Notebook: Short Ideas

There may be potential story spoilers below!

Common Solarpunk Plant

Large half-tree / thicc vine thing that uses tall structures (trees, buildings, etc) to grow on to get its height. Cannot stand on its own. Pretty common to have on buildings in this solarpunk world because idfk — 05/01/2025

Dragon card game

Dragon card game something themed around the ancients or whatever
Somewhere in the rules where the oldest player draws cards first (in reference to the ancients themselves, seen as the wisest), then subsequent rounds it just goes to the next person — 04/10/2025

Cannibal Seven

Cannibal Seven - A joke my friend (Sean) said from a Destiny 2 player's name (789).
Call sign for someone? idk (Or a messed up af organization / cult / something in history)
Twitch Clip — 04/07/2025

Zilant

Zilants are like reverse wyverns; they've got wings behind front legs, while wyverns have wings in front of hind legs, and use them as forearms.
Still would probably be classified as a type of wyvern; maybe a subfamily? — 04/05/2025

Wing Walker Wyverns

Inspiration taken from these

Drake lineages from a Reddit post / Cierian Dragon Phylogeny Tree

A Pterosaur (Quetzalcoatlus northropi) from National Geographic

I guess it could be a name for any wyvern, really; I meant this as a generic name for a specific type.
There might be several kinds, so this would be a generic term, or possibly a subfamily.
Wyverns that walk some parts of their wing arms more predominantly than other wyverns, hence why there is a specific name for them, even though all wyverns pretty much walk with their wings. Still can fly, though!
They "stand" taller than other wyverns since they walk higher up on their wing arm than others.
— 04/03/2025
One species cleans its teeth by biting / rubbing them on trees. A sign to tell that they've been in the area is markings somewhat high on the trees (higher than humans can reach, since these wyverns are large and stand taller than others)
Sometimes loose teeth will get stuck in the tree bark.
The bark has known antibacterial or something properties, which is why they do this. — 04/06/2025

Terrible prisoner food

Terrible prisoner food of a bao but with like the undesirable stuff from food prep (but tried to made to look normal on the outside). Broccoli stem parts, apple cores, cucumber ends, gristle, fish bones, end piece of a loaf of bread, etc.
This is most certainly a war crime. — 03/22/2025

Mocha Mudslide ice cream

Idk food idea

by Nulcheck

— 03/17/2025

No domesticated version of the Shadescale

No domesticated or "pet" version of the Shadescale dragon. This is the "generic" dragon species of the world, and there are plenty of them. Some cultures may even consider creating a domesticated version as disrespect to the most well known Ancient Dragon, Airigold, as he is a Shadescale.
Difference between Companion and a Pet is that having a Companion dragonkin means they are still technically a wild animal that you've made friends with. A pet is domesticated, which takes many generations to create, and is fundamentally different than their wild counterparts (Think of domesticated dogs vs wolfs, coyotes, and other canines). A pet will always be by your side, because they don't really do well on their own. A Companion won't always be there, as they have their own lives to live; they're like a best friend you hang out or work with. — 03/17/2025

Jet Stream

A jet stream that's weirdly closer to the ground in one area, can be used as a highway for dragons. Kinda like the ocean current stream in finding nemo. There's probably a town where this lower jet stream is at.
Birds also use it, and probably some would hitch a ride on the dragons soaring through, lol — 03/08/2025

Debate about the "Shadescale" naming

Since a white species variant of the Shadescale dragon is known, there probably would be some debate as to whether or not to change the name from "Shadescale" to something else.
The common onyx or black version was previously the only known species of this dragon, which is why it was called Shadescale. Now, a white species has been found (not albinism), and I'm sure people would question why we still call it a shadescale, since it's not.. shady dark colored, y'know? — ~03/01/2025

Dragonbane Order's secret underground base (From the story)

Abandoned town because it was one of the ones the Wyrm of Chaos attacked during the 20-year Scourge. Since he's an Earthwyrm, he dug under it and shit, so some of it has collapsed. After the war, the Order formed and decided to use this town as their base of operations, over time stabilizing parts to make an underground base.
Reflect this in the story — instead of the group going through some stupid storm drain thing where a tunnel was dug that leads into the base from one of the vertical shafts, instead use these wyrm tunnels. It also make better sense that the underground base is a labyrinth because of the wyrm tunnels instead of it being constructed that way. — 02/09/2025

Dragonguard Armor / Uniform

Aerial armor: lightweight, maneuverable, stab proof (essentially kevlar). Tasset(?) can be used as an emergency wing suit, quickly attached to wrist with strong magnets or something idk. Can also be disconnected entirely and used as a cloth for stuff like as a tourniquet, sling, or whatever.

Aerial "Heavy" armor: has ballistic plates for the torso (probably for those who dismount regularly)

Dragonknight (?) (Army / Navy infantry - ground units that use Drakes) armor: heavier than the Aerial armor. Looks slightly different, too.

Sentinel armor: Looks different all together.

Aerial variant for winged units.

Slightly heavier variant for ground units / guards

Dragon armors: probably similar variants like human armor has?
General consensus: protect head and torso — 02/06/2025

Building Architecture

Open concept design on main floor to accommodate dragons being inside (if not too big), upstairs are the smaller rooms for the humans (bedrooms / offices / bathrooms / etc.), dragons probably wouldn't be able to fit up there.
Landing on the roof is prohibited, roofs aren't designed for that kind of weight in one place. Also, not really practical; you gonna enter your house in a random second story window or something? why. You're also like 20 or so feet from the ground, so just land on the ground at that point. Maybe some smaller dragonkin will like to sit on the roof, maybe they like to perch like a bird, but the bigger ones probably wouldn't.
Most yards don't really have fences, or if they do, something else like trees or tall bushes. Because normal fences would likely get destroyed from dragons playing in the yard. Just watch fairly large animals fight near any home, the fence usually get destroyed.
Courtyards / open fields in cities where dragons can be left to hang out while humans go shopping or whatever because they can't bring them inside a store since they're too big. Almost like a dog park but for dragons! Or like a dragon parking lot LOL. Think about what they had to do with horses back in the day, although some dragonkin are probably bigger. — 01/28/2025

Amber Dragons

Amber dragons or something, went extinct 100 years ago.
They were the ones who created the Amberstone (an important item in the story for some reason I haven't created yet). Perhaps they encased some item in amber to prevent its use (during the Twenty Year Scourge / Draconian War)? The Wyrm of Chaos got pissed and as revenge, had them killed, making this species extinct.
The implications of killing off this species can be:

The trees they eat/use the sap from now thrive, to an almost invasive status, as the amber dragons are no longer around to keep it in check.

The trees they eat/use the sap from are now dying off, as it was almost a symbiotic relationship between these two species. Perhaps the trees make too much sap now or something, and this breaks through the bark/hardwood injuring the tree. (Although sap is actually what fixes tree injuries, funny enough... idk)

Or, now with too much sap, the trees break apart during winter as the amber freezes and the water in it expands. (Water expands when it freezes into ice) — 01/25/2025

Titanic Crayons & "Bright Dust"

Content Warning:

Violence Gore Drugs / Alcohol Animal Abuse Self-harm Profanity

An arts and crafts store where "Bright dust" shoved into crayons as a front for a drug dealer. Store named Titanic Crayons.
Destiny 2 titan crayon eater meme. (Idea from my friend Sean) — 01/24/2025

The Dip Store

A small grocery store that only sells dips.
"There's only dip..." a Guardian says confusingly.
References to I'M AT DIP meme
— 01/21/2025

Weird Birdhouse & Sappecker Bird

Some kind of weird bird house thing where when pounded into a tree will slowly drip the sap into the birdhouse, attracting a certain type of bird that likes that. Kind of helps the trees / forest from being pecked too much by all of the Sappeckers or whatever they'll be called.
Idk, randomly thought of this when i saw my neighbor's birdhouse thing.

by Nulcheck

— 01/19/2025

Recipient doesn't understand unfinished letter until later in the story

Some letter being written is interrupted, the writer is killed or something. Letter is unfinished, but most of what they wanted is written down. After the battle or whatever (or during maybe?) someone reads the blood-stained letter and realizes it needs to be urgently delivered, so they wax seal it and head off.
Later in the story they eventually get it to the recipient, but they don't quite understand what's in the letter. Maybe some code or hidden message is in it, but it's unfinished. Further into the story, the character has a "oh that's what that thing was in the letter" kind of moment. It probably helps then with whatever conflict is happening at the time. (Maybe it was a coded phrase or something warning about a group coming to attack? (idk first thing that came to mind))

Kind of reminds me of the Letter for the King movie a little, although that focuses more on the journey of trying to get the letter to the king.
I had this idea while watching American Primeval on Netflix when a captain of the US Army was writing in a book. And then actually, a bit later, it shows him again writing, but this time was interrupted by an attack on his camp.
So, part of this random idea here that popped into my head happened anyway, later in the episode.

— 01/15/2025

No survivors on the field after a battle

Content Warning:

Violence Gore Drugs / Alcohol Animal Abuse Self-harm Profanity

Aftermath of a battle: To make sure anyone on the ground is actually dead, usually they shoot them. But this wastes ammo, so instead a "better idea" is to just cut the throat or stab the chest with a sword or something.
Probably a historical battle before the events of Book 1? Maybe during the 20-year Scourge, the Wyrm of Chaos and his allies do this? (Obviously they can't hold a gun, so... they'd use claws, horns, quills, any sharp extremities on their bodies) — 01/14/2025

Scalebreaker decorates his home with dragonkin skulls

Scalebreaker character part of the Dragonbane Order who is a hunter decorates his house with the skulls of dragonkin he has hunted; kind of like how hunters will mount heads of deer, bears, and such.
Probably has a large scar on his face. — 01/14/2025

A twist on the cliche echoey room and unsuspecting person doesn't know where the voice is coming from

*In an echoey building or something, a Guardian stands in some upper part, behind some pillars or something.
Villain walks in
Guardian:
So, you actually showed up.
Villain turns to the direction of where the guardian is.
Guardian:
Ah, damn. I was hoping this place would be echoey enough that you wouldn't be able to tell where my voice was coming from.
Well, anyway...
Guardian jumps down or something
Other character (Ancient?):
Says something, but their voice echoes around to where you can't tell where it's coming from.
Guardian:
How the hell—? Why did it work for you and not me?
Other character (Ancient?):
Chuckles
Guardian:
Well no point in being mysterious anymore; he knows where I am.

Idk, thought it would be a funny alteration to the cliche of someone walking into a big echoey place and someone hides behind something and says stuff. The person standing in the middle of the room, most likely at ground level, doesn't know the direction it's coming from. Is there a name for this cliche?

— 01/07/2025

Blacksmiths in town intentially sabotage their work

Blacksmith sabotages their own work so some prisoner can break out of shackles. Happens a few times and some alderman or whoever is like: "your shackles are breaking every time. I cant tell if your helping this criminal, or are just this incompetent."
Smith argues that he can go to another one if he wants to. He does, and the same thing happens. All the smiths in town are secretly for the prisoner. Maybe he's wrongly imprisoned and they're helping him to escape before being executed or something.

Thought it would be nice for some side character or inconspicuous job you wouldn't think about actually being part of the story, instead of "blacksmith give me weapon"

— 12/27/2024

Draco killed Dragonbane Order leader

Draco Null killed the original leader of the Dragonbane Order, 50 years or so(?) after the Draconian War. After this point, the Order knew they had to go underground and be more secretive. — 11/21/2024

Fun thing people did at Quarry Entrance

Quarry storage places started doing a tradition of lining up some pieces by the entrance. Kinda like a different version of the cairns (stacked stones) people do on hiking trails. (Which I guess you shouldn't randomly be doing; it's done by rangers for marking not easily followable trails)

by Nulcheck

— 11/17/2024

Failing to execute Difficult Maneuvers

Azier and Vailstrym try to use a maneuver (quick barrelroll / spin or something?) but it always ends up with Azier not being able to hold on and falling off. She becomes frustrated in not being able to do this maneuver.
However, later in the story, she has the clever idea to this maneuver, where the falling off part actually comes in handy.

Maybe they're being chased or something and then they do this maneuver when Vailstrym turns so that Azier is flung in the opposite direction, allowing her to get behind an enemy that is still chasing Vailstrym. or something like that idk. Sea stacks / see "City with narrow sidewalks", this is kinda mentioned in there.

Edit: First part is in the manuscripts — 10/31/2024

Pirate Treasure - Goldleaf / Goldenwood Tree

> pirate treasure buried in a forest
One pirate says it would be one hell of a job to get it out if a tree grew around the chest. Another remarks; that way no one would find it; they bury it under a tree anyway.
Many years later the tree grew into the chest. The tree absorbed the raw gold over time making the hardwood golden. A legend is born from this and people have been searching for the goldenwood tree but it's hard to find as it looks like any other tree.

I don't think the leaves would be different, but I'll have to look into how trees make their leaves and whether or not gold would be deposit into them. If so, then goldleaf would be the name or something idk

— 10/31/2024

Mistaken Identity Plot Device

Someone who looks like Vexx has been tarnishing his name through his villainous actions. The real Vexx isn't actually a villain and is currently being held captive or something.

Had this idea at 1am after reading about some well known plot devices, but with a unique twist on them. One was about the Mistaken Identity plot device, but the character did it intentionally or whatever.
An example was given from Wang Xingyue's The Double, wherein the protagonist takes on a dead friend’s identity in order to avenge her family.

— 10/20/2024

City with narrow sidewalks

*Cities have large sidewalks to accommodate people walking with their dragons.
One city our characters visit doesn't, and their dragon gets upset they can't see the city and has to stay behind at the courtyard area or whatever.
"I know you want to explore the city, but their sidewalks are too narrow for all of us."
*dragon pouts or something, then spreads its wings
"You really want to fly around those tall buildings? It's like the sea stacks back at home, and you know how well that went.."
*dragon whines or something

idk some random thing that came to be at 2am

— 09/10/2024

Vexx's Backstory?

Vexx was actually the human villain during the Draconian War, but afterward, he went into hiding and changed his name. After 100 years, he's causing trouble again.
Someone makes a remark at some point on how hard it is to kill Vexx; he just won’t die no matter how many battles and fights he gets in. He makes a joke; “If you find away, tell me. I’ve been trying for a long time.” He's been trying to get the amberstone again, not for evil purposes or whatever like what everyone thinks, but he believes it's the key that will finally let him die and move on. He's either some kind of spirit thing (which ties into a summer camp wave 3 prompt), or is cursed or whatever idk.
This would work for several prompts: making Vexx an "evil spirit" or whatever, the Amberstone as a relic, possibly can create a myth/legend that people believe to be true, maybe some document that the Dragonbane Order holds dear but others question its origins.. I could get a few prompts out of this.

idk if I really want to go this route with stuff. It feels like its too "magic-y" or something, and I don't really want to go that route.
More on Substack post

— 07/14/2024

Crystal Tea

Water from the Glistening Meadows hot springs is used in making some kind of tea.
Have to let the tea steep for long enough to prevent the drink from crystallizing as you drink it. Or something idk. Allows safe consumption of the water at a drinkable temperature. — 06/26/2024

Crystalline Dragonkin

Crystalline Dragonkin (Dragon? Drake? Wyvern?) eggs have crystals on it, not initially though (for obvious reasons). This dragonkin lays its eggs in the Glistening Meadows where the minerals in the air (or maybe in the hot spings? idk) deposits into the egg. Because of the warm environment, the egg does not necessarily need to be tended to, and the crystals on the egg shell protect the egg from predators.
Subsequently, the dragonkin will constantly dip whatever crystal part growing on them (nose / horns / head / tail) into hot springs or something to keep depositing minerals to repair the crystal.
Edit: This is known as the Shimmerhorn drake. — 06/26/2024

Sabretail has a sibling?

Sabretail has a brother / sibling? Maybe it's Vailstrym? I was thinking Vailstrym, Sabretail, and Airigold were all the same species.
Edit: Can't be Vailstrym because secret reasons... — 05/30/2024

Hallard and Vexx

Hallard Null and Vexx are brothers maybe?

Idk, seems a bit of a cliche thing or sets stuff up for cliche stuff. Founder of the Dragonguard Alliance has a brother who's a villain or turned at some point or something? Eh idk, I kinda felt like Vexx doesn't have family members in such important positions. Despite all this, it does provide some story opportunities though.

Edit: Vexx and Valen Blackthorn are actually brothers, as mentioned in the manuscripts. — 05/16/2024

Truth about Vexx?

Maybe Vexx is not really the "bad guy" per say, because he's being forced or threatened to do said things. Or maybe he's joined forces with a cult, but then realizes they're a bit too unhinged for him or whatever, but what choice does he have at that point? This is not revealed until much later in the story. — 05/11/2024

Vexx escapes from Dragonguard prison

Vexx is eventually captured, even though he's labeled as "enemy of mankind". Hostis humani generis
Dragonguard captures him and he argues or something, leading one of them to say; "hey, we're doing you a favor here. You're an enemy of mankind, so anyone is allowed to just kill you. We're just capturing you, you still get to be alive."
He responds, "[so you're just abducting me now?] And live out my life rotting in a cell? I'd rather die."
One responds, "that can be arranged. We can let Rayhaven's Board of Directors publicly announce your capture and the council will probably sentence you to death anyway. Or we can persuade the Board to keep you in a cell instead."
Everyone else wanted him dead, but Rayhaven wont hand him over, saying he's in their possession, as it was Rayhaven's Dragonguard that captured him and brought him there, and/or that he was within their jurisdiction or whatever, so they have control over whether or not to hand him over.
Ultimately he's put in jail, and stays there for a long time, but eventually finds a way to escape. When he escapes, the public say that the Dragonguard should have just killed him at the time instead. — 05/03/2024

Weird silky plant

Ancestor Silk plant

by Nulcheck

Ancestor Silk plant in ESO

Some plant that breaks easily or just secretes some weird liquid on it's stems that when agiated, or comes into contact with air or something, creates silk. People who walk through the forest with these will just be covered in silk afterwards.
Thought of this idea when I saw "Ancestor Silk" plant in ESO.
— 05/03/2024

Dragon scale shield

A shield that is one large dragon scale (possibly from an ancient?)
Edit: Dragonscale Shield — 05/02/2024

Dragonguard fails to capture Vexx

Vexx is from Ardenfell by the way, so the dragonguard of Ardenfell / whatever country sets out to capture the villain. Kind of like how NATO is contracted by the UN to capture or kill some terrorist leader.
Vexx escapes the initial capturing attempt, and our protagonists come back to Rayhaven empty handed. Vexx is now a stateless person (Either he renounced it, or it was Denaturalization from the state) (Maybe he was stateless before this point, maybe not idk) (Maybe a nation or whoever declares him as "Hostis humani generis", enemy of mankind. Don't know if we still use this term today, it was used for pirates long ago)
The news of the failure reaches the public at some point or whatever. Some citizen makes a comment and Azier, or someone from the dragonguard goes off on them. Someone else, maybe a higher ranking person, steps in to calm Azier or whoever down, saying to not lash out like that because it damages the overall image of the dragonguard or something.

Was randomly thinking about this one night and relating it to how NATO works and what not, trying to think of some similar way the dragonguard would work. Then thought of the news press thing of telling the public about the failure and the citizen not really knowing how it went down or anything about the event, but still making a rude remark towards the dragonguard. Ungrateful bastard..

Edit: In the manuscripts. — 04/16/2024

Epic Fight Scene

While some battle is happening (Maybe during the Battle of Rayhaven?), some epic scene plays out: A Dragon Defender is flying towards enemy, they leap from theirs and onto the enemy's dragon, stabbing the guy when he lands. The enemy dragon sees this and immediately rolls / stalls so they start falling. However, the dragon was too late on this as the enemy already got stabbed. They are now in a free fall, and the defender deploys his wing suit or whatever and glides away, meeting up with his dragon. The enemy dragon notcied this, get annoyed and goes after the defender. Since the defender had to glide downwards after free falling to get back onto their dragon, they are lower than the enemy dragon, so the enemy divebombs them to try and knock them out of the sky or something. However, the enemy dragon is interruped as another Dragon Defender shoots at him from a distance.
then something else happens idk yet.

Randomly thought of this while waiting for a WorldAnvil livestream to start, and they had some epic music playing.

— 04/05/2024

Sabretail's Claustrophobic? - A fun little random scene

Sabretail enters kitchen (like a line cook styled one), Zella is talking with someone, she then turns around to see Sabretail just sitting there sticking his tounge out a bit. She yells at him to get out and he starts to turn around in the tight space. Zella stops him and says "You are not turning around in here, just back up."
Sabretail doesn't really understand and still tries to trun around, but Zella stops him and tries to guide him out. He starts to back up while Zella is holding his head, as hes backing into things. "To the right, bend your tail- no the other way, my right, your left. Go that way" Zella says to Sabretail as he backs up into the wall, clearly uncomfortable and confused with this whole ordeal.
Sabretail gets his tail and back half through the doorway, but his wings get caught on the frame. Sabretail starts to get a little panicky as Zella tries to push his wings in more. She says to him, "Well if you're claustrophobic, then you shouldn't have come in here then!"
He finally pulls out through the narrow doorway, and Zella sternly tells him to say. He has a sad guilty type look, like when a dog knows its done something it shouldn't have. He lets out a little whine, circles around in a spot and lies down as Zella goes back inside to finish talking with whoever.

I don't know, I was taking a nap in the middle of the day one time and this randomly played out in my head. Thought it was funny.

— 04/04/2024

Unlikely hero

Random citizen (a grocery stocker or something) saves a Defender or a dragon or something, and the person says they would make a good Defender. He isn't sure about that though. Person says anyone can be anything if you put your mind to it. Citizen joins and becomes the unsuspecting hero.
> Reference to Nulcheck being able to make this great worldbuilding thing, while currently being a stocker.
— 03/30/2024

Insurrection

Jan 6th Insurrection happens somewhere in this realm, maybe at Rayhaven?
— 03/30/2024

Sabretail's Fin Blades

Sabretail's fin blades are actually black - maybe a black steel was used, or it's Damascus steel or something? Thought the color scheme would look neat
— 03/30/2024

Dragon Nip

Content Warning:

Violence Gore Drugs / Alcohol Animal Abuse Self-harm Profanity

Dragon Nip or something like catnip for dragons. Dragon Defenders use some to train their dragons to be able to perform tasks while under the influence essentially, so that enemies can't use it against them. Kinda like the training to do with with K9 police dogs.
Edit:
Drake's Nectar
Scalegrass — 03/30/2024

Hunter observes dragonkin helping each other

Hunter can't figure out why they aren't trapping anything. Decides to hide near one to see what's going on. Drake gets stuck in trap. Dragon comes along because it hears the commotion. They look at each other, then the dragon opens the trap and frees the drake. They do a little fist bump and move on.
Hunter just sits there stunned, not even mad, just impressed. And has no idea how to make a dragon proof trap.

Thought of this while hearing a raccoon getting trapped in my backyard, but also kinda sounded like a squirrel? idk. The little scenario that first played out in my head was the raccoon looks at the trapped squirrel, just kind of helpless, and whether or not the racoon even really comprehends what's going on, is where this whole scene started from.

— 03/29/2024

Shorter Ideas

Just some very short ideas that don't have enough to be on the main page. More of just references I want to use and stuff.

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Boeing whistleblower assassinations reference

Wake and Bake - THC iced coffee

Global Liberation Alliance - GLA from Command & Conquer

Drunk discount sale - Jones' big ass truck rental

Old gym turned into a donut shop (Actually happened in my town lol)

Blacksmiths have the tools and are able to remove shackles and stuff. Just not something you'd think about really.

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JD Vance couch meme
Dragonguard raids Vexx's place or something and someone mentions "hey that's a nice couch, i'm taking that"
(Idk, I thought the meme was funny. Just a small subtle reference)

---

Quotes
"You think your weapons hurt me? They just piss me off more."
- Ed while playing destiny 2
"Hunting dragons like they're some kind of sky-whale"
- Dirge from ESO
"You haven't seen the last of me!"
"You're right, the last I'll see of you will be lowering your casket/body into the ground"
- Me thinking this while on the toilet one day
"I'm a monster"
"You got bit?" (Like this is some kind of zombie thing? idk)
"Hell no! Do you know any other old [hag] that makes three entrée salads as an appetizer?"
*points to three Ceaser salads on the table
- I was taking a nap, half asleep, and the most random thing pops into my head
(12/01/2024)