A Second Bond is a special type of bond that Riders undergo separately from dragons. Some consider it a partnership, but let’s be honest, romance is almost always involved. You might as well call it marriage. Riders that form a Second Bond may share abilities and emotions with their significant other, even from far away. Dragons depicted with their Rider’s Second Bond may use the benefits of the Second Bond as if they were the Rider.
Art follows regular Activity Rules.
Quest to Create a Second Bond
Both Riders need to participate in these quests. There is no character limit for them, although they cannot be used for any other types of prompts.
1) Proposal
Depict the moment when the two Riders decided to forge a second bond.
2) Approval of the Dragons
Riders don’t get to bond unless they have the approval of their dragons. Show the Riders earning their trust! Do they become friends? Bribe them? Figure out a way to tolerate each other? It’s up to you.
3) Bonding Ceremony
Forging the mental bond can’t be done lightly. It takes a special ceremony of sorts. You will also need at least two witnesses to participate. Witnesses may be any other Riders or dragons that do not belong to the participating Riders. After the ceremony, your Riders will gradually feel their mental connection form. Here are some suggested ceremonies, though you are free to make up your own in any circumstance.
- Shéar: Before a bond can be considered official, Riders need to show the witnesses that they are worthy of caring for each other. They should show that they are strong enough, smart enough, or rich enough to care for their chosen friend.
- Abrendese: Second bonds are a family affair to the Abrendese. Families will offer vast riches to the other in an attempt to prove that they are the more powerful of the two. The idea was once that the Riders would always have a family to rely on, but it contorted into a display of power over time. These couples have the fanciest ceremonies of them all, at least!
- Irrit: Like the Abrendese, families are involved in second bonds. Unlike the Abrendese, families are very picky about forming bonds. When the ceremony starts, they blockade the participants in their own homes and guard the place. The ceremony finishes when one or both of them are able to escape and reunite with each other.
- Naki: Because of their huge mix of cultures, there is no set tradition. The only thing that seems constant is having way too many people come to the ceremonies to support the couple.
- T’terre: Two T’terre travel across the sea to a neighboring island. It’s rumored to grant everyone who visits a long and loving life. The trip can last upwards of twelve hours, which means both participants have to work with each other to keep aloft. It is unusual for T’terre to bond to Riders of other cultures, so flightless Riders are not considered in their traditions.
- Bestia: Each bond must defeat their family in a contest of their choosing. The family can be close friends rather than blood relations, but both sides of the family usually work together. The bond is accepted when the Riders successfully defeat their family at their challenge.
- Phinae: First, an item of value to both participants is given to the great ancestors. Then, an offering of food or treasure is made to the Phinae-mar and their priests. A priest will then happily read a set of vows about the sacred bond and confirm it to the world unseen.
- Tsotska: There are several shrines to non-elemental dragons on the Isla.Riders choose one of these shrines and approach it, offering the dragon some meat. If the dragon appears for the offering, then the bond is considered official.
- Ere: Someone of high esteem ties the hands of the two Riders together with a large ribbon. They cast a truth spell, after which the Riders confirm their bond and untie the ribbon together.
- Quetzalcoatl: Second Bonding is highly spiritual and a completely romantic process for Quetzalcoatls. Each Quetzalcoatl has their own blood signature which they continuously add to as they discover more poisons, encounter something tremendous, or do something otherwise notable. It is something of a biological diary. During a Second Bond, the Quetzalcoatls both inspect their signature and combine it, then present it to a priest or representative of the God of Dragons to witness. It’s quite a bloody affair.
- Chronoscape: You can make it up, as long as it makes sense.
FORM:
Bonding to:
Prompt 1 Link:
Prompt 2 Link:
Prompt 3 Link:
Terrain(s): (optional)
Familiar Trackers: (optional)
Buffs: (optional)
This form must be turned in by BOTH characters.
Quest to Break a Second Bond
Sometimes things go sour, and that’s understandable. Illustrate any of the following prompts and turn it in with the prompt ‘Parting Ways.’ Depict at least one Rider doing one of the following:
- Enjoying the moments after the breakup or the single life.
- Both Riders parting as friends.
- Separated by fate (death, work, values, etc.).
- Falling out of love.
Only one Rider needs to complete this prompt. Regardless of who owns the second Rider, the second bond will be broken when this prompt is turned in. Always be mindful making plans that involve the benefits of a Second Bond.
Benefits of a Second Bond
- The dragons may choose to use their Rider's Second Bond benefits along with their Rider's usual benefits when they are depicted in an activity together. You may mix and match these benefits (such as using one familiar from one Rider and two from the other). If one character has a higher rank than the other in Prestige or Job or otherwise, then the higher rank will be used.
- In breedings, Breeding Familiars may be shared from both Riders, but Breeder bonuses only come from the true Rider.
- They have full access to each others’ Den Prompts and count as a resident of that Den.
The Riders themselves can share a telepathic connection from very far away. Although it is not as clear as it would be with a dragon, emotions are very easy to communicate.