03-10-2020, 02:24 AM
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<center><div class="leilancontainer"><img class="leilanimage" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/60/9b/7e/609b7e1531a75368283318eddc1edaf4.jpg"><div class="leilan-name">Leilan</div><div class="leilan-gradient"></div><div class="leilan-quote">a dragon who couldn't be hurt on the outside<br>could have so many ragged holes inside</div><div class="leilan-textbox"><div class="leilan-text">There is a moment of contemplation, though brief, when others answer: they are goals shrouded within goals. Magic for loyalty, peace by conquering those who do not ask for it, power of destruction, power to protect. He knows what it all translates into: to be feared, for it means not to be challenged, it means to be named and to be remembered. He is no different, except that he already has enough power - but the fruits of his labour still wait for him, because power alone is never enough. All the power in the world does not magically give out prizes, nor are dreams made real. It is slightly disappointing that she will not help, then; at least not in the way that he’d hoped. There will be no trades today. Maybe she just wanted to be entertained.
Entertaining he can be. He said he would give up a loved one. To her if she asked, sure - but he would still lose them, one way or another, if they knew everything he ever did. Does she know what his daughters mean to him? How much they are his mirror, how much they keep him grounded after his wife gave up on him?
But she leaves before he can answer her, and he is left to his own devices: in Nerine instead of the Isle. He does not waste time swimming to the place that he has laid claim to: he knows no-one will challenge him for it, not here. But claiming a Territory won’t make someone king, and he already knows exactly what’s waiting for him there, too - empty land ready to be reshaped.
First, he makes frequent trips to the Field. There he finds the bodies he needs - not, per say, the lightest souls in the world, but the ones willing to work to create, to start something new, to leave behind the mistakes they made before. He can be impressive enough if he needs to; if not, there’s always the crazy ones that just want to adore the flaming tree. Worship it even. And perhaps he likes to make use of that fact.
His second step still isn’t directly towards his goal - it’s to the west, where Ruinam rules the Resort. His fellow dragon rules his Territory quietly - too quietly perhaps for Leilan’s taste, but it makes the job easier. It doesn’t take much to convince him to leave Tephra, which has done nothing for the Resort just like Nerine these days does nothing much for the Isle. He knows it will take some persuasion for the magician-lady ruling the volcano to let go of the Resort, however. That’s where the dragon shape and army come in - an unspoken threat that he doesn’t actually mention as such. That, and the promise of a new kingdom, with a sanctuary for those who don't want to be caught in a battle. A noble enough goal in itself, on the surface.
In the end it is Ruinam’s wish for separation that convinces her, but Leilan truly could care less, as long as it works. His mind is already on his way back to the north. Home.
Neverwhere never wanted to be a queen, but that doesn’t mean she’ll give it up easily. And yet they have an odd sort of friendship, as the ice dragon dances his way around her insults with his own. He speaks freely, and she doesn’t have to hold her tongue. If he didn’t know any better he’d say she is his friend, but friends in power don’t give away that much, so he has to come up with something better than friendship.
It’s an ultimatum. Either she gives up her position or she loses her Territory entirely; it will take time and bloodshed to free himself and his bunch from the cliffside kingdom, but he will do it. Does it remind them of Loess’ offer for Taiga? Of course. But as they joke and scowl and insult their way through the conversation, he knows the differences between himself and Lepis. He’s not leaving without an answer, and he came with an army and a new territory at his back: instead of being an outsider looking to claim, he is an insider looking to separate, or to protect her from her own position, whichever she prefers.
It is, of course, not enough to separate from Nerine, although it is the only wise choice considering the rest of the world seems to dislike the gray cliffed kingdom. The southern kingdom for example, is ruled by a woman who would lay claim to the northern lands in the name of peace. The eastern kingdom has hungry eyes, waiting for weakness to devour whatever they can get. And so they can’t be trusted, and can’t be ignored. He won’t be able to rule for a long time if he doesn’t put work to it.
With Lepis, he trades his daughter, and a promise. Beryl of course has long since left his side, as well as Eurwen who doesn’t speak to him since he separated the Isles from Nerine; it’s the little snow dragon who is willing to marry into a family for a future title, about as ambitious as her sire. Besides this, Leilan will take care of the Islands, keeping those that the dun mare does not want in her own lands separated from the others. Of course, she still has to deal with Pangea, but the ice king doesn’t come in between. After all, he spoke with them too. In a world where dragons rule, as long as there are sheep to feed on, there is no problem between an ice dragon in the north and a fire dragon in the south, after all.
Battles ensue on the mainland - as they always would where one has the ambition to take over the rest of the world. Loess starts it on the grounds that Pangea and Nerine conspire against her - and the Isles are silent. He tells his subjects to wait, just a little longer; soon the earth will be scorned and scorched as much as the Broken Isle once was - and when everybody gets swiped from the surface of Beqanna, Beqanna is ripe for the taking.
And he lets them take, even though he doesn’t really participate. Even Empires will fall, when Winter is coming.</div></div></div></center>
<style> .leilancontainer {position:relative;z-index:1;width:600px;background-color:#bed9f7;border: 3px solid #a2b6d6;box-shadow: 0px 0px 3px 3px #191D21;} .leilanimage {position:relative;z-index:2;} .leilan-name {position:absolute;z-index:3;top:20px;left:60px;font-family:Allan;font-size:36pt;color:#918c8c;text-shadow:1px 1px 5px #342929;} .leilan-gradient {position:relative;z-index:4;width:600px;height:100px;margin-top:-83px;background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(190,217,247,0) 0%, rgba(190,217,247,0) 19%, rgba(190,217,247,1) 84%, rgba(190,217,247,1) 100%); background: -ms-linear-gradient(top, rgba(190,217,247,0) 0%, rgba(190,217,247,0) 19%, rgba(190,217,247,1) 84%, rgba(190,217,247,1) 100%); background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(190,217,247,0) 0%,rgba(190,217,247,0) 19%,rgba(190,217,247,1) 84%,rgba(190,217,247,1) 100%); background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(190,217,247,0) 0%,rgba(190,217,247,0) 19%,rgba(190,217,247,1) 84%,rgba(190,217,247,1) 100%);} .leilan-quote{position:absolute;z-index:4;top:954px;right:250px;width:350px;font-family:Annie Use Your Telescope;font-size:13pt;color:#342929;letter-spacing:1px;text-shadow:1px 1px 4px #083789;line-height:90%;} .leilan-textbox {position:relative;z-index:5;width:580px;background-color:rgba(26, 30, 34,0.7);} .leilan-text {position:relative;z-index:6;padding:15px;font-family:Abel;font-size:11pt;letter-spacing:1px;color:#bed9f7;}
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<center><div class="leilancontainer"><img class="leilanimage" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/60/9b/7e/609b7e1531a75368283318eddc1edaf4.jpg"><div class="leilan-name">Leilan</div><div class="leilan-gradient"></div><div class="leilan-quote">a dragon who couldn't be hurt on the outside<br>could have so many ragged holes inside</div><div class="leilan-textbox"><div class="leilan-text">There is a moment of contemplation, though brief, when others answer: they are goals shrouded within goals. Magic for loyalty, peace by conquering those who do not ask for it, power of destruction, power to protect. He knows what it all translates into: to be feared, for it means not to be challenged, it means to be named and to be remembered. He is no different, except that he already has enough power - but the fruits of his labour still wait for him, because power alone is never enough. All the power in the world does not magically give out prizes, nor are dreams made real. It is slightly disappointing that she will not help, then; at least not in the way that he’d hoped. There will be no trades today. Maybe she just wanted to be entertained.
Entertaining he can be. He said he would give up a loved one. To her if she asked, sure - but he would still lose them, one way or another, if they knew everything he ever did. Does she know what his daughters mean to him? How much they are his mirror, how much they keep him grounded after his wife gave up on him?
But she leaves before he can answer her, and he is left to his own devices: in Nerine instead of the Isle. He does not waste time swimming to the place that he has laid claim to: he knows no-one will challenge him for it, not here. But claiming a Territory won’t make someone king, and he already knows exactly what’s waiting for him there, too - empty land ready to be reshaped.
First, he makes frequent trips to the Field. There he finds the bodies he needs - not, per say, the lightest souls in the world, but the ones willing to work to create, to start something new, to leave behind the mistakes they made before. He can be impressive enough if he needs to; if not, there’s always the crazy ones that just want to adore the flaming tree. Worship it even. And perhaps he likes to make use of that fact.
His second step still isn’t directly towards his goal - it’s to the west, where Ruinam rules the Resort. His fellow dragon rules his Territory quietly - too quietly perhaps for Leilan’s taste, but it makes the job easier. It doesn’t take much to convince him to leave Tephra, which has done nothing for the Resort just like Nerine these days does nothing much for the Isle. He knows it will take some persuasion for the magician-lady ruling the volcano to let go of the Resort, however. That’s where the dragon shape and army come in - an unspoken threat that he doesn’t actually mention as such. That, and the promise of a new kingdom, with a sanctuary for those who don't want to be caught in a battle. A noble enough goal in itself, on the surface.
In the end it is Ruinam’s wish for separation that convinces her, but Leilan truly could care less, as long as it works. His mind is already on his way back to the north. Home.
Neverwhere never wanted to be a queen, but that doesn’t mean she’ll give it up easily. And yet they have an odd sort of friendship, as the ice dragon dances his way around her insults with his own. He speaks freely, and she doesn’t have to hold her tongue. If he didn’t know any better he’d say she is his friend, but friends in power don’t give away that much, so he has to come up with something better than friendship.
It’s an ultimatum. Either she gives up her position or she loses her Territory entirely; it will take time and bloodshed to free himself and his bunch from the cliffside kingdom, but he will do it. Does it remind them of Loess’ offer for Taiga? Of course. But as they joke and scowl and insult their way through the conversation, he knows the differences between himself and Lepis. He’s not leaving without an answer, and he came with an army and a new territory at his back: instead of being an outsider looking to claim, he is an insider looking to separate, or to protect her from her own position, whichever she prefers.
It is, of course, not enough to separate from Nerine, although it is the only wise choice considering the rest of the world seems to dislike the gray cliffed kingdom. The southern kingdom for example, is ruled by a woman who would lay claim to the northern lands in the name of peace. The eastern kingdom has hungry eyes, waiting for weakness to devour whatever they can get. And so they can’t be trusted, and can’t be ignored. He won’t be able to rule for a long time if he doesn’t put work to it.
With Lepis, he trades his daughter, and a promise. Beryl of course has long since left his side, as well as Eurwen who doesn’t speak to him since he separated the Isles from Nerine; it’s the little snow dragon who is willing to marry into a family for a future title, about as ambitious as her sire. Besides this, Leilan will take care of the Islands, keeping those that the dun mare does not want in her own lands separated from the others. Of course, she still has to deal with Pangea, but the ice king doesn’t come in between. After all, he spoke with them too. In a world where dragons rule, as long as there are sheep to feed on, there is no problem between an ice dragon in the north and a fire dragon in the south, after all.
Battles ensue on the mainland - as they always would where one has the ambition to take over the rest of the world. Loess starts it on the grounds that Pangea and Nerine conspire against her - and the Isles are silent. He tells his subjects to wait, just a little longer; soon the earth will be scorned and scorched as much as the Broken Isle once was - and when everybody gets swiped from the surface of Beqanna, Beqanna is ripe for the taking.
And he lets them take, even though he doesn’t really participate. Even Empires will fall, when Winter is coming.</div></div></div></center>
Two things I know I can make: pretty kids, and people mad.
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