I've created a unique calendar system for my Flight Rising clan, loosely based around the festival circuit.
Solmyr -- The Month of Light
Reigning Constellation: The Sparkling Goddess (Lightweaver)
Associated Plant: Sunbeam Fig
Celestial Events: 4-day-long double full moon
Festivals
Summer Solstice: The first day of the year, and the day when twilight is the longest.
Sunparched Prowl: A hunting festival, celebrating a time when prey runs aplenty.
Brightshine Jubilee: A celebration of Light-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Sephispar -- The Month of Lightning
Reigning Constellation: The Volt King (Stormcatcher)
Associated Plant: Manyleaves
Festivals
Day of Deliverance: The anniversary of the Vespertine Zenith's official founding.
Thundercrack Carnivale: A celebration of Lightning-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Cindros -- The Month of Fire
Reigning Constellation: The Ember Queen (Flamecaller)
Associated Plant: Miniature Potash Peach
Festivals
Warrior's Way: A day to honor those who have pledged their lives to serve as the Clan’s defenders, as well as to host duels and competitions to test one’s mettle!
Flameforger's Festival: A celebration of Fire-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Riot of Rot: A celebration of Plague-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Gaialith -- The Month of Earth
Reigning Constellation: The Sleeping Giant (Earthshaker)
Associated Plant: Stonespine
Festivals
Rockbreaker's Ceremony: A celebration of Earth-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Eldryss -- The Month of the Void
Reigning Constellation: The Sleepless Gaze (Endless Eye)
Associated Plant: Wisp Fruit
Celestial Events: Lunar eclipses are quite common
Festivals
Frigidfin Expedition: A fishing festival and a time for stockpiling food for the colder months.
Winter Solstice: The shortest, coldest day of the year, when most dragons choose to stay inside and cuddle up.
Call of the Void: This lore’s replacement for Night of the Nocturne. This is the time when the walls between worlds are thinnest and when the Shade’s power strengthens. The Wisps that live in the minds of the Zenith’s dragons begin to extend their power outward and possess objects around them. Their voices rise from a whisper to a clamor inside the dragons’ heads, willing them to let go of their grasp on reality. This is the darkest time of the year, when many Clan members are lost. As a community effort to quiet their minds and keep one another grounded, various gatherings and rituals are held during this time, some of which can be surprisingly lively.
Crystalline Gala: A celebration of Ice-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Noctheris -- The Month of Shadow
Reigning Constellation: The Veiled Magician (Shadowbinder)
Associated Plant: Glow Mushroom
Celestial Events: 4-day-long double new moon
Festivals
Sweetshower: This lore’s replacement for Love is in the Air. A time to celebrate love of all kinds, be it romantic, familial, or platonic!
Cataclysm Day of Remembrance: A day of mourning for the lives lost during the Cataclysm, as well as a time to remember the bravery of those who defied the Heralds of the Deep Sky.
Trickmurk Circus: A celebration of Shadow-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Zephrion -- The Month of Wind
Reigning Constellation: The Laughing Sky (Windsinger)
Associated Plant: Dandelion Seeds
Festivals
Springswarm: A festival of insects and the bounty of the skies.
Birth of Koeia: A celebration of Koeia's life, on her hatchday.
Spring Equinox: The first day of a new season, and a time when night and day are the same length.
Mistral Jamboree: A celebration of Wind-aligned drdagons and their heritage.
Rivruun -- The Month of Water
Reigning Constellation: The Abyssal Prophet (Tidelord)
Associated Plant: Water Lilies
Festivals
Wavecrest Saturnalia: A celebration of Water-aligned dragons and their heritage.
Sylvralor -- The Month of Nature
Reigning Constellation: The Verdant Mother (Gladekeeper)
Associated Plant: Venus Flytrap
Festivals
Greenskeeper Gathering: A celebration of Nature-aligned dragons and their heritage.
On the Vespertine Zenith’s isles, the treasure and white gems of Sornieth hold no value. Instead, a number of unique currency systems have evolved to suit the dragons who live within its confines.
Bartering
The earliest true economy within the Zenith was almost entirely based around dragons bartering with one another, both with material items and their own skills/services. Although there are now several reliable methods to produce tokens of currency, many still choose this option in their day to day life. It’s not uncommon for shopkeepers to accept favors in exchange for their wares, or for healers to be offered a handmade robe as thanks for administering care.
Glass Stars
Where there are rocks and dragonfire, there’s glass. After bartering, Glass Stars quickly became the most standardized form of currency. Each one is handcrafted by a member of the Treasury and no two are exactly the same. Based on the different materials used to create them, Glass Stars have differing levels of value. Obisidian is the lowest, then Rose Quartz, Sacridite, Malachite, and finally Ruby.
There is also another layer to the use of Glass Stars—one that draws upon the Zenith’s origins as a bartering society: time as value. Instead of simply passing Glass Stars back and forth to one another, they are embroidered into tapestry-like scrolls by the dragon who is paying another. Depending on the complexity and artistry of the embroidery, extra value is added on top of the base value of each type of Glass Star. Just as no two Glass Stars will be exactly alike, neither will two sets of embroidery on one’s scroll.
When paying another dragon with Glass Stars, they and the threads binding them are removed from the owner’s scroll with a spell, so that they can be re-woven into that of the new owner. The threads are made by the Pearl Silkworms that are endemic to the area and later enchanted by dragons to ensure that they never fray.
Moonstone & Labradorite
These two gemstones are the rarest and most valuable forms of currency in the Zenith, due to the fact that they can be mined, but are a finite resource. Labradorite comes from beneath the waters of Evermere Lake and is primarily used in Sapphire Grotto, though dragons from the Central Isles can be tempted by its beautiful blue iridescence.
Meanwhile, Moonstone is found near Crystalfang Canyon and is mainly favored in the Central Isles. The same can be said, however, about dragons from Sapphire Grotto being entranced by its luminous surface.
Nocturnal Dust
During the Call of the Void, the Wisps’ possession of inanimate objects causes a strange, glimmering dust to gather across the Vespertine Zenith’s territory. It collects in swirling motes that follow them as they prowl. At the end of this two-week period, anything that the Wisps have inhabited dissolves into this same substance, leaving swaths of it behind.
Partially out of frustration for their belongings disintegrating, and partially because nocturnal dust is oddly pretty, the Zenith’s dragons have taken to sweeping it up each year and saving it in vials to use as currency. Its value is somewhere between that of glass stars and crystals.
Meteorite Fragments
It’s nearly impossible to find a higher point in Sornieth without flying above the clouds themselves. And above the Starfall Isles, meteor showers are a common occurrence. Each time one rains down from the night, tiny stone fragments collect on the ground. They pulse with the magical energy they absorbed as they broke apart in the planet’s atmosphere.
Meteorite fragments are not only a favored item among dragons who grew up in the Arcanist’s Domain, but they’re also a nice spellcasting focus when a dragon needs a little boost for their power. As such, they’ve become a staple in the economy of the Vespertine Zenith and are a common item to barter with.
Pocket Dimensions
With so many different currencies used by the Clan, a dragon needs a place to stash it all. Enter pocket dimensions: tiny holes that Shadetouched dragons can create in spacetime wiht antimagic and used to store objects.
A dragon’s pocket dimension is accessed via a runestone, which has a combination of Shade and Ancient runes carved into it. To open the dimension, the dragon simply has to activate the runes, and deactivate them when finished.
The portal into a pocket dimension can be any size that the dragon opening it wishes for it to be…within reason.
Within the Vespertine Zenith, there are a number of ceremonies that define milestones in a dragon's life. Tomorrow is not a promise for these dragons, so they rejoice in every victory, big and small.
Attunement Ceremony
Immediately upon hatching or arriving at the Vespertine Zenith, a dragon undergoes an Attunement Ceremony. It is here they receive their Paradox Loop, as well as the runes that allow them to thrive in the Zenith’s thin atmosphere. For hatchlings, the ceremony is held in the nursery they were born in. For newcomers, it takes place in the medical wing of the Academy of the Crossing.
The Attunement Ceremony is performed by members of Concordia Creed; some of whom carve the necessary runes into the dragon’s scales and others who lead them in prayer. Koeia and her fallen allies are invoked to watch over this Shadetouched dragon and protect them from the call of the Wisps. The process is gentle, though not painless. Thus, a number of lilting chants are sung to keep the dragon grounded and magical herbs are administered to numb it to an extent. One must remain conscious and aware, however, for the Paradox Loop to set in properly.
The first runes received during this ceremony are always carved into places where they’ll be out of sight—under the arms, on the belly, beneath a mane, or behind the ears. But if the dragon’s condition has progressed far enough to require it, extra runes will be added in more prominent areas.
After the runes have been carved, a bit of Netherkindle is extracted from the dragon’s mouth, using a spell in the Shade’s Tongue. It’s then captured within one of the enchanted glass orbs that all Zenith members wear around their necks to power the Paradox Loop.
Although there are numerous elements to the Attunement Ceremony, it’s generally a fast-paced affair. This is to ensure the safety of both the dragon in question and the Zenith as a whole, lest their Embers be fully consumed and they turn Empty. At the end of it all, a sleep spell is used to allow the dragon to rest and they’re given a few days to recover.
Rite of Resonance
Once a dragon has recovered from their Attunement Ceremony, they undergo the Rite of Resonance. This is when hatchlings without an element will receive one for the first time, and when newcomers will have theirs restored after losing it when they became Shadetouched. It takes place within the Prism Temple at the Altar of Names, and is presided over by the Prism Oracle—leader of the religious sect that tends to the temple.
The ceremony begins with the dragon’s name. For those newly hatched it is spoken aloud for the first time. Each one is written into a massive ledger by the Clan’s Loremaster, chronicling every dragon to have come to the Zenith for refuge.
Behind the Alter of Names stretches a huge stained-glass window, depicting Koeia and her fallen allies, its colors drenching the space in rainbow light. Eleven magical cores are set around its frame, each one scavenged from the eleven magical regions of Sornieth. They pulse faintly with their own powerful glow.
As the dragon steps into the light of the window, a glass oculus is raised above them. The air hums and the dragon’s Ember begins to resonate with one of the cores. Magical energy is drawn from the core and passes through the oculus, pour into the dragon’s body to awaken their element.
For those who had once lost their element to the Shade, it’s a return to who they were before. They’re once again fully themselves. For hatchlings, though, it’s a mystery. No one can quite explain why one element resonates with a newborn over another. Some say it’s in their blood, while others claim that it’s tied to their personalities. But the Prism Oracle says that it’s simply who they are.
Pathfinding Ceremony
Held once per year at the Academy of the Crossing, the Pathfinding Ceremony marks a pivotal moment in every dragon’s life. For new graduates of the Academy, as well as for any Zenith members seeking a change in vocation, it’s an exciting time of new beginnings. Beneath the gaze of the Academy’s headmaster, this is the moment when one chooses the role they would like to play in the Clan’s community.
Throughout the grand ceremonial hall, a number of carved stone bowls are arranged. Each one contains a symbolic token that represents a different branch of service, from hospitality, to healthcare, to integration services, to the defense of the Clan and more. The options shift from year to year, depending on the needs of the Zenith’s various organizations.
As their names are called, each dragon steps forward to place a ceremonial crystal into the bowl of their chosen path. Representatives from each possible branch stand nearby to welcome them, offering friendly smiles and words of encouragement.
Those who choose to join the Vespertine Vanguard or the Order of Prismkeepers must apply in advance and prove their readiness by passing extra assessments. Such roles demand absolute loyalty and prowess. For most, though, the ceremony’s choice is fluid. After two years, a dragon may change their path by participating in the ceremony again. Vanguard members and Prismkeepers must wait five.
When the final crystal has been placed, each group of dragons sets out for a smaller gathering with their chosen representatives.
Initiation
Once per year, a few days after the Pathfinding Ceremony, the rite of Initiation begins as twilight falls. This is the moment when a dragon becomes a full member of the Vespertine Zenith and pledges themself to its service and secrets. For those who arrived from beyond its borders, it is also the first time they leave the grounds of the Academy of the Crossing.
Initiation is a public event and takes place within the Twilight Sanctum, at the heart of the Sidereal City. A great stained glass dome filters the last of the light into deep violets and blues. It’s led by the Seraph of the Sight, with the rest of the Crepuscular Court standing in attendance. Though a solemn affair, celebrations wait for the following night.
Each dragon steps forward in turn to stand before the Seraph. Three times they’re asked whether they wish to join the Zenith—once in the name of Koeia, once for Mizar, and once for Chara, the founders whose legacy made this refuge possible. Each affirmation seals their bond to the Clan. Then, they’re asked to offer a measure of Netherkindle to sustain the Shroud that protects their home. Those who refuse are exiled, their paths diverging from the Vespertine Zenith’s forever. For those who remain, Netherkindle is extracted as the Loremaster inscribes a symbol beside their name in the Clan ledger, marking them as full members.
From that moment until twilight of the following day, the new initiates take a vow of silence. While the rest of the Clan sleeps, they spend the night in quiet contemplation within the Sanctum’s main hall, surrounded by candlelight. When dawn arrives, they return home to rest—only to gather again at dusk for a night of music, feasting, and festivities that stretch long into the night as they’re welcomed by their new chosen family.
The Joining of Flames
This is a joyous affair, open to all who wish to gather and bear witness to the union of dragons in love. The newlyweds are joined by friends, family, and community members in the central plaza of the Sidereal City, where everyone brings a gift to wish them well on their journey together.
Led by the High Cleric of Concordia Creed, the ceremony centers on the promise that the dragons do right by one another and remain by each other’s sides through the twists and turns of life. When the time comes, the newlyweds exchange delicately made choker necklaces, often inlaid with personal inscriptions, runes, and small gemstones. They’re worn at all times as a visible mark of their bond.
Once their vows have been made, the Clan’s Loremaster writes their names together in the Tome of Union, a lengthy record of all the Zenith’s marriages. Afterward, the crowd disperses and the dragons depart for a quieter, more intimate gathering with their families and close friends.
Last Rites
In the Vespertine Zenith, last rites are family-centered affairs, reserved only for those closest to the deceased. The ceremony takes place in the Prism Temple and is presided over by a member of the Prismkeepers called the Aeon Sage, who oversees the transitions between this world and the next for all the Clan’s dragons.
The body is gently wrapped in silk and adorned with tassels threaded with glass beads. It is then placed before the Altar of Names. Prayers are spoken, calling upon Koeia, Mizar, and Chara to watch over this dragon, as Acamar, Imai, Asterope, and Nervia guide them into the afterlife.
After the ceremony, the body is carried to Crystalfang Canyon, where the dragon’s remains are consumed by the arcane fire fed by its magical energies. A wind-aligned dragon will join the congregation here, if one is not present already, to scatter the ashes as the family says their final goodbyes.
A dragon’s death must be reported to the Clan’s Loremaster within a week of their last rites, ensuring that their memory endures.
Hatchday Celebrations
Hatchdays are cheerful gatherings of friends and families to celebrate a dragon making it through another year. To the Shadetouched, these have an especially important significance, as tomorrow is never guaranteed. The day is filled with simple pleasures: favorite foods are prepared, gifts are given, and laughter fills the air.
On their hatchday, a dragon is always granted a full day of rest from their duties, a small, but cherished luxury here. It’s a time to honor their hard work, growth, and the joy they bring to those around them.
I stand before the dragons of the Vespertine Zenith with clear sight and unwavering purpose. I promoise to place the safety of our denizens before my own desires, safeguard the knowledge entrusted to me, and speak the truth even when it is difficult.
I shall honor the sacrifices of Koeia and those who followed her, to protect the Shadetouched from the darkness within and without. And I shall wield this authority with wisdom, compassion, and restraint until the day my appointment ends or my Ember burns no more.
Seraph of the Sight
The high leader of the Vespertine Zenith, blessed with the Gift of Sight by the Endless Eye, which is passed down with each generation. The Seraph is responsible for overseeing all aspects of clan life and has the final say in any executive actions. They make decisions with the help of an advising council, who have quite a bit of their power. This helps to maintain balance.
A week before the current Seraph is to die, they will receive a vision of their demise from the Endless Eye. During this time, they must select their successor--normally their second in command. Their advising council must then vote on whether they agree with the choice. The new Seraph assists in the last rites of their predecessor, during which they receive and consume the Endless Eye for themself.
Seraph of the Sight: Samyaza
Starcatchers
These dragons are the Seraph's advising council, with each on representing a different face of life within the Zenith's society. The Starcatchers are presided over by the Seraph's second-in-command, called the Throne.
All members are elected democratically, except the Throne, who is appointed by the Seraph themself. The Starcatchers are responsible for ensuring that their leader's decisions are just and providing alternate points of view when discussing difficult topics.
Throne: Kadkadael
Archmage: Mistral
Treasurer: Aphelion
Vanguard General: Atlas
Prism Oracle: Senzafine
Aeon Sage: Delphi
High Cleric: Zenzion
Loremaster
This is the dragon responsible for recording, archiving, and ensuring the preservation of all history that pertains to the Vespertine Zenith. The Loremaster is nearly always a Snapper dragon, due to their unmatched capability to remember copious amounts of information.
The journey to this role is an arduous one with rigorous training--it's not uncommon for several prospective dragons to fail before one succeeds. The Loremaaster is also the keeper of the clan's library and is responsible for maintaining it.
Loremaster: Rune
Court Scribes
These dragons are responsible for keeping records of the goings-on at Court meetings, as well as assisting the Loremaster in the transcribing of Zenith history into a physical format. They always come as a pair, to maintain accountability in each other's work and to keep things moving, should one of them need a break.
Court Scribes: Eos, Lazuli
Dragonkind Ambassadors
Ambassadors are the liaisons between the general members of the Vespertine Zenith and its leadership. Their job is to ensure that each dragon's voice is heard when major decisions are being made. Once per month, the Dragonkind Ambassadors head out into the community to hear what everyone has to say--they're normally accompanied by the Court Scribes, who keep a record of everything.
Dragonkind Ambassadors are elected officials who each serve for a period of 5 years. Though they may hold this position more than once in their lives, they may not do so for consecutive terms.
Dragonkind Ambassadors: Caphziel, Mirion, Yuzu
Beastclan Ambassadors
Although the Zenith is primarily a home for dragons, they also open their doors to other Shadetouched sentient species. Beastclan members tend to live within their own independent towns, though some choose to reside in the main cities. They're equally valued as important members of this sanctuary.
Each Beastclan democratically elects their own Ambassador, also at 5 year intervals. The duties of a Beastclan Ambassador are similar to those of the Dragonkind, as they work to bring the voices of their constituents to the table.
Info about the society of my Flight Rising clan! Quite lengthy, hence the cut~
Governance
The Crepuscular Court
The governing body of the Vespertine Zenith. The Crepuscular Court is a council of dragons entrusted with laying down the laws of the Clan. Most members are elected democratically, though the highest leader is chosen by fate itself via their Gift of Sight, passed down through the generations. Together, they shape policies, uphold traditions, and ensure that the Zenith remains a safe haven for all who dwell upon its islands.
The Court is also tasked with recording the Clan’s history and protecting its dangerous secrets. A number of Beastclan ambassadors serve alongside its draconic members, ensuring fair representation across this land’s many inhabitants. In general, the Crepuscular Court is viewed as an honest institution that seeks to foster unity and hope. Read more!
These are the warriors and defenders of the Clan, sworn to protect both its borders and its denizens. Organized into specialized factions that draw upon the unique strengths of each species, they train relentlessly to hone their skills in combat, strategy, and survival. Indeed, due to the conditions of their home and their status as Shadetouched, these dragons are perhaps some of the most highly trained in all of Sornieth.
The duties of the Vanguard extend beyond drills and patrols. Some elite members are charged with protecting the Horizon gate, while others are dispatched locally to maintain order within the Zenith’s cities. Still others undertake dangerous search and rescue missions beyond the territory—some of the only dragons with the ability to leave for short periods. They scour the surrounding areas for other Shadetouched dragons who may yet be brought to safety. From the skies they live in, even to lands below, the Vespertine Vanguard stands ready to defend the Zenith from those who would hunt or imprison its members.
A solemn group of dragons who reside within the Prism Temple, tending to the beginnings and endings of others’ lives. They preside over the first rites of the newly hatched, the last rights of the dying, and the initiation of those who join the Zenith’s ranks. The Prismkeepers derive their name from their role in leading the rituals that bestow and confirm a dragon’s element—the unique magical component that colors their aura and defines their powers.
Out of respect for Koeia’s unimaginable loss at the Cataclysm, members of the Order lead austere lives and do not take mates. They prefer that their lives be wholly devoted to their practice. There are some who even choose to forgo friendships, in favor of only socializing on occasion with their fellow Prismkeepers.
The Treasury is charged with protecting the Zenith’s wealth, housed within a subterranean vault near the heart of the Sidereal City. The currencies of the outside world hold no value here. Instead, the Clan Vault contains an array of other assets native to this land, some of which where salvaged from the Last Light.
Ministry
Academy of the Crossing
Situated upon Threshold Isle, the Academy of the Crossing stands as the first step in every dragon’s new life within the Vespertine Zenith. All who arrive here from outside the Clan spend several months learning the customs and tenets that define it. Each newcomer receives a Paradox Loop from permanently stationed medics and is paired with a case manager who oversees their integration and helps them adjust to their new home.
At the Academy, dragons live together in small cohorts within the dormitories, traveling as a unit to lessons, trials, and rituals. It is here that many form their first friendships. Therapists also reside on-site to help guide them through the psychological strain of transition.
Life at the Academy is rigorous, but not without moments of wonder. The trials that its attendees go through bring them closer together with the members of their cohort and offer a sense of accomplishment like nothing else. A test of skills at the Astral Ascent, the donation of their Netherkindle for the Shroud, the day they are sworn into the Zenith and have their elements restored. All of these milestones bind them to the Clan. Upon graduation, dragons at the Academy take part in a ceremony wherein they select the path they will follow within the Vespertine Zenith’s ranks.
Those who have been born into the Clan receive most of their education elsewhere, but they do spend a shorter amount of time down on Threshold Isle. Most notably, they take part in the trials at the Astral Ascent, as well as the ceremonies of swearing in and choosing a career.
Standing tall from its place in the Sidereal City, Glitterspire College is home to the best and brightest minds of the Vespertine Zenith. Scholars from all walks of life have built this institution of higher learning, to offering opporuntities spanning every discipline—from magical theory, to philosophy, to the sciences.
The College often works closely with the Zenith’s guilds, its sages lending their research and insight to help shape the future of the Clan. Within its halls, curiosity is encouraged above all else. It keeps academia and learning alive in such a secluded world.
These are the Zenith’s healers, responsible for curing illness, treating injury, and carving the runes into a dragon’s hide that power their Paradox Loop. The latter of these is a highly specialized profession that requires years of education and frequent training sessions throughout one’s career to maintain.
Concordia Creed includes a loosely religious component. Science and magic are accompanied by prayers to the spirits of the Clan’s founders, to watch over the dragons in their care and guide them gently into the afterlife when it’s their time to go. Twice per week, the leader of the Creed holds mandatory sessions of worship for all members before they begin their daily duties.
A sect of druids who reside in the Lunar Hollow. These dragons revere the movement of the celestial bodies and their influence on the world above and below. They worship the land and strange magic that have allowed them to survive, revereing the founders of the Vespertine Zenith as deities, alongside the elemental pantheon of Sornieth.
One of the Synodic Circle’s core beliefs is what sets them apart from other dragons in the Vespertine Zenith—they have made peace with their fates as Shadetouched and give thanks for this aspect of their lives, which has allowed them to come together and offer a place to belong for others who are less sure of themselves. They are who they are today because of what happened to them; they recognize it as an immutable part of their souls.
The druids’ embracing of their fate has cast them in an eerie light in the eyes of the Zenith’s non-denominational members. But at center lies the importance of balance in all things and the change that is needed to achieve it—an equal relationship of heave and earth, dragon and Shade, life and death. Syzygy, the times when planets, moons, and stars align in the sky, is sacred to them. At any given time, half of the Synodic Circle are active during the day, while the other half are active during the night.
Guilds
The guilds of the Vespertine Zenith are organizations that seek to bring dragons of similar professions together and ensure good working conditions for them. Each one is headed by a Speaker, who acts as a director, leads meetings, and organizes events, as well as an Archivist, who is in charge of book- and record-keeping.
Speakers and Archivists are elected by their peers and serve for terms of 7 years. Previous Speakers and Archivists may be re-elected in the future, but may not serve consecutive terms.
All guild responsibilities are carried out in addition to a dragon's primary role in the Vespertine Zenith.
As the guild for sorcerers, witches, and the like, Elderspell Eyrie serves as the heart of magical study within the Vespertine Zenith. It is here that dragons come to refine their magical craft, deepen their understanding of the arcane arts, and push the limits of what is safely possible. Many of the Eyrie’s members are also scholars, who seek to impart their knowledge on the next generation.
Members of the Elderspell Eyrie pride themselves on their research into the strange currents of power that flow through a Paradox Loop, as they strive toward a cure that could fully heal Shadetouched dragons once and for all. They are known for their curiosity and enthusiasm for understanding that which they do not understand.
This is the guild for scientists and engineers, often working alongside the dragons of the Elderspell Eyrie to further the study of Shadetouched dragons. It was the earliest members of the Coil who first learned to channel Netherkindle into the orbs that power the Paradox Loop, to sustain them longterm.
These dragons are also responsible for repairing scavenged objects from outside the Zenith’s territory, as well as crafting their own inventions to improve the lives of all who live upon its islands. Their devotion to progress despite all odds is what keeps society humming along.
As the guild for storytellers—and writers of all kinds—the Silver Tongue Society serves as the living memory of the Vespertine Zenith. Where the Clan’s Loremaster is in charge of recording important facts and events, this guild encourages dragons to weave legends out of everyday life and craft fantastical tales for all to enjoy. Among its ranks are novelists, journalists, playrights, and countless others.
To these dragons, words are not just little marks on parchment. They’re vessels of power that bind them together. Although the works they spin may never be read outside the Zenith, they seek to remind one another that even in this darkness, there are stories worth remembering.
Everyone likes to be entertained, especially when living on the brink of oblivion outside the furthest fringes of modern society! The Imaginarium is a sister guild to the Silver Tongue Society, for the Zenith’s entertainers: actors, musicians, magicians, and more.
In addition to encouraging its members to practice their craft for all to see, the Imaginarium also hosts a number of events throughout the year for community-building in general. These dragons love to invite non-members to try something new while sharing a fun evening with their friends.
A noteable group within this guild is the Intrepid Infinites, a traveling circus troupe who tour all throughout the floating isles that the Clan calls home.
Chisel & Charm is the Zenith’s guild for artists and craftsfolk of every discipline. From delicate jewelry to gleaming swords, to decorative lampposts, to colorful tapestries, its members value beauty and finesse in everything they create.
Perhaps some of the most tireless townsfolk around, they put their hearts and souls into turning this safe haven into a true home. Every piece, no matter how small, carries a spark of its maker’s Ember. Their art is both expression and preservation. Through these dragon’s claws, the identities of those within the Zenith endure.
Dragons of the Wayfarers’ Guild are explorers—those who never lost their taste for adventure after finding there way to the Zenith and who long to glimpse the world outside its bounderies once again. So, that’s exactly what they do. Often heavily marked by runes and never without the supervision of a Vanguard member, they travel outside the Shroud on special missions for the good of the Clan. Most often, these trips are to scavenge materials, books, and technology for the Incantineer’s Coil. In times where food has become scarcer, they’ve also been known to travel out on hunting and gathering expeditions.
There are even some among them who have been granted clearance to conduct field studies of the natural world in other parts of Sornieth, in the hopes of finding more information about Wisps and how to cure the affliction of the Zenith’s members. Though little progress has been made in that regard, the tenacity of the Wayfarers is commendable.
