The Skyriders of R'lyr
In the mountains of Farryn there is a city deep in the valley, unknown to the rest of the world. They flourish, living off of the food they hunt and gather, with few farms in the rocky landscape. This city, called R'lyr, is a place of legend. Why? Because they, the R'lyrans, are the only humans to learn how to tame and ride the beasts from myth: dragons, gryphons, and rocs.
The relationship started simply because the humans wished to learn how to deal with the draconic and avian threats that dwelled in the mountains when the settlers first came. Then, they learned how to live in complete peace: they would leave food for the monsters and, in return, they would be left alone.
Soon, though, a man - or perhaps a woman, who they were has been long lost to tales of old - found that a relationship beyond simple peace could be developed with rocs. He found a lone chick who's parents had abandoned it or somehow been hurt or killed and raised it. Eventually, he learned to ride the beast and teach it to hunt and fly. When he released it, it never left: it simply returned.
With this new art, the Skyriders were formed. They are the wardens of the mountains, the keepers of ancient secrets, guardians of the people, and protectors of the law.
The Beasts
All mounts share a telepathic link with their rider that allows them to communicate (through words as well as sensing each other's emotions) or 'phase', the ability to see through their bond's eyes (this goes both ways: the mount can see as the rider or the rider can see as the mount). However, despite these advantages, they also share physical pain.
The armour/equipment of the rider and mount are both magicked or made of dragon scales so that they can withstand the breath weapons of enemy riders or dragons of all types.
Dragons
Dragons are four-legged wyrms with wings. They may be feathered or scaled, and come in a variety of colors. Females are larger than males, as with birds of prey. Most have a unique breath weapon. Dragons, though not as aerial as their more avian allies, can not only use their breath but also can manipulate objects in their forepaws when sitting on their haunches, something that neither gryphons nor rocs can do. They continue growing throughout their lives: the older the dragon, the more powerful and larger.
All dragons are immune to damage of their own element, with the exception of the breath weapon of a dragon of their same type. They will take damage from that, but what it would be normally; basically, their immunity cancels the buffs that the breath has. So if a fire dragon gets hit with fire dragon breath, it gets burned, but it doesn't get melted or die.
Green dragons are the only ones without a breath weapon: instead, they may speak to animals and have superior camouflage to all other types with the exception of the black dragon.
Red dragons are, of course, fire dragons. They have a fire breath weapon that is so hot it can melt metal. They are immune to all fire and lava.
Blue dragons are, unsurprisingly, water. They have webbed feet and instead of spikes they have fins; their wings are long and broad, making them adept soarers. They have water breath with the pressure of a geyser. I'm sure you can work out the affects of that. They can hold their breath for a few hours at a time.
White dragons are air. They are usually feathered and are the most aerial of the dragons, rivaling that of the rocs. Their breath weapon is a howling gale that can knock down trees in some of the older specimens.
Gold dragons are light. They have a breath weapon that blinds their enemies and can render them unconscious, depending on the age of the dragon and the power level of their adversaries. Instead of getting blinded by an enemy dragon's light breath, they simply are disoriented and their sight is damaged for a short period of time.
Black dragons are shadow. Instead of a breath weapon, they spit acidic venom and have a venomous bite; this range is much more limited than that of a normal dragon and much more limited in duration and quantity. To compensate, they can go invisible in shadows. Light breath near or on them will cancel this. They are immune to the affects of other black dragons' venom when bitten, but the acid will eat away at their scales, albeit more slowly and with a less devastating effect than with other types.
Brilliant white-blue is lightning. They breath an electric cone with the same power as lightning.
Some concept art:
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Rocs
Rocs vary greatly, from the huge eagles to the tiny kestrels. They can be based off of any raptor (not owls). Their abilities are based off of that of their base bird. Thus, a Peregrine Falcon will be fast and maneuverable; a Golden Eagle one will be huge and strong.
They are all resistant to any air elemental damage, and are the most aerial of either gryphons or dragons, even if their species is not particularly aerial: thus, an eagle roc, though not as aerial as a falcon one, would be more aerial than most dragons and just as aerial as air dragons. Proportionally, they have larger feet and claws than dragons.
They, however, have an ability unique only to them: each Skyrider with a roc is given a gem that is worn as a ring; the hawk has it as an anklet. The gem allows the roc to change between it's gargantuan form and the size normal for its species.
Like dragons, they continue growing throughout their life. Females are larger than males.
Concept art:
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Gryphons
Gryphons are the smallest, getting about 10 feet tall at the withers when fully grown. They can be any mix of raptor (again, not owl) and big cat. Again, their abilities and personalities (solitary or pride hunters) will depend on what species are mixed.
All gryphons can see through illusions and detect lies, and can climb and maneuver on the ground more easily than the other two due to their smaller size and four legs.
Some concept art:
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The Skyriders
The Skyriders take an oath to protect the people above all else; secondary to that, they uphold the law and make sure everyone - from serfs to royalty - has a voice.
As mentioned before, they have a telepathic bond with their mount. They raised their mount from an egg, with the exception of some older beasts that lost their rider and are willing to take on a younger one, almost as their mentor. They are called 'bonds', and will die for one another.
You are all part of the same platoon, and your captain is Alkira Aquila.
The CP for the Skyriders:
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CP for their mounts:
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Bonds
Alkira Aquila - Daegmund (@Falconrygirl9086)
Caryx Snaretwister - Jadritite (@Feltrix)
Alessa - Angel (@CurseofK4)
Haegor Rathlam - Frella (@XxXTheSwordsmanXxX)
Reiz - Nysn (@ChieRynn)
Gender:
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