Ritual of Guardianship

Long Description

The Ritual of Guardianship is performed at a sacred nexus within the land—a place where the land’s magic is most potent. This could be an ancient ruin, a natural wonder, or an elemental convergence, and is generally near the center of the territory being claimed. The dragon gathers representatives of the Protectorate’s inhabitants, whether they be other dragons, non-Draconic allies, or mystical entities, to bear witness and participate in the ritual. It is a great honor to be called upon to bear witness.

Phases of the Rite

The Declaration of Creed
The dragon begins by soaring above the nexus, proclaiming their Creed to all who bear witness. Their voice carries magically, resonating through the land and into the minds of its creatures. This declaration affirms the dragon’s stated Creed, and through it, how they intend to protect the land, its inhabitants, and the balance of life within the Protectorate. “By claw and wing, by fire and breath, I, [Name], pledge to shield this land. As Král, I vow to uphold the Creed as I have declared it.”

The Offering of Essence
The dragon descends to the nexus, where a massive enchanted plinth stands at the heart of the sacred site. Set into the plinth is a giant ceremonial bowl, hewn from ancient stone and inscribed with intricate Draconic runes that pulse faintly with magic. This vessel is a conduit through which the dragon’s essence will flow into the land, forging the sacred bond.

The offering begins with a display of the dragon’s elemental power, channeling the raw force of their breath weapon directly into the ceremonial bowl. The energy surges outward, suffusing the bowl and the surrounding area with its magical resonance.

Next, the dragon uses their talon to slash their forearm, letting their blood flow freely into the bowl. As the blood mingles with their elemental energy, it symbolizes the lifeblood of the Protectorate—the rivers, streams, and vitality of the land itself.

Finally, the dragon snaps off one of their horns or claws and places it into the bowl. The act is a show of ultimate sacrifice, symbolizing permanence and the enduring strength of their connection to the mountains, stones, and bones of the earth.

As they perform these acts, the dragon chants an ancient incantation in Draconic, each line resonating with their deep voice and filling the air with magic:

“From my breath, the winds shall blow.”
(The dragon unleashes their breath weapon upon the ceremonial bowl.)
“From my blood, the rivers flow.”
(Blood flows into the bowl, mingling with the elemental energy.)
“From my bone, the mountains grow.”
(The dragon places their horn or claw into the bowl.)
“Bound as one, this land, my soul!

The magic within the bowl surges outward in a dazzling display, suffusing the nexus and spreading through the land itself. The dragon’s offering binds them irrevocably to the Protectorate, allowing the land to lend its strength to the dragon in times of need and shielding the Protectorate from magical threats.

The Land’s Response
The land itself responds, sending a surge of magical energy through the nexus and into the dragon. This often manifests as a dramatic display: the ground trembles, trees bloom, waters shimmer with light, or winds howl with newfound vigor. The dragon absorbs this energy, completing the bond.
At this moment, the protective enchantment is cast over the Protectorate, shielding it from magical threats. Witnesses may feel a sense of calm and belonging as the land settles into its new guardian’s care.

The Mark of the Král
The ceremony concludes with a visible mark left upon the land—a towering tree infused with the dragon’s essence, a glowing fissure in the earth, or a permanent aurora above the nexus. This mark serves as a reminder of the dragon’s bond with the Protectorate and as a beacon of their authority.
The dragon, too, may bear a physical or magical mark, such as glowing patterns on their scales or a new sigil that appears when they invoke their connection to the land.