Post by Becca on Mar 28, 2010 17:37:52 GMT
Introduction:
This is just a guide intended to explain how the life of a dragon and his or her rider usually pans out. It'll help you get to grips with the strange world of Kalum Den and hopefully make everything clear.
Candidacy:
A candidate is a child, usually between the ages of twelve and eighteen, who attends the hatching of every egg in the hope that they will bond with the hatchling. Most children living in the den become candidates when they're old enough, and from time to time a high-ranking child from outside the den may move in in an attempt to get themself a dragon.
For most of the time, a candidate lives a hard and pressure-filled life in the candidate dormitory. They will attend the den school and be given a good basic knowledge in a wide variety of subjects; riders consider it very important that their potential members be well educated. Candidates will also be taught the ins and outs of dragon care, as well as given basic military training. They will have to learn battle-tactics and be physically fit. They're taught obedience and respect for their superiors, but they're also encouraged to think for themselves and use their initiative.
The rank of teacher is one highly sought after in the den for the respect it brings. The teachers are the riders who have responsibility over all the candidates, and the ones who teaches them all they need to know. There are usually two of them in the den at a time, and they do not have the same battle duties as other riders.
You can apply to have a candidate simply by making a character and putting 'candidate' as its rank. So long as everything fits, you're away! You can also have a young character become an apprentice on their twelth birthday. Just PM me about it and it'll be done.
Bonding:
A child must have been a candidate for at least a year before attempting to bond so that they've ahd time to learn enough from the teachers.
The egg room is watched at all times, and if the guard notices that one of its occupants is going to hatch, he sets off a complicated set of ropes and bells that alert the candidates wherever they may be in the den. It's the responsibility of the candidates to get their as soon as possible so that they have a higher chance of bonding. Once the candidates get there they are expected to file quietly and calmly into the room and wait until the hatchling is fully free of its shell and begins searching for a person to bond to. Usually the hatchling will inspect every candidate, and then make a choice based primarily on personality. Gender isn't taken into account by the hatchling, and mixed-gender pairs are just as common as same-gender pairs.
The bonding itself is a memorable somewhat traumatic experience for both dragon and candidate. Once the hatchling has taken a good look at every candidate it will physically touch its choice, usually on the hand as candidates generally hold them out to the dragon at all times, which results in the two minds joining together instantly. The feel of it is something like an electrical shock, but the pain quickly dissolves into elation or delight as the brain grasps what has happened and accepts the presence of the hatchling's mind. There's always a faint pale scar, called 'the mark' left in the place the hatchling and rider first touched.
Once a hatchling has bonded the next thing on its mind will usually be food. Hatchlings have a notoriously massive appetite, and food will be provided for the nee dragon, usually brought by servants. After eating a hatchling will only remain alert for a short while before he or she wants to sleep.
When a hatching is about to take place I will post a hatching thread and every member who has a candidate is encouraged to bring it along. You may make your first post at any time during the hatching, but once the dragon is actually born the thread will be closed to new-comers. I will then decide which of the candidates is going to impress (based on personality of candidate as well the activity of the player) and then inform the member via PM. You are then free to RP the actual bonding yourself.
Apprenticeship:
Once a candidate has bonded he or she becomes an apprentice and is assigned a mentor who will oversee there training. They may not conduct every bit of training themselves, but they will ensure that the apprentice learns well and works hard, and will take care of any concerns they may have. For the first six months an apprentice will be given further lessons on dragon care, and both dragon and rider will be given further tactical training. They will be given tasks designed to exercise the brain and make them sharper and more intelligent. Of course they will also be taught the rules and laws of the riders. In short then, the first six months of apprenticeship training just furthers what the apprentice learnt during candidacy.
After the first six months the focus of training shifts from the rider to the dragon as physical training begins in earnest. The dragonet will still not be able to fly, but the mentor will insist that the dragon build up its flight muscles by flapping on the ground for extended periods of time. It will also have to complete endurance and agility exercises by simply running, often while carrying their rider on their back so that they get used to the weight. During this time many dragonets will start to complain and some may lose enthusiasm with their training. They are put through a lot of pressure and worked extremely hard, and its the responsibility of both mentor and rider to ensure that the dragonet's morale doesn't slip too much.
At around one year of age the dragon will begin to make its first true flights. They will be short and ungainly at first, but very quickly the fledgling will learn how to master the air. At this time true battle training begins, as the fledgling learns the manoeuvres and techniques it'll need to make it a useful member of the aerial corps. Often the mentor dragon will spar with the fledgling, giving them some experience of battle. Mentors are often rather rough during these sparring sessions, giving the fledgling the incentive to think fast and fight to the best of their abilities.
If you already have an agreement with someone and you know who your candidate's mentor will be when it bonds, that's fine. If not, I'll assign you one from amongst the mature riders we already have here. The same is true if you create a character that is already an apprentice. It's the responsibility of both players to ensure that the apprentice's training is conducted properly. If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me.
Riderhood:
Once a dragon is two years old his or her training is complete and it and its rider become fully fledged members of the den community. They will be assigned to a wing and expected to fight in any battles that may occur and take part in wing activities. No special treatment will be given to new riders, they will be given the same chores and jobs as everyone else and be expected to pull their weight.
It's the responsibility of the player to keep track of when their apprentice becomes a rider, though I will be keeping an eye out as well.
First heat:
At around the same time she becomes a fully fledged wing-flyer a female dragon will experience her first heat. This may be a somewhat traumatic experience for her at first; she will suddenly be at the centre of every male's attention and be having all sorts of feelings she'll never have felt before. She will get into the swing of it pretty quickly however, and fairly soon she will be mating as frequently and with as much vigour as the older, more experienced females.
During the four days or so that she's in heat, a female dragon will be taken out of normal training; she wouldn't be able to concentrate, and neither would any of her male wing-mates. Instead she is left in the den. During this time she will suddenly gain a voracious appetite and eat more than double what she normally would. She'll also sleep much less.
After her heat the female will return to her normal activities despite the fact that she will be pregnant. She will be allowed two days off before the egg is due to be layed, and one after. The egg is so small compared to the adult dragon that laying it doesn't take a lot out of the mother, so a longer rest isn't necessary.
You don't have to RP the female dragon while she's in heat if you don't want to, but please try to keep track of when it would be happening. I would reccomend you do RP her while she's in heat and just gloss over the actual mating part, but it's up to you. Remember though, whether you RP her while she's in heat or not, she will produce an egg three weeks later.
Mentorship:
When dragons reach ten years old they and their riders become eligible as mentors. Most of the time these mature riders must still continue all the normal rider duties, and in fact are often given more work as they've proved themselves to be responsible. The only difference is that a mature rider may, at any point, choose to take on an apprentice. Once they've trained one they may take on another or return to their normal duties, whatever they choose.
If you'd like your character to take on an apprentice at some point just say so in their profile.
High-positions:
Young dragons usually feel confident enough to start challenging the dominant dragons aged about three, though it's very rare for one to succeed in even starting a proper fight before they're five. Both genders of dragon challenge their superiors, but challenges from males are taken much more seriously as a female rarely has the brute strength needed to win the fight.
When challenging for a position, actually starting a proper fight is half the contest. The vast majority of conflicts end with the challenger being shouted into submission by the holder of the position, and it's only if the challenger has the charisma and will-power to stand up for himself verbally that a fight will begin. If a fight does start it's usually over very quickly, with the dominant dragon just giving the younger a cuff around the head. It's at this point that most female challengers back down. If a proper fight does start it can be a very long, drawn-out affair, and though serious injuries are rare males often amass a collection of small scars this way. A dragon wins when his adversary backs down, and no sooner. Even pinning the other dragon to the ground won't work if he is still struggling to get back on his feet and carry on.
Obviously, the higher the rank, the harder it is to achieve. Usually only dragons that are already of high rank will challenge the den-leader, but every non-ranked dragon challenges the wing-seconds. This means that the lower high ranks change around a lot more than the higher ones do.
The rider of a den-leader dragon is also called the den-leader and is head of all of Kalum. The same is true for the other ranks; it's the dragons who ultimately decide who gets what rank.
You may, at any time, have your character's dragon challenge for one of the high ranks. If you don''t want anything to come of it, just do it in normal RP and the defending dragon will win. If you seriously want your character to take the position from another PC character, you must first PM me explaining what you want to do and why you feel your character would be better suited for the position. I will then contact the Player of the character of the other character and inform them of the situation. A challenge will then take place.
During the challenge I will be watching carefully. I may let it get to a proper fight and I may not. Either way it will ultimately go to a vote and all the members of Kalum Den will be help in deciding who wins. If you lose, don't worry, you may make another challenge at any time.
NB: Teachers do not fight for their rank in the same way. Instead, when one teacher retires, the other chooses another from amongst the adult riders, one that they feel fits the job well. Teacher dragons may not challenge for the other high positions.
Retirement:
When riders get to about sixty they and their dragons are permitted to retire. Once they've retired they will no longer be required to actively fight with the wing, but they will still help the den in other ways such as tactical planning.
If you want your character to retire, just PM me about it and it'll be done.
This is just a guide intended to explain how the life of a dragon and his or her rider usually pans out. It'll help you get to grips with the strange world of Kalum Den and hopefully make everything clear.
Candidacy:
A candidate is a child, usually between the ages of twelve and eighteen, who attends the hatching of every egg in the hope that they will bond with the hatchling. Most children living in the den become candidates when they're old enough, and from time to time a high-ranking child from outside the den may move in in an attempt to get themself a dragon.
For most of the time, a candidate lives a hard and pressure-filled life in the candidate dormitory. They will attend the den school and be given a good basic knowledge in a wide variety of subjects; riders consider it very important that their potential members be well educated. Candidates will also be taught the ins and outs of dragon care, as well as given basic military training. They will have to learn battle-tactics and be physically fit. They're taught obedience and respect for their superiors, but they're also encouraged to think for themselves and use their initiative.
The rank of teacher is one highly sought after in the den for the respect it brings. The teachers are the riders who have responsibility over all the candidates, and the ones who teaches them all they need to know. There are usually two of them in the den at a time, and they do not have the same battle duties as other riders.
You can apply to have a candidate simply by making a character and putting 'candidate' as its rank. So long as everything fits, you're away! You can also have a young character become an apprentice on their twelth birthday. Just PM me about it and it'll be done.
Bonding:
A child must have been a candidate for at least a year before attempting to bond so that they've ahd time to learn enough from the teachers.
The egg room is watched at all times, and if the guard notices that one of its occupants is going to hatch, he sets off a complicated set of ropes and bells that alert the candidates wherever they may be in the den. It's the responsibility of the candidates to get their as soon as possible so that they have a higher chance of bonding. Once the candidates get there they are expected to file quietly and calmly into the room and wait until the hatchling is fully free of its shell and begins searching for a person to bond to. Usually the hatchling will inspect every candidate, and then make a choice based primarily on personality. Gender isn't taken into account by the hatchling, and mixed-gender pairs are just as common as same-gender pairs.
The bonding itself is a memorable somewhat traumatic experience for both dragon and candidate. Once the hatchling has taken a good look at every candidate it will physically touch its choice, usually on the hand as candidates generally hold them out to the dragon at all times, which results in the two minds joining together instantly. The feel of it is something like an electrical shock, but the pain quickly dissolves into elation or delight as the brain grasps what has happened and accepts the presence of the hatchling's mind. There's always a faint pale scar, called 'the mark' left in the place the hatchling and rider first touched.
Once a hatchling has bonded the next thing on its mind will usually be food. Hatchlings have a notoriously massive appetite, and food will be provided for the nee dragon, usually brought by servants. After eating a hatchling will only remain alert for a short while before he or she wants to sleep.
When a hatching is about to take place I will post a hatching thread and every member who has a candidate is encouraged to bring it along. You may make your first post at any time during the hatching, but once the dragon is actually born the thread will be closed to new-comers. I will then decide which of the candidates is going to impress (based on personality of candidate as well the activity of the player) and then inform the member via PM. You are then free to RP the actual bonding yourself.
Apprenticeship:
Once a candidate has bonded he or she becomes an apprentice and is assigned a mentor who will oversee there training. They may not conduct every bit of training themselves, but they will ensure that the apprentice learns well and works hard, and will take care of any concerns they may have. For the first six months an apprentice will be given further lessons on dragon care, and both dragon and rider will be given further tactical training. They will be given tasks designed to exercise the brain and make them sharper and more intelligent. Of course they will also be taught the rules and laws of the riders. In short then, the first six months of apprenticeship training just furthers what the apprentice learnt during candidacy.
After the first six months the focus of training shifts from the rider to the dragon as physical training begins in earnest. The dragonet will still not be able to fly, but the mentor will insist that the dragon build up its flight muscles by flapping on the ground for extended periods of time. It will also have to complete endurance and agility exercises by simply running, often while carrying their rider on their back so that they get used to the weight. During this time many dragonets will start to complain and some may lose enthusiasm with their training. They are put through a lot of pressure and worked extremely hard, and its the responsibility of both mentor and rider to ensure that the dragonet's morale doesn't slip too much.
At around one year of age the dragon will begin to make its first true flights. They will be short and ungainly at first, but very quickly the fledgling will learn how to master the air. At this time true battle training begins, as the fledgling learns the manoeuvres and techniques it'll need to make it a useful member of the aerial corps. Often the mentor dragon will spar with the fledgling, giving them some experience of battle. Mentors are often rather rough during these sparring sessions, giving the fledgling the incentive to think fast and fight to the best of their abilities.
If you already have an agreement with someone and you know who your candidate's mentor will be when it bonds, that's fine. If not, I'll assign you one from amongst the mature riders we already have here. The same is true if you create a character that is already an apprentice. It's the responsibility of both players to ensure that the apprentice's training is conducted properly. If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me.
Riderhood:
Once a dragon is two years old his or her training is complete and it and its rider become fully fledged members of the den community. They will be assigned to a wing and expected to fight in any battles that may occur and take part in wing activities. No special treatment will be given to new riders, they will be given the same chores and jobs as everyone else and be expected to pull their weight.
It's the responsibility of the player to keep track of when their apprentice becomes a rider, though I will be keeping an eye out as well.
First heat:
At around the same time she becomes a fully fledged wing-flyer a female dragon will experience her first heat. This may be a somewhat traumatic experience for her at first; she will suddenly be at the centre of every male's attention and be having all sorts of feelings she'll never have felt before. She will get into the swing of it pretty quickly however, and fairly soon she will be mating as frequently and with as much vigour as the older, more experienced females.
During the four days or so that she's in heat, a female dragon will be taken out of normal training; she wouldn't be able to concentrate, and neither would any of her male wing-mates. Instead she is left in the den. During this time she will suddenly gain a voracious appetite and eat more than double what she normally would. She'll also sleep much less.
After her heat the female will return to her normal activities despite the fact that she will be pregnant. She will be allowed two days off before the egg is due to be layed, and one after. The egg is so small compared to the adult dragon that laying it doesn't take a lot out of the mother, so a longer rest isn't necessary.
You don't have to RP the female dragon while she's in heat if you don't want to, but please try to keep track of when it would be happening. I would reccomend you do RP her while she's in heat and just gloss over the actual mating part, but it's up to you. Remember though, whether you RP her while she's in heat or not, she will produce an egg three weeks later.
Mentorship:
When dragons reach ten years old they and their riders become eligible as mentors. Most of the time these mature riders must still continue all the normal rider duties, and in fact are often given more work as they've proved themselves to be responsible. The only difference is that a mature rider may, at any point, choose to take on an apprentice. Once they've trained one they may take on another or return to their normal duties, whatever they choose.
If you'd like your character to take on an apprentice at some point just say so in their profile.
High-positions:
Young dragons usually feel confident enough to start challenging the dominant dragons aged about three, though it's very rare for one to succeed in even starting a proper fight before they're five. Both genders of dragon challenge their superiors, but challenges from males are taken much more seriously as a female rarely has the brute strength needed to win the fight.
When challenging for a position, actually starting a proper fight is half the contest. The vast majority of conflicts end with the challenger being shouted into submission by the holder of the position, and it's only if the challenger has the charisma and will-power to stand up for himself verbally that a fight will begin. If a fight does start it's usually over very quickly, with the dominant dragon just giving the younger a cuff around the head. It's at this point that most female challengers back down. If a proper fight does start it can be a very long, drawn-out affair, and though serious injuries are rare males often amass a collection of small scars this way. A dragon wins when his adversary backs down, and no sooner. Even pinning the other dragon to the ground won't work if he is still struggling to get back on his feet and carry on.
Obviously, the higher the rank, the harder it is to achieve. Usually only dragons that are already of high rank will challenge the den-leader, but every non-ranked dragon challenges the wing-seconds. This means that the lower high ranks change around a lot more than the higher ones do.
The rider of a den-leader dragon is also called the den-leader and is head of all of Kalum. The same is true for the other ranks; it's the dragons who ultimately decide who gets what rank.
You may, at any time, have your character's dragon challenge for one of the high ranks. If you don''t want anything to come of it, just do it in normal RP and the defending dragon will win. If you seriously want your character to take the position from another PC character, you must first PM me explaining what you want to do and why you feel your character would be better suited for the position. I will then contact the Player of the character of the other character and inform them of the situation. A challenge will then take place.
During the challenge I will be watching carefully. I may let it get to a proper fight and I may not. Either way it will ultimately go to a vote and all the members of Kalum Den will be help in deciding who wins. If you lose, don't worry, you may make another challenge at any time.
NB: Teachers do not fight for their rank in the same way. Instead, when one teacher retires, the other chooses another from amongst the adult riders, one that they feel fits the job well. Teacher dragons may not challenge for the other high positions.
Retirement:
When riders get to about sixty they and their dragons are permitted to retire. Once they've retired they will no longer be required to actively fight with the wing, but they will still help the den in other ways such as tactical planning.
If you want your character to retire, just PM me about it and it'll be done.
