Difference between revisions of "Rai"

Revision as of 15:39, 23 March 2006

In Summary

The Rai are not a true race of dragons, although the impression can be given when much of dragonkind itself wants to see the Rai as race apart.

Rai is a term originally used by Ryuugami to describe dragons who've become insane past the point of redemption. The word itself made its way to general usage within dragonkind, with a commonday meaning of "damned" and/or "outcasted."

In More Detail

Connotation One: Insane

Rai can be used in two entirely different senses. There is the one, close to the original, which can be summed up in the word--"insane."

Now, dragons that have gone insane are no more or less than insane; that is to say, they aren't necessarily evil--or good, for that matter. Given their size and power, they can be a menace depending on how reality warps around them. The definition of insane needs to be considered; many tend to apply the term much more inclusively toward certain subsects of the dragon population, and depending on whom has been deemed Rai, redeemability of health might or might not be a consideration. The original meaning--beyond redemption--is not truly kept.

It is said that one subrace of dragons is particularly inclined to become Rai, and they are the shadow dragons. For whatever reasons--perhaps due to their affinity for the dark and the shadow plane--shadow-inclined dragons turn Rai with a greater frequency than do dragons of other affinities or races. Also rumored to be in danger of instability are halfbreeds and those who spend unhealthy lengths of time in their humanoid forms.

Connotation One: Outcasted

The other sense of the word Rai means "outcasted." Dragon society has never really liked the shadow dragons very much, and the said tendency to go Rai supports this bias. The efforts of celestial dragons, who are very extreme and unbending in their holy-good affinity, has not helped to promote acceptance of the shadow dragons, either.

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As a result of this, most dragons shun and outcast all shadow dragons, calling them Rai, regardless of whether or not they are, in fact, insane. Thusly, one has to keep in mind that, depending upon the source, a dragon called Rai might not be, in fact, Rai.

A Note about Celestial and Shadow Dragons

As a side note, celestial dragons and shadow dragons are not opposite ends of the spectrum. Celestial dragons are extremists who will use just about any means to serve their concept of "good." They're unbendingly dedicated to holy-good, and are rather aloof and cold. They do not spend much time with most dragons or other races.

Shadow dragons, on the other hand, are not similarly dedicated to the concept of evil, as one might think. Shadow magic and energies are not evil in and of themselves, and neither are shadow dragons. The shadow dragons are neutral beings, with the ability to go to either side as the individual sees fit. Their affinity for dark powers lend to a somewhat greater tendency to favor evil than with other races, but that is all. They are also very worldly, and enjoy living in the company of other beings, being slightly more social than most dragon races." -- Dia

Note on Dragon Society in General

Dragons social creatures and also conform to a social hiearchy as most social creatures do. The are emperor dragons, which is not to say they are the rulers but they are usually the largest of the dragons, unnaturally so. This is probably a mutation as they are extemely rare. 1 in every 5000 dragons may be an emperor or a half emperor. These emperor dragons usually take up the role of leader but in the case that they do not the next in line is a generally respected dragon. This dragon may have to contend for power, either physically, socially, or a mixture of both.

Female dragons are socially on par with male dragons. The sizes between the two don't vary too much, though males bear more spikes and larger horns. Females can also be leaders and empresess but only 1 in every 9000 is an empress. Females usually entertain smaller, tighter groups over larger, more impersonal ones. Females tend to enjoy conversation and analysis more than the males who enjoy looking at the 'big picture'.

Outcasts or 'Rai'

It takes quite a bit to be outcast, or in the case of shadow dragons, not much at all. Barring insanity caused by whatever, murder, social corruption at large, and general displays of 'evil' are all reasons that dragons have been outcasted and considered Rai.

Due to Ryuugami's general love and respect for life and prosperity, shadow dragons are a bit touch and go at being considered as bretheren. The shadow dragons have been characterized by the other breeds as being harsh, cruel, cold and basically evil. On the contrary, the shrewdness, intelligence, and rather blunt nature of the shadow dragons (as well as the reputation of the more evil shadow dragons) have been greatly misinterpreted. If there is any crime they can be committed of, sarcasm would be the greatest.

After the Solasian Wars, the dragon community adopted the general belief that Ryuugami had abandoned them entirely and the newer generations calls themselves the 'Rai'. It's a bit of a misnomer but due to the weakness and sparcity of Ryuugami's priesthood and the spread to which the dragons have cast themselves have made efforts to strengthen the dragons have been difficult. -- Neko