For centuries, dragons were not creatures spoken of with fear or disbelief. They were a living part of Ereth. They nested in its mountains, crossed its skies, and shared an ancient relationship with its people. Though never domesticated, dragons occasionally chose humans they trusted, forming bonds that could last for decades. Those chosen became known as dragon riders.
Riders served many roles throughout history. Some carried messages across distances that once took weeks to cross. Others explored unreachable regions, guarded settlements, or fought beside their dragons during war. Yet a dragon was never considered its rider’s property. The bond existed by choice, and either could refuse the other.
Communities grew accustomed to dragons overhead. Great aeries and landing towers were built near several cities, whistles were crafted so bonded pairs could signal one another, and generations grew up beneath skies where the silhouette of a dragon was remarkable, but not impossible.
That age ended with what became known as the Severance.
As dragon remains became increasingly valuable for alchemy, weapons, medicine, luxury goods, and magical study, a vast poaching trade emerged. Under the direction of a notorious leader, organized hunting parties learned to track migrations, locate nesting grounds, steal eggs, and kill dragons with increasing efficiency. What began as isolated hunting became systematic slaughter.
Dragons reproduce slowly. By the time Ereth understood the scale of what was happening, entire nesting grounds had vanished and their population had fallen catastrophically.
The surviving dragons withdrew.
Most abandoned human settlements and retreated into the wildest, least accessible reaches of Ereth. Bonds with new riders nearly ceased, ancient aeries fell silent, and dragons that had once willingly lived beside humanity taught their young to avoid it instead.
The poaching network was eventually destroyed and its leaders captured or killed, but the damage could not be undone.
Generations have now passed since the Severance. Dragon towers still stand in places where no dragon has landed in living memory. Old rider whistles survive as heirlooms and artifacts. Paintings depict people flying beside creatures most will never see.
Dragons themselves have not disappeared.
They simply no longer trust humanity enough to come back.