You get a vinyl sticker and you get a vinyl sticker!
over 3 years ago – Fri, May 07, 2021 at 08:13:21 PM

 Hello new tea dragon parents!

 We don't know how to say this, but you folks are incredible!! Actually, we have a better way to say it...

We're going to send every backer a FREE VINYL STICKER of Mountain Chamomile! 

The vinyl stickers are scratch proof, weather proof, and they'll look sharp on your water bottle, computer, favorite tea mug, or canister of loose leaf!

These stickers will be packaged and shipped with your other pledge items in September. Chamomile is grumpy by nature, but you all made him a little less grumpy with your love. 

THANK YOU and PAR-TEA ON! (Sincere apologies for the terrible pun. We don't know why we're like this.)

Amber O'Neill, Kay O'Neill, and the entire Oni / Lion Forge Team

How to Play the Autumn Harvest Card Game!
over 3 years ago – Wed, May 05, 2021 at 02:54:20 AM

Hi lovely people,

Welcome to the second week of our tea dragon campaign! We're thrilled to hear that so many of you have been introduced to the Autumn Harvest Card Game for the first time. To help any new players, we wanted to send you a quick how-to video made by the fantastic Game Boy Geek (included below). 

Explore the secrets of Tea Dragon caretaking in this enchanting game of friendship and fantasy! 

In Autumn Harvest, collect Growth tokens and cards to create memories with your Tea Dragon in this light deck-building card game, featuring Rooibos, Jasmine, Hibiscus, Earl Grey, and more! Test your caretaking skills with 2-4 friends ages 10+ in 30-50 minutes! My personal recommendation is to play with Earl Grey for no other reason than he's my favorite.  ❤ Look at his beard!

We'd love to hear where you're from and what your favorite tea is in the comment section! New Tea Dragon ideas are welcomed! 

We're off for a quick tea break! More soon,

Amber O'Neill, Kay O'Neill, and the Oni / Lion Forge team

Extracts from the Tea Dragon Handbook
over 3 years ago – Tue, May 04, 2021 at 09:34:04 PM

Hi folks,

We're wrapping up this amazing week with over $115,000 in pledges! Your support and love for all things Tea Dragon has blown us away. We hope you go into this weekend with a massive smile cause that's what we're going to do!

 A few of you might be nervous about owning your first Tea Dragon, and that's ok! We know you'll take the best care of your new creature. The amazing Kay O'Neill made a handbook to help with caretaking for your new pet, so don't worry. We're sharing some of Kay's wisdom with you. Download and read an extract from the Tea Dragon handbook here!

Stay awesome,

Amber O'Neill, Kay O'Neill, and the entire Oni / Lion Forge team

We're featured on Kickstarter's "Projects We Love!"
over 3 years ago – Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 01:38:10 PM

OH MY GOD, so many things to celebrate! A ton of tea dragons have homes now, we hit our goal within the first hour of our launch,  and we're featured on "Projects We Love" by Kickstarter! We've received so much support on our first day, and that's all because of our backers! THANK YOU!

Now, for those curious folks who ask the very important question...

What's the Difference Between a Tea Dragon and a Dragon? 

Dragons (Dracona Major) and Tea Dragons (Dracona Domestica) share a common ancestor that dates back hundreds of thousands of years. Dragons like Aedhan (featured below) and his clan are by far the most evolved of any dragon species, with a complex history, language, culture, and magical abilities similar to or exceeding humans. Tea Dragons are the domesticated result of a smaller sub-species of wild dragon, which is now found only in rare numbers. 

Dracona Major are uncommon to find in general society, keeping mostly to themselves—partly a result of never knowing whether a stranger might be seeking the archaic honour of slaying a dragon. However, those that do dabble with the wider world enjoy a certain glamour and respect wherever they go, almost like aristocracy. Some clans, such as Aedhan’s, see this as a responsibility to uphold, and are especially protective of villages and shrines that have formed around places that are historically important to dragons.

THANK YOU AND STAY AWESOME!

Amber, Kay O'Neill, and the Oni / Lion Forge team

(For anyone who missed our first update, we included some tea dragons social avatars below!) 

A note from Kay O'Neill, creator of the Tea Dragon world!
over 3 years ago – Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 11:19:55 AM

Watching the Tea Dragon plushies come to life has been an absolute dream for me. Each one captures the essence of its dragon, and Alpine Chamomile is no exception- any plush design with a revision note to "make it grumpier" has a place in my heart for sure.

I think these are just the kind of toys I would have adored as a child myself. Like lots of kids, I created an expansive cinematic universe around my soft toys. Some were more caring and wise, like a huge old english sheepdog soft toy who could hide smaller toys in his fur, others more rambunctious and adventurous, like a small black panther with a startled expression. But most of all, I loved the ones I felt a special connection with, like an everyday companion. I hope all of the Tea Dragon plushies feel that way to their new owners, regardless of their age!

Truth be told, I don't actually drink a lot of chamomile tea myself- however with the recent acquisition of a large (rather out of control) gardening space, I'm very keen to start growing my own herbs to dry and process for teas (or to try fresh brews!). Chamomile is high up the list, as well as mint and spearmint, which I've been told to keep in pots to prevent a full takeover. Even when I lived in a much smaller space, I got much enjoyment out of growing herbs in tubs. Rosemary, oregano and thyme seemed to be pretty hardy, and added a lot of flavour to my cooking!

Thank you to those backing the project, and I hope you enjoy your grumpy new friend!

Kay