Dragon Age Character Concept: The Dragon Tamers
Dragon Age Character Concept: The Dragon Tamers
One of the biggest opportunities for a future Dragon Age story would be introducing a group known as The Dragon Tamers.
Not dragon riders.
Not dragon hunters.
Not dragon slayers.
Their purpose is to understand, calm, redirect, and communicate with dragons whenever possible.
For centuries, Thedas has treated dragons as monsters, gods, symbols, or weapons. The Dragon Tamers see them as something else entirely: ancient living intelligences whose behavior can be influenced through knowledge, ritual, sound, and magic.
Who Are the Dragon Tamers?
The Dragon Tamers are a secretive order that travels across Thedas studying dragons.
Their methods resemble snake charmers, animal handlers, and natural philosophers.
Rather than attacking a High Dragon, they attempt to:
Predict its movements
Understand territorial behavior
Calm aggressive dragons
Relocate dragons away from settlements
Rescue dragon hatchlings
Prevent conflicts between dragons and people
Many kingdoms view them with suspicion because they often defend dragons from hunters.
Their Belief System
The Dragon Tamers believe dragons are tied to forces older than:
The Chantry
The Tevinter Imperium
The Elven Gods
Even some Fade mysteries
According to their teachings:
"A dragon does not bow because it is weak. It bows because it chooses peace."
They believe every dragon has a unique personality, memory, and instinct.
Dragon Songs
Instead of controlling dragons through magic, they use special instruments.
Dragon Flutes
Long bone instruments carved from naturally shed dragon horns.
Each note creates vibrations dragons can feel.
Uses include:
Calming anger
Drawing attention
Warning of danger
Establishing trust
Ember Bells
Metallic bells infused with lyrium.
Different tones affect dragon behavior.
Some dragons become calmer.
Others become curious.
A few become defensive.
Master Tamers spend years learning which sounds work on which species.
The Dragon Tamer Staff
Every Dragon Tamer carries a staff called a Scalecaller.
The staff contains:
Dragon scales
Ancient runes
Resonance crystals
Protective wards
It serves as:
Walking stick
Focus for magic
Communication tool
Defensive weapon
Character: Master Vaelor Scale-Singer
Race
Elf
Age
Unknown
Role
Legendary Dragon Tamer
Personality
Patient
Wise
Slightly eccentric
Deeply compassionate
He speaks to dragons as though they are old friends.
Many believe he is insane.
Yet dozens of villages still stand because he prevented dragon attacks.
Companion Dragon
Ashwing
A massive elderly drake.
Unlike most dragons, Ashwing willingly travels beside Vaelor.
Characteristics:
Dark bronze scales
Burned wing membranes
One missing horn
Exceptional intelligence
Ashwing understands dozens of spoken commands.
He often saves Vaelor from danger before it occurs.
Companion Quest
"The Song Beneath the Mountain"
A young dragon is attacking dwarven trade routes.
The local lord wants it killed.
The Dragon Tamers believe something is wrong.
Investigation reveals the dragon is responding to an ancient Titan artifact buried beneath the mountain.
The player can:
Kill the dragon
Relocate the dragon
Help the Tamers communicate with it
Discover forgotten dwarven secrets
Each choice changes regional politics.
Dragon Tamer Specializations
Beastcaller
Focuses on animal bonds.
Abilities:
Call drakes
Summon scouting creatures
Enhance allies
Flame Whisperer
Studies dragon fire.
Abilities:
Fire resistance
Controlled flame attacks
Heat manipulation
Scale Warden
Frontline protector.
Abilities:
Dragon-scale armor
Roars that stun enemies
Defensive auras
Sky Singer
Rare masters capable of influencing flying dragons.
Abilities:
Wind magic
Long-range dragon communication
Aerial support abilities
The Dark Secret
Not all Dragon Tamers are noble.
A splinter group called The Chainmasters believes dragons should be controlled.
They use:
Blood magic
Red lyrium
Ancient Tevinter rituals
Their goal is to build armies of enslaved dragons.
This creates a natural conflict between Dragon Tamers and Chainmasters throughout the game.
Why They Would Fit Dragon Age
The Dragon Tamers would add:
New dragon lore
New companion characters
Dragon-focused quests
Moral choices beyond simply killing monsters
New factions competing for control of ancient powers
Most importantly, they would make dragons feel like living parts of Thedas rather than occasional boss fights.
A future Dragon Age game could finally ask a question the series has rarely explored:
What if dragons are not merely creatures to be slain, but ancient beings with stories of their own?
If Dragon Tamers became a major part of Dragon Age, they should be more than a single companion or small faction. They should be an entire culture with different philosophies, rivalries, heroes, and legends.
The First Dragon Tamer
According to Dragon Tamer folklore, the order began with a woman known only as:
Asha the Listener
Asha the Listener
Centuries before modern Thedas, Asha was supposedly a slave who escaped into the mountains.
While hiding, she encountered a wounded dragon.
Instead of killing each other, both survived a brutal winter together.
Over months she learned:
- Dragon body language
- Vocalizations
- Territorial markings
- Feeding patterns
When she returned years later, she carried a dragon scale larger than a shield.
People claimed she could calm dragons merely by speaking.
Many believe the story is myth.
Dragon Tamers insist it is history.
Dragon Tamer Settlements
Unlike most factions, Dragon Tamers rarely build cities.
They create hidden sanctuaries.
Sky Roosts
Built into cliffs and mountains.
Features:
- Dragon nesting areas
- Observation towers
- Ancient libraries
- Hatchling nurseries
Only trusted guests are permitted entry.
Ember Havens
Remote valleys where dragons can recover from injuries.
Many are protected by magic that conceals them from outsiders.
Hunters frequently spend years searching for them.
Few succeed.
Dragon Tamer Ranks
Listener
Beginners.
Learn:
- Dragon behavior
- Survival skills
- History
Many never advance.
Whisperer
Capable of safely approaching lesser dragons and drakes.
Responsibilities:
- Field missions
- Hatchling care
- Dragon tracking
Scalekeeper
Veterans trusted with major decisions.
Allowed to mediate disputes involving dragons.
Flamebinder
Elite Dragon Tamers.
Can withstand dragon presence without fear.
Many become legendary figures.
Dragon Sage
The highest rank.
Only a handful exist at any time.
Some have spent decades studying a single dragon.
Dragon Companion Types
Players could recruit or interact with various dragon species.
Ember Drake
Smaller and faster.
Traits:
- Highly intelligent
- Curious
- Loyal
Often used as scouts.
Stoneback Drake
Heavy-bodied dragons.
Traits:
- Defensive
- Slow
- Extremely durable
Favored by dwarven Dragon Tamers.
Frost Wyrms
Found in northern regions.
Traits:
- Territorial
- Rare
- Exceptionally dangerous
Can freeze entire battlefields.
Dawnwings
Golden-scaled dragons associated with ancient legends.
Some Dragon Tamers believe they are nearly extinct.
Dragon Tamer Companion
Serik Flamehand
Serik Flamehand
A human Dragon Tamer who once served as a dragon hunter.
Personality
- Sarcastic
- Brave
- Reckless
Conflict
Years earlier he killed a dragon defending its eggs.
The guilt never left him.
Now he dedicates his life to protecting dragons.
Companion Arc
The player discovers one egg survived.
Years later:
- Help Serik protect the hatchling.
- Turn it over to authorities.
- Sell it to collectors.
- Give it to the Dragon Tamers.
The decision affects the entire region.
Dragon Tamer Sidekicks
Not every Dragon Tamer travels alone.
Some work with unusual assistants.
Scale Hounds
Massive war dogs bred to track dragon scents.
They are not meant to fight dragons.
Instead they:
- Detect danger
- Find nests
- Protect hatchlings
Ember Monkeys
Small intelligent creatures.
Used for:
- Climbing cliffs
- Gathering supplies
- Carrying messages
Drake Ravens
Special birds trained to recognize dragon territory.
Dragon Tamers use them as scouts.
The Great Dragon Census
One of the largest Dragon Tamer projects.
Their goal:
To locate every known dragon in Thedas.
The census includes:
- Names
- Territories
- Temperaments
- Family lines
Some entries are centuries old.
Others contain warnings like:
Do not approach.
Or:
Friendly unless provoked.
Or:
Has killed every observer since 7:41 Dragon.
Rival Faction: The Dragon Crown
Not everyone agrees with the Dragon Tamers.
A rival organization called:
The Dragon Crown
Believes dragons should rule.
Their members worship dragons almost as divine beings.
Goals:
- Protect dragons at any cost
- Place dragon interests above civilization
- Expand dragon territories
This creates conflict with Dragon Tamers, who seek balance.
The Ancient Mystery
The oldest Dragon Tamer records mention something terrifying.
Not dragons.
Something older.
The records describe:
"Those whom dragons feared."
Massive creatures that hunted dragons before recorded history.
The surviving writings refer to them only as:
The First Predators
Potential future threats could include:
- Dragon-eating monsters
- Ancient Titans corrupted by the Fade
- Forgotten creations of powerful mages
- Prehistoric beings buried beneath Thedas
Even dragons flee when these creatures awaken.
Endgame Possibility
Near the end of a Dragon Age game, players might gain the trust of the Dragon Tamers.
Not to ride dragons.
Dragon Age should avoid becoming a dragon-rider fantasy.
Instead, the player earns something rarer:
The Respect of Dragons
Certain dragons:
- Refuse to attack the player.
- Assist during major battles.
- Reveal hidden locations.
- Unlock forgotten lore.
The result is a Dragon Age story where dragons become characters, not simply boss encounters, giving Thedas an entirely new layer of mystery, wonder, and danger.
Comments
Post a Comment