Dragon-Riders of Old
The Dragon-Riders of Old were Giants who bonded with dragons and rode them as both mounts and companions during the Age of Giants. According to A History of Rislandia, they "patrolled the skies, symbols of the Giants' mastery over all creation," launching from volcanic peaks during the height of the Giants' Golden Age. Their existence represented the pinnacle of Giant civilization's reach and power, and their passing became one of the most enduring legends of Areth.
History
During the Giants' Golden Age, dragon-riders served as warriors, explorers, and enforcers of Giant dominion. They flew from volcanic peaks, keeping watch over the lands below and participating in the wars that periodically erupted between rival Giant kingdoms. The tradition came to an end with the Great Sundering, the catastrophic event that killed the greatest of the dragon-riders and severed the bond between Giants and their dragon companions forever.
Notable Dragon-Riders
Pyrathor
According to A History of Rislandia, "The greatest of the dragon-riders was a Giant named Pyrathor (possibly named after Pyraleth, the Flame-Keeper)." Pyrathor rode the dragon Emberwing and was said to be invincible in battle. He fought in the wars between Giant kingdoms, burned enemy fleets, and explored the farthest reaches of the world. Despite his legendary invincibility, Pyrathor was killed in the explosion of the Great Sundering.
Notable Dragons
Emberwing
Emberwing was the dragon bonded to Pyrathor. According to A History of Rislandia, her "scales were the color of molten gold and whose breath could melt stone." She fought alongside Pyrathor in the wars between Giant kingdoms. After Pyrathor was killed in the Sundering, Emberwing flew to the highest peak of the Dragonmist Isles and turned to stone, becoming a mountain. Sailors have long claimed to see a mountain on the Dragonmist Isles that resembles a sleeping dragon, and on stormy nights some report hearing what sounds like roaring — said to be Emberwing mourning her lost rider.
Legacy
The Dragon-Riders of Old passed into legend following the Great Sundering. The story of Pyrathor and Emberwing in particular endured in the folklore of Areth, preserved in scholarly works such as A History of Rislandia. The silhouette of Emberwing's petrified form on the Dragonmist Isles continued to be remarked upon by sailors long after the age of the Giants had ended, serving as a physical monument to the bond between rider and dragon.