The Plot, Histories and Concepts [MUST READ]

[Suzie]

Also, here is a guide for the technical stuff about Roleplaying on this Proboards forum!

Excalibur Rises is a soft roleplay/storyboard site used for writing fiction in this original dragon riding world.

The Plot

Our story takes place on the Island that was once the United Kingdom and is now called Taevarath. The year is 4015 and the dragons of old have returned and claimed the Earth. Now, the dragons are the prime citizens of earth while the humans are their slaves, snacks and scum beneath their feet.

Some dragons, under the leadership of an Electrokinetic dragon Ryagin, feel the tyranny is unnecessary, and they are working to align with humans of the same respect to combine forces and work together to bring peace between the species. This group is called Excalibur.

While Excalibur is trying to bring peace, there is another group of humans called the Knights of Purity, who want to destroy all of the dragons and take the Earth back for humans alone.

Which side will you join? Will you bring the dragons down forever or join with them to create peace?

Character creation categories:

Dragons -- Other dragons that are no bonded with humans.

Excalibur Dragons -- Dragons that are bonded with humans or are joining the cause for peace.

Dragon rebels -- Dragons who have left Ryluths reign but have not joined Excalibur ranks.

Dragon of the Court -- These are dragons who serve in the court under Ryluth.

Excalibur Riders -- Humans who are joining the cause for peace and have bonded or are working to bond with dragons.

Purifiers -- Humans who want to destroy all dragons and retake the Earth.

Human Underground -- Citizens of the Underground/Forest.

Human Slave -- Aboveground humans who work for dragons.

Human Gladiators (Slaves) -- These are humans employed by the higher-class dragon as gladiators to fight for entertainment.

Important Concepts and Histories:

Dragon Bonding:

Dragon bonding is the creation of a link between the minds and souls of a human and dragon duo. When bonded, the human is then able to perform the same abilities which their dragon companion possesses. Example: If you bonded with a dragon who breathed lightening, the human would be able to manipulate and control lightening as well. Please see the Powers List for more information.

After a bonding, the human and dragon partner are able to communicate telepathically with one another. The human will also be granted a gift of a longer life span once bonded.

There are two ways to Dragon Bond. The first is when a human chooses to bond with an unhatched dragon. If the unhatched dragon chooses to bond with the human as well, the bond will happen instantaneously.

The second way is to partner with or befriend a hatched dragon of any age. When both human and dragon give consent, the bond is immediately formed upon physical contact.

Dragon Government:

The dragons government is simple. Ryluth, the alpha fire dragon with lava specialites, rules over the island and dictates what happens there. All dragons and humans alike are under her rule and those who defy her are immediately sentenced to death. She is as unmerciful as she is cruel and will not hesitate to take a life, whether human or dragon, if they defy her. She resides in a volcanic home called Mount Gorgoth.

The Underground/Elysium Forest:

Humans and dragons who do not wish to be a part of Ryluths kingdom must live in hiding. Many humans live underground in small tunnels and areas where most dragons cannot reach. Dragons who openly defy Ryluth must live in hiding as well, though it is much harder for them to do so. Most dragon members of the Excalibur group are working undercover on the mainlands. However, those who wish to remain above ground, which is more dangerous, reside in the Elysium, a hideout created by the Excalibur. Elysium is a forest at the bottom of a large mountain. Elysium and Mount Gorgoth are on opposite ends of Taevarath.

The History of Ryluth and Ryagin:

Ryluth was a young Dragon during the medieval ages, when the Knights caused the dragons to go extinct. Assuming she was the only dragon left, Ryluth went into hiding, finding a volcano to make her home. The humans didn't find her for hundreds of years. She grew large, however, and had a harder time sneaking around to scavenge for food, but she managed as much as she possibly could.

Many hundred years later, Ryluth stumbled upon a rare find: an abanonded dragon egg. She searched for months until she finally found the carcass of this little eggs mother, a fire dragon that had died before the baby had hatched. Naturally, Ryluth took the egg in and prayed that it would be a male.

It was. When the baby was born, Ryluth named him  Ryagin. She raised him, taught him to hate humans and told him that he existed for a glorious purpose, to bring the dragons back into power. Soon, they worked together to start building a dragon army.

As the 30th Century began, Ryluth and her children started revealing themselves to the human race. A little at a time at first, but by the year 3015 they were in total control of the Earth. Many of Ryluths children went on to other continents and while the Earth adapted to the dragons, the island of Taevarath was born.

Eventually, Ryagin showed his true nature as a human sympathizer and left Ryluth. To this day she has been sending out scouts to find him and bring him back to kill him, or change his mind if necessary. He is now the leader of the Excalibur, along with the first human rider.

The History Of The Knights:

In the year 3442 a young idealist named Josson found his way into the hearts of the underground people. He began encouraging people in their hatred of dragons. At the time, this view of dragons as evil was extremely popular, as Ryluth had ordered yet another wave of dragon attacks on known human refugee's. After only a few years he had a following that was loyal to them and created a ranking system, to show order in the face of chaos. They went on raids, slaying dragons and collecting their hoards as spoils of war. They were called heroes by the people, and to repay Josson, they made them their chief. he instigated a new form of government based after the ranking system previously established. Those in the government were called "The Knights of Purity." and their creed became to rid above ground of dragons thereby purifying and perfecting the world. Many flocked to their cause, joining the lower ranks and rising to the top as they showed their loyalty to the cause. This became the system of government for the underground, and eventually other communities were brought into the government as provinces. For nearly 500 years the government reigned without opposition, and the people agreed with the ideals and actions of the Knights.

But then, nearly 100 years ago one young woman acted against the Knights code, she went in search of a kind dragon, found it, and then somehow bonded with it. 80 years later she founded the group call Excalibur. The Knights of Purity did what they could to keep the people on their side, but when Excalibur began bringing provisions using the help of dragons, they began to lose their hold.

The Knights of Purity are still in control of the underground, and many people still follow their teachings, but with a force like Excalibur showing that dragons and humans can live together in peace, how long can that last?

The Battle of Betrayal

Once there was a tenuous truce between the Knights of Purity and the members of Excalibur. Ryluth's daughter and right hand dragon had a vision that caused her to leave her mother's side and join with Rygain and Excalibur. This kicked off a battle of epic proportions between the Court of Dragons and the rest of Taevarath. The Knights of Purity joined forces with Excalibur to have a hope of defeating Ryluth, once and for all. But when the battle seemed just at the tipping point, the Knights showed their true hand. They turned on both Ryluth's Court and Excalibur, bringing death and destruction down upon dragons and the humans who supported them. 

Our story begins in the aftermath of this battle.