StarFyre XMAS giveaway

[Xenoqueen]

Oh my god the NUGS! XD That is so awesome. ::has a geekout::

[Dray]

Ha ha, I'll let him know that you like 'em! XD He's pretty modest, he'll probably lol and 'aw shucks' when I do! >:D

[StarFyre]

So, I thought, since some of you have expressed interest in trivia related to various species, that I'd show you what I've been working on lately involving the Alaiskya. (Note that this isn't completely finished, but most of the rest of the timeline involves births, deaths, trading members between other clans, and minor improvements in quality of life. For the record, this is the clan that Veyalera and Kiostar come from.)

-The clan is formed:

-Females: Vatariven'toi Mectevil (Mectarisen'ta Danenili x Shelevil'hani Xaandeke), Malushi'toi Vesimaln (Vesitae'eyii Umiknent x Shamaln'hani Eriselle), Elethen'hani Tianarkn (Tiansiur'ta Valiemai x Jysarkn'ta Lystamii), Xariket'ta Manadeva (Manacir'ima Zatefyra x Felideva'desii Dyrurepi), Yleria'rua Lifrenta (Lifraen'nayii Keneriti x Ellenta'toi Jerikeam), Avileliel'rua Tertingu (Tertarian'disiirua Storzona x Alialingu'toi Jooshoni), Zaliand'tau Hantatan (Hantrekn'desiita Canaavil x Misiatan'ima Orenemai), Ifaris'eyii Farienyi (Faricat'desii Geriyena x Jalienyi'toi Phalaman), Kerira'toi Geiloket (Geilaven'hani Lancerea x Illioket'tau Viliarya), Kereta'hitu Delorgan (Delosarn'toi Coeleani x Farirgan'rua Cerealia)

-Males: Halaren'hitu Zoleraru (Zolesen'toi Kantribl x Xiararu'hani Tikkesto), Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb (Deyrawlin'rua Shenilim x Misharolb'tau Gerieria), Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni (Zeyawalush'nayii Kaenxeri x Amushileni'ta Ontosela)

-The location is found and rough dens are carved into the mountain by Ifaris and Avileliel.

-The Sacred Grounds are created in a large bowl-valley carved into the root-heart of the mountain. Much time is spent in the careful carving of this vast space, as magic must be used to reinforce the surrounding stone so that the weight of the entire mountain doesn't come crashing down. Pillars of rock are left in strategic points to help support the ceiling. The dens are physically above the Sacred Grounds, and the Grounds themselves are only reachable by flight, as there are large holes in the ceiling through which the Alaiskya may fly down. Vents are also created through the rock to the surface, and Kaghiel spends some time enchanting them such that a fresh supply of air is always available. Due to the size of the mountain, the Sacred Grounds are large enough for full flights, and to sustain plants of sizes equivilant to surface plants.

-Dosegari enchants a small quartz crystal to shine like the sun, and Kaghiel spends weeks weaving a complicated spell to cycle the crystal through the "sky" in imitation of the sun. More time consuming is the quartz crystal used to imitate the moon, because no one has the same grasp of Moon Magic that Dosegari has of Solar Magic, but eventually a suitable crystal is created, and also circled through the "sky" in imitation of the moon. Dosegari sets a glamour on the stone ceiling to imitate the sky through day and night. Months are spent tweaking and integrating these spells together until a suitable simulation of day/night is created.

-During this time, Avileliel turns to the task of accelerating the process of stone-into-soil. Through the careful process of breaking stone down, introducting loam, mixing it, then repeating the process, she slowly creates a bed of good soil that stretches eight feet below the original floor-level. This is completed at about the same time that the day/night cycle is finished.

-Spontaneous flight: Dosegari rises, is caught by Vatariven, Malushi, and Yleria.

-A nesting area is quickly built near the northern wall, and seeded with creeper plants that stay relatively low to the ground. As there is no Blazing Firetail seeded, the females must incubate their clutches with their bodies, or with careful application of magic.

-During the time the clutches are hardening, Avileliel begins the process of seeding the new soil with plants. She sculpts the soil into ridges, slopes, and other such interesting (though relatively small) features so that the ground isn't completely flat as she does, and uses her powers to accelerate the growth process. In conjunction with Avileliel's work, Elethen, Kerira, and Ifaris work together to create a streambed running through the Sacred Grounds and a relatively large pond near the southwest wall. They then link this new streambed into a nearby underground stream and let the water in slowly. By the time the stream is flowing and the pond is slowly filling, Avileliel has the plants rooted enough to keep the soil in place.

-Around this time, the three clutches hatch. The warriors are sent out hunting and return with large quantities of meat. As per usual with clutches laid in an unfinished Sacred Ground, the clutches are small and have a low survival rate. The survival of two males is much celebrated.

-Females: Solellia'ta Doseiven (Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb x Vatariven'toi Mectevil), Reyanina'ta Doseushi (Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb x Malushi'toi Vesimaln), Terikia'ta Doseushi (Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb x Malushi'toi Vesimaln), Indusira'ta Doseeria (Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb x Yleria'rua Lifrenta), Yelrier'ta Doseeria (Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb x Yleria'rua Lifrenta)

-Males: Aufinat'ta Doseushi (Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb x Malushi'toi Vesimaln), Vistigen'ta Doseeria (Dosegari'cetiitau Deyrrolb x Yleria'rua Lifrenta)

-Now that the Sacred Grounds are planted, and the stream is flowing, Malushi begins the process of crafting the spells necessary for the imitation of a 'climate'. She creates a system of spells that spawn small storms at random times based on humidity and air currents, Kaghiel builds off of Malushi's spells and builds air currents, creating breezes and winds (and occasionally a light gale). Avileliel continues to speed the growth of her plants and trees, working in conjunction with Kaghiel, who helps strengthen the trees by blasting them with strong winds as they grow.

-By this time, the first children of the clan are ready to begin their magical training and, a few weeks later, their flight training.

-The warriors of the clan, working with Yleria, begin to gather animals needed to stock the Sacred Grounds. This, of course, covers everything from earthworms to deer, though no large predators such as wolves are brought in.

-Flight: Halaren rises, is caught by Elethen and Xariket.

-The stocking continues.

-Flight: Kaghiel rises, is caught by Avileliel, Ifaris, and Kerira.

-Further stocking, though attention is now being paid to bringing the Sacred Grounds into balance.

-Hatching: Elethen and Xariket's clutches. Only two of Xariket's six eggs survive, a matter of some sorrow, but both are males.

-Females: Muernit'ta Halathen (Halaren'hitu Zoleraru x Elethen'hani Tianarkn), Fyinsi'ta Halathen (Halaren'hitu Zoleraru x Elethen'hani Tianarkn), Jejitha'ta Halathen (Halaren'hitu Zoleraru x Elethen'hani Tianarkn)

-Males: Gailen'ta Halaiket (Halaren'hitu Zoleraru x Xariket'ta Manadeva), Emarusen'ta Halaiket (Halaren'hitu Zoleraru x Xariket'ta Manadeva)

-The warriors bring in plenty of meat for the hatching, because the populations in the Sacred Grounds are still unstable.

-The hatchlings from the first clutches take their roles as adults in the clan. Indusira and Yelrier become dedicated hunters and join the warriors in the hunt for stock for the Sacred Grounds. Aufinat becomes a den caretaker, and enchants quartz crystals to be controllable light sources. These replace the soft moonlight-enchanted crystals put in place by Dosegari and Kaghiel. He also cares for dens while their residents are out. Terikia and Solellia join Zaliand and Ifaris as defenders of the clan. Reyaninta becomes another plant caretaker in the Sacred Grounds. Vistigen becomes a healer under Kerira.

-The stocking continues. Preparations begin for the final completion of the Sacred Grounds.

-Hatching: Avileliel, Ifaris, and Kerira's clutches.

-Females: Filitena'ta Kaghliel (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Avileliel'rua Tertingu), Waveryri'ta Kaghliel (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Avileliel'rua Tertingu), Jalyra'ta Kagharis (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Ifaris'eyii Farienyi), Arisar'ta Kagharis (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Ifaris'eyii Farienyi), Yelsevin'ta Kagharis (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Ifaris'eyii Farienyi), Fianisi'ta Kaghrira (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Kerira'toi Geiloket), Taejina'ta Kaghrira (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Kerira'toi Geiloket)

-Males: Kainkol'ta Kaghliel (Kaghiel'vetiima Zeyaleni x Avileliel'rua Tertingu)

-As the game population in the Sacred Grounds is still unstable, more food is brought it. The hunters have their jobs cut out for them, providing for two sets of hatchlings, and so are still assisted by the warriors.

-The Ritual of Consecration is begun. Consisting of an entire night and day of work, the ritual is a last remnant of the "ancient magics" from the very beginning of the Alaiskya species. While in normal spells the thought is the catalyst, the ancient magics rely on runes to direct and channel latent energy into an enduring spell that has no need for maintence. This Rune Magic can be cast by anyone of any skill level and depends only upon number of memorized runes, capability at singing the chants, and precision of movement. Most larger spells, such as the Ritual of Consecration, also rely upon a balanced male-female pair, where one doesn't overpower the other in personality, will power, or vocal strength. Consequently, most of the Rune Magic has been forgotten to time, except for fragments such as the Ritual of Consecration, the Summoning of Water, the Rite of Ascension, and the Blessing of Marushinari. Even of those, only the Ritual of Consecration is used with any regularity, as the Alaiskya have, over time, begun to favor the specialized, and easily mastered, magic of the current era to the non-specialized, study intensive Rune Magic of their ancestors.

-The Ritual finished, and the Sacred Grounds finally completed (except for the final balancing of the species), it is time to create the permanent hatching grounds. The temporary nesting area in the north is smoothed out, and other forms of plant life are planted there, forming a large glade in the growing forest. A hollow to the south is used to form the basis of the grounds, and planted with Blazing Firetail, a low-growing, thick foliage ground cover plant that has, over the centuries, been altered to grow only in places with a completed Ritual of Consecration. It is highly resiliant against being crushed, bruised, torn, and any other form of abuse the Alaiskya can conceivably deal to it, up to and including magical damage. The Blazing Firetail is a vibrant red in color, and is nearly always in bloom, sporting white, red, and yellow flowers in a "raceme inflorescence" pattern (similar to a snapdragon in flower arrangement). The flowers are often eaten by both males and females right before rising, and contribute to a hightened fertility rate (the idea being that if over half of sperm-egg pairings will spontaneously abort before being laid, and another handful of eggs will die before hatching, upping the number of sperm-egg pairings will increase the chance of viable eggs). The Blazing Firetail also serves as a heater for the eggs laid upon it, as it radiates heat as a by-product of converting magical energy into growth energy. A magical border around the edge of the hollow prevents the Blazing Firetail from spreading over the rest of the Sacred Grounds like a weed.

-The hatchlings from the second clutch begin their magical training and, a few weeks later, their flight training.

-The hatchlings from the third clutch begin their magical training and, a few weeks later, their flight training.