House Mudae of Elaria

Who We Are

We are dragon elves. Ancient bloodline from a fallen empire across the sea. Our ancestors fled the Cataclysm that destroyed our homeland and came to Rookery Isles centuries ago with dragons and devastating power.

We could have conquered. Instead, we chose to protect.

Fire and blood runs in our veins - the heritage of dragon lords who bonded with beasts of legend. We are long-lived, ancient, powerful. But our ancestors swore we would NOT repeat the mistakes that destroyed our empire. We would be shields, not swords. Guardians, not conquerors.

For centuries, that choice defined us. We defended all houses equally, mediated conflicts, kept the peace. Neutral ground. Sacred trust. Proof that dragon elves could wield power without corrupting.

Then Rhaenor - our own blood - asked the question that broke us: "Why protect when we could RULE?"

His tyranny destroyed everything. Guardians became conquerors. The nightmare our ancestors fled... we became it.

Prince Liram fought his father in the final battle. He didn't kill him - he disabled him, left him barely breathing. Lost an eye in the process. Then the celestials ended what remained of Rhaenor's reign. The Isles still debates whether Liram showed mercy, weakness, or enabled divine justice.

The celestials controversially reinstated us. Now we're scattered - some at Dragonspine Peak, others in hiding - all trying to figure out if dragon elves can be trusted as protectors ever again.

We still carry that fire. That ancient pride. That terrible power. But now we carry shame too.

Our Culture

• Dragon elf bloodline - long-lived, ancient, powerful
• Dragon bonding as sacred birthright (passed down from the old empire)
• "Fire and blood" - but our ancestors swore to direct it toward protection
• Memory of the Cataclysm - we know what hubris and conquest lead to
• Pride in choosing nobility when we could have chosen domination
• The weight of betraying our ancestors' sacred vow
• Military discipline and warrior nobility
• Scattered across the Isles - no unified direction under young Liram
• By dragon elf standards, Liram is barely of age to lead
• Some follow the crowned prince. Others question. Some plot.

Our History - The Full Truth

We are not native to these Isles. Centuries ago, our ancestors fled the Cataclysm - the fall of our great empire across the sea. Dragon lords and their bonded beasts, escaping annihilation. Some fled to other lands. We came here, to Rookery Isles.

We arrived with power. Ancient dragon elf bloodlines. Beasts of devastating force. We could have conquered this realm easily. The houses here had never seen our kind.

But our ancestors made a choice: We would NOT repeat the mistakes that destroyed our homeland. We would NOT be conquerors. We would be guardians. Protectors. We would use our power to DEFEND, not dominate.

For centuries, that choice defined us. Dragon lords who defended all houses equally. We mediated conflicts with dragon fire as deterrent rather than weapon. Sacred trust built over generations. Proof that power doesn't corrupt if you choose honor.

Then Rhaenor - our own blood - shattered everything. "Why protect these fools when we could RULE them?" The very thing our ancestors swore never to become... he became. Dragon lords conquering, not protecting. The nightmare our forebears fled.

The allied houses rose against us. The celestials themselves intervened.

In the final confrontation, Liram fought his father. He didn't kill him - he disabled him. Left Rhaenor with third-degree burns, barely breathing, essentially dead but not gone. Liram lost an eye in that battle. Then Ashley and Trystane ended what remained of Rhaenor's reign.

Did Liram show mercy? Weakness? Did he enable the execution by incapacitating his father? The Isles still debates what that moment meant.

Ashley and Trystane controversially reinstated us under Liram's rule. Now we're scattered, trying to prove our ancestors' choice was right - that dragon elves CAN be trusted with power. That Rhaenor was the exception.

But the question haunts us: Did we choose protection? Or were we always just conquerors waiting to happen?

Pre-Suncoast Rule Era

Founding and Early History

Elaria, a land of majestic peaks and ancient forests, is the birthplace of the legendary House Mudae. This house, known for its mastery of dragon riding, traces its origins back to Aelinor Mudae, the first dragon rider who forged a bond with the mythical creatures that roamed the skies of Elaria. The capital, Dragonspine Peak, stands as a testament to the house's grandeur, with its towering spires and fortified walls.

Culture and Society

The people of Elaria are deeply connected to their dragons, viewing them not just as mounts but as revered companions and protectors. Dragon riding is a sacred tradition, with each member of House Mudae undergoing rigorous training to form a bond with their dragon. The bond between rider and dragon is seen as a symbol of unity and strength, integral to the identity of House Mudae. Elaria is also rich in magical resources, and the house has always sought to control and protect these to maintain their power and influence.

Guilds and Traditions

Various guilds within Elaria support the dragon riders, including the Guild of Dragon Keepers, responsible for the care and training of dragons, and the Guild of Dragon Forgers, who craft specialized armor and weapons for the riders. The Dragon Council, composed of the most experienced and respected dragon riders, advises the head of House Mudae, ensuring that the house's traditions and power remain intact.

Golden Age Under House Mudae

Reign of Prosperity

During its golden age, House Mudae was at the pinnacle of its power. The dragons of Elaria were a force to be reckoned with, and their riders were celebrated as heroes across the Rookery Isles. Under the leadership of wise and just rulers, the house forged strong alliances and expanded its influence. Dragonspine Peak became a beacon of prosperity and strength, attracting scholars, warriors, and adventurers from all corners of the world.

Advancements and Recognition

The golden age saw advancements in dragon-riding techniques and the development of new magical spells and enchantments. House Mudae's control over Elaria's magical resources allowed them to create powerful artifacts and potions, further solidifying their dominance. The dragons themselves grew larger and more powerful, their riders more skilled and respected. Elaria's contributions to the defense and prosperity of the Rookery Isles were widely acknowledged, and the house's influence was unmatched.

The Dark Age - Rhaenor's Tyranny

Rhaenor's Rule

In the heart of Elaria, where the whispers of tyranny echoed through the corridors of power, there stood a mountain peak crowned by the fortress of House Mudae. At its summit, cloaked in the midst of fear and oppression, sat King Rhaenor, a despot whose rule knew no mercy, and whose subjects lived in constant dread of his wrath. Rhaenor's dominion was not one of law or order, but of absolute control. In the valley below, the people of his kingdom toiled under the weight of his decrees, their every move monitored by the watchful eyes of his enforcers, a set of his most high advisors, shadow riders. These elite soldiers, mounted atop their fearsome dragons, enforced Rhaenor's will with ruthless efficiency, crushing any hint of dissent beneath their iron-clad boots.

Tyranny and Manipulation

Rhaenor wielded a weapon far more insidious than mere force: the manipulation of truth itself. Through a network of spies and informants, he twisted reality to suit his own ends, rewriting history with each stroke of his pen until the very fabric of truth lay in tatters. In this world of deception and despair, resistance was futile. Those who dared to challenge Rhaenor's rule faced a fate worse than death, their names erased from memory, their voices silenced forever. To speak out against the king was to invite the wrath of his enforcers, to vanish into the darkness without a trace.

Resistance and Downfall

Yet, amidst the suffocating grip of oppression, there arose whispers of defiance. A small band of rebels dared to defy Rhaenor's iron will. With each clandestine meeting, each act of defiance, they struck a blow against the tyranny that had engulfed their land. They began to reach out to other kingdoms, sending quiet cries for help. Among those who answered their call was House Sunspear, led by Queen Ashley and King Trystane Love, guided by their sense of justice and the reports from their celestial companion Cedric.

The Final Uprising

The final uprising was a coordinated effort. The forces of House Sunspear, bolstered by their allies, launched a full-scale assault on Dragonspine Peak. The magi of Azura unleashed powerful spells, disrupting Rhaenor's defenses, while the warriors of Skjaldor fought fiercely against the shadow riders. In the skies above, dragons clashed in a battle of fire and fury.

Queen Ashley and King Trystane led the charge, their presence inspiring hope among the rebels. As the truth of Rhaenor's atrocities spread like wildfire through the kingdom, the people rose up as one, casting off the shackles of oppression. The walls of House Mudae's fortress crumbled under the combined might of the allied forces, and Rhaenor's reign of terror came to an end.

Roleplay in House Mudae

This is dragon elf RP with weight - you have ancient bloodline, devastating power, centuries of life ahead... and the burden of proving your ancestors' choice was right. You're refugees from a fallen empire who swore not to repeat those mistakes. Then one of your own proved maybe conquest IS in your blood.

Liram bears the physical scar of his choice (blind eye), but the political scars run deeper. Did he show mercy or weakness? Did he enable divine justice or avoid responsibility? The Isles debates. Your house debates. Even Liram probably debates it himself.

• Dragon elf at Dragonspine Peak serving Prince Liram
• Ancient survivor who remembers the Cataclysm stories
• Proud dragon lord believing we can reclaim guardian honor
• Exile hiding your dragon elf bloodline in shame
• Elder who sees Liram as a child barely old enough to lead
• Loyalist who believes Liram showed MERCY by not killing his father
• Critic who believes Liram showed WEAKNESS by not finishing it
• Pragmatist who thinks letting the gods end it was smart politics
• Warrior proving our ancestors' choice to protect was right
• Someone wrestling with dragon elf nature vs protective duty
• Refugee from the war working under false identity
• Bitter soul who thinks Rhaenor was right - conquest IS our nature
• Dragon rider facing hostility from houses we once protected

Current Era Under House Sunspear

Regaining Honor and Influence

Under the rule of House Sunspear, House Mudae is slowly regaining its honor and influence. The dragon riders are once again training, their skills and bond with their dragons being honed to regain their former glory. The people of Elaria are slowly starting to trust them again, though prejudice still lingers. The goal of House Mudae is clear: to regain their lost honor, restore their position as preeminent dragon riders, and protect the magical resources of Elaria.

Rivalries and Alliances

House Mudae faces significant challenges in its quest for redemption. Rivalries with House Love, due to past conflicts, and House Drakoria, due to their connections to dragons, add complexity to their efforts. However, the support of Queen Ashley and King Trystane offers a path to reconciliation and renewal. Through alliances and diplomatic efforts, House Mudae seeks to navigate the intricate political landscape of the Rookery Isles.

The Stakes

You are dragon elves. Refugees from a fallen empire who came here with power and chose protection over conquest. You proved for centuries that choice was real.

Then Rhaenor proved maybe it wasn't. Maybe dragon elves ARE conquerors by nature. Maybe the Cataclysm didn't teach us anything.

The celestials reinstated you but they're watching - gods who destroyed you once can do it again. Other houses remember what you became. Liram is young and untrained, leading a scattered people who don't agree on anything.

Can dragon elves be guardians? Or did your ancestors just delay the inevitable?

Welcome to the fire. Welcome to House Mudae.

Legacy of House Mudae

The legacy of House Mudae is one of resilience, strength, and a deep connection to the dragons of Elaria. Despite the dark chapter under Rhaenor's rule, the house strives to honor its true heritage and contribute to the prosperity and defense of the Rookery Isles. Under the vigilant eyes of their leaders and the guidance of their allies, House Mudae stands as a symbol of redemption and the enduring bond between dragon and rider. As they rebuild and strive to regain their former glory, House Mudae remains a formidable force, determined to reclaim their place among the great houses of the Rookery Isles.