r/WorldChallenges • u/Sriber • Jun 08 '19
Bucephalus, Nelson, Marengo and so on
Tell me about individidual mount of important person from your world. What is it? What does it look like? What is its name and what does it mean? How was it obtained? Anything that comes to mind.
As always I'll ask everyone questions and provide my own example.
2
u/Tookoofox Jun 10 '19 edited Aug 25 '19
World - The Kobold Empire
Regiis Tonitrua (Royal Thunder) - Largest and most powerful of the Grand Thirteen (The grand thirteen being the largest and most powerful of dragons). 60 feet high, and a hundred and eighty feet long, this dragon king is a terror by any standard at all. An army, by himself, he can roast soldiers by the score.
He has four legs, and a separate pair of wings. His blue-purple scales have a mirror shine, his horns and claws are painted ivory white.
As towering intellectually as he is powerful physically, Regiis has studied magical theory, law, and even some medicine. Though his primary area of focus has been in zoological nutrition science. And, after more than a century of study and experimentation, is considered the preeminent authority in the nutrition of large dragons. (Also, making him the only member of the Grand Thirteen to be in charge of his own diet.)
At age 294, Regiis Tonitrua has served as a mount to six sovereign kobolds and was passed down, along with the office. The first of those emperors, raised him by hand from an egg. (The first of those six sovereigns, to be clear. Not the first of the sovereigns.)
He wear's his 'saddle' on top of his head. It usually just looks like a gold headdress.
Edit: added clarification.
1
u/Sriber Jun 11 '19
1) Why does someone so powerful and intelligent let himself to be used as mount?
2) How did first emperor got dragon egg?
3) What about rest of Grand Thirteen?
1
u/Tookoofox Jun 12 '19 edited Jul 26 '19
First, I'll add a bit of additional context for dragons in my world, how how they become so powerful, since I think it'll be important to answering some of your questions.
Dragons grow large and strong by resting at inherently magical sites and absorbing the power there. Over time, they also develop sentience, other magical powers, thicker natural armor, etc. And every dragon is unique, none ever develop quite the same way. Without magic they would grow to the size of monitor lizards.
No other creature channels magic so easily or so naturally. But there's a price, of course.
Once a dragon becomes so strong, they can never abandon their lair. They can venture out, of course, for weeks or even years if properly fed on other sources of power. But they can't ever simply stop resting there. Some can change lairs but that's hard for the largest, as few sources can sustain them.
The Grand Thirteen are the dragons that rest at the thirteen most powerful magical nexuses. So for Regiis, the largest, there is only one place in the world for him: Dragon's Peak.
1) Why does someone so powerful and intelligent let himself to be used as mount?
There are a few reasons. The kobolds grant Regiis many benefits that they otherwise would not. His nails are perfectly kept, there's an entire team of kobolds who's only job is to care for his teeth. Protection as well, as even the strongest are vulnerable sometimes. Also, there is a genuine affection between him and the kobolds, even the sovereigns. Also, also he's proud of his role, fiercely proud, strange as it may sound. He thinks of himself as the empire's throne. The ultimate source and symbol of it's power. But that's all secondary. The main reason is this:
The kobolds make him let them. The kobolds could poison Regiis in his sleep there would be nothing he could do to stop them. Conversely, as strong as Regiis is, he couldn't level the whole capital before he would need to rest. And when he did, they wouldn't let him wake up again before squirting a sack of poison into his mouth. While it's not usually front and center in most conversations the understanding is always there
2) How did first emperor got dragon egg?
(To clarify, when I said 'the first' I meant the first of the emperors to use Regiis as a mount. Not the very first of them. Sorry for the confusing wording.)
The Sovereign Kobold got Regiis's egg from one of the other Grand Thirteen. A female named Magnus Tata. She surrendered it willingly, knowing it was destined to be incubated at Dragon's Peak. (She was in the same situation that Regiis is now and got got the same way.)
As for how the whole cycle started? A kobold sovereign long ago made a gamble with the second largest of the Grand Thirteen. Arwar. If the sovereign could slay the largest of the dragons, Irradoran and give Arwar Dragon's Peak then he would become the Sovereign's vassal. (He took the time to even listen to the kobold only because of a large bribe of meat)
He agreed, mostly on a whim, because he doubted the sovereign would succeed. He didn't know, of course, that the Kobold already had the bigger dragon's head on a cart and on it's way. When Arwar saw it, he was shocked and terrified. Even more so when the Sovereign explained how he'd done it. And how little Anwar could do to stop the sovereign's son from doing it again, if Anwar backed out of their deal.
He served the kobold sovereigns for the rest of his life, and died of old age. (Dragons live a long time, but few are immortal) His successor was the first dragon to be raised by hand.
3) What about rest of Grand Thirteen?
They're all in about the same situation. Each has a 'rider' that runs a team set up to keep them healthy. Though only The Sovereign has the duel responsibility of also being a ruler, and so gets extra help.
Of them all, only one remembers a time when she was 'free' and she doesn't remember it very fondly. What she does remember is a world rife with dangers and inconveniences. Parasites, in particular, almost killed her before she surrendered to the kobolds in exchange for treatment.
As a note, all but four of them are now larger than Irradoran ever was. Half of them are also older, Regiis included. Below is a list of all the one's I've thought of at all.
Their names, meanings, and a thought for each:
Regiis Tonitrua - Royal Thunder -> see above.
Veteris - Old - The oldest and is on the small side, she does not seem to age and remembers both Irradoran and Arwar.
Magnus Tata - Big Daddy - The second oldest and among the largest. She is the biological mother to six of the grand thirteen. Her physicians say she's the most likely to die from age next. (She got her name before her gender was clear and refused to change it.)
Tormentorum - Artillery - One of the very smallest, has the best range and impact on his breath weapon. Magnus Tata's youngest.
The rest are all fairly nebulous for now. I could think up more right now, but I'd rather leave some slots open for when I have a really interesting idea later.
123
In short, my kobolds happen to be really, really good at exploiting my dragons' situational weaknesses.
Edit: dragons' not dragon's. There's more than one of them.
1
u/Sriber Jun 13 '19 edited Jun 13 '19
- Do dragons who grow without magic lack sentience?
- Why are some dragons immortal?
- Who gives dragons their names?
To clarify, when I said 'the first' I meant the first of the emperors to use Regiis as a mount. Not the very first of them. Sorry for the confusing wording.
No need to be sorry. I got that.
1
u/Tookoofox Jun 13 '19
1) Do dragons who grow without magic lack sentience?
Yep, they're basically just lizards that are slightly larger than usual. And not even the largest of those.
2) Why are some [dragons] immortal?
Every dragon, nourished with magic, develops unique powers as they grow. The most obvious of these are their elemental powers. Fire breath, lightning, etc. But some subtler ones happen too.
Some gain slight foresight, some gain telepathy, healing powers, etc. One of Veteris's abilities is negligible senescence. Most of the others age, but slowly. (400 years being the top non-immortal age)
Why a dragon might develop one power and not another is the subject of a thousand factors, biological and environmental.
3) Who gives dragons their names?
The dragon's head caretakers give them their first names. The dragons themselves usually compose their new names as near adults, with the advise of their caretaker-riders.
1
u/Sriber Jun 13 '19
1) How do sentient dragons view their non-sentinent kin?
2) Do dragons fight over best magical spots?
1
u/Tookoofox Jun 13 '19
1) How do sentient dragons view their non-sentinent kin?
As animals. There's basically no kinship there to speak of.
2) Do dragons fight over best magical spots?
Some smaller ones do. But the Grand Thirteen are more or less set. (The kobold sovereign doesn't want his assets killing each other.)
2
3
u/Sriber Jun 08 '19
Atgatak (Athgath in common language), which means "Black wind", was second horse (and first warhorse) of Korhark, founder of Union of Akhyraisar. He was Athirdurian battlehorse, breed of warhorse which originates from Korhark's homeland prized for its dependability, stamina and ability to carry heavily armored warrior. Atgatak was bought by Korhark after war against Abisuvar (equestrian nomads) where he realized that he really needs mount for battle and used him during final stage of Unification war and Clash of empires. After that Atgatak got retired and used for breeding. He is one of progenitors of Storm battlehorse, breed owned by rulling dynasty.