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The ''Velvet Dragons'' can't help being beautiful - its the way the goddess made them. They can't help it if Dragons of other breeds sinfully lust after them - to their mind, it is the purpose for which they are made.
 
The ''Velvet Dragons'' can't help being beautiful - its the way the goddess made them. They can't help it if Dragons of other breeds sinfully lust after them - to their mind, it is the purpose for which they are made.
  
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So the ''Velvets'' use their beauty - they tempt, they deceive, they lie and they manipulate. They make no secret of being a force of sin, as they know that this is why they were created. They represent the hidden urge within every living being to just do what instinct and feeling says to, regardless of laws and morality.
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So the Velvets use their beauty - they tempt, they deceive, they lie and they manipulate. They make no secret of being a force of sin, as they know that this is why they were created. They represent the hidden urge within every living being to just do what instinct and feeling says to, regardless of laws and morality.
  
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Even in serving the ''Ascendancy'', they see no paradox. After all, if the Mother Goddess hadn't meant for them to spurn her, then why did She create them as sinners?
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Even in serving the Ascendancy, they see no paradox. They undermine the Mother's order and the Mother's world simply because this is what the Mother wants them to do.
 
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===Sphere Ratings===
 
===Sphere Ratings===
  
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*'''Soma 5'''
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* '''Soma 4'''
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*'''Sophia 4'''
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* '''Sophis  3'''
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*'''Pneuma 6'''
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* '''Pneuma 5'''
  
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''Velvet Dragons'' are adept manipulators, yet lack the willpower to resist manipulation. They are decently strong, yet are crippled in war by their cold iron aversion. A Velvet knows that he must play to his strengths to thrive...
 
  
 
===Birthrights===
 
===Birthrights===
  
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'''Glamourweaving''' - A ''Velvet Dragon'' appears beautiful, for reasons that go beyond the physical. They have an aura of desirability that makes every dragon want to touch and caress them. Likewise their voices are mellifluous and soothing, making others want to believe them even when they should know better. During a social conflict, a ''Velvet Dragon'' may choose reroll one dice, taking the new result in place of the previous one. However, this birthright can only be used if the social action relates to persuasion, deception or seduction.
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'''Glamourweaving''' - A Velvet Dragon appears beautiful, for reasons that go beyond the physical. They have an aura of desirability that makes every dragon want to touch and caress them. Likewise their voices are mellifluous and soothing, making others want to believe them even when they should know better. They have -1 TN on any dice rolls made to seduce or manipulate.
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''Note that '''Glamourweaving''' by default only affects dragons, but if the ''Velvet'' uses a polymorph effect to adopt the appearance of another species, his glamour changes so that it affects that species instead.''
 
 
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===Flaws===
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===Breed Weakness===
  
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'''Aversion to Iron''' - For some unknown reason, the touch of iron disagrees with ''Velvet Dragons''. Whenever they are in physical contact with iron (or steel) their glamourweaving ceases to function, and the touch of iron causes them pain. They cannot wear iron armour or equipment or use iron weapons. Furthermore, in physical conflict iron weapons gain a ''+1 power modifier'' to ''Assault'' actions against Velvet Dragons.
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'''Aversion to Iron''' - For some reason, the touch of iron disagrees with Velvet Dragons. Whenever they are in physical contact with iron (or steel) their glamour ceases to function, and the touch of iron causes them pain. They cannot wear iron armour or equipment or use iron weapons. Furthermore, when iron weapons are used against them these weapons gain a bonus of +1 dice on damage checks.
 
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==Physical Appearance==
 
==Physical Appearance==
  
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'''Velvet Dragons''' are hued a deep and luxurious purple colour, that is so dark as to be almost black, but offset by their deep golden eyes. Dragons of this breed are uncannily beautiful, though in an unsettling way. Dragons of other breeds know that they should not find ''Velvet Dragons'' sexually attractive, but they cannot help doing so, and they hate themselves for doing so. The ''Velvets'' are graceful in movement, sensual in appearance and always seem to smile faintly. Their horns, claws and teeth are the colour of polished ivory, but have a fascinating curve to them that hypnotically draws the eye to them. Theirs is not a noble or elegant beauty, but rather one that triggers unhealthy lust and a sense of discomfort twinned with fascination.  
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'''Ashen Dragons''' are dark grey in colour, with blackish mottling, but always in non-metallic shades. Their horns are the colour of dried bone, and are like a bull's in shape and position. Most breeds grudgingly admit that Ashen Dragons have a cleaner line to their facial features and physical build than most breeds - they seem nobler, more evolved and more blessed in aesthetic beauty than most, just as a classical sculpture or posed portrait might seem. Ashen Dragons vary in minor ways from family to family - pronounced lower canines might be found in one bloodline, while solid white eyes might be found in another. Ashen Dragons themselves place great stock in these small bloodline differences, basing their society and castes around seemingly minor differences in physical traits.
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With chaos-spawn, of course appearance is very different. Most are dragon-sized and wingless, often with extra limbs and heads, tentacles, multiple maws and many eyes. Some take on features of other creatures (such as mammalian hair, or a fishlike face).
 
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==Society and Culture==
 
==Society and Culture==
  
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With all their power to deceive and manipulate, it would make sense if ''Velvet Dragons'' were the secret movers and shakers behind draconic society. The truth is quite different, however - while other dragons may find themselves clouded in thought and judgment when the ''Velvets'' are about, the glamour fades as soon as they are gone, leaving little but resentment from being manipulated.
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The Ashen paint themselves as a noble and unified kingdom, but in truth the ''Ashen Kingdom'' is rife with internal intrigue, both between the Bloodline Houses and between individual dragons making powerplays at each others' expense. Alliances will form and be broken, enmities will form or be cast aside, and the Ashen will take this all in their stride.
  
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Likewise, ''Velvets'' rarely form close attachments to each other. They are used to declarations of love (or of undying friendship) that later turn sour, so they often do not recognise or reciprocate when faced with sincere attachments. Tie this with the fact that ''Velvet Dragons'' are the most likely breed to have interbreed relationships (and thus expend their precious pneuma on harlequin babies rather than true breeds), and the result is that ''Velvets'' simply do not have the numbers that other breeds do.
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The onyl sense of unity they have comes from their pride in being Ashen, and in their opposition to outsiders who seek to encroach on their domain. The Ashen as a whole hold the Hunter Dragons in contempt as "relics of an outdated past", and see even the Ascendancy and the Alliance as "inflexible, and inferior in nature despite their greater strength."
  
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A single ''Velvet'' may work his way into a position of influence, but their skill is in manipulation rather than true charisma or kingship, so they can rarely achieve much with that power. Anyone who wants to take a ''Velvet'' domain through force of arms need only equip himself with iron and steel, and the ''Velvets'' can be easily beaten.
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The Ashen have a multitude of cabals, organisations and power groups. However, these rarely have any true permanence or meaning and will come and go as the centuries pass. It is entirely usual for a single Ashen to swear "lifelong and undivided loyalty" to at least six different (and often opposed) power groups during his life, and not even unheard of for an Ashen Dragon to change his Bloodline House (usually through the intrigues of marriage and rededications). Each group of dragons is often more like a conspiracy with a joint agenda, where none trust the others but all are willing to use each other for greater gain.
  
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''Velvet Dragons'' are not and have never been empire-builders. Individuals may prosper, but the breed as a whole has never established itself as a significant power block. Their preference instead is to work within the domains and power structures established by other breeds. While this makes them excellent spies, and masters of intrigue, it also means historically they have never had a homeland to call their own.
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Naturally the draconic attitude echoes through to the mortal inhabitants of their lands. The Ashen Kingdom is one where the King may change anything from five times to two dozen times per century, with different mortal houses sponsored by different dragons seizing power and losing it as their fortunes wax and wane. Despite this, there is some illusory sense of continuity, with each new ruler claiming some sort of legitimacy to "inheriting the ancient title". Sometimes the dragons rule outright, sometimes they just advise, sometimes they merely share the land with the mortal king or kings. Regardless, this is always the Ashen Kingdom, or the Ashen Kingdoms.
  
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In the current age, the ''Velvets'' have found a new role within the ''Ascendancy'', comfortably letting the ''Sable Dragons'' lead while they work from the shadows.
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Another unifying factor for the Ashen is their reverence of a second god. While the Ashen revere and respect the Mother Goddess (who they call ''Mother Sky''), just as Southern Dragons do, they have also adpopted the idea of ''Father Earth'' as an equal deity. Sometimes cults dedicated to other gods come and go, for example worshipping a host of deities, or revering ''Endless Night'', but the Ashen ultimately retain belief in their dual god and goddess, and prefer to take religion as a melting pot of experimental ideas rather than something to be followed with absolute dogma and conviction.
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Finally, there is the place that Chaos-Spawn and the Senile Insane have in society. At sometimes they are regarded as a blessing, at others a terrible curse. Some will seek to use them as weapons, and others simply to put them out of their misery. Only one rule applies - the Ashen don't talk about them with outsiders. If anyone asks, they change the subject.
 
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==Lifepaths and the Velvet Dragons==
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==Lifepaths and the Ashen Dragons==
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By far the most popular Lifepath for a ''Velvet Dragon'' is that of the [[Age of Dragons: Ambassador-Courtier|Ambassador-Courtier]], which allows them to play their games of intrigue in a social mileu. ''Harpies'' play games of social one-upmanship within the ''Shadow Courts'' of the ''Ascendancy''. ''Companions'' work to gain the favour of more powerful dragons through their seductive wiles. ''Persuaders'' operate in foreign lands to act as the pleasing face of the ''Ascendancy'' - mostly within the ''Ashen Kingdoms'' and the unaligned breeds but sometimes even within ''Alliance'' territory.
 
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Also favoured is the role of the [[Age of Dragons: Physical Adept|Physical Adept]]. ''Velvet Dragons'' appreciate the versatility of polymorphing, and are more than happy to work behind layers of false identity to achieve the goals of their ''Sable'' masters. Whether spying deep in ''Alliance'' territory, or subtly corrupting and manipulating a mortal king, the ''Velvets'' are adept at using disguise and deception to achieve their goals. The ''Ascendancy's'' main espionage branch is called ''The Faceless'', and most of their number are ''Velvet Dragons''.
 
  
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Other lifepaths are more rarer and more unusual: ''Velvet Dragons'' have sufficiently strong pneuma to be potent mage [[Age of Dragons: Scholar-Sage|Scholar-Sages]] but they often lack the motivation or intellect for such a path. Still, those that do choose this path (the so called ''"Velvet Shadowmagi"'') often command extremely puissant sorceries.
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As suits their changing and experimental nature, it is almost unheard of for an Ashen Dragon to pursue just one lifepath. Most find that the necessity of defending their interests requires some time and training as a [[Age of Dragons: Warmaster|Warmaster]], and most find that experimentation with magic is easiest on the Lifepath of a [[Age of Dragons: Scholar-Sage|Scholar-Sage]]. Of course, the intrigues of the Bloodline Houses require some skill as an [[Age of Dragons: Ambassador-Courtier|Ambassador-Courtier]], there is enlightenment to be found in the mutable physicality of the [[Age of Dragons: Physical Adept|Physical Adept]], and even imitating the Hunter Breed as a [[Age of Dragons: Beast Unbound|Beast Unbound]] has its value. Almost any lifepath can be assumed by an Ashen Dragon, and they are not so stupid as to fail to copy the Lifepaths of other cultures as well, leading to some pursuing short stints as [[Age of Dragons: Demonbinder|Demonbinders]], [[Age of Dragons: Sarcomancer|Sarcomancers]], [[Age of Dragons: Animist Adept|Animist Adepts]] or [[Age of Dragons: Sky Dancer|Sky Dancers]].
  
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Finally some ''Velvets'' are forcibly co-opted into a [[Age of Dragons: Fecund Breeder|Fecund Breeder]] program. Only the most deranged and insecure would enter a Hive voluntarily, but ''Endless Night'' has recognised that the ''Velvet's'' ability to inspire lust makes them quite useful for this purpose. The breed as a whole have not objected to this abuse of some of their number - if nothing else it is helping the ''Velvets'' close the population gap...
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Often the Ashen will mark the change into a new lifepath by joining a group of likeminded dragons. For example, one Ashen might join the ''Cabal of Broken Reflections'' to learn about polymorphing, then later swear "unending" loyalty to ''the Society of Ashen Knights'' to learn warcraft, then attend ''the Courts of the Grey Circle'' to apply his skills to the political arena. As already noted, these societies are always coming in and out of existence, and any that does persist often does so by changing its name and agenda every half century or so.
 
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==Outlook==
 
==Outlook==
  
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''Shames-The-Sunset'' is a regular sight in the Ascendancy' Courts, and all listen to what he has to say:
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''Scion-of-Unchanging-Truth'', says he is of House Boneclaw, and of the Cabal of Fractured Reflections, but this may be as inaccurate as his name. He may be lying when he tells you what he thinks:
  
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* '''Pure Dragons''' - ''"A challenging quarry for seduction, as they seem immune to our beauty. It just makes the chase more fun though..."''
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* '''Pure Dragons''' - ''"Ah yes... we also revere Mother Sky, so we are kindred, you and I. Tell me, have you ever considered the other half of the creation myth?"''
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* '''Argent Dragons''' - ''"Its hard to make one of these soldier-knights betray his ideals for a kiss... hard, but not impossible."''
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* '''Argent Dragons''' - ''"A fearsome bunch of soldiers to be sure, and so grim, so serious. Very admirable, I'm sure."''
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* '''Solar Dragons''' - ''"Of all the Alliance Dragons, these ones are the easiest to work on. It's almost endearing how easily they fall for a few small lies."''
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* '''Solar Dragons''' - ''"Of course we will support your Alliance and sign your treaties! The Cabal is with you, my friend! What do you mean we reneged on the last treaty we signed? Well, we were hoping to renegotiate..."''
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* '''Hunter Dragons''' - ''"The trick is to appeal to the animal lust inside - clever words just infuriate them, but promise them rutting, and they'll follow you like puppy dogs."''
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* '''Hunter Dragons''' - ''"Stupid ferals, clinging to the "old ways". If your old ways are so great, remind me why you're losing our little war?"''
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* '''Forest Dragons''' - ''"Young flesh is so supple, though I prefer more mature lovers for pleasure. On the other hand, young minds are so much easier to influence..."''
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* '''Forest Dragons''' - ''"So interesting that they have subspecies of different sorts, eh? I wonder if that phenomenon can be manipulated somehow..."''
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* '''Storm Dragons''' - ''"They have this grand martyr complex going on - pander to that, and they can be manipulated easily."''
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* '''Storm Dragons''' - ''"Yes, yes, you go play in the sea. We'll deal with things up here."''
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* '''Ashen Dragons''' - ''"An Ashen was  the most experimental lover I ever had. Ah... fond memories..."''
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* '''Velvet Dragons''' - ''"Come in my dear, make yourself comfortable. I do like to collect things like you."''
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* '''Chimerical Dragons''' - ''"Fellow dragons of chaos, though obsessed with the cerebral and spiritual. They should learn to appreciate the physical and emotional a little more."''
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* '''Chimerical Dragons''' - ''"Astonishing sorcerous prowess, and such wisdom! I do so admire them."''
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* '''Ghost Dragons''' - ''"With their endless wittering about doom and gloom they ruined every party. I'm glad they've gone."''
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* '''Ghost Dragons''' - ''"Oh we sympathise, we do so much. But there's no room here in our little paradise, so move along, move along."''
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* '''Blood Dragons''' - ''"The blood dragon is a creature of insatiable appetites. We can but try our best..."''
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* '''Blood Dragons''' - ''"Best not to mock one of these, unless he doesn't realise you're mocking him. Which isn't hard, really."''
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* '''Sable Dragons''' - ''"Our Lords and Masters. They like to be in control, and to dominate. That's alright - I can be submissive if that's what master needs."''
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* '''Sable Dragons''' - ''"Clever - damnably clever. Luckily, so are we."''
 
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[[Category:Age_of_Dragons|Velvet]]
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[[Category:Age_of_Dragons]]

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