The Embrace

## Official Description

The Embrace is a chain of four islands set in the middle of the Claim, set as a safe haven for dragons under the rule of High Queen Maya Prasanna. It has multiple habitats to home the dragons that live there. Its sub islands Niflhelm and Icestorm Island are hot and cold climates for dragons adjusted for those environments.

## Geography

The Embrace consists of many habitats: forests, mountains, deserts, grasslands, bamboo forests, and rocky plateaus. There are multiple ponds and lakes spread across the island, with a river known as The Trail of Tears connecting all of them. There are multiple mountains: Lone Light, Unlandable Cove, St. Agelies Mountain and Crest of Rho. Beaches surround the coast around the northeast and the south and west.

Niflhelm is a volcanic region, and houses the dormant volcano Devil's Thirst. There are also hot springs on the northwest side. On the south side is a beach and Blank Heart Bay.

Icestorm Island has snowy plains, tundras, and glaciers. There are two mountains: Snowchants Mountain and Cloud Shear.

## Layout

The Embrace is marked in certain areas and named for reference, as with the other clan's islands.

### The Embrace

* Mother's Heart
* Mother's Crown
* Mother's Watch
* Mother's Rise
* Wild Dragon Cliff
* Xi Bamboo Forests
* Neverglades
* Dragon's Edge
* Raven Point
* Guardian's Peak (Mountain)
* Lone Light (Mountain)
* Unlandable Cove
* Greycatch
* Sun's Climb
* St. Agelies Mountain
* Crest of Rho (Mountain)
* Blackwing Arch
* Red Drifts
* Dark Deep
* Red Echoes
* Barren Lands
* Dryrun Canyon
* Talon's Shore
* Rosy Shores
* Wrecker's Reef

### Icestorm Island

* Frostfigures
* Icy Wastes
* Snowchants Mountain
* Cloud Shear (Mountain)

### Niflhelm

* Devil's Thirst (Volcano)
* Jotun Hot Springs
* Black Heart Bay

## Notable Places

There are a few places that are of interest on the main island.

### Main Castle

The main castle is located in the middle of Mother's Heart, laying atop a flat hill. This is where Maya and her friends, excluding Luthais, who lives in the forests. The castle has 5 floors, including a basement, with over 100 rooms inside. Inside the castle, there are basic necessities, like bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. There are also living rooms, libraries, an indoor pool, study rooms, conservatories, sun rooms, lounges, an observatory, bars, theaters, dance studios, a gym, a spa, and even a playroom.

### Storage Unit

Spread across the islands are storage units, where weapons, food, materials, and other supplies that cannot fit in the castle are stored. These are indicated by pink circles on the map.

### The Jinsei Chamber

    The Jinsei Chamber is the life-force of The Claim, powering all that lives and thrives in the realm. It is located on Lone Light on The Embrace, hidden behind a locked door that only High Queen Maya can open.

Ever since Daenerys attempted to open the Jinsei, Banshees guard the entrance from any challengers or onlookers.

Every seven years, a pure Dragonborn is born of the Jinsei. This was a lead up to create the perfect specimen to fit the prophecy, and once Maya was born, the cycle of the Jinsei giving life was ceased.

### Luthais' Hut

    Luthais, one of Maya's healers, lives in the woods to be closer to nature and the dragons, and to make sure that the dragons can get 24/7 care. There is an opening in the back, allowing dragons to come in and out with ease. You can often find dragons lurking about, seeking help from the healer elf. It is also one of the few emergency hideouts, as underneath the floorboards, there's a hidden cellar where everyone can hide.

### The Spire

    The Spire is a pavilion where many events occur, such as The Festival of Lights, executions, and coronations. It is also where dragons are encouraged to take their hatchlings to socialize with other hatchlings during the week. At the edge of The Spire, there is a single throne meant for High Queen Maya. More thrones are added when the boys are crowned High Kings.

### Horse Stables

The Stables are located beside the castle and are home to about 15 horses. Servants Zenobia and Castilla take care of the horses all throughout the year. The stables have a large, expansive pasture for the horses to spend the day out in. Sometimes, when having to lay low, it is preferred to use horses instead of dragons so being sighted is more unlikely.

## Local Wildlife

Nearly all species of dragon can be found under Queen Maya's rule. As of the end of the second book, there are about 5,700 dragons on The Embrace, varying in all sizes and classes. On the islands, you are able to find many flora and fauna, ranging from large mammals to avian species to invasive insects. In the oceans, there is a wide variety of deep sea creatures that can be found. Although you are able to find Earthrealm species on The Embrace, you will also be able to find species native to The Claim.

## Trivia

* Originally, The Embrace only had one main island, but to maintain some sense of realism, it was split into four different islands to accommodate the different environments.
* The Jinsei Chamber was not originally planned for the book, but as Minx was playing Mortal Kombat X (the origin of the Jinsei) she suddenly got the idea.
* The Embrace's appearance has been reworked at least four times, each time providing a different shape for the islands until Minx settled upon the final design.
* There are a few dragons that can be found on The Embrace, but are untrainable (ex. Exterminators, Venomtails, Frostbiters, etc). The only reason they are living on the island is due to Maya being a Dragonborn, so she is able to communicate with them and work out a relationship with the seemingly untrainable species.

## Image Sources

1. Luthais' Hut: https://victoriabarnett.artstation.com/projects/dOqvAW?album\_id=1080846
2. The Spire: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1151640/Horizon\_Zero\_Dawn\_Complete\_Edition/
3. Jinsei: https://mortalkombat.fandom.com/wiki/Jinsei\_Chamber