Editing Age of Dragons: Sable Dragons

The Twelfth-born of the Goddess were her killers. The birth of their breed's progenitor ended the Mother Goddess, and since then the Sables have named themselves the ''Enders''.

The Sables see that Creation itself is doomed to this same fate, and accept as inevitable that Dragonkind will die. They recognise also that even they cannot escape the ultimate nullification of all things, but by changing into something greater than Dragons they suspect that they can outlive the rest of their species.

Thus there is the central paradox to Sable existence - they recognise the Omega in all things and they know that to struggle to survive is futile, but at the same time they try to deny death. They see the darkness of empty eternity, but they hope to master it.

'''Force of Will''' - Sable Dragons are adept at applying their strength of Sophis in place of their other shortcomings. Sable Dragons can cast death-aligned magic using Sophis instead of Pneuma. Likewise, they can use Sophis instead of Pneuma for any social tests relating to command or intimidation (though not for other social situations).

'''Denial of Ending''' - Sable Dragons fear mortality more than most, and will fight their own deaths till the very end. When making ''Resist Injury'' checks they may use their Sophis instead of their Soma.

===Breed Weakness===

'''Fear of Mortality''' - Aware as they are of the finality of death, Sable Dragons find it hard to enter into situations where their life may be at risk. A Sable Dragon who voluntarily enters a life-threatening situation (i.e. does so even when he has choice or option not to) is at -1 dice to all dice pools till he leaves that situation.  

'''Sable Dragons''' seem like the negative image of the Pure Dragons, with their scales coloured as the deep black of night, as well as having jet-black eyes and gleaming black long straight horns. Like the Pure Dragons they have considerable uniformity of appearance, though part of this lies in that it is difficult to distinguish facial features with the depth of their skin hue. Sables have an undeniably regal appearance - they move and act as if it is their natural right to rule. Other breeds find them somewhat intimidating, and a little cold and distant, but cannot help but acknowledge their sheer force of presence.

Before ''Endless Night'' the Sable Dragons were a scattered and paranoid people, with individuals hiding away deep in isolated lairs, fearful of their neighbours. They would sometimes build small kingdoms within the lands of the North, but only so as to protect them from the world beyond. As Sables are so engaged in protecting their own survival, the idea of sacrificing pneuma to create children was always a little odd to most, so the Sables were of lower numbers than most. Still, Sables would occasionally meet, and were no less prone to falling in love than any other breed, so new generations were born, albeit in small numbers.

When ''Endless Night'' arrived, he unified his Breed, using his blood connections to track down all his errant descendants and to dominate them psychically. The Sables were forced into close proximity with other Breeds and each other, and established as the heart of the new Ascendancy. The Empire of Night is now their Empire, and none are so foolish as to think they can fight their progenitor.

Despite their newfound power, Sables are still somewhat uncomfortable in being exposed to view, so still tend to lair in deep caverns. They prefer by far to lead from the back, so few within or outside the Ascendancy will ever see them. They may be masters of their empire, but they maintain an air of mystery by existing unseen for the most part.

==Lifepaths and the Blood Dragons==

Sable Dragons tend towards mental rather than physical pursuits, and ave a strong affinity for death magic. Most will study as [[Age of Dragons: Demonbinder|Demonbinders]] or [[Age of Dragons: Scholar-Sage|Scholar-Sages]], operating under the blanket title of ''Necropotents''.

A more recent phenonomenon (though a growing one) is the Lifepath of the [[Age of Dragons: Ascendant of Shadow|Ascendant of Shadow]]. These Sables Dragons follow the belief in ''Shadow Apotheosis'', believing that they can escape mortality by transforming their bodies into Voidshadow, just as ''Endless Night'' has done so.  

Finally, weaker Sables may be coerced into becoming [[Age of Dragons: Fecund Breeder|Fecund Breeders]]. Although pursuit of this lifepath runs against every Sable instinct, it is not uncommon for a young Sable to being forced to "work his time" as a breeder before being recognised as a true Sable Dragon. The truly weak are never allowed to graduate beyond this lifepath.

''Strength-of-the-Lastborn'' is an Ascendancy Necropotent, and it is rare to hear his words:

* '''Pure Dragons''' - ''"The enemy, clinging to the worship of a Goddess who is already long deceased. Their resistance is ultimately futile."''

* '''Argent Dragons''' - ''"I admit, I fear their claws."''

* '''Solar Dragons''' - ''"Weaklings, especially at night time. I offer them mercy in a quick death."''

* '''Hunter Dragons''' - ''"Brutal creatures! I envy their claws and teeth, but ultimately I am the better Warmaster."''

* '''Forest Dragons''' - ''"Mere numbers do not compensate for their physical weakness. We win every fight against them."''

* '''Storm Dragons''' - ''"Hard to fight, if only because the cowards hide underwater. Still, they bleed as easy as any other wants you catch them."''

* '''Ashen Dragons''' - ''"Tricksy bastards, with more surprises in battle than you'd credit them for. All's fair in murder and war though, so I bear no grudge."''

* '''Velvet Dragons''' - ''"A Velvet stole my heart once, and laid a Harlequin seed in my belly. I repaid him by bloody castration."''

* '''Chimerical Dragons''' - ''"They are blessed with insanity, yet theirs is the weak sort of madness, rather than the strong rage-laden kind. Easily killed."''

* '''Ghost Dragons''' - ''"I never trusted the Ghost Scholars. I am unsurprised that they betrayed the North, but my steelclaws will wreak revenge on their feeble flesh when we catch them."''

* '''Sable Dragons''' - ''"Endless Night has given us purpose and unity, and for that I am forever grateful. The Sable breed are his children, and they are worthy of our deference."''

[[Category:Age_of_Dragons]]