Dragon Lord
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Mama, when I grow up, I want to be a dragon lord! I want to ride on the back of dragons! And one day, I'll be the next dragon king!
The First Dragon Lord
Many cycles ago, when dragons were a common sight in the skies, there was a dragonling not much older than you. He was a poor shepherd living in Akea. His name was Otarrak. The goats he tended lived on the mountain slopes, and everyday he climbed the treacherous paths up the mountain following the nimble footed goats.
Now, at this time, dragons were a common problem for herders like Otarrak. Many people hunted them to protect their flocks. One day, Otarrak heard a great commotion not far from where his goats were grazing. It was a pitiful screaming and the sound of something scratching. He mustered his courage and went up alone leaving his goats behind.
And lo! Caught in a net and tied to a rock was a young white dragon. The poor creature thrashed and nearly fell off the mountain. It was the size of a pony, less than a year old. Taking pity on the young dragon, Otarrak cut the net and freed it. At first, the dragon flew off, and he believed to never see it again.
But the next day, it was back in the same place. The dragon came with a gemstone of incredible size and brilliance in gratitude for being rescued. The gemstone alone was enough to buy a town, and Otarrak tried to explain that no one would believe a poor shepherd could come across such a gem. The dragon asked how many days of labor such a gem would purchase. Ten years was Otarrak's reply. And so the dragon agreed to help guard the goats for ten years.
But dragons eat goats, and he asked the dragon how he could ensure that the goats wouldn't be eaten. And so, the dragon, whose name was Laqirriniq meaning One Who Sits Upon Mountains, taught Otarrak how to create a bond that would prevent her from ever eating Otarrak's goats. And thus, he became the first dragon lord.
Going on a Dragon Hunt
Growing Up to be a Lord
If you want to be a dragon lord, you must train hard. The mountains have no mercy, and you will be alone. This journey is yours and yours alone. I can teach you to fight and survive, so that when you are ready, you might live long enough to find a dragon. But mark my words, many young dragonlings biggers and stronger than you have failed in their quest.
Preparing for the Hunt
Kneel before the grand temple, young one. Raise your arms and embrace his life giving fire. Lord of the skies, King of kings, bless your child with strength and heart. Breathe fire into their soul. Protect them in their quest to find a kindred spirit. Take this offering of blood and fire. May the smoke guide them to victory. May they become one with you in soul and mind.
Dragon Hunt
Only the dragon lords know exactly what goes on in a hunt. They venture deep into the mountains of Akea in search of dragons. And of the many dragons who live there, only one will form a soul bond. What I do know is that those that return come often on the back of their dragon or carrying the newly hatched dragonet. Rarely do they come back with adult dragons, but it has been done before. The hunt, it is said, is a time of maturity and self reflection. Once, servants were allowed to accompany the dragonling. But after the First Dragon War, it's a journey made alone. And for those that fail? Well, they are never heard from again.
Soul Bonding
The hunt ends when the dragonling bonds with a dragon. It's a blood ritual that is taught in secret only to the dragonling. Once the bonding is complete, the two become one soul. They can feel each other's emotions and communicate telepathically. The bond lasts for life, and when one dies, so does the other.
In Peace and in War
Servant to the King
A dragon lord and their dragon swear obedience to the king and every king after during their lifetime. A lord who disobeys is to be punished at the king's discretion as a master punishes a slave.
Lord Among People
A dragon lord acts as an extension of the king. They enforce the laws and serve as a visible reminder to the people of the king's authority. The behavior of a lord is a reflection of the kingdom, and lords who behave poorly may be imprisoned and punished at the king's discretion.
Commander of Soldiers
In times or war or whenever the king calls upon the strength of the lords, a dragon lord must produce and lead a muster of the fighting fit from their holding. Refusing to present a muster of reasonable strength will be treated as treason, and the lord and their dragon will be imprisoned and punished at the king's discretion.
End of an Era
During the Third Dragon War, the coalition of humans and elves hunted dragons nearly to extinction. With them, the dragon lords perished alongside their great beasts. As the commanders of Galag Rok's military, they were strategically important targets, and the coalition army wouldn't have been able to march on Qunid without dealing first with the dragons. The few dragons and riders who survived fled south to Akea and were never heard from again.
Legacy
Legend has it that the dragon lords who survived the war are still alive in exile and hiding. They train new lords in secret, and one day, they will fly back and reclaim Qunid, and the world will be filled with dragons once again. And if you're lucky, if you go to the highest mountain peak, you will find a dragon eggs. And maybe you can become a dragon lord, too.
Type
Nobility, Non-hereditary
Form of Address
Lord
Source of Authority
Dragons
First Holder
Reports directly to
Related Organizations
To Be a King
My son, when I die, it falls to you to appoint the next dragon king. Send out the black doves, and the lords will come. Gather them in the hall and lock the doors. Summon the court mage, and he will seal the hall. There is to be no outside influence on their choice, not even from their dragons. They must select one of their own, and you will know when the smoke billows from the dragon's maw. Do this, and crown the next king. Swear fealty to him. Then go forth, and be free.
Only for Draconids
No foreigner nor kobold may soul bond with a dragon. Any who attempt shall be put to death by death of their dragon. Any who teach a foreigner or kobold the ritual or shall be put to death by fire.
Symbol of a Dragon Lord
Only the dragon lords may wear the king's gloves. They are made from the finest dragon leather with gold stitching. Each pair is handmade with the gemstones set to match the lord's dragon. Amonst each other, rumor has it that they wear vials of rashid oil, that mythical substance which burns as hot as dragon fire and scorches the ocean.
We must have been operating on similar brain waves! Both of our answers to his prompts have some similar ideas, but the unique aspects you've added to yours are awesome, as is the contextual difference to how a soulbond is formed! Excellent stuff :D