Astraed

The Home was a place forged by a chance event. The tie between a starving Gaoler, and two Acolights- a Tundra and a Spiral, formed a tight-knit pact between the three. Eloisa and Astraed nursed the pearly-pelted Eurys back to health, and from that moment on, the dames looked up to the soft-worded brute.

He told them through muted tones his story, from the cold wastes of the Fortress of Ends, to his journey across the mainlands. Small tussles with mercenaries, and the scrape to survive in barren landscapes all became topics of conversation which the two would listen to with awe. Their bond deepened to that of a family, and thus the Home was named. Enamoured by the story of Eurys and Cadence, Eloisa and Astraed often took over while Eurys took his leave to search out his love, often for days at a time. It would not be long until it wasn’t just Eurys who the group took in. The three began as a tight-knit trio, and their mission was simple – take in the strays. Just as they had done with their unofficial leader, the fruits of their labour were now shared with any dragon in need who stumbled into their path, regardless from whence they came. Food would be willingly given to any hungry mouth who was willing to remain at the Home in service of the Lightweaver.

Of course, problems were not foreseen, but as issues did arise they were quickly stamped out. Naturally, a hierarchical order came together, with Eurys at the head and the two females both acting as right-hand women. Any individual would first be fed and watered, and then the three would decide whether or not such a beast could be trustworthy. And so, as time went on, rules fell into place almost naturally. With more order, came more prestige, and with that came more mouths to feed. There came a time when the food stock was running low, and the Home teetered on the edge of collapse as the occupants became malcontented; whines and groans filled the Home as hungry dragons could scarcely find a berry to pick – a dry season had come, and life had grown difficult.

Such adverse conditions leave little choice – led by Eloisa, a band of rogues would be sent out in search of food. The means of acquiring it were not always necessarily good; but it was food for the greater good – for the thriving of the Home. Thus, the nature of the Home had changed, but the spirit had not. It was still at the heart of the Home to take in those in need – and Eurys saw to that. Whenever the rogues took more than was necessary, he sent them back out to return it with stern words.

“We are not thieves by nature. We are survivors. Remember this.”

Written by vultureblood, 2020.