Vulture

"Oh, yes. Her popularity, such as it was, is plummeting. Everyone agrees that she's been quite useless so far. Has the kingdom improved in any way? No one's life is any better, except of course for her own Outclaws, who are now rolling in treasure up there in the palace. I'm sure you saw that yourself. She pours wealth into the talons of those who bow and scrape to her, and she doesn't care a fig for anyone else."

— Vulture to Qibli about Thorn, Darkness of Dragons

Template:Charbox Vulture is an elderly male SandWing and one of the main antagonists of Darkness of Dragons. He is the founder of the Talons of Power, an organization located in the Scorpion Den, with the purpose of killing Queen Thorn and placing Onyx on the throne. He is the father of Cobra and the grandfather of Qibli, Sirocco and Rattlesnake.

Before his disappearance, Vulture was extremely wealthy, well-respected, and powerful within the Scorpion Den. After Thorn left the Den to fulfill her duties as queen, Vulture unofficially became its temporary new ruler. His fate and location now are both unknown.

Appearance

Vulture has pale yellow scales dotted with many dragon skull tattoos, which symbolize the number of dragons that Vulture has killed. Because of his skull tattoos, Qibli says he could be mistaken for a leopard. He has a hooked snout (possibly his namesake), black eyes with golden rings like bottomless voids, and gold-leaf dip on his talons and SandWing tail barb. He wears several accessories, including two black-and-golden spider-shaped earrings, a black cloak lined with gold, and gold chains along his wings. He is also described as tall, with a long neck.

Personality

According to [[King Darkstalker/King Darkstalker|Darkstalker],Vulture is "a dragon made of paper who has never been happy one day in his life." Along with being cunning, deceitful, and sly, Vulture is selfish, conceited, and egotistical. He does not seem to care about anything other than wealth, infamy, and power, and deceived his own grandson, Qibli, in Darkness of Dragons in a plot to steal the SandWing throne. He is willing to backstab or kill anyone who stands in the way of his plans, and often views dragons as though they are equal to inanimate objects. Although his cruelty gives him power, Darkstalker eventually claimed him "easy to manipulate" showing that behind his dark, powerful and cruel exterior, he is a truly shallow dragon.

Biography

The Jade Mountain Prophecy

Moon Rising

Near the beginning of the story, Moonwatcher had a vision of Qibli backed against a wall glaring up at three larger dragons, who were later confirmed to be Vulture himself, Sirocco, and Rattlesnake. Into their sneering faces, Qibli curled up his tail and shouted, "Where is she?" In the vision, he was referring to Cobra, although in the book he never said those exact words. After Moon’s vision, ironically, Qibli said, “... The best news of my life is that I’ll never have to see any of my family ever again.”

Darkness of Dragons

When Onyx kidnapped Ostrich and took her back to the Scorpion Den, Qibli, along with Winter, came to rescue her. They were taken back to Vulture's compound by Sirocco and Rattlesnake, where Vulture took Qibli to see his mother's prison. He explained that if Cobra was to be free, then Qibli was to write down all of Thorn's secrets on a blank scroll and give it to Vulture. After Qibli, along with Winter, Ostrich, and Cobra, escaped Vulture's compound, Qibli had his mother arrested for treason - the plan all along had been to bring Cobra into Thorn's stronghold only to kill her via poison. Later, Vulture bombed Thorn's stronghold, holding the "Eye of Onyx" in his talons - however, Thorn appeared and explained that Vulture was holding a fake, created both to trick thieves and spare their lives. After Onyx attempted to kill her, Thorn suggested a royal challenge instead, since all the past challengers have come this way. Onyx accepted, and both she and Vulture believed she was worthy due to her royal blood. Afraid Onyx would be chosen, Qibli summoned a sandstorm with Princess Anemone's weather bracelets, and in the chaos of the storm, Vulture disappeared from the stronghold completely with no warning or sign. Throughout the book, Qibli always had a suspicion that Vulture would end up working for Darkstalker and become a juggernaut, taking over the world. That suspicion proved to be true later when Vulture is seen in The Lost City of Night, bargaining with Darkstalker about their alliance. Near the end of the book, when Darkstalker tried to convince Qibli to become an animus and work with him, he used his power to teleport Vulture in front of him. Darkstalker then enchanted Vulture many times, including to make him act like a hatchling, make him feel guilty for everything bad he had done, and make him be the best grandfather for Qibli. Darkstalker then made Vulture disappear. It is unknown what happened to him afterward.

Relationships

Cobra

Though he is Cobra's father, he seemed to not be very loving and instead, valuing his power and wealth. He also uses her for his own plans, and is found scheming with her. Vulture also has his own daughter raising dragonets in order for them to succeed him one day.

Quotes

"It's perfectly normal to feel like your pet must think the way you do, [...] It's happened to many dragons. The Camels' Rights Movement. Iguanas Are Dragons, Too. Save the Scavengers. World Walrus Fund. All very sweet, and very misguided. Save your energy for dragons, who can appreciate it."

― to Winter, about scavengers

---

"Oh, yes, [...] Her erstwhile popularity, such as it was, is plummeting. Everyone agrees that she's been quite useless so far. Has the kingdom improved in any way? No one's life is any better, except of course for her own Outclaws, who are now rolling in treasure up there in the palace. She pours wealth into the talons of those who bow and scrape to her, and she doesn't care a fig for anyone else."

― to Qibli, about Queen Thorn

---

"And these tragic bombings, tsk, [...] Dragons are dying and she hasn't done one thing about it. She has no idea who's responsible. If she even cares. But I do. I have found the culprits! I am the only one who can protect our tribe."

― about Queen Thorn

---

"You think you are, [...] Because she stole you away and brainwashed you. You haven't thought for yourself in years. You do exactly what she tells you to and think whatever she tells you to think. You're not your own dragon, Grandson. Everyone knows her group is basically a cult. It's true; ask anyone. The whole kingdom has figured out that her Outclaws are blind followers. You don't want to be a blind follower, do you, Qibli? Don't you want to think for yourself?"

― to Qibli, about Queen Thorn and the Outclaws

---

"Friends! [...] SandWings! Talons of Power! Listen to me! [...] Have we really come to this? [...] SandWings fighting SandWings? So soon after the war that tore our tribe apart? [...] Look how divided we are! Do you know why we fight each other? [...] Because we are ruled by a false queen, [...] one who does not deserve this palace! She doesn't care about anyone but herself! She stole this throne to make herself rich! She's been letting SandWings die all over her kingdom without lifting a talon to save them. A good ruler would find the dragons responsible and protect you all! We need someone who will see the danger clearly! Our tribe is under attack, fellow SandWings!"

― to the SandWings at Thorn's Stronghold

---

"My friends, it is time for a new ruler of the SandWings!"

― to the SandWings, at Thorn's stronghold

Trivia

• In Darkness of Dragons, he says "Great snakes", which is a famous expression the character Tintin uses in his movie.
• Each of Vulture's skull tattoos represents a dragon he has killed. This gruesome display was also taken up by two of his grandchildren, Rattlesnake and Sirocco. It is rumored they have the tattoos for the same purpose.
• Vulture is the name of Upper Egypt, as Cobra is the name of Lower Egypt.
• According to Cobra, Vulture has always been interested in a business alliance with the IceWings.

Family Tree

Unknown

Vulture

Unknown

Cobra

Sirocco

Rattlesnake

Qibli

Gallery

• 
  A typical SandWing (lineart), by Joy Ang
• A typical SandWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold
  A typical SandWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold
• Reference by Platypus the SeaWing
  Reference by Platypus the SeaWing
• 
  Reference by SpaceshipEarth
• 
  SandWing Sigil by Platypus the SeaWing
• Vulture by Spookapi
  Vulture by Spookapi
• Hey, Gramps by XshadowseekerX
  Hey, Gramps by XshadowseekerX
• Vulture by PastelMorning
  Vulture by PastelMorning
• Vulture by hakkenryu-dchneo6
  Vulture by hakkenryu-dchneo6
• Vulture by SharkCatz
  Vulture by SharkCatz
• 
  Charismatic by PastelMorning
• Vulture by Tailbite10
  Vulture by Tailbite10
• Vulture by SpaceshipEarth
  Vulture by SpaceshipEarth
• Ambitions by Scarletwind-Shade
  Ambitions by Scarletwind-Shade
• Vulture's family by giratina135
  Vulture's family by giratina135
• Vulture by KateNorthDragon
  Vulture by KateNorthDragon
• Vulture’s banner, from HomeBase
  Vulture’s banner, from HomeBase
• 
  Vulture by QueenClam/GDTrekkie
• Vulture by IronDragon
  Vulture by IronDragon

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