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It do be like that

Oseao wrote:

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DAWNBREAK - Elarithil - Yora's Mandate #15 ~ Freemer

I listened to the questions in silence while carefully observing everything and the surroundings. I was purposefully allowing Hallow and Joy to finish before raising a hand, I know that I hated being interrupted at least and I would extend the same courteous to foreigners in this case at least. “One at a time.” My eyes briefly turned towards Joy in particular. She had a rather marquee ability to produce several questions before the previous one had even been answered. A trait not uncommon of many in Elarithil as well, but not a trait I was that fond of personally. She had made quite the impression so far, and some things were rather obvious when reading between the lines. I suspected more that I do not particlarly feel like going into detail about, ultimately though, the questions themselves were useful. “Stevist Guam is a close ally of Elarithil and historical trading partner for many hundreds of years. You should certainly visit them, and their capital of Liberty is quite nice. They will certainly give you another useful point of comparison as to what the outside world is like.” I looked down at the map. “The sea is more complicated. To that end there is much that should be avoided, as I am sure you found out on your journey here. We will mark what we know, though I would not mistake our markings as exhaustive of all possibilities that could occur. ” I paused briefly. “Farrine was relatively unknown to us before your arrival, at least in the sense of what your nation and people were like. As for your technology question, it stands to reason that a long period of isolation would lead to separate technological development than the outside world. Of course, to offer an in-depth analysis I would need examples of said technology, but that is neither here nor there right now.

I pulled the map closer and began marking several routes with a quill, carefully distinguishing the major currents from the safer passages. “These routes should make the return journey more efficient. I trust your navigators can figure out what to do from there.” I then looked back toward Hallow. “Your embassy is straightforward enough. A permanent place for Farrine to maintain contact with Elarithil will be established here in the shining silver port of Silvarin. Liora can determine any formal arrangements beyond that.” I set the quill down, only for the doors behind them to open. There was absolutely zero question who it was, as I turned my head as familiar footsteps approached, that unmistakable confident, that aura... and the long green traditional dress of the Elarithae Queen. “Speaking of Liora,” I said with a faint smirk appearing across my face. “It seems you will not have to wait much longer to discuss with her.”

Dawnbreak - Yora’s Mandate #16

Hallow thanked Yora graciously for his directions, and Joy studied the map. Joy continued to study the map for a moment before forcing herself to look at Liora. Joy’s expression was a bit unreadable. She didn’t look upset by the queen’s arrival, but she didn’t look happy either. If anything, Joy was more focused on that smirk on Yora’s face, which she didn’t seem too fond of. And with a glance at Hallow, she didn’t seem too fond of him either. Her foot tapped impatiently; clearly she had already set her mind on departing that day.

Hallow gave a slight bow to Liora as she entered; nothing too grand, as Farrine would look to weak with such a gesture, but there was nevertheless much reverence in the way he greeted her. Hallow’s face brightened at her arrival, and he straightened his posture, both out of surprise of the regal aura she gave, as well as a desire to match it. Hallow was wearing fine clothes, as per usual, and really was a friendly looking man. But his apparent…not seriousness…but perhaps calmness showed that very little surprised him, at least now.

By this point, Hallow was aware that the citizens of Elanthril aged differently. Still, it was a bit off putting to see someone in such a position in such a young age. Liora looked to be around the age of his daughter Penelope. But what was Penelope doing? Why, she was off on some adventure with her best friend, and seemed to have very little interest in her incoming royal duities.

Hallow: “Greetings, Queen Liora. I’m sure Yora has told you plenty, but I am King Hallow Purnell, one of the four Rulers of Farrine. It is an absolute pleasure to be in your nation. I am accompanied by Princess Joy.”

The mention of her own name caused Joy to focus her full attention on Liora.

Joy: “I prefer to go by Captain. See, I sailed this ship from Farrine all the way to this place, which is quite far across the world. So Hallow didn’t quite do me justice.”

Hallow: “Very well then. You have met the magnificent Captain Joy.”

Joy: “There you go. Mind you, I am technically a Princess, but I am merely the sister of a Queen who has an heir. And I left that sort of royal nonsense behind. So I really don’t count.”

Hallow glanced at Yora when Joy said “merely the sister of a Queen”, hoping that she wouldn’t take what Joy said the wrong way. But Joy didn’t seem to be referring to Yora; her attention was entirely on Yora’s sister.

Joy: “It’s good to meet you, Liora. Glad you showed up.”

Joy sounded utterly bored, to the point that it is a true wonder that she was raised with poise and royal manners.

°❀. Dawnbreak - Brink of Death .❀°
_{Or, Fulmen's Defeat}

I am Fulmen Leirwyn. And this is my tale, of how I've had enough and took a stand against the breaking the dawn.

I had lived in a small, cozy borough for years, in the mountains of Elarithil. The winters were harsh, but enjoyable. But, in our small village...something was brewing. We had connected with the spirits, or so we thought, with the help of one of our brightest - an elven mage named Azura. Her beautiful composure and flowing white hair, combined with her caring, inspiring demeanor had truly gotten us to work together towards her vision of breaking free from complacency. She told us that we were destined for greatness, our fate interwined with those of a water species north of Elarithil that was the favored species of the spirits themselves.

That was foolish. We thought we were helping each other and living a life bound together under Azura's vision, one where we would be making a genuine impact towards creating a better world, free from hunger, greed, anguish, by helping the spirits accomplish their goals. I should've known better....helping the spirits accomplish their goals...favored species of the spirits? Pft. But, I didn't, and the past is the past. I realized far too late anyways. How we smiled and bowed towards Azura as the Chosen One, for 28 years, before beginning our journey north - one that would kill 16 of our party of 30...We did not weep as we were picked off, for Azura reassured us that we would succeed. And we all had such high hopes and confidence in her, as someone who was ordained with greatness, and who had always treated us with such warmth, such kindness. All the cozy meals we had eaten, the stories we shared - we lived a relatively normal life apart from the intense magical training regiments that we devoted our lives to in that village, as Azura grew alongside us.

Finally, it was time. The 14 of us remaining gathered together in circle and kneeled. We called forth, called out to the spirits, and called inward towards our own determination, led by Azura. Together, we unleashed the magic that we had been training for decades - casting it forth into the sky, re-aligning the elements coming from the clouds and imbuing them with our vision. But, something was...off. I had privately questioned how Azura was so confident in us despite losing over half our party to unexpected causes, but...I, I think I got it now. I only faintly detected us - indeed, none of were even close as powerful as Azura was, despite our own training, but...her own beam, which was magnitudes greater in volume and brightness than ours, it was somehow feeding off of our strength. I perceptively noticed that my fellow Snowborn were growing paler, their eyes floating into their heads as they lost their strength as Azura sapped it. I, was probably still standing as the strongest of us apart from Azura, having been a light magic user much like Azura for almost a century before she graced the planet.

I...this isn't what we had agreed on. And I stood in shock, as my energy was slowly being sapped, too. Azura was grinning. It was not a pure grin. Indeed, in that moment I realized that she had no grace in her heart, and her plan involved nothing more than her own elevation - and the spirits most certainly have not "spoken" to her. And..if she got her way, I feared what would happen, to this northern land, Elarithil, and everybody. So, I took a stand and, conjuring all my strength, swept my magical staff forward and unleashed a powerful blast of lightning - a form of light magic I was quite strong in given my past. My blast sent her flying, but it also disrupted her sapping strength from my comrades, causing them to drop immediately. I, too, nearly fell to the ground, barely surviving her magic being broken.

She glared at me.

"YOU....you...How dare you..??"

I scoffed and shook my head. Her. I had nothing but rage in me now. "In the middle of it all..Azura. I can't believe it took me this long, but I see past your lies. How you've used us, let us be cast aside and left to die as you marched us up here. This..is a cult. Your visions are lies. And what you were doing...would've brought about the end of us all, wouldn't it?"

She yelled back, "HOW DARE YOU? We dined together, laughed together, worked on this together for DECADES. You call me a murderer, and yet twelve lay dead at your hands. You held your tongue for 39 years if you speak the truth of your concerns, and now..look at us. What is the meaning of this?"

I shook. I..did not kill those twelve. It was her own magic that was sapping them of their strength - that would've killed them anyways, and brought about the possible end of everybody with it! I drew forth my staff, prepared for battle - even in my weakened state. My golden eyes pierced her as I adopted a battle position.

"I was blessed with a vision of my own, this very moment. Of what was needed to stop you. You think yourself to be the chosen one, but I am the her-"

Suddenly, I was blasted. I...somehow, my perception seems to have evaded her preparing a powerful attack, and I lay on the ground. It burned. My vision blurred, as the skies twisted into sinister colors and a heavy aura overtook me. I passed out.

°❀. Dawnbreak - Apprentice .❀° - Previous Post in Arc
_{Or, Fulmen's Journey}

It was raining today. I grunted. It always felt like it was raining in Aonyx. I got out of bed and sleepily got into my robes. I didn't intend on being in Aonyx for long - despite being distant from that witch's ever-watching gaze and her rotten presence in Icentetus, the cities were hardly safe. My scarred face tended to draw a lot of gazes when I was about, and having a single eye didn't particularly help, either. The Enforcers routinely visited the cities, too, and they knew how to detect powerful magic users like myself. Granted, I could take the vast majority of her Enforcers, but..that was bound to incur Azura's full wrath.

No. To be honest, I was only in town to buy some species of rare fish for a meal I had long desired. It was a very differet diet from what I'd eaten centuries ago in Elarithil, but I had grown fond of my new diet. I made my way to the center of town. However, it seemed like there was quite a commotion today. Hordes of people were gathered amidst a couple of shouts. And, I sensed a magical presence, too. Every instinct was telling me that being curious here wasn't worth it, that I should mind my own and evade detection. But, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Something told me investigating would be the right thing to do. So, I meekly pushed through the crowd, draping my robes over my head. Finally, I was able to make out what was going on.

A boy with dishevelled green hair gripped a battered blade and yelled,

"Let go of my brother, NOW! He did nothing to you people! I- you- he wouldn't, he wouldn't do something like that!"

Opposite of the boy stood three mages, all clad in white and gold robes - indicating that they were Enforcers of Alaina. Clearly not powerful ones, to have evaded my detection in the bustling city center, but competent magic users nonetheless- and wholly capable of bullying any lesser or non-magic users. However, I was curious what they wanted with this boy's brother. So, I listened.

"Your brother is a criminal and a murderer, of an Enforcer, no less. We found our comrade dead outside of the city, and found him on the scene, with their blood on him. You are brandishing a weapon at us - you, too, are now a criminal. Submit yourself to us and perhaps you two may remain together. In a sort of way, of course."

The boy dug his foot into the ground. "Absolutely not! I know my older brother, and Varnine wouldn't do such a thing! I've seen how you pull people off the city streets...and, and...no longer!"

The Enforcers adopted a similar battle stance and drew forth their staffs. One of them squinted and frowned, while another restrained Varnine, the boy's brother. "Very well. It pains us that things have reached this point. We will be bringing you in now. Dark Magic -- Shrouding Void!

A darkness encompassed the scene, as energy shot forth towards the boy. The other mages, including the one restraining Varnine (who had since picked up the limp brother with one hand and wielded his staff with the other), similarly shot magical spells towards their opponent, or so I could sense - I could barely see anything due to the dark spell that had been cast. And then, a bright flash that caught me off guard. I didn't expect to be seeing anything. But, it seemed like it was over, and the Enforcers had brought about the demise of their foolish opponent. Why, I wondered, would you challenge Enforcers, with a blade like that no less? Had you no sense?

My eyes widened as everything cleared up. Indeed, the boy was on the ground, heavily injured, his blade fallen to his side. But..so were three enforcers, clearly slashed. It was rare to see melee practitioners these days, especially those as young as this boy. Almost rarer was it to see skilled practitioners - he didn't escape without consequence, but he fell his three opponents faster than their magic could injure him. Thorny vines burst out of their wounds - he must be a life magic user and a sword user.

The boy needed help, and quickly. I dropped what I was doing and sprinted forth. Undoubtedly, he was now a fugitive - and as someone who killed three Enforcers, and associates with someone purported to have slain another, a high level Enforcer would be dispatched after him. But, he showed strong potential, too, and I sensed he was a good kid -- even if only acting in personal interest, he was not likely to be swayed by Azura's lies. So, I readied myself and deployed my own dark magic, and with a blink of an eye, I had fled the scene with him and his brother.

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

It was dark when the green-haired kid came to. I wasn't a life magic user at all, nor a blood magic user who could've possibly altered his bloodflow, but I patched him up and stopped his bleeding. His eyes faintly opened, and I rushed to him. With a closer look, I noticed that he had vibrant green eyes. His brother, Varnine, was still resting.

"Are you alright, young one?," I said.

"....No."

That was, perhaps, to be expected. Still, it's easier to open these kinds of conversations with this form of small talk. "You did a very valiant thing."

"I...Just wanted to protect Varnine. Are...did I...?"

"....Yes. What is your name?"

"Valuro."

"Valuro. I'm Fulmen. Tell me a bit about yourself."

The boy exhaled. "...I...I hurt. And..I'm hungry, I think."

"Oh. Certainly, we can continue another time. Rest up, Valuro. We'll begin training in the coming days. There's a lot of work to be done."

"Okay...wait, what..?"

Indeed, I knew my judgement was right. Valuro. Valuro would become my apprentice. It had been a few decades since I had one, but...this boy emitted an aura unlike any of them before him. I couldn't tell what sort of aura it was, funnily enough. Except, I could sense his desire to do good in this world. He will make a great apprentice, should he choose to accept. I'm confident he will.

Dawnbreak RP
Worldbuilding Wednesday #6

Today, we shall describe the aspects of a wedding between two Luneri living in Morvainne.

Benefits and legal aspects

Legally, marriage provides a lot of concrete privileges.
These include but are not limited to:
custody over children,
shared ownership of property,
recognition of a shared household,
recognition of a spouse's claims to family estates,
inheritance rights,
medical decision making if one spouse is incapacitated or even declared dead.

Spirituality of marriage

There is spiritual significance to a wedding between two Luneri. However, Morvainne does not believe in two souls becoming one. Instead, it is assumed that the Moon witnesses two souls walking a mutual path together. The Moon sees people through different stages of their lives, and marriage is hence often described as "being remembered beneath the same moon".
During a wedding ceremony, the most important questions asked is "will you love this person forever?", simply because "forever" is a time much longer to Luneri than it is to humans and most other people. Instead, the question will be: "As you change, will you continue to recognize your kindred soul?"

Wedding in regards to society

Societal pressure regarding marriage exists to some extent, but it must be recognized that it is somewhat contradictory.
One one hand, marriage is highly respected, and considered a beautiful and generally desirable achievement. However, seeing as how long Luneri live on average, marrying at a young age is very unusual. Many Luneri do not marry before they are over a hundred years old. At a higher age, some Morvaini may be asked questions along the lines of: "Have you found someone with whom you wish to share your centuries?"

Generally speaking, marriage is not required or expect for parenthood. The society of Morvainne perfectly recognizes children outside marriage. As stated before, however, marriage may make long-term parenting and inheritance simpler. At the same time, since Luneri children are relatively rare, children are regarded as an enormous family event.

The rundown of a Morvaini wedding

A Morvaini wedding begins shortly after sunset and continues deep into the night. The ceremony usually takes outdoors - if possible, beneath an unobstructed sky, which is why a wedding couple will often ask for advice from astronomers to see this assured. Candles and lanterns illuminate the yard, all while ensuring the moon itself will always be left visible.

As the two loving persons approach, they will be asked three traditional questions. "Will you remember me?" - "Will you allow me to change?" - "Will you walk beside me while our paths remain one?" Only if all three questions are answered positively by both, the two will continue to speak their vows, which, in any case, must be written by the two future spouses themselves, independently from each other and anyone else.
Afterwards, the priest will declare: "The moon has witnessed. Her children have witnessed. Let their paths be remembered", to which the crowd responds: "Until the moon finds them again."

Then, the party begins, which is far from elegant or quiet. There will be huge feasting in candle light, an abundance of musicians, dancing, storytelling, even poetry and family speeches. And of course, the couple will receive countless gifts, many of which are handcrafted. Sometimes, these parties last for several nights.

Atmosphere and general mood

This may be where Morvaini weddings are most different from human weddings. They are often not overwhelmingly joyful, but, much rather, bittersweet. They do not feel sad or melancholic, but, in a sense, conscious of time. Laughter may often be followed by the sounds of someone else crying. It could be describe as a mixture of joy, nostalgia (as perceived by the elders), anticipation, and, finally, a certain awareness of mortality, for not even the Luneri are immortal, and they do very well know that a lifetime is eventually finite. A Morvaine wedding is about celebrating the circumstance that two people have decided to spend a gigantic portion of their limited existence together.

It is important to note that the ideal wedding, as felt by the Luneri, is not necessarily the largest one, but one that is remembered. What makes a Morvaini wedding is traditionally not the amount of riches spent, but whether it contains something unique belonging to the people. Some couples may end up planting a tree under the light of the full moon; others may walk the nocturnal beach at midnight. Other couples may end up exchanging childhood possessions, or telling each other stories - exciting, spicy, or even embarrassing - they have never told anyone.

The binding renewal

With a people as longevous as the Luneri, marriage often is not permanent. However, Morvainne recognizes a general "binding renewal". It is a common tradition for married couples to reevaluate their relationship every 50 years, which is then officialy and ceremonially reforged with a new wedding ceremony, or declared void. Divorce, however, is generally legal, not only for binding renewals. In Morvaini society, divorce isn't necessarily considered failure, as refusing to renew may simply be acknowledging that two paths have diverged.

To many Luneri, the binding renewal is even more important than the original wedding. The more renewals a couple has celebrated, the more it is considered "unbreakable" and, sometimes, borderline legendary among the people of Morvainne.

✧ Light of the Stars September 23rd, 2026: Below is our question of the day - feel free to share your answer with us!

Who do you idolize?

This question was brought to you by the Ministry of Gameside!

Dawnbreak RP
Worldbuilding Wednesday #7

The following is a compilation of the national symbols of Morvainne, what they represent, and how they are used.
This compilation excludes Morvainne's national animal, the Moonstag, which has already been talked about in Worldbuilding Wednesday #2.

National flower: the Vesperelle. A small, star-shaped flower that remains tightly closed during daylight and opens only after sunset. Its petals are purple, with a gradient almost fading into the black at the edges, with a pale silver center. At night, it radiates an extraordinarily pleasant fragrance. It is considered Morvainne's national flower because it reflects a societal belief - that certain things only reveal their beauty when the world grows quiet.

Vesperelles are found everywhere; they are planed around homes and in gardens, but also at cemeteries, in front of temples, and, of course, at wedding venues. Morvaini gardens full of vesperelles are known to look spectacular at night, as they seem to faintly glow purple at night.

National bird: the Sterling Owl. Its plumage is made up from silvery gray feathers, they have exceptionally large, dark eyes, and faint violet markings around the face. Its significance comes from its behavior, as it is known to remain near human settlements without becoming domesticated. Luneri scholars associate it with observation, patience, wisdom, dreams, ad secrets.

National tree: the Silveroak. A tall tree with pale bark sporting dark green leaves, which, however, develop a faint silvery sheen at night. Like the Luneri, these trees live for long, often, in fact, outliving them. They are traditionally planted with a Luneri child is born, when a marriage is closed or renewed, and when a new ruler is crowned; however, never when a person has died.

National emblem: the Open Crescent. A crescent whose tips don't quite meet. The gap represents knowledge that is always beyond Lunerian understanding. It embodies the philosophy that an individual can never possess all knowledge regarding a certain topic, or even about another person, and that the future is never certain.

National colors: violet and silver. Violet represents the night and dusk, but also the innerself, memory, mystery, the world of dreams, the unknown, wisdom, and finally, a sense of royalty. The darkest violet, which is close to black, is traditionally worn for burials and in times of mourning. Silver represents the moon itself, truth, clarity, reflection, guidance, and honesty. A famous Morvaini proverb reads as: "Violet remembers. Silver reveals."

However, among some Morvaini, black is also considered a third national color. It stands for forgetting, absence, death, and endlessness. It is not seen as "evil" or purely "negative", but as a state of inevitable emptiness. It would often be worn by some groups of social pariahs (mentioned in Worldbuilding Wednesday #4), especially the unfortunate few that are spiritually disconnected from their ancestors.

The Ministry of Moles wrote:

A League of Peace - Part 2.3
Response to Mala Gule

Edward III lifts himself, ensuring the beetle is kept secure under careful caressing.

'I was born of the menstrual blood of dead virgins, and the relentless waves of crimson tide not lifted by lunar guardian but by demented demiurge has continued with ferocity. Doubtless crops wither by simply my name such is my fate. The only solace I take from the decrepit vines of my life, are those rare lives whom I protect. Not repentance, nor redemption but simply solace. A demon's solace. You are mistaken in your thought that I seek refuge. It was in suicide that I sought the see yet still those foul demons that haunt my life prevent me. They possess this world inverting justice to injustice. They remind me of those terrible horrors crawling from the bowls of destruction yet so cruelly refuse to remind all other peoples. Indeed if they left me for even a second I would take noose, knife, or poison bottle. If you would do this foul tyrant one favor I want ask for you to kill me.'

[Response to League of Peace 2.3] The Ministry of Moles
Mala-Gule’s expression remains unchanged in coldness as his eyes appear to glow brighter, before he speaks once more.

“And I was born not from flesh and blood, but from the seas and earth of a godless forsaken land, my blood its rivers, my flesh its soil and my breath its winds. I was made not from the soft care of a creator, but from the desperation of a wartorn mind. My very existence was meant as a weapon, a last ditch attempt to save a fallen world. I have borne witness to its relentless destruction, watched the meticulous erasure of its life to the hands of ungodly beasts, as they pursued their unending conquest. Every day my body bore the vitriol and evils of the enemy, their blades sinking deep, fire burning flesh to bone, arrows piercing through my insides, mangled beyond recognition. Rest brought no relief, for instead the mind was forced to endure the suffering of thousands, of whom had been betrayed by its bloodline, their neverending screams a reminder of the inevitable fate waiting for me. A divine hatred that could not be broken was all that kept my deteriorating self together. One for the tyrant who descended upon the land and dug his claws into my chest, and one for the serpent king who selfishly fled his dying kin, leaving them crying out his name to no avail. This is to show that I am no stranger to the nature of a tyrant. Yet, to think you are worthy of the embrace of death is foolish. Just as my kind were forced to lay upon their homeland, slowly rotting away, you too shall find your fate drawn out so that the world may see fit to equal the suffering brought upon it by you. In that regard, I shall gladly assist. And, as you appear to seek only the safety and prosperity of the lives of the weak and innocent creatures that curl among the sand and rocks, then so too shall you be given an opportunity. Not because of what little comfort it may give, but because if a monster so wishes to water down the fires he lit, then I am not one to stop him…”

A sinister smile creeps across Mala-Gule’s face as he steps back. “Come now, o tyrant of man, and walk to your fate.”

Oseao wrote:

DAWNBREAK - Elarithil - An Ice Dragon's Account #5

°❀. Dawnbreak - Reply from an Otter Dragonlord #5 .❀°

I tilted 'ma head a little before lookin' back at that ground. Scorched'n ground, why, I coulda done that with a match n' all, so this drag'n shouldn't be a problem at all. And, if he's a'sleepin and comfort'ble here in this cave..he should be easy as pie to tame. I ain't one of many Otter Dragonlords for a reason - I'm Orett, I'm one of a kind for a reason! Why, I, I wasn't just reassurin' myself, and that sweat drippin' down..I wasn't scared, was I? Still, Vael's words swelled me up with that confadence he had'n em. Hell'ya, I thoughts to myself! I bet I could tame Vael if I gots luckier. Perfecto makes practice, or sum'thin.

I was gonna keep my words simple here. Now was the time to lock in.

"Vael. You done inspired me. And, and I just know I inspired ya too, with my years of research'n and educat'in myself on these matters. Rest assured, I'll do ya justice, n use my cha'rizzma on that Fire Dragon. Wake 'em up gently n introduce myself? I gotchu!" I curled my paw into a thumbs up towards Vael. "We'll wake'em up. Yea, yeah, yeah! That'll show'em whose boss? We're da bosses here!"

And with that, I made my way into da cave. I lifted off the ground to be sneaky quiet (I heard dragons, especially those Fire Dragons, hate waking up to noise). Finally, after a bit of flutter'in around like a butterfly in a field, the cave was all bright. In it was that Fire Dragon, snortin' fire all the way with ever breathe. I'd have to be careful to not get burnt to a crisp by that thang. By the spirits! I looked a bit closer. That dragon was black, and scarred. I ain't know how old Alaina was, but...I was sure that Dragon was way older! He had that kinda look to 'em..

All I had to do was wake up this centuries, if not milly-years old, beast, and greet myself. Tell'em that I'm Orett the Dragonlord, who..by...by the spirits, why was what I was thinkin'...why did this all seem a bit silly now? Lookin' at him, hearin' him breathin...that ain't somethin I prepared for. Why, he has massive, 'bout as large as a house - it dawned on me that this cave was massive, too! I gotta say something. Now's my momen-

"Hello?"

I flinched. That deep, growlin' voice..I turned my head. Why, that wasn't this Fire Dragon, but..there was a smaller one! An..it was speaking at me! Its yellow eyes widened.

"An otter? Why, greetings. You're in our cave. Please leave."

I flew up higher. This dragon was 'bout the size of two elves lined up head to toe. It must'a been the child of da other one. Still, I could- Whoof! I noticed the air was gettin' hotter. The other dragon was gettin' impatient. I had to speak, n fast!

"Er, er, I'm here ta help! Yer a dragon, arentcha? Well, I'm Orett, the Dragon_lor...Dragonhelper! You 'n your dad, I..I can help ya be, er, buds with the village n' stuff!"

The dragon child's look told me they wasn't convinced yet. "Oh. I understand. So, you want to tell me what to do instead of my dad. Well, allow me to wake him up."

A chill briefly went down my spine before I regrouped myself. "Oh, why yes'en! Wake 'em up!"

"Very well then."

And, with that, I stood there float'in with my wings above the damp ground, as the small dragon (Ima call 'em Dragon #2) approached the larga one. Suddenly, they gave a loud roar that caught me off guard - the whole cave was 'buzzin and 'vibratin, and suddenly...a ginormous burst of fire jetted out from the other Dragon's nostrils, makin' its way fast towards the cave exit! By this point, I realized I was no longa flyin', but on the ground, shakin' a bit. Still, I had to stay strong, and use all my advanced taming techniques! I hoped da burst would alert Vael. I was frozen as the larger dragon opened just one of its eyes, squinted, and then opened its mouth, its voice even deeper and hoarser, and asked in a roaring voice that was sure to be heard by all in and outside of the cave-

"Now...just who the HELL might you be, Otter? How DARE you!!"

Dawnbreak RP
Worldbuilding Wednesday #8

As a nocturnal nation, Morvainne is home to three categories of monsters.
The first category consists of monsters born from wildlife, which, due to a number of possible reasons, has twisted and grown abnormally to become a demonic or otherworldly version of itself. They are generally called "the Overgrown".
The second category is made up from monsters that are born from stray dreams of the Luneri. They are essentially manifested nightmares. These monsters are labelled as "the Dreamborn".
Finally, the third category is known as "the Ancients". The Ancients are widely perceived as demigods, and possess powers far beyond human reckoning. Most Luneril will never encounter them, and if they do, their lives will never be the same.

The following is a list of exemplary monsters of the Overgrown.

The Hollowstag - considered to be distant cousins of Morvainne's national animal, the moonstag, they sport antlers which are completely hollow, and faint violet light shines through them. Horrifyingly, they have no eyes; they do not need to see, for they can sense the memories of surrounding creatures. Some legends claim that hollowstags have originally been born as moonstags that became corrupted by consuming too many memories. In this stage, if they encounter someone who has forgotten something important, it turns aggressive towards that entity, and will pursue them until they either remember, or have fallen victim to the hollowstag's antlers.

The Veilwolf - abnormally large wolves whose fur seems almost black until moonlight shines upon them, revealing dark violet and silver patterns in similar fashion to the Luneri, which has led many to believe that veilwolves are the souls of Luneri that have returned to life inside an animal's body. As they remain motionless, their outlines melt into surrounding darkness, rendering them invisible. At night, they are almost always on the hunt, and seem to have developed a preference for creatures with high magic reserves - obviously, that does include the Luneri, or any other sentient species, for that matter.

The Silvermaw - rare occurrances of gargantuan bears whose teeth appear to be made of metal, which look as though they've been carved from moonlight. While their bite is lethal to flesh already, it most noticeably inflicts catastrophic damage upon magical protections of all sorts, be them wards, enchantments, or protective charms. Their teeth even tear through magical armor with ease. It must be noted, however, that silvermaws are timid creatures, and will usually only attack when being threatened - especially when their cubs are in serious danger.

The Lanternfox - they are not dangerous through usual means of predators, but through their own behavior. They take the shape of foxes with silvery violet or blue fur, which carry an orb of eeriely glowing light inside their chest, mimicking the light of lanterns in a foggy environment, where they most prominently appear. Those that are lost in the woods will often follow their light, and only realize they have been led into the wilderness after hours, where they may be lost forever. Scholars believe lanternfoxes to not be malicious, but instead, incredibly curious, and there have also been reported cases of them leading people back to civilization, though these may be a result of sheer coincidence.

The Mourninghare - black rabbits with silver eyes. They are rather beautiful in their appearance; it is their cry, however, that conveys the danger they pose. The unfortunate ones hearing the crying of a mourninghare experience an overwhelming sense of grief which they cannot even begin to explain. It is theorized they are subject to the emotional pain of every single person the victim has ever lost throughout their entire lives. Repeated exposure to the cries of the mourninghare can cause severe psychological distress, and has even been reported to drive select individuals to madness.

The Shadowmoth - huge moths with wings that look like fragments of the night sky. Their bodies are only truly visible under the light of the stars and the moon. They are known to gather around strong emotions, which draw them closer as a flame attracts a mortal moth. If only enough specimens of the shadowmoth gather around a person going through severe grief or emotional pain, the person may fall into an unnaturally deep slumber. Many of their victims will never wake up again, and spend the remainder of their lives in a world which is considered by some to be another plain of existence. In this, they will dream of people who died centuries, if not millennia ago. Whether they manage to return to the real world is entirely up to their own willpower.

The Faminestar - resembling gargantuan, bat-like creatures, the faminestars are covered in tiny points of light, which grow and flare up as they feed on magical energy. They do not kill their prey, but a large covey of faminestars can be attracted by settlements of powerful mages, and gradually deprive them of their mana, causing them to lose a great portion of their magical power. Ancient faminestars have grown so bright that they are often described as a living, flying constellation.

Now, let's continue with a list of several Dreamborn monsters.

The Dreadling - the most common of all Dreamborn. They appear to be nothing more than small humanoid silhouettes without a face or any other recognizable features, other than a vaguely child-sized figure. It appears in the corner of a room and watches people sleep. It doesn't ever attack; however, if someone acknowledges their presence, it disappears, only to reemerge somewhere else. After several nights, it begins appearing inside the dreams of the ones it has watched, which has led scholars to believe they watch people in their sleep to learn about the true nature of their dreams. Even then, they cause no direct damage, but repeated appearance may eventually cause distress and anxiety.

The Nightmother - one of the most infamous monsters in all of Morvainne. They take the shape of a gigantic feminine silhouette wrapped in black fabric. Their faces are always obscured, and they appear in nightmares involving abandonment, loneliness, losing loved ones, and being forgotten. The nightmothers feed on these nightmares; eventually, they can become centuries old, carrying thousands of people's fears. The older they become, the more powerful they grow, and the oldest of their kind are among the most dangerous entities in all of Morvainne, which even pose a lethal threat to seasoned battlemages. Due to their behavior, many believe the Nightmother to be the final evolutionary stage of the Dreadling, though it is theorized that only a select few individuals ever grow far enough.

The Frightcrawler - humanoid creatures that move in ways that seem to be impossible. Rather than walking, they crawl across walls, vertically, horizontally, and even upside down. It is also called "Scuttleking" by some, as many dreadcrawlers have been seen wearing crowns that seem to be made of either animals' claws and talons, or sometimes even human fingers. Their limbs bend at angles defying reality. Even the most knowledgeable researchers cannot agree on what exactly it is supposed to represent; some believe they originated from nightmares of losing control.

The Bedwalker - nightmare predators who appear as a distorted imitation of the dreamer's own body, sporting the same face, using the same voices, and possessing the very same memories of the dreamer. They approach sleeping people, whispering: "Wake up." If the dreamer eventually awakes on their own, nothing happens; however, if they awake due to the bedwalker calling them, the bedwalkers materialize in the real world, where they will take to hunting down the creatures of the waking world without mercy.

The Mirror-Memento - these creatures take the appearance of a person that has already died. Rather than simply being a resurrected person, or an undead being raised through a necromancer, they are memories given physical form. They behave exactly as the deceased person was remembered by whoever - usually, accidentally - created it; this also means that, if several different people remember a mirror-memento differently from each other, different versions of the mirror-mementos will spawn. The creatures do not understand they are not real; their sheer appearance is said to have awakened desires in the living to reconnect with their loved ones, desires that would inevitably always fail.

The Amnesion - undoubtedly among the most feared of all Dreamborn, amnesions feed on the memories of sentient beings. With their long, vaguely feline bodies and large ears, they are often mistaken for cats and foxes, especially in the dark. However, the amnesions have no mouth; instead, their heads open like a flower when they latch on to their victims. These bites do not cause physical injuries, but they permanently remove memories from their minds - memories of all sorts, containing imagery, scenarios of the past, and sometimes, even their own names. In a society as strongly tied to memories as the society of Morvainne, being hunted by an amnesion is often considered a fate worse than death.

On to the most powerful and terrifying category, the Ancients.

The Nocturne - even though nobody truly knows what it looks like, for their descriptions continue to contradict each other, the Nocturne is still considered to be the Ancient most regularly encountered by the Luneri. Some describe their appearance as a moonstag, others as humanoid; there have been reports of the Nocturne appearing to them as a winged serpent, while others claim they have no physical form to begin with. The common element, however, is that the Nocturne appears to people who are about to experience a profound change in their lives, prominent examples being cases of death, childbirth, or marriage, but also betrayal or war. Encountering the Nocturne is not necessarily a bad omen, but in any case, it means that the lives of the ones seeing the Nocturne will never be the same again.

The Dreaming Colossus - described as an enormous entity sleeping somewhere beneath Morvainne, it is unclear as to which shape the Dreaming Colossus truly takes. It could be a creature, a living mountain, or it may not exist at all. Legend has it that, every once in a while, its dreams transcend into the real plain of existence. When that happens, people start sharing the same dreams, animals behave in ways they usually would not, a terrifying number of Dreamborn spawns all over the Kingdom, some Luneri will remember lives they have never lived, and sometimes, buildings seem to move on their own.

The Last Moon - perhaps the most beautiful, and, at the same time, awe-inspiring appearance among the Ancients. It is a gigantic, pale creature supposedly seen walking across the horizon during rare celestial events, such as solar flares, full eclipses of sun and moon, and comets traveling the night sky. It resembles a deer with countless antlers, each of which appears to end in a star glowing in the night sky. Its body seems impossibly distant regardless of how close it truly is. It is said to constantly walk between worlds, and the tales tell of a day where, when the Last Moon eventually ceases to walk, the real moon will cease to turn.

The Pale Devourer - a creature truly monstrous, even by the standards of the monsters of Morvainne. It is a quadrupedal entity resembling a gigantic undead wolf. Its skin appears to be stretched tightly over its skeletal body; it has no eyes, no ears, no nose, only a huge maw with thousands of fangs menacingly glistening in the moonlight. The Pale Devourer feeds of the souls of those ridden with guilt over terrible deeds that can never be undone, and it does not kill their prey quickly; it absorbs their magical essence, and their entire life force until they are spiritually hollowed, and nothing more but an empty husk of flesh. In this state, the victims are not truly dead, but they have lost everything that once made them human.