Dragonbinder

**Dragonbinders** are a culture from Onixana, known for their dragon blood and hunger for power. They dwell in the center of the Salahan Empire who they have had a fierce animosity with.

## Description:

Dragonbinders are strange. Council scholars researching them have compared them to the vampires of Keyvaile, with their sickly pale look, blood drinking and odd eyes, of which the Dragonbinders have yellow, orange, red or purple variants. Their hair are described as dark, spiky, and greasy to the touch. Due to the fact they mostly refuse to breed with non-Dragonbinders, they are left with a limited genepool which has left them rather inbred, resulting in genetic deformities that mixed with the draconic blood flowing though their veins, has left some of the Dragonbinders looking like draconic beast themselves. These are referred to as the **Scaled Ones**.

The elves describe their look as off putting, though some find them oddly attractive.

## History:

Dragonbinders started as a group of Vaxtos tribesman who travelled the valley that would later would bear their name. They were hunters, killing many beasts for food. This changed when they began hunting dragons, mainly those of the Copper Dragonhost as they lived nearby, using cunning and live bait to trick and kill the mighty beasts. They would eventually kill the mother of all copper dragons Cyranis and drank from her blood. Why they did this terrible act is unknown, perhaps to show dominance, but it would forever change them and give them foul dreams. They took the horn of Cyranis, hollowed it out, and blew it, enslaving the entire Copper Dragonhost to their will. Soon afterwards, the various Dragonbinder houses formed horns of their own out of dragons they previously killed.

They grew in power, raiding and burning a lot of their neighbors. The Muka kingdom to the North, the Moundbuilders to the east, Edessans to the south, and even their Vaxtos kinsfolk in Western Ikor. None could stand against them and their dragons. But they could not fully hold any of this land for though they were powerful, their ambitions led to infighting among them and they turned on one another. Each time a Praetor rose among them, his house soon fell from grace and was replaced with another.

It was not until Makar Vakar became Praetor and declared himself Dragonking did they began to truly expand their great empire. He enslave the Mukas and invaded the lands of Ikor and the Moundbuilders. He was only stopped by the Cataclysm when Jun’huru and his demonic horde turned west and smashed their way thought the Moundbuilders’ great kingdom. Makar thought his might and dragons could stop the demon horde and lead many great dragonlords against the horde, but all would die in a single strike of the demon lord’s blade. All of them turned to ash along with their dragons. Annoyed, Jun'huru sent hordes of demons into their lands, killing many including a few of the great families.

The Dragonbinders would attempt to rebuild their great nation after this great catastrophe, but were defeated and subjected by Erdaritr Vellens and his newly founded Salahan Empire.

## Practices:

Dragonbinders have a strong tradition steeped in slavery and blood magic. They hold the Unblooded Vax, or those Vaxtos among them that hold no dragonblood in contempt, making them their peasant class and treating them no better then slaves, even occasionally sacrificing them in their blood rituals. They also rely heavily on their enslaved Copper Dragonhost, using them in battle and in displays of power.

When a Dragonbinder turns fifteen years old, they take a group of friends and an Unblooded escort and capture a copper dragon. They remove one of its horns, carve a dragonhorn from it and use it to mount the dragon and fly back to their house’s clan-home to show it off.

Dragonbinders love their feasts, and great festivals are held on holidays and on the Praetor’s birthday. Large consumption of food and dancing is common at these festivals, as well as tournaments both with blade and with dragons. Towards the end of these feasts, it is customary to drink Cyarant, a mix of wine, dragon blood, and several herbs, which cause hallucinations that the Dragonbinders deem prophetic.

Dragonbinders enjoy spicy foods and wines, along with dragon blood. Their music is considered loud and harsh, though this is mostly by Council and elven scholars, favoring horns and percussion instruments over those with strings.

Dragonbinder follow the meritocratic system, where all the Houses compete for the title of Praetor. Duels for this position are common and no House rules for long, but due to many stipulations and unsaid "rules", this system prevents the Houses from wiping each other out.

## Religion and Holidays:

Most Dragonbinders follow the Dragonsurge religion, which originated from the dreams of the first Dragonbinders after they drank the elder dragon's blood.

They have many feasts and celebrations such as the **Anniversary of the Dragonsurge** and **Feast of the Crying Dragon**, to commemorate those lost during the Cataclysm, and the Praetor’s feast where the current Praetor House shows off its power. All others must show signs of submission, usually the offering of gifts and tributes and the bending of knees.

## Notable Characters of Dragonbinder Origin:

Makar Vakar: The Praetor who finally made the Dragonbinders put aside their petty squabbles to conquer their neighbors, till he was killed by Jun'huru.

Jayaharis Vakar: Son of Makar Vakar. He expanded his father's empire, attempting to conquer the whole continent with his great dragon Arorconan. He was stopped by Erdaritr Vellens who united the other kingdoms against him and founded the Salahan Empire.

Makar I Orelion: Only member of House Orelion to survive the Cataclysm. He aided Jayharis Vakar in his conquests but abandoned him as he lost to the newly formed Salahan Empire and would become the first Praetor of the Dragonbinders under imperial rule. He started the tradition of the **Feast of the Crying Dragon** to mourn those dragonbinders lost during the Cataclysm.

Daemon I: Dragonlord of Yardgae who used his quick and vile wit to murder the previous Praetor and name himself leader of all Dragonbinders.

Hadrin Gryzlar Son of Praetor Daemon the Clever. He showed great arcane skill from a young age and was trained by the Magisterium until his father’s death. He ruled quite justly for a dragonbinder and explored arcane secrets as the Emperor's Court mage.

Aegon Vakar: An arrogant dragonlord who was thirsting for land and power. He convinced his Praetor Daemon the Second, to allow him to invade the Blessed Isle of Eldarmar with a great army and three dragons. The conquest would fail after Prince Ordath Middlim his dragons, and he was slain by Manaon Middlim in single combat.

Targuul Gryzlar: Brother of Daemon "the False Flame", who took over after he was killed by Emperor Magnus and took the Grand Horn for himself, leading a great rebellion against House Vellens.

Darrion Orelion: A master of intrigue and dragon riding, he married Princess Raina Vellens and helped her press her claim to the Ruby Throne, ensuring that their children would rule the Salahan Empire and allowed the Dragonbinders to take a foothold into the Ruby Throne.