Difference between revisions of "Age of Dragons: Argent Dragons"

From RPGnet
Jump to: navigation, search
(Breed Weakness)
(Sphere Ratings)
Line 15: Line 15:
  
 
===Sphere Ratings===
 
===Sphere Ratings===
 +
*'''Soma 60'''
 +
*'''Sophia 50'''
 +
*'''Pneuma 40'''
  
Dragons of this breed are Soma-Dominant. Their Soma must be at least 1 point higher than one other Sphere at character generation.
+
''Argent Dragons'' are the soldiers of Order, far hardier in battle than their Pure and Solar cousins. They are far from dumb brutes, though, and value discipline and learning as much as physical training.
 +
<br><br>
  
 
===Birthright===
 
===Birthright===

Revision as of 09:40, 7 April 2009

Age Of Dragons: Main Page -> The Twelve Breeds -> Argent Dragons


The Hierarchy of Scales

The Argent Dragons believe that the Mother Goddess blessed them with the Harmonious Essence of True Order which is in their blood. For them, True Order is not merely about inner peace or mere faith to a higher power - 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 as natural as breathing, and he knows his place within the system.

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 sinful and wrong, and anarchy is hell on earth. They consider responsibility to be infinitely more important than freedom. For them, it is without question that duty and honour are greater than personal satisfaction.

Character Creation: Game Rules

Sphere Ratings

  • Soma 60
  • Sophia 50
  • Pneuma 40

Argent Dragons are the soldiers of Order, far hardier in battle than their Pure and Solar cousins. They are far from dumb brutes, though, and value discipline and learning as much as physical training.

Birthright

The Mithril Guardians - Argent Dragons are trained that a solid defence is the core of soldierly strength. They gain +1 to their Passive Physical Defence value.

Breed Weakness

Oaths of Obedience - Argent Dragons find it very hard to resist orders given to them by their hierarchical superiors. An Argent Dragon who wishes to disobey a superior who has rightful legal or military authority over him must lose 1 Mental Resilience per disobedient action, or per order disregarded. If he cannot or will not spend this, then he must follow orders without question, even if the actions are suicidal or morally aborrhent to him. Note that even the thought of disobeying legitimate orders is aborrhent to Argent Dragons - even if they make the effort to disobey, they will feel sick to their stomach for having done so. The easiest and most comfortable way for an Argent Dragon to go against orders is, of course, to have an even higher ranking member of the hierarchy countermand them.

Physical Appearance

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.

Society and Culture

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 and Flametalon. 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 seen as a near-immortal nobility above the 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 human 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.

Lifepaths and the Argent Dragons


To an Argent Dragons, lack of skill as a 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 incopmpetent in arms is to be an Untried Pup, worthy only of contempt.

An acceptable alternative is to take the role of a 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 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 Hatchery Guardians and 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 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 Beast Unbound, or less radically of the free-spirited Sky Dancers. The Argents call such unfortunate souls Fractured Mirrors and will do their best to "bring them in", gently or violently, and to reintegrate them into society.

Outlook

Honour-Through-Duty, Argent Weaponmaster of the House Flametalon, speaks of comrades and enemies:

  • Pure Dragons - "If we are the Emperors, then they are our Priests. The two hierarchies, religious and military, must exist side by side and all dragons must obey."
  • Solar Dragons - "They call themselves fellow Dragons of Order, but they waive and falter when they should stand firm and unmoving. They are, however, our allies and we will honour the pact that binds us to them."
  • Hunter Dragons - "They understand hierarchy on their bestial level, but do not perceive any sort of strength save the physical. They need educating, and taming, then they will be a valued part of the Hierarchy of Scales."
  • Forest Dragons - "Their ways are strange, and their societal structure is confusing. They need order to their lives."
  • Storm Dragons - "I do not pretend to understand the sea-swimmers, but I recognise that they are soldiers like us. They have my respect."
  • Ashen Dragons - "They understand how to rule, but not how to serve. The chaos in their blood becomes evident as they tear themselves apart with infighting. I pity them.
  • Velvet Dragons - "Take your seductions and lies away from me, filth. I am Argent, and I am immune to your whispers."
  • Chimerical Dragons - "There is no truth in dreams, and there is no order in ephemera. If they do not face reality, they will not survive this age."
  • Ghost Dragons - "They have fallen low, and we have given them refuge. So long as they obey the laws of the Alliance, we will honour our pledge to protect them."
  • Blood Dragons - "They may be warriors, but they are not soldiers. Hold the line, do not retreat from their flame, and you will find that their discipline is weak. We will defeat them."
  • Sable Dragons - "The enemy is to be respected. He is clever, he is organised and he is powerful. We must respect the enemy, then we must defeat him."