The Midnight Seclusion

==Overview==
The Midnight Seclusion is an old clan, founded centuries ago by a Nocturne called Tenari. With help from other dragons who agreed to work with him, they formed a small community. Over the years, more and more dragons settled in the village until it became a city. Due to its rapid growth, the leadership proposed dividing the clan for ease of management. It was agreed to split their land into four cities; the Eastern City, Southern City, Western City, and the capital, Tenebra. Each would be managed by a governing dragon, but ultimately answer to the sovereign in the capital. Since then, these cities have expanded and developed with some independence. Dragons from all flights have settled and influenced the clan's culture into something mixed despite it originating in Shadow.
Tenari's original vision was a place filled with opportunities, whether it be careers, residence, education, social interactions, and more. While the Midnight Seclusion has expanded far beyond his imagination, it still keeps true to the idea. Because of this, it is still considered a clan. This dream of being able to find a stable and happy living appeals to many, and its popularity has also gained tourist attraction. Whether you're here to stay or visit, your presence is welcome regardless of background.
(probably gonna be editing this for a while... will clean up and add more stuff when i'm not on mobile. might put more pages here if needed, but for now i'll just wing it. also, feel free to reach out for potential lore connections!)
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==Clan History==
(link to main history page tba)
===Founding===
Before the Midnight Seclusion was founded, Tenari was a father to his two children, Conjure and Seramore. Their mother, Nimloth, died from an unknown sickness, leaving him to raise them alone.
He wanted nothing more than to give his children a good life where they can have a home, a purpose, and most importantly, happiness. Rather than moving into a village or town, he wished to make something himself. Anything less he considered "not good enough", even if the task seemed difficult.
At this time, he was said to have befriended a dragon named Cambria who assisted him in finding resources and individuals willing to help. However, there is no concrete evidence to prove this dragon actually existed. Historians have reviewed Tenari's journals and found word of this dragon, but they are skeptical due to the Nocturne's mental instability, which became well-known later in his life.
===Expansion===
After building homes for his family and other dragons nearby, a tight-knit community was formed. They learned to live near each other, share resources, work together, and get along. Some difficulties presented themselves when more dragons joined the village, but for a time it was simple.
Eventually, the village became too large for this simplistic lifestyle. It became difficult to maintain order with their current methods. That's when a leadership system was formed with Tenari on the top, setting down rules with friends to support him. The adjustment was quite a change, but doable as the village wasn't too big yet. Only then was Tenari beginning to realize what he had started, and the kind of responsibility he held. The continuing expansion of the clan required the construction of more settlements, such as shops, workplaces, a library, a school, even a grand home for Tenari and his family that would later be a palace.
=== An Entire City===
After serving as a leadership role for so many years, he established a defense for his home. It was large enough to be considered a city and needed efficient safeguards against threats, like bandits. Things were relatively stable until his friends and family noticed behavioral issues with the Nocturne. According to them, he began to act jumpy and stubborn at times. Their concerns were that the pressure of managing an entire city were getting to his head. In his later life he got paranoid, suspicious, defensive, and was arguing for seemingly no reason. However, while his peers wanted to help him, they underestimated just how serious the issue was.
===Madness===
Tenari's problematic attitudes translated into his job, where he stopped thinking logically and made decisions driven by his own fear. The causes for his "madness" may have been numerous. Perhaps he knew he was getting old and feared his death and the aftermath. He could've been under stress from his duties. With so many dragons that knew his name, what if they decided to harm him and his loved ones? By the time his peers realized he was becoming a danger to himself and others, the troubled leader already instated restrictive policies he thought would protect him. Things only went downhill from there.
===Revolution===
The leader's subjects were angered by Tenari's irrationality. When they attempted to resist, he responded with force. Dragons were punished in terrible ways if he believed them to be a huge threat. These acts prompted the civilians to form a revolution to get him out of power, ignoring his children and remaining friends who still wanted to help him. But it became clear that nothing could be done for him by the end of his reign. He was already too far gone.
On the infamous final day of his rule, he was confronted by a Wildclaw named Nashika who had the revolution behind her. They beat back the last guards willing to fight for Tenari and had him cornered in his palace. It is said that the defeated Nocturne was begging for his life and children's lives, all his fears being spilled out right then and there. Taking his words into consideration, Nashika spared his life and allowed him to flee. He was never seen again after that.
===Recovery===
The clan had lost the dragon who once brought them together with a common goal. His children were permitted to continue their lives as normal, as Nashika understood that their father's actions were not their fault. She saw promise in the experience, and seeing everyone together made her realize something. They just made it through a dark time with nobody but each other to help. This further encouraged her to pick up the pieces and put them back together.
With the dragons who stood beside her in the palace, she assumed the leadership role with an addition to the ranks. A council of dragons to advise the leader and assist in governing was a necessity. Dragons with differing views volunteered for a position in the council, and the ones who were promoted had skills in diplomacy. This would ensure a stable leadership system and provide other stances on certain issues that would be up for discussion.
Little did they know, this decision would leave a massive impact on the Midnight Seclusion's development in the years to come. Their legacy has inspired numerous forms of art and literature, even stage plays representing the event.
==Clan Locations==
===Tenebra===
The Midnight Seclusion's capital is the heart of the clan, home to the Night's Prudence as well as most of the dragons in all the cities. Civilians in the capital will agree that in some parts, prices are ridiculously expensive. Even if you're just buying something from a store, like a scarf for example, a scarf in the capital could be as high as three times the price of a scarf in, say, the Eastern City. It's generally agreed that you'll have a better time living in Tenebra if you have enough money to pay for the high costs of pretty much anything you need to pay for.
This expensive lifestyle can be explained by the quality of most products. Some of the top chefs, craftsmakers, historians, artists, schools, etc. are present in Tenebra. The same can't be said for everything there, but these dragons naturally have high prices for their work.
Aside from the costly aspect, the scenery can be a lot to take in at first. It may be hard to decide what to do upon entering, but there are dragons who are kind enough to tour newcomers around. Life in Tenebra isn't easy and to leave anyone to just figure it out themselves is considered flat-out rude. Although the political side of the community is abrasive and harsh, as long as those topics are avoided as much as possible it's not too hard to find friends.
Well-known venues in the capital include:
*The palace housing the Night's Prudence and those permitted to stay, such as servants, family of council members, cooks, and others working there. It has been developed for years by only the most skilled architects. The structure is intricately designed and decorated with darker-colored banners and paintings hung on the walls. Electricity is present in the clan, but the palace is mostly illuminated by lanterns with glowing fungi from the Wispwillow Grove to stay true to the clan's roots. The only electricity used is for appliances such as stoves, ovens, and air conditioning. You may visit the palace, but you must have an appointment in order to take a tour.
*A famous chef and restauranteur named Sunshine has the most successful restaurant in the cities. The dishes are based on different styles from other flights, giving it a diverse menu. Although they can be pricey, dragons from all flights are sure to find something they like here. The banners of the eleven flights are immediately noticeable when you come in, encouraging a welcome atmosphere. You might see Sunshine's apprentices at the restaurant learning to cook some of her famed meals. You may also see her criticizing their cooking rather harshly. Her sour tongue is as well-known as her name, but she's never malicious with her intentions. Her critiques are just the way she's used to speaking and being spoken to, so don't hold that against her too much.
*Obscure University is a prestigious academy in Tenebra for higher education. It has generally positive reviews and a few well-known successful dragons studied there in the past. The tuition fees, like everything else in the capital, are "stupidly high" even to those who like the school, but it's entirely dependent on whether the students think it's worth it or not. The skills promoted the most in the school are literacy, social skills, logical thinking, and problem solving.
*Right beside the university is the Library of Tenebra, used as the main research location by the council themselves. It's by far the largest library in the cities with works ranging from biographies or autobiographies, history books, copies of old texts including Tenari's own journal, to poems, fantasy, folk tales, stage plays, even songs.
*Agreed to be the most "Shadow-like" venue, Vantablack Casino is very crowded on weekend nights. It's mainly occupied by Shadow dragons that live up to the flight's reputation. Lots of players aren't just any fickle Shadow dragons, though. Dangerous participants in organized crime, often from the clan's Western City, make the general atmosphere around the casino uncomfortable. Unfortunately, they are able to get away with their actions either by covering up their tracks too well, or bribing authorities (which doesn't always work, thank the Eleven).
*Tourmaline Theatre used to host only concerts, stage plays, and celebrity appearances, but they've expanded to showing films in recent decades. Allies of the Midnight Seclusion in the Lightning flight greatly assisted the clan's technology in general, especially in screenplay production. Several years ago, they've added sound to the videos. Previously, the films were silent with some music playing alongside, and the capital's Engineering team has looked forward to further developments. Fae dragons are often actors in the silent films because of their culture around performances, where they exaggerate facial expressions to accommodate for their monotone voices. Since the films didn't have audible speech before, this expressionism has been used.
* If you're looking to have a short visit, Moonlight Resort is a reputable hotel and a good place to stay in the capital. Even those who aren't new and just want to be in the capital for a short time for work purposes or to see some friends often recommend the resort. It has higher costs similarly to many other services in the capital, but it's regarded as fairer given the standards. According to reviews, the prices are usually worth the conditions of the rooms and food, and it even has a pool. The pool area is beautiful, especially when the moon is bright, and the Wispwillow fungi lanterns surrounding the place give the water a nice electric blue color.
===The Eastern City===
Most popular next to Tenebra, the Eastern City has a less busy atmosphere and is more resident-oriented. The prices are far more affordable, there are numerous living options for short and long-term stays, the scenery is well-managed, and the communities can be tighter and welcoming. A lot of the decoration is managed by the community and the crime rates are the lowest out of all the clan's cities. Some residential areas are more urbanized and compact, but others are simply regular neighborhoods, the smaller ones having community activities fairly often. It's the best choice for those new to the clan and wanting a place to fit in. While the educational options aren't as "prestige" as the capital's universities, they are well-received by the public.
===The Southern City===
Located near the border to the Sea of a Thousand Currents, this city is a popular trading and fishing site. Dragons from the Tidelord's domain, Sunbeam Ruins, Shifting Expanse, and occasionally the Windswept Plateau and Ashfall Waste often come to conduct business there, whether it be selling and buying or trading. There are visitors from other flights as well, but dragons from these regions don't have to travel as far. The Southern City is home to fishers and those skilled with agriculture due to the abundance of water. It is considered the part of the clan with the most scenery in regards to nature, whereas the capital for example is busy and urbanized. Aside from fishing boats big and small, you can also find the clan's decently-sized fleet of ships. It may not be nearly as impressive as other fleets, but the dragons aboard do fine defending the coast from invaders. The fleet is a recent addition to the clan's guard because the Midnight Seclusion originally wasn't so close to the sea. But now that they are, Shadarsia has considered it a necessity to focus some resources on the Southern City's safety.
===The Western City===
For years, the Western City has had the lowest funding due to the resources available. The Night's Prudence has been making improvements to the defense and justice system, but many dragons keep their distance due to the high crime rates. Organized crime is not uncommon here, but Shadarsia especially has been trying to crack down on it. Despite her efforts, some dragons involved have covered their tracks too well.
Because of this, the only reason any dragon would consider staying here is the lucrative businesses being conducted. The atmosphere tends to be low because of how high alert the guards are. Residents mainly stay inside for their safety, leaving the streets unoccupied by regular dragons. Unfortunately, all this means is less witnesses for the criminals.
===Outskirts===
The outskirts of the clan are rural with establishments spreading out until there's only woodland. Most of these establishments are agricultural, and the clan gets a lot of their resources from these farms. Due to the distance between them, the farms can have poor defenses and are prone to being attacked. That's why some are built near trails so attackers are less likely to be undiscovered by witnesses or guards.
Other than that, it's just woodland all the way to the coastline. If you venture far enough, you may find old ruins. The ruins were originally going to be another city to increase the clan's range and the potential for trade, but they were subject to attacks from Serthis Beastclans and the effort was abandoned.
==Social==
===Alliances===
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===Enemies===
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Nulla finibus faucibus luctus. Donec sed turpis nibh. Sed ut elit enim. Cras facilisis dolor eu massa condimentum lacinia. Quisque pulvinar ac massa in pharetra. Maecenas rutrum placerat pulvinar. Nulla ac lacus orci. Suspendisse semper laoreet quam, eu cursus est accumsan nec. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam nec nulla euismod enim placerat luctus.
===Reception===
The Midnight Seclusion has been criticized by many, especially regarding Tenebra despite its inherent popularity. There are complaints that the clan is "overrated", and that it's no easier living there than it is anywhere else. Tenebra is often said to be crowded, expensive, and an overall headache, especially when it comes to politics. These criticisms have slightly impacted the clan's overall reputation. But it also depends on who you ask and where. If you ask someone in the capital how life is there, they'd probably tell you that it's nothing like the praises given by others. It may be a better choice to visit and see for yourself.
It's also a common occurrence, especially in the capital, for the newspapers to have eye-catching headlines. Popular examples include, "Tenebra Dragon Chases Neighbor With Wheelbarrow Full Of Noggles, Spectators Shocked", "Tenebra Dragon Sues Himself For Sneezing In Grocery Store, Jury Baffled", "Tenebra Dragon Caught Dumping Buckets Of Ice Water On Countless Civilians", "Tenebra Dragon Claims They're The Arcanist, Climbs Clock Tower And Screams At Space", "Tenebra Dragon Found Hoarding Hundreds Of Stolen Pizzas In Attic, Says She Was Solving Math Problem", "Tenebra Dragon Vandalizes Statue For Being Taller Than Him", and so on. These headlines have become sources of comedy for both civilians and those residing outside the clan.
==Clan Culture==
===Laws===
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Nulla finibus faucibus luctus. Donec sed turpis nibh. Sed ut elit enim. Cras facilisis dolor eu massa condimentum lacinia. Quisque pulvinar ac massa in pharetra. Maecenas rutrum placerat pulvinar. Nulla ac lacus orci. Suspendisse semper laoreet quam, eu cursus est accumsan nec. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam nec nulla euismod enim placerat luctus.
===Hierarchy===
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Nulla finibus faucibus luctus. Donec sed turpis nibh. Sed ut elit enim. Cras facilisis dolor eu massa condimentum lacinia. Quisque pulvinar ac massa in pharetra. Maecenas rutrum placerat pulvinar. Nulla ac lacus orci. Suspendisse semper laoreet quam, eu cursus est accumsan nec. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam nec nulla euismod enim placerat luctus.
===Traditions===
The Midnight Seclusion has a diversified culture, but there are practices specific to the clan that are still honored by most residents to this day. Other customs are present that aren't specific to the clan, so there is a wide range of traditions that are followed by the clan's many inhabitants.
* Exaltation is one of the older ceremonies where a dragon typically receives a vision from the Shadowbinder and leaves to the Forum of the Obscured Crescent to serve her for the unforseeable future. A feast is set up for the exaltee, usually joined by their friends or family, to honor them and wish them good luck during their service.
* Marriage proposals and ceremonies vary depending on the couple's preferences. The most common way in the Midnight Seclusion is by giving their significant other a diamond talonclasp pendant, which is the equivalent of a wedding ring. The officiant can be anybody the couple chooses and the details of their wedding are up to the two to decide. Though weddings might follow some train of events, no two weddings are ever the same.
* Graduation ceremonies are held for students who have completed their courses in education, not unlike college graduations. The city's lord/lady holds the event and calls any student ready for their ceremony, and during the event their graduations are official. It's a formal event and treated as something to strive towards.
* All flight festivals are celebrated and the cities are decorated to match the theme of the current festival.
* The solstices and equinoxes are annual holidays. Families may serve dinner and play games with their relatives if they wish. Most dragons at work also get the day off.
* Funerals are held based on the deceased dragon's wishes or the wishes of their family. The body can be cremated, buried, donated to science, or whatever the dragon specified before death. This ceremony also varies, and the dragon's family and friends come to sit vigil and speak of the positive memories they've had with the dragon. Though it's based around death, it's not always so depressing. It's a time for peers to come together and remember their dead, pay their respects, and discuss the good deeds the dragon has done and moments they've shared.
===Technology===
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Nulla finibus faucibus luctus. Donec sed turpis nibh. Sed ut elit enim. Cras facilisis dolor eu massa condimentum lacinia. Quisque pulvinar ac massa in pharetra. Maecenas rutrum placerat pulvinar. Nulla ac lacus orci. Suspendisse semper laoreet quam, eu cursus est accumsan nec. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam nec nulla euismod enim placerat luctus.
===Beliefs===
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Nulla finibus faucibus luctus. Donec sed turpis nibh. Sed ut elit enim. Cras facilisis dolor eu massa condimentum lacinia. Quisque pulvinar ac massa in pharetra. Maecenas rutrum placerat pulvinar. Nulla ac lacus orci. Suspendisse semper laoreet quam, eu cursus est accumsan nec. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam nec nulla euismod enim placerat luctus.
===Politics===
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Nulla finibus faucibus luctus. Donec sed turpis nibh. Sed ut elit enim. Cras facilisis dolor eu massa condimentum lacinia. Quisque pulvinar ac massa in pharetra. Maecenas rutrum placerat pulvinar. Nulla ac lacus orci. Suspendisse semper laoreet quam, eu cursus est accumsan nec. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Nam nec nulla euismod enim placerat luctus.
== Notable Denizens ==
==Other==
===Misc Details===
* Fandragons do exist, their lore is just adapted into mine.
* Probably won't be linking to each dragon individually, if there's a set that belong to a certain group in the clan I'll just put them all there. Linking to every single one would be absolute pain so I'll do that for the sake of my own sanity.
* This entire thing is a giant mess I don't exactly know how to clean up but I'll manage.
===Gallery===
File:Midnight seclusion map.jpg
Category:Clans
Category:Shadow
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