Cirrus Dragons

Obtained: Gem Marketplace Rarity: Common Ancient Breeding Cooldown: 20 days Diet: Plants

Overview
An Ancient breed with curious origins, the Cirrus dragons came into existence in the wake of several natural disasters.

Shortly after the Twisting Crescendo roared back to life, a new being appeared around the Windswept Plateau. As more and more denizens of Sornieth wished for the world to rejuvenate itself from such widespread destruction, the first Girin coalesced, galloping into the skies. With sunlight reflecting off its colorful scales with each elegant movement, the Girin's appearance sent a shockwave of joy through the land and sparked hope in those who beheld the sight. Their appearance spurred dragons, beastfolk, and other denizens of Windswept Plateau into supporting others—offering optimism, banishing fears, helping them traverse the platforms, or simply providing unflagging comfort for those who mourned.

When the first Girin burst into the skies in all its glory, it was the push that Windsinger needed. Combining the inspirations from the curious new being, the compassionate fortitude of his flight, and the artful movements of the region's equines, Windsinger fashioned the first Cirrus dragons. Given their origins, many early Cirrus dragons and Girins formed a bond, which significantly influenced and shaped the Cirri's culture.


Physical Attributes
Cirri are not much larger than true equines. While they cannot fly in the traditional sense, they have a passive ability to hover just above the ground and can glide from great heights by utilizing wind currents to stay aloft. Between this and their powerful, athletic musculoskeletal structure, Cirrus dragons are one of the fastest dragon breeds overland. Pure speed aside, they are unmatched at navigating difficult terrain. Their long tails are flexible and great for balance, perfect for their playful leaps and elegant, dance-like movements. The scales along their neck and underbelly are plated together for freedom of motion, but are especially thick and unyielding. Though rarely shed, the fallen scales' resistance to fracturing make them excellent crafting materials.

Following the example set by their Girin mentors, Cirri have a profound respect for all forms of life. As such, they rarely touch down on the terrain. When they do so, they take meticulous care to ensure their presence will not disturb any insects, greenery, or other forms of life. Their hoof-like talons are just sharp and dextrous enough to serve as pruning shears. When foraging, Cirrus dragons only harvest what will ultimately support healthier growth in the local vegetation. Even their horns—while capable of being used for defensive purposes as a last resort or to protect those in need—are primarily used to turn over the soil in order to oxygenate and enrich it for the plants they eat from.

Where most dragons have wings, Cirri have "wisps"; intangible, amorphous clouds that billow from their shoulders and forelimbs. Ever-moving and -changing, these are primarily for display and non-verbal communication. In particular, wisps are a reflection of an individual's emotions and will shift in size and intensity depending on the dragon's state. Much like facial expressions, some dragons have more control over this bearing than others.


Social
Cirrus dragons are highly social in nature and are often drawn to clans with big populations. Creatures of joyful passion, they love seeing and engaging in all forms of creative expression. For some, this means the art of movement; many will push their bodies in grand spectacles of athleticism, while others enjoy responding to music. Any form of music can inspire them, whether made by another living being or found within nature itself. A Cirrus is just as likely to dance to the howling of the wind or the chorus of evening frogs and crickets as to a traditional musician. If they cannot find a song to cavort to, many will make their own—their impressive lungs, while built for running, also excel at the drawn-out notes of a ballad or a chant.

As beings inspired by love for Sornieth, Cirri tend to take particular comfort in all the lands' various celebrations, regardless of their flight of origin. When one is looking for a heartfelt holiday observance, Cirrus dragons are excellent attendees. Their noble bearing—learned from their Girin companions—makes for evocative, beautiful ceremonies, as their genuine wonder at the marvels of the land often compels the same in others.

Regality is not the only behavior Cirri have learned from Girins; they are keenly sensitive to intent. Those seeking to harm or manipulate others rarely escape a Cirrus dragon's notice, and will often have to contend with a steadfast guardian between them and their would-be victims.


Lairs
Cirrus dragons are drawn to expansive spaces with plenty of natural shelter to lair in. Their talons aren't ideal for building structures, but many Cirri tend to prefer communal sleeping spaces where dragons can curl up together and rely on one another for safety. Despite being incapable of traditional flight, their Wind origins mean they love being up high and will commonly lair in places with hills, mountains, or cliffsides. Even better if the area has plenty of interesting or challenging terrain features for the sake of sharpening their movement skills.

A Cirrus dragon's lair is often a bright and vibrant place, adorned with plenty of artwork. Cirri find great joy in displaying and celebrating the artistic creations of all, including fellow dragons and members of the various Beastclans. In particular, they favor pieces that are full of rich colors and intricate details. As such, there is already a booming trade among the breed for harpy-made works.

Many Cirri are glad to seize any opportunity to brighten their companions' lives, especially through sharing creative outlets. Clans with a love for painting, music, storytelling, fabrications, and the like provide an especially fitting home for these Ancients. Aging Cirrus dragons or those with physical conditions that limit their mobility often focus their time on these various forms of creative expression, and many commit to important roles as a lair's guardian, passing their time on watches by working on their latest projects.


Tactics
Due to the influence of the Girin and the nature of their creation, Cirrus dragons have quickly formed a culture focused on benevolence and peace and are loath to engage in acts of violence. Still, sometimes such harmony and compassion requires being willing to stand against malevolence in the world. In these cases, Cirri somberly rise to the occasion. While they will not take a life unless it is an absolute last resort—something that will prevent further loss of life—they will not hesitate to defend those in need. Many specialize in healing and prioritize safeguarding others rather than active fighting, including their downed enemies.

When a fight is unavoidable, few make better allies than Cirrus dragons. As such social beings, group tactics are a go-to and attackers are rarely able to find one alone. Once engaged, anyone they cannot outmaneuver, they can likely outlast. With prodigious mobility and endurance, a Cirrus is near impossible to pin down, and those who do manage it will often find themselves beset by the Cirrus's innumerable allies. Some Cirri are known to sing battle songs during conflicts to inspire morale.

These dragons are notably strong for their size and will often use this and their maneuverability to try and ground opponents, giving them the advantage. Such traits also give them an edge when it comes to ending a combat without death. On the rare occasion that a conflict is serious enough for a Cirrus to fight without reserve, their horns prove especially dangerous. While they are capable of puncturing most any material without a scratch, they only ever wield their horns this way in the most dire and life-threatening of circumstances.