Dragon Riders of Literature and Film – PRIME
People riding dragons has a long history in media and literature. Let’s take a look.
In Games Workshop’s Age of Sigmar once extinct dragons have returned to the Mortal Realms, and they have already started forming bonds with a brand new chamber of Stormcast Eternals.
With these new units, the Stormcast join a long line of dragon-riding warriors on both sides of the alignment aisle, inside and outside the world of Games Workshop. Dragons have been a staple in fantasy literature and films for ages, and whether they represent wise and noble protectors or vicious, dangerous beasts, the sight of a warrior riding one into battle has always been a thematic turning point, both for good and ill depending on WHO is on their back. Some of the greatest heroes and villains of recent history have had a scaly companion, and regardless of how well they performed, their cool factor cannot be denied.
Aelves of Warhammer
While every faction of Elves in the Old World had at least a little affinity with dragons, none shared the same bond with them that the High Elves of Ulthuan, specifically the province of Caledor, were able to create. In the time of Aenarion, the elves made a pact with the noble creatures to fight alongside them against the encroaching hordes of Chaos, and some even agreed to bear their greatest heroes into battle.
When Malekith split from Ulthuan, he took a clutch of eggs with him, and through dark sorcery corrupted them into the sinister Black Dragons. For the most part the bond between Dreadlord and dragon was not a kind one, but Malekith’s own steed Seraphon seemed to at least respect the Witch King, and so they shared a slightly more cohesive bond (moreso now that they are a single creature). The dragons of Ulthuan, on the other hand, entered into a deep slumber, and it was only the noblest of heroes or most foolhardy of mages that could rouse them from their slumber. In the times of AoS, most of the Aelven dragons are long dead, with only a few of the Black Dragons still bearing riders. Perhaps the work of the Seraphon will bring them back to prominence, or at least make them a tad more common.
Dragonlance
Set in the mythical land of Krynn, Dragonlance is both a setting for the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game and a series of novels taking place within the world. The titular “dragonlances” are weapons of great power first created during the Third Dragon War, with the sole purpose of dispatching evil dragons, and were the only way non-magical mortals could hope to kill one.
The primary protaganists, the Heroes of the Lance, were actually fully fleshed out by an actual play game of D&D that the writers played with several of their friends, and the Dragonlance setting remains one of the most popular shared-world settings in the game. In fact, one of the most prolific big bads of early D&D, Lord Soth the Death Knight, was first created for this setting, and it remains one of TSR’s most popular novel series.
The Targaryens
One of the great houses of the Game of Thrones universe, the Targaryens are described as one of the most savage and war-like families, and their military might was backed up by their bond with great dragons. In fact, the Iron Throne, the primary seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms, was formed by the melted swords of Aegon the Conquerer’s many enemies after he brought six of the primary kingdoms under his control. Backed by both their dragons and their superior military strength, the Targeryens ruled the Kingdoms for several generations until Aerys II, the 16th Targaryen monarch and aptly named “Mad King”, was deposed by Robert Baratheon.
By that time, the dragons of the Targaryens had shrunk to almost the size of cats, perhaps mirroring the decadence and decline of the noble house. With Aerys’s death, many in the kingdoms believed the dragons to be extinct, until Daenerys Targaryen successfully hatched three, which grew to impressive size and (in the HBO show at least) allowed her to retake the Iron Throne for herself. Only those of Targaryen lineage could tame a dragon, and it made them the most terrifying single combatants in the entire franchise, save perhaps the Night King himself.
Riders of Berk
In the popular children’s book and movie series How to Train Your Dragon, the small island nation of Berk is beset by attacks from vicious dragons, until a young boy named Hiccup takes a chance on a rare Nightfury and forms a partnership. Over time, he is able to gain the creature’s trust, naming it “Toothless”, and the two of them are able to discover the source of the attacks, a powerful and corrupt alpha dragon that devours any who do not bring him offerings. Hiccup is able to help his friends tame dragons of their own, and over time the entire island of Berk is able to make bonds with different species of dragon. As the series continues, various other threats come to Berk, like an enslaved alpha and a deadly dragon hunter, and the dragons and their riders must overcome ever deadlier challenges, before finally deciding to go their separate ways. The series teaches that kindness and trust can overcome fear, and was an important lesson for children about not judging others before they get to know them.
Dragon Riders of the Inheritance Cycle
In this series of works by Christopher Paolini, a mystical group of warriors called Dragon Riders protected the land of Alagaesia from the backs of dragons, forming a magical psychic bond with them that allowed them to achieve feats far beyond the capabilities of a normal person. However, one of the riders, Galbatorix, grew mad with power, and led a revolt against his fellows, killing all those who stood against him and smashing every dragon egg he found. He took control of the land and became a corrupt dictator, conspiring with shades and other dark creatures to maintain a dystopian order.
However, a young boy named Eragon happens upon a large blue stone while hunting, which turns out to be a dragon’s egg, and forms a bond with the dragon Sapphira. Together with the last remaining elves and a small resistance force, he is able to turn the tides and retake Alagaesia, though he realizes it is no longer a safe place to raise dragons, and retreats to a safe haven to train the future riders. The series shows the bond between dragon and rider as sacred, similar to the bond with Warhammer elves, and it is stated that a dragon will only ever bond with a single rider in its lifetime, dying whenever they do.
