Defined by its haunting, foggy landscapes and thick evergreen forests, the Forest Dukedom is a beautiful - but frightening - place. Sound doesn’t carry far in the woods, making it easy for dragons unfamiliar with the geography to get lost. It is extremely fertile, allowing the massive trees to grow large enough to support cities in their branches, and the main export of the region is fruits and vegetables.
Their Duke/Duchess is a skilled diplomat, and serves as the outward face of the VeilWings.
Their Duke/Duchess is a skilled diplomat, and serves as the outward face of the VeilWings.
Sparrow - Capital of the Forest Dukedom
City name, concept, and writing by Mar-ble
Sparrow is an immense city, overwhelming at first sight and dizzying to traverse.
It sprawls out between five of the oldest Veil Pines on the island, a massive network of wooden walkways, platforms, houses, and markets, all dangling hundreds of feet above the ground. Lining the trunk are the oldest of VeilWing homes, the heaviest - such as the Forest Duke’s Palace - are at the very bottom, the only place their weight can be supported.
Founded by Duchess Gambit and her husband Octavian, it remains a thriving city to this day, and acts as a trade hub for the three Dukedoms.
It sprawls out between five of the oldest Veil Pines on the island, a massive network of wooden walkways, platforms, houses, and markets, all dangling hundreds of feet above the ground. Lining the trunk are the oldest of VeilWing homes, the heaviest - such as the Forest Duke’s Palace - are at the very bottom, the only place their weight can be supported.
Founded by Duchess Gambit and her husband Octavian, it remains a thriving city to this day, and acts as a trade hub for the three Dukedoms.
Sheer-Rock Ruins - Ancient SilverWing City
City name, concept, and writing by Mar-ble
Rising up on the cliffs facing the Basalt Dukedom is a massive city from the time of the SilverWings, sculpted from ripples of marble, growths of pyrite and pillars of basalt centuries ago. There are a number of smaller ruins all across the fertile island, but this is the best-preserved, looking as though it were just shaped yesterday.
Alba - Shield Against the GustWings
City name, concept, and writing by Mar-ble
Alba is less a city and more a garrison, a massive place built along the trunks of large coniferous trees with silver-tipped needles, and almost always under a constant layer of snow which blows from the high peaks of Gust Island. While it resides in the territory of the Forest Dukedom, it is controlled jointly by all three Dukes/Duchesses, serving as the military arm of the tribe.
It was built there as a defense against the GustWings shortly after the dragons arrived in the Blessed Isles, for fear of their rumoured cannibalism, and has been maintained ever since. The soldiers trained in the Magma Dukedom arrive here, in a cool, verdant patch of forest. It is almost peaceful; there have not been any major GustWing attacks in the history of Veil Island, so many dragons view military service simply as a chance to leave behind their home Dukedom and travel to somewhere less smoke-filled and noxious.
It was built there as a defense against the GustWings shortly after the dragons arrived in the Blessed Isles, for fear of their rumoured cannibalism, and has been maintained ever since. The soldiers trained in the Magma Dukedom arrive here, in a cool, verdant patch of forest. It is almost peaceful; there have not been any major GustWing attacks in the history of Veil Island, so many dragons view military service simply as a chance to leave behind their home Dukedom and travel to somewhere less smoke-filled and noxious.
Basalt Dukedom
The Basalt Dukedom is located on the northern half of the main Island, mostly made up of massive cliffs and basalt formations; most of the VeilWing population lives here, fishing in the waters and carving their homes into the rock face. The Duke/Duchess here is, for the most part, concerned with keeping their citizens happy rather than defending the Island or presenting a good image to the other dragon tribes.
It only became a separate entity from the Magma Dukedom after the volcanic activity on half of the island ceased, and the dragons who lived there adopted new lifestyles, and their unique needs eventually drove them to declare themselves as their own Dukedom.
It only became a separate entity from the Magma Dukedom after the volcanic activity on half of the island ceased, and the dragons who lived there adopted new lifestyles, and their unique needs eventually drove them to declare themselves as their own Dukedom.
Dimhollow - Capital of the Basalt Dukedom
City name, concept and writing by Mar-ble
The city of Dimhollow is a reminder of the Basalt Dukedom's volcanic past. It is sheltered within the depths of a massive lava tube, long empty, with veins of bright candlestone imported from Glass Island to light up the city. Dimhollow continues for kilometers in this tunnel, from its mouth in the middle of the cliffside to where it borders the Magma Dukedom.
It is here that the Duke/Duchess of the Basalt Dukedom runs their half of the Island, hearing the complaints of their citizens and doing what they can to alleviate them.
It is here that the Duke/Duchess of the Basalt Dukedom runs their half of the Island, hearing the complaints of their citizens and doing what they can to alleviate them.
Aweless - the Forgotten Village
City name, concept and writing by ColdfrontTheIcewing, editing by Mar-ble
An ancient village only recently rediscovered near the northernmost point of Veil Island, buried deep the rocks.
It used to be home to the greatest markets and shops for the VeilWings, but was long forgotten after an lava vein was mined open, leaving many scarred and forcing all to flee the glorious village. Aweless was described as "more than a village but less than city"; many of homes and shops there had to be chiseled out of the cave it was found in.
No dragons have been reported living here, afraid that the accident that left this place a ghost town could happen again.
It used to be home to the greatest markets and shops for the VeilWings, but was long forgotten after an lava vein was mined open, leaving many scarred and forcing all to flee the glorious village. Aweless was described as "more than a village but less than city"; many of homes and shops there had to be chiseled out of the cave it was found in.
No dragons have been reported living here, afraid that the accident that left this place a ghost town could happen again.
Pompeii - the Buried City
City name from GlowingLoudly, concept and writing by Mar-ble
Pompeii, located near the border of the Basalt and Magma Provinces, was buried under heavy layers of ash centuries ago, back when the entirety of Veil Island was still volcanic. It has recently been rediscovered and the layers of ash have been removed, and the ruins trapped within restored to their former glory.
It is now a large, prosperous city, with a thriving population of VeilWings. Its theater is famous across the entire Island, and many actors flock to the city looking for their moment of glory.
It is now a large, prosperous city, with a thriving population of VeilWings. Its theater is famous across the entire Island, and many actors flock to the city looking for their moment of glory.
Magma Dukedom
Located on the southern half of Veil Island, the Magma Dukedom is extremely volcanic. Despite their ability to resist it, few VeilWings really want to live in the smoky, blazing hot area of the kingdom, but those who do are considered to be the toughest of all VeilWings, growing the largest.
The majority of the army comes from this Dukedom.
The majority of the army comes from this Dukedom.
Calamity - Capital of the Magma Dukedom
City name from GlowingLoudly, concept and writing by Mar-ble
A city in the deep caldera of the Dukedom's oldest volcano, the VeilWings of the Magma Dukedom have carved into the walls of the chasm to build lairs high up and away from the lava, believing themselves safe from the ravages of their volcanic home.
While this volcano has been dormant for centuries, with little sign of that changing any time soon, the last time it erupted, the ash blotted out the sun for a day... and brought an early winter to the Blessed Isles that lasted a year.
Only time will tell if the dragons of Calamity are safe, or if their city's name is a warning of things to come.
While this volcano has been dormant for centuries, with little sign of that changing any time soon, the last time it erupted, the ash blotted out the sun for a day... and brought an early winter to the Blessed Isles that lasted a year.
Only time will tell if the dragons of Calamity are safe, or if their city's name is a warning of things to come.
Crestfallen - The City in Shadow
City name and concept from DragonsJade239, writing by Mar-ble
Crestfallen is a city under the shadow of the smoky plumes from the nearby volcanoes, constantly in a state of night-like darkness. It was not always so, however; when it was built, the closest volcanoes were dormant, and the air above the city was clear, allowing sunlight to reach down to light the city.
Unfortunately, things changed, and Crestfallen's neighbouring volcanoes began to erupt once more, casting it into shadow ever since. The city is known as the birthplace of warriors, and dragons say that the fiercest fighters are bred in the darkness of Crestfallen.
Unfortunately, things changed, and Crestfallen's neighbouring volcanoes began to erupt once more, casting it into shadow ever since. The city is known as the birthplace of warriors, and dragons say that the fiercest fighters are bred in the darkness of Crestfallen.
Cimmerian - City of Smoke
City name from ColdfrontTheIceWing, concept and writing by Mar-ble
A city perched at the southernmost tip of Veil Island, where the lava meets the sea; it is eternally shrouded in heavy fog, and rivers of cherry-red lava travel through specially cut channels in the ground, directing them away from dragon homes. It is a hazy, busy place full of tall, narrow towers, described by some to be like 'the ribcage of a giant dragon emerging from the ground.'