Dragons

Dragons are majestic and powerful creatures that play a pivotal role in the world's history and power structure. Known for their unique appearances and deep sense of righteousness, dragons are bound by the gods' mandate to form bonds with riders to fulfill their purpose as protectors of the realm.

Key Features of Dragons:

• Fixed Population: The number of dragons in the world remains constant. Upon a dragon's death, it leaves behind an egg, ensuring the population never fluctuates.

• Conditional Growth: Dragons grow continuously only with a rider. Without a rider, their growth stagnates at a certain point, preventing them from achieving their full size and potential power. To fully mature, a dragon requires a bond with a rider.

• Weakening Without Riders: Unbonded dragons experience a gradual decline in their strength and vitality, making them increasingly vulnerable to diseases or magical imbalances over time. A rider becomes essential not only for their growth but also for their health and longevity.

• Affinity Reflection: A dragon’s appearance reflects its affinity. For instance, a dragon with a mechanical or clockwork affinity may appear as a living machine, its body composed of gears and mechanical parts rather than flesh and blood.

The Gods' Mandate

The gods, particularly Arthor, the Father, decreed that dragons must bond with riders to fulfill their role as protectors of Elyria. This divine mandate is woven into the very fabric of their existence, making it impossible for dragons to thrive without a rider. Through this bond, dragons are empowered to serve their purpose as noble guardians.

Dragon Bonding:

• Soul Bonding: Dragons and riders share a deep connection formed through the bonding of their souls. If bonding occurs before the dragon hatches, the rider’s personality can influence the dragon’s affinity.

• Bonding Process: If a dragon has already hatched, the bonding process can be painful and chaotic, especially with older dragons. The older the dragon, the more intense and potentially destructive the bonding experience.

• Survival: Both dragon and rider can survive the loss of their bondmate, though they may experience deep emotional and physical repercussions. Despite this, they remain capable of forming new bonds.

Dragon Riders:

• Transformation: When a rider bonds with a dragon, they undergo both physical and mental transformations, gaining access to Free Form Magic and extending their lifespan.

• Heroes and Nobles: Dragon riders often become celebrated heroes, fighting against monsters and other enemies that threaten the world.

• Essence Synergy: Dragon and rider contribute to a shared essence pool, creating new and potent essence.

• Environmental Essence: Cultivation requires the dragon and rider to meditate or complete trials in specific biomes to absorb and master unique environmental essences. For example, a dragon and rider seeking to enhance fire magic may travel to a volcano to absorb essence from its scorched lands.

• Dual Cultivation Techniques: Specialized techniques, such as synchronized breathing exercises, meditation rituals, or combat training, can amplify the cultivation of both dragon and rider, harnessing their combined essence for greater effect.

• Affinity Skills: Riders gain unique abilities based on their dragon's affinity. For example, a rider bonded to a water dragon could develop healing abilities, while a rider connected to an air dragon might gain enhanced speed or the ability to fly.

• Dragon Synergy Abilities: Certain powerful abilities can only be performed together, allowing the dragon and rider to combine their unique magic for devastating attacks or protective barriers that draw on their shared essence.

• Draconic Senses: Riders can access their dragon's enhanced senses, such as improved vision and smell, or the ability to perceive magical energy, providing tactical advantages in combat and exploration.

• Enhanced Physical Prowess: The bonding process leads to physical changes in the rider, granting them enhanced strength, speed, durability, and reflexes proportional to their dragon's growth.

Dragon Eggs:

• Appearance and Affinity: Dragon eggs are initially black and obsidian-like. Upon bonding with a person, the egg’s color changes to reflect the dragon’s affinity.

• Indestructibility: Dragon eggs are virtually indestructible, able to be broken only by divine intervention, as they are crafted from the blood of fallen gods.

History and Politics:

• Creation: Dragons were created by the gods to assist noble species in their struggle against the Fallen One and other threats to the world.

• Nobility and Power: Dragons are often associated with noble houses, with their scales highly valued for crafting armor and powerful magical items. A noble house’s strength and influence are often measured by the number of dragons under its command.

• Political Influence: Dragons are symbols of status and power, and noble houses with dragons wield considerable influence in the political landscape.

• Righteousness: Dragons pride themselves on their sense of righteousness, though their interpretations of what is "right" can vary, leading to conflicts between dragons, especially during times of war. Despite this, they remain steadfast in their belief that they were chosen to protect the world from chaos.