The Valkyries

The pinnacle of the army of the ice elves are the Valkyries, an elite unit of one hundred warrior-sorcerers who ride upon the ice dragons of the North.
Selected from the finest bloodlines, the Valkyries are also bound to their dragons and the lineage of such is carefully managed so that all females of the family line have their associated dragon.
Should the dragon be killed, but the Valkyrie live, she takes the oath of vengeance, and taking her own life, rises as a banshee. The banshee will then hunt down the one who killed the dragon, and if successful, will only then disspate to the Aether. Should the Valkyrie die before the dragon, the dragon becomes rogue, without the direction or purpose of the rider.
Only the great houses of the ice elves have access to white dragons and, indeed, the fortune and means to provide for them. Likewise, the armour and weapons are made of the highest quality materials and each is an artwork in its own right. The Valkyries are trained as much in the use of magic as they are trained for physical combat and will often specialise in a form of magic that compliments their fighting style.

Composition

Manpower

One hundred strong, all female ice elf riders, both spell casters and warriors atop white ice dragons.

Equipment

The regiment takes to the skies on dragonback armed with a dragonscale shield, a silver tipped decorative lance and elven plate armour. The saddles of the mounts are likewise decorated. The armour and weapons are blessed before battle.

Weaponry

Although the lance is the primary weapon, the ice dragon riders also employ bows and bolas in aerial combat. This, combined with claws, teeth and dragon breath make for formiddable opponants.

Structure

There is but one leader amongst the hundred; the veteran on the largest mount.

Training

Training is begun as a child and the dragonriders are for the most part of not only family lineage, but also bound to their dragon lineage as well.