Editing Age of Dragons: Ghost Dragons (section)

==Society and Culture==

Its been over one and a half millennia since the ''Ghost Dragons'' fled the north, and just over 1200 years since the breed settled in their current location. Every ''Ghost Dragon'' now alive was born in the south, but almost every one can remember stories from parents or grandparents of the long flight. The new generation may be southern-born, but they still regard themselves as refugees.

Their place of settlement is ''Ghosthome'', which that lies on the outskirts of ''Arrantis'', only a short distance from the ''Ashen Kingdom''. Once ''Ghosthome'' was just empty and misty marshland, but its new inhabitants have changed it to their liking, building their lairs from the twisted wood of the long-petrified mangroves and establishing a defensive perimeter of wards and protective sorceries. Within ''Ghosthome'' the ''Ghost Dragons'' converse only in ''Voidtongue'' and are wary of all strangers - even their ''Alliance'' protectors. This little patch of dirt may not be much, but they consider that it is their own sovereign territory now. While the ''Alliance'' may have been planning to just foist off a piece of unwanted and unpleasant domain on the refugees, the ''Ghosts'' have found that the place is very much to their liking, the cloying mists and grey swampland suiting their temperaments and preferences well.

Within the breed there is a general obsession with their refugee status, but even more so with the ''Prophecy Clock'' - a prediction/threat by ''Endless Night'' made a quarter of a century ago that the ''Ghost Dragons'' would be extinct within 444 years. With only 419 years left (far less than a lifetime, for dragons) the ''Ghost Dragons'' have found their society is fracturing into different factions.

The ''Fatalists'' believe that ''Endless Night'' has never been wrong in his arcane predictions, and that the ''Prophecy Clock'' cannot be denied. They are preparing to face extinction, and deciding how best to deal with this. The key Fatalist belief is that the only thing to do now is to put personal affairs in order. ''Fatalists'' are understandably keen that no new births should occur, but otherwise believe that individual ''Ghosts'' should be allowed to fade any way they choose.

The ''Vengeful'' also believe that the ''Prophecy Clock'' is true - or at least is probably true. They argue that ''Ghosthome'' should be abandoned, and that the ''Ghosts'' should head north again, to meet their end bravely and in battle. ''Ghosts'' being ''Ghosts'', they wonder if there is some puissant arcane sorcery they can invoke to wreak revenge, perhaps fuelled by their own lifeforce.

The ''Deniers'' are probably the largest faction, though their numbers shrink year by year. They believe that the ''Prophecy Clock'' is just an ''Ascendancy'' propaganda tool, intended to divide prior to conquering. They don't believe extinction is inevitable, and will do all they can to convince others of this. They also believe in being proactive in fighting, but they seek to fight their prophesied destiny rather than going out in a blaze of glory like the ''Vengeful''.

The ''Concilators'' are the smallest faction. They believe that the ''Clock'' is a threat, and that only ''Endless Night'' has the power to revoke it. They want to go back to the ''Ascendancy'', arguing that maybe they can earn mercy. Their beliefs are understandably extremely unpopular, and expressing ''Concilator'' sympathies is a surefire way to earn hostility from most ''Ghosts''.
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