Nightwind Family
The Nightwind Clan is one of the oldest dragon clans recognized, having been formed several thousand years ago in Noctis. Every blood-descended Nightwind is related to one of six siblings - all of whom carried the signature family traits, seen in their descendants many centuries later. Nightwinds are known for several traits that have grown prominent in both their magic and their appearances, not the least of which is their unique aura-tinted elemental magic - most often color-stained wind, elemental magic uniquely colored by their reiatsu.
Though they often portray themselves as a large family of artisans, traders and courtesans, the Nightwinds most often use these as fronts for organized crime. They deal in the underground and host a large black market in multiple cities across several Realms, paying off local authorities and bribing higher powers to allow their business to flourish above the law. While they tend to deal in mostly illegal procurement, counterfeiting and fraud, they may also employ assassins, smugglers and other such skilled criminals. Wealth and nepotism are very important in gaining rank within the clan, though rising through hard work and pleasing the regents works just as well.
Many Nightwinds are suspicious of outsiders, and clan members are very choosy who they bring into the family - as well as what children they keep as opposed to those they send away to be raised far from the main city. Hatchlings should display feathers and dark coloration - anything else, and suspicion may rise that the child is not of true Nightwind blood. Those they choose to breed with must also display at least one similar trait, to keep their clan look stable. Love-matches are allowed, but frowned on the closer one's lineage is to the regents, as their bloodline is very tightly controlled.
The Nightwinds are primarily descended from six siblings who initially claimed the name after serving for some years in the Vystrian Order of the Raven and Order of the Beryl. All six were clutchmates, and have a seventh still-living brother in Zaon, who has cut most of his ties and remains in Felnova. These six are Lord Nielnev, a Black with white stripes and long feathers; Lord Ezra, a Purple with broad feathers and starry markings; Lady Yzran, a Violet with black stripes and spots; Lady Furious, a Black with galaxy-marked wings and bold red-orange feathers; Lord Tyrannus, a sunset-colored dragon coated in fur; and Lady Kerem, a Black who was fully feathered nose to tail. All six left the knighthood to pursue their own goals and ambitions far from Felnova, earning their brother's ire - to this day, he has not forgiven their dishonor, though he feels regret that he was never able to make amends before their eventual deaths. Together, they founded the city - named Jayshrike - and the clan after settling on the Crystalline Silza, high in Noctis' floating sky-continents. Many other dragons who had admired them in the Order had followed, and helped to build Jayshrike out of the stone and crystals, making their new home with high hopes and grand dreams.
For some time, this city thrived. Many of the dragons, including the siblings, wanted a beautiful and artistic metropolis where the creative and industrial minds they had brought with them could build something truly unique, where all would be free to pursue the dreams they had harbored throughout their lives. As the siblings took mates and their offspring grew, it seemed this would become a reality. However, as months stretched into years and years into centuries, the founders and their children grew restless and greedy, unsatisfied with Jayshrike's prosperity. It is unknown what exactly happened to the founders themselves - but each sibling either vanished or was killed, as were many of their children and grandchildren, despite the clan growing in leaps and bounds within the first several hundred years. Their focus turned to darker and darker dealings, and the family grew more and more suspicious, as the centuries stretched on. At last, the Nightwinds became what they are known as today; a wealthy and prosperous crime family, nigh untouchable and unofficial Noctisian nobility.
Nightwinds may vary greatly in basic coloration, marking shape and adornment, though each blood-tied to the clan will have several distinct and shared traits. These traits are as follows.
- Nightwinds all have some feathering on them; most commonly feathered crests and hybrid-styled wings (feathers along the leading edge, with webbing underneath), but may sport fanned tails, feathered ridges, trailing feathers, or even be completely covered in a feathery coat. Wings can be fully feathered, though this is somewhat rarer. Most are scaled, but can be covered in fur as well.
- Coloration varies, but all Nightwinds have either dark base colors, or dark markings. Many will have starry, space-like markings or some form of sparkly iridescence to their scales, feathers or fur, though this is not found in all individuals. Stripes and spots are most common in marking shapes, though other shapes and gradients may be found.
- Primarily wind/air element, though water and lightning are also common. Storm magic similarly common, as is non-elemental emotional manipulation and similar abilities. Nightwinds all possess the unique trait of their magic being directly 'stained' by their aura color, resulting in oddly-colored elements such as purple wind, red lightning, silver water, etc. This trait is so strong it shows in Nightwind children that show no other clan traits, regardless if they are kept by the clan or not.
Regis/Regina: the male and female leaders of the clan. often a mated pair, but may be co-rulers without romantic attachment, so long as an heir with blood-ties to one of the clan founders has been named. called the 'regents' when referred to together.
Scion: the heir apparent, to become regis or regina. must have blood-ties to one of the clan's several founders.
Seneschal: oversees important everyday tasks for the running of the clan; works closely with the regis and regina, and heads all matters of the city and its running. also serves as spymaster for the regents, playing an assortment of roles to hear from various spies both in and out of the clan.
Legati: singular legatus. generally serves the same role as ambassadors, but also provide 'encouragement' for those affiliated with the Nightwinds to pay their dues.
In addition to these ranks, the Clan has those too young to be classed as any particular group, and those members who have no real place.
Clan Members
Known for a curious habit of dying some of his feathers in brilliant red hues in the wake of any victory he may achieve, Xyndrillus finds great pride in any of his successes, no matter how vile they may be. The brighter the dye, the greater the victory in his eyes, as he views the color as something of a status symbol regardless of how others view it. He possesses a cruel sense of humor and a great deal of vanity that is oftentimes to the detriment of those around him. Yet to outgrow the cocksure arrogance that plagued his youth, he considers most other creatures - and dragons not belonging to the clan - to be below him and chooses to treat them as such.
Though not officially part of the Nightwind clan, is the seventh brother to the six founding siblings, and thus shares many of their appearance traits. He is the eldest, the first-hatched, and holds control over several elements instead of just one - though none of these share his kin's reiatsu-staining, and all of them are relatively low in elemental intensity, save for shadow and flame which he has near total mastery over. Unusually, he has trouble with wind, despite his relation to the clan.
For the most part, Zaon wants nothing to do with his family or their descendants. He feels regret over not reconciling with his siblings, their children or grandchildren, but feels his ire was justified in the dishonorable way they left the Order. Now, his ire has only grown, and he thinks his clan's criminal dealings is a blight upon the world.
