In Glowing Splendor

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by TujoThePanda

Gallery

Set aglow upon a bed of gold lounged a dragoness, beauteously lithe and graceful of form, pools of deep violet-crimson alight with a fire of energy in those eyes that watched over her mound of wealth. Left to relish and savor in what riches had been amassed over the course of a short lifetime, her subtle charms were veiled only in what sense of reserved splendor she possessed in tact and grace, peaked only through what distant smile she'd afford to another, eyes gleaming intensely in that bright shade of crimson. With her lips creased ever so slightly in a stoic grin, it would appear as though she looked on with a sense of satisfied contentment.

A creature of great power as all dragons were in might and magic, the dragoness appeared much as one would expect of them..but perhaps not so strictly in form. For rather than the oblong quadroped length and vast size befitting what mortal kind had understood to sport the look of a dragon, what form and figure she presented in the here and now lie far closer to that of a human in look and appearance. Only in base shape, however, given the digigrade legs and the great expanse of her flowing wings, that lengthy tapering tail and those fin like ears. Flowing hair grew long and full along the sloping ridges of her head, trickling so far as to reach down past her neck in length. And her face, cast to one side, was much like that of a serpent or a snake in the rounded snout that expanded outwards in accommodating her mouth and slitted nostrils. And what flesh had yielded to scales was cast in the color of bright turquoise

The shimmering glea of what ehtereal light danced endlessly against the cold rock walls in the deep darkness was all that stood out in the encompassed dwelling. Such had been wrought from what latent magic lay infused in the very walls, the show in the glimmering sheen of otherworldly beauty pleasing to the eye and soothing to the mind. Those magical incantations of illuminated grace persisted in the passing moments, growing stronger or weaker as they would ebb with the time of day. In day they shown dimly through what muted rays of light made it so far into the great expanse of the cave, only to grow far more vibrantly in the nights as the sun had come to set. And against the dagger like teeth of those rocky stalactites and stalagmites that joined to form the twin rows against along the floor and ceiling comprised what place she chose to reside in. Such was her home, her choice abode in which she lived, claimed years ago in having taken refuge from a passing storm only to find an ancient place that still harbored a fair deal in latent magic. The subterranean ruins had all but collapsed over the years from sheer age, joined readily in what seismic disturbances rippled through the very earth, but that which stood served well in décor and function. For the lone dome circled by pillars housed her slate stone bed, that which was rarely used as she opted to bed against the spread of gold coins and jewels set in a those many piles about a dip in the stone floor.

She was a creature of many forms, her power in magic and mana enabling her to shift and bend her body to better reflect that in which she sought to pass herself as, and what identities in look in appearance she could assume to achieve such feats in subterfuge. It allowed her to conceal herself and meld and blend in with mortalkind, the multitude of forms allowing for a multitude of guises, allowed to enjoy the finer aspects of a different life. Her name was known to more esoteric company as Lynera, for it was all she identified herself as in passing fancy. And to those that had the good fortune or misfortune of knowing her would be met by a rather flirtatious adventurer and treasure hunter, purportedly seeking fame and fortune in making her mark on the world. To those that had come to know her alternate form would look upon a petite young half-elven girl with fiery red hair to match a pair of crimson eyes set against a beautiful face, her smile harboring just a few too many sharp dagger-like teeth. And her clothes denoting one of more modest origins in hacked leather and brown cloth, matching her choice title as an adventurer.

Over the duration of her time in assumed form, the general progression followed humbler beginnings when she would don what clothing called for a match to her assumed identity. And then she would venture out to be a part of what troupe or group she chose, that which struck her fancy. Hope would be that whatever wealth and gold to be found throughout the course of their venture would become hers through trickery and deceit, as she would seldom resort to violence or setting others into harms way to acquire what she desired. Drawing up numerous caches over the years, she'd hope to attract the attentions of a rich Lord or Noble or even a Knight in courtship for a time before making herself scarce and retiring back to her choice abode in the mmountains. And it would be years in between when she would don and subsequently cast off said form.

Seemingly idealistic and exuberantly cheery of temperament, the energy of a typical youth was conveyed in her daily motions. Conducting herself in a show of gaiety, she was quick to feign innocent naivety if one were to approach her directly in showing their desire for her in a more romantic light. Few were those people that could see past her altered form and see her for that which she truly was..a dragoness. But it was a secret that she aimed to keep, and in so doing she would be allowed to do all that she desired to do. Live a sort of double life, until she tired of it and fell back to exerting her power as a dragoness against those lesser creatures that crossed her path in showing intent to do harm.

It had been rather peaceful as of late. With the passage of winter, the frigid cold was beginning to wane and with it the snows were starting to melt, and already there was yet another year ahead of her. The past one had seen no shortage of gold added to the pile, and already she was growing bored of the placidity in routine. She desired excitement in adventure, that which she had so often did in assuming her alternate form. In dream during her lengthy hiatus from the world in remaining in this place, she'd seen what distorted imagery in memory of what past travels had yielded. It only made her yearn to set along the trails much as she had before. And already, she'd made the choice that with the spring solstice soon to be upon her, it'd be time to venture back out into the world. Perhaps with new friends, new experiences would abound, and she could retreat if boredom were to ever set for more than a few days time. The choice would ultimately be hers, though she was often left to wonder.. What if she were to throw all caution to the wind in abandoning this place in its entirety, opting to live life amongst what mortalkind she had encountered so regularly in adopting her alter-ego? It was a thought that had often settled in on the back of her mind, and it was one that occasionally had given her pause. She reflected on it in those passing moments in looking over her mound of gold, leaving her mind to wander...

Commentary: This has been a picture that's been on my tablet for a while, sketched, colored, shaded, yet incomplete. When I had finally gotten around to finishing it, I sort of sat on it for a while in the absence of a good description to go with it. Finally got around to writing one up tonight with what cobbled thoughts I could commit to paper, and so, I submit this with a sense of modest
accomplishment.

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