Age of Dragons: Pure Dragons

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

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The Firstborn of the Goddess

The Pure Dragons claim that when the Mother Goddess birthed the dragons, the first that she created were the Pure, and that she tasked the Pure with rulership over the rest. They also tell that the Mother herself was white of scale, and that the Pure were made in her own image. The others (they say) are merely facets of a better whole with the Pure Dragons the only dragons born complete. They point out that when you combine the many colours of light, you end with brilliant whiteness.

It is somewhat unsurprising that the other Dragon Breeds regard the Pure as haughty, and dislike their superior attitudes. Of course, even the most anarchic and disrespectful dragon of chaos cannot help but grudgingly accept that there is a certain something to the Pure Breed. They seem to have an aura of holiness about them, and their appearance and aura is one of wholeness and inner harmony.

Character Creation: Game Rules

Birthright

Scholarly disposition - Pure Dragons roll one extra dice for Sophis Checks relating to academia, research or other scholarly tasks.

Aura of the Goddess - Pure Dragons roll one extra dice for Pneuma Checks relating to social interaction with mortals who are adherents to the Orthodox faith.

Breed Weakness

Mark of the Oathbreaker - A Pure Dragon who swears an oath in the name of the Mother Goddess is bound by mystical forces to fulfil that oath. Should he break his oath, his skin will become marred by patchy grey blotches. The Pure refer to these marked oathbreakers as Gray Apostates, and regard them as sinners of the worst sort. It is not uncommon for more zealous orthodoxists to attack Gray Apostates on sight, and slaying a Gray Apostate is seen as a holy duty rather than a sin.

Physical Appearance

Pure Dragons have flawless white scales, as well as white eyes and ivory-white claws. Male Pure Dragons also sport white horns, which tend to run long and straight parallel to the length of the head, and which are circular in cross-section. Amongst dragons they demonstrate greatest uniformity of appearance within their breed, and it is not uncommon for one individual to be mistaken for another on cursory examination. Pure Dragons describe their form as being especially noble and regal, with clean curve of upper jaw and a slight beak-shape to their noses. Others regard these features as undeniably aristocratic, but perhaps a little haughty in expression.

Society and Culture

The primary domain of the Pure Dragons is in the southeast, where they rule over the desert land of Kalarn. Kalarn is a theocracy, ruled by a human priesthood that worships the Mother Goddess, and reveres the Pure Dragons as Her angelic emissaries. Pure Dragons are accustomed to deference and respect from the mortals that surround them, and see their rightful place as rulers of the lesser species. They have little doubt as to the semi-divine nature of dragonkind, and see themselves as the closest to the goddess.

This tendency towards religion and theocracy means that within the Alliance, the Pure Dragons have gravitated towards control of the Draconic Priesthood. The Orthodoxy is their religion, and they are recognised as the spokespersons of the Faith.

Pure Dragons also tend towards the scholarly, for it is well known that the Mother Goddess loved learning and wisdom. They treasure truth and the recording of truth, and are in control of the White Archive, which is the largest library in the realm.

This is not to say that White Dragons are all sages - for their religion they are more than willing to take up other Lifepaths, and their order of Bright Crusaders have acted as the tooth and claw of the Faith for millennia, leading and supporting the million-strong mortal armies of Kalarn.

Beyond Kalarn, scattered Pure Dragons tend to retain their disposition towards the intellectual, if not their tendency towards faith.

Lifepaths and the Pure Dragons

Almost all Pure Dragons will spend at least some time as Scholar-Sages, often serving the White Archive of Kalarn. Equally noble is the calling of the War Dragon, especially when in service of the faith as a Bright Crusader. Far-sky Rangers are not uncommon, with many acting as Missionaries of the Faith.

As with all breeds, Pure Dragons can be found in all walks of life. Mostly they will tie their life-roles in service to their homelands in Kalarn, or at least to the Orthodoxy. Few roles are seen as inherently unholy, though some appeal more to the Pure Dragon mindset than others.

A Gray Apostate that escapes the claws of his brethren will sometimes flee to the lands of the Ascendancy.

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