Zaigetsu is a young adult Feathered Forowa Dragon hailing from the secluded Empyrean Brood in the Hidden Valley surrounding the Unknown. Distinguished by his iridescent plumage of blue-violet, white, and pale silver, and his long, plumed tail that arcs behind him in motion like a streaming comet, Zaigetsu is one of the most visually striking of his kind.
Initially an elusive and reclusive creature, Zaigetsu would become known not for his speed or song—but for his steadfast loyalty to Zyla Nu Ten and The Sunsations, whom he accompanied across the far reaches of Osira.
Origins & History
Zaigetsu was born shortly after the Conjunction of the Realms, hatched within the Empyrean Brood from an egg rescued by the Talon-Inquisitor Solandir after The Wild Hunt decimated several Forowa nests in the Faewyld. Raised under the watchful eyes of the Archives’ scholars and beastmasters, he grew up sheltered yet sensitive, often withdrawing from other dragons in the brood.
His behavior was first noted in The Chronicles of Creatures (2nd Edition) by Drozara Emberbraid, a Dwarf beastmaster who now resides in the Archives after surviving the planar upheaval. In her writings, she refers to Zaigetsu as:
“Quiet before the storm. He never sang with the others. Kept to the cliffs. But he always watched. Waiting for someone worth flying beside.”
— Drozara Emberbraid, Chronicles of Creatures, Vol. II
That someone would come in the form of Zyla Nu-Ten, a wandering Sylvarin princess whose presence calmed the skittish dragon. Through quiet companionship, shared hunts, and long flights through the mists of the valley, the bond between Zyla and Zaigetsu grew—solidified by an unspoken understanding of exile, purpose, and persistence (see: The Edicts of Empyrean).
Role in the Sunsations’ Saga
When Zyla returned to the City of Hojo, Zaigetsu followed (unbeknownst to her), gliding over the Sakura Spirit Woods before taking roost atop the Imperial City Palace. When the Sunsations set their sights for Norska, Zaigetsu joined them, ferrying Zyla and her companions over the Unknown and Forlorn Flames of Fyrashan.
During a harrowing ambush by Varaghast Ghuul and his lich dragon Azrythal, Zaigetsu was struck mid-flight and crash-landed into the Veil of Valkur. His body, riddled with necrotizing wounds, was barely saved by Zyla’s intervention. Though grounded, he continued to accompany the Sunsations through the bitter wilds of Norska, and was present—soaring high above the battlefield—during the climactic confrontation in The Tides of Khaos. From his vantage, he circled the remains of Skald, The Shattered, ready to intervene if his companions below required it.
Later, Zaigetsu would accompany Zyla, Nika Nu Ten, Ramune Leone, Eremoz, and Kairus the Brass into the Unknown in pursuit of Kul'Khan, the King of the Jungles. It was here that Zaigetsu proved invaluable once more—collapsing the Unknown upon a cabal of Saurus Warlocks with his thunderbreath and saving Ramune and Kairus moments before the structure fell into ruin (see: Beneath the Blood Moon).
His rescue, however, came at great emotional cost. When Kul’Khan emerged from the temple’s remains, carrying the broken body of Zyla and the lifeless form of Nika, Zaigetsu keened—a long, sorrowful cry that echoed through the jungle canopy. Though Zyla survived, Zaigetsu never forgot the pain etched in her eyes when she gazed upon her fallen sister.
Abilities & Traits
- Thunderbreath: Zaigetsu’s exhalation manifests as a sonic-laced cyclone that can rip structures apart or scatter foes into the air.
- High-Altitude Maneuvering: As a Forowa Dragon, Zaigetsu is capable of speeds reaching up to 250 ft per second and can perform acrobatic aerial maneuvers through tight canyons and dense jungle canopies.
- Stormborne Screech: When emotionally distressed, Zaigetsu can release a piercing sonic screech that disrupts magical concentration and startles enemies.
- Bonded Resilience: His bond with Zyla Nu-Ten grants him enhanced willpower and regeneration when fighting alongside her, a trait noted by Drozara in her recent field notes.
Legacy
Zaigetsu now journeys alongside Zyla, often seen flying solitary patrols through the clouds above the southeastern regions of the The Sands of Serrakhan. While he remains bonded to Zyla, he has shown increased interest in exploring the Prime Plane.
He is widely regarded as a living symbol of the Faewyld’s lingering grace in the mortal world—a creature both ancient and ever-changing, whose loyalty inspires hope even admist the darkest skies.