Dragoon

The dragon men, or “dragoons,” are a tall and rugged people known for their competitiveness, mysticism, and deep familial bonds. Legend has the first dragoons descending from the deep heights of the Aether Mountains at the very end of the third age. While the spiritual distinctions between humans and dragoons are significant, their physical differences are usually limited to a larger stature and a set of swept horns. Dragoons are mortal and suffer under the same Curse as humans, but develop mystical bonds with spirits that typically last their whole lives, and often imbue them with magical powers.

• Taller and more heavily built on average compared to humans.
• Horns- conical horns 3-7” long pointing back starting above the ear. Usually ivory or bone-colored with spiral grooves. Females’ horns tend to angle closer to the head, while males’ tend to jut out more.
• Commonly have long, straight, dark hair.
• Reproduce sexually with an average gestation period of 8 months.
• Reproduction very ritualistic, many only complete the ritual 2 or 3 times in a lifetime.
• Average Lifespan: 70-80 years

• Tribalistic society, many clans with no central government.
• Clans consist of small, tight-knit communities.
• Honor-based society with large warrior class.
• Horns an important status symbol.
• Major religions center around dragons or the goddess.

• Can develop life-long spiritual links - often done at birth. This spirit then protects and guides them through life.
• Under the Great Curse, status of inclusion in the Great Promise unclear.
• Usually have total free will, though the linked spirit may at times override their will for its bidding, as this is one of the conditions set in their covenants.
• No spiritual restrictions except those laid down by their linked/host spirit.

The relationship between dragoons and humans is often complicated. Organized Dragoon nations (such as Drakontas) regularly fall into border conflicts, tribal raids, or outright warfare. Migratory dragoon tribes earn disdain for their lack of respect for proper boundaries, but tribe-less dragoon laborers are in high demand, sometimes earning double pay since they can 'do the work of two men.' Dragoon mercenary companies consistently earn high praises in human lands, and are regularly seen as more honest brokers than human mercenaries given the lack of ties to other human causes. To many Dragoons, the way in which an act is carried out is more important than what philosophy the action is done for.

Dragoons can breed with humans, but the resulting child is a sterile 'mule'. A mule-dragoon usually takes most of the traits of a dragoon (horns, spirit link, etc.), but is almost always smaller and weaker than full blooded dragoons.

While dragoon society, being spread across the globe, is not monolithic, many groups form clans that follow the dominant cultural roles of their homeland in Drakontas.

Roughly translating to “shepherd.”

Meaning “strong arm,” kev'dam are semi-nomadic dragoons that seek good pay as day laborers.

Much like humans, dragoons have forgotten how they came to be. While there are a variety of theories, most agree that dragoons came about near the end of the third age (or beginning of the fourth), and are not a mere sub-race of humans. Some major legends include:

• Dragons warped and corrupted men to be soldiers of Elesh in the Great War, but weren't able to field them in time to save Elesh from defeat and imprisonment.
• Dragoons are the chosen children of the goddess Eleytheria, and were created either as a third faction in the Great War, or an improvement to replace mankind, or a companion of mankind to help re-populate the world after the Great War.

Dragoons can develop deep, life-long spiritual links to a spiritual being. Dragoons often gain power from their host spirit in a number of ways, both physical and through guidance or wisdom. Dragoons can communicate psychically with their host spirit. While this could include many kinds of spirit, the two most common are:

• Dragons (or other ancient spirits)
• Eleytheria

Meaning “Dragon Stone” or “Dragon Spirit”, the Drak-On normally refers to a gemstone-like organ in the head of a dragoon tribe's patron dragon that is thought to house the eternal soul of the being. Legends speak that a dragon never truly dies, they only retreat to the safety of their gemstone until such time as they see fit to be reborn. At that time a newborn dragon hatches from the stone as if it were an egg.

During the “Drakuncion” or spirit binding ritual, it is thought that the dragon plants the seed of a new dragon stone into the infant dragoon. Dragoons teach that with sufficient spiritual awakening a dragoon may also develop and grow a full-fledged Drak-On, thus cheating death to be reborn as a dragon themselves. Whether this is actually possible is a matter of debate, but many of those who frequent the battlefield or medical lecture rooms know that older or more powerful dragoons can be found with a pea-to-walnut sized gemstone found inside the front of their brains.

The binding of a fragment of the spirit of a clan's patron dragon to a Dragoon child is called “Drakuncion.” This ritual is performed as soon as possible, usually within a few hours of the child's birth. Rituals vary from clan to clan, but many tribes share some ritual characteristics. The following is an example of a Drakuncion ritual taken from a remote tribe in the mountains of Drakontas.

After the child has been inspected by the clan elders for good health, the ritual can be carried out. It is customary for the clan's sage to perform the ritual before the entire clan. It begins with the sage bathing the child in perfumed water while reciting a traditional blessing in honor of the clan's patron dragon. The child is then wrapped in a special swaddling cloth called a “bombayc” and laid upon the ground among a formation of stones that have each been washed and ritualistically placed in a circle in preparation for the ceremony. The sage will begin to burn incense in two small metal boxes, called “alpynglohs,” decorated with intricate dragon designs and placed on either side of the circle of stones. She then recites a prayer to the patron dragon, calling to it to lend it's spirit to the child. The smoke from the incense, to indicate the dragon's acceptabnce, will swirl in a beautiful dragon-like pattern above the child and the color of the smoke will change from gray to a glowing reddish-purple. The smoke dragon will then swoop down into the child's chest and disappear. The sage will usually say a few words indicating the success of the ritual, then hold up the child for the clan to see. The ritual is usually followed by a small but lively feast to celebrate to induction of the clan's newest member.

Translating to “Serpent's Son,” Hudokros are Drakuncion that have deepened the spiritual bond with their dragon spirit such that they can draw mystical power directly from their host dragon. The amount of power that can be drawn varies according to the depth of the bond and the overall power of the dragon, but Hudokros represent the life goal of most dragoons as it does not require uncertain paths of enlightenment like the Drak-On, merely loyal service. Dragons typically confer the Hudokros bond on a limited number of Drakuncion to prevent their power from being spread too thinly, so the status is considered a great honor and reserved for those that have proven capable servants. Hudokros often form personal retinues to protect their host dragons or elite units to carry out their dragon's will. Most Hudokros stay close to their dragon to provide service. For this reason their existence is sometimes disputed outside of dragoon homelands.

Hudokros manifest a variety of physical changes to reflect their deepened spiritual link, and physical traits progress as the Hudokros ages and the level of power they have drawn increases. Starting changes include the growth of larger horns, claws, serpentine eyes, or patches of hardened scaled skin. Older or more powerful Hudokros eventually become literal 'dragon men' - walking upright with dragon-shaped heads, clawed hands, and fully scaled skin. Wings, firebreathing, and other draconic features are rare but possible.

Some dragons are said to reward their most valued Hudokros with immortality at the time of their death, allowing them to enter the Spiritual Realms as an “Ancestral Hudokros” to continue their service to the dragon in the afterlife.