Palkia

Spirals don’t typically become Clan warriors—they are energetic, but not enduring, and they are much smaller than most other species of dragons. But this did not stop Palkia from fighting. No, he was born to fight. Everything about his childhood reared him to become a warrior: the competition from his many siblings, the militaristic nature of his birth Clan, his natural desire to get his way.

The Sun Knights, they were called…but there was nothing noble about them. Palkia’s birth Clan was a Clan of brutes, living off the lucre of the other Clans they conquered. Their very scales were the toughest of any other Light dragon, except the Lightweaver’s, and were said to be made of organic crystal. They were the largest, most fearsome nomadic Clan in the Sunbeam Ruins. So large and fearsome, in fact, that the Lightweaver sent horde after horde of her own exalt army to tame them, after the first group she sent to persuade them to her side was slaughtered. Palkia grew up in those battles. As he grew, he joined them, slowly at first, simply looting bodies after the battle, and then moving in with the last wave, then the second-to-last wave, getting closer to the front until finally he was in the vanguard. Palkia’s parents were very proud of his ruthlessness. But as tyrants must, the Sun Knights eventually fell to corruption, their enemies and victims unified against them in victory. What few remaining Knights were left after their defeat scattered, searching across Sornieth for new Clans to join. Palkia was no exception—he headed clear to the other end of the world and offered his services to a Fae named Cecilia in a small-but-growing Arcane Clan.

Despite his small size, Palkia continues to impress the others, who have no idea of his bloody past. His fighting prowess is renowned throughout the Clan, something that has even reached the neighboring Clans. Unlike most other Spirals, he doesn’t tire easily. His tactic is to stay up close and personal, inside the boundary where large opponents have a difficult time defending themselves. Palkia will also weave himself in and around their legs as he bites and scratches them. He has even had himself made a pair of gloves with long, steel claws that fit over his natural ones, so that he can deal even more damage to whatever dragon or creature he is fighting. His Clanmates are afraid of him, even though he has saved them from beasts many times, for the reason that he is not seen as being “right in the head.” After all, he doesn’t smile for his friends…he smiles for the enemies he is about to kill.