Ancient Dragonkin
Any Dragonkin that has reached the impressive age of 120 years or more is bestowed with the esteemed title of "ancient". Upon attaining this status, they are initiated into the revered Draconian Concord, a set of guidelines designed to prevent newly turned Ancients from inadvertently violating the Concord.
Becoming an Ancient Dragonkin is a rare occurrence, resulting in a closely-knit group where each member is familiar with one another.
Ancient Dragonkin are typically larger than their non-ancient counterparts. Most Ancients have the ability to communicate and comprehend language, a skill likely acquired over their 100 years or more of existence. To humans, this creates a larger-than-life appearance and presence for these remarkable creatures.
Naming Traditions
Family names
As time passes, Ancient Dragonkin will develop the remarkable capability to communicate using both the Ancient Dragonkin language and English. This is due to their extensive lifespan of over a century, allowing them to acquire proficiency in both languages.
Due to their exceptional longevity, Ancient Dragonkin do not develop the ability to communicate with language until later in their lives. As a consequence of their extended lifespans, they generally outlive their parents and other relatives, leading to the absence of family names among this group.
After acquiring the capacity to comprehend language, it is highly probable that they will proceed to give themselves names and engage in social interactions with the other Ancients.
Other names
Throughout history, humans have bestowed a special designation upon the Ancients, distinct from their given names, known as a "Legend Name." These titles often encapsulate unique and significant aspects of the Ancients' lives and experiences. This practice arose after the Ancients withdrew from human interactions and remained unseen for more than a century.
The tradition of giving Legend Names made it easier for humans to recall individual Dragonkin, as their unique Dragonkin names were sometimes difficult for humans to pronounce.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Ancient Dragonkin possess a unique language that has developed over the course of their long existence. Despite their ancient origins, they have been in contact with humans for over 120 years and have acquired the ability to communicate in English as well.
Common Etiquette rules
All Ancient Dragonkin abide by the rules and agreements laid out in the Draconian Concord, a significant document within their culture that outlines the principles and guidelines that govern their interactions and behavior.
Common Myths and Legends
After the Draconian War, the Ancients retreated into seclusion and ceased all interactions with humans. As time passed, decades turned into a century, and the absence of the Ancient Dragonkin led many to believe that they had become extinct.
However, in the year 1001, there were reports of sightings of Ancient Dragonkin in different parts of the world. These sightings stirred up speculation and hope that some of the Ancients had managed to survive despite the prolonged isolation and the toll of the war.
Historical figures
The rarity of their existence makes nearly every Ancient a significant historical figure, although some hold more prominence than others.
Major organizations
During the formation of the Dragonguard, some of the Ancient Dragonkin joined forces with them, and together they successfully put an end to the tyranny of the Wyrm of Chaos and his allies. This historic conflict is commonly referred to as the Draconian War.
After the war, however, the Ancients chose to withdraw from human affairs and keep to themselves, preferring not to interfere with humans.
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