The Solar Drakes, also known as the Greater Phoenix, are a primordial species of True Dragon created by the Unknown during the Second Age: Twilight of Creation. Fashioned by Unknown in the image of Ember, the Archon of Fire, and imbued with the elemental essence of Unknown, the Unknown God of Energy, the Solar Drakes embody the celestial radiance of the sun and the divine fire of creation. These majestic beings were forged to serve as powerful warriors in The Aeonic Struggle and as radiant stewards of the energy that sustains the cosmos.
Origins
Born from the searing brilliance of the Plane of Ignis, Solar Drakes were designed to combat the chaos of the Elementari and preserve the balance of the Prime Plane. Their radiant flames were a force of purity, incinerating the corruption of the titans while their presence inspired awe and reverence among mortals and immortals alike.
Solar Drakes were sculpted to embody the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, reflecting the celestial rhythms of the sun. Their connection to the Unknown, one of the elemental Worldstones, made them pivotal in maintaining the harmony of the cosmos by channeling the boundless energy of the Riftways into the Prime Plane.
Species of Solar Drake
Solar Drakes manifest in forms as varied and magnificent as the flames they wield:
- Greater Phoenix Dragon - Radiant and majestic, these Solar Drakes are the guardians of the Sunstone and masters of Sun-Rifting. Their golden scales burn with an inner light, and their flames carry divine energy capable of purging even the most resilient of foes.
- Ignis Inferno Dragon - Embodying the destructive aspect of fire, these Solar Drakes wield flames that devastate the land, leaving scorched earth in their wake. They are the vanguards of divine wrath, their crimson forms a harbinger of the gods' judgment.
Archon of The Sun
The Solar Drakes were sculpted in the image of Ember, the radiant phoenix Archon who serves as the primordial guardian of the Sunstone and the elemental essence of fire. Ember’s influence permeates every Solar Drake, gifting them with their fiery power, their cyclical rebirth, and their undying loyalty to the balance of the cosmos.
Legacy and Mythology
The Solar Drakes were instrumental in the war against the Elementari, their flames serving as a purifying force capable of annihilating the Khaos wrought by the titans. Their brilliance illuminated the battlefield, rallying the forces of Primus and striking terror into their enemies. It is said that the Solar Drakes' fiery breath turned entire armies to ash and reduced mountains to molten slag.
Despite their divine origins and benevolence, the Solar Drakes were betrayed during the Third Age by the very civilization they helped create. The Solir, sculpted by the Solar Drakes to preserve their radiant legacy, succumbed to the beguiling influence of Malekith and their own boundless ambition. During the Riftfire Rebellion, the Solir turned the Rift Magic they had been taught into a weapon of destruction, slaying and cursing their draconic progenitors.
To counter the Solar Drakes’ unique ability to be reborn from their ashes, the Solir crafted powerful Rift Magic hexes, cursing the drakes into lesser forms such as the Red Dragon, savage and base creatures stripped of their divine nature.
Those Solar Drakes who survived the rebellion retreated to the highest peaks, remote volcanoes, and hidden celestial sanctuaries. Their once-vibrant numbers dwindled, leaving behind only a few of these radiant beings to safeguard the balance of energy in the cosmos.
Though rare, sightings of Solar Drakes continue to inspire wonder and fear. Reports of intense heatwaves, volcanic eruptions, and sudden bursts of light often signal their presence. These encounters are seen as omens of great change or divine intervention, and scholars, adventurers, and zealots alike seek these mythical beings to uncover the secrets of their divine fire.
In the darkest moments, the light of the Solar Drakes endures—a radiant testament to the enduring brilliance and wrath of divine fire.