The First Rider

The First rider was a rider who was bonded with a wild white unicorn, whom later became the unicorn queen. He and the queen helped found the Eyrie and also inhabit the Island. After death he became known as the Phantom Rider.

### Early Life

Not much is known about the First Rider’s early life but when he was about 12 or 13 he washed up on the shore of Fisherman’s beach, having been marooned there while on a fishing trip. He got up to the Island and began to look around. He was shocked to find unicorns, as much like the rest of the world they were considered a myth.

He began a friendship with a white wild unicorn foul. She, unlike most unicorns didn’t hurt him and they began to grow and bond as friends. He watched as the wild unicorn satiated her hunger and blood lust on animals, even ones as large as bears.

### The Queen's Gift

Eventually after years of knowing each other the Female unicorn, later known as the unicorn queen pierces his hand in the same way that would become common later with Riders of the Eyrie. In great pain the first rider didn’t know what was going on but found that he had become bonded to the unicorn queen. She choosing to share her power with him, in an act of love.

Eventually the two found the place where wild unicorn eggs were appearing in a mound, which would later become the hatchery. Concerned at the amount of eggs that were hatching without the bond that the pair shared, they decided to leave the Island and go all over the world searching for those who could potentially have unicorns.

They brought them to the Island and slowly but surely those people destined for unicorns began to grow in number and they, and their descendents began to occupy and live on the Island.

The number grew until the two founded the Eyrie where riders and their unicorns could become one and learn how to partially control the chaos unleashed by unicorns.

Much later the wild unicorn queen and first rider began to become worried that the Island could become unbalanced if the riders were to make a mistake. Fearing for their home and Wild Unicorn Queen sacrificed herself in order to fasion a staff made of her own bones and the First rider made just such a weapon. This Staff was buried with both when they had died.

When the wild unicorn Queen died the Eyrie was given a tree from her that sprouted to cover the tomb as well as the mirror cliffs.

### The Island's Revenge

Much as the two had come to fear the Silver Circle, for their own misguided reasons (and help from the Weaver) discovered a way to kill Wild Unicorns and thus began the chain of events that began the Island’s Revenge where the magic was out of balance.

Skandar Smith and his quartet learned the legend of the Bone Staff of the First Rider and finally located it on the solstice.

The Spirit of the unicorn queen makes four elemental unicorns in her stead to challenge any intruders to the tomb. One of Fire, Air, Earth and lastly water. Skandar’s quarter managed to tackle the first three, with Skandar managing to outmanuver the last of the four.

### Meeting the Last Spirit Rider

The First Rider and the Unicorn Queen’s spirits rose from their tomb and challenged Skandar and Scoundrel’s Luck to a joust. The pair won the first two but lost when Skandar used a powerful Spirit Shield in a defensive fashion to beat the First Rider.

Impressed with their efforts the first Rider explains his origin, how he came to the Island and how he met the Unicorn Queen. He also gives the Bone Staff to Skandar in order to save the Island.

Before he goes back into the Earth the First Rider asks Skandar to return the Bone Staff when he is finished with it so it may be used if the Island needs it again. He also imparts the advice of “The one whom you love the most will betray you, Skandar Smith. Be wary. When it matters most they will turn against you”

Skandar attempts to ask what this advice means though the pair vanish before he is able to.

Although Skandar promised to return the bone staff to the tomb someone had taken it after it had been used to save the Island by Skandar, his quartet and his sister.