The Riftfire Rebellion was a cataclysmic event that marked the rise of elven ambition and the fall of their draconic creators during the early Third Age (Age of the Elves). Sparked by both opportunity and betrayal, it was a rebellion driven by the decline of the True Dragon after their numbers were decimated during The Aeonic Struggle, and influenced by the insidious whispers of Malekith, a splintered form of the Valekith.
The rebellion's legacy would shape the fate of the Prime Plane, forever changing the relationship between mortals and their creators.
Seeds of Ambition
For centuries, the elves served the True Dragons with reverence. The Vanir, Solir, and Njordir civilizations flourished under their tutelage, learning the secrets of Rift Magic and mastering the elements that the dragons themselves embodied. However, the Aeonic Struggle, a war between the Unknown and the Elementari, left the dragons weakened and scattered. Few remained to guard the balance they were meant to protect.
Sensing this vulnerability, the elves began to question their place in the divine hierarchy. Why should they, who had mastered the arcane and elemental arts, bow to beings who were now shadows of their former glory? This question festered, spurred further by the manipulations of Malekith, who had woven his influence into the Vanir of Tolria, the sprawling civilization that ruled much of Itelion during this time. Malekith’s whispers promised liberation, power, and godhood, urging the elves to break free from their creators.
What began as murmurs of rebellion among the Vanir soon spread to the Solir and Njordir, creating a united front of elven ambition.
The Riftfire Rebellion
Using the Rift Magic taught to them by their draconic masters, the three civilizations of elf waged war against their creators. The rebellion was marked by unparalleled savagery and arcane innovation, as the elves turned the very forces of creation against the beings who had gifted them with it.
Aegis of the Aether Drakes
- The Vanir, with their mastery of Rift Magic, targeted the Aether Drake, who had sculpted their civilization. The Vanir's betrayal was precise and methodical, utilizing arcane storms and planar ruptures to tear apart the shimmering beings of air and magic. Those Aether Drakes who survived were cursed into lesser creatures that haunt the skies to this day, such as the Mist Drake.
Sundering of the Solar Drakes
- The Solir, wielders of light and fire, turned their flames against the radiant Solar Drake. The rebellion of the Solir was the most devastating, for it was here that Malekith’s influence burned brightest. Using their mastery of fire, they extinguished the brilliance of the Solar Drakes, transforming them into Red Dragon, creatures of rage and destruction.
Tally of the Terran Drakes
- The Njordir, shaped by the steadfast Terran Drake, unleashed the power of the earth itself to sunder their masters. The Njordir’s cunning and might forced many of the Terran Drakes to retreat into the depths of the world, while those who were captured were cursed into Green Dragon, cunning predators of the wilds.
Cursed Consequences
The elven rebellion did not end with mere slaughter. Unable to outright destroy many of the remaining True Dragons, the elves unleashed devastating curses upon their former masters, transforming them into the lesser dragons and beasts seen in the current age. The dragons, once majestic and god-like, were reduced to creatures driven by instinct and rage, severed from their divine purpose.
The rebellion also fractured the unity of the elven civilizations. While the Vanir, Solir, and Njordir led the charge against the dragons, not all elves shared their ambition:
- The Vanir of Aerenal rejected the rebellion entirely, maintaining their eternal vigil over the Etherstone. They provided safe haven for Zirael (aka Goldbrand), one of the last remaining Aether Drakes, during this dark time.
- The Aesir, guided by their unshakable oaths, remained loyal to the Dragon Turtle, aiding them in their desperate struggle against the World Eater Serpent, a Revenant Titan born from the remnants of the shattered Continuum Crystal.
The Aeonic Aftermath
The Riftfire Rebellion was a hollow victory. While the elves succeeded in asserting their dominance, it came at a terrible cost. The dragons, once guardians of balance and harmony, were reduced to savage beasts or driven into eternal slumber. The rebellion left the Prime Plane vulnerable, as the loss of the True Dragons created a void in the cosmic order.
While momentarily united against the True Dragon, the rebellion would also cause a great schism between the elven civilizations, as each vied for dominance over the other. Notably, the Aesir of The Sea Realm and Vanir of Aerenal would wholly isolate themselves from the other elves after seeing the atrocities that they were capable of. The elven civilizations, though triumphant, would face centuries of strife and division as they struggled to govern the forces they had unleashed upon themselves.
Malekith’s influence, though indirect, sowed seeds of chaos that would eventually bloom in the form of the Second Continuum Crisis, plunging the world into further disarray.
Legacy
The Riftfire Rebellion remains one of the most pivotal events in the history of the Prime Plane. It is a tale of hubris and betrayal, a reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition. The legacy of the rebellion lives on in the fractured remains of the True Dragons, the haunted ruins of the elven civilizations, and the whispers of Malekith, whose shadow still lingers over the world.
"The flames of rebellion burned bright, but they cast long shadows. In seeking to rise above their creators, the elves brought the heavens low." – Orion the Rift-Maester.