Verfolgt castle records
Verfolgt Castle is an ancient structure dating back to the Third Age. It was once home to powerful mages, who could practice their magic in the isolation of the woods. The temple was always packed, and the coliseum bursting with the activity of mages testing their magic. A large tower topped with a magnificent observatory was called home by the ruler of the castle. Though very few mages actually lived in the castle, it was a hub for religious ceremonies and trade. The huge marketplace was one of the many crowning jewels within its walls. After the birth of the Alchemist, things began to change. The once lively city was now barren. The land around it began to sink into darkness. The woods grew thick and wild, thorns and mushrooms beginning to overtake the buildings. The castle fell into disrepair.
The infancy
In a time much closer to the present day, two dragons named Hallow and Bogwood stumbled across the castle as they wandered through the pines. They took residence within its walls, and soon other dragons began to join them. Things were good for the budding Clan. Times were simple then. This, however, was destined to pass. Very early on, a young Imperial named Takkun was taken into the castle. He was but a week old, but already teemed with ideals and ambition. He was not satisfied with the laid back attitudes of the progenitors. No, he needed structure, stability, order. He needed power. Takkun gathered his strength and drove Hallow and Bogwood from the castle, chasing them deep into the East Wood. He returned with scars and blood on his jaw. The Times of Turmoil had begun.
The times of turmoil
There was another dragon in the lair who saw himself fit to lead- Onodera, an egotistical Pearlcatcher who had come to the Tangled Wood looking for opportunity. The natural rivalry between Imperials and Pearlcatchers bolstered the two young dragons into intense competition. Both had their eyes set on the title of patriarch. Day and night they would quarrel, heated arguments turning quickly to physical combat. Takkun's sheer physical strength was matched to Onodera's magical prowess. The small Clan struggled to stay afloat as the competition for leadership raged on. There was one other who looked for a place of power in this difficult time. A small Spiral dragon named Sayaka watched the competition intently. She knew she could not match Onodera or Takkun in strength- not yet- and waited patiently for the opportunity to let herself into the fray.
Onodera's growth began to curb, while Takkun only became more powerful each day. Now he had an ally in his conquest: a Wildclaw by the name of Reima. The two of them began to dominate their Pearlcatcher adversary. It was now that Sayaka let herself in, siding with Onodera. She knew that they could never win against Takkun and Reima, but could foresee the opportunity of gaining respect in their eyes for fighting an uphill battle. She put her everything into the fight, all the while pushing Onodera towards a compromise. Between Sayaka's words and the onslaught from his opponents, Onodera eventually admitted defeat. Takkun admired the skill at which the Pearlcatcher had fought. He allowed Onodera to become a regent of the Clan, ruling alongside himself and Reima. Sayaka was discarded as an accomplice. Her time would come soon enough.
The age of instability
Dragons came and went from the castle as easily as the seasons changed. Only a select few had claimed it as their permanent home. Takkun and Reima now presided over everything. However, a castle run by two young and reckless dragons was sure to have its rocky patches, and under their careless rule life began to become difficult. Money was scant. Full bellies were a rarity. The castle residents had to do whatever they could to make ends meet. It was at this time that Sayaka began putting a new plan into motion. Cunning as she was, the Spiral began to harsh rumors about Reima. The Clan needed a scapegoat to pin their hardships on, and the matriarch fit the bill. Now faced with constant confrontation, the already irritable Wildclaw began to lash out. None could approach her without tasting the fury of her claws, not even Takkun. At the peak of the group's distrust, Sayaka met in secret with Takkun. She claimed to have a tip about Reima planning to overthrow him, warning him that if nothing was done about his ruling partner it would be too late, and his position of power would crumble. Takkun took the bait, becoming enraged. He joined Sayaka in leading a mob to drive Reima into exile. The Wildclaw fled angrily into the night, and she was never heard from again. Grateful for her devotion to him, Takkun made Sayaka his second regent, and she joined Onodera's side as a joint ruler of the castle.
Growth
With a solid leadership finally established, the Clan of the Winding Woods finally began to grow. Many dragons flooded to the castle, eager to find a new place to start their lives. The talents of these individuals was far and in-between. Some were highly talented, becoming head foragers or hunters, while others were considered useless leeches, doing nothing as they fed off of the success of others. However, in Takkun's mind, all growth was good growth. A larger Clan meant more power and prestige, two things he wanted very badly. So what if there were a few slackers in the midst? There was strength in numbers, after all. As time passed, Takkun's views began to change. It started to become hard to support the sheer amount of dragons that lived in the castle. Though their stores were vast, they would not sustain their ever growing population for long. Something had to be done.
purging of the masses
The wrath of a god is not forgiving. When Takkun looked out over his populous, something akin to disgust began to grow inside of him. This castle was supposed to be a symbol of his power and might, but all he saw was a mess of misguided dragons, quarreling amongst each other to find their place in the hierarchy. They had no respect for him or his regents. This was not the world he wanted. Takkun called the first Clan Council, meeting with Onodera and Sayaka in the seclusion of the old temple. All three of them agreed that something must be done about the Clan. After many days and nights of debate, one thing became clear: they must cleanse the Clan of the rabble. Recruiting the help of a Skydancer named Morrigan, the council gathered a few dragons into a small militia. There was no warning. One night the group sprang into action, dragging the screaming bodies of those deemed expendable off into the darkness. Some fought back, while others readily fled on their own from the castle. By the time the night was through, half of the Clan was gone. Some survived, some did not. The names of those lost have long since been forgotten.
the renaissance
After the Purging of the Masses, the Clan of the Winding Woods was left small and vulnerable. Dragons that had filled certain roles in the group were now gone. Confusion and fear was rampant among the ranks. Why had Takkun done this to them? What was their fate going to be? Dragons were too afraid to leave the castle for fear of punishment they could face. It was in this fear that Takkun established his total control over the Clan. Everyone knew his ability and feared him for it. He used his newfound control to begin shaping the Clan into what he desired. Development began on restoring the castle. Takkun took up permanent residence in the temple, from which he could enforce his rule. Morrigan began in starting an official Clan militia. Every effort was made to modernize the previously unused facilities, including the old marketplace and coliseum. Takkun and his regents Onodera and Sayaka began leading parties to pillage the Beast Clans, displaying their might and bringing loot back to the castle. Takkun was selectively allowing dragons to join his Clan- dragons that he believed had abilities he could profit from.
Word began to spread through the woods that Verfolgt Castle was becoming a home for artisans. Dragons from all over began to filter in, desperate to find a place where they belonged. Under the careful guard of the militia, the more delicate crafts could be honed without worry or care. The Clan's traveling circus bloomed, merchants of peculiar amenities set up shop in the marketplace, and other patrons of the fine arts carved their niches into the castle. Everyone knew that if you were looking for something peculiar and strange, you could surely find it in the castle.
the age of commerce
With high reputation above him, Takkun opened the gates of Verfolgt Castle to the outside world. His trusting subjects were more than ready for this new age to begin. At first, dragons from the surrounding area began to come, curiously peeking their heads into the stalls of the marketplace and watching artists performing on the streets with caution. Word that the castle was open to the public became a hot topic. Rumors that the Clan of the Winding Woods held strange and wonderful oddities hereto unknown by the common dragon drew in crowds of travelers. However, tourism was not enough. Takkun slowly began to allow outside vendors to rent spots in the marketplace, and bit by bit the castle began to grow into a trade hub. Being located in the heart of Sorineth helped with accessibility, and soon dragons from all over the land were traveling to and from the castle. The Clan only continues to grow to this day, under the watchful eye of Takkun and his council.