Lords of Gossamer and Shadow NPCs: Geilrod Dragon Rider

Geilrod and Deriel survey the battlefield ahead Image by Piotrek under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence

Dragons are more common than most people think, and less vicious also.  I have been teamed with a dragon for all of my adult life and for a good portion of my childhood too.  Of course I lived in the Gossamer world of Theroot where many believe that the first dragons were formed, but that is neither here nor there.

The dragons of Theroot hold themselves as some form of upper class.  Though of course dragons that know of the world scoff at them as they dragons of Theroot often take to a human rider, such as myself.  Deriel and I have been bonded since my turning ceremony and she would have it no other way.  It is not a traditional arrangement riding a dragon.  With a beast of burden the rider often finds themselves having to force the mount to do things.  As a dragon rider there is more of a symbiotic, almost psychic connection that allows for the dragon and rider to be aware of each others senses and concerns.  The task of riding comes from a unison of senses if you will, more a merging of both minds into a superlative consciousness that can make the best decision based on the information at hand from the individual participants.

Of course that can be a little bit difficult to understand when you have never bonded with another spirit before.  It is not that I am judging the training that you have given your horse but there are better, much more efficient ways of doing things.  Such as your armour!  I have seen you laughing and joking at my armour, incomplete at the midriff.  This is a design choice that allows much greater freedom of movement when in the saddle.  For example, in your banded mail in the saddle, if I were to ride up behind what range of movement have you?  Very little I would wager whereas I am easily able to turn and face the charge from any angle and not endanger falling from the dragon horn saddle that is necessary when in flight.

There is no need to get upset about it.  Honestly, you try to help someone see the light and all you get these days is abuse.  Stick to your outdated armour and your blind need to push your beast to your will.  You will one day see the truth of things as I have trained many cavalry in my time.  We have a nickname for riders like you.  It is “meat for the grinder”.  You take offense?  Of course I would like to step outside and sort this out, you had better say your goodbyes to your family first though…