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

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(Lifepaths and the Pure Dragons)
(Outlook)
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==Outlook==
 
==Outlook==
  
''Zenith's Blessing'', ''Solar Ambassador'' speaks diplomatically:
+
''Zenith's Blessing'', ''Solar Ambassador'' speaks honestly of the fellow Children of the Mother:
  
* '''Pure Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Pure Dragons''' - ''"Their divinity is without question, but then so is the divinity of all dragons and all races. They are our friends and allies."''
* '''Argent Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Argent Dragons''' - ''"Proud soldiers and honourable dragons - they have our respect for their determination... though perhaps not for their lack of mental flexibility."''
* '''Hunter Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Hunter Dragons''' - ''"Ah, the noble savage! They would be a welcome addition to our Alliance of Light, though they may need a little taming."''
* '''Forest Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Forest Dragons''' - ''"Harmony with one's environment is all very well, though perhaps not as important as harmony with one's brothers and sisters. Their society is primitive and insular, yet strangely fascinating."''
* '''Storm Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Storm Dragons''' - ''"They guard the dragonrealm from the dangers of the deep, and we are grateful to them for that. Each breed has its role to play, and this is theirs."''
* '''Ashen Dragons''' - ''"...''
+
* '''Ashen Dragons''' - ''"They can never be true friends, till they are willing to see us as the same. Cast aside your paranoia and suspicion, Ashen one, or it will destroy you."''
* '''Velvet Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Velvet Dragons''' - ''"They, at least, are willing to talk. However, be wary when you deal with them, for they are adept at deception."''
* '''Chimerical Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Chimerical Dragons''' - ''"Gentle souls, built too fragile for this rough world. We admire their beauty and wisdom."''
* '''Ghost Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Ghost Dragons''' - ''"Poor broken dragons, you have our pity and our charity. We will protect you."''
* '''Blood Dragons''' - ''"..."''
+
* '''Blood Dragons''' - ''"More beast than dragon, yet the Mother birthed them to be our race's greatest warriors. If only they were not so misguided..."''
* '''Sable Dragons''' - ''"..."
+
* '''Sable Dragons''' - ''"They seek domination, and that is wrong. They deal with gaunts and nightshades, and that is worse. Sable brother, why would you sell our race's birthright to daemons?"''
 
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[[Category:Age_of_Dragons]]
 
[[Category:Age_of_Dragons]]

Revision as of 10:03, 21 December 2007

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


One Sky, One Sun

Solar Dragons see all Dragonkind as a single race, and are fond of noting that while different colours of scale may exist, all dragons belong beneath a single sky and a single sun.

For the Solars, the disunity of dragons is a source of great frustration to them. They see that the Mother Goddess created each breed with a distinct role in mind, but that she never intended them to strive against one another.

The central paradox that Solars recognise, is that to achieve harmony, conflict may be required. To gain peace, the price may be war. As a Breed, the Solars created the concept of the Alliance of Light, and one day hope that all dragons can be united within this Alliance.

To this end, they will fight those who seek to divide, with both words for negotiation and, when needed, talons for battle.

Character Creation: Game Rules

Birthright

Natural Diplomat - Solars are naturally talented at negotiation and diplomacy, and adept at empathy. Solar Dragons gain +1 to Pneuma or Sophis based rolls to negotiate, to read intention, to convince someone of their sincerity or to act diplomatically. Specifically, this bonus does not apply to attempts to deceive, or to intimidate.

Breed Weakness

True Friendship - Betrayal does not come easily to the Solar mindset - they must pass a TN 6+ Sophis test to knowingly betray, deceive or harm an ally or friend, and even if able to do so will feel sick to the stomach for having done so.

Physical Appearance

Solar Dragons have gold-scaled, but like their Argent cousins, this is a gold that runs the range of metallic hues, from bright metallic yellow-white through to burnished bronze. They too tend to brighter colours dorsally, with females more likely to have dappled patches on the border between shades. Solar Dragons tend to have green or blue eyes, which are solid orbs of colour, but brighter centrally than at the edges. Their body shape is slimmer and more elegant than that of the Pure and Argent dragons, and their faces generally regarded as more open and friendly, though perhaps without the regal bearing of those two breeds.

Society and Culture

Solar Dragons maintain close ties to the Free Cities of the South, which run along the coast. The cities are blessed with balmy climates, long hot days and gentle seas. To the north of the Free Cities is the Empire of Arrantis, and to the south is the Ocean of Dreams.

The Free Cities are each governed independently, but rather than being ruled by kings and nobles are overseen by the powerful Merchant Guilds. The Guilds maintain their power through gold rather than force of arms, with the few instances of war between Arrantis and the Free Cities seen off by negotiation, trade and diplomacy rather than in pitched battle.

Solar Dragons have no role in the government of the Free Cities, though more than a few hold titles as "Senior Guildsmen". They recognise no central authority in their breed either, but have a general respect for age and experience. Pacts of friendship and ancient alliances tie the Solars to one another, but the breed as a whole takes great pride in individual freedom.

Lifepaths and the Pure Dragons


When the Solars are mentioned, most dragons immediately think of the Solar Emissaries that follow the path of the Ambassador-Courtier. The Emissaries are the voice of the Alliance both at home and abroad, offering the hand of friendship to those who have not yet joined, and strengthening resolve and camaraderie within those who are already allied. Emissaries are renowned as peacemakers and expert negotiators, defusing disagreements between allies before they can escalate into division, and always seeking to strengthen the Alliance of Light from within.

There is, of course, a darker side to the Emissaries. Having recognised the Ascendancy as enemy to their core values, the emissaries are happy to lie, deceive and spread propaganda to weaken that enemy. For the Solars, the war against the Ascendancy must be fought with words as well as force of arms.

However, for the Solars themselves, the path with which they most readily identify is that of the Physical Adept. For Solars, this path represents the perfect combination of self-discipline, adaptability and expression of individual mastery. Solars also believe that you cannot understand a race unless you have walked in their skin, and as such are especially interested in the Polymorph skills that are associated with this lifepath. A large number of Solars spend a good deal of their time in human form, walking usually amongst the men of the Free Cities, but sometimes farther afield. These are known as Sun Princes, for their habit of posing as merchant princes, and accumulating vast amounts of gold through their trading skills.

Outlook

Zenith's Blessing, Solar Ambassador speaks honestly of the fellow Children of the Mother:

  • Pure Dragons - "Their divinity is without question, but then so is the divinity of all dragons and all races. They are our friends and allies."
  • Argent Dragons - "Proud soldiers and honourable dragons - they have our respect for their determination... though perhaps not for their lack of mental flexibility."
  • Hunter Dragons - "Ah, the noble savage! They would be a welcome addition to our Alliance of Light, though they may need a little taming."
  • Forest Dragons - "Harmony with one's environment is all very well, though perhaps not as important as harmony with one's brothers and sisters. Their society is primitive and insular, yet strangely fascinating."
  • Storm Dragons - "They guard the dragonrealm from the dangers of the deep, and we are grateful to them for that. Each breed has its role to play, and this is theirs."
  • Ashen Dragons - "They can never be true friends, till they are willing to see us as the same. Cast aside your paranoia and suspicion, Ashen one, or it will destroy you."
  • Velvet Dragons - "They, at least, are willing to talk. However, be wary when you deal with them, for they are adept at deception."
  • Chimerical Dragons - "Gentle souls, built too fragile for this rough world. We admire their beauty and wisdom."
  • Ghost Dragons - "Poor broken dragons, you have our pity and our charity. We will protect you."
  • Blood Dragons - "More beast than dragon, yet the Mother birthed them to be our race's greatest warriors. If only they were not so misguided..."
  • Sable Dragons - "They seek domination, and that is wrong. They deal with gaunts and nightshades, and that is worse. Sable brother, why would you sell our race's birthright to daemons?"