Zircon
He is a very intuitive dragon and immediately when he hatched and felt the heat on his scales, smelled the sea salt in the air, he knew something was very wrong. His crystalline color had not yet developed and as a Wyrmling, he was the color of Pearl. Looking around the deck, he saw the hodgepodge of eggs that were gathered and nestled with other cargo throughout the Lower Deck. He knew that he was in danger and needed to hide while the deck was clear of crew, and to find a way off the ship before he was found. He hid beneath a shipment of pavilion tents for an amount of time unbeknownst to him, and he would peek out his head and forage whatever food was left unattended by the crew members.
He finally found his opportunity to escape on the night that the ship docked and the crew began to unload the goods on the ship. Poking his head out, Zircon saw that there was a large loading door that led to the Lower Dock that was wide open, and being used by crew members to expedite their work. He was located at a Smuggler's Cove of some sort - a small marina or ships and a cave with Black Market merchants and goods -- a couple of dragon eggs already out and being inspected. Now he understood the operation a little more, and really knew he needed to run. Just as the panic set in, four crew members came back on board and approached the pile of tents he was hiding under.
As they lifted them all up, Zircon cringed as he felt the last light of the setting sun falling on his scales; all scrunching together as his muscles tightened under. He kept his eyes shut tight, but heard one of the men gasp and the tents drop to the floor. This was it he thought, I'll have to fight my way out of this. The question is, will I make it? His mind began racing, trying to count the sea of faces he had seen during his time on board, trying to caculate how outnumbered he was. It felt like a century passed before he heard one of them exclaim, "When the hell did we pick up this much Pearlsteel Ingot?!" And another voice responded, smacking his hand down on Zircon's wing as he exclaimed, "This is at least an extra two thousand gold pieces, boys!" Followed by the thud of footsteps across the deck and down the slipway. He announced to the officers of the ship and the merchants that they found an unexpected block of Pearlsteel Ingots on board. They let out a few whoops and shouts of celebration, drank, and sang sea shanties into the night.
Zircon saw several opportunities to slip out while everyone was distracted, but he waited until they all passed out in the cove. Just as the moons rose, before he ran down the slipway himself, and along the coastlines and beaches of the Gulf of Iridensa. He stayed close to the cliffsides and rocks, which were littered with crystal ores and nodes, hoping that he would blend in to them if necessary and appear as some kind of similar crystal formation. The whole night, the two moons seemed to look down on him like two eyes, high up in the sky, witnessing his every move. As the sun was coming up, he saw a large Merchant (or pirate) ship in the distance, coming towards the Gulf. He looked up the face of the cliffside and saw what looked to be the mouth of a cave about 30 feet off the ground. He knew this was a now or never moment, and climbed up the cliffside and into the cave. Inside the crystals were more dense than ever, and deep in his own intuition, he was able to identify each one. For the first time in his life, Zircon felt at home, and safe in this cave of crystals. As he explored it he found that this was actually a Tidal Cave of sorts: the tunnel network that made up the caves led down into the water and opened out into other parts of the cave. Although he couldn't swim, Zircon decided to make his home here. And maybe, he would learn how to swim (Zircon never actually learned how to swim but managed to explore the entirety of the Caves by holding his breath and walking through the portions that went underwater).
Crystal Dragons are always skeptical, but Zircon especially because of his experiences. Still, he is true his nature as a Crystal Dragon, and is also very social and hospitable (sometimes even to his own detriment). He has taken up residence in the tidal cave now known as "The Crystal Caves" because he is wary of making the journey back North. He has had smugglers, pirates, mercenaries, and all other imaginable types come into the cave looking for treasure, to mine some of the crystals to sell, to investigate rumors of a dragon, and has smaller creatures that act as his defense. Because of this he has burrowed many false tunnels and pathways into the Earth where he can hide and fight enemies in close quarters if absolutely needed. Zircon was not much of a fighter, but has also never seen the strength of his own breath, claws, or bite.
When he first made a lair of this cave, locals starting noticing the effects that his presence had on the local area: the skies above the clair remained clear and free of rain unless caused by magical means, light, non-threatening winds, and optimum visibility. Aeromancers began to flock to the area to practice their skills without any interruption from the conditions. The crystal clusters in the area began to multiple and grow rapidly and profusely. Unknown to the locals, Zircon developed a clairvoyant connection to some of these crystals and was able to scry the world around him, or within about 5 miles or so, without ever having to leave his lair. As the crystal clusters grew, the locals began to notice that they were getting better nights sleep, more sound and peaceful as time went on. And then the animal and natural food populations along the coastline exploded: hunters and farmers began to set up small hamlet towns and camps where they would gather large amounts of goods to trade off. Many of the hunters of Solari Isle know that this is one of the best spots to catch prime wildlife, and make a fat paycheck.
Because of the frequent and unwanted visitors, Zircon began recruiting Elemental servants from the areas of the cave where the Aether was thin and the magic had seeped into the crystals, causing anomalies in the creatures that came forth from the ores. Salt mephits, Crysmals, a Gem Stalker, Gray Oozes, Swarms of Gold Scarabs throughout his hoard, and he even went so far as to bloodlet and create Dragonblood Oozes made from his own blood to act as protectors over the cave. Most notably the caves are littered with Carniverous Crystals that are always working to protect Zircon. They attach to curious mercenaries, adventurers, or whoever else dares to venture too far into the caves and step too close to one of the clusters.
True to the Crystal Dragon's behavior, he has become focused in the meantime awaiting his return, on tidying up and perfecting the beauty of his lair. The areas where he primarily spends his time, he has created sculptures of the crystal formations and growths throughout the cave to look like furniture and pieces of treasure.
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