Haruspex
(#26767028)
Level 1 Guardian
Familiar
Ichor Nymph
Click or tap to view this dragon in Predict Morphology.
Energy: 50/50
This dragon’s natural inborn element is Shadow.
Male Guardian
This dragon is hibernating.
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Personal Style
Apparel
Skin
Scene
Measurements
Length
12.79 m
Wingspan
13.6 m
Weight
7005.18 kg
Genetics
Obsidian
Iridescent
Iridescent
Nightshade
Shimmer
Shimmer
White
Glimmer
Glimmer
Hatchday
Breed
Eye Type
Level 1 Guardian
EXP: 0 / 245
STR
7
AGI
6
DEF
8
QCK
5
INT
5
VIT
8
MND
6
Biography
NOT FOR SALE, TRADE, OR LENDING
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Haruspex
(ha-RUS-peks) Nicknames: Harry, Harris, Har ♥ a gift from Toyoll (Benighted Ballad)     
A Good Omen
(written by Disillusionist)
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Haruspex was born into a prosperous clan, the Black Bog Trading Post. From an early age it was apparent he was a little bit different from the siblings who'd hatched before him. He was able to predict events about five minutes before they happened, which made him a notorious cheat at dice. He was subsequently banned from this and similar games, and his father took him aside and gave him a stern talking-to.
Though he never lost the mischievous streak that's characteristic of all Shadow dragons, Haruspex did learn a lot about diplomacy as he grew up. His mother was in charge of the clan's nests and hatchlings, and his father had been schooled in the ambassadorial arts. From them he learned how to watch other dragons, to read their moves....Him being a part of a merchant clan ("Prosperity through guile!"), he also learned how to make the most of his interactions and get what he wanted from others -- sometimes without them realizing it.
But perhaps most importantly (and often disregarding the above), he learned how to care for them as well.
He watched his mother, who was both tender and fierce, care for the hatchlings, her charges, whether or not they were her own. He saw his stern and aloof father go quietly out of his way to better the situations of those in need. With his unique ability, he carefully filtered in the workings of the world around him, and he observed and he learned.
He was carefully raised as an ambassador to another clan. They had done a small service for the matriarch some time before his birth, and he had been promised to them in return. Prophetic powers or none, he knew what was coming. And when the day finally arrived, he was well-prepared.
The hoard was opened to him and, along with the usual traveling expenses, he was invited to take what he needed for his journey. He selected only a feathered bird skull, because he liked how it matched his violet wings. Haruspex was a gentle soul, but he did have some conceits.
He bade his parents goodbye, and he set out to the southeast....He hadn't mentioned it, but he hoped the skull would protect his eyes. It was very, very bright where he was going.
It was odd....All he had to do was focus on something and wonder what would happen next, and then he would get an image in his mind, almost like a daydream. More than once he had considered the possibility that he was making things happen, but he knew now that that wasn't true. He'd imagined a pile of delicious meat appearing in front of him once, and it simply hadn't happened. Although there was that time...
He had met representatives from his future clan only once before. He had been a hatchling then. There had been a loud and joyful party at the lair (with piles of delicious meat, yes!), a celebration of the matriarch's hatchday, and he had met seven dragons from another clan. There had been three hatchlings, with four adults to keep them in line (although the two males had squabbled a lot, something about being a "yappy neighbor" and an "incorrigible kleptomaniac"). The hatchlings had played with him. They had all been very chatty and had had a difficult time pronouncing his name: "Harris...!"
"--Pex," he had coaxed them, putting his prophetic powers to very good use.
"Harris," they had said, with cheerful finality. And then later, as they had started to run out of steam: "Harryyyy...! Harhar. HAAAAARRR!!!"
They had started to get sleepy and then needed to be taken home. The rainbow-winged Imperial had loaded them onto her back, and the chief of the group, a pale pink Skydancer, had given the clan matriarch a map containing directions to their lair. Haruspex had studied this map many times and committed it to memory. He was heading there now. Soon, it would be his home.
A Guardian's powers grow with age. Haruspex didn't know if his power would grow; until now, he seemed only able to sense things a few minutes before they happened. But he was young yet...Perhaps he would be a full-fledged seer once he grew up. He wasn't sure if he liked the idea, but then, there were many things he didn't like and they hadn't killed him yet. Like eating plants and bugs. He really hated that.
His power was fairly useful as he traveled through the Tangled Wood. It helped him dodge falling branches and wisps of moss that would've gotten into his face (and tangled in his bird-mask). He paused in the middle of the trail more than once as smaller beasts scuttled across his path. He didn't step on them. He was sure he wouldn't like how they squealed if he did that, and there was nothing to be gained by getting gunk between his toes (except a horrendous stink and many bad feelings).
He traveled for a few days. At one point, he realized he wasn't sure if his new clan was expecting him. Had they set a date for his arrival, some sort of schedule? He hadn't been told about such a thing....
He was now within the Sunbeam Ruins, and it was nighttime. His violet eyes narrowed as he peered through the darkness. "It should be right about...here--"
"Who's there?!"
Haruspex froze. His instincts told him to spin around, but he was sure the move would've frightened whoever it was. He hunched down instead, making himself look smaller, less threatening. At the same time, he focused, filtering out the right words to say....
"Hi. Um...Good evening." He cleared his throat. "I am a traveler from the Tangled Wood....I am looking for the Disillusionists' clan. Is it hereabouts?"
"Uh, why d'you ask?" said the voice. He heard creaking, crunching noises; whoever it was was trying to sneak around him, and doing it badly. He heard soft hoofbeats, caught a glimpse of a wispy mane: a Wintermane bowman melting out of the brush. Her bow was half-drawn, aimed at him. Her eyes were cold.
"A familiar, providing cover for her drake," Haruspex realized. It was time for him to reveal himself.
"Many moons before, dragons of the Disillusionists did my clan a service. It was before I was hatched. The matriarch was grateful to them and promised that when I came of age, I would be sent to live with their clan, to serve as an ambassador between my clan and theirs. I mean, to serve as an ambassador between my previous clan, in the Black Bog, and...Shadowbinder help me, that new clan's name is really very long."
"It's not as long and fancy as 'Shadowbinder'; you pronounced that very well," the voice accused him. A sapling gave way with a sharp crack, and Haruspex heard a mumbled "Oops." Another dragon stepped out into the open: a Guardian like him, but this one with pale skin and...
He quailed inwardly. Her head looked weird. It was sheathed in black, skintight material (or maybe it was her skin?); blue highlights sparkled along it, like lightning in the clouds, though the dragon's eyes burned gold and true. If not for the shine of her eyes, he would've thought she was headless.
The other Guardian was having the same thought. "What are you wearing?"
"It's a bird skull. It protects my eyes."
"What do they need to be protected from?"
"I'm from the Tangled Wood. It's not as bright as this place is."
The white dragon seemed stumped. "It's the middle of the night."
"Yes," Haruspex grunted, "I know that now." Truth be told, he'd gotten used to the mask sitting on his face.
Meanwhile, the white dragon was muttering, "Black Bog...Black Bog...Ah, I know the Black Bog. They had a party. Seven of our dragons attended--"
"Four adults and three hatchlings, all of different breeds--"
"Yes, our hatchlings were very happy to attend. They had a great time!" The white dragon relaxed. Her familiar remained aloof, but at least the bow was no longer aimed at Haruspex. He introduced himself again, this time giving his name.
"Haruspex? You're a seer?"
"Well, I am now," he joked, removing his bird skull. He could see a lot better, feel the cool air on his face. The stars shone bright above him.
The white dragon chuckled. She lowered her head, used her claws to lift up her...yes, it was a helmet, one made of thin but very strong material. She shook it absently. "This protects my eyes, too. It's so bright in the daytime....This helps me out, especially when I need to guard the lair. I'm Auspice. My parents founded the Disillusionists' clan."
Haruspex relaxed. He had completed his journey. "A good omen," he said.
"Ah, yes, that's what my name means....I keep forgetting why, though. Good evening, Haruspex, and sorry for the confrontation; we weren't expecting you. Well, we weren't expecting you today. Maybe tomorrow or...a few months from now."
Haruspex wondered if he'd been had. "This had better not be payback for all those dice games I cheated at as a child." But before he could say anything, Auspice half-turned, motioning with one wing. Her Wintermane bowman flitted away, scouting ahead of them. "Come along, Harry. It's not far. It's a bit late at night, but someone's always awake at home, and we will be very happy to have you."
"Thank you." Harry. There was no escaping that nickname, it seemed.
"We'll get you something warm to wrap yourself in, and then we can have a midnight snack....We've had great success with our gathering recently. We'll give you piles and piles of meat to start with."
He started to feel a lot better. "That would be heavenly," he sighed. He followed Auspice through the woods, and soon he glimpsed his new home ahead. As Auspice had promised, there were still lights burning in some of the lair windows. It wasn't as blindingly bright as he'd feared. "A good start," he thought as he trailed after her. "A good omen, indeed."
~ The End
Credits & Notes:
* Haruspex was received from Toyoll in exchange for rating all her breeding pairs. (The Black Bog party mentioned in the bio is a separate, later event.)
* divider was made by me
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