The Dragon Age

On the Western continent of Llyris, dragons and their ilk are thought to be completely extinct – or more likely utter myth. However those who live in the region of the Tanb Mountains know the truth. Hidden in the ridges and valleys of the Tanb lives a secret society of Dragons and the Dragon-ridden. This tight-knit and isolated community is all that is left of the once glorious Dragon Age, and the people there still remember the peace that existed before the First King. Those who stumble upon them are asked to never reveal their existence to the outside world, but the rumors still circulate and are regarded as truth in the local villages.

Dragons

The dragons of Llyris are varied both in size and anatomy. They range from absolutley massive, four legged, terrestrial beasts to lithe and agile winged serpents. Juvenile dragons can be tamed and some are often treated as pets or utilized for work, but once fully mature they are released. This is due to the dragon's growing sentience as it ages. Young dragons are often compared to cows or dogs in their level of intelligence, then eventually they reach the level of elephants or dolphins. A fully mature dragon is often wiser than an elder human and the oldest of dragons is often sought out for advice in dire situations.

The Dragon-ridden

Fools outside of the Tanb Mountains believe that dragons can be 'trained' or 'ridden' like horses or kelpies. Anyone who has actually met a dragon knows that to mount a dragon is a death sentence. Juvenile dragons may allow themselves be harnessed or leashed, but they will kill anyone who attempts to sit upon their back.
During the Dragon Age, the Eastern Continent of Llyris was ruled by the Dragon-ridden. Great warriors or learned scholars who were deemed 'worthy' were offered up to the dragons, so that the beasts might be bonded to the bodies of the humans and take on human form. These people retained their memory and consciousness, but sacrificed their autonomy in order to gain the power offered by bonding to a dragon.

Summary

The Dragon Age was a period of centuries pre-dating the First King. It was a time of prosperity for the Eastern Continent, filled with peace and bounty under the rule of the Dragon-ridden. No one knows what caused the collapse of the Dragon Age, or why the dragons all retreated into hiding in the Tanb Mountains, but they had fallen from power and were widely regarded as mere legend decades before the rise of the First King.

Spread

Outside of the Tanb Mountains, dragons are a fairy tale. Widely regarded as myth, only the villages directly surrounding the mountains give the stories of dragons and the dragon-ridden any credence. Visitors often remark about the silly superstitions of the locals when they refer to dragons.