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Seon
(The word "Seon" is the Korean version of "Zen energy".)

Although the Seons are intelligent and independent sentient beings who have given themselves to the service of 'mankind', they cannot truly be classified as "living creatures". They are known to be a race of mystical beings that Ilindal scholars believe are somehow connected to the Laerethe. Some of them maintain that Seons were originally created by the Laerethe at the beginnings of Time, while others argue that Seons were only somehow introduced to the plane with the Laerethe's help.

Whatever may be the case, Seons are extremely rare but great companions to the scarce number of people that possess one. Physically, they can only be described as mysterious floating balls of magical energy. Each Seon bears a distinctive foreign rune at its center, which glows and causes its light. Color of the light usually indicates age of the Seon, but bear in mind that since this is not a physical change, we can assume that age in their case can be measured as wisdom. Light that is more in the warm color spectrum (such as reds and violets) identifies Seons that are wiser and more experienced. Light from the colder side of the spectrum (such as blues and greens) are usually the more carefree and "younger-at-heart".

Seons do not verbally speak until they choose a master, since they can connect with their own kind through magical impulses. In terms of facilitating communication by distance, two people that both possess Seons are able to accomplish this. During the process, the light around both Seons molds into a glowing bust-like form of the other person and its voice also changes to match that of the person. The two people are then able to communicate through their respective Seons.

Seons are also unnamed until they choose a master. Names can be picked by the Seon itself or its master. They are usually short, no more than 6 letters and neutral in gender. Although Seons possess a wide range of personality traits, they cannot be characterized in terms of sex.

Under highly stressful conditions, a Seon might choose to release its rune. Following this action, the Seon loses its light source and the cloud of magical energy around it seems to dissipate. This is their form of "death". It is said that the Laerethe are able to revive these dead Seons, breathe life into them again, but it has never been seen nor documented.

Riders

It was many many years before the storms took all. Everyone was fortuitous and prosperous just as intended. The, Grisharne, the Dragonlord, became too powerful. He led a faction of dragons that left no quarter for mercy to what he considered lower races and in less than a few centuries, he was breeding killers. The humans were on the verge of extinction and elves were shortly following. The only thing left was for the Laerethe.

The council had immediately convened and deliberated and finally annihilation had been chosen. But not all at once; instead the council voted that the descendants be weaned off their killer ideals slowly until they were once again civilized. In the meantime, a group of straggly humans and elves had been chosen and trained in the art of subduing and changing dragonlings to destroy the killer instinct. The group gained power and soon the Laerethe, confident in all that they had taught, removed themselves from the conflict, giving the warriors the location of Grisharne's cave. Immediately the group fell upon Grisharne and his most loyal followers as they lay, content and lazy from their latest meal of human and elven young. The dragons were slain where they dozed, the eggs stolen and the group became known as Riders.

Today, formally as Dragon Riders, their purpose is the same; the procurement of Dragon-folk for riding among other uses. This bunch of peoples consists of human, elves, and even other Dragon-folk that are deemed ‘inadequate’ either by their own saying or by that of others of their kind.

Acquiring Dragons:

Riders prefer to obtain their dragons when they are still inside eggs. Occasionally they will strike out to capture full grown mature male and female dragons for breeding purposes, but are more likely to raid nests of Wild dragons, or even go so far as to take from those in Ilindal, or those who are traveling the Sandseas.

Making the Perfect Mount:

This process starts when a dragon is still in its egg and still in its early development stages. Dragon eggs must be kept at certain temperatures and angles for the young dragon inside to develop properly. Normal development consists of body mass forming firstly, then wing membranes, then talons, teeth and horns, followed by body blades/spines and armor scaling.

To modify the dragon as needed, certain factors must be eliminated; dangerous/hindering tack and riding components, size, and intelligence. In order to modify these factors the environment and condition the dragon egg is kept in must be carefully observed.

Firstly, they must be kept at a temperature that is below normal draconic standards. However like all eggs, they must be kept warm, in this case they will be kept barely lukewarm.

Secondly, a crack must be made and kept in the egg and it should be set at a less than straight up angle, preferably switched or rolled every day. These two things will keep the temperature from sticking to egg as well as confuse the natural defenses of the egg as it will continually try to heal itself and thusly momentarily neglecting the dragon inside.

These first two measures will keep down a dragon’s development. Ideally, a dragon will not develop armor scales, spines, or blades, and they will also be restricted in their size as they grow further. Dragons also treated to this process will have faded scale coloring, their colors coming off a more pastel or old look than the vibrant and saturated coloring naturally found of dragon hides.

Thirdly, as one is rearing the hatchling, they must be treated as a common animal and given no intelligence enhancing means of contact. Any show of intelligence beyond that of mere command understanding is to be punished and thus be reinforced as something discouraged. Such intelligence restriction includes; talking, magic, reading, voluntary disruption or regard for rules and mounts, and voluntary use of breath weapons. Such measures will continue as needed to condition the hatchling.

To restrict the hatchling’s size as it grows, they are to be caged in compartments no bigger than ten feet in height and length. They will grow into this space and not beyond it. During this time, it will also be taught through simple command and reward/punishment process riding commands as well as a commond for the dragon to use it’s innate breath weapon. Once a dragon is at its “Riding Height” it will be fitted for tack and used as needed, much in the fashion of the commonly found horse.

Disposal:

When captureing full grown draons for forcible breeding, they are to be killed with as soon as the male is no longer useful or controllable, and the female will be held to the same standards but only after she had laid a clutch of eggs. In the case of ‘unusable’ modified dragons, they will be put to the same ends if a purpose is not found for them.

A dragon’s body should never be wasted. They are good money, the hide can be used for clothing, shelter, weapons, armors, ship hulling, pretty much the extent of one’s imagination. Bones, talons, horns, and spines can be used for much of the same purposes. Meat and fat as well as internal organs can serve as food.

The Storms

This is the name given to the electrical currents that swept through the plane in the form of black clouds that rained red lightning onto the plane. This happened due to an mass planar energy imbalance that occurred as the plane evolved in it’s own course. These storms covered the whole of the plane with few places being protected.

The lightning and energy was so intense that almost all vegetation was disintegrated, oceans and water were evaporated and places were broken down quickly. In their wake the Storms left little more than sand and in some places massive runs of glass from heat contacting the sand. Such places like the Glass Seas show the sheer power of such things as sand that was struck and blasted up formed into grand wave like crests.

In time the Storms ebbed and took their destruction with them as the planar energies came back into a harmonized balance. The once lush plane was left nothing more than vast miles of sand, glass, salt, and sparsely habitable pockets of water and vegetation that escaped the damage.