Amaya
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Karma: 2 |  | Dragon Rider History
« Thread Started on Aug 8, 2006, 11:02am » | |
The Beginning:
Around three millenia before the tale of modern-day Eragon, an Elf killed a dragon as he might kill a deer for food. The mistake caused a large-scale war between the Elven and Dragon races, until one day an Elf named Eragon (the present Eragon's namesake), found an abandoned Dragon egg, and, realising the benifits it could cause, raised the baby Dragon who hatched from it. The two become great friends and acted as ambassadors between the two races.
The Bond:
A spell was cast over the Dragon eggs to ensure that the baby Dragons inside would only hatch when the egg was touched by the Human or Elf whom they believed was best suited for them. When the Dragon hatches and touches its Rider for the first time, this touch leaves a mark, the Gedwëy Ignasia, or "shining palm", on the Dragon Rider’s hand. Through this, a bond forms between them that melds their minds on a basic level, binding them for life in the most enduring friendship that can possibly exist, and endowing the Dragon Rider with magic.
The Dragon Riders became the most powerful force in Alagaësia.When the powerful binding spell was first cast, only the Dragons and the Elves participated in it, in a mutually benefial relationship that granted the Elves immortality, and gave the Dragons the gift of speech through telepathy. Humans, the third race to enter the bond, were added only later, and so, at the time of the events in Eragon, the spell has not affected them as strongly. Also, Dwarves were never added to the spell, and there has never been a Dwarf Rider.
The Fall:
Long ago, Galbatorix - a Dragon Rider who was driven to insanity by the killing of his dragon by Urgals - led a rebellion that crushed the Riders and brought an end to the order. Along with another Rider, Morzan, whom he persuaded to follow him, he captured a small black Dragon named Shruikan, killed Shruikan's true Dragon Rider, and forced the young Dragon to obey him though powerful dark magic. Galbatorix used his power to become the King of Alagaësia.
Thirteen Forsworn:
The Forsworn were the group of corrupted Riders used by Galbatorix in his rebellion. The Forsworn joined Galbatorix partly out of fear, but also for power and protection. One by one, they slew the Dragon Riders, until none were left of the old order.
There were thirteen Forsworn in all, Morzan being the first to join and the last of them to die. Morzan was the only one of the thirteen to have children (Murtagh, who accompanies Eragon for quite a while, and Eragon himself as revealed in Eldest).
Brom, a Dragon Rider, eventually slew Morzan and personally killed two others, and was responsible for the deaths of five more of them. They died mostly through the work of Brom and the Varden, but also died from overuse of magic, suicide, ambush, and in fighting among their own numbers. It is said that, at all times, Galbatorix knew what the Forsworn were thinking and doing, and out of boredom would watch them fight amongst each other, sometimes helping one or the other for his own amusement.
Their Purpose:
Although the original purpose of the Dragon Riders was to keep the peace between the Elves and Dragons, their duty soon expanded to keeping peace and order throughout the land, among all the races and governments. As time went on, the Dragon Riders' deeds became well-known, and their council came to control the land. While the Dragon Riders held sway, the land prospered and great cities were built. The Dragon Riders helped establish peace treaties between nations and even small skirmishes and conflicts. As an ex-Dragon Rider, Brom, said, "How many men would draw their swords if they knew a great fire-breathing lizard - one with more natural cunning and wisdom than even a king could hope for - would soon be there to stop the violence?"
Although the Dragon Riders first lived in the then-Elven city of Ilirea (now the King's capital, Uru'baen), a disagreement with the Elven Queen, Dellanir, led to the leader Anurin to moving the Riders to the island of Vroengard, from which the Dragon Riders worked as independent peacemakers and virtually controlled all the lands, though through the different rulers.
After The Fall, Galbatorix took over Vroengard and the Island of the Riders became a part of his Empire.
Training:
The bond with the Dragons gave Riders strong ability to use magic, as well as enhanced physical abilities. These abilities were developed by extensive training to make Riders some of most powerful mages and swordsmen of the land.
When a young person was bound to a dragon hatchling, the Riders took them to the Elvish capital of Ilirea (now the corrupt capital of Galbatorix) where retired Riders trained two students together. In these classes, the senior Rider's dragon would sometimes take the young dragons and train them in aerial maneuvers (especially those used in battle), building stamina for long distance flights, how to build their speed and increase their acceleration, and they were also taught extensively in dragonlore and the ancient language. It was mandatory for Rider and dragon to share their lessons - by keeping their minds connected they could listen in on each others lessons and learn. For example, if a young dragon was being taught how to spot updrafts, and his Rider was being taught art, the two were required to maintain their mental connection so that the Rider would learn about updrafts and the dragon would learn about art. After class, the senior Rider would test the young dragon on art and the senior dragon would test the young Rider on updrafts to make sure each had been following the other's lesson. Both the senior dragon and the senior Rider were addressed by their students as 'Master' or "Ebrithil'.
Young Riders and dragons were put through strict regimens of physical and mental exercises until their masters thought them to be responsible enough to handle the magic. No Rider knew about their magic until then. If they did accidentally "find" it, they were whisked away for private tutoring. All riders happened to be able to use magic, though some did not realise their powers for their entire life.
The formal training of a Rider and dragon traditionally took decades, and the Dragon Riders continued to hone their skills throughout their lives.
Riders' Sword:
The sword of a Dragon Rider is eternally sharp, never dulls, never scratches, and is unbreakable. Historically, the gems that adorn a Rider's sword were chosen to match the dragon's scales, and were usually also the colour of the Rider's magic; the blade was also the color of the dragon's scales, never plain metal. A Rider whose dragon had brilliant green scales would have emeralds set into his sword and a gleaming emerald blade. The jewels served a dual purpose: apart from complementing the dragon, they could serve as reserves of power to be used in time of great need. Only the most perfect jewels were chosen, because they could hold the largest stores of powerful magical energy.
Rhunon, one of the oldest elves in Ellesmera, is a master blacksmith and for millennia she was known as the undisputed expert in her field. Rhunon forged all of the Riders' swords, skillfully choosing (or perhaps creating?) gems that perfectly matched the hues of the dragons. Rhunon's blades were matchless and she cast spells over the Riders' swords, which is why the blades never become blunt or broken. After The Fall, Rhunon took an oath never to create such powerful weapons of destruction, and never forged another Dragon Rider sword. She was embittered by the way Galbatorix destroyed her swords as he killed the Riders, swords that she had taken great time, energy and care to create. Of her masterpiece swords, only five are still in existence: Oromis's gold sword Naegling, Galbatorix's sword, Morzan's Zar'roc (a ruby blade that passed from Morzan to Brom, then to Eragon and finally to Murtagh) and two other Riders' swords that have been hidden by two elf families that saved them from Galbatorix.
Information from Eldeset byChristopher Paoloni and Wikipedia.org
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