Bunnikkila's Clan

~The Cosmic Gem Clan~

A lair comprised largely of Fae Dragons and nestled in the Windswept Plateau, the Cosmic Gems are a clan of wanderers, stargazers, artists, gardeners, scientists, scholars... in short, a clan as diverse as the paths of the breeze itself. Most notable for their use of Cosmic Sign - a gesture language in which positions and movements of wings, claws, head, and tail carry meaning and conversational weight - the Cosmic Gems created this language to help the Coatls within their clan participate fully in the community, and seek to spread it throughout the realm.

~History~

Born in the Twisting Crescendo, the Fae dragon NovaFlare was an explorer as Wind Dragons are wont to be. As such she spent her youth wandering the realms, chasing whatever breeze caressed her fins, never imagining herself as a Progenitor - and neither did her traveling partner, Kyanite.

Until finally, while visiting the Zephyr Steppes, the two Fae were seized with the compulsion to carve out their lair.

At first, Nova and Kyanite assumed their lair was meant to be a stopover - a consistent pause in journeying for traveling dragons such as themselves to enjoy.

Then, as more dragons began moving in and settling rather than moving on, the pair found themselves staying longer and longer with each visit. Though Kyanite's daughters Hematite and Starwind took on the roles of clan leaders, all dragons of the clan saw the Progenitors as their guardians and benefactors, as the ones who granted names to the nameless souls drifting into their lair, as the stars even Hematite and Starwind cast their eyes to.

And so, along with deeper and longer compulsions to stay, first Kyanite and then NovaFlare began to understand what the Windsinger wanted: for them to take their places at the head of a new, strong Wind Clan.

When the clan made their move to the Reedcleft Ascent, Nova and Kyanite carved out a den for themselves on the high outskirts of the lair, where they could easily see all the comings and goings... and for all her years as a bachelor, Nova finally settled with Kyanite as her mate.

Sometimes, the wind still calls to them and they venture out - but their journeys are never long, and now they have a place to forever call their home.

~Traditions~

The Cosmic Gem Clan takes this name from the fascinations of its two progenitors - NovaFlare, who while stargazing with Arcane dragons found her heart inflamed by bright-burning stars and the idea of a fathomless reach even the Wind Dragns haven't explored, and Kyanite, whose gaze fell to the earth and whose heart was touched by fathomless stones. To NovaFlare every star is a gem and to Kyanite every stone a star, and so when they came together they named themselves the Cosmic Gems.

Traditionally, hatchlings of the Cosmic Gems are given short placeholder names; once they are old enough to leave their parents they are encouraged to explore, to follow the wind to find their own true names and destinies. Some dedicate themselves to the service of the Windsinger or one of his siblings; some find permanent homes in other clans in the Windswept Plateau and beyond; some return to the Cosmic Gem Clan content that this is their place. Still, each young dragon is encouraged to follow the Wind Flight's exploratory nature, and as such the clan has gained diverse views and abilities both from returning young and from new dragons who choose this as their home.

The Cosmic Gem clan currently holds several Coatl dragons in its ranks, creating a need for a new tradition. The linguistic needs of Coatls are difficult to meet in a clan comprised largely of Fae; while her time with other breeds has left NovaStar more physically expressive than is common for Fae, she is still prone to mistakes of tone and her increased body language does nothing to help the other Fae of the clan (particularly Kyanite, who is somewhat less expressive than average). As such, the Cosmic Gems have developed their own dialect of gesture - positions and movements of wings, claws, head, and tail all mean something in conversation, and this sign language allows the near-deaf Coatls to participate in all discussions within the clan. Cosmic Sign is the first thing taught to any incoming dragons and something hatchlings are taught alongside common draconic; thus, all the breeds present in the clan are able to fully communicate with each other despite natural barriers.