The Riders
In an instant they hit the ground again, accompanied by the strangest thing Stormbreak had ever seen. It was a cloud, in the shape of a horse, and on it, a rider holding a spear. The Rider opened his mouth and spoke in an oddly insubstantial voice. “You are the first trespassers to come in a long time.” They all stared at it in shock. The cloud figure was as large as a dragon, but it was devoid of color. Both the horse and rider appeared to be wearing armor, though it was difficult to tell. The rider’s face was blank, and somehow its hair blew in a nonexistent wind. The horse snorted, releasing a plume of wispy breath. Its hoof scraped at the ground, disturbing the cloud beneath them. The Rider’s words floated around the room menacingly. “Who among you are the Skybenders? They shall be the first to die.” Without waiting for a response, the figure raised its spear and turned to where they stood. “Children?” he asked, sounding surprised. But it quickly faded to resolve. “I have a purpose, and I must serve it. So be it.”
Summary
Deep in the farthest reaches of the Outer Realm are the Riders - large beings formed entirely out of clouds by the first Skybenders. Although the Skybenders created many beings out of clouds in the shapes of different animals, only a few of these 'cloudlings' ever stuck around for more than a few days - the Riders. They carried spears or swords, and rode horses as big as dragons. Though they seem to be as old as time, they're probably more recent than most Skydwellers would imagine. Following the timeline, they would have started appearing a little after the Ashes War - so no desperate youth ever pled for their parents' healing from the Dark Plague, despite what popular stories may say.
However, it is likely that many stories, legends, and myths were created about the Riders, some of them even set in an older time period. Tales of them seem to be everywhere - woven into everyone's history. Everyday adventurers apparently ran into the Riders quite often, but there was more than that - legends of voyagers venturing out to seek their aid, or songs of them riding in storms across the sky to help a kingdom prevail in battle. Riders are mentioned everywhere - from history books to full-on plays being written about them. Though they're not always the hot topic of every day's discussion, you can't go very long in the sky without finding some reference to one of them.
Variations & Mutation
In most versions of the tales, Riders seem to be more of a force of nature rather than someone's creation. They've been associated with both the light and dark spirits that people once believed in. On one hand, rumors of travelers and voyagers would find aid and protection from them, often being rescued by bandits or saved from a fall by the noble cloudmen. On the other hand, it was often best to try and avoid the Riders for fear of their quick temper and hasty strength.
A surprisingly gentle and rather wholesome variation of the tale has also emerged in recent years. In many families, young children are told that these magical (and often much smaller) Riders deliver gifts during the Yule season and wintertime to those who are hard workers and have charitable hearts. Their nighttime ride through the Cities brings good luck, kind spirits, warm hearts, and occasionally snow - but it's only on Yule (or Christmas, as some might celebrate it) that they deliver gifts.
Art and Literature
There's never been an exact description of what the Riders look like, per se, but there's been plenty of artwork and illustrations made over the years- and it's not exactly hard to hazard a guess at what a horse and rider made out of a cloud might look like. A couple of plays and short stories featuring the Riders have been written - Fall of a Storm and The Flying Flag among them. But most representations of the Riders are found in the best stories, told by people like Mr. Norcox and the Grandking. In their tales, they often associate the Riders with the first Skybenders, which is a big reason why that's the official historical basis for the myth.Cultural Reception
Though mentions of the Riders - the real, mythological version - are everywhere, it's only in modern literature that they're the main focus of the stories. This begs the question - if such a creature did once exist, wouldn't there be more legends focusing on them? Or, perhaps, the fact that they were created relatively recently means that the best people could do was weave them into existing myths, but not create more? Maybe they're not real at all. Certainly, Charters would have at least sighted one by now.
But..could they be real? Is it really possible for such creatures to exist? If so, where are they hiding? It's a popular subject of debate for older students, especially during their mythology units. Even friends will occasionally discuss it - nothing too serious, but something fun. As of yet, there hasn't been any serious study on the myths - especially since most people now consider the Riders the humble basis of the beings they had adored during their childhood.
All in all, most people find themselves drawn to legends of the Riders because there's always something there for them - a good debate, fun with friends, family memories, tales of the unknown, and late nights spent watching for distant storm clouds. To many, the Riders seem just far enough to be intangible - and that's what makes them exciting. Who knows if they're real - who cares, really? The stories add depth and meaning to the sky, its lore, and its history - and when it comes down to it, that's how people really connect.
Historical Basis
It's clear that some being (or beings) of great magical power created the Riders. Most attribute the first Skybenders to their creation, though it's unclear how or why they may have created the Riders. A few other theories have been proposed - the collective magic of a council of dragons, for instance. It would explain some of the older stories mentioning Riders. Some have speculated at whether the Crysphics, with their vast magical knowledge, could have done it. But it's unlikely, as they specialized in more material magic. The last (and most popular) of the other theories is that the Riders came from the magic of those already in the clouds - dead Skydwellers, their own magic released back into the atmosphere. It's entirely possible, as the graves of Skydwellers are already marked with statues or memorials made from the magic of their memory.
"The Riders are one hundred percent real - they're out there somewhere, and one day I'm going to find them. Think I'm crazy? Keep walking the grounds of this university, and you'll find I'm not alone in my belief."
"The Riders? I don't know if they're real or not, but they kind of scare me a little bit...I mean, how would you like to be winning a battle and then all of a sudden the enemy summons a legion of unkillable clouds to herald in a storm?"
"Well, I think they're much better than Santa Claus. Can you imagine? The kids on the ground believe that some old, chubby man delivers their gifts in one night? With some reindeer? I'm only seven, and I'm bigger than those reindeer. The ground dwellers can have Santa - we've got entire legions of magical entities throughout the whole Yuletide, and they bring a lot more than just presents. Isn't that right, Mother?"
-citizens on the Riders
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