The Conflict of Noctus

The gryphons had taken greedily from the land until even the skies went quiet. Have you ever noticed how important birdsong is for your sanity? I didn’t. Not until I lived without it. It seems the founders of Noctus felt the same effects as I, for I don’t know how else to explain how quickly they turned on one another. As soon as they realized their only options were to cooperate or to survive, against all odds they chose the latter.

– excerpt from The Conflict of the Gryphons of Noctus by Djehutimes “Ibisdance”

Until Moon 60 A.N., the gryphons of Noctus thrived, eating as much food as they could find - but prey began to grow scarce and showed no signs of recovery. Despite some gryphons expressing their anxieties about how hard it was to find mature, plump prey, the clans continued. They had eliminated many predators from the area, replacing the top of the food chain with their own ranks and tearing Noctus apart.

It took a few more cycles for the Famine of Noctus to become official. On Moon 92 A.N., a gathering was called where all four clans agreed that it was time to become more conservative with food consumption. This wasn’t enough. The population of the clans was higher than ever before, and with hungry mouths came higher hunting rates.

The clans began to come up with their own ideas. The SkyKin considered sending some of their gryphons to the North. The SunKin considered looking for another home. The RainKin fought amongst themselves.

Until the gathering of Moon 96 A.N….

Everyone knew that they were in trouble. It showed in their thin bodies and their worried eyes. Despite this stress, the gathering began peacefully with each leaders saying their part. It wasn’t until the clouds parted and showed the moon that things would change.

“You’re hiding something,” said Sunstar, looking at the moonlit face of her companion.

Rainstar replied, “Aren’t we all?”

“What could we be hiding, Rainstar?” she pressed.

For once, telling the truth was the worst choice Rainstar could make. She did so anyways.

Rainstar told Sunstar that she and Fenmoon were considering taking some of the southern SunKin land for herself. Immediately and uncharacteristically of the typically docile leader, Sunstar declared that Rainstar’s clan would have to fight for it. The two bickered, which spiraled out of control despite the moonspeakers and other leaders trying their best to soothe them. Sunstar declared war, and Rainstar agreed. From the moment the gathering was dismissed, the Conflict of Noctus officially began.

Many of Rainstar's gryphons hesitated to fight the SunKin. This didn't feel right - not on such peaceful land that had been like so for many moons. This caused a lot of the RainKin to flounder against Sunstar's advances, the SunKin beginning to stake claim to many territories north of the Turbulent River. This gave Fenmoon an idea.

When Fenmoon approached Andromeda about his plot, the dragon was displeased. She told Fenmoon that as she heard more and more about the war, she was more and more saddened by it. She asked Fenmoon to put an end to the war. Instead, Fenmoon did the unspeakable: they let their own selfishness take a hold of them and twisted Andromeda’s words to their advantage. 

Fenmoon lied to the RainKin, saying that Andromeda wanted the RainKin to take other Kin land and thrive as “her chosen Kin.” Those who had hesitated to join the war under Rainstar's rally were pressured into joining the fray, even those unequipped to fight. Fenmoon ordered Rainstar to block off the Cave of Stars with a few warriors so other moonspeakers couldn’t enter. Together, Fenmoon and Rainstar were a terrifying duo. 

The two clans were locked in a bloody battle. Hunters from the clans began to join the fight, then artisans as the clans grew desperate. For ten moons, it was a massacre.

But there was one clan left to join the fray.

More than half of Skystar’s Kin had left Noctus to let the remaining gryphons thrive, so the SkyKin were doing fine. However, a war raged on just out of view. Many gryphons of the SkyKin grew worried hearing about the devastation and contemplated whether they should strike while the others were weak. This gave Skystar an idea. He couldn’t live with himself knowing that he let the SunKin and RainKin destroy one another. He would end this war himself.

The SkyKin are incredibly talented warriors. Though they are not sturdy like the RainKin or quick-witted like the SunKin, they had the advantage of strong hearts.

Skystar let it be known that his warriors were not out to kill, only pacify. But this didn’t mean a few casualties didn’t occur - like Fenmoon.

The goose gryphon was cocky. He thought that he had the protection of three lives granted by Andromeda, but following his betrayal, she had taken them away. Fenmoon died at the talons of a SkyKin warrior over the Gulf of Shards and fell into the ocean, washed away by the waves. Many of the RainKin warriors immediately backed down, weakening the RainKin forces. Though this made the SunKin think they could push deeper into the jungle, the SkyKin met them at the borders and held them back.

Rainstar soon followed. Up until the Conflict, she kept all of her lives. Five of the six were ripped from her by SunKin warriors; she fought ruthlessly alongside her Kin no matter what. The final life was valiantly lost, for she threw herself over a wounded warrior and was overpowered by two warriors from both the SkyKin and the SunKin.

Sunstar had always had it rough, losing a few of her lives to creatures on her territory as she protected her clan. As Skystar fought in the Sunbathing Hills and pushed back the RainKin to their territory once and for all, he was there to witness Sunstar’s sixth and final death at the frontlines.

“I didn’t want this,” Sunstar told him.

But Skystar wanted her to leave this world in peace. As he laid his talons against her head, he told her, “None of us did, but everyone forgives you,” and watched her life slip away like sand in his grasp.

By Moon 106 A.N., it was over. The clans had lost their leaders and will to fight. From a population of over five hundred gryphons across the clans, the numbers had dwindled to the double digits over the span of ten moons. The only leader left was Skystar, who retired immediately following the Conflict.

Now over fifty moons later, the clans have rebuilt their foundations. New leaders are in place, the code has been rectified, the clans have learned from their mistakes, and prey has slowly been repopulating the territories. Memories of the Conflict are fading as happiness and peace return to Noctus. 

But there is no telling how long this peace will last. Though Andromeda has forgiven the clans, it’s been proven she can’t protect them from everything. The small clans will have to work together if they want to fight against the dangers that lie in their future.