Chapter Text
Starting is always the hardest part, isn’t it? But it always gets easier from there.
Let’s be a little cliche then.
It all begins in a tavern…
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A Mudwing stepped into The Glutton’s Rest, a tavern and inn on the outskirts of the Sky Kingdom. It was empty, save for a lone (Tribe Randomizer, Result: Three) Rainwing tending the bar. The town he had arrived in was called Serenity, a small refugee town with heavy influence from the Talons of Peace.
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Clay
Blood Red Mudwing (Red Chromatic Dragonborn)
Level Three Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Str:22 (+6)
Dex:8 (-1)
Con:18 (+4)
Int:8 (-1)
Wis:12 (+1)
Cha:18 (+4)
Notable Features:
Spellcasting. You can cast prepared paladin spells using CHA as your spellcasting modifier. You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus.
Divine Smite. When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal 2d8 extra radiant damage to the target plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st (max 5d8) and plus 1d8 against undead or fiends (max 6d8 total).
Inspiring Leader. You can spend 10 minutes inspiring your companions, shoring up their resolve to fight. When you do so, choose up to six friendly creatures (which can include yourself) within 30 feet of you who can see or hear you and who can understand you. Each creature can gain temporary hit points equal to your level + your Charisma modifier.
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Clay took a seat at a booth tail lashing slightly as the Rainwing came towards him and took his order.
Asha’s late… He observed. His aunt wasn’t the perfect picture of punctuality, but she usually arrived before Clay did. He didn’t get much more time to ponder before the door swung open, hailing a cloaked Seawing.
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Tsunami
Royal Seawing (Lizardfolk)
Level One Barbarian
Level Two Fighter
Str:18 (+4)
Dex:18 (+4)
Con:17 (+3)
Int:10 (0)
Wis:12 (+1)
Cha:12 (+1)
Notable Features:
Rage. You gain advantage on STR checks and saving throws (not attacks), +2 melee damage with STR weapons, resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, slashing damage. You can't cast or concentrate on spells while raging.
Second Wind. Once per short rest, you can use a bonus action to regain 1d10 + your fighter level.
Grappler. You have advantage on attack rolls against a creature you are grappling. You can use your action to try to pin a creature grappled by you by making another grapple check. If you succeed, you and the creature are both restrained until the grapple ends.
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“Argh,” Tsunami growled, whipping her cloak off and shaking it violently. “It’s raining like you wouldn’t believe.” Water pounded against dirt behind her as the door slowly creaked back into place. She didn’t make it far into the building before she noticed Clay glancing at her.
And a spark.
Wordlessly she stepped towards and took a seat across from Clay. Looking at him intently.
“You too?” He asked and she nodded in response.
“Never met another one of us before.” She muttered, reaching a claw out to him. “Name’s Tsunami.”
“Clay.” He responded grasping the offered set of talons and shaking lightly. “What brings you to Serenity?”
“Oh you know.” She started. “Good ol’ quest, just like any reasonable dragon. Trying to save my father and such. Nothing to write in scrolls about. How about you?”
“Just meeting a family member.” He said, it was technically the truth. “You said you never met another fire-bearer?”
“Yeah, what about you?” The Seawing asked. “Ever seen the spark before?”
“Never in memory.” The Mudwing answered, avoiding her gaze. (Opposed Deception Check, Insight Result: 8, Deception Result: 6) Tsunami tilted her head at him, seeing through his poorly constructed lie, but before she could dig deeper the door swung open once more and a Rainwing stepped in.
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Glory
Royal Rainwing (Changeling)
Level Three Mastermind Archetype Rogue
Str:12 (+1)
Dex:18 (+4)
Con:8 (-1)
Int:16 (+3)
Wis:10 (0)
Cha:20 (+5)
Notable Features:
Sneak Attack. Once per turn, you can deal an extra 2d6 damage to one creature you hit with an attack with a finesse or ranged weapon if you have advantage on the attack roll. You don’t need advantage on the attack roll if another enemy of the target is within 5 ft. of it, that enemy isn’t incapacitated, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Expertise. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make for chosen proficiencies. Deception, Sleight of Hand, & Performance.
Shapechanger. You can change your appearance and voice. You determine the specifics, including your coloration, hair length, sex, height, weight, and can change your size between Medium and Small. You can look like another race.
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She too didn’t make it far into the building before a spark flew and she felt compelled to talk with them as well. Tsunami scooted over and made room for her beside her as Glory joined them in the booth.
“You two come here together?” The Rainwing questioned, glancing between the two.
“Nope, we met here.” Tsunami said with a grin. “And now there’s three of us.”
“I actually also came with another one I sparked with.” She considered out loud. “He’s getting us rooms right now but once he’s here there’ll be four of us.”
“Wow.” Clay vocalized. “Is he also a…”
“Nope,” Glory answered before he finished. “He’s an Icewing.”
“That’s halfway there.” The Seawing grinned. “How’d you two meet?”
“Mutual rescue.” The Rainwing answered, half-hazardly. “I know a Skywing Fire-Bearer as well. You don’t think…”
“Well the issue is the Nightwing.” The Mudwing objected. “What’re we going to do? Find a zombie that happens to have been born on a previous brightest night. It’s a nice thought, but the prophecy’s not real. A Nightwing isn’t just going to walk right up to us—” Before Clay had a chance to finish his realist rant he was interrupted by the wild chatting of two dragons that just entered the tavern door.
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Starflight
Thriceborn Nightwing (Shadar-Kai)
Level Three School of Divination Wizard
Str:6 (-2)
Dex:13 (+1)
Con:12 (+1)
Int:22 (+6)
Wis:18 (+4)
Cha:14 (+2)
Notable Features:
Spellcasting. You can cast prepared Wizard spells using INT as your spellcasting modifier.
Portent. When you finish a long rest, roll two d20s and record the numbers rolled. You can replace any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check made by you or a creature that you can see with one of these foretelling rolls. You must choose to do so before the roll, and you can replace a roll in this way only once per turn. Each roll can only be used once.
Eyes of the Rune Keeper. You can read all writing.
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“Sunny”
Blessed Sandwing (Aasimar)
Level Three Peace Domain Cleric
Str:14 (+2)
Dex:18 (+4)
Con:12 (+1)
Int:14 (+2)
Wis:18 (+4)
Cha:16 (+3)
Notable Features:
Spellcasting. You can cast prepared paladin spells using WIS as your spellcasting modifier. You can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus.
Emboldening Bond. As an action, you choose up to 2 willing creatures within 30 ft. of you, creating a magical bond among them for 10 minutes or until you use this feature again. While any bonded creature is within 30 ft. of another, once per turn, they can roll a d4 and add it to an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw they make.
Channel Divinity. You can channel divine energy to fuel magical effects a number of times per short rest. Balm of Peace, Turn Undead.
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The Nightwing laughed boisterously as the slightly smaller Sandwing beside him regaled him of a tale from The Scorpion Den. They too didn’t make it far into the tavern until they too happened to make eye contact with the group, lighting a spark and moving towards the seated group. Clay stared at his own talons in disbelief.
“Did I do that?” He muttered as the duo approached. The Sandwing and Nightwing took seats beside Clay, both looking equally baffled by the situation.
“So everyone here is…” The ebony dragon asked, brooching the question.
“Yeah,” Glory answered. “Are both of you?”
“Yeah.” The Sandwing replied. “I’m Sunny, this is Starflight. She gestured to the Nightwing beside her. “We were searching to form an Adventuring Party. And this seems like a fateful encounter, so I’m wondering if you guys are interested.”
“We’ll invite Hailstorm as well.” Starflight informed, turning towards Glory. “Please feel no prophetic pressure, there are statistically around one hundred and eighty other possible candidates.”
“I’m in.” Tsunami volunteered to the surprise of everyone. “I know it’s weird because we just met, but this guy,” She gestured towards Starflight. “Is evidence that Nightwings still exist, so the prophecy is probably real. I just… feel like my life has been leading up to this.”
“I’m hoping a Skywing suddenly wanders in through the front door.” Glory muttered, staring intently at the entrance like she was casting a spell. After a few moments of failure, she grasped her horns in frustration. “I don’t wanna go back to the Sky Kingdom.”
“You got a problem with the Sky Kingdom?” Sunny asked, head tilting inquisitively.
“Tragic backstory stuff.” The Rainwing explained, waving a talon dismissively. “I mean I know a Skywing Fire-Bearer, but I don’t think she wants to see me.”
“Is anyone else weirdly disturbed by how quickly we connect as a group?” Clay muttered, uncomfortable with the familiarity he felt.
“Ah, that would be the strings of fate.” Starflight explained, pointing at something. “I suppose you guys can’t see them. They kind of connect people involved in prophecy together. I can even tell that Hailstorm is about to walk through the door because of them.” (Starflight cast Mage Armor) The Nightwing twirled his talon in the air and strings gathered around his scales before disappearing. “Wish me luck.” Before anyone could question his strange actions the door flung open and in a flash of white Starflight was tackled to the floor by a new-comer.
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Hailstorm
Royal Icewing (Metallic Dragonborn)
Level Three Four Gods Conclave Icewing
Str:14 (+2)
Dex:18 (+4)
Con:16 (+3)
Int:14 (+2)
Wis:18 (+4)
Cha:6 (-2)
Notable Features:
Spellcasting. You can cast known ranger spells using WIS as your spellcasting modifier.
Foretold Strikes. When a creature fails a saving throw, or is affected or hit by a spell you cast. The next attack you make against them has advantage.
Favored Enemy. You have advantage on Survival checks to track your favored enemies, as well as on INT checks to recall information about them. You also learn one language of your choice that is spoken by your favored enemies, if they speak one at all. Enemy Type: Nightwings (Undead)
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In a quick flash of talons Hailstorm's talons struck down, trying to tear into Starflight’s scales (Armor Class:14, To Hit:2̶4̶ 6) The attack connected, but then Starflight whispered something and it didn’t.
“Foul perversion of a holy body.” Hailstorm growled, claws dug into the wood beside Starflight’s head. As he spoke a spark appeared between them.
“I promise you I’m no undead.” Starflight said frantically, squirming underneath Hailstorm. “If you’ll let me, I’ll even step into the sun to prove it.”
“I will fall for no tricks.” He ripped his talons out of the wood and prepared to swing once more.
“Hailstorm, wait!” Glory yelled from the booth. “He seems alive enough, just hear him out.”
“Fine.” The Icewing growled, getting off of Starflight, who quickly scurried back to his talons. “If you’re really an alive Nightwing, then tell me a prophecy.”
“Like right now?” The wizard asked, partially confused. The Icewing nodded. “I mean I’ll see what I can do.” (Arcana Check DC: 20, Result:25). The Nightwing’s eyes closed and his brow furrowed in concentration. Soon enough his eyes shot open, revealing them to be pure white and in a booming voice he spoke.
you will develop gender dysphoria
“What?” The Icewing said, looking genuinely concerned. “That wasn’t a prophecy, that was a curse.”
“Starflight, why’d you curse that guy?” Sunny asked, coming up to the Icewing and patting him on the back.
“It’s a prophecy, I can’t control it!” He defended. “It comes from a goddess, I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Tell him he doesn’t have gender dysphoria!” The Seawing demanded. “Or her? I’m kind of confused.”
“Undo the curse dammit!” Glory whipped out a dagger and pressed it to Starflight’s neck.
“It’s not even a curse, it’s a medical impairment and it’s nothing to be ashamed of!” He said, smoke curling at the edge of his mouth.
Clay looked at his own talons in consideration. “I’m so lost.”