The idea for Wyrm Ryders came from reading The Masterharper of Pern by Ann McCaffrey, not normally an author I enjoy reading, and was later
modified by Raymond E Feist's Valheru. Ann's work with dragons and Impressing dragons to become Riders touched my creativity button, and convinced me to transpose them into my own campaign
world. They won't work for everyone, but I can tell you from experience that if even one of your PCs wants to Impress, you're looking at at least 8
gaming sessions of difficult, challenging stuff. Impressing a dragon is NOT easy. Originally, they were a delayed kit that you could take, but with the advent
of 3rd Edition prestige classes, I thought I'd try to turn them into one. The information I'm using comes from Eric Noah's
3rd Edition News page, which I highly recommend visiting.
The first Wyrm Ryders appeared with the Dawn of Time, when the Gods were testing there powers. Torak had created dragons and made them immune to sorcery, but his brothers came together and removed that restriction from all offspring the dragons may have. They also made it so that mortals could tame these fearsome beasts. Torak was enraged by this and, thinking to put his children beyond the reach of mortals, placed several restrictions on those who could Impress a dragon.
Years passed without a single mortal ever being up to the task. In the days when the Gods still walked the earth among their flocks, it was not uncommon to see Torak abroad on the great red dragon Incthyak, mother of all Dragons. Growing tired of his brother's ostentatiousness, Belar called to him Ruethik, the venerable gold dragon and unwilling mate to Incthyak. Having done this, he told Ruethik of Torak's acts, and Ruethik undertook to be Belar's mount. Again Torak was enraged, and for many years he and his dread steed were unseen in the Western skies.
It came to pass, in the time before the destruction of the Marags, that a young man named Khelin left his home in Boktor in Drasnia to seek wealth in the mountains of Ulgoland, for as all know the jewellry of the Ulgos is unsurpassed in beauty and quality. Khelin had lived a clean, worshipful life, paying respects to Belar when they were due and living according to his laws. Upon reaching the foothills, he made camp, but in the morning awoke to find that his horse had been eaten, and his posessions stolen. Bandits was his first thought, but none dare cause ill to another in the mountains of Ulgoland, for the Ulgos have an intense sense of justice. Perplexed, he sat on a rock to think. However, the rock desired not to be sat upon, and he was thrown to the ground. Startled, Khelin examined closer this rock, and found it unremarkable. Again he attempted to sit on it, and again he was forcibly removed. Disbelieving, Khelin rubbed his eyes. When he ceased, no longer was there a rock. In fron of him stood a huge leg of steely grey, no doubt connected to an equally proportioned body. Terrified, Khelin tried to flee, but found himself rooted to the spot by fear. He had heard, as had all young people brought up in the West, stories of Ulgo monsters and there diets.
The dragon, Talak, was equally perplexed. Being young for one of his kind, he had no conatact with these creatures before. What was it? Did it talk? Talak lowered his head to Khelin's level and spoke in the manner of dragons: "What art thou? Why comest thou here to rest upon my form? Markest thou not that I didst slumber there?"
Khelin could not comprehend the speech of this monster, but then the Spirit of Belar was upon him, and caused him to understand, and infused him with confidence, and he spake in the manner of dragons thusly: "I am Khelin, son of Mordon and Layla, child of Belar. I am come hither to seek riches in these mountains. Forgive my trespass, for to me thou didst appear as but a large rock."
Talak had heard of Belar in the tales told as part of his education, but he knew not of Mordon or Layla. His curiosity aroused, Talak mentally probed Khelin. Satisfied with the knowledhe he retrieved, he said to Khelin:"Come thou with me, Khe-Lin. My Clutchfather wouldst know of you. I am but young, and not sufficiently wise in the ways of our kind to know that which must be done."
And so a mortal came for the first time unto the land of Dragons. There was Khelin presented to Toraluk, Talak's Clutchfather. Old and wise though he was, Toraluk had heard not of humans, and thus was Khelin brought before the WyrmMoot. There was the ancient lore of Wyrm Ryders revealed, and Talak was asked if he desired this mortal as a Ryder, as it was him who first discovered Khelin in the hills. Talak replied in the affirmative, and thus was the first of the Wyrm Ryders chosen.
However, the hand of Torak still had a part to play. Incthyak, excluded as always from the WyrmMoot, appeared in a blast of brimstone, and astride her back was Dread Torak. "This shall not be!" came the commanding voice of the God. "Hast thou forgotten my words? Can it be that my most favoured children do ignore my wishes so? This mortal hath not Impressed upon Talak, nor hath he passed The Test. He may not ride!"
And lo, Khelin was sore afraid, more the burning eye of the God Torak was upon him, and felt he insignificant. But behold, again did the Spirit of Belar visit him, and give him courage and strength of Will. And Khelin spake once more, in the language of the Angaraks, Torak's own people: "I would take this Test, and I would learn of this Impression of which you speak, O Dread One, for I am the Chosen of Belar, and thus doth he defy you!" And Torak was enraged once more, and drew he Cthrek Goru, his mighty black sword, meaning to cleave in half young Khelin. But joined the dragons together their wills, and a mighty shield did they erect around the young mortal. Seeing this, Torak did relent, and spake thusly:
"So be it. This mortal shall be Tested, than shall the WyrmMoot determine the fashion of his Impression tasks. But beware! Should my brother Belar interject himself in thy testing, then shall I smite thee from this world, and these wurms also." And so was Khelin Tested, and was found fitting to be a Ryder. Then was he given tasks, that he may prove the mettle of his character to the WyrmMoot.
"Behold, mortal, the WyrmMoot hath decided on your tasks. Go ye from this place, and find the Sword of Malaket, rumoured to be hidden in the mines of Cthol Murgos. Return it to us. Then shall ye face Sorchuk, eleven times my son, in a contest of wits in a manner of your choosing. Finally shall you face our servant Keran in mortal combat. Should you pass these tasks to the satisfaction of we assembled, then shall you be given your Ryder name and be given to Talak. Dost thou accept?"
Taken from The History of Andrecht, the background on my own campaign world.
A WyrmRyder, apart from alignment and skill/feat requirements, must meet the following restrictions:
These are the easy parts! The following feats/skills are required to become a WyrmRyder, at the ranks indicated:
*The class and level restrictions have been removed, because they are never a part of prestige classes. Also, I have been convinced that some rogues should be able to impress a Dragon, should they want to, though they have so many skills to spend points on that it's unlikely they'll make it! Monks can take the class, but apparently prestige classes are akin to taking a multiclass, and the Monk's restrictions on that make it difficult or undesirable.
Finally, the Council of Wyrms must meet to determine the manner of Impression. it is by no means guaranteed that a character who meets these requirements
will Impress a dragon. He must first complete a series of tasks. These will vary to suit your campaign/warped minds, but some ideas:
So, my first attempt at a prestige class. We don't know what sort of XP table prestige classes will use, if it differs at all, and obviously without a complete list of 3e skills and feats, I can't choose the best ones needed. Any comments will be welcome at this email address.
