More clan lore already but I was struck by a sudden bout of inspiration while walking four miles to get breakfast this morning (don’t ask)
I startyed musing on the nature of the gods and the drgons that they’ve created (Ice Warden and Tundras, Tidelord and Guardians, etc.)
And what I realized was that not only did the gods create their children for wont of companionship, but they also tailored each species to further their own personal goals.
The Flamecaller created Coatls. Coatls by the large are the oddballs of the dragon world. They’re born without ears that allow them to easily interpret and communicate with other species of dragons and they predominately speak in their own unique language. These quirks have relegated the majority of the coatl species to remanining native to the Ashfall Wastes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing being children of fire and all. However, when you look at these features in a large context it can be assumed that the Flamecaller bestowed these hindrances on them intentionally. Essentially the Flamecaller made Coatls to be her own personal renewable workforce to populate her forges. She fashioned them in such a way it proved diffuclt for them to leave (Language and Sensory barriers) and even instilled in them an instinctual need to return to the Wastes for breeding season should they ever leave them, probably in hopes that once surrounded by their own kind again the Coatls from other flights would never again wish to leave. The purposeful dimishing of the Coatl’s ability to hear can also prove beneficial as a way to minimize distraction in the loud forges, being able to shrug off the cacophony of clangs. This also touches on why Coatls who are pale or dull in coloration are ostracized, the majorioty of Coatls are vibrant, those who are different from the majority of the workforce can prove as distracting and jeopardize efficiency at the forge.
The Tidelord created Guardians. It’s no secret that the water flight and their god are a secretive and guarded bunch. They have access to possibly destiny altering predictions and prophecies and knowledge of that importance and weight must be protected from prying eyes, as a whole, however, oracles are not exactly the staunchest of warriors. In answer to this predicament, the Tidelord created Guardians to protect his oracles. For several centuries the Oracle to Guardian ratio remained relatively stable, but when the Guardians began to outbreed the Oracles, and the avilability of the charges began to wane, Guardians began to leave the Fishspine reef and seek new charges. The Tidelord outdid himself when creating the Guardians, not only did he create a species that was physically intimidating and powerful, a perfect mix of speed and brawn, he also instilled in them the unignorable need to protect, and should they fail (ergo let their Oracle die) they would waste away and eventually themselves expire as a testament to their failure. Self-preservation instinct in Guardians is magnificently low, a guardian will alway throw themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety of their charge so should any enemy ever wish to come for the Tidelord and his most powerful oracles, they will have to fight their way through a sea full of Knights willing to lay down their lives to protect their charge.
The Windsinger created Spirals*. At first glance Spirals seem like the truest expression of “love” by the gods, afterall we’ve all come to know Spirals as lovable and somewhat destructive jesters. However, when viewed with regards to the Windsinger’s ideology it can be inferred that Spirals are the mouthpieces of the Windsinger’s own ideas, spreading his words to the four winds and communicating his thoughts far beyond even a god’s reach because if there’s one thing spirals love to do, it’s talk. He also made it so that any clan boasting a large population of Spirals would also eventually have to become nomadic as his creations continually undermined the foundation of their occupied lairs time and time again, this way ensuring that these transient clans would continue to spread his message to an ever growing number of dragons, his words eventually blanketing all of Sornieth.
The Earthshaker created Snappers. The Earthshaker is a tragic figure, and indeed his creations will no doubt agree. When the Earthshaker created Snappers, he sought to record the history of what once was. He instilled in them memories spanning generations of their kin and a penchant for recording history in its most minute detail. In all of this, the Earthshaker’s purpose is clear, by creating the snappers he hopes that since the history of has come to pass is so readily available, perhaps this time history might not be doomed to repeat itself. Of course the information is hard won, often times to get anything sunstantial out of a snapper you have to follow a clan for weeks, a trait likely fostered out of the Earthshaker’s own loneliness and want for attention since his brothers and sisters departure shortly after the destruction of the pillar, it’s likely that this also contributes to the strong family structure of snapper clans. The Earthshaker also prevented the majority of his children from leaving Dragonhome, like the gods once did, by leaving them without the gift of flight. Their only means of transport is traveling by land, making it no doubt difficult to traverse the daunting canyons and mountains separating the Earthshaker’s territories from those of the rest of the Pantheon.
The Stormcatcher created Ridgebacks. When the Stormcatcher created his children he chose to make them grand and conniving, but he managed to also gift them with a need for seafood along with a startling case of hydrophobia. While many find this contradiction rather humorous and view it as some sort of divine joke, it was wholly intentional. The Stormcatcher sought to instill a certain amount of cleverness in his children, they’d need to think outside of the box in order to survive in the harsh environment of the Shifting Expanse. It was these challenges which fostered the Ridgeback culture’s concept of “borrowing”. Through this Ridgebacks are not averse to stealing from other dragons and other clans, removing a sense of black and white morality so prevalent in Sornieth. As long as they survive, the means which were used for survival are simply inconsequential. In this way the Stormcatcher ensured that he would have a never ending supply of scientists and engineers that were not averse to performing taboo acts or experiments to further draconic supremacy the world. All the while the Stormcatcher keeps his machinations unknown, hidden amongst storm clouds and lightning storms.
The Icewarden created Tundras. First and foremost it should be noted that the Icewarden can be seen as more than a simple collector, as his name entails he can in fact be considered the justiciar among the echelons of the gods. If the frigid god is in fact so imposing, then why did he create Tundras as his children, a breed considered by many to be the least threatening of all breeds? Tundra dragons have poor sensory abilities with the exception of their amazing olfactory recall. When it comes to other dragons they have long memories attached basic identities (friend, foe, etc.), a tundra simply never forgets. So if the Icewarden is justiciar, does that not make Tundras his jailers, his hounds? Though the circumstances of a crime may be long forgotten, the innocence of the individual in question will never be. Tundras are also natural burrowers, happily digging out expansive subterranean tunnels to call their home. These tunnels were likely used by the Icewarden to hold his “collection” prior to the emergence of the practice of freezing his specimens.
The Shadowbinder created Nocturnes. The Shadow Flight are well-known for being the jokers and pranksters of Sornieth. They’re the speaker of riddles, the makers of puzzles, but like the Harlequins of times since past, not all Jesters exist solely within the realm of mirth, and the Shadowbinder is no different. It its obvious that when she created Nocturnes infiltration and ingratiation were her utmost concern. However, with those tactics comes opportunity to strike from the shadows. Nocturnes are adept mimics, being able to remember mannerisms and voices form numerous dragons across Sornieth, and are therefore likely to be able to repeat any information given to them rather easily making them valuable in things like reconnaissance and blackmail. It’s clear from the impenetrable nature of the Bramblewood that the goddess both values and requires a certain amount of equal parts solitude and protection in order to pursue her own goals, and what better way than to control the flow of knowledge inside and outside the Bramblewood thanks to draconic surveillance. And since Nocturnes are so adept at ingratiating themselves into clans, so good at hiding their true nature, it would likely make them indispensable in covert assassinations. The goddess has many thumbs in many pies and her reach extends far outside of the wood thanks to her Nocturnes.
The Lightweaver created Imperials and Pearlcatchers. Though she and her flight pursue truth and knowledge, it was clear that with her first creation the Imperials the goddess instead sought to create something truly awe-inspiring, a beauty and power unmatched by any other dragon on Sornieth. Pinnacles of the power of Light, beacons of perfection. Unfortunately, she became too lost in her ambitions and while she did manage to create the Imperials, she also gave rise to the first Emperors known to Sornieth. In the centuries following the creation of Imperials it’s likely that the Sunbeam ruins were destroyed over and over again as Emperor after Emperor rose to be slain, likely destroying large swathes of the ruins in the process. In response to this destruction, the Lightweaver sought not to correct her past mistake, but at least begin to try and make it right by creating the Pearlcatcher species, the greatest draconic architects Sornieth has to offer. Where the Emperors layed waste and their Imperial cousins were too fearful to tread the Pearlcatchers began to rebuild. This would also play into why Pearlcatchers dislike Imperials so much, they are a race relegated to try and fix mistakes that were not their own. IN spite Pearlcatchers never fail to remind Imperials of their failure, they feel as it is their only advantage over their majestic cousins. While her children continue to bicker, the Lightweaver merely watches.
The Gladekeeper created Wildclaws. Nature does not reclaim what it has lost overnight, nevertheless slowly but surely nature will always take what is hers. The Gladekeeper created her Wildclaws with one goal in mind, slow and gradual conquest. Unlike many other memebers of the Pantheon the Gladekeeper chose not to make her children in her image, but instead to instill them with her fighting instinct and will to survive in the forests of the Viridian Labyrinth. Since their creation Wildclaws have prove time and time again that nature always triumphs, some going so far as to forsake the Viridian Labyrinth entirely and move to the Scarred Wasteland, proving they can survive anywhere regardless of circumstance. They are also some of the fiercest warriors dragonkind has come to know, their entire society revolving around an idea that “might makes right”. Their culture also revolves around the cultivation of the strongest family tree, forever ensuring the mightiest of clans will expand outwards, forever reclaiming territory for the Gladekeeper whether they acknowledge it or not. They also prove the first line of defense for the borders of the constantly expanding Everbloom gardens, woe is to the intruder who tries and fight a Wildclaw in a fair battle,
The Plaguemother created Mirrors. When the PLaguemother created the Mirror species she truly unleashed her diseases and by extension her presence upon the world. She bestowed upon them speed, a love of the pack, and power hidden inside of a lithe body. If the Wyrmwound is her poison incarnate, then Mirrors are her arrows she lets fly from her pestilent quiver, corrupting all in their wake. Mirrors are constantly on the move, meaning that those blessed by plague are constantly spreading the various diseases and strains of sickness given to them by their goddess. Very few can hide from a mirror’s sight as they also possess thermal vision with which to hunt and infect. She also designed them for pack life, further increasing the creation of new strands of illness simply by the intermingling of multiple mirrors at any given time. While most mirrors simply attempt to survive and remain in the Scarred Wasteland, it’s not uncommon for the more devout plague zealots to lead their clans into new territories to hunt and infect indisciminately. It’s those who wander far from the Wasteland that bring their mother the most glory.
The Arcanist created Faes. When the Arcanist created Fae dragons he created creatures which could safely bend and warp the ether rapidly and relatively safely. Whereas a larger dragon might risk tearing the aether and unleashing powers beyond their control, Fae are small enough to warp on a small scale, record their results, and reprot back to the arcanist their findings in a simple and timely fashion. Much like how the Flamecaller hindered the Coatl, so too did the Arcanist make it difficult for the Fae to communicate in hopes that he might keep their focus on the mysteries of the unknown. Despite their diminutive size, likely a reference to his own stunted form, the god did gift the Fae with an amazing power to channel external magical energy making large colonies of Fae a horror under the right circumstances in their native element. All the better to deter intrudes from disturbing him in the Observatory, if they can’t make it past the amalgmations and the fae colonies of the Starwood strand, they aren’t worth an audience.
*Windsinger also made Skydancers, but we’re still missing their lore so they’ve been omitted
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