Penddraig Chronicles

Magenta Retinue

The Magenta Kingdom is contained by the landmass to the SE. There has ruled a single royal family, of which Maleficent Magenta is the last of the line. It has been a relatively stable and peaceful rule, where most citizens are free and equal, although Black Guards are usually liege-sworn to a particular Royal or Noble family. With the diminution of the families, Blacks have been gaining their freedom more frequently, and now many, proud of their higher status, have taken to adding ‘Free’ to their names.

Again, almost any breed can be found in Magenta Kingdom, where the enlightened use of books and knowledge has led to the greatest concentration of mages and other magic users in Penddraig. Unlike the only other “city” in Penddraig, dragons here have made full use of the human artifacts in their region, including magic items, books and even dwellings where intact. There are even a couple of human “attendants” in residence.

Maleficent Magenta left her kingdom to travel to Dragon Cave Island, in search of a mate of sufficiently regal bearing and prestige to wed, and thereby continue her family’s rule. She put together an entourage of several vital magic users, as well as a personal guard for her protection in the potentially hostile lands. These came to be known as the Magenta Retinue.

It consisted of Fecunda Rosa; (Red) midwife; Prentisce, (Pink) Courtier, wielder of the Influence magic; a trio of powerful teleporters – Bethelem Gold, Frankinscense, and Myrrh Oil (Magi), who act as emergency communications and who also have their own purposes for what is for them a secret “pilgrimage”. Also Cainte Slane, (White) Druid; Inge & Hippolyta Free, (Black) Guards; and NightSword, formerly known as Martin Free before his Wayist conversion, (Black) Guard – later to leave the Retinue.

At the landing point on the South coast of the Wilderness, were left many Blacks, Reds, and Greys. These remained ostensibly to guard the vessel used to cross the Southern Sea, and the supplies. It is believed that Maleficent’s true purpose in coming to the Island was to expand her territory into the now-verdant feast of the Wilderness. If so, it explains the many hunting and exploring excursions conducted by those she left behind at the shore, and explains their excessive numbers.

In any event, history shows Maleficent got both a suitable mate – if from a very unexpected quarter! – and the Wilderness as an expansion of the Magenta Kingdom’s domain. And she and her consort Alikhan III rule there happily and prosperously to this day.

Alikhan III is a surprise from the officially uninhabited northern continent. He claims that his people are many leagues north of this their southern coast, and live in comfortable terrain with sufficient of all they need to pose no threat to the peoples of the island, jungles, and desert of Penddraig. He has come south in search of adventure, there being no real place for him in his kingdom, as the third son of the king.

After exhaustive tests and trials, it is determined that he is a suitable mate for Maleficent, and they are duly married in her land, he then returns to settle the Wilderness as its King, joined by Maleficent once her palace has been built.

THE NORTH WESTERN WASTES

There turn out to be many more inhabitants than any knew in the NW landmass. As well as the Vampires William The Bloody Mac,and Tru Dru, there appeared from this region Alikhan III, trios of Summoners and Avatars on a mission to free the peoples of the north with the dragons' of Penddraig help.

The one truly curious signatory is only a rumour. There is believed by many to be a solitary vampire left from the Vampire Wars of a century before. William The Bloody is said to have preyed upon travelers – empty eggs from distant places were often found at known way stations along the Road. Since no dragon would eat the unborn hatchling of another, no matter what tribe, it was assumed that these abominations were his work.

Until he was allegedly captured and brought to the Jien Shen Zhong and Fragrant Rain. It is claimed that she so charmed him that he agreed to restrict his predations to the north coastal regions of the desert, away from the other signatories of the Concordat, and to change his name to William The Bloody Mac in line with the others. Since nobody has ever seen the vampire and lived, there is no way to confirm this story, but there has been only a single empty shell found in the many years the KayMac Concordat has been in effect.

Tru Dru is the real reason William The Bloody Mac signed the treaty. Found as a newly hatched vampire, and near death, by the children of Myster Mac & Mistress Kay, Tru Dru became something of a pet to the family. William The Bloody fell in love with her on sight, and it was mutual. But she loved, too, her rescuers. In the only known agreement of mutual non-aggression between dragons and vampires, the pair agreed to “drift northwest” into the desert and disappear.

MYSTER MAC (Grey, M)
Father of the legendary Fragrant Rain, 3rd wife to the Emperor, Jien Shen Zhong, Myster Mac is said to proclaim his daughter’s wisdom is derived entirely from her mother. “I was a poor sort of noble, showing little interest in politics and the affairs of state, a bit of a curmudgeon if the truth be known, until I laid eyes upon the soothing sight of Mistress Kay, surrounded by a delicate fragrance and butterflies, dozing amiably beside two Pygmy dragons,” he says. Fragrant Rain is credited with the original proposal of the KayMac Concordat, which has led to peace and prosperity throughout the desert rim by uniting the previously squabbling groups of dragons in the desert region.

FRAGRANT MYST (Black Tea, M)
Oldest brother to the famous Fragrant Rain, Fragrant Myst is known to be deeply resentful of his sister's prominence in politics, a role more frequently played by the eldest son. Although he inherited the titles and honours of a nobleman, Fragrant Myst was never satisfied with his lot. The burdens of his position in court chafe, and his leisure time is spent in regaling others with his ideas for the Empire, chief among which is the keeping of females in their place.

SONG OF SPICE (Black Tea, M)
Second son to Myster Mac and Mistress Kay, Song was well-named, preferring nothing so much as a quiet evening listening to the minstrels at court. A courteous, gentle and unassuming dragon, he is indeed the perfect second son, and his parents are well pleased with him. He admires and applauds his famous sister Fragrant Rain, and supports her peace initiatives completely.

INCANDESCENT KAY (Crimson Flare Pygmy, F)
As a youngster, Incandescent had taken to the skies immediately, but without restraint, and soon found herself injured and land-bound on the desert rim. Mistress Kay, a kind-hearted Black Tea dragon, cared for her wounds. This friendship led to her rising as a powerful leader amid the Pygmy flocks, and she helped broker the KayMac Concordat, in which the various Pygmy flocks, Grey dragons, and Black Tea dragons agreed to a peaceful co-existence. As a reminder of their commitment to each other, the Concordat calls on all signatories to include either Kay or Mac in their names.

BLUE MOOD MAC (Nilia, M)
A member of the largest and most powerful Nilia Pygmy flock, it is believed Blue Mood was the first to suggest that an alliance with the Greys might be possible. At the time it seemed both ridiculous and pointless, but he set about convincing all who would listen of the benefits to be gained by an alliance. They could be protected by the larger and stronger dragons from the predators slipping down from the mountains, while communications and vital trade routes could be easily set up with the help of the nimble and curious Pygmies.

Certainly, he converted a surprisingly powerful ally in Fragrant Rain, then a hatchling, who went on to marry and then influence the Emperor Jien Shen Zhong.

It is also said that Blue Mood was the first to append Mac to his name, as his assurance of commitment, an act that became a condition upon the signatories of the Concordat. Incandescent Kay has been Blue Mood Mac’s mate for centuries.

JIEN SHEN ZHONG (Grey, M)
Emperor Jien Shen Zhong (whose name is considered prophetic, meaning “build successful middle path”. Whether his Naming Cleric meant it to be so is hotly debated in the Court.) was a somewhat more independent and broadminded Emperor, who took as his 3rd wife a Black Tea dragon named Fragrant Rain, who first advocated a peace pact for the Empire. Zhong’s life long ambition was to see the Empire return to its former glory, and most historians agree that he did indeed achieve that.

Love reading this, Justie   

Frodo wrote:Love reading this, Justie   

Thank you, thank you, thank you!   I am so glad somebody is. Sometimes feel that all the words just pass on by unnoticed by anyone...   

Really happy you like it! Sure is fun writing it, if a little daunting!   

EMPRESS LIEN MANG (Pink, F)

Lien Mang was all a Emperor could ask of his consort. Beautiful, charming, an excellent organizer of 'public affairs'. She was an accomplished artist and poet, as well as providing him with heirs to his Empire.

If she was in any way concerned about the attention given to Fragrant Rain, it was never evident in her demeanor, public or private.

ALISHEBA, 2ND WIFE (Lumina, F)

Jien Shen Zhong's second wife, Alisheba was as vain as she was beautiful. A glittering addition to any gathering, she evinced absolutely no interest in politics, and instead surrounded herself with those members of the court who flattered her. Best beloved were those who brought her gifts from beyond the boundaries of the Empire, the lands beyond the Great Sea.

FRAGRANT RAIN (Black Tea, F)

Fragrant Rain was married to Jien Shen Zhong, after she was presented to the court by the noble Myster Mac, his close confidante, and her father. Myster Mac was convinced that his daughter would be a great asset to the court and indeed, far more than could ever have been anticipated, she was.

Although she was only the Emperor's third wife and never became Empress, she bore him the many fine sons and daughters who carried on both the Imperial bloodline and the important work of peace.

It was Fragrant Rain who first began the conversion of the Jien Shen Zhong to the idea of a peace pact between the various breeds along the full length of the Old Spice Road. She pointed out that such a thing would be in the self interest of all the breeds, and could restore the Empire to its previous glory.

With the diplomatic successes of her father with the Pygmy flocks, the Emperor began to actively pursue his goal of a newly redeemed Empire, bringing it back to its former glory. Fragrant Rain was his closest adviser in all the negotiations with the many tribes.

She is honored by the dynasty’s name, which throughout Penddraig’s long history is remembered as the Fragrant Rain Dynasty, and one of the high points of civilization in the region.

EIBLIX (Purple, M)

Eiblix was a successful spice merchant. He simply wandered in out of the desert one day, seemingly obvious to its perils, laden with some of the most exotic condiments and spices ever seen. In fact, many had never been seen before.

Finding himself a convenient corner in the market, he displayed his wares and discussed their merits with the cooks of the region. His tales of the NW wastelands were engaging and appealing, involving many fanciful creatures and dragons, but everyone knew that they were the traditional tales of the travelling merchant.

About that, the dragons of Spice City were wrong.

CLOCI (Red, M)

Two Red brothers, Cloci and Izleci, settled in the area near Spice City once the Old Spice Road was safe to use once more.

With them they brought arcane devices and magicks used in ensuring rapid and safe hatching of eggs. Very soon, their services were in such demand that they quickly found themselves overworked. They begged Blue Mood Mac to send a messenger to other Red dragons, dwelling in the forests along the desert rim.

Tiny Sprite, the chosen messenger, returned from the Desert Rim Forests with four Red dragons (Broeden, Gestar, Ausbruten and Kweken), 2 Pinks (Pink Vanilla Coif and Drew Driver), Breakfast Burn (a Purple), and Immaculato, a White Healer. As well, he had two stowaway Ridgewings, Buzz By and Plum Dawn, who had made the journey with the others for safety's sake.

IZLECI THUWED (Red, M)

Izleci and his brother Cloci came to Spice City to try their fortunes offering their incubating services to the ever increasing population of the cosmopolitan capital of the Empire.

They prospered immediately and were soon looking for other fertility and hatching specialists. Their quiet corner of the markets, back as they were from the wells, which they'd positioned with privacy and discretion in mind, nevertheless became a lively enclave of the most influential dragons of the Desert Dwellers region.

COLTHOR (Purple, M)
It was previously believed that Purple dragons were exclusively female, but this is not the case. Recent environmental shifts have revealed the existence of both genders of this breed. About Colthor, nothing is known except that he is the mate of Dovasi Kay, and although he also agreed to cease attacks on travelers, he chose not to sign the KayMac Concordat.

UNNAMED TEIMARR SHELL
This egg was found on the shores near Coastedge Wood. It is broken and empty. A dragon has clearly killed the hatchling within, there are recognisable bite marks on the shell. But there is no body. Dragons do not eat their kind for food, not even across different breeds, so where is the poor little corpse?

TINY SPRITE (Pygmy, M)

Tiny was very excited to be asked by Blue Mood Mac himself to mount a small expedition to the forests along the rim of the desert, in search of breeding experts willing to come to the city.

No one was more surprised than he, though, when he found such enthusiasm for the move among the Reds and Pinks of the forest regions. In the end, he returned from the Desert Rim Forests with four Red dragons (Broeden, Gestar, Ausbruten and Kweken), 2 Pinks (Pink Vanilla Coif and Drew Driver), Breakfast Burn (a Purple), and Immaculato, a White Healer.

A couple of Ridgewing stowaways also joined the group. Buzz By and Plum Dawn attached themselves to Tiny and nothing could discourage them.

With the success of this, his first totally independent mission, Tiny Sprite found his calling and was very much in demand for further expeditions.

PINK VANILLA COIF (Pink, F)

Pink Vanilla was one of the immigrants from the [b]Desert Rim Forests. Her skills as a birthing magic user soon became widely known, and she was much sought after. She and her mate, Drew Driver, settled in a small ruin at the outskirts of Spice City.

DREW DRIVER (Pink, M)

Drew and his mate, Pink Vanilla Coif, came with the other Desert Rim Forests immigrants from the forest regions between the homes of the Desert Dwellers and the Alpine Ridge.

For them, it was a chance for adventure and an exciting new beginning. Ironically, despite their expertise, the two midwives had no hatchlings of their own.

BROEDEN (Red, M)

Another of the Desert Rim Forests immigrants, Broeden was a fairly old dragon, as far as anyone knew, and said that the reason for the move was that he was getting on and he wanted to rest easy in Spice City where he would not need to compete for food. He did seem to possess a certain wisdom that comes from experience, and younger dragons would ask his advice on 'matters of the heart'.

GESTAR (Red, M)

Gestar was a solitary dragon, tending to keep his own counsel. When he did speak, though, others always listened, because his thoughts were usually wise and insightful.

Originally, another inhabitant of the Desert Rim Forests, his 'voting with his feet' was considered by his fellow travelers as reason enough to move on.