Tylla hoped that the goblin was able to fully understand the respectful way in which she had addressed them and their apparent goddess. Her uneasiness was helped a little when the goblin translator turned around and spoke in his native language, the tone sounding good and not angry. Tylla really didn't want to upset the village full of so many goblins.

<<You know I heard stories about goblins eating travelers who get lost in the deep wood,>> said Vidas quietly to Tylla.

The young woman ignored her dragon companion, as Vidas did always like causing trouble.  Plus, if the goblins had intended to eat them, they could of easily overpowered the pair. No, Tylla was pretty sure that they were truthful in welcoming them to the village.

The goblin who spoke Common then turned back to Tylla and introduced himself as Grist. He then asked for their names and wondered if Vidas was Tylla's god, before leading them out of the stone ruins that belonged to Angoril.

"I'm Tylla and this is Vidas," replied the young woman, "And no she's not a god, just a good friend.

Tylla had the feeling that Grist wouldn't believe her. It seemed that this goblin society was so entrenched in their belief of Angoril's divinity that all dragons must seem magnificent to them. Tylla didn't feel like changing their beliefs as she felt they were harmless. Dragons were awesome and deserved to be held on a pedestal. Even Vidas, who did often get on Tylla's nerves, was still held in more respect than any other creature the young woman had encountered.

The three of them then reached their destination, a small hut. Grist would then beckon them into the hut, Tylla surprised by how nice it was on the inside. While seemingly made from a hodge podge of different sources, with cart wheels, boat hulls, and other random items, it had a sense of order, as if it was purposively designed. There even was a beautifully made dresser, though Tylla would have no need for it as everything she owned could be carried on her back.

Grist then informed Tylla that there would be a feast for Angoril soon, and that he would return when it was ready. Tylla quickly thanked the well dressed goblin, who then ducked out of the hut. It was only then that the exhaustion of the day hit Tylla, the result of spending almost all day walking alongside the river. Letting her body take over, Tylla collapsed onto the bed of straw.

<<So what's happening? They're not eating us?>> asked Vidas, taking a perch on the dresser.

<<No. In fact they're making us a feast. We seem to be guests of honor,>> replied Tylla.

Vidas's gold eyes then narrowed as she gazed at Tylla. Clearly she was not as enamored with Angoril as Tylla was, not having such an unwavering faith in dragons. But she would go along with it, even if it just meant being there to protect Tylla if things went south. Though, the fairy dragon truly hoped that wouldn't be necessary.

Tylla briefly considered just where this treasure horde had come from, but she wanted to give Angoril the benefit of the doubt, and believe that it had all been acquired ethically. Still, it seemed like way too much to the young woman, as pieces continually fell to the floor as the river dragon adjusted her position.

It seemed that Angoril was used to a life of luxury, a far cry from how the dragons of Tylla's home had lived. Back in the valley, most dragons were content with having tasty food and a nice place to sleep. So it was very different to see the river dragon being pampered, a goblin attendant caring for her feet.

<<Is that what they call a massage?>> Vidas wondered through beastspeak.

Tylla wasn't sure, though she had heard stories of such practices in the big city. Apparently those of wealth could get whatever services they want, as there was always someone in need of coin. And Angoril was definitely a dragon of wealth, though Tylla got the sense that wasn't why the goblins obeyed her.

Seemingly on cue, a entourage of goblins entered the ruins, clad in much more extravagant clothing than the others out in the village. Tylla wondered just how much these goblins were subservient to Angoril, as they had a flag that seemingly represented the river dragon, and were exuding reverence toward the one called the Blackest Death.

Forming a pattern around Tylla and Vidas, the goblins stared intently at the guests to the village, before one of them began to speak. It was definitely in Common, but in an accent that Tylla had never heard before. Traces of the goblin tongue were present, as Tylla had to listen carefully to fully grasp the meaning.

<<What did he say?>> asked Vidas, as the fairy dragon didn't speak Common.

<<Apparently Angoril is a goddess? And we need to swear fealty to her to be accepted,>> replied Tylla.

Tylla paused for a few seconds to try and compose a response to the goblin. Tylla was highly dubious to the claim that Angoril was divine, as stories of gods walking the world were just that, stories. But the young woman had been raised to respect the beliefs of others, as it was the only way to make sense of the world.

"Thank you for the welcome," said Tylla, "As long as Vidas and I are guests in this village we shall respect your traditions and the rule of Angoril."

<<Seriously?>> Vidas shot at Tylla, <<You're laying it on pretty thick. If this keeps up it could be us rubbing her feet.>>

Tylla ignored her companion, instead focusing on the goblin who spoke Common. She hoped that her reply was good enough to satiate the goblin tribe and their dragon goddess. And yet, Tylla still didn't feel like she was in danger. Her unwavering faith in dragons was still present, thus creating a level of trust with the river dragon.

Tylla was still in positive spirits as she followed the river dragon to her home village. If anything this could lead to Tylla learning more about the world outside the valley. For all Tylla knew, the goblins of the village could be quite nice, the stories about them just being nasty rumors.

This optimism was tested when Angoril spoke to Tylla with a fanged smile. Apparently they would be welcomed because Angoril had decided it. Tylla wondered if this meant that the dragon was the chieftain of the village, or perhaps some other title that denotes leadership. The young woman wasn't sure just how a society of both goblins and dragons would work.

Angoril then led Tylla and Vidas into a clearing, two small humanoids waiting there. Tylla had to assume that the odd looking creatures must be goblins, apparently subservient to Angoril. Tylla also noticed just how well armed the goblins were, clad in armor and bustling with weapons. It was definitely more than Tylla had with her simple short sword.

The goblins said nothing to Angoril, instead looking at her with what might be a look of awe on their faces. The apparent guards would also say nothing to Tylla and Vidas as they passed through the makeshift fence. Tylla thought that maybe they only spoke when asked to by their leader Angoril.

<<Funny looking guys aren't they?>> Vidas said to Tylla.

<<Quiet. We're their guests,>> Tylla shot back, only to be startled by a mighty roar.

Tylla turned back to the river dragon, really not prepared for the loud calling. While Tylla did not speak the dragon tongue, she did recognize a gathering call. Apparently so did the goblins as they began to come to their dragon ruler. Tylla couldn't believe just how many there were, as a seemingly endless stream of goblins came out, popping out from huts, bushes, and anywhere else they could hide.

In less than a minute, Tylla and the two dragons were surrounded by more goblins than the young woman could count. It was a little unnerving, as it felt like dozens of gazes were boring down into Tylla, but she didn't want it to show. So she focused instead on Angoril, trying to calm her breathing as to appear perfectly composed.

Vidas also seemed on edge around Tylla's neck, as Angoril addressed her villagers in the goblin language. Whatever she said, it sounded commanding to the young woman. It appeared that the goblins would immediately do anything Angoril told them to. And it seemed to Tylla that she was expected to do the same, as Angoril departed for a nearby stone ruin.

Tylla and the dragons would then step inside, the young woman's eyes immediately being drawn to a gigantic pile of gold, coin, and other treasures. While Tylla never had much use for wealth growing up, as her valley was self sufficient, she did know that they were coveted in the wider world. And apparently Angoril knew it as she seemed to be pleased with herself as she took a seat atop the treasure.

<<Did she rob the king of Adela?>> Vidas wondered, perhaps not meaning to share it over the beastspeak.

Tylla thought that perhaps Angoril did think of herself as a royal, as she sat on wealth and had a goblin attendant clean her paws of the debris of the river and forest. The river dragon would turn from her grooming, speaking to Tylla and Vidas. Apparently the goblins would see to their needs, and she would find ones who could speak Common. Also apparently they were to be taught how to speak goblin.

<<I thank you Mistress Angoril,>> said Tylla, <<Your courtesy is much appreciated.>>

Tylla was not lying when she said that. She truly thought that this would turn out to be a positive experience. Perhaps she would actually get a real bed for this night's sleep, and maybe some good food. Tylla briefly wondered what goblins ate.

Tylla thought that her offer of flying lessons for Angoril once they reached her village was a fair compromise. As such she was caught off guard when the river dragon suddenly stopped in her tracks. For a brief second Tylla wondered if she had done something wrong, especially when Angoril began to emit a noise. While initially Tylla did recognize it, after a few seconds it became clear that it was a very throaty laugh. Apparently Tylla or Vidas had done something to amuse the river dragon.

<<That totally doesn't sound ominous,>> said Vidas through beastspeak to Tylla.

Angoril then totally barged in on the beastspeak conversation. She clearly didn't like Vidas claiming they were alike, apparently unaware of what a dragon was. This confused Tylla as Angoril was clearly a dragon. How would a full grown dragon go its whole life not knowing its nature? Surely her parents or other hatchlings would have been there to inform Angoril of what she was.

Angoril then began to rattle off titles she possessed, apparently being an aspect of shadow and death. While Tylla could pass that off as theatrics, a quirk a lot of dragons get as they get older, she was worried about the mention of goblins. While Tylla had never met one before, she had heard plenty of stories about the tiny monsters, tales of how they would attack travelers in the Draconi Forest or would kidnap children in the night, the babes never being seen again.

<<That is definitely ominous,>> said Vidas, focusing her thoughts so that they only went to Tylla.

Angoril was still talking however, asking for more respect and to follow her to the village proper to train her in flying. Somehow Vidas was able to become even more tense, the fairy dragon's body being wrapped around Tylla's neck like a noose. While it was uncomfortable for Tylla, she allowed it as it seemed to keep Vidas out of trouble. The last thing the pair needed was to pick a fight with a much bigger dragon.

So Tylla continued to follow Angoril through the swampy riverbank. After a few minutes Tylla could see lights in the distance, evidently some kind of civilization. Before she could actually see how the village was constructed, she heard pounding drums. It was a beat unlike any the young woman had heard before, much different then those made by her family in the Zuan Clan. She assumed it had to be goblin music.

<<We will be welcomed in the village?>> asked Tylla, trying not to sound nervous, <<We wouldn't want to cause any kind of problem for you and your kin.>>

In the back of her mind, Tylla wondered just how large the village would be. Perhaps if need be she could fight her way out, managing to escape Angoril who moved slow on land and was unable to fly. But she banished those thoughts, instead hoping for the best. Of course she might raise some ire when she actually sat down and explained to Angoril that she was a dragon, and not an aspect of shadow or whatever she had claimed to be.

Vidas was still visibly on edge as Tylla walked behind Angoril, the fairy dragon tightening her position around the young woman's shoulders. Tylla noted her companion's discomfort, but ignored it, mostly assured in her mind that the most dangerous part of the encounter was over. Angoril had decided not to eat them, as Tylla believed that it had simply been a misunderstanding, the river dragon mistaking them for some kind of food.

Tylla could tell that Angoril wasn't comfortable with walking next to the river, the dragon's body clearly designed for maneuvering in water. But the mighty golden eyed creature seemed to want to make sure that they were following her. Tylla figured that Angoril just wanted to keep them on a safe path to the village, as there could be potentially worse things than the dragon waiting in the dark of the forest. And it was almost dark out, the orange of twilight quickly fading.

Tylla then realized she still had her beastspeak active, as Angoril was able to reach out and send a message to Vidas. The fairy dragon was a little taken back as she was referred to as a small lizard and ordered to teach Angoril how to fly. Tylla immediately became wary as Vidas tensed up. To most of the dragons Tylla had met being called a lizard was a slur, a derogatory term. Vidas was clearly not pleased to be referred to as such.

But Tylla was more interested in the demand for flying lessons. She realized that she had never seen Angoril fly, only swim quickly and plod around on land. While Tylla had seen flightless dragons before, that was because they lacked wings. Angoril had a set of wings, ones seemingly large enough to carry the dragon off the ground. And yet it seemed that Angoril had no clue how to use them.

<<First, don't call me a lizard. I'm a dragon like you,>> said Vidas through beastspeak, <<And second, flying comes naturally. You just kind of beat your wings and your body instinctively does the rest.>>

Tylla wasn't sure if Angoril would like that brief explanation, but she knew that she herself would be of no use in helping with flying. As someone decidedly not born with wings, Tylla was definitely ill suited for such lessons.

<<Perhaps Vidas could give you an in depth lesson when we reach your village,>> said Tylla, <<I'm pretty sure your wings can work.>>

That was partly a lie. Tylla had never encountered a dragon such as Angoril before and thus knew nothing of her anatomy. But winged dragons were meant to fly, at least Tylla thought so. Whatever Creator there may be wouldn't design a creature with a part that does nothing, thought Tylla.

Tylla flinched instinctively as the river dragon opened its mouth slightly, a natural fear of being eaten radiating throughout her body. While the rational part of Tylla's brain was telling her to talk her way out of this situation, her more primal part told her to flee into the forest, putting as much distance as possible between her and the river. It took a lot of willpower to not bolt as the river dragon took a few steps toward the pair, apparently breathing their scent in.

<<Is she trying to figure out what seasoning would go best with us?>> asked Vidas with a slight chuckle, and a ton of nervousness.

Tylla ignored her fairy dragon companion and instead stared into the big golden eyes of the dragon, trying to give off vibes of being a friend as she did so. Apparently that did work somewhat as the dragon did not lunge at her, instead using the beastspeak. The dragon, apparently named Angoril Goldeneyes and a whole bunch of other titles that meant nothing to Tylla, was ordering Tylla and Vidas to return to her village with her. Tylla immediately assumed that Angoril must be the head of a village of dragons, and that she had been speaking in some kind of lost draconic tongue.

<<See, Angoril views us as fellow travelers, not food,>> Tylla said quietly to Vidas.

<<Sure, but she did call herself Blackest Death and a Calamity. Those don't exactly scream friendly,>> replied Vidas.

Tylla rolled her eyes at the fairy dragon. She knew it was common for the stronger of magical creatures to accumulate various titles and names over the years, most often given by others who encounter the creatures. Angoril being called some kind of death could just come from how intimidating her form was. For someone not used to seeing dragons, they could easily view her as some terrifying destroyer.

<<My name is Tylla, and this is Vidas,>> stated Tylla to Angoril, <<We'll come to your village. I'm anxious to see where you live and try and answer whatever questions you have.>>

Angoril then turned, evidently in the direction of her village. As the river dragon began to move away, Vidas swooped down and landed on Tylla's shoulder. The fairy dragon didn't say anything, but kept her golden eyes locked on the other golden eyed dragon. Tylla didn't need beastspeak to know that Vidas wasn't pleased with the situation, as the dragon was a lot more wary than the young woman of the Zuan Clan.

But Tylla had sworn an oath to aid all magical creatures she came across, including scary looking river dragons. If there was some kind of way to help Angoril, to give her the information she apparently sought, then Tylla was obliged to do that. Angoril had mentioned shamans in her village, so perhaps Tylla could teach them better how to nurture and aid their native dragon.

Tylla tried to ready herself as she still stood in the pile of slippery mud. She was preparing herself for another lunge from the river dragon, unsure if she could manage another last minute dodge, given how fast the creature was still moving. Tylla thought to herself that it would be a great shame if her quest was to end before she even made her way out of the woods.

As Tylla prepared for a lethal strike, Vidas lifted off from the tree branch and began to hover about fifteen feet above the mystery dragon. While Tylla was appreciative that her fairy dragon friend was trying to help, she didn't think she could do much with her small fangs and small burst of blue fire that Vidas could breath.

However, the dragon didn't go in for another strike, its wings and frills flaring out. Apparently Tylla's beastspeak had worked, at least temporarily as the dragon was no longer snapping at the young lady. Tylla's muscles released some tension at the thought of avoiding a battle. While she had been trained in Adelan martial arts, she was loathe to fight a dragon as it went against everything that she stood for.

The dragon then tried to talk to Tylla, once more speaking in the unknown language. Tylla noted that this time it didn't sound as aggressive, somehow sounding more inquisitive in nature. Vidas also seemed to note it, as Tylla could sense her being not quite so on edge.

<<Apparently begging worked,>> thought Vidas, <<I was sure that it was going to eat you.>>

Tylla briefly looked up at her companion before looking back at the river dragon. It seemed to have heard Tylla's beastspeak, but had not responded with it. Tylla's time in the sanctuary had taught her that not all dragons could pick up on beastspeak immediately, especially if they had never encountered telepathy before.

<<Try thinking what you want to say,>> explained Tylla to the dragon, <<Direct your thoughts at me and my beastspeak will do the rest.>>

Tylla was optimistic as she sent her thoughts out. She lived under the impression that all dragons were good at their core, and that this one would behave once realizing that Tylla and Vidas weren't food. Vidas seemed to be not as sure, as she hovered in circles above the river dragon.

Tylla and Vidas continued to stare at the fast moving river, both intent on figuring out what dwelt beneath the deep water. After about a minute of this Tylla began to think herself silly, as she believed that Vidas had just sensed a large fish. The particular river they were next to was large enough to house a fish of giant size, which Tylla had heard did exist in the waterways of the Draconi Forest.

<<I think you're a little too alert,>> said Tylla through beastspeak, <<I believe we're getting riled up by nothing.>>

Tylla then began to chuckle only to see movement out of the corner of her eye. With a level of reflexes granted due to martial arts training, Tylla was able to move fast enough as something large pounced out of the river, massive jaws nearly locking around the young woman. Tylla then stumbled back, falling against the tree on which Vidas sat.

As Tylla tried to recover her footing, she saw what had lunged at her. It was a massive creature, one she had never seen before. But something about its body told Tylla that it was some kind of dragon, though she had never encountered one this aggressive before. The dragons of her home sanctuary lived in peace with the humans, while this one evidently wanted to eat Tylla.

The mystery dragon then began to speak, apparently being one of the ones who could speak the language of people. But whatever that language was, Tylla didn't recognize it, as it was neither Common nor any of the local Adelan dialects. Whatever the dragon had said, it sounded very angry and with hostile intent.

Vidas also seemed to recognize the creature as a dragon, speaking to it in the traditional draconic language, "We have no quarrel with you mighty dragon kin."

But before the words even left the fairy dragon's mouth, the dragon in the river lunged again, jaws rushing toward Tylla. The young woman barely had time to roll out of the way, just dodging the teeth of the unknown dragon by a few inches. Tylla then found herself in a pile of mud, her clothes quickly coated in the brown gunk. She then readied herself to her feet, wiping mud off her face.

She then reached out to the dragon with beastspeak, <<Please stop!>>

Tylla then prepared herself for another lunge, but silently hoping she could quell the anger of the beast through communication. She was tempted to draw her sword, but she didn't want to seem aggressive in any way. The dragon seemed large and strong enough to be able to overpower a simple human like Tylla.

It had been several weeks since Tylla had departed her home for the first time in her life. While it had been a great change to say goodbye to her surviving family, Tylla was glad that at least her fairy dragon friend Vidas had come along on her quest. It helped make the insane mission she had taken on feel less daunting.

Ever since stepping out of the Wyrmin village, Tylla had been trying to make her way through the Draconi Forest, only to underestimate just how massive this woodland was. All Tylla had seen for weeks now was dense forest, with the occasional cottage or small village. The few people who she encountered in the wood had not heard of the poachers she hunted, most of them surprised that anyone would attempt harming a dragon as that could get you the death penalty in the courts of Adela.

What Tylla had learned from the people of the forest was that if she followed certain rivers, it would guide her to the cities that existed east of the Draconi Forest. So that was what she was doing today, walking beside a fast moving river, one that the stars in the sky had confirmed was flowing east. Occasionally Vidas would fly ahead to apparently scout things out, but Tylla was pretty sure she was just hunting food, fairy dragons surviving on a mix of insects and rodents. Tylla figured that it must feel odd for Tylla to actually hunt, as back in the sanctuary the dragons never wanted for food. Perhaps that had made Vidas a little glutenous.

Once more Vidas had flown further down the river, leaving Tylla alone beside a particularly muddy patch of the riverside. While tired from walking all day, Tylla was still alert, memories of stories told by her cousins of dangers of the forest replaying in her head. Apparently bandits were the least of her worries, as animals like dire wolves and monsters like goblins were said to live in the deep wood. While Tylla had yet to see any of these dangers, she trusted that they were real.

A quick glance upward to the sky showed Tylla that it was an orange color, as the day was nearly done. She figured that it was a good time to start making camp, as she dared not risk fumbling around in the dark of the wood. So Tylla tried calling out to Vidas with her beastspeak.

<<Vidas, are you nearby?>> asked Tylla.

<<Here my friend,>> replied the fairy dragon.

Tylla turned to see her companion flapping over to her, the tail of some small mammal being sucked up into her mouth. Vidas would then land on the branch of a nearby tree, her gold eyes locked onto Tylla.

<<I think we should make camp,>> said Tylla.

<<Alright. I didn't see anything too dangerous further ahead. Just it seems that the terrain gets more swampy,>> explained Vidas.

Tylla then began to put out her bed roll underneath the safety of a large tree. So far in her journey she had not made a fire, as she didn't want to attract the alleged dangers of the forest. That and it wasn't that cold at night in this part of the world during this season. She then began to go through her pack to see what food rations were left.

<<Wait,>> ordered Vidas.

Tylla's head immediately turned to the fairy dragon, seeing her eyes locked onto the river ahead of the pair. Tylla neither heard nor saw anything, but then she didn't have the senses of a dragon.

<<Something is in the river. Something big,>> explained Vidas.

Tylla then stood up, wary, but not enough to draw a weapon. She really hoped that it was perhaps a large fish, or even some kind of nature spirit. Encountering one of those wouldn't be too bad. But Vidas's intense stare at the river did give Tylla an unnerving feeling. She wondered if she was about to encounter the danger of the forest from those old stories.

Thanks for the welcome back everyone! I am really excited to get back into storytelling and expect to see more of you guys as I get active on the site. Anyways I'm going to pop into the discord now.

I can bet that no one remembers as I was only around for like a week last year before disappearing. While I was gung ho to get into the site, several factors in my life converged on me at the same time. Deaths, personal health issues, and other distressing things have peppered my life for the last several months. However, I do feel like things are getting better and so I'm trying to get back into my hobbies.

I've been a roleplayer on and off for several years now, and it's something I love coming back to. So when I was deciding on which site to dip my toes back into the roleplaying waters with, I was drawn to Spirits of the Earth. Perhaps it was my liking of the setting of the game, or maybe since I had inspiration for a character immediately, check out Tylla Zuan in my signature, or the laid back feeling I got from the player base, but I felt that this site would be a good one to get back in the saddle with.

Anyways, I hope there's still room for me on the site as I would like to begin roleplaying with all of you. I'm really excited to be back.

__________________QUICK STATS

Name Tylla Zuan

Age 22

Gender Female | She/Her

Species Human

Ethnicity Adelan

Height 5'11''

Occupation Magical Creature Activist

Residence Traveling

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description While considered a tall woman for most of the people of the continent, Tylla is actually average for her homeland. With a coppery color skin, Tylla has an athletic build, having been both a martial artist and an explorer of nature. Her skin is free of markings, save a small tattoo of the Clan Zuan logo, two dragons wrapping around a mighty redwood tree, on her neck. This tattoo is usually covered up by her shoulder length dark red hair, which is naturally straight.

The most striking thing about Tylla is her bright violet eyes. A staple of Clan Zuan, these eyes are said to be like that of a dragon. The rest of Tylla's appearance is basic, consisting of some tan colored boots, pants, and a shirt. On her back is a bag full of supplies, such as a water skin and a bed roll. On Tylla's side hip is a short sword, which she doesn't try to conceal at all.

Tylla's constant companion is a small fairy dragon named Vidas. With a length of two feet, Vidas is quite compact, with a long slender body of silver, four small limbs, a thin tail of a half a foot, and a pair of large wings. Usually wrapped around Tylla's shoulders, Vidas also has vibrant eyes, except her's are gold. Vidas also has the ability to transform into a silver choker around Tylla's throat, in situations where it would be best not to have a dragon around.

Personality From a young age Tylla has always seen the best in people. Perhaps it was growing up exclusively among family, but Tylla didn't really see a need to distrust anyone. She thought that everyone was like her, wishing to protect the dragons and all of nature. Not even the attack on the sanctuary was enough to sway her. While she now knows that there is evil in the world, she believes it to be the exception as most people are good. Because of this she can be very naive, not knowing how the world outside her valley works.

Whenever Tylla gets an idea into her head, she finds herself compulsively pursuing it. The most major of these was her snap decision to hunt down the poachers and end the poaching of magical creatures. But in her journeys she will also get caught up in the affairs of others, going on "side quests" to help out someone she just met. This is also fueled by her seemingly endless well of optimism.

Vidas the fairy dragon is also important in Tylla's life, being her best friend as far back as either can remember. Vidas can be a bit of a trouble maker, pulling pranks and encouraging the worst in Tylla. However, Vidas is just as dedicated to the mission as Tylla is, as she never wants to see one of her kind killed again.

Magic/Abilities Tylla has spent all of her life training to defend dragons. As such she has some naturalist skills, knowing what plants are safe to eat, or how to determine direction by the stars. She is also an accomplished martial artist, having been trained in the traditional Adelan martial of Hisali. The form is meant to flow like water, often being compared to the flow of the mighty rivers of Adela. Tylla was also trained in a variant that incorporates bladed weapons, specifically her short sword.

Tylla was also born with the ability to beastspeak. This psychic ability that some of the people of Adela have allows Tylla to telepathically talk to the animals around her. In Tylla's case it is only dragons with which she can commune, though it seems to be any kind of dragon. This ability is limited to a few hundred meters, otherwise the though disperses into the ether.

Tylla is also accompanied by Vidas, a fairy dragon. Vidas is able to psychically talk to Tylla, and can breathe a small burst of blue fire. The fairy aspect of Vidas comes in her ability to use glamor to transform into a silver choker around Tylla's neck when subtlety is needed. Vidas can maintain this form indefinitely and can still telepathically talk to Tylla while in it.

Relationships Tylla used to be very close to her family, Clan Zuan. That was until the attack on the sanctuary that claimed the life of her grandmother, mother, aunts, and most of her cousins. Following Tylla leaving the sanctuary, she has had no contact with her cousins. She is also unsure of who her father is, only being told that he was a dragon rider.

Tylla is much closer to dragons, specifically her companion Vidas. Tylla has always felt more comfortable around dragons, to which she can speak telepathically.

History For many generations the women of the Zuan Clan have lived in the Wyrmin Valley, a little known area nestled between the Draconi Forest and the Terrin Mountains. Predating the formation of Adela, the Zuan Clan managed to avoid much contact with the Serenian colonizers. Instead they kept to the old ways, mostly learning Hisali, an ancient martial art, and living in harmony with the local dragons.

Eventually the Zuan Clan would be incorporated into the newly formed Kingdom of Adela, as the Serenians were finally forced out of the southern lands. The women of Zuan would begin interacting with their neighbors, though they would maintain the tradition of not having men involved in the family units of the Clan. The Zuans would also become notable for their friendships with dragons, being something to aspire for among the dragon loving nation.

However, in more recent years, the Zuan Clan has been collapsing. With various members leaving for the allure of the city, the Clan was reduced to just a matriarch, her daughters, and a few grandchildren. Fearing for her way of life, the matriarch would declare the Wyrmin Valley a sanctuary for dragons, as there had been a lot of news of dragon poachers after it was rumored that ground up dragon bones was a cure all.

Tylla would be born in the sanctuary her grandmother had founded. The daughter of two dragon riders in service of the crown, Tylla's parents would only have a brief romance resulting in her. When Tylla's mother discovered she was pregnant, she resigned from her duties and returned home. In the Wyrmin Valley, Tylla would be raised by her mother and aunts.

From a young age Tylla would be great around dragons, always being at ease around them. This was only aided when Tylla developed the ability to beastspeak, telepathically communing with the dragons. These dragons would be Tylla's only non-family friends growing up, as she felt more like a dragon than a human girl.

However, there would be one dragon who Tylla would be closest to. Born the runt of a group of fairy dragon hatchlings, Vidas would not interact much with her fellow dragons. But she would make a habit out of staying with Tylla, often wrapping herself around Tylla's shoulders. The two would quickly become best friends.

As Tylla got older she was told that she needed to be prepared to defend the sanctuary. To that end she began training in Hisali, a traditional Adelan martial art. In only a few years, Tylla would become a master combatant with both her fists and her blade she kept on her side. Tylla truly though that she was ready for anything.

Then one summer the fateful day happened. The matriarch of Clan Zuan was bed bound, dying due to her advanced age. While the family was busy caring for her, a group of well armed dragon poachers sneaked into the sanctuary. In recent years the price of dragon parts had skyrocketed in foreign markets, making these poachers even more bold.

As Tylla sat beside her dying grandmother, she got the telepathic message from several dragons about hunters annihilating the local dragons. Tylla and her family would rush out to fight the poachers, only to encounter well armed men who had magic. The battle would be intense, but in the end the poachers would escape.

Trying to pick up the pieces, Tylla would learn that the only survivors of the Clan were her and a few cousins, the matriarch passing away during the fight, which also consumed the life of everyone else.

Following this, the dragons of the valley came to a consensus that they no longer felt safe in the sanctuary and would now be looking for a new home. The only one to stay was Vidas. Tylla's cousins would also not see much use in staying and would depart for other parts of the kingdom.

Tylla however would decide to hunt down the poachers, making it her mission to eliminate all those who would hurt not just dragons, but all magical creatures. Vidas would insist on going with her, and soon the two left the valley, prepared to not just search Adela, but all of Le'ranna if necessary.

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I would be done for participating in this. Prior to reading this thread I had a character idea in mind for a wannabe fortune teller. To fit her into this plot I would say that she never did anything magical until she received a prophecy of the never king's return. She would obsess over this and quickly join the cult that is forming to return him to power. In her mind, the more she does for the never king, the more magical power she would gain.

Bumping the thread.

I'm really open to any plot that would involve Delroy and would like to see him interact with all kinds of different characters. So if perhaps you just made a new character and don't know where to put them, or a character not actively in use, please consider creating a plot with me and my Delroy character.

Thanks for the welcome, and I'm glad you like Delroy. As for Discord I might pop in at some point, though I'm not very active on it.

Hey, new guy here. I went and created a character named Delroy, link in my signature, and want to start playing him. Basically he's a Mage who fled Connlaoth to Serendipity, only to get cursed with a bird head and his magic sealed. Now he travels around trying to get the magical knowledge needed to reverse both things. I was thinking that right now he's either in Serendipity, Adela, or the Niahi Woods. Any magical characters would definitely work, as would anyone who find a man with a bird's head interesting. So is anyone interested?

Hey everyone, I'm Lost Martian. I've been roleplaying by forum for many years, trying out a whole bunch of sites. I believe I encountered Spirits of the Earth several years back but I didn't join at that point. Anyways I'm once again looking for new sites and this one seemed really interesting when I noticed it on the RPG-Directory. I love fantasy, and this site has some awesome world building. In fact I just made a character who I think fits in pretty well. Anyways, just popping into to say hello and hoping to RP with you guys soon.

__________________QUICK STATS

Name
Delroy Greez

Age
21

Gender
Male | He/Him

Species
Human

Ethnicity
Mostly Connlaothian, some Serenian heritage

Height
5'8''

Occupation
Mage in training

Residence
Traveling

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Once an average looking Connlaothian, Delroy stood of average size for his people, with a pale body toned by years of work. Said body is marred by scars and tears left by an encounter with a Thunder Bird when he was a child. Said Thunder Bird still haunts Delroy as his head was transformed into that of a Thunder Bird by magic. Instead of hair, Delroy's head is covered in deep blue and black feathers. Instead of a mouth he has a beak that is orange in color, with which he is still able to speak human languages. He maintained the same eyes he had prior to transformation, a bright emerald color.

As Delroy sold almost everything he ever owned, his clothes are quite basic. Consisting of a few shirts and pants typical of a farmhand, Delroy's wardrobe is simple in color, with no real frills. The only decent clothing Delroy possesses is a pair of sturdy boots and a black cloak, which is mostly to obscure his condition, though it is not very effective.

Personality
Delroy always had a hard time connecting with others, even from a young age. He had a hard time finding things in common with others, and instead focuses on being better than them. Delroy felt that others should see things from his point of view and that he is generally correct in his opinions. Delroy would be perfectly fine having no friends as long as his peers were looking up to him.

While Delroy won't admit it, he does find his curse magic frightening, but also intoxicating at the same time. As such he had complex feelings about his magic being sealed. Delroy hates it when he seems unsure of something as it's showing weakness. Delroy has many fears though he is loathe to mention any. One that brings him a lot of shame is his fear of large birds. He will often turn red if others see him cowering from something like a hunting falcon.

Magic/Abilities
Delroy was born with magic, which most of come from someone, even though no one else in his family presented powers. Delroy had heard a story that his great-grandmother was Serenian, a direct descendant of the Fae, but Delroy is unconvinced. What he does know is that he has the power to curse people by wishing bad things for them. On its own this is an incredibly powerful power as he can do it at will. This is why the Witch sealed his powers, only allowing for the most basic use of it.

With this restriction, Delroy needs to actually perform a ritual to be able to curse someone. This can take a while, especially if he wants it to be a stronger curse. He is currently unable to make anyone die, but he can cause injuries and mild forms of sickness. Delroy also knows some other spells, having learned from the Witch. These include creating a flame, numbing pain, and generating a gust of wind.

Relationships
Since Delroy abandoned his family to the Connlaothian Civil War, he has had no contact with them. As for the Witch, Delroy wishes to find her to reverse her spell. He is currently furious with her and believes he did nothing wrong.

History
Born in northern Castavar, Delroy was the second son of the Greez family, shepherds who had raised sheep for the Duke of Castavar for several generations. From a young age, Delroy found it hard to get along with other people, including his family. Many times Delroy's family would beat him for being rude or talking back. This created a relationship between father and son where they wouldn't really talk, only being around each other while tending sheep.

Delroy would also have issues with those his age, being seen as rude and mean by the children that lived on nearby farms. Delroy, feeling rebuffed, would wish bad things on the other children. He would do this for years, until something bad actually did happen. Four nearby children would all be attacked by a mysterious flying creature, its talons piercing their hearts. Delroy would wonder if he somehow caused this, and began to feel like he was to blame.

This negative feelings about himself, would cause Delroy to attract the mysterious creature. Descending on the young shepherd at evening, Delroy would recognize the beast as a Connlaothian Thunder Bird, a creature thought wiped out hundreds of years ago. The Thunder Bird would attack Delroy, slicing at his chest. Realizing that he had drawn the creature with his thoughts, Delroy instead thought of something bad happening to the Thunder Bird. This allowed for a small detachment of Connlaothian soldiers to pass by and fight off the Thunder Bird. Delroy would survive this encounter, but would be both physically scarred as well as mentally, developing a phobia of large birds.

The stories of the Thunder Bird would fade in the region over the next few years, as Delroy attempted to live a normal life. He still had a hard time being around others, and was mocked for his fear shown whenever a falcon or eagle flew by. Delroy would get back at those who mocked him by using his mysterious power. Soon nearby villagers were falling off horses and breaking their legs, or their crop yield would be poor. As Delroy got older he finally realized that he was a Mage, and that he was using curse magic.

When the young shepherd came of age, he was sent to the nearest castle to begin his military training. Delroy would view this training as a challenge, wanting to show up all the other conscripts. He would also get more attention as his older brother had attained the rank of Lieutenant and was in charge of training this year's crop.

Once the training period was over, Delroy would return to the Greez family farm. It was around then that Delroy's father took ill, developing a very high fever. Delroy would wonder if he caused it, as though he didn't directly think it, he didn't have negative feelings about his father. The patriarch of the Greez family would last just under two months before passing.

Now the head of the household, Delroy had to step up to care for his mother and younger siblings. For several years he would split his time between the farm and winters training at the castle. Delroy would also become more frugal with his use of curses as there was rising anti-Mage sentiment across the kingdom. This came to a head when the daughter of a farmer a few miles over was arrested for being a Mage and taken to the camps.

Fearing for his life, Delroy decided to abandon his family and head to a safer area. Tricking his mother into thinking he was going to sell excess sheep to the more southern provinces. In truth, Delroy took everything of wealth from his family, and left with all of their sheep. He would indeed travel south, arriving at the border with Serendipity. There he would exchange all his stolen goods for safe passage into Serendipity.

Amazingly, Delroy would be successfully smuggled into Northwatch, a very hard feat to complete. While Delroy was happy to be in Serendipity, he also had nothing to his name. After a few weeks of wandering and begging, Delroy would find a position as a farm hand on a ranch in Moonspear.

Delroy would remain there for a year, ingraining himself in the community. He would also hear legends of a Witch who lived in a nearby forest, one gifted with secret knowledge. Eventually, Delroy's impulses would win out and he sought out the Witch. Discovering her in the darkest corner of the forest, the Witch would recognize the power in Delroy, and immediately seal it.

Suddenly, Delroy had only access to the most basic curses. The Witch offered to life the sealing if Delroy learned to use his powers properly under her tutelage. Wanting back the missing piece of him, Delroy accepted. For another year, Delroy would spend days in the village, working the ranch, and having his nights full of magic lessons.

After a while, Delroy grew impatient with waiting and wanted full use of his powers. So he sneaked into the Witch's cabin and attempted to read from her spell book. What he didn't know was that the book was enchanted for use only by the Witch. The book cast a spell on Delroy, turning him into what he feared most. In a second his human head was gone, replaced by the avian one of the Connlaothian Thunder Bird.

Horrified, Delroy fled to the forest, looking for the Witch to reverse the enchantment. Though he searched for hours, Delroy never found the Witch. Worse yet, the cabin itself disappeared, taking the spell book with it. Now stuck with a bird's head, Delroy felt that he couldn't return to the ranch. Instead he began wandering the lands, trying to gain the magical ability to return his head to its original form and unseal his curse powers.

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