The Worldbearers

The Worldbearers is a color and gene specific subspecies. It was established by the user **contagioushazard** on **January 17, 2019**. The original thread currently stands at 17 pages, with the last reply from the creator in 2019, and the last from anyone in early 2021.

## Lore

*As the condition of the earth wanes or waxes, so does the magic that keeps the earth in place. The world Herself harbors her own brand of magic, different from that of the dragon gods that refine such power into unique shapes and flavors. It is raw, it is wild, and it permeates everything that lives or dies or exists at all in the Universe.*

*In times of crisis, this power fluctuates. At times it falters, stolen from the source by the beings that harness magic for their own purpose. Other times it flourishes until the crust of the world is simply bursting with it. Either way, the balance is never really quite restored; there is always the ebb and flow, always the shift, regardless of how much the world might like to rest in stasis for a bit. Balance is never a stagnant state of being, but a constant tug-o-war between chaos on one end of the spectrum to calamity on the other.*

*So you can't blame her for taking some...precautionary measures.*

*The world has felt the effects of wartime through the ages, whether wrought by the claws of the Gods or from the multitudes of their magical underlings. More than once she crept too close to the precipice of utter destruction, be it from the deities themselves or the mysterious Shade creature that sought to snuff out her magic entirely. Thus she turned her sights on the children of her Godlings, and how they lived and died and fought for their existence in boundless quantities across her surface.*

*'I will have some for myself,' the world thought, and it was so:*

*She breathed Life into the Worldbearers, dragons in shape and heart but born from the Soul of the world Herself. They came from every nest across every Flight and from any and all pairs that deigned to produce yet more offspring; these Worldbearers were there, embodiments of the Corners of the World and all of the untamed, chaotic power that she the world sustained. In times when the balance was disrupted, they would be responsible for ensuring that the world's magic never ran dry and never wavered farther than it was meant.*

*Worldbearers are equivalent to Avatars of the World. They are her guardians and of the magic that makes her so. They may hail from any and all flights and any and all breeds. Myth has it that they are pieces of the world herself incarnate; the sky in their wings, the surface of the world in their skin, and the deepest reaches of each biome at their bellies. Regardless of their Flight, the Corner of the World from which they are given power is expressed directly in their physical appearance, though it is said that those with matching Flights and Corners may be even more powerful than their mis-matched brethren. It is more likely to encounter a Worldbearer in a territory that most resembles their Corner (i.e., a Barren Desert Worldbearer is more likely to be born in the Shifting Expanse or Dragonhome than the Water domain, though it does not necessarily negate all possibility), but even so, the place of birth does not always suggest what kind of Worldbearer might be born. The birth of Worldbearers is most widely influenced by what power of the world is needed most to establish balance; should the forests and jungles and grasslands of the world wither, thus the Verdant Earth Worldbearers will hatch most frequently. Should the oceans recede or become sickly with pollutants, the Open Ocean Worldbearers will appear to restore the waters to their natural state.*

*As Worldbearers are tasked with keeping the world in balance, they tend not to care as much about the politics of the deities or other dragons, though they may still establish relationships and duties to clans as they see fit. But should they be forced to choose between the wellbeing of their Mother and that of the clan, you will never find a Worldbearer that chooses the latter.*

*An even number of each Worldbearer in a clan or territory is said to be a good omen that the world is in balance and at peace. Too many of one variant may cause a shift in the balance, thus producing more Worldbearers of the opposite type, or may be indicative of a deeper issue across the globe.*

*Though Worldbearers can utilize the raw magic on their own from each of their respective biomes, two or more Worldbearers working together can create a perfect harmony of ecological systems. For example, a Verdant Earth and Open Ocean can create a lush sea bursting with life, while Barren Desert and Glacial Peak Worldbearers a frozen tundra with howling winds, and a Verdant Earth and Barren Desert a sprawling desert oasis.*

### *Trivia*

*The type of environment within their Corner that Worldbearers are most naturally attuned to is expressed through their colors and physical appearance. A deep, mossy green Verdant Earth with a dark belly may be best suited for a thick jungle or even a swampland, not open plains. A bright-colored Open Ocean is most likely to be best suited for tropical seas versus stormy waters, and so forth. This particular trait is called a Worldbearer's "affinity" and can be expressed in a number of different ways that match the Worldbearer uniquely; for example, a grassland-attuned Verdant Earth Worldbearer might have an affinity for the scent of wet grass under the sun, the hum of insects or bird song, soft soil, hoof prints, etc. A storming arctic sea Open Ocean Worldbearer might have an affinity for salt and stinging ice-cold spray, rumbling thunderheads, maelstroms, ice floes, churning black water, etc. Affinities have logical root in a Worldbearer's physical appearance.*

*The color of a Worldbearer's wings is said to represent the season in which the particular Worldbearer's magic is strongest; "Sky" for Spring, "Cornflower" for Summer, "Splash" for Autumn, and "Stonewash" for Winter.*

*No one has ever seen a Worldbearer die. If grievously injured or aged far beyond their prime, Worldbearers make a final trek into the deepest reaches of their given biomes and are not seen again. Legend has that they do not pass into death the same as other dragons, but are reclaimed back into the World in both body and spirit.*

*Worldbearers are not typically territorial. The entire world belongs to them and themselves to Her (the World), therefore they care little for boundaries. However, they are creatures of Balance, and will defend designated territory if they belong to a clan and the clan leaders enforce such a practice. Worldbearers do not seem to have much of an opinion on "outsiders" unless their presence begins to threaten the harmony of that particular area. In that same vein, however, Worldbearers can become agitated if a large number of their counterpart-Worldbearer suddenly appear or exceed them in capacity.*

*Despite that they have no interest in upholding physical boundaries between other dragons, a Worldbearer's notable influence on the surrounding environment only extends so far before their magic and awareness of the immediate area tapers to natural levels. The older a Worldbearer, the wider and more vivid their affect on the environment. Some Worldbearers will remain in one place forever, feeling connected to a particular place and dedicating their lives to maintaining its longevity, while others have an innate desire to roam and affect as much of the World as possible during their life span. Though their magic does not extend across the entire Globe, they are capable of noticing when something catastrophic occurs, even if at the opposite side of the World entirely.*

*Worldbearers can take Worldbearer mates from outside of their particular Corner. It is not unheard of for a Worldbearer to take a counterpart as its mate, and surprisingly common once such particular Worldbearers have found a balance between their ecological dominions. Because of this direct harmony, the children they produce are almost never Worldbearers, simply because there is no need to produce more once their parents have settled the region's worldly magic.*

*If the Worldbearers were to be grouped by each Corner and assigned an overall alignment type, the Corners could be described as:*

*Verdant Earth - Chaotic Neutral*

*Barren Desert - Chaotic Neutral*

*Open Ocean - Neutral Good*

*Glacial Peak - True Neutral*

*This does not mean all individuals of each Corner will share the same alignment; only that this appears to be the most prevalent for each type.*

## Favored Items

### Familiars - Verdant Earth

Moths, Dryads, Stranglers, Owls, Janustraps, Phytocats, Foxes, Cerdae, Pohips, Florons, Deer, Tortoises, Fungi, Aardvark, Morphos, Boar, Parda, Stompers, Garden Watchers, Pansy, Floracats, Kelpies, Earth, Nature, and Shadow Familiars.

### Familiars - Barren Desert

Owlcats, Gyres, Centaurs, Jackalopes, Serthis, Bonepriests, Serpents, Scorpions, Blacktalon Striker, Condorwing Champion, Falconclaw Warrior, Vultures, Sphinxes, Lionsnakes, Greattusk, Quillruners, Rockback Charger, Goats, Fiendcat, Hydras, Ophiotaurus, Aviar, Dodos, Rocs, Skira, Marzal, Burrowers, Moles, Bonepickers, Hyenas, Cobras, Pangolins, Light, Fire, and Earth Familiars

### Familiars - Open Ocean

Bluefin Charger, Gyres, Tadhops, Maren, Coralclimbers, Gulls, Crabs, Puffers, Sea Serpents, Wavehoppers, Deeprealm Hunter, Spiney Whale, Hydrenas, Greatshells, River Flights, Seals, Threshers, Flycatchers, Noggles, Sandstrikes, Toridae, Hippocampi, Sturgeon, Crayfish, Hawksbill Goliath, Crystalhide Jester, Wartoads, Eels, Octoflyers, Mammertees, Porpoises, Depin, Mantas, Megashrimp, Lurefish, Sea Dragons, Glamourtails, Loaches, Cormorants, Whales, Swans, Waveskimmers, Caimen, Geckos, Flatbills, Ice and Water Familiars

### Familiars - Glacial Peak

Pocketmice, Centaurs, Frostbite Dryad, Ethereal Trickster, Umbra Wolf, Pale Greattusk, Spectral Duskflapper, Overcharged Silverbeast, Elk, Wolves, Rasa, Shalebucks, Nochnyr, Permafrost Impaler, Hoarfrost Mauler, Turkeys, Longnecks, Yetis, Clouddancers, Snow Streak, Vultures, Disoriented Spirits, Frostbite Hummingbird, Snowquall Floracat, Earth and Ice Familiars

## Variants and Requirements

### Verdant Earth Worldbearers

*Verdant Earth Worldbearers are mostly strongly in-tune with Nature and Earth magic, as their concentration lies in the foliage and soil of the world. They bring rich, healthy vegetation wherever they go and fill the ground with nutrients to help foster the longevity of the greenlands for years to come. These are creatures of the Wild, who imbue life into the earth around them through the organic material available. This can manifest by flowers or brush springing forth in their wake, or the rejuvenation of wilted vegetation, the health of the animals that inhabit their space, the natural decay of dead things and proliferation of fungi, and so forth.*

*Most of these dragons are energetic and unpredictable, sometimes more animal-like than dragon. They are said to be the younger siblings to the Gladekeeper for their ability to sustain the flora and fauna of the world as she does, just on a smaller scale.*

*These Worldbearers are directly balanced by Glacial Peak Worldbearers.*

Verdant Earth Requirements
\*\* No Peridot
\*No Mantis or Radioactive

### Barren Desert Worldbearers

*Barren Desert Worldbearers are most strongly in-tune with Earth, Light, and Fire magic. Their affinity is dry, open plains, where the heat of the sun is most concentrated. Deserts are specialized biomes, but are still important for the world, and these particular Worldbearers are excellent at maintaining the proper lack of moisture to keep these arid environments thriving in their own unique way. Sands and cracked, dry plains fall under the dominion of these Worldbearers; they may be seen emerging from the dunes or leaving stretches of dusty, parched ground in their wake.*

*These dragons are swift and cunning, and often more daring than their counterparts. They are said to be the younger siblings to the Earthshaker for their kinship with the intricate magic of stone and sand. They are, in essence, the Spirits of the Desert.*

*These Worldbearers are directly balanced by Open Ocean Worldbearers.*

Barren Desert Requirements

### Open Ocean Worldbearers

*Open Ocean Worldbearers are most strongly in-tune with the waterways of the world, the largest being the sea, and thus have a deep connection to Water magic, Ice magic, and occasionally Lightning magic. Any water resource falls within their domain-- not just those of the ocean, but includes rivers, lakes, streams, pools, etc, though each Worldbearer appears to have a unique affinity for a particular type of waterway, and some are so specialized that they are most closely connected to storms. As the most versatile of the Worldbearers, these dragons have a wide range of abilities when it comes to cleansing and maintaining the world's natural water resources. They can provide rain where there previously was drought, purify water that was left rank with pollutants, reroute streams for better flow, or even change the tides as necessary.*

*More often than not, these dragons are calm and curious and the most friendly of the Worldbearers. They are said to be the younger siblings of the Tidelord because of their abilities.*

*These Worldbearers are directly balanced by Barren Desert Worldbearers.*

Open Ocean Requirements
\*Tapir colors not allowed: phthalo, teal, turquoise
\*\*Speckle colors allowed: azure, caribbean, cerulean, cyan, robin, turquoise, ultramarine-sky
\*\*\*Poison colors allowed: teal, robin, cobalt, periwinkle, splash, phthalo
Capsule\*
\*Capsule colors not allowed: lapis, denim

### Glacial Peak Worldbearers

*Glacial Peak Worldbearers are most strongly in-tune with Ice and Earth magic. They are the mountains, the glaciers, the tallest heights that the world can reach and the most hardy of what the world has to offer. Their abilities sustain these ranges, making sure that the peaks do not crumble and that the ice does not give way under the sun. They are directly responsible for maintaining the ice shelf of the world and anchoring the land in place, as well as ensuring the caverns in the mountainside do not bring them to ruin. These Worldbearers see to the glaciers and monitor the climates to ensure that there is balance in the seasons between heat and cold. Their power lies in stillness and stasis.*

*They are the most slow-moving out of all the Worldbearers, as well as the most solitary, though are rumored to also be the most wise. However, these dragons are the least interested in maintaining the survival of living things than they are the endurance of the world's physical surface, for mountains and glaciers will continue to thrive far beyond any such life that has passed by. They are said to be the younger siblings of both the Icewarden and the Earthshaker, for they are equal parts frost and stone (albeit some may have more inclination toward ice altogether).*

*These Worldbearers are directly balanced by Verdant Earth Worldbearers.*

Glacial Peaks Requirements
\*Metallic colors allowed: ice
silver - grey,
taupe - driftwood, robin - turquoise
\*Opal colors allowed: white-ice and robin-turquoise