Kestral Celedants (Kell-uh-dents)

The Kestral Celedants are the dragon-riding knights of the Empire. There are only five of them at any given time, one to represent each of the types of metallic dragon: gold, silver, bronze, copper, and brass. These riders are selected when one of the Celedants or their dragon dies, although the latter has never been recorded. These knights and their draconic partners bond for life, and in doing so the riders take on a draconic appearance corresponding to their partner. Given the personal bond between the dragons and their riders, the descendants of a Celedant are the usual successors of the knight when they pass.

It is a great honor to be a Celedant or a part of their family, and they are treated as such. They occupy a social status akin to noble houses in the Empire. Family members of Celedants frequently serve on councils to the empress, are prominent businesspeople, or are connected in other ways.

Composition

Manpower

There are only ever five known Celedants at a time.

Equipment

Decorated knights of the Kestral empire, these Dragon-Riders wear mostly decorative armor, as their gifted scales are harder than metal from any forge in Kestrum.

Weaponry

Weaponry differs across the five, with each using a named weapon that gets passed down to each successor.

• Celedants of Brass use Mirage, a glaive that commands sandstorms, and for which cuts have been said to cause hallucinations.

• Celedants of Bronze use Thunderwave, a trident that commands the ocean's waters and calls lightening upon its enemies.

• Celedants of Copper use Magna, a hammer that can shape the earth around it and strikes with seismic force.

• Celedants of Gold use Imperator, a colossal greatsword that commands fire and inspires allies- none have faced this blade and lived.

• Celedants of Silver use Moonsliver, a crossbow that fires bolts of searing light, and allows its wielder to disappear.

Vehicles

Of the five dragons of the first Celedants, three are still ridden currently. The gold dragon, Akestrael, who founded Kestrum with the first Empress and orignal Celedant of Gold, Tiana, retired upon the creation of the Kestral empire. The founding silver dragon, Sillura, gave her life in the final battle against the previous Brakendi Dominion. The silver dragon Krelthassen took her place, and he has served with each Celedant of Silver since.

• Celedants of Brass serve with Pandrel, a witty and bombastic personality.

• Celedants of Bronze serve with Thelarion, a proud and seasoned sailor.

• Celedants of Copper serve with Ruspheleus, a wise and prudent general.

• Celedants of Gold serve with Gauril, a young but incredibly powerful fighter.

• Celedants of Silver serve with Krelthassen, a guarded and recondite mystic.

Structure

The Celedants are technically all equal under the Law, but they are lead by Gauril and his Celedant of Gold. Each Celedant commands an army, or Wing, of their own, the sum of which constitutes the grand majority of the military might of Kestrum.

Tactics

Little is known by the people about the tactics of the mighty Celedants, as the Empire has not been at war since its inception.

Training

A Celedant is trained from birth to succeed their predecessor. They are trained in many languages, a number of fighting styles and magics depending on their prospective dragon, and how to exist in the public eye. It is usually the most promising member of the current Celedant's offspring that is selected to succeed them.

Type

Airborne

Overall training Level

Elite

Assumed Veterancy

Decorated/Honored

Parent Formation

Wings of the Kestral Empire

Used by

• Kestral Empire

Ranks & Titles

• Celedant