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EverDragon Culture
Dragons age at the rate of one year for every 5 years of human time. Thus a Dragon who is one year of age in Dragon terms is 5 years old in human terms.
Dragons are by nature pure of heart and very empathic. This empathic ability makes youngling dragons very easily influenced by the emotions of other sentient creatures even while unhatched. It is because of this sensitivity that some dragons turn to evil.
From the day the female Dragon lays her clutch of 8 to 16 eggs they are heavily protected from the emotions of other sentient creatures in two ways. Unhatched eggs and youngling dragons to the age of 5 (25 human years) are heavily protected from the emotions of humans and demi-humans through a series of layered spells. In addition no pre-adult human or demi-human is permitted anywhere near unhatched eggs or youngling dragons under the age of 5 (25 human years).
At the age of 5 (25 human years) youngling dragons are slowly given more exposure to young humans and demi-humans. This exposure is limited a first but over the next 25 years (human terms) each juvenile dragon trains and plays more and more with juvenile humans and demi-humans. Like humans and demi-humans, each dragon is an individual and matures at his or her own rate. Therefore the age and rate in which each dragon are exposed to youngling humans and demi-humans varies slightly from dragon to dragon.
Sometime between the ages of 8 to 11 (40 to 55 human terms) every young dragon makes a pilgrimage to the temple of the All Knowing where the Dragon Queen gives him or her their Truename. (Dragons are Matriarchal) This is their first DragonFlight.
Between the ages of 12 to 15 (60 to 75 human terms) a dragon makes his/her first BondingFlight. This first bondmate can be a friendless EverDragon that has lost a DragonFriend through some mishap and with the interference of family and friends (and dragons) have survived. But most often this first bondmate is a human or demi-human youngling age 14 to 17 summers who were raised in the same hearth. However sometimes a dragon must take this BondingFlight to other Hearths and on the very rare occasion to a human or Demi-human City or town in order to find a Bondmate. Even on the rare occasion w here a dragon must seek outside the EverDragon Hearths for a bondmate no one ever refuses a lifebond. Such new comers to the EverDragons are always welcome with open arms.
The only time a dragon will select an evil bondmate is if the dragon has turned to evil prior to his/her BondingFlight. These evil lifebonds are unfortunately every bit as strong and unbreakable as the non-evil lifebonds. This does happen, though rarely, despite all the safe guards surrounding the dragon eggs and hatchlings. Most times it is unintentional. An EverDragon who has lost his/her DragonFriend may find their way to the eggs or hatchlings during the time that they are insane with grief. Often they have lost their DragonFriend in battle through trickery or extremely strong magic and they are not only grieving for their loss but in the grip of their hatred for whoever killed their DragonFriend. It is this overwhelming hatred that can and does turn a hatchling to evil.
There have also been successful raids on EverDragons hearths where in the unhatched eggs or hatchlings are taken by evil forces. These dragons taken in this manner are ultimately far more evil then those turned by hatred as they are raised in evil surroundings.
Dragons have three names their Birthname, which is often known to hatchling upon its hatching or is given to them upon hatching. This name they use exclusively until the Dragon Queen gives them their Truename. A Dragons common name is the dragon�s public name. This name is given to them by the Everdragons of their Hearth after they return from their NamingFlight. This is an acknowledgement of their change in maturity. Often these names are a reference to a particular personality trained, deed or habit of the dragon. Sometimes a portion of their Birthname is used as part of their Common Name if it�s particularly apt.
EverDragons also have three Public names. Their given name, given to them by their parents at birth: Their Birth Surname, which is their fathers Lifename. EverDragon children earn their Lifename (final surname) when they turn 17 summers, (give or take a year depending on maturity level). Sometimes they are given to them by their DragonFriend (if they have one). Sometimes they are earned through deed or action. Sometimes they are given as a reflection of a personality trait or quirk or habit.
When an EverDragon receives their Lifename then their birth surname becomes their middle name. A lifebonded EverDragon also has a Truename. This name is give to them by the bondmate of the Dragon Queen. The pilgrimage to the temple of the All Knowing is the first solo flight or trip between new bondmates. It is rite of passage.
Even EverDragons, who loose a DragonFriend, survive, and bonds to a new DragonFriend must make this DragonFlight to the Temple of the All Knowing. They already have a Truename and that does not change but in these cases both the Dragon Queen and her bondmate take a strong look at the new bondmates to be certain that nothing is amiss with their lifebond.
Jadell NightSong
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