Io

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· Determined | Greedy | Insecure ·

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Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction... Greed, will be your downfall.



Ever since she was young, Io had aspired for true beauty. Growing up in the Sandswept Delta, she was always surrounded by golden accessories and trinkets, as her clan specialized in mining and making jewelry. As a hatchling, she never made much of her surroundings, but as she hit adolescence, she began to grow fond of the elegantly crafted jewelry around her. She loved the way they shined so beautifully in the light, and how they complimented any dragon's outfit, no matter what the occasion.

By adulthood, Io was covered in golden ornaments of all types. Across her wings, ornate wing bangles jingled softly as she walked. Her neck, arms, and tail were decorated with countless necklaces, rings, bracelets, and dangling chains, all polished to a radiant shine. A silky, snow-white Sylvan dress adorned her dark figure, draping gently over her spines. Upon her head sat a golden wreath, sitting comfortably between two varnished roundhorns. She was truly garnished from head to toe; for not even her claws were left out, being frequently painted with a golden, shimmering nail polish.

Everyone could agree that Io was gorgeous, even without her decorations. Admirers would tell her of her beauty constantly, and every place she went, everyone's attention immediately drew to her. Though, none of the attention ever seemed to be enough to satisfy. Her ideals of beauty and methods of reaching it grew unhealthy, even going to lengths of body mutilation in the form of piercings and tattoos. Her most expensive and prized tattoo was across her tail; golden rose vines covering from base to tip.

Still yet, it simply wasn't enough. What could she do - what could possibly be the ultimate form of beauty and elegance? She pondered obsessively over this question until it suddenly all came to her. The Sun. Day and night, Io spent her time conjuring up a plan to steal the sun from the sky and keep it for herself, as another decoration in her collection.

After many years, everything was perfected, and the day for her scheme to unravel finally came. In preparation, she took off all of her jewelry and covered up her tattoos in order to sneak through the city unnoticed. After reaching the outskirts, Io made her way the tallest mountain in the region, and then began to climb it. Upon reaching the summit, she looked up and took a deep breath. This was it. Then, using her powerful back legs, she propelled herself into the sky.

She flapped her wings as hard as she could, gaining a tremendous amount of altitude with each pump. Closer, closer, and closer she drew, until she finally extended both wings towards the sun, and enveloped it between them. In an instant, Sornieth was covered with complete darkness. Then, where the sun once sat, a dim light began to glow. Terrified dragons looked up in awe and panic as Io opened her wings and revealed the sun between them. Being so incredibly hot, it had burned a hole right through her skin, yet she didn't seem to notice.

"Behold!" Io boasted, panting.
"Finally, after so many years, I am the ultimate beauty - I am grace! I now have the sun in my possession, and it will make me radiant, shining!"

Suddenly, she felt herself losing altitude. "What? What is happening, I -"
Then she saw.

The hole in her wing was still burning, eating away slowly at the thin fabic of skin. She began to fall out of the sky as onlookers watched in horror. Her screams could be heard for miles, until suddenly, she fell below the horizon. All went silent. Those who witnessed the event spent the rest of the day in shock, trying to process what had happened.

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As the sun began to set and night drew nigh, thousands of stars began to twinkle overhead. A young, restless hatchling stargazed from his nest, admiring how they almost seemed to make patterns in the sky. As he scanned, he gasped. "Mom, dad! Come here! Quickly!"
The parents rushed over. "What is it, son?"
"Look at the sky! Look!"
As they looked up, their eyes grew wide and their maws dropped. There, in the sky, sat an array of stars in the shape of a female Ridgeback's head. It seemed to be animated, the pupils of the eyes looking left to right, almost as if searching for something. When they rubbed their eyes in awe, making sure it wasn't an illusion, the movement stopped.

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Legend still carries on through the winds of a sad tale: A young, beautiful dragon overcome with insecurity and greed, only to meet her demise while seeking her ultimate goal. They say if you look up at the stars on a clear night, keep your eyes peeled; for you may just see her eyes move... Endlessly looking for something that would never come.



O sinner, was the moon not enough? When you basked in the forge of the goldsmiths, did they not breathe blessings and spin your image into their mythos? Was it not enough, the silken caravans, the love of the dancers in the desert? Where would you go? What drink could quench your thirst, what book could satisfy your singing tongue? When you stole the sacred ram, was that not enough? When you raised the temples, when you cast a radiant shadow? Where will we wail our songs, when you have climbed into the divine sky?




The very image of beauty and elegance, this tenacious flower sought
more as they were never enough to fill her insatiable ideals.
Jewels, ornaments, tattoos – all polished to a radiant
shine, still held as naught but fleeting ideals of beauty.
Her glance instead rose towards the sun and like Icarus before her,
she raised to claim it, only to burn and fall among the stars.



Below the bright sky
Beyond the reach of the sun
Her pride lies fallen.



Echoes of her name
Trail behind as she walks,
Unknown admirers whisper of the
Beauty she carries with her.
She carries grace and gold,
She carries greed and need.

Ambition swelled within,
Insatiable and fierce.
All must speak her name.
All must feed her pride.
Looming wings and talons
Stretched into the sky.

But as she approached the sun,
Her last forbidden treasure,
Pain seared through her wings,
Her loss could not be measured.
In her plummet to the earth,
Io breathed her last.

Now she shines at night,
Set within the stars,
Reflected in the heavens,
Lie echoes of her name.

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All art and sprites used belong to their respective owners.
Want to know who made something? Just ask.

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Purchased from serron #40780 for 1600
4 / 22 / 2019