vashta's and Kirin's training scenes back-to-back was a nice touch! Love the contrast between the two learning experiences, and I'm glad we got to see Vashta heading off to a better (after)life.

On that same note, it was nice to see how Capriccio and the Gaolers are handling childcare in very different circumstances. It made me a bit sad actually; in a kinder environment, they probably would've all been good pals.

@Calyrex

It's great to be back!!! It's always sad to write dragons who never really got a chance to shine, it's hard to know which is worse, killing off a character who never got to realize their potential, or a character who is a big part of the story. And it was very fun to bring in more reaper lore!!!

@Sabariel

Thank you!!! It's good to see you again! I'm excited to see what you think of the rest of this locke, and my OG lore!
Honestly, I don't blame you for not remembering everything, it's been a while and even I was in desperate need of a refresher!

@Disillusionist

EEEEEEEEEE I'M BACK!!!

Until you pointed it out, I never realized just how those scenes do mirror each other, it really does help put a lot in context, for both the reapers and the hatchlings.

I get so sad when I think of what things would be like for Capriccio if he could have been a part of Ishtar's Disciples with Zarzuela, especially when Hansel was still alive. Capriccio and Hansel would have been such good friends! But alas, what is a story without tragedy?

----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/97#post_57442396]Previous[/url][/center] ----- [center][b][u]Day 80: Art Day[/u][/b] [item=wave cutter] Sentence: Art[/center] ----- I decided to draw Arctic, because even though I started doing art seriously too late to do a drawing for every dragon in my modern breed alphabet legacy challenge, I'm at just the right point to try to do an art piece for every member of my gaoler alphabet legacy challenge!!! (And by that I mean every heir and mate, I probably won't do all the spares). To kick it off, here is Arctic, on her centuries-long wander of the Southern Icefields in search of her daughter Bodil. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/a29b6bd59c376912cb36726594b596a5/0869cbceb692978f-d9/s1280x1920/59a2450fd0662a22eb38aa9531b433fd4f42d029.png[/img][/center] ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/98#post_57519915]Next[/url][/center] ----- [center]@pinglist-3016[/center] -----

If you're cold, she's cold, let her in </3.
I love the effect of the snow you did, it really sells the effect of cold blistering snow. Also love how you drew her apparel, I always enjoy seeing ancient dragons all dressed up.

@Lixue [quote]If you're cold, she's cold, let her in </3.[/quote] This made me laugh omg, I love it!!! Thanks! There's a cool snowfall brush on Procreate that helped a lot with that! I got quite lucky in the fact that her accent looks so much like clothes! Every fest now I am buying every gaoler skin or accent I see so I can have some fun designs and make the members of this lineage look unique! unfortunately, I don't have anything yet that suits Andru, Brokentusk, and [s]Bulkyclaw[/s] Bartleby. Maybe I'll browse the AH today to see if I can find something that fits anyone.

Art!!! It's nice to see Arctic again, I love how you rendered her cloth and silks~

@Sabariel

Thanks!!! I'm glad you like it, she was a lot of fun to draw!

----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/98#post_57464656]Previous[/url][/center] ----- [center][b][u]Day 81: The Heart Wants What It Wants[/u][/b] [item=pelagas feathers] Sentence: 10-20 Coli Battles[/center] ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91947016][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=91947016&skin=0&apparel=6032,6026,749,2318,10752&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/static/cms/familiar/art/21425.png[/img][/center] “Eyyyyyy Barty, how are you doing?” Firework winked at the serthis, not getting up from his throne. It was large enough for an imperial, and Firework was slumped in the back, drink in hand. He adjusted the umbral wreath on his head to be straight again, and raised a glass in Bartholomew’s direction. “I thought you did not want to be king,” Bartholomew pointed out. “I changed my mind, Octavia showed me being a monarch isn’t all that bad, may she rest in peace,” Firework took another swig of his drink. “I mean, think about it! Now no one can tell me what to do! Not that is stopping you, old man.” “This is a disgrace,” Bartholomew spat. “King is supposed to be a title that means something, something with honour. You have been a disgrace to your family long enough, with all your partying and flings and lack of care for what being royalty means. You have a duty to your kingdom, your people. I sincerely believe you should abdicate your throne and hand the crown over to your brother. He needs to practice for when he takes over for your fathers.” “Did Resolution even ask you to come?” Firework snorted, spilling his drink a little. Bartholomew’s silence said it all. “I thought not. Stop meddling, old man. Everything’s fine, I’m not doing any harm. You need to lighten up and stop taking things so seriously. Maybe you could use a party.” “Someday, the consequences of your apathy will catch up with you, and when that day comes you are going to find yourself in deep trouble,” Bartholomew said as he turned to leave. “Don’t expect me to dig you out of the hole you are digging.” “I don’t need you, Barty.” Firework said. “Crawl back to my brother, you always liked him better anyways. You and my dads always liked him better.” Bartholomew stopped. “It’s because I care about you that I am so hard on you.” He said, and then he left. “Good riddance,” Firework snorted, downing the last of his glass. “Now, where did I put that bottle…” [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89581378][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=89581378&skin=0&apparel=42698,47677,30829,20835,6266&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89751652][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=89751652&skin=0&apparel=9452,8316,8598,8812,5166,9217,9815,29219&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] Viva raced through the dreamscape, colliding with Mizt as she entered the mirror’s dreams. The two dragons tumbled over each other, giggling. Viva found herself tangled around Mizt, and lingered there for a moment, enjoying being in contact. “I’m glad I can still see you at night,” Mizt said, kissing the spiral. “I’m sorry we can’t meet in the waking world anymore.” “Dreams are enough, if it will keep you safe,” Viva said, touching a hand to the mirror’s face. “Is Ichabod still being a pain?” “I really have to watch my back now,” Mizt groaned, sitting up. Viva untangled herself from her girlfriend and sat next to her, allowing Mizt to lean her head on her shoulder. “Stupid Ouro had to go and be a hero with his partners, and now my dad knows that I lied about killing him. I’m waiting for the hammer to drop, I’m sure my days are numbered. It’s just a matter of who will deliver the killing blow. It probably won’t be my dad, he doesn’t like getting his talons dirty, unless he sees this as a big enough insult that he needs to deal with it himself. It’s far more likely though that he’ll get my mom to do it. If Ichabod thinks they aren’t doing it fast enough, he’ll step in and do it. I could also see Demon doing it to prove herself.” “Why do you hang around? Why don’t you come join Ishtar’s disciples? You could move in with me and my family, I know they’d love you. The clan would keep you safe, we’re already protecting Ouro from your family, what’s one more?” Viva offered. “Plus, then we could be together as much as we want.” “The offer is tempting, and I will consider it,” Mizt sighed. “I just don’t want to put a bigger target on your head. You don’t know my family like I do. Even Ouro, he was never good at training, he doesn’t know the extent of what we were taught, the ways we were taught to kill,” Viva felt the mirror shudder. “I can’t condemn you to that fate.” “Mizt, we are all in danger of that fate every day that we are here, it’s a part of being in the challenges. Shui could choose to wipe anyone out whenever he wants. We won’t be free until the last challenge is done and he’s completed his ritual,” Viva pointed out. “Yes, he could. Which is why I have to stay here. If I’m here, I can do what I can to mitigate it,” Mizt said. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this. I don’t know how many days we have left. Either of us could be dead tomorrow. I want to enjoy tonight. I promise I’ll think about it.” “Of course,” Viva nuzzled Mizt, kissing her on the forehead. “We have to make the most of every moment we have left.” Neither dragon commented on the finality of that statement, the acknowledgement that fate was against them. The chances of them both making it through the challenges was slim, so they had to make the most of what they had. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86370682][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=86370682&skin=46246&apparel=10967,31983&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84890344][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=84890344&skin=0&apparel=36025,31685,27766&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] “Klassia, it’s good to see you,” Myca grinned as her partner entered the lab. She gave the guardian a quick kiss on the cheek. “Come, see what I’ve been working on.” Klassia moved to take a closer look at the table, and Myca found herself caught up in the masterpiece that was Klassia’s body. The way magic had corrupted it was a work of art, the extra wings and eyes. If Myca could figure out how to replicate it in the lab, she would do it in a heartbeat. It was a pity nothing was working out with Mayall, she was a perfect candidate. “Oh, this is diabolical,” Klassia grinned, pulling Myca back to the moment. “Ramping up the lethality of the games is a perfect touch. And is this-” “Why yes, I’m quite proud of that piece myself,” Myca said, moving closer. “After all, why should Shui get all the fun? I mean, look what we’re doing in the lab here, we’re basically gods anyways, the way we are toying with life and death. I appreciate the opportunities and creative freedom he has given me, but, well, he’s not doing any of the actual work for this godhood, is he?” “I couldn’t agree more. If anyone deserves this, we do. To gain ultimate power, to stretch our abilities out into infinity, I can think of no other dragons who are better fit for this,” Klassia’s eyes gleamed. “Yes, and it would show Malphite he’s not the boss of me. I’m far better suited to run the lab than he,” Myca grinned. “And just think, combining shade and divinity… the world would be mine to consume and shape in my will.” She paused. “In our will. You may be shadeless, but your vision of reality is nothing short of perfection.” “I know,” Klassia said smugly. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/10027033][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=10027033&skin=0&apparel=26858,26859,26861,26862,26863,26865,27125&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/92604020][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=92604020&skin=0&apparel=332,494,9618,13816,24061,24063,24066,24067&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] “What are you doing here, dad,” Gigi glared at her father. Saphire tried to pretend that it didn’t hurt, but that didn’t matter. This nonsense was done. He had listened enough to Pinky’s lamentations about their daughter, it was time to bring her home. “We’ve had enough of your rebellion. You’ve had your fun running around with your little friends, your mom wants you home. I’m going to bring your home if I have to drag you there,” Saphire growled. “You can’t make me do anything I don’t want to, Dad. I told you before, I want nothing to do with you and mom. She only wants me back because she’s insecure that her following is the smallest of all the leaders.” Gigi huffed. “It won’t work. Just because I’m physically there doesn’t mean I’m suddenly going to start worshiping her. She’s not going to ascend to godhood, though-” She snorted. “Maybe your idiodic devotion will be enough on its own. Serious dad, can’t you see she’s using you?” “Don’t you dare speak about your mother that way,” Saphire growled in a low voice. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89798230][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=89798230&skin=0&apparel=2980,1553,47022,494&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] “Hey, I’m going to have to ask you to leave Gigi alone,” Lavender said, butting their way into the conversation. “You aren’t welcome here.” “You! It’s your fault that my daughter won’t come home, it’s your fault she won’t listen to her mother,” Rage began to bubble within Saphire. “Nah, she did that herself. I just gave her a safe place to come and be herself,” Lavender shrugged. “So let me ask you again to leave.” A growl ripped from Saphire’s throat as he charged the tundra. He was much larger than they were, and though Lavender tried to defend themself from the attack, it wasn’t enough. Before Saphire was even aware of what he had done, the tundra was dead in his jaws. He spat their body onto the ground. “Come on, Gigi. This is over, we’re going home.” “If you think I am going home with you after you killed my leader and best friend, you really do have clouds for brains,” Something flared in Gigi’s eyes. Saphire had always viewed her as nothing more than an idealistic teenager, but something within her gaze scared him. It was then that he realized she wasn’t a child anymore, and the way she was looking him - he knew that if he stayed, it would be his dead body next to Lavender’s. Saphire turned and ran. Behind him, he could hear Gigi shouting at him, warning him to never turn back. He didn’t know anything could scare him more than Pinky, but now he realized he would take her fury over Gigi’s any day. At least he knew Pinky would never kill him. He vowed he would never cross paths with his daughter again, if he could help it. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89958039][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=89958039&skin=26931&apparel=&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/89633392][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=89633392&skin=29588&apparel=44227,2502&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] Artello trailed behind the fae he was charged to protect, making sure he could keep an eye on any potential dangers. The scarred wasteland was fraught with them, and he had already gotten into a few scrapes with monsters and hungry dragons. Yet, Xinnia was not dissuaded from her goal. Artello had asked many times if she had wanted to turn back, and Xinnia had refused every time. She wanted to see the challenges. Of course she did, she was always so driven by the call to adventure. Conversation about the challenges had become increasingly more frequent among the small god pantheon, and as a demigod herself, she had managed to overhear quite a few of these conversations. Her parents, Fenn and Elric, had of course asked her not to go, but were not ones to stand in her way if that was truly what her heart desired. That was where Artello came in. It had been quite a surprise when Elric approached him. Artello had been trained since birth to be a guard, and as a result had heard much about the deity of protection. He was commonly worshiped by guards and guardians, anyone who had a sacred duty to protect others. Artello certainly would not have called himself devout, but he had prayed occasionally to Elric, mostly before big tests during training. He had never expected to see the god in the flesh. It was a job Artello couldn’t turn down, he had been waiting for his first assignment, and who was he to turn down a god? It was a high honour, and the last thing Artello wanted to do was to let Elric down, especially when the dragon he was tasked to protect was Elric’s own daughter. Somehow, he would bring Xinnia out of the challenges alive, no matter how hard Xinnia made it for Artello to protect her. ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/99#post_57577181]Next[/url][/center] ----- [center]@pinglist-3016[/center] ----- Another chapter!!! I had a lot of fun with this one! Especially Artello and Xinnia's chapter! It's fun that the timing of their introduction is right after I wrote the start of Fenn and Elric's clan in The Stories of Clan Yonder, it makes a very fun parallel! I'm very tempted from here on out to include a child of Fenn and Elric and a guard (or guardian) in every locke, because I can't see Elric letting his children adventure without protection. They would of course be introduced much earlier in future lockes, but it would be a fun tie to my OG lore. [b]If anyone wants to claim Lavender, you have until September 18th 2024 to do so, first come first serve.[/b] They are a Naomi descendant, if that sweetens the pot for anyone.