Duskweaver

Duskweaver is a 14-year old SilkWing and NightWing hybrid dragonet. He currently works as a tarot card reader in the LeafSilk Kingdom as a cover-up, and currently leads the Children of the Dawn cult, a ritualistic cult that sacrifices the rich to the goddess of the blood moon, Xquic.
Duskweaver was made in cooperation with my very good friend, Faultea! She currently owns his sister, Nightspinner, and has been working hard to create her page. Please go visit both Faultea's page, and Nightspinner's, to show your support to her as well! Thank you!
Feel free to ask for relationships!!!
== Introduction ==
The shrill melody of the dark purple dragon's violin resonated throughout the halls of the massive church, the pale light flickering through the mosaic windows shimmering on the dragon's scales as if he were polished and preserved like a valuable gem. He hummed softly as he bobbed his head quietly, dancing around at the center of the cathedral. 
The soft splash of the thick, red blood beneath his talons was barely audible over the echoing shrieks of the violin as he danced, stepping carefully over the bodies of his newest victims. The light of the moon, shining through the windows, was suddenly bathed in red as the blood moon rose, casting an eerie halo over the dragon's entire body. His claws dripped with the sweet, viscous liquid that bonded all of creation, ripped straight from the throats of the other dragons as he cleaved away at them.
He stopped suddenly, the sound of a splash echoing loudly as he turned his head to look over his shoulder. He slowly, carefully, placed his violin back in it's ichor-drenched case, smiling softly. "Ah... you're here. A pleasure it is to see you again, Sanguine." He said, a red glint in his eyes as he approached his lover. He left bloody talonprints behind as he walked, his smile growing wider by the second.
The blood-red NightWing raised an eyebrow. "Making an offering so soon? You must have been bored." He notes, nodding the tip of his nose towards the crumpled shapes of dead dragons. Duskweaver shrugged, nuzzling Sanguine's neck as he did. "Why wait? They got what they deserved." He said, feeling the death-like cold of his lover's scales pressing to his own. Glass vials of blood clinked softly as Sanguine adjusted his body, the smaller dragon leaning heavily into Duskweaver's curves.
Duskweaver sighed softly. "I've missed you..." He says, scanning the dragon's mind. Sanguine nodded, fully aware that his lover was prying. "I don't know why you keep searching my memories. You know I'm never going to leave you. You've seen the futures, you've knotted the threads." He said, feeling the warmth of his lover soak into his body. Dusk nodded. "I know." He said softly, glancing back at the bodies. "Let's clean these up, before someone gets here." He said, nuzzling his lover's cheek softly.
== Description ==
Duskweaver is a tall, semi-muscular and handsome dragon, with scales a shade of dark aubergine scattered with shimmering white scales like stars, giving him the appearance of being made of cosmos. He has, on numerous occasions, been labeled as a "handsome example of a hybrid," having been said to take on the best features of both of his parents. His eyes are soft lavender color, though they glow red in the light of a blood moon, and are dark and tired as if he's never slept a day in his life.
His posture is always strict and proper, giving him the appearance of a distinguished dragon, which helps lead suspicions away from him. Additionally, he is always regarded to have "regal" posture. He usually bares a blank, exhausted expression as if he feels no emotions whatsoever, and is usually somewhat alienated for this, as many assume he's some sort of artificial creation. In reality, however, it's just a result of him choosing to not express emotion towards those he isn't fond of.
Duskweaver, unlike his sister, never had to grow out of wing buds, though it is notable that his wings were significantly lopsided as a young dragonet, making him unable to fly. They are now the same length.
Duskweaver is almost never found wearing jewels, and if he is they are notably cheap, yet elegant. This is mostly because he wants to prove that nice things can be owned by all, even those who are financially challenged.
== Personality ==
Duskweaver is often described as a quiet, reserved and tranquil dragon, one that never upsets the mood of the room, or really modifies it at all. He tends to melt into the background, appearing insignificant and unimportant. This is, of course, all a ruse, a mask carefully crafted to hide his much darker side.
Around his sister, Duskweaver is often the one who de-escalates situations, acting as an emotional anchor for his sister that helps her keep herself under control when she gets excited. Though he usually looks indifferent and plain, he often has a soft, small smile cracked across his lips when around his sister, showing how much he truly cares for her. He has, additionally, been noted to be like a "scary dog" for Nightspinner, often following her around with a gloomy, shady look on his face that drives away any potential threats.
When reading the cards of his clients, Dusk is often described as "clear-sighted, clairvoyant and ominous" as he flips the cards slowly, giving him an aura of tranquility and omnipotence. Additionally, he speaks in a mysterious tone as he performs his readings, often amping up the anticipation and nervousness of his clients by a significant amount. Furthermore, he has been stated to be brutally honest in his predictions, in a way that some dragons may find offensive. He doesn't sugarcoat anything, instead opting to tell his clients the cold, hard truth. Despite his readings almost always being accurate, his sister still seems to berate him for his "boring" way of telling the future, opting to follow the more exciting threads of her customers' futures.
Beneath his boring, standard exterior, Duskweaver is a manipulative, murderous and cruel dragon, often kidnapping, attacking, murdering and sacrificing the richest of dragons to the goddess of the blood moon, believing these sacrifices to grant good fortune and prosperity to those who are less financially fortunate. Additionally, he has absolutely no regard for life of any kind, and will murder without remorse at all. As a dragonet, he would often abduct and torture smaller animals, dissecting them while they were still breathing, relishing in the futile attempts to fight back. He is sadistic, cruel, bloodthirsty and dangerous, and it reflects off of him when he removes his mask of being boring.
As the founder and leader of The Children of the Dawn, Duskweaver is often found participating in his own ritualistic beliefs, praising the goddess of the blood moon and acting as a medium for her possession. Additionally, he uses his tarot cards to read the destinies of his targets, believing this to act as a way to bless the bodies of his victims, making sure their blood is spilled for the benefit of his goddess.
== Biography ==
WIP
== Relationships ==
=== Orchard (Neutral, leaning towards negative) ===
Duskweaver hardly communicates with his parents, opting to stay focused on his work and his secret identity as the leader of The Children of the Dawn. When he does communicate with his father, it is in brief, short responses, identically to how he communicates with almost all other dragons. The dichotomy between him and his sister somewhat annoys Orchard, and he complains about how Duskweaver tends to communicate significantly less than his sister does, which angers Dusk.
=== Truthspeaker (Neutral, leaning towards positive) ===
Dusk's relationship with his mother is almost identical to his father, keeping quiet and out of contact. When around him, though, she tends to support his card reading business, and tries to connect with him on an emotional level. This, of course, fails miserably almost every time. Despite this, she still cares deeply for her son, which he respects and appreciates.
=== Nightspinner (Positive, somewhat manipulative) ===
Duskweaver's relationship with his sister is almost exclusively positive, with the two tending to spend a lot of time together outside of work. Dusk has been spotted numerous times drinking tea with his sister, something most dragons didn't expect he'd enjoy. Though he tends to look annoyed when she rambles, Duskweaver appreciates his sister's energy, and loves to listen to her talk. He will, however, shut down any and all conversations about The Children of the Dawn, suggesting that Nightspinner should drop the case and let it be. She finds this somewhat suspicious, but doesn't suspect that her brother is actually a member of the cult, let alone it's leader.
=== Sanguine (Positive, romantic partner) ===
Sanguine is Duskweaver's romantic partner, and the one dragon Duskweaver would ever dare to show even a flicker of emotion around. The two bonded over The Children of the Dawn, and Duskweaver has protected his lover on numerous occasions from other dragons, as the cult members tend to harass and bully those who rank lower than them. Despite their love being somewhat frowned upon, as the leader of the cult dating one of its lowest-ranking members is generally quite strange, nobody dares to talk about either of them behind their backs, preferring to assure their safety instead,
=== Vestal Hesperia (Positive) ===
As a frequent customer at Vestal's shop, Dusk has begun to form a relationship with her. Despite the two being relatively well acquainted, he would not hesitate to kill her on a whim if she ever discovered that he was the leader of The Children of the Dawn. She, not unlike his sister, tends to ramble about plants or friends, which means Dusk has to talk less, something he takes for granted a bit too often.
=== Colourwheel (Positive) ===
As dragonets, Duskweaver and Colourwheel were nearly inseparable, the best of friends. As they grew older, they began to grow apart simply due to their differing views on life, their occupational desires, and the lifestyle they preferred. After Colour began to work under Vestal, however, the two quickly reconnected and now share the occasional lunch together, bonding over their past experiences.
=== Crocus (Semi-negative) ===
Duskweaver was the first dragon to tell Colourwheel that he and Crocus would get together, but has never approved entirely of the purple SilkWing. He finds his relative stupidity annoying, but knows that he will never discover Duskweaver's true identity as a result. He also doesn't appreciate the dragon's boldness, and often disapproves of Crocus forcing Colourwheel into situations he is uncomfortable with, such as crowds or public speaking. He respects his relationship with Colour, though, and knows not to stand between the two.
=== Moran (Positive, somewhat suspicious) ===
While Duskweaver enjoys the MudWing's talkative nature, given that it allows him to speak less, he is a bit suspicious of the dragon. Moran's rude sense of humor tends to slightly aggravate Duskweaver, and his loudness gives Dusk a headache, from time-to-time. He's worried that Moran will discover his role as the leader of the Children of the Dawn, but is otherwise unbothered by the dragon's involvement with his life.
== Quotes ==
"Ah... The Fool. And it's reversed, too. How intriguing. When reversed, The Fool represents recklessness, holding back, and risk-taking. I see, in your near future, a deadly mistake made at the hands of reckless abandon, caused by your own immaturity and tyranny. Your actions will cause great turmoil, and will result in the deaths of many dragons." - A quote from Duskweaver's beta introduction
"Ah, She tempts me. The High Priestess, reversed. Secrets, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal and silence. Ha, Her humor astounds me." - Duskweaver on reading his own destiny
"Dearest sister, you are too ambitious, too excited, too happy. Instead of viewing the most plausible futures, you view those that are the most exciting. Sure, your client may get married in the distant future, but what if their most likely path in destiny happens to lead them straight to death? It is unfair how you warp their expectations of reality, granting them false hope." - Duskweaver, to Nightspinner, about her future-telling
"Intelligence-wise, he is a simple dragon. But, he is lovable, and will protect you with every fiber of his being. That is the dragon I see in your future." - Duskweaver when seeing Crocus in Colourwheel's future
"Dragonets? No, I never plan to have any of my own. They disgust me, and invoke a deep fear in my heart. Stop laughing, I'm being serious." - Duskweaver when asked if he and Sanguine would ever have dragonets of their own
== Gallery ==
File:Dusky-Base.png|Duskweaver's ref. Base by Joy Ang, relining by K9PESTILENCE, fill by the amazing Faultea!
File:Duskweaver-Head.jpg.jpg|Dusky headshot, drawn by Infinity-da-dragon! He looks so handsome OMG YAAAAS!
== Trivia ==
* Duskweaver's concept is highly based on Mayan mythology, specifically revolving around Xquic, the goddess of the waning moon (who is here referred to as the goddess of the blood moon), that was first known from the 16th century K'iche' manuscript "Popol Vuh." She was the daughter of one of the gods of Xibalba (the Maya underworld), named Cucuhmaquic, and is particularly noted for being the mother of the Maya Hero Twins.
* The concept for Duskweaver's cult, The Children of the Dawn, is pulled from a number of different real-world cults/religions, including the Aztec religion, the Mayan religion, the Japanese hitobashira (direct translation is "human pillar"), the Homeric legend of Iphigenia, and many more other sources. If you'd like to learn more about the origins of human sacrifice, look here. If you'd like to learn more about what the word "cult" means, subcategories of cults, anti-cult movements, and more, check here.
* Duskweaver's occupation as a tarot card reader is based off of legitimate tarot reading, using the real representations of the cards in his scrapped introduction idea, and in his self-reading quote. While most of his lore only involves the 22 major arcana, it should be known that Duskweaver actively possesses at least one 78-card deck used for proper readings. Of the 78 cards in a tarot deck, the 22 major arcana cards are numbered by Roman numerals and assigned a name. The 22 major arcana consist of 21 numbered cards and 1 unnumbered card (number 0). The way tarot reading works is, by placing cards face-down on a table after shuffling them, they will either be flipped face-up (with the top of the card facing towards the person receiving a reading) or reversed (with the top of the card facing the reader) and will represent different aspects depending on if they are face-up or reversed. The 22 major arcana, and their meanings (both face-up and reversed) are listed below (Note that the depictions of the cards will be pulled primarily from the Visconti Sforza tarot deck, while the meanings of each card are pulled from biddytarot.com's list of the 22 major arcana):
** Major Arcana "0": The Fool - In most tarot decks, the Fool is represented either by the number 0 (the first) or by XXII (the last), though typically remains unnumbered in traditional tarot decks designed for readings. When upright, the Fool represents beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, and a free spirit. When reversed, the Fool represents holding back, recklessness, and risk taking.
** Major Arcana I: The Magician - The Magician, also known as the Magus or the Juggler, is the first numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Magician represents manifestation, resourcefulness, power, and inspired action. When reversed, the Magician represents manipulation, poor planning, and untapped talents.
** Major Arcana II: The High Priestess - The High Priestess is the second numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the High Priestess represents intuition, sacred knowledge, divine femininity, and the subconscious mind. When reversed, the High Priestess represents secrets, being disconnected from intuition, withdrawal and silence.
** Marjor Arcana III: The Empress - The Empress is the third numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Empress represents femininity, beauty, nature, nurturing, and abundance. When reversed, the Empress represents creative block and dependence on others.
** Major Arcana IV: The Emperor: - The Emperor is the fourth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Emperor represents authority, establishment, structure, and a father figure. When reversed, the Emperor represents domination, excessive control, lack of discipline, and inflexibility.
** Major Arcana V: The Hierophant - The Heirophant is the fifth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Heirophant represents spiritual wisdom, religious beliefs, conformity, tradition, and institutions. When reversed, the Heirophant represents personal beliefs, freedom, and challenging the status quo.
** Major Arcana VI: The Lovers - The Lovers is the sixth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Lovers represents love, harmony, relationships, alignment of values, and choices. When reversed, the Lovers represents self-love, disharmony, imbalance, and misalignment of values.
** Major Arcana VII: The Chariot - The Chariot is the seventh numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Chariot represents control, willpower, success, action, and determination. When reversed, the Chariot represents self-discipline, opposition, and lack of direction. 
** Major Arcana VIII: Strength - Strength is the eighth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, Strength represents strength, courage, persuasion, influence, and compassion. When reversed, Strength represents inner strength, self-doubt, low energy, and raw emotion. 
** Major Arcana IX: The Hermit - The Hermit is the ninth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Hermit represents soul-searching, introspection, being alone, and inner guidance. When reversed, the Hermit represents isolation, loneliness, and withdrawal.
** Major Arcana X: The Wheel of Fortune - The Wheel of Fortune is the tenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Wheel of Fortune represents good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, and a turning point. When reversed, the Wheel of Fortune represents bad luck, resistance to change, and breaking cycles.
** Major Arcana XI: Justice - Justice is the eleventh numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, Justice represents justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, and law. When reversed, Justice represents unfairness, lack of accountability, and dishonesty.
** Major Arcana XII: The Hanged Man - The Hanged Man is the twelfth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Hanged Man represents pause, surrender, letting go, and new perspectives. When reversed, the Hanged Man represents delays, resistance, stalling, and indecision. 
** Major Arcana XIII: Death - Death is the thirteenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, Death represents endings, change, transformations, and transitions. When reversed, Death represents resistance to change, personal information, and inner/self purging.
** Major Arcana XIV: Temperance - Temperance is the fourteenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, Temperance represents balance, moderation, patience, and purpose. When reversed, Temperance represents imbalance, excess, self-healing, and re-alignment.
** Major Arcana XV: The Devil - The Devil is the fifteenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Devil represents shadow self, attachment, addiction, restriction, and sexuality. When reversed, the Devil represents releasing limiting beliefs, exploring dark thoughts, and detachment.
** Major Arcana XVI: The Tower - The Tower is the sixteenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Tower represents sudden change, upheaval, chaos, revelation, and awakening. When reversed, the Tower represents personal transformation, fear of change, and averting disaster.
** Major Arcana XVII: The Star - The Star is the seventeenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Star represents hope, faith, purpose, renewal, and spirituality. When reversed, the Star represents lack of faith, despair, self-trust, and disconnection.
** Major Arcana XVIII: The Moon - The Moon is the eighteenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Moon represents illusion, fear, anxiety, subconscious, and intuition. When reversed, the Moon represents release of fear, repressed emotion, and inner confusion. 
** Major Arcana XIX: The Sun - The Sun is the nineteenth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the Sun represents positivity, fun, warmth, success, and vitality. When reversed, the Sun represents inner child, feeling down, and being overly optimistic.
** Major Arcana XX: Judgment - Judgment is the twentieth numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, Judgment represents judgment, rebirth, inner calling, and absolution. When reversed, Judgment represents self-doubt, inner critic, and ignoring the call.
** Major Arcana XXI: The World - The World is the final numbered trump card of the major arcana. When upright, the World represents completion, integration, accomplishment, and travel. When reversed, the World represents seeking personal closure, shortcuts, and delays.
* As a cartomancer, Duskweaver owns many different tarot decks (though, most of them are for display). However, he used his Animus magic to create his own unique deck of tarot cards. They are described as midnight blue in color, with the face of the card (where the image is displayed) is not the same color as the rest of the card. He is able to telekinetically control his own cards, and can cause them to glow and display images with lights as he explains them. He mostly does this to keep customers entertained.
* Duskweaver's name is actually a reference to his character, as well as the symbolic meaning behind dusk itself. Dusk itself is the time between evening and sunset, when daylight is almost gone but it is not completely dark, a reference to how Duskweaver is a horrible soul, but still harbors that good inside of him for his friends. Symbolically, dusk represents transition, change, beauty, and death. As for the "weaver" part of his name, it stems from not only his SilkWing heritage, but the fact that he weaves the strings of fate like a web, viewing them as if he were a spider, and the future is his own creation. He is always surveying every possible outcome, looking for snags or rips in the fibers, and will repair them immediately by seeking out the issue. This, interestingly enough, sharply contrasts his belief that destiny is foretold, and those who change their own destiny are to be punished by death.
Category:Characters
Category:Males
Category:SilkWings
Category:NightWings
Category:Occupation (Mystic)
Category:Occupation (Criminal)
Category:Occupation (Other)
Category:LGBT+
Category:Subtype (Moonborn)
Category:Animus
Category:Status (Leader)