Aduial

QUOTE: “His grief he will not forget; but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

Before he was a Dragon Aduial was a comet. A wanderer though the void of space, he had traveled for countless millennia, drawing steadily closer to a single point of brightness in the distance. Sornieth called out for him even then, unique amidst all the other blazing lights of the cosmos. Even before he could see it for what it was he had fallen in love with the place. When was close enough to truly see he was nearly blinded by the beauty and driven to grief. If he continued on his path he would pass it, leaving it and all its countless wonders in the distance. True he would see it again in time, but it would be such a great span of time. His would be a lonely lifetime punctuated by single bright moments of joy against which the blackness of space would seem all the deeper. Far better to burn himself in an everlasting instant of beauty than to live such an empty existence. And so he threw himself at the world he had so come to love, aware that it would end him, but unaware of what it would do to his beloved.

Fortunately his passage had not gone unnoticed. For years Galanta had watched him as a pinpoint of light drawing steadily closer. The Skydancer had assumed that he would pass, not to visit again in her lifetime. Instead she watched the comet inexplicably veer off course, threatening Sornieth with devastation. Acting swiftly Galanta called upon her friend Anduin for help. Seeing the brilliant blaze of light heading towards skies of Sornieth and sensing its immeasurable sorrow Anduin knew she had to act swiftly and cast a spell to turn the comet into an Imperial. Surprised by the majestic being before her, the leather of his wings holding a bit of the space from which he had come, a living map of the stars bound there by the powerful magic she had worked, Anduin greeted him. Her beauty surpassed all else and Aduial knew, before he was even aware of himself as a Dragon, that he had come home. Anduin, not the void between the stars, not the glistening coldness of space, but the lovely Skydancer, was his home, his everything. If Anduin was surprised by what had happened she hid it well and saw the sincerity in them, falling as much in love with him as he was with her.

It soon became apparent to the pair that he needed a name, something he had not been born with and not been given in his previous existence. Rising to the challenge Anduin poured over the works of the great, and near legendary prophet, Tolkien to find a proper name. In the end Aduial was chosen. Meaning ‘dusk’ or ‘twilight’ it fit the great Imperial with his star adorned wings shimmering like the night sky. Having always been a watcher and observer, one of his favorite pastimes is to watch Anduin work her magic. He hopes that in time he will be blessed by her and one day receive a new decoration for his body, one that is all the more special because of her being the one to make it. Having a deep connection to the sky above, he affectionately calls Anduin his ‘northern light’, a reference to both her shimmering beauty as well her compass like significance to him. She is after all his guide, something constant by which he can navigate. In turn she calls him her ‘little lost star’, a playful reminder of how he came to know her.

Since becoming a Dragon he has made many friends, including the playful Skydancer Lasgalen. He enjoys the older Dragon’s company, even if he finds some of his antics slightly idiotic. He doesn’t bother to hide this thought, often uses it as a counter when the older Dragon jokingly calls him his ‘best nerd friend’. The two of them have a rather brotherly relationship, complete with good natured teasing, each giving as good as they get. Due to his incredible intelligence he has studied under Valor and Nova, learning the arts of healing and fighting respectively. Lasgalen assists in his fighting lessons, though this means that they often turn into playful sparring matches where little is actually learned, but a great deal of fun is had by both Dragons. Of all his acquaintances, he considers Eldamar to be his best friend and the two of them spend long hours discussing whatever topic comes to mind and theorizing about anything and everything that strikes their fancy. Such conversations aren’t always the most productive, but they’re undeniable enjoyable.

His Familiar, Jaffa, was left to the clan by a pair of Dragons who no longer wanted him. At the time he was a young puppy and Anduin was selected to act as a surrogate mother. Jaffa was, and still is, terrified of her Familiar, a Velvet Floracat named Velveteen. To avoid the Floracat Jaffa took to following Aduial around, something he now does near constantly. It’s all part of his effort to avoid the Velveteen and it works for the fiercely loyal pup. In fact, the only time he and Velveteen are able to reach a temporary truce is when Anduin and Aduial have a clutch of eggs that need tending to. Then the Familiars will settle their differences and curl up around the nest together to protect them and keep them warm. Once the young Dragons hatch the truce ends and Jaffa resumes following Aduial everywhere he goes.

- Written by Teeka

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- A comet that fell to earth. Only through magic did his mate Anduin stop him from destroying everything. He fell in love with her after she turned him into a dragon, and thus remains with her.
- As a comet he lost his way when passing Sornieth and was so attracted to it's beauty and grace that he despaired when he realized he could never be a part of it. Thus he fell, hoping to be destroyed by the great and beautiful land he saw. Instead he was rescued by the most beautiful dragon he had ever seen, a Skydancer named Anduin.
- When Anduin saw him crashing toward earth, she quickly created magic and turned him into the most majestic creature she could think of, an Imperial. Parts of the universe were also captured in her magic and became a part of his wings.
- Incredibly intelligent. Studied under Valor in the art of healing and under Nova and Lasgalen in the art of fighting.
- Enjoys spending time with Lasgalen, though he thinks the older dragon is quite an idiot sometimes.
- His best friend is Eldamar, and the two often sit around theorizing about random things.
- Lasgalen often calls him "the best nerd friend" and teases him, though Aduial knows the other dragon loves him as his own brother.
- His name was chosen by Anduin from a list of names and words written by the great prophet Tolkien. It means dusk or twilight.
- His favorite thing to do is watch Anduin while she's working her magic. He hopes one day to be blessed by her and receive a new decoration for his body.
- His familiar, Jaffa, was dumped on the clan by a pair of dragons that no longer wanted him. Jaffa was a young puppy at the time and Aduial gave him to Anduin to mother. Jaffa is terrified of Anduin's familiar, a Velvet Floracat by the name of Velveteen, and regularly spends his days following Aduial around. He's known for his fierce loyalty and the only time he and Velveteen will settle their ways for a time is when Anduin and Aduial have a clutch. They will curl around the eggs together to keep them safe and warm.
- Anduin calls him her "little lost star."
- Calls Anduin his "northern light."