Dragon Order

The Dragon Order is an ancient coalition formed between Dragons and the Dragon Faction, which heralded the start of the Dragon Riders.

Background
Before the dawn of the Wars between the great factions, the Dragon Faction explored the nature of their kind. At first, they roamed the world, eager to see who shared their home. It wasn't untill they found the first dragons that they started to learn about their past and their characteristics. The ancient creatures reflected their inner spirit, and showed them the might of Fire.

Sharing their habitat with the dragons, some members of the Dragon Faction grew particularly close with the Dragons, closer than others. It is uncertain who the first Rider was and when the Blood Pact was made, but it included a heafty amount of magic. The first Rider, and his dragon, emerged from the mountains. From that point onwards, the Order was created.

The Order first served as Royal Guards to the ruler of the Dragon Faction, which they endured for years, untill the head of the Order, Angrenoth, and his dragon, Fundor, forcefully split from their sworn duty. Alongside a group of his most powerful and trusted Riders, later called the Forsworn, they turned from their Faction, severing their ties to their people. The Order was reconstructed into a more sophisicated and elitarian society, not just war-forged guards. From this point on, the Order went through a peaceful and secluded age of prosperity and wisdom, blossoming into the Order it is nowadays.

Later, the Order was welcomed back into the fold of the Dragon Faction, and remained neutral ever since. But with the rise of the Wars, the Order finds itself back in perilous times, torn between loyalty and integrety...

Dragon Riders
The Order consists purely of Dragon Riders. These induviduals are chosen by the dragons when they are still unhatched. Potential Riders, often talented men and women, are brought to the hatcheries and are given the choice to place their hands on the eggs. If the dragon senses their potential Rider, they will hatch, but the conditions and details of the ritual are still unclear.

As a result of hatching, the dragon immediatly leaves a mark on his or her Rider. The mark manifests itself in the form of a visual scar on the body, predominantly on the wrist or handpalm. As a result of the Blood Pact, the Rider and his or her dragon bond. Some Riders bond poorly, and will never be able to communicate with their dragon, yet some Riders are so naturally gifted that they eventually share eachothers thoughts, emotions and more. A common trait that every Rider develops is telepathical communication, in which the Rider and dragon can communicate with their minds solely.

Blood Pact
The Blood Pact, or the Bond, is what the Riders called their magical bondage between the Rider and the dragon. Nobody knows how and through what means this bond was created, not even the oldest dragons in the world can explain it nor memorize the occasion.

The Blood Pact continues throughout the life of the Rider, and never falters from his or her side. Yet, the bond between Rider and dragon can be harmed. Not only through the Rider's actions, or that of his or her dragon, but there have been cases in which other Riders were powerful enough to weaken the bond between the two. Some Riders have been known to have gone mad in the process of the bond weakening, which has almost always been followed by the loss of the bond.

The loss of the bond can result in various ways. Either the dragon, or Rider, succumbs to their new master (often another Rider or another powerful spellcaster), but in most cases one or the other 'dies'. As a dragon, the loss of their Rider is often insufferable, hence why most dragons die after their Rider passes away. It takes a nigh insurmountable amount of magic to keep the dragon from dying, let alone forcing it into renewed servitude.

Orbs
A dragon can choose to life on after dying, if the prerequisites and circumstances allow it. Their body might decay, but their mind and spirit may life on in an object called an Orb, which is a crystal of variating size. Through the crystal, which is inhabited after death, the dragon may continue to life. Riders, if powerful and trained well enough, can grasp the Orb and communicate with these fallen dragons.