Feywings ~SU and OoC~

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You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by
Sneak home and pray you never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.
-- Sigfried Sassoon, Suicide in the Trenches

Ceylarya is a rich land, filled with a good mix of open grassland and steep, rocky mountainsides. A steady river, reliable even during the hottest days of summer, runs near the southeastern base of the largest mountain range, separating it from a sparse woodland and the plains beyond. The sun-baked grassland seems to shimmer with yellow and green during the summer, and the verdant blades simply darken to a rich emerald as the temperature cools. Yet while the rolling hills carry very gentle slopes, by contrast, the towering mountains that seem to pierce the clouds with an ancient, silent ferocity are dangerous, treacherous places, too steep for any human to even dare to hope to climb.

But that's not of importance to the Ceylaryans. They're far from human.

Ruling this expansive land, coursing the skies with powerful wings gained over generations of evolution, are dragons.

These creatures are what one would expect from sentient, apex predators-- incredibly intelligent with a tendency towards vanity, forming close social bonds with relatives and friends, and neither asking for nor giving quarter to enemies. Sometimes growing to nearly seventy feet from snout to tailtip and living for hundreds of years, these powerful beasts are magnificent sights to behold as they frame against the sky, scales glittering in the light of the blazing sun.

However, while once a free species, with no set social structure, the dragons of Ceylarya are now under the rule of a special breed of dragon.

It seemed to happen quickly, almost overnight, with no violence or bloodshed. Taberias Orinos, a brilliant red-gold dragon with a keen interest in power; along with his close ally Susiron Tarik, a somewhat stocky black with a temper as hot as his flame; declared publicly that the dragons' culture would eventually die if a social structure was not created to preserve it. Many dragons protested- they had been set in their ways for so long, and instinct, they argued, was all they needed to preserve their culture. But this crimson dragon with his dazzling scales was oddly charismatic and managed to win over much of the crowd. But when Taberias had convinced who he could, the remaining few turned away from him, retreating back to their homes in frustration as Taberias would not even listen to their views.

Things progressed smoothly afterwards. Taberias and Susiron together helped the "wild" dragons to form an organized structure- a Ruling class and a Military class. The Ruling would consist of the leader, his second-in-command, the advisers, the couriers, the scribes, the guards, and the "servants" who would be prisoners of any possible war- but why, Taberias was asked, would there be a war? Taberias gave no straight answer no matter how many times he was asked this, he simply said, "You never know what the future might hold." Meanwhile, the Military class was composed of the Captain, his two Wing Guards- the second and third in command, so named for that they would fly on either side of the captain as if to protect his wings- scouts, generic fighters, messengers to relay orders back and forth, and medics to aid the wounded.

Needless to say, Taberias was immediately installed as the leader for coming up with the idea. And while many suggested that Susiron take second-in-command for resolutely backing his friend's views, the stocky black refused the position- taking the Captain of the militia position instead. He preferred the thrill of combat to simply sitting around in a cave all day giving orders- and he was a veteran warrior, or so he told skeptics. And nobody dared to challenge him on this, for fear that his temper would get the best of him when Taberias was not around.

Thoroughly disgusted by how events had turned out, those who remained unconvinced took to a small and relatively uninhabited mountain range to the southeast, isolated from much of the now "civilized" dragon population. Those few "renegades" as they came to be called that still stood on the edges of the crowds that were vying for various positions among the ruling and military classes often relayed information as spies would, and soon they were much like a network trading information, held together by a mutual dislike of Taberias's system. And what they heard and consequently relayed back to their allies made them grow even more suspicious.

Taberias and Susiron were speaking of a sort of super-breed of dragon known as the Feywing, a breed that if it existed, the two were clearly part of the breed. If they spoke true, the shining sunset-colored scales of Taberias and the gleaming oil-like scales of Susiron were genuine feyscale- the scales of a Feywing that contained the legendary metal known as mithril, making them dazzling and much harder, offering more protection to the dragon. Taberias made a wild proposal- only the Feywings would have the highest positions. The dragons spoke out against this, but their new leader assured them that it was for the best. The highest-ranking dragons would be the most likely to be attacked by assassin enemies, no? And if your leaders fall, you are helpless at the mercy of your enemies.

Not even the renegades could argue with this logic, but now it was clear to their eyes that Taberias and Susiron were only out to further their own ends. All they knew for certain was that they were doing their best to almost segregate the dragons into two groups- those with Feyscale, marking them as Feywings, and the "genetically inferior" dragons whose scales did not contain mithril. The renegades watched from the sidelines as Taberias and Susiron inspected each dragon that came to them, hoping their bright scales marked them as Feywings- and more than a few were disappointed to find that they were not. But they were still accepted into positions- just not the highest-ranking ones. This served to confuse some of the watching renegades. Were they wrong? Was Taberias just being blunt with the crowd when he had implied the genetic superiority of Feywings?

Upon being asked this, the more resolute renegades all but spat at their former comrades. Driving them off with such insults as "traitor to your kind", they chased them back to what was now "Feywing territory". The fleeing former renegades, now convinced that their old allies were simply blinded by resentment at Taberias's intrusion into their lives, openly accepted the new order and even found it to their liking. No fights over territory, as everyone was guaranteed a cave and hunting parties would bring back food for those not fortunate enough to make a kill. The dragons of Ceylarya grew to be a much prouder race, the non Feywings even priding themselves on simply living among those that shared their breed with Taberias and Susiron.

Or so it seemed to the observer. Several years passed, and every so often during that time, a dragon would speak out against what had now grown to be an empire of sorts. For the most part they were ignored, though some Feywings resented the implied insults. Nobody talked down the dissenters. Nobody took action. Nobody had to. After a few days, those who spoke out simply... vanished. What was implied and widely said was that the dragons had left to join the renegades- a belief strengthened by the renegades' ever growing numbers. But not all were convinced, and they held their tongues for fear of their lives.

And then the violence began.

A sudden strike of flame on the cave that Taberias had made his home, a renegade raid! The nearby guards managed to kill or drive off the attackers, with no injury to Taberias. Upon seeing the dragons the guards had killed- some of the first dragons to leave Feywing territory, who Taberias was well aware had formed their own group-- Outraged, the Feywing leader declared war between the Feywing Empire and the renegades. Battle after battle, raids from both sides, and the ruling class finally saw servants. The military class finally saw combat. Feyscale finally proved its resilience. And both sides saw losses.

Neither side shows any signs of backing down. It is clear that the war will continue until either the renegades are crushed, or the Feywing empire is toppled. Which side will you choose?​

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Map



Black lines - Mountains
Blue outllines - Water
Shaded areas outlined in green - Forests
Red border - Extent of Feywing territory
Red dots - Feywing outposts
Black dot - Renegade camp
Red star - Taberias's cave
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Feywing Ranks

Ruling:
Leader- The one who leads the Feywings. (Taberias)
Second-In-Command- The de facto leader if the current leader is away or unable to give commands. (Spectre)
Advisors- These act as viziers and counselors to those in power. They should have keen minds.
Scribes- These are in charge of archiving events, stories, and customs. Scribes must be able to write quickly and accurately!
Guards- They protect the ruling class in case of a renegade raid. Intelligence is good but strength and fortitude is better.
Couriers- The messangers of the ruling class who deliver scrolls and messages between high-ranking officials or see off a troop of Feywings preparing for a raid. Speed and intelligence are key.
Servants- Prisoners of war who do exactly as the name suggests.

Military:
Captain- The leader of the military class. (Susiron)
Wing Guards- The second and third in command who act as officers of the military. (Snowtail, Hiruk)
Messengers- Messengers deliver orders from the Captain and Wing Guards to lower-ranking soldiers and such.
Medics- Medics don't fight, but instead stay on the sidelines to heal the wounded.
Scouts- Scouts are required to be fast so that they may fly ahead and check out a situation before reporting back.
Fighters- Generic fighters who do all that they can to fight for their empire.
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Dragon Elements

A dragon may be one of four different elements. Each of these four has aspects uniquely inherent to that element.

*Fire: These dragons have a more powerful firebreath and are resistant to heat. They are highly skilled in magic dealing with raw power. They are often serpentine while still retaining the classic western dragon build.
*Water: With scales nearly as bright as feyscale, these dragons have incredibly powerful senses and are talented in magic used for defense, such as healing or buffing. They tend to have elegant frames.
*Earth: Stocky and dull-scaled, Earth dragons are easily the most physically powerful of all the dragon elements. While they can fly, they are typically the slowest in the air, but make up for it by sheer strength.
*Wind: Light, fast, and agile, these dragons are the fastest of the fliers, which is much because of their small frame and large wingspan. They are able to perform acrobatic maneuvers other dragons could only dream of.
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Profile Sheet
These profiles must be PMd to me before being posted. Please keep in mind that there are NO humans in this and dragons are built western-style rather than eastern, wyverns, etc. If you have any questions, PM me.

And I know this is a fantasy setting, but please try to keep it realistic.

Code:

[b]Name:[/b] 
[b]Gender:[/b] 
[b]Age:[/b] (Keep in mind dragons live for hundreds of years, but mature into adulthood at around 30.)
[b]Element:[/b] 
[b]Rank:[/b] (Renegade, Civilian, or Feywing; in the case of Feywing, specify that rank, ie, Feywing - Scout, etc)
[b]Appearance:[/b] (Text or pic, if text must be about 3-4 sentences at least)
[b]Personality:[/b] (3-4 sentences at least)
[b]Background:[/b] (Optional, but a decent-sized paragraph if included)

 

Important NPCs

Spoiler: Taberias

Name: Taberias Orinos
Gender: Male
Age: Somewhere around 140 years old
Element: Fire
Rank: Feywing - Leader
Appearance: A good 45 feet long from snout to arrowhead-tipped tail, Taberias has shining red-and-gold scales that make him look almost like the sunset in a dragon's shape. His serpentine head carries six long, ivory horns, while his sharp azure eyes radiate a confident, self-assured light. A row of small spikes runs the length of his spine, stopping nearly halfway down his tail. His four claws are armed with sharp, curved, serrated talons made for grasping prey and ripping it part. Two small spikes protrude from his hind legs, but otherwise his limbs are undecorated. His wings are narrow but functional, and the amber membranes connecting the wing fingers catch the light like crystal.
Personality: Taberias is highly charismatic, able to charm much of a large crowd simply by knowing when to say what. He has a keen mind, and a keener instinct to dominate. He chases what might give him a shot at gaining power, whether it be an ally, something to aid his raw, damaging skills in magic, or an idea. While outwardly friendly and social, Taberias fights his enemies with a merciless ferocity rivalling the most radical of the renegades.

Spoiler: Susiron

Name: Susiron Tarik
Gender: Male
Age: Around 170 years old
Element: Earth
Rank: Feywing - Captain
Appearance: Susiron is a heavily-built black dragon whose scales shine like oil. His slit-pupilled eyes are a sharp amber-gold, and the six off-white horns on his head rake back sharply like a shark's tail fin. His fangs stick out slightly from his jaws like a crocodile's, and he has the jaw strength to match. His dark gray wings are powerfully muscled to acommodate for his bulk, whick is nearly fifty feet long from boxlike, vaguely beaked snout to spade-tipped tail. Sharp blades rake down from the backs of his front limbs.
Personality: Susiron has a fiery temper, always quick to quarrel as long as he knows he can win. He is loyal to Taberias but none other. He is also incredibly easy to irritate, though not offend, and most dragons know not to disturb the Captain when he is in a bad mood. They pity the couriers who are sent to deliver ill news to the great black.

Spoiler: Rajius

Name: Rajius Valen
Gender: Male
Age: 74
Element: Fire
Rank: Feywing - Advisor
Appearance: Though he's never called this to his face, Rajius's serpentine frame has earned him the nickname "Snakey". While he does keep the classic western build and not a winged eastern, his long neck and tail do give him the appearance of a snake with limbs and wings. His scales are a cascade of rich emerald green, and the membranes of his narrow wings are a lighter lime color. His underside is a sea green, along with his claws, which carry four dagger-like talons each. His two coal-black horns sweep upward, on either side of a triangular crest, which rests above two devious vermillion eyes.
Personality: Rajius is a cunning, secretive sneak who is never far from his usual perch near Taberias's cave. He enjoys causing mahem and discord and will only desist when attacked or told by Taberias to stop. Rajius knows the value of selective misinformation well, and will often purposely blow things out of proportion, bend the truth, or straight out lie in order to cause trouble, then sits back and enjoys the show. He thrives in his mildly sadistic chaos- as long as he's the one who caused it.

Spoiler: Corvus

Name: Corvus Feralas
Gender: Male
Age: 125
Element: Wind
Rank: Renegade
Appearance: Corvus is a dull black color, and he uses this to lurk in the shadows during night raids on the Feywing empire. Though rather small, this wind dragon has a very large wingspan with grey-blue membranes. His back carries a low sail-like spine for aerodynamics, but otherwise his back and tail are undecorated. The only part of him that is clearly visible at night are his piercing golden eyes, the left of which is marred by a scar caused by a claw slash to the side of his face. His four horns are a light grayish color and curve very slightly upwards.
Personality: Corvus is relatively quiet and reserved, rarely raising his voice unless he is directly disobeyed. He does have a burning hatred for the Feywings, and to him, the only good Feywing is a dead one. He treats the few Feywing-bred renegades with mild distrust, and as a result they see him as a cold, distant leader. Corvus is not incredibly social but will act friendly if prompted.
Background: The current leader of the renegades, Corvus was among the first dragons to leave upon Taberias's proposal. He hid out in the mountains for a time with other renegades before word came back that dragons who spoke against Taberias were going missing. Outraged, Corvus and most of the other renegades organized their raid on Taberias's cave, which happened a few nights later. And upon regrouping when they were forced to retreat, Corvus counted the losses- and vowed to take revenge for his fallen comrades.

Spoiler: Snowtail

Name: Snowtail Uthaned
Gender: Male
Age: About 230
Element: Water
Rank: Feywing - Wing Guard
Appearance: Snowtail is a grizzled old white dragon, with cracked horns and broken scales. However, his scales retain their dazzling icy sheen, and his claws and teeth remain dagger-sharp. His clear blue eyes are round pupilled and see farther than most other dragons' eyes, and his hearing has also not weakened with age. His tail is thick and undecorated. Two fans extend in front of his eight dark gray horns, the membranes of those fans and his torn wings a pale sky blue. A ring-like marking the same shade of blue rests on the base of his neck.
Personality: Tired and weary of battle, Snowtail does little more than organize raids and see them off to fight against the Renegades. Though once eager to battle, having been in the military since it was created, this water dragon has seen more than his share of bloodshed and the war has taken its toll on him. Though he does not fight directly, he does aid the fighters with powerful magic to strengthen or shield them. Rumors say that he may be ready to retire...

 

My Profiles

Spoiler: Spyral

Name: Spyral Hinaro
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Element: Fire
Rank: Renegade
Appearance: With scales so dull a silver that they're almost gray, this young dragon has eager red eyes and short, rather thick horns just starting to grow from his snakelike head. Spyral is rather stocky for a fire dragon, but he shows signs of gaining the inherent serpentine frame as he grows older. Short spikes run down his spine, ending near the arrowhead tailtip. His limbs are also thick to support him, but they seem to thin as his body does. They end in wickedly sharp ivory talons.
Personality: Spyral has a hot temper for such a young dragon. He's also somewhat vain and arrogant, and enjoys pulling pranks on other renegades when he's bored and a raid isn't about to begin. He also likes to openly mock the Feywings, to the general amusement of the other renegades, however this is countered by his more immature antics and has earned him few friends.

Spoiler: Kurai

Name: Kurai Thoros
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Element: Wind
Rank: Renegade
Appearance: Kurai is a glossy black, though his scales don't have the shine of feyscale. Unlike most dragons, his obsidian scales are his uniform color- the only parts of him that aren't black are his amber eyes and white talons and horns. He's also rather thin, which is caused not only by his wind element but also by the scarcity of food in renegade territory. His wingspan is quite large, even for his element, and he routinely beats Spyral in races. His long tail ends in a spade and thin quill-like spikes run down his back.
Personality: Much unlike Spyral, Kurai is calm and quiet, sometimes just a little shy. He often tries to talk Spyral out of his antics with very little success. However, like the loyal friend he is, he goes along with the silver to make sure he doesn't get himself hurt. Kurai can often be seen awake at night, gazing at the stars for no particular reason other than to watch the occasional comet.

Spoiler: Selendrile

Name: Selendrile Dharsii
Gender: Male
Age: 62
Element: Wind
Rank: Feywing - Courier
Appearance: Selendrile is a deep sapphire blue wind dragon with scales that sparkle like crystal shards. On his back are silver stripes- rather rare for a dragon. He as a lean frame and is almost as serpentine as the average fire dragon, but his large silvery wings are proof of his element. He has bright, confident cobalt eyes that seem to carry a faint glow no matter what lighting the blue is in. His tail is more than half his total body length and is undecorated.
Personality: Selendrile keeps to himself, obeying Taberias without question and delivering whatever he is tasked to. He holds no love of combat and would rather the war just end peacefully instead of fighting over an old quarrel. If he sees a known renegade, rather than attacking, he simply goes elsewhere, maybe warning other dragons to clear out of the area. Sometimes he considers leaving, but doesn't have the nerve to.

 

This roleplay is partially on hold because I will not have reliable internet for AT LEAST a week and thus will not be able to keep this going. It will be started once I get things in order.

 

Whichever you want.