Darklings are named for their colour, the stars, mysterious/Ominous words, and cave related words.
While most darklings do not have surnames, those of noble blood possess house names that serve a similar purpose, and denote their family’s name. Noble house names follow the same rules as darkling first names, and are written as (first name) of (house name). Some examples of noble darkling names are:
- Ink
- Forbidden
- Bellatrix
- Karst
While most darklings do not have surnames, those of noble blood possess house names that serve a similar purpose, and denote their family’s name. Noble house names follow the same rules as darkling first names, and are written as (first name) of (house name). Some examples of noble darkling names are:
- King Orio of Stygian
- Necrophage of Karst
- Ink of Bellatrix
When a Darkling dies, the darklings in that the deceased’s family will bring the dead Darkling up the surface, wrapping them in leaves from the Old Growth Forest and proceed to bury them beneath the ground on the edges of the forest or wherever there’s room.
Within the next week or so, they will let the body rest, and get acclimated to its new home. It is crucial that a member of the family must always sit with the body and the grave.
After a week or so, the family will bring up a sapling from the caverns and plant it over the body, signifying that it has joined the Old Growth and that now it will go on to the next life among the daywalkers.
Every year, Darklings have a holiday where the moon is the largest where they will bring up baked goods and crystals and sweet smelling candles and yummy foods to the trees and a loud and wonderful nation-wide party.
Darklings will celebrate their ancestor’s trees, as well as the rest of the forest. This holiday spans three days, and lasts until the full moon waxes.
Within the next week or so, they will let the body rest, and get acclimated to its new home. It is crucial that a member of the family must always sit with the body and the grave.
After a week or so, the family will bring up a sapling from the caverns and plant it over the body, signifying that it has joined the Old Growth and that now it will go on to the next life among the daywalkers.
Every year, Darklings have a holiday where the moon is the largest where they will bring up baked goods and crystals and sweet smelling candles and yummy foods to the trees and a loud and wonderful nation-wide party.
Darklings will celebrate their ancestor’s trees, as well as the rest of the forest. This holiday spans three days, and lasts until the full moon waxes.
Darklings have a large variety of artistic professions.
Sculpting is very popular among Darklings. Seeing as Darklings are surrounded by an abundance of stone and rock, sculpting is seen as a profitable line of work.
Arranging glow worms and fireflies is another. While Darklings are acclimated to the dark, that does not mean one must live without light. Darklings are very creative and like to use sculpting and glow worms together to create pieces of art. Dragons that have seen these pieces of art that have been integrated into society, swear that Darklings have one of the prettiest kingdoms. This, coupled with terraforming, has taken some dragons’ breaths away.
Terraforming is also a known and very popular art form. As there are many smaller caves in the large system they live in, some Darklings will find smaller caves and terraforms they will add fauna and grasses and mushrooms and whatnot. Some dragons will even terraform small parts of larger caverns in main clouds, making downtown and pretty park areas. In Coronia, there are some places so deep in terraforming that one could get lost down there.
Music and theatre arealso a very large part of Darkling society. Darklings have put on extravagant plays and have many holidays where they play various instruments to their deities and monarchs. During their burial holiday, Darklings have been known to keep the entire continent of Theavia up with their music!
Sculpting is very popular among Darklings. Seeing as Darklings are surrounded by an abundance of stone and rock, sculpting is seen as a profitable line of work.
Arranging glow worms and fireflies is another. While Darklings are acclimated to the dark, that does not mean one must live without light. Darklings are very creative and like to use sculpting and glow worms together to create pieces of art. Dragons that have seen these pieces of art that have been integrated into society, swear that Darklings have one of the prettiest kingdoms. This, coupled with terraforming, has taken some dragons’ breaths away.
Terraforming is also a known and very popular art form. As there are many smaller caves in the large system they live in, some Darklings will find smaller caves and terraforms they will add fauna and grasses and mushrooms and whatnot. Some dragons will even terraform small parts of larger caverns in main clouds, making downtown and pretty park areas. In Coronia, there are some places so deep in terraforming that one could get lost down there.
Music and theatre arealso a very large part of Darkling society. Darklings have put on extravagant plays and have many holidays where they play various instruments to their deities and monarchs. During their burial holiday, Darklings have been known to keep the entire continent of Theavia up with their music!
While it depends on where a Darkling lives (whether its a large cluster or a small cloud), darklings usually live in similar quarters.
In a large Cluster (like Sirius), Darklings made little houses within the walls of the cavern. While most are small (like apartments), some can be much larger. Around the edge where the wall meets the cavern floor, one can see where the huts connect and slope into the walls. Some Clusters will have smaller colonies and camps within the Cluster. Some can be built in the walls or found on the floor, others can be built within the large stalagmites and stalactites protruding from the ceilings and floors.
In smaller stalactites and stalagmites, wealthier Darklings are able to have entire burrowed out homes within the rocks.
In smaller clouders, a Darkling can have a small cave system to themselves. Equipped with rooms and levels, even less wealthy Darklings can have large and expensive looking homes. Darklings that work within the Clusters and Cities often have large homes in clouds.
In a large Cluster (like Sirius), Darklings made little houses within the walls of the cavern. While most are small (like apartments), some can be much larger. Around the edge where the wall meets the cavern floor, one can see where the huts connect and slope into the walls. Some Clusters will have smaller colonies and camps within the Cluster. Some can be built in the walls or found on the floor, others can be built within the large stalagmites and stalactites protruding from the ceilings and floors.
In smaller stalactites and stalagmites, wealthier Darklings are able to have entire burrowed out homes within the rocks.
In smaller clouders, a Darkling can have a small cave system to themselves. Equipped with rooms and levels, even less wealthy Darklings can have large and expensive looking homes. Darklings that work within the Clusters and Cities often have large homes in clouds.
Darklings have proven to be one of the most creative species when it comes to food.
Not only do darklings hunt, forage and scavenge, they have even been known to farm above ground.
There are many occupations that are associated with food in the darkling world: Hunters are darklings that go out at night and hunt through the Old Growth Forest and beyond. They, like human fisherman, go out for long periods of time and come back with heaps of carcasses. However, some darklings prefer to bring livestock down to the caverns and use them for their goods (wool, milk, eggs, etc).
There are also dragons who have farms just outside the forest and come out and tend to them at night and let them grow in the day. These farmers will bring their supply down to the caves when they are done growing.
There are also darklings who like to fish, seeing as darklings do have some underwater caves, they have been known to ‘kidnap’ fish and make estuaries and farms underground.
Finally, there are darklings who go out and scavenge for food, whether it’s at night above ground or in the caves where bugs and various types of fungi grow.
Not only do darklings hunt, forage and scavenge, they have even been known to farm above ground.
There are many occupations that are associated with food in the darkling world: Hunters are darklings that go out at night and hunt through the Old Growth Forest and beyond. They, like human fisherman, go out for long periods of time and come back with heaps of carcasses. However, some darklings prefer to bring livestock down to the caverns and use them for their goods (wool, milk, eggs, etc).
There are also dragons who have farms just outside the forest and come out and tend to them at night and let them grow in the day. These farmers will bring their supply down to the caves when they are done growing.
There are also darklings who like to fish, seeing as darklings do have some underwater caves, they have been known to ‘kidnap’ fish and make estuaries and farms underground.
Finally, there are darklings who go out and scavenge for food, whether it’s at night above ground or in the caves where bugs and various types of fungi grow.
Darklings usually get into relationships and mate as soon as they mature.
Relationships are fluid in Darkling society. It is common for many to mate for life, while it is also common to have many mates. Some even have ‘open relationships’.
When a pup is born, it is usually females who gain the illegitimate pups, unless the mother does not want the pup (she can give it up for adoption or the father can take it) or the father proves to be a better parent.
Rearing pups is incredibly important in Darkling society. Since the new Queen started her new reign, she has implemented a system for orphan or unwanted pups and personally made sure the homes are up to standards. She has encouraged Darklings to foster pups as well.
Thankfully, Darklings have become a very friendly species and do not care about being in close quarters with their neighbors and families. Darklings are very family oriented. A Darkling family could be living in the same cave and have at least 3 generations living there with them. Families are generally very large and very close. Darklings are known to be some of the nicest dragons and it’s mostly because of this.
Relationships are fluid in Darkling society. It is common for many to mate for life, while it is also common to have many mates. Some even have ‘open relationships’.
When a pup is born, it is usually females who gain the illegitimate pups, unless the mother does not want the pup (she can give it up for adoption or the father can take it) or the father proves to be a better parent.
Rearing pups is incredibly important in Darkling society. Since the new Queen started her new reign, she has implemented a system for orphan or unwanted pups and personally made sure the homes are up to standards. She has encouraged Darklings to foster pups as well.
Thankfully, Darklings have become a very friendly species and do not care about being in close quarters with their neighbors and families. Darklings are very family oriented. A Darkling family could be living in the same cave and have at least 3 generations living there with them. Families are generally very large and very close. Darklings are known to be some of the nicest dragons and it’s mostly because of this.
Pups are educated through their parents. All parents are teachers.
Wealthier Darklings have been giving their pups tutors and special privatized schools for generations.
Recently however, Queen Libré has been trying to integrate the modern ‘public school’ method of education. Some parents have begun to put their children in but most are still apprehensive about the idea.
Wealthier Darklings have been giving their pups tutors and special privatized schools for generations.
Recently however, Queen Libré has been trying to integrate the modern ‘public school’ method of education. Some parents have begun to put their children in but most are still apprehensive about the idea.
Darkling Fashion is very minimal. Darklings, whom are mostly covered in fur, usually wear various types of accessories. Belts, hats, bonnets, jewelry, ribbons, scarves, and other sorts of minimal trinkets. Usually they are rock-related, much jewelry has crystals, diamonds and other sorts of prized minerals found deep in the caverns of the Darkling territory. If they can get their paws on it, some Darklings may wear silks around their tails, bodies and wings. Some Darklings have worn sock or ankle guards.
A dragon with a more military past may wear sharpened metal claws that attach to the angles of the Darkling. Armor is expertly crafted in the lower regions of Darkling caves. They make helmets, chest armor, shoulder plates and tail guards. They also export other armor suits to other dragons outside of Darklings (i.e. Sundrakes and Shades).
Makeup is also fairly popular among all Darklings. Copper and lead are often found in the Darkling caverns, and besides making other sorts of exports out of them, Darklings have found that if they dust themselves with crushed Copper or braid diamonds into their fur, they look kinda pretty. Darklings also have fairly high regard for nail polish, often finding bright colors from the minerals and small creatures around them and turning them into bright colors that they can paint their claws.
Hygiene. Darklings have found a couple of ways to clean themselves down in the caves. With all the natural pools around them, Darklings have designated some pools to bathe in periodically. Other Darklings prefer mud or dust bathes. Some will even go out at night and bathe in the nearby oceans and rivers. The new Queen is trying to encourage more bathing among her fellow Darklings, mainly to keep hygiene and health up.
A dragon with a more military past may wear sharpened metal claws that attach to the angles of the Darkling. Armor is expertly crafted in the lower regions of Darkling caves. They make helmets, chest armor, shoulder plates and tail guards. They also export other armor suits to other dragons outside of Darklings (i.e. Sundrakes and Shades).
Makeup is also fairly popular among all Darklings. Copper and lead are often found in the Darkling caverns, and besides making other sorts of exports out of them, Darklings have found that if they dust themselves with crushed Copper or braid diamonds into their fur, they look kinda pretty. Darklings also have fairly high regard for nail polish, often finding bright colors from the minerals and small creatures around them and turning them into bright colors that they can paint their claws.
Hygiene. Darklings have found a couple of ways to clean themselves down in the caves. With all the natural pools around them, Darklings have designated some pools to bathe in periodically. Other Darklings prefer mud or dust bathes. Some will even go out at night and bathe in the nearby oceans and rivers. The new Queen is trying to encourage more bathing among her fellow Darklings, mainly to keep hygiene and health up.
While the Moon Sisters, a belief originating from the Moonvipers, are revered and respected as deities in Darkling Society, the Darklings prefer to worship ‘The Abyss’ or nicknamed ‘Abysm’ or ‘She who is Nothing’ or ‘She who Fills Nothing’. It is often believed this is the deity that Voidseers are closest too and receive visions from.
Some Darklings have also been known to worship the Sun. They are usually found in the small clouds and camps, though a few have been popping up in large Clusters.
Darklings are also fairly superstitious. While most of the Clusters and cities are not, mostly because it has fallen out of practice, it’s definitely part of their culture to be a little wary of the unknown.
Some Darklings have also been known to worship the Sun. They are usually found in the small clouds and camps, though a few have been popping up in large Clusters.
Darklings are also fairly superstitious. While most of the Clusters and cities are not, mostly because it has fallen out of practice, it’s definitely part of their culture to be a little wary of the unknown.
In the past, darklings have only had a few jobs that only a few incredibly skilled dragons were able to do. With Queen Libré’s leadership, a variety of new occupations have been created.
Older occupations included:
These days, Queen Libré has expanded the horizons of occupations. These newer occupations include:
Older occupations included:
- Miners
- Landscapers and terraformers
- Explorers
- Hunters
- Assassins and mercenaries (which have become rarer over the years)
- Sculptors
- Scavengers
- Foragers
- Nobility
- Butchers (worked in tangent with hunters)
These days, Queen Libré has expanded the horizons of occupations. These newer occupations include:
- Therapists
- Doctors
- Teachers and tutors
- Farmers
- Architects
- Politicians and advisors
- Bakers
- Weavers
- Fisherman
- Musicians
- Caretakers
Up until recently, Darklings had an upper class and a lower class, with stark differences between their lifestyles. Upper class darklings lived in beautiful homes and caves, while the lower class starved at the bottom of the deepest caverns.
Recently, a middle class has been forming among the darklings and with the Queen’s help, the lower class has been slowly but surely decreasing. The Queen has set up programs to help dragons who are in a rut or perhaps disabled in some way and shunned by society.
Queen Libré has put forth great efforts to show that darklings living in the caves is not a hindrance but a strength. They are the creatures who walk among diamonds and crystals. They have this abundance of wealth at their claws and Libré, ever ambitious and fair, will make sure her fellow darklings will no longer starve and feel the ache of the cold in their bones.
Recently, a middle class has been forming among the darklings and with the Queen’s help, the lower class has been slowly but surely decreasing. The Queen has set up programs to help dragons who are in a rut or perhaps disabled in some way and shunned by society.
Queen Libré has put forth great efforts to show that darklings living in the caves is not a hindrance but a strength. They are the creatures who walk among diamonds and crystals. They have this abundance of wealth at their claws and Libré, ever ambitious and fair, will make sure her fellow darklings will no longer starve and feel the ache of the cold in their bones.
Echo, the Darkling’s personal language works with clicks, movement and smells. While most Darklings have been taught the Realm’s common tongue, there are still darklings around that only know Echo. Echo is a verbal language and cannot be written down. Much of darkling history was lost because most darklings did not begin to learn the Realm’s common tongue until a few years ago.
In Queen Libré’s case, she can only speak with Echo and if she wants something translated, she’ll have her mate, Prince Talus, speak it.
Now, the Queen makes sure that pups are being taught the common tongue and history is being inscribed in books for the next generations.
In Queen Libré’s case, she can only speak with Echo and if she wants something translated, she’ll have her mate, Prince Talus, speak it.
Now, the Queen makes sure that pups are being taught the common tongue and history is being inscribed in books for the next generations.
Darklings, like large bats, are often considered to be like ‘sky puppies’. When they meet a new face, the newcomer is graciously taken into the wings of the darklings and offered food, warmth and introduced to the darkling society. They are incredibly friendly and are always interested in meeting new people.
Sundrakes have a close relationship with Darklings, mostly because their cave systems intertwine. Overall, Darklings find them very pretty and nice to look at. Normal Sundrakes and Suntouched Sundrakes usually keep to their own caves, often avoiding and ignoring their Darkling neighbors. Some Darklings are envious of the Sundrakes ability to live both above and below ground.
Suntouched are considered angelic and perhaps a bit vain. They are the opposite of Shades and are rarely seen by Darklings. When a Suntouched does interact with a Darkling, the Darkling is more apprehensive and wary of them.
Darklings have the highest opinion of Shades. Darklings love them and consider them the Darkling’s very best friends and closest allies. There is a good portion of Shades that live in the Darkling’s cities and they are considered part of the large family that are the Darklings. Often, Shades are doted on and loved like any other member, and are known to do very well career-wise in Darkling communities.
Moonvipers are the stuffy neighbors of the darklings and one of the darkling’s favorite pastimes is waking up early (or late for a moonviper) and scaring the scales right off them! Moonvipers do not usually interact with darklings and oftentimes try to avoid their bat neighbors.
While darklings and fireworms have never interacted, the sundrakes have told them of the fireworms and their encounters. The darklings have an overall good opinion of the fireworms and many hope to meet them one day.
Other than the occasional tidekeeper corpse that washes up, darklings don’t know much about them. And to be honest, they prefer to keep it that way.
Sundrakes have a close relationship with Darklings, mostly because their cave systems intertwine. Overall, Darklings find them very pretty and nice to look at. Normal Sundrakes and Suntouched Sundrakes usually keep to their own caves, often avoiding and ignoring their Darkling neighbors. Some Darklings are envious of the Sundrakes ability to live both above and below ground.
Suntouched are considered angelic and perhaps a bit vain. They are the opposite of Shades and are rarely seen by Darklings. When a Suntouched does interact with a Darkling, the Darkling is more apprehensive and wary of them.
Darklings have the highest opinion of Shades. Darklings love them and consider them the Darkling’s very best friends and closest allies. There is a good portion of Shades that live in the Darkling’s cities and they are considered part of the large family that are the Darklings. Often, Shades are doted on and loved like any other member, and are known to do very well career-wise in Darkling communities.
Moonvipers are the stuffy neighbors of the darklings and one of the darkling’s favorite pastimes is waking up early (or late for a moonviper) and scaring the scales right off them! Moonvipers do not usually interact with darklings and oftentimes try to avoid their bat neighbors.
While darklings and fireworms have never interacted, the sundrakes have told them of the fireworms and their encounters. The darklings have an overall good opinion of the fireworms and many hope to meet them one day.
Other than the occasional tidekeeper corpse that washes up, darklings don’t know much about them. And to be honest, they prefer to keep it that way.