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==A Mother's Blessing== | ==A Mother's Blessing== | ||
| − | It is said that when the world was young, the first | + | It is said that when the world was young, the first Forest Dragon turned to his mother and asked her to explain the secrets of life to him. He said that he was frustrated by the fact that dragons seemed not to be truly alive, living above and around the natural world rather than as a part of it. He had the insight to recognise that even the smallest animal in the forests below had a greater connection to the harmonious patterns of Lifeforce. |
| − | The Mother Goddess told him he was wise, and that | + | The Mother Goddess told him he was wise, and that she would grant him insight if he wished, though he might not thank her for it. The Forest Dragon promised that he would be grateful and promised her that he would never be bitter for any gift of wisdom. |
| − | She smiled, and breathed over him, and in doing so blessed him with the gift of mortality. No longer would the | + | She smiled, and breathed over him, and in doing so blessed him with the gift of mortality. No longer would the Forest Dragon or his breed exist as other dragons do, fearing multiplication and eventually calcifying into stone. Instead, from that day on, Forest Dragons would age and die as all mortal animals must. |
| − | The | + | The Forest Dragons are thankful for the blessing that the Mother Goddess gave them, and over the millennia have kept their promise to be grateful. Each year a Forest Dragon will offer a prayer of devotion to her for her gift, and as a Forest Dragon dies he will whisper his thanks to his Mother for the blessings she has given them. |
| − | Hand in hand | + | Hand in hand mortality (and a shortened lifespan) the Forest Dragons have won freedom from the curse of Birthing Sickness, and gained insight into the cycles of life in a way that only a mortal creature can. They pity the other breeds who are unable to enjoy the blessings of a short life, lived fully. They forever stand apart from the other breeds, living in their own way, in their own realm. |
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===Sphere Ratings=== | ===Sphere Ratings=== | ||
| − | *'''Soma | + | *'''Soma 40''' |
| − | *'''Sophia | + | *'''Sophia 50''' |
| − | *'''Pneuma | + | *'''Pneuma 60''' |
''Forest Dragons'' have their greatest strength in their harmony with nature, their natural affinity for Life magic and their complex society. As they eschew book-learning other dragons are often surprised to find how intellectual and intelligent they are - for them history and learning is passed on through the oral tradition. They are not as strong as some breeds, but they compensate for this with sheer numbers... | ''Forest Dragons'' have their greatest strength in their harmony with nature, their natural affinity for Life magic and their complex society. As they eschew book-learning other dragons are often surprised to find how intellectual and intelligent they are - for them history and learning is passed on through the oral tradition. They are not as strong as some breeds, but they compensate for this with sheer numbers... | ||
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===Birthrights=== | ===Birthrights=== | ||
| − | '''Freedom of Fertility''' - | + | '''Freedom of Fertility''' - Forest Dragons do not suffer the birthing sickness as other dragons do. |
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===Flaws=== | ===Flaws=== | ||
| − | '''The Mother's Blessing''' - | + | '''The Mother's Blessing''' - Forest Dragons do not live long, entering senescence at the age of 500 years. At 500 years age they lose -1 from Pneuma, Soma and Sophis, and lose a further -1 each 1 year afterwards. When their Soma score hits zero, they die of old age. In senescence, a Forest Dragon ceases to be fertile. |
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==Physical Appearance== | ==Physical Appearance== | ||
| − | '''Forest Dragons''' are predominantly green-scaled, though their shade and patterning varies greatly. The majority of | + | '''Forest Dragons''' are predominantly green-scaled, though their shade and patterning varies greatly. The majority of Forest Dragons (who dwell in the vast Heartswood) have leaf-green scales with dappled brown patches, and are slight and aerobatic in frame. Horns vary also within the Breed, with long horns, spiral horns and other variations found across all the various subspecies. |
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==Society and Culture== | ==Society and Culture== | ||
| − | The ''Heart Forest'' runs the entire | + | The ''Heart Forest'' runs the entire North-South length of the realm, covering its Western border. It varies from frozen pine forests in the northwest, to steaming jungles in the southwest, with temperate forest and other forms of woodland inbetween. |
| − | The ''Forest Dragons'' proper are found throughout the central portion of the | + | The ''Forest Dragons'' proper are found throughout the central portion of the Heart Forest, and are form part of a great meta-civilisation that they call ''"The Blessed of the Mother"''. (This term excludes [[Age of Dragons: Jungle Dragons|Jungle Dragons]] and [[Age of Dragons: Jade Dragons|Jade Dragons]]) |
| − | The '' | + | The ''People of the Green'' tend to live in small family units of around six to twelve dragons called ''Kindreds''. Each Kindred is centred on a single ''"Nest"'', at the centre of their domain. Because the Heart Forest is vast, many Kindred domains are quite isolated, with barely any contact with neighbouring Kindreds. When territories do meet, most Kindreds coexist peacefully, but occasionally violent feuds can break out. |
| − | Despite their disparate and scattered existences, the | + | Despite their disparate and scattered existences, the Kindreds do have a shared culture and history, mostly thanks to the efforts of the ''Seers of the Green'': a society of animist adepts who function as priests, arbitrators, leaders and messengers across the Forest. The Seers have a tradition of oral storytelling that stretches back to the dawn of history, and lead the Forest Dragons in prayer and ritual. |
| − | It is because of the ''Seers'' that the | + | It is because of the ''Seers'' that the Forest Dragons all keep a sacred grove in each Nest, and plant a birth-tree for each newborn. It is through the ''Seers'' that the centennial Gathers are organised, when Forest Dragons tend to find new mates, catch up on news and join in celebration. Only the ''Seers'' can officiate over family-bindings (the closest thing Forest Dragons have to marriage), can give a wandering Forest Dragon leave to move beyond the Heart Forest, or insist that a stranger be given free passage through another's territory. The Seers themselves are factionalised of course, and have no single leadership or agenda save for the continuation of their traditions. |
| − | Possibly, the numbers of | + | Possibly, the numbers of Forest Dragons equal those of the other breeds combined, but as few Forest Dragons wander far from their Nests they are rarely seen beyond the Heart Forest. Those that do travel are usually either malcontents or outcasts, or working directly on the instructions of the ''Seers'' to achieve a particular goal before returning home. |
| − | The | + | The Forest Dragons have shown no interest in joining the Alliance, and have no spokespersons to allow the breed as a whole to join anyway. Some displaced individuals have found a place there, but they are the exception rather than the rule. |
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| + | The Forest Dragons have even less interest in joining the Ascendancy, as the Ascendancy's religion and ethics run counter to Forest Dragon thinking. | ||
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==Lifepaths and the Forest Dragons== | ==Lifepaths and the Forest Dragons== | ||
| − | With their short lives, it is uncommon for | + | With their short lives, it is uncommon for Forest Dragons to pursue more than one (or at most two) Paths over their entire lives. Forest Dragons don't tend to seek to master every field of endeavour, but rather pick one role that suits them. Generally a single family unit will have a particular preference of Lifepath, which most family members will follow, simply because they have easy access to mentors from that path and are exposed to it from an early age. |
Three major philosophies exist within the Kindreds, though there are also many smaller ones: | Three major philosophies exist within the Kindreds, though there are also many smaller ones: | ||
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The ''Call of Harmony'' kindreds follow the Lifepath of [[Age of Dragons: Physical Adept|Physical Adepts]] and see their calling as gaining unity with nature, both by understanding their physical forms and by wearing the skins of other animal races. These families will often maintain nests that share territory with animals and mortals, and seek to coexist rather than to dominate or rule. | The ''Call of Harmony'' kindreds follow the Lifepath of [[Age of Dragons: Physical Adept|Physical Adepts]] and see their calling as gaining unity with nature, both by understanding their physical forms and by wearing the skins of other animal races. These families will often maintain nests that share territory with animals and mortals, and seek to coexist rather than to dominate or rule. | ||
| − | In contrast, ''Call of Clouds'' kindreds favour the Lifepath of the [[Age of Dragons: Sky Dancer|Sky Dancer]] and are fairly uninterested in the world below the canopy, instead preferring the skies above where they can be closer to the Pneuma of the Goddess. They represent the exuberance and joyfulness that is the best aspect of the youthful culture of the | + | In contrast, ''Call of Clouds'' kindreds favour the Lifepath of the [[Age of Dragons: Sky Dancer|Sky Dancer]] and are fairly uninterested in the world below the canopy, instead preferring the skies above where they can be closer to the Pneuma of the Goddess. They represent the exuberance and joyfulness that is the best aspect of the youthful culture of the Forest Dragons. |
Finally, kindreds which follow the ''Call of Thorns'' tend to follow the path of the [[Age of Dragons: Beast Unbound|Beast Unbound]]. They seek to dominate their environments, and tend to be amongst the most vicious and feral of their breed. They believe that a short life should find joy in spilt blood and ferocious struggle. | Finally, kindreds which follow the ''Call of Thorns'' tend to follow the path of the [[Age of Dragons: Beast Unbound|Beast Unbound]]. They seek to dominate their environments, and tend to be amongst the most vicious and feral of their breed. They believe that a short life should find joy in spilt blood and ferocious struggle. | ||
| − | Outside the Kindred-based structure of society are the ''Seers of the Green'', who almost universally follow the lifepath of the [[Age of Dragons: Animist Adept|Animist Adepts]]. Traditionally, in a brood of four or more hatchlings, the youngest will seek out the Seers to join their number. Often, the Seers will pick out these youngest siblings at Gathers, and guide them into choosing to join their number. A small force of [[Age of Dragons: Warmaster|Warmasters]] called the ''Emerald Branch'' also dedicate themselves to the Seers' service, travelling with them as bodyguards or soldiers. It is almost unheard of for a | + | Outside the Kindred-based structure of society are the ''Seers of the Green'', who almost universally follow the lifepath of the [[Age of Dragons: Animist Adept|Animist Adepts]]. Traditionally, in a brood of four or more hatchlings, the youngest will seek out the Seers to join their number. Often, the Seers will pick out these youngest siblings at Gathers, and guide them into choosing to join their number. A small force of [[Age of Dragons: Warmaster|Warmasters]] called the ''Emerald Branch'' also dedicate themselves to the Seers' service, travelling with them as bodyguards or soldiers. It is almost unheard of for a Forest Dragon to become a [[Age of Dragons: Warmaster|Warmaster]] without first trying another Lifepath, and the ''Emerald Branch'' themselves do not accept any Dragon who has not at the very least spent two hundred years in normal life within a Kindred. |
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==Outlook== | ==Outlook== | ||
| − | ''Wisdom- | + | ''Wisdom-of-the-Young'', is a respected Seer, and shares the thoughts of his people: |
* '''Pure Dragons''' - ''"Children of desert, as we are children of forest. The Mother gave us different gifts, but I think ours was the better."'' | * '''Pure Dragons''' - ''"Children of desert, as we are children of forest. The Mother gave us different gifts, but I think ours was the better."'' | ||
* '''Argent Dragons''' - ''"The humans of Arrantis have learnt to stop at the border of the Forest, knowing that they have no authority beyond where the trees begin. The wise Argent should know the same."'' | * '''Argent Dragons''' - ''"The humans of Arrantis have learnt to stop at the border of the Forest, knowing that they have no authority beyond where the trees begin. The wise Argent should know the same."'' | ||
* '''Solar Dragons''' - ''"For all their claims of sibling empathy, they can never truly understand us. We are not part of their grand society - the Forest breed stand apart."'' | * '''Solar Dragons''' - ''"For all their claims of sibling empathy, they can never truly understand us. We are not part of their grand society - the Forest breed stand apart."'' | ||
| − | * '''Hunter Dragons''' - ''"They almost understand | + | * '''Hunter Dragons''' - ''"They almost understand - almost. But they have seized onto one aspect of the mysteries of life, and lost track of the others."'' |
* '''Storm Dragons''' - ''"They are to be respected, and feared. The duty out Mother gave them is a difficult one, and they serve it well."'' | * '''Storm Dragons''' - ''"They are to be respected, and feared. The duty out Mother gave them is a difficult one, and they serve it well."'' | ||
* '''Ashen Dragons''' - ''"They think themselves so superior in intellect, but for all their knowledge they have little true wisdom."'' | * '''Ashen Dragons''' - ''"They think themselves so superior in intellect, but for all their knowledge they have little true wisdom."'' | ||
* '''Velvet Dragons''' - ''"Their beauty is like that of a marble statue - ancient, unchanging and artificial. Our beauty is that of living youth - one that they can never match."'' | * '''Velvet Dragons''' - ''"Their beauty is like that of a marble statue - ancient, unchanging and artificial. Our beauty is that of living youth - one that they can never match."'' | ||
| − | * '''Chimerical Dragons''' - ''"They have insights, these ones, that even we Seers cannot match. But I fear where their insights come from - the dream realm was not meant to be explored, | + | * '''Chimerical Dragons''' - ''"They have insights, these ones, that even we Seers cannot match. But I fear where their insights come from - the dream realm was not meant to be explored, or conquered."'' |
* '''Ghost Dragons''' - ''"Death-cultists of the worse sort, whose very presence makes nature recoil. They will find no refuge in our forests."'' | * '''Ghost Dragons''' - ''"Death-cultists of the worse sort, whose very presence makes nature recoil. They will find no refuge in our forests."'' | ||
* '''Blood Dragons''' - ''"Time and time again they have sought to burn us out of our woods - time and time again, we have driven them off. They all deserve death."'' | * '''Blood Dragons''' - ''"Time and time again they have sought to burn us out of our woods - time and time again, we have driven them off. They all deserve death."'' | ||
