So, first of all: I present to you my diplomat! Cause there are already so many combat oriented heroes, exarchs and archons, I thought to freshen up things a bit. She's just a hero though. And then you have the Drakestone Sorcerers. Basically a group of drake riding mages that rain hell from above. Hope you like 'em! [@GreivousKhan]

[hider=Lady Korri]
[center][h3]Name[/h3]Lady Korri of Makau
[h3]Type[/h3]Ambassador & Diplomat
[h3]Appearnce[/h3][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/83/2e/32/832e320d5755d4c819428567e5695f5f.jpg[/img]
Beautiful, radiant, sweet. Those are the words used to describe Lady Korri. She's commonly dressed in blue and white robes and keeps her black hairs tight. Yet even with this dress style, she is a woman who demands attention when she enters a room.

[h3]Background[/h3]Born among the same family of Alexander, Lady Korri was destined for a great many things. Much like Alexander she is a sorceress. Wielding the powerful powers of magic words, hands and signs. So as a child she, too, was taught how to harness her magical powers. Just like her cousin, Alexander, she was tasked with the defense of Makau. From upon the walls she swiftly gained the name: Ice Queen. A reference to her aptitude in ice magic. A great many besiegers were pierced by her spikes. But as the red ice melted, Korri hated the sight. She wasn't a killer and never wanted to be one. When, finally, the sieges were lifted for good and their land was annexed, Lady Korri confined herself to her chambers at first.

After a few years, her parents finally convinced her to come out. But she did so in a dramatic way. She went out towards the many farms and neighboring cities. Lands that once were sworn enemies now had to either bow before her cousin or swear off any hostility. With a heavy heart, she witnessed first hand the destruction brought by the wars. Farmers were poor and starving. Children uneducated in even the basest of skills. She listened to their stories and wrote them down. So they'd never be forgotten. Within the cities she talked with former leaders. Former enemies. She generally asked them way and they generally answered in the same way: they saw Makau as a danger. A Night-Mother fortress in the middle of their lands. Worse, its harbor connected to some new city on the other side of the lake. Makau had to fall.

Armed with new knowledge she marched towards her cousin and explained the situation. Either they could be apethic towards their neighbors and farmers, or they could talk and work out the still existing issues. Thus began long years of negotiation. The farmers asked for the least: simple tools and a chance for their children. But they did put up one demand: no more war on their lands. Their neighbors were harder to 'tame'. A strong of diplomatic missteps followed Lady Korri for a long time. But she learned from her faults and the now existing trade agreements are the fruit of her hard work.

[h3]Armaments[/h3]
[b]Grail[/b]
Grail is a gryff (a swan-based hippogriff and Lady Korri's trusted mount. She gained her from a city major to the north as a gift and sign of goodwill during the negotiations. One of the customs among the people there was to drink from a grail when a compromise was made. Thus came the name Grail. Over the years the two somewhat bonded. Making Grail fiercely loyal to Lady Korri. (Mount)

[b]Book of woes[/b]
First a common arcane tome many mages use, Lady Korri used hers back when she was still the Ice Queen. But since then rarely used the spells within. On her travels, she lacked parchment or blank books. So she used her tome to write down the woes and worries of the people. As well as the accounts of anger and hatred of their former enemies. Initially, those that were against her started to call it the book of woes. In a rather mocking way. But as Lady Korri's influence as Ambassador grew, so did the knowledge of her book. These days she still uses it to take important notes. If your problems are written in this book. You can be assured that it will be answered. (Enchanted-level object)

[b]Auroch's Hourglass[/b]
The ancient mage Auroch was paranoid and convinced that his rivals would stop at nothing to get his magical research. Despite the fact that he was an average mage at best. Yet, as so often happens, paranoia drove him towards greatness and then madness in rapid succession. But in that short flare of greatness he made Auroch's Hourglass. An object that would confine all light and sound to circle (or rather an orb) with a diameter of 10 meters. From the outside people see a black orb. Inside nothing seemed to have changed. But people inside the orb cannot communicate with people outside. Or the other way around. One can walk through the orb though. (Enchanted-level object)

[h3]Skills[/h3]
Lady Korri used to be a very skilled mage. She did not get the title of Ice Queen without reason. However these days a talented mage could probably beat her. Instead, Lady Korri focusses on peaceful negotiations and diplomatic solutions. As a pacifist, she believes that the Empires years of conquest could be to an end. Further, she can read, write, do math and write a few beautiful poems. Lately, she has ben teaching herself the finer points of economics.[/center]
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[hider=Drakestone Sorcerers][center][img]https://www.walldevil.com/wallpapers/a56/warrior-woman-dragon.jpg[/img][i]Dragon Princess Elyria and her drake[/i]

[b]Name[/b]
The Drakestone Sorcerers

[b]Size[/b]
1 Dragon Princess, 37 Drake Lords, 102 Wyvern Mages

[b]Hierarchy[/b]
Dragon Princess/Prince
Drake Lord
Wyvern Mage
Novice
Servant
Eryie Slave

[b]Culture[/b]
Ruled by the Dragon Princess of Drakestone Ridge, the Drakestone Sorcerers have only recently been created. Her name is Elyria and she was the first to form a bond with a scale egg. Below her are the Drake Lords (despite the Lord part, the title is gender neutral and both male and female Drake Lords exist.). They can be considered as Elyria's disciples as they too have managed to bond with a scaled egg. Below that are the Wyvern Mages. These mages have proven themselves sufficiently that they are allowed to fly a broken wyvern and act as guards of the Drake Lords and their Princess. Novices are the first real rank within the group. Only nobility with magical talents are allowed to enter as novices. To prepare these young people for the sky, they are taught how to ride on Pegasi. But are not allowed to fly them into battle (for multiple reasons).

Servants care for both the rider and the equipment. They make sure Drakestone Ridge is kept clean and serve the various knights, riders and lords. Examples of servants are: normal servants, weavers, blacksmiths, cooks, etc. However, these are still free men and women. Meaning their life cannot be forfeit so easily. While the Wyverns, Drakes and Pegasi are certainly a sight to behold, these people have the common sense not to get too close to them. That's what slaves are for, obviously. Older slaves generally know their way rather well around the Pegasi and the broken Wyverns. However, even they steer clear from the Drakes. Young slaves either become food for the occasional grumpy wyvern or toys for the Drakes. Or they grow old enough to know how to survive in the eryie.

Wyvern mages, when capable in flight and how to handle a wyvern, are given the opportunity to bond with a scaled egg. If a bonding is successful, the Wyvern Knights will gain a new responsibility: taking care for the young drake. They must train the temperamental beast the second it comes out of its egg. Not just so the drake and the rider bond but so he special, magical link is nurtured. This mostly happens under the watchful eye of the Drake Lords and the Dragon Princess. As no bond can be wasted. When the drake reaches adolescence, it must grow acustome to being ridden. Once the drake accepts the rider, he can call himself a Drake Lord. By then the link is fully grown and usable. Drake Lords and the Dragon Princess dedicate their entire life to studying the link and their accompanied drake.

(Note: Even though her title is Dragon Princess, she does not actually ride a dragon. However, as her Drake is the first to have hatched at Drakestone Ridge with a bond, it is the oldest and largest.)

They swear fealty to Alexander of Makau for a multitude of reasons. For one, they know they cannot stand against the entire might of Makau's mages. Secondly allying themselves with Makau offers them a steady supply of potentional drake lords. As most lords are generally from both nobility AND must be magically gifted. Lastly the Exarch of Sorcery is rather willing to aid the Drakestone Sorcerers in both knowledge and funds. Some would dare say that he also fancies the Princess. Though that is not confirmed.

[b]Goals[/b]
To explore the bond between rider and drake. These is a special connection between a bonded drake and his rider. One that transcends understanding. The Drakestone Sorcerers seek to master this link and its abilities. As well as too revel in the freedom of flying. However, there is a bit of a "dark side" to the Drakestone Sorcerers. One that some mages share. The lust for power. One cannot imagine what it means to ride to a drake. The rush is real and many Drake Lords believe themselves better than the normal plebs on the ground. Some say that the knights desire a good war to fight in. So they may descend from the heavens to burn their enemies.

[b]Specialization[/b]
Air-to-ground warfare. Drakes are too valuable to pit against each other. Beside, that would create a very dangerous power dynamic for both rider and drake. Thus clashes between drake lords (or even wyvern knights) are strictly forbidden. As aerial combat was out of the question, the lords adapted. They started training to attack ground targets. With either the fiery breathe of their drake, or to rain spells (or arrows) from upon its back. With the magical support from Makau, the sorcerers, mages and wizards upon their drake's back are fairly capable at bringing ruin.

[b]History[/b]
After the many sieges of Makau, the sudden freedom caused a great many noble families to move out of the city. One such family decided to go into the nearby mountains and let a small mansion be built. Their very young daughter, Elyria, loved to adventure. Many days she went towards the mountain to discover caves and small pathways. Because of her magical abilities, she was taught by a few mages from various guilds from Makau. And so the happy, little family lived their lives. Until she came upon an ancient cave as a teen. The rebel daughter disliked the social requirements demanded from her. Once again she went into the mountains to get away from her pressuring family. Only to enter a cave no-one had ever found in centuries. It was known that there were wild things in the mountains. Griffons, pegasi and wyverns. But the little girl had never seen something like what was sleeping in the cave. A drake, slumbering. Rolled around her nest with a handful of eggs. Curiosity gripped the little girl and for any foolish reason she picked it up. To rather dramatic results.

The drake awoke and Elysia hid herself away behind the rocks. With the egg. A fatal mistake. The drake roared in anger over her missing egg and searched the whole nest up and down. But found nothing. In maddening anger it flew out of its nest. Elysia, scared out of her wits, remained within the nest till nightfall. The drake still hadn't returned so she crawled out of the cave and went back home. She found it burned down. With the corpses of her father and mother not further away. They tried to run but failed. Occasionally she could hear the roar the angry drake in the distance. But then the earth started to shake a little bit. Horses were approaching.

Not to be blamed of any other estates being attack, Elysia hid the egg and played the victim card. Orphaned but heir to a respectable amount of wealth, she went to Makau. A few years later she returned. The drake was hunted down and killed. As it indeed posed a threat to both the city and the farmers. But she found the eggs intact. Even the one egg she hid. Once she found the one that she had hidden, it started cracking. The drake that crawled out would become hers. Using her wealth she made the Elysianites construct a sky-fortress. A place high in the mountain. The Elysianites did outdo themselves and Drakestone Ridge was made. Of course, with the blessing of Alexander.

Many other noblemen and women came to her 'court'. Knowing full well that she had 4 more eggs. She gave all her closest friends a chance yet most could not link with the scaled eggs. Those who did, however, remained at Drakestone Ridge to learn from Elyria on how to handle a dragon. Over the years the group grew and grew. Various measures were taken, like the creation of the Wyvern mages. In the meantime, the Drake Lords realized that their link with the drakes is more than just imprinting. It's magical. A form of Primal magic.

[b]Military Capabilities [/b]
[i]Drake Lords & the Dragon Princess[/i]
The common tactic of the sorcerers of Drakestone Ridge is to come down from the skies with breakneck speed. The drake will use its breath of flames to engulf its enemies while the mage ontop casts ice, lightning, wind, fire or any other magic. Some experienced Drake Lords can even command the flames of their drake. Or rather, commune with their drake. The drake in itself is capable enough to bring destruction. A mage on top turn the flying monster into a herald of ruin.

Though, due to the rule that no drake lord or drake should fight another, they fail at aerial combat. Often resorting to frantic spell casting and steep demands from a drake that is not used to attack targets in the air. Also, for any ground attack, it mostly depends on its devastating charge. A drake should never land amid the enemy or many arrows and spikes may start to hurt it pretty badly.

[i]Wyvern mages[/i]
They act much like the Drake Lords but in a diluted form. Wyverns cannot use their breath to attack so often resort to their claws to pick up enemies. The mages on top are less powerful than most drake lords yet still do a fair bit of damage if allowed to charge again and again and again.
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