Son of a male Sacrilege and Dahizhia Radaavi, Szhraad is quite the dramatic looking creature. He is usually found with a draconic-feline centaur lower half, with large webbed wings, and a semi-avian torso and amazingly strange head. A sharp beak, curved horns, and long wedge shaped ears complete this picture, along with the tightly curly hair...
Oh, and the long spiked tail...
Szhraad spent much time in White Valley soaking up the sunlight, as his major powers all involve taking energy from it and using it. He can use illusion powers, an electrical attack (short range), and he can heal himself with exposure to sunlight. It is this that allowed him to conquer any hint at mortality. He can also shapeshift nicely, but prefers not to. He can sense any information he needs, simply syphoning it out of whatever source (electronic, mental, deadzone) he finds it at.
His skin is dark gold all over, with shiny "spots" of a different texture. He has markings that resemble war paint, on his beak, and showy plumage on his arms and chest in brilliant shades when he desires. His hair is "mud" and "light mud", and his eyes are dark. Just dark.
He can fly with the wings, but he must concentrate hard, for they are very thin skin. He discovered his ability to heal, after having ripped them trying to soar.
He stays on the ground, most of the time, in the ship. He also likes snakes, ground animals, and the like, so he is found often basking with the snakes or lizards, on their huge "sun rock" in the middle of the "desert" part of the ship.
To a certain extent, he enjoys the company of animals more than people. He is not tempted to try sucking out information from them, whereas when he is around people, they always think too much!
His quarters are airy, and have a huge bank of specially made sun lamps which very successfully recreate any shade of sunlight needed. He is popular with the other "basking" people of the ship.
"Where are we headed?" He asked, politely declining to just read Viridia's mind. The grey-and-violet woman smiled at her distant kin, and indicated one of the monitors.
"It is a place called the Starlight Hatchery. We're going to see about another dragon. Or more."
"I like dragons," Szhraad said, sitting on his wide haunches and wrapping his barbed tail about his forepaws. He tilted his head. "What kind?"
"They seem to be nicely unique. Horned, they have a kind of ear flap (I think), and they come in very pretty colors. They'll like flying about in the main air deck, don't you think?"
Szhraad looked at the holographic representation of the dragon, and decided that yes, he did indeed like the looks of these Hatchery dragons.
"May I ask to tend one?" He said, timid around his ancestress moreso than any other on the ship. "I know they are not pets... I have seen the others with their friends... It would be fun to fly with one..."
Viridia privately wondered if he didn't actually mean something much more scandalous, but she nodded. "I think they will have you, my sweet. Besides, you could teach them to fly, couldn't you?"
The fact that Szhraad had a beak never denied him the ability to smirk broadly. He did so around the point on his face, and Viridia laughed.
"Then I shall see about signing you up at the Hatchery. Sarai has communicated with me in the past. I think you'll make a fine dragon's bond."
Obviously filled with glee, Szhraad stood again. "I will make some room, then. I hope that the dragon I might raise likes warm sunlight..."
Viridia chuckled to herself as the youngest-seeming of their immortal crew wandered back to his private chambers. He would indeed be interesting to watch with a dragon around...
"It is just like our old home..." said the four-footed Zekiran. "White Valley was hot and sandy..."
"You still remember your birthplace," Cloud said, "as I remember mine..." Her voice was haunted, but their concentration went back onto the eggs quickly. There were two hatchlings on the sands, and while a black dragon hatched the green already out there decided that the girls weren't right for her.
"I'm Marantath," she announced. "Just for your info, that black wasn't going to pick you. I told him to back off the minute he came out of the shell. Hmm, you know," and the green looked him over carefully. "We should work on those wings. You could fly with them, if you got them just a little stronger, you know."
People laughed, but Szhraad waved his thin wings in the air. "You think so? Oh! Oh," he shook his beaked head, "where are my manners, Marantath? Let us get you something to eat, and then we can talk about my wings."
"Your wings will carry you soon," Szhraad announced.
"I know, and I will love that. I still think you do not try hard enough."
The centaur-creature shrugged and shook his head. "Now, let's get to the class. I want to know if you can be sent up without me riding you. It doesn't seem too comfortable for me... Or you!"
"I would endure anything for you, my friend." Marantanth said, proudly.
"I told you you could do it," Marantanth commented, warmly. She rested with the others who had completed their circuit of the flight dome, and her insect-winged companion landed beside her.
"Well, as much as I could. Now, when can we expect to find you a mate?"
Marantanth gazed at him with a calm, level eye, but said nothing.
