Editing Age of Dragons: Argent Dragons

The Argent Dragons believe that the Mother Goddess imbued their blood with the ''Essence of True Order'' - a metaphysical quality that sets them above their peers. To the Argents, Order is not merely about inner peace or mere faith to a higher power - rather, it is about each Dragon knowing his place in the world, obeying his superiors and being obeyed by his inferiors.

An Argent Dragon knows that ''Hierarchy'' is something that is as natural and undeniable as breathing, and knows that those who fight it deny their own draconic nature.

That the less disciplined breeds have a hard time grasping this concept is a source of much frustration for the Argent Dragon. To the Argent mindset, disobedience of proper authority is unnatural and unquestionably wrong, and that anarchy is nothing less than hell on earth.  

To the Argent, responsibility always outweighs freedom. Duty must always be greater than personal gratification. Obedience to rightful authority must always outweigh personal beliefs and ethics. The Hierarchy of Scales demands this, and the Argents gladly obey.

'''Mithril Fortitude''' - Argent Dragons are determined and tough, rarely willing to give up a fight and hard to put down with injuries. It is often said that the Argents are at their most dangerous when you think them nearly defeated. During ''Soma-based Conflicts'', if an ''Assault'' action targeting the Argent Dragon would reduce him to a negative energy pool value, then he gain a +3 bonus to ''physical energy'' at the end of that conflict step. For example, if an ''Assault'' would take them to -1 physical energy, then their new ''Physical Energy'' value would be 4 instead of the usual 1.

'''Arcane discord''' - The silver souls of the Argent dragon render him unable to channel magic through himself. Argent Dragons cannot use suspires of any sort, with the exception of the ''firebreathing'' granted by his draconic birthright.

'''Argent Dragons''' are called "silver scaled" by other dragons, but in actuality a single dragon with have scales varying from the gleaming silver-white colour of mythril, to the dark and shiny black-greys of graphite. Dorsal surfaces (especially the heavy back armour plates) tend to be brighter coloured, while wing membranes and undersurfaces tend to darker silvers. Blue-grey shades tend to be the norm for Argent Dragon eyes, with a distinct black central pupil. Like Pure Dragons, Argent males have longitudinally aligned horns, though their horns are teardrop shaped in cross section, with the "edge" downwards. Their facial features and body structures are best described as "military", with a certain heaviness and solidity of torso even in females, and often accessory rows of spines along the back.

The ''Argent Dragons'' rule over the predominantly human ''Empire of Arrantis'' that lies in the southwest of the Realm. The Empire consists of two dozen City States that are governed by human princes, but who owe allegiance in turn to the Silver City where the Argent Dragons rule. The Silver City (and Arrantis) is ultimately governed by the ''Emperor of the Hierarchy of Scales'' - a title passed down in heriditary fashion from eldest son to eldest son of an Imperial line of dragons. The Argents say that the first Emperor was none other than the first Argent Dragon, and have recognised the Imperial Line for as long as they can remember. In contrast, the humans of Arrantis recognised the Emperor just over six hundred years ago: a mere generation ago for dragons of course, but an entire era as far as the loyal human citizens of the Arrantian Empire are concerned.

As all Argent Dragons are descended from the first Emperor, they all claim royal blood. Over the generations different descendant bloodlines have named themselves as various Noble Houses. The Imperial line is known as ''Silverscale'', while other Houses Major include ''Brightwater'', ''Ironheart'', ''Stoneforge'' and ''Icetalon''. The Imperial line and the Houses Major comprise almost three quarters of all Argent Dragons, with the remaining quarter either aligned to one of the two dozen Houses Minor, or disowned by their Houses for some crime or treachery. Argent Dragons consider it crude as to incorporate their House names into their draconic names, but even neonate Argents are fully aware the various bloodlines and of which Argent is of which House.

Because of their royal status, Argents are fully integrated into Arrantian society, and revered as near-immortal nobility by the humans of the Empire. Every inch of land in the Empire is the feudal domain of one or another Houses Major, with the Houses Minor serving beneath them. The Argents, more than any other Alliance breed, can mount massive military expeditions with relative ease and have the resources of an entire nation at their disposal.

To an Argent Dragons, lack of skill as a [[Age of Dragons: Warmaster|Warmaster]] is a sure sign of character weakness. To be trained in war is to be a ''Silver Soldier'', and worthy of respect. To be incompetent in arms is to be an ''Untried Pup'', worthy only of contempt.

An acceptable alternative is to take the role of a [[Age of Dragons: Far-sky Ranger|Farsky Ranger]], acting as a scout for the Hierarchy of Scales' military campaigns. Scouting is considered to be one of the few socially acceptable lifepaths for an Argent with any desire for personal freedom and an escape from the rigidity of Argent society.  

A more experienced Argent may find a role as an [[Age of Dragons: Ambassador-Courtier|Ambassador-Courtier]], likely donning the title ''Voice of the House''. However, this is considered to be a role that can be taken only with a background of military experience, and only when your House asks you to.

Similarly, while Argents see the necessity for [[Age of Dragons: Hatchery Guardian|Hatchery Guardians]] and [[Age of Dragons: Hallowed Chorister|Hallowed Choristers]], they see this as something of a weak option. It'd be a socially brave Argent who chose to walk one of these paths without first serving in the army.  

Argent Dragons very rarely leave the Alliance - it is mentally very hard for an Argent to break away from the established society of the Silver Empire. Those who do break away often find service as [[Age of Dragons: Warmaster|Warmasters]] sworn to Ascendancy Sable Dragon lords. Very rarely an Argent Dragon's sense of societal duty may even break altogether, as he takes up the path of the [[Age of Dragons: Beast Unbound|Beast Unbound]], or less radically of the free-spirited [[Age of Dragons: Sky Dancer|Sky Dancers]]. The Argents call such unfortunate souls ''Fractured Mirrors'' and will do their best to "bring them in", gently or forcibly, and to reintegrate them into society.