Dragon Lore
May 29, 2017 1:17:10 GMT -6
Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on May 29, 2017 1:17:10 GMT -6
History
Dragons were once one of the three primary races of Elibe, reptilian shape-shifters who could switch between a monstrous draconic form and an unassuming humanoid body at will. Originally the rulers of Elibe, the human uprising that eventually became the Scouring ended in the absolute obliteration of dragon rulership and the extermination of almost all dragons in the process, save for two groups; those who founded Arcadia alongside humans who shared their hope for coexistence, and those who fled through the Dragon Gate to parts unknown. A few other dragons escaped the carnage by faking their deaths or sleeping through the carnage, but the genocide was near-total.
Elibe currently believes dragons to be dead and gone, outside of Marcus's little adventure in the Bernese Colosseum, and the survivors of the race are generally content to let them think so.
Dragonstones
The crystallization of a dragon's essence, dragonstones act as a gate that allows dragons to channel and control some of their power in human form. While not many dragons actually know this, they are necessary for survival rather than simply obnoxious baubles; dragons are the only species on Elibe that naturally generate magic, and the magic-poor air of Elibe acts to endlessly siphon magic away from them. Left unchecked it would render them completely powerless or even reduce them to lifeless husks given enough time and unwise power usage. This is also the reason that transformation is generally limited and exhausting, but truly powerful dragons can generate so much magic that they transform the world around them into a replication of the pre-Scouring atmosphere, so full of magic that it no longer acts to drain them.
The exact appearance of a dragonstone is up to the roleplayer, but they always appear to be a precious stone of some sort. Most dragons wear theirs on an earring or necklace to hide in plain sight, but it can be sewn into clothing, hidden beneath a shirt, or other crafty methods. The only real requirement is that it be somewhere on their person, touching their skin or in extremely close proximity. Each dragonstone is unique, attuned solely to its creator and required to use ANY draconic powers. They cannot be replaced or regenerated - take good care of yours!
Physical Traits
Dragons are a varied bunch, ranging between countless subspecies like Coatl, Wyrms, Eastern, Drakes, Tianlongs, and many others. Some appear as great snakes flying in the sky, others as strange furry creatures, and many appear as the classic western-style dragon that is perhaps most associated with them. When transformed, dragons can range from five to fifteen meters in height, though length varies drastically and more serpentine aquatic or flying subspecies may be a mere few meters tall, but two dozen long. A rare few breeds may stand as tall as twenty meters, but the magic-poor air of Elibe is harsher on them than the rest, limiting transformation time (-1 post, minimum 1) and mobility alike in return for the raw power that their immense size offers then.
This chart and this one may help you get a better idea of the scale of even a medium sized dragon - a five meter tall dragon is nearly three times the average adult male's height! Don't think you need to push 20 meters to be huge, even a 10-meter dragon is more than five times a man's height.
Humanform dragons are also highly varied. Most simply appear to be human when not using their power, but some inhuman attributes are fairly common; elfin, pointed ears are a strong tell, and many dragons can sprout or unfold wings when in human form for flight. Other attributes such as horns, tails, and scales are rarer among those trying to fit into human society on Elibe, but fairly common among Arcadian and pre-Scouring dragons.
Age
Dragons do not age as men do. While there are similarities in maturation, after a certain point all dragons simply cease aging and usually retain the same appearance until the day they die from unnatural causes - for they do not die at all naturally.
A dragon's childhood generally lasts the first 50-200 years of their life, reflecting their slow maturation, and a 'child' dragon often has a curious combination of intelligence and knowledge that is sharply contrasted by their poor judgement.
Adolescence generally ranges up until somewhere around 500-700 years, when dragons 'officially' enter adulthood, and entails all of the downsides of the teenage years of a mortal and a great deal more power to misuse in the process.
Adulthood begins around 500-700 years and theoretically lasts forever, but in practice, Elibe is not a kind and gentle mistress - rare indeed is the dragon who even makes it to 2000 years of age, and those 3000+ are among the oldest of the old, and should generally be run by mods to be sure they fit in lore.
While a dragon's appearance is generally set in stone by adulthood, it is in truth simply a reflection of their self, and in very rare cases, drastic changes in a dragon's mindset or sense of self MAY trigger physical changes as well. This is not free license to shapeshift - more of a one-off deal, discussed with mods, after MAJOR character development, and extremely rare even within those constraints.
Exotic Elements
Lore wise, each of these elements has always existed, but is exceptionally rare; the vast majority of dragons are naturally attuned to an element of Elibe. Given the inherent mental influence that each exotic element can have on its user, many dragons of these elements have burnt out, gone berserk, or gone mad early, but those who mastered their element often reached unusual heights. So there is a certain level of concern leveled by other dragons, but unlike dark mages in Etruria, there is no widespread hatred or being hunted down for it. Most younger dragons, especially non-Arcadian dragons, have literally never seen an exotic elemental dragon, and non-Arcadian dragons are unlikely to know they even exist.
While mostly untested since the Scouring forced the entire race underground, in the olden days it is said that powerful dragons of any element could gradually refine their spirit to harmonize with one of these elements as well. Though few do; Arcadian dragons rarely pursue strength, while those that do tend to live short lives in a hostile Elibe. Ultimately it is a personal choice - some dragons believe it is disrespectful or wasteful to split one's attention and attenuate their soul to multiple elements at once, while others believe it is the mark of a great spirit or simply practical in combat.
Umbral dragon magic is parasitic in nature, feeding on emotion (any emotion, positive or negative); sort of like how human dark mages pay the Nether with their feelings but entirely internal. You can 'pay' it with positive or negative emotion, but the more you feel the easier it is to unleash your power.
Astral dragon magic is more synergistic, both strengthened by emotion but also strengthening it in turn; they coexist and harmonize - which can be bad as it crystallizes strong beliefs, see: Etruria, but also lends itself well to striving to protect something important and building incredible strength of will.
Arcane dragon magic is entropic - there's a negative feedback loop between it and emotion, each cannibalizing the other for power; it both strengthens existing feelings but also tears them apart and twists them, a violent force of raw inchoate change. Think of Nergal - someone forgetting WHY they needed all that power.
Dragons in Elibe
The Scouring scarred Elibe in countless ways, and the Ending Winter that followed left wounds that may never heal. While few humans hold an actual hatred of dragons, there are few who would react positively to a creature of myth suddenly appearing in front of them, and word travels quickly. In a world wracked by change, drowning in monsters and warfare, dragons are possibly the one thing that warring factions are scared enough of to put aside their differences to re-enact the Scouring once more. Elibe is NOT a place for a dragon to casually show off their power; doing so will quickly lead to significant and possibly lethal consequences for a character, and the more dangerous the group they piss off, the more likely they are to die.
That said, with the raw hatred of the Scouring having evaporated over time, it is up to the individual to decide their own reaction when they realize that dragons may still be alive. NPCs and PCs alike are perfectly capable of responding positively to aid from a dragon, though most are likely to be somewhat distrustful. Just remember that every action has a consequence, and that mods will step in if they feel your character is acting too openly without any downsides.
Dragons were once one of the three primary races of Elibe, reptilian shape-shifters who could switch between a monstrous draconic form and an unassuming humanoid body at will. Originally the rulers of Elibe, the human uprising that eventually became the Scouring ended in the absolute obliteration of dragon rulership and the extermination of almost all dragons in the process, save for two groups; those who founded Arcadia alongside humans who shared their hope for coexistence, and those who fled through the Dragon Gate to parts unknown. A few other dragons escaped the carnage by faking their deaths or sleeping through the carnage, but the genocide was near-total.
Elibe currently believes dragons to be dead and gone, outside of Marcus's little adventure in the Bernese Colosseum, and the survivors of the race are generally content to let them think so.
Dragonstones
The crystallization of a dragon's essence, dragonstones act as a gate that allows dragons to channel and control some of their power in human form. While not many dragons actually know this, they are necessary for survival rather than simply obnoxious baubles; dragons are the only species on Elibe that naturally generate magic, and the magic-poor air of Elibe acts to endlessly siphon magic away from them. Left unchecked it would render them completely powerless or even reduce them to lifeless husks given enough time and unwise power usage. This is also the reason that transformation is generally limited and exhausting, but truly powerful dragons can generate so much magic that they transform the world around them into a replication of the pre-Scouring atmosphere, so full of magic that it no longer acts to drain them.
The exact appearance of a dragonstone is up to the roleplayer, but they always appear to be a precious stone of some sort. Most dragons wear theirs on an earring or necklace to hide in plain sight, but it can be sewn into clothing, hidden beneath a shirt, or other crafty methods. The only real requirement is that it be somewhere on their person, touching their skin or in extremely close proximity. Each dragonstone is unique, attuned solely to its creator and required to use ANY draconic powers. They cannot be replaced or regenerated - take good care of yours!
Physical Traits
Dragons are a varied bunch, ranging between countless subspecies like Coatl, Wyrms, Eastern, Drakes, Tianlongs, and many others. Some appear as great snakes flying in the sky, others as strange furry creatures, and many appear as the classic western-style dragon that is perhaps most associated with them. When transformed, dragons can range from five to fifteen meters in height, though length varies drastically and more serpentine aquatic or flying subspecies may be a mere few meters tall, but two dozen long. A rare few breeds may stand as tall as twenty meters, but the magic-poor air of Elibe is harsher on them than the rest, limiting transformation time (-1 post, minimum 1) and mobility alike in return for the raw power that their immense size offers then.
This chart and this one may help you get a better idea of the scale of even a medium sized dragon - a five meter tall dragon is nearly three times the average adult male's height! Don't think you need to push 20 meters to be huge, even a 10-meter dragon is more than five times a man's height.
Humanform dragons are also highly varied. Most simply appear to be human when not using their power, but some inhuman attributes are fairly common; elfin, pointed ears are a strong tell, and many dragons can sprout or unfold wings when in human form for flight. Other attributes such as horns, tails, and scales are rarer among those trying to fit into human society on Elibe, but fairly common among Arcadian and pre-Scouring dragons.
Age
Dragons do not age as men do. While there are similarities in maturation, after a certain point all dragons simply cease aging and usually retain the same appearance until the day they die from unnatural causes - for they do not die at all naturally.
A dragon's childhood generally lasts the first 50-200 years of their life, reflecting their slow maturation, and a 'child' dragon often has a curious combination of intelligence and knowledge that is sharply contrasted by their poor judgement.
Adolescence generally ranges up until somewhere around 500-700 years, when dragons 'officially' enter adulthood, and entails all of the downsides of the teenage years of a mortal and a great deal more power to misuse in the process.
Adulthood begins around 500-700 years and theoretically lasts forever, but in practice, Elibe is not a kind and gentle mistress - rare indeed is the dragon who even makes it to 2000 years of age, and those 3000+ are among the oldest of the old, and should generally be run by mods to be sure they fit in lore.
While a dragon's appearance is generally set in stone by adulthood, it is in truth simply a reflection of their self, and in very rare cases, drastic changes in a dragon's mindset or sense of self MAY trigger physical changes as well. This is not free license to shapeshift - more of a one-off deal, discussed with mods, after MAJOR character development, and extremely rare even within those constraints.
Exotic Elements
Lore wise, each of these elements has always existed, but is exceptionally rare; the vast majority of dragons are naturally attuned to an element of Elibe. Given the inherent mental influence that each exotic element can have on its user, many dragons of these elements have burnt out, gone berserk, or gone mad early, but those who mastered their element often reached unusual heights. So there is a certain level of concern leveled by other dragons, but unlike dark mages in Etruria, there is no widespread hatred or being hunted down for it. Most younger dragons, especially non-Arcadian dragons, have literally never seen an exotic elemental dragon, and non-Arcadian dragons are unlikely to know they even exist.
While mostly untested since the Scouring forced the entire race underground, in the olden days it is said that powerful dragons of any element could gradually refine their spirit to harmonize with one of these elements as well. Though few do; Arcadian dragons rarely pursue strength, while those that do tend to live short lives in a hostile Elibe. Ultimately it is a personal choice - some dragons believe it is disrespectful or wasteful to split one's attention and attenuate their soul to multiple elements at once, while others believe it is the mark of a great spirit or simply practical in combat.
Umbral dragon magic is parasitic in nature, feeding on emotion (any emotion, positive or negative); sort of like how human dark mages pay the Nether with their feelings but entirely internal. You can 'pay' it with positive or negative emotion, but the more you feel the easier it is to unleash your power.
Astral dragon magic is more synergistic, both strengthened by emotion but also strengthening it in turn; they coexist and harmonize - which can be bad as it crystallizes strong beliefs, see: Etruria, but also lends itself well to striving to protect something important and building incredible strength of will.
Arcane dragon magic is entropic - there's a negative feedback loop between it and emotion, each cannibalizing the other for power; it both strengthens existing feelings but also tears them apart and twists them, a violent force of raw inchoate change. Think of Nergal - someone forgetting WHY they needed all that power.
Dragons in Elibe
The Scouring scarred Elibe in countless ways, and the Ending Winter that followed left wounds that may never heal. While few humans hold an actual hatred of dragons, there are few who would react positively to a creature of myth suddenly appearing in front of them, and word travels quickly. In a world wracked by change, drowning in monsters and warfare, dragons are possibly the one thing that warring factions are scared enough of to put aside their differences to re-enact the Scouring once more. Elibe is NOT a place for a dragon to casually show off their power; doing so will quickly lead to significant and possibly lethal consequences for a character, and the more dangerous the group they piss off, the more likely they are to die.
That said, with the raw hatred of the Scouring having evaporated over time, it is up to the individual to decide their own reaction when they realize that dragons may still be alive. NPCs and PCs alike are perfectly capable of responding positively to aid from a dragon, though most are likely to be somewhat distrustful. Just remember that every action has a consequence, and that mods will step in if they feel your character is acting too openly without any downsides.