Draconians

*"Through tradition and order, we pave the way for divine selection. A world reborn from the ashes, where peace and prosperity will reign. Sacrifices must be made for the greater good, and I am willing to bear that burden to ensure a future free from insubordination and chaos."*

*- Ryujin, God Emperor of the Draconians*

## Brief Overview

Dragons (often referred to by other races as Draconians) are ancient and enigmatic beings of Eldoria. They have a storied history that stretches back for many millennia. They are powerful, intelligent creatures known for their mastery of magic, their longevity, and their profound influence on the world as the first species to walk Eldoria’s soil. They were not always so wise, it was said that the naivety of their youth caused events, the effects of which can still be seen today in the landscape and topography of our world.

It is important to note that modern day Draconians conceal themselves in the form of humans in order to prevent their own extinction by genocide due to them causing The Elemental Cataclysm which can be directly linked with the overall downfall of most of Eldorias older races.

## Societal Structure

Ever since the Elemental Cataclysm stripped the Draconians from their once proud and godlike nation, the Draconians have been whittled down to a shadow of their former glory. In the age of old their societal structure was a caste system split into three distinct classes: Wyrms, Wyverns, and Drakes.

### Wyrms

The Wyrms were the highest caste in Draconian society, often seen as the ruling class. They were known for their immense size, wisdom, and regal bearing. The most powerful among them were the Wyrm Lords, revered as leaders and kings. Wyrms were deeply connected to the elemental forces and had the ability to manipulate them. They controlled territories and ruled over Draconian cities and provinces.

Their duties included maintaining the balance of elemental magic, overseeing the welfare of the Draconian populace, and making decisions on matters of governance and diplomacy.

Of all the Wyrm rulers, Ryu was most revered by all. He was seen as the true embodiment of Traditionalist Draconic values and the caste system, and as such he ruled with an iron fist believing the lower castes to be inferior and in some cases barely draconian at all. He was the most powerful of all the Draconic Emperors and as such was renamed by the people to "Ryujin", gaining the title of "God Emperor of all Draconians".

### Wyverns

The Wyverns served as the warrior caste of Draconian society. They were known for their combat prowess, disciplined training, and fierce loyalty to the Wyrm Lords.

Wyverns formed the backbone of the Draconian military, defending their nation from external threats and maintaining order within. They were often tasked with patrolling the skies and guarding Draconian territory.

Some Wyverns also served as elite bodyguards for the Wyrm Lords, ensuring their safety and security.

### Drakes

Drakes made up the largest caste in Draconian society and were responsible for labour and resource management. They toiled in various capacities, from farming and mining to crafting and construction. Unlike Wyverns and Wyrms, however, they have little to no inherent magical abilities, and as such must rely on their brute strength in combat.

While considered lower in status, Drakes were essential to the functioning of Draconian society. They produced food, crafted weapons, and maintained infrastructure, despite this however, they were often dehumanised and looked down upon by the higher castes as no more than fodder for the labour force.

## The History of Draconians

### The Dawn of Dragonkind

Draconians are among the oldest inhabitants of Eldoria, with their origins rooted in the primordial forces of the world. They are believed to have been created directly from the primordial forces in the Cosmic Forge by the Elder Gods, and as such they are the most powerful species when it comes to wielding magic. They can tap into every element as though it were a natural extension of themselves. However, though the Draconians can utilise these elements, they cannot control or truly bend them to their will.

### The Age of Wyrm Lords

As time passed, dragons developed their magical abilities and intelligence. They began to organise into caste-based societies led by powerful individuals known as Wyrm Lords.

During this age, Draconians established their dominance as the oldest and most powerful race and exerted a profound influence on Eldoria, shaping its geography, ecology, and even the destinies of its mortal races. They were revered as deities by some (see: Ryoumin) and feared as harbingers of destruction by others. As such they were sought out by many for their wisdom and magical prowess and were known on occasion to serve as protectors of races they believed to be inferior.

### The Draconic Civil War

The Draconic Civil War, a momentous conflict among the Draconians, a once-proud and godlike race, stands as a dark chapter in the history of the Draconians, as well as Eldoria as a whole. This internal struggle shattered the unity of the Draconians and forever altered their society, leaving a legacy of division and scars that would endure for ages to come.

The seeds of the Draconic Civil War were sown during a time when the Draconians began to experience internal strife. Disagreements between Ryujin "God Emperor of Draconians" (Ruler at the time), his Loyalists, and lower castes, simmered beneath the surface. The Draconic Civil War erupted when a coalition of Wyverns and Drakes challenged the authority of the ruling Wyrms under the leadership of Mizuchi, daughter of Ryujin. The catalyst for the war was a demand for greater equality, the redistribution of power, and an end to the oppressive caste system. This conflict raged across the Draconian empire, with battles fought in the skies, on land, and even within the depths of their strongholds. The skies were filled with element-breathing dragons clashing in aerial combat, while the earth trembled beneath the might of warring Draconians and their proxy armies.

Families and clans were torn apart by divided loyalties, as some members supported the rebellion against the Wyrms, while others remained fiercely loyal to the Draconic God Emperor. The civil war was characterized by shifting alliances and betrayals among castes, and as the Draconic Civil War raged on, a group of desperate scholars under the orders of Ryujin sought to bring an end to the devastating conflict that had torn their society apart. Ryujin was driven by a desire for a solution and power, and his hubris knew no bounds, believing that they could manipulate the very elemental forces that had shaped their race and use them to force the opposing side into submission.

In his reckless pursuit of power, Ryujin pressured the Scholars to succeed in their task by any means necessary, causing them to delve into forbidden and arcane rituals to control the elemental forces on a scale never before attempted. Whilst on a covert expedition to locate any relics that could help them with their goals, a group of these scholars stumbled upon a Primordial Shard, hidden away by one of the Elder Gods during the creation of Eldoria, and attempted to unleash the raw elemental energy contained within, hoping to harness this power for themselves.

However, their arrogance and disregard for the consequences of their actions would prove disastrous as the elemental forces, ancient and unpredictable, were not so easily tamed. Yet, the scholars still attempted to manipulate these forces despite their growing doubts. Spurred forth by the orders of Ryujin himself, they unwittingly set off an elemental chain reaction that reverberated throughout Eldoria. The Elemental Cataclysm, as it would come to be known, was a cataclysmic event of unparalleled scale. It unleashed the raw, unbridled power of the elemental forces from within the Primordial Shard, causing tumultuous earthquakes, devastating storms, volcanic eruptions, and the upheaval of the very earth itself. Draconian settlements crumbled, forests burned, and strongholds were obliterated.

The cataclysm brought the Draconic Civil War to an abrupt and horrifying end, but at a staggering cost. The elemental forces raged out of control, wreaking havoc across Eldoria and affecting every species that resided there. The entire world was plunged into chaos, and the consequences of the cataclysm would be felt for generations to come by all.

### The Sundering

Just like all the other races, the Draconians had their own Sundering event. Unlike the others however, it was not brought upon them by natural causes or catastrophic environmental changes, instead, it was those they once shared Eldoria with. In the aftermath of the elemental cataclysm, every nation was shattered, ripped down from their once glorious podiums, and thus in their anger and grief desperately searched for the cause, for someone or something to blame.

It was the Elves who discovered the true cause. Using their knowledge of magical divination, the residual energy left over from the cataclysm led them straight to the source: The Draconian's homelands. It was clear that the Draconians had meddled in affairs far beyond their skillset as their once bountiful lands had been reduced to mere islands, dots of charred land jutting out from the ocean in an amalgamation of spikes and rock. News spread quickly, and it was not long before the nations came for the Draconians, wishing upon them retribution for the travesty they had unleashed upon the world. With the combination of damage received from both the Elemental Cataclysm and the 398-year civil war, the nations hunted the Draconians to near extinction as they had nowhere near the resources nor the unity to defend against a multi-nation attack. Their numbers reduced to the hundreds, and with no other choice the Draconians hid themselves in humanoid form to avoid detection and escape the mass genocide of their people.

To this day the Draconians remain in hiding, afraid of the consequences should they reveal themselves to the world. However, it can be said that the stronger the Draconian, the more difficult it is for them to hide their true form. In this sense, the Drakes finally had the upper hand as they could near-replicate human visage. The Wyrms on the other hand had no such luck and thus remained hidden away in the Draconic Isles (as the remnants of their lands had now become known), awaiting the day they might walk freely once more.

## Gallery

An example of a Drake concealing itself in in a near-perfect Human form, the horns are the most difficult part to conceal so it is not uncommon for Drakes to wear hoods or headwear to hide them from view.A picture showing the difference between a weak wyvern attempting humanoid concealment (left) and a strong wyvern attempting humanoid concealment (right).An attempt by a Wyrm to replicate Human form, as you can see the attempt is quite unsuccessful