Editing Draken History (section)

=== Skyholder Clan ===

The Skyholder Clan are shepherds, scholars, and caretakers of dragons, living in harmony with the great beasts they revere. Unlike their Bone Clan rivals, they see dragons not as prey, but as sacred beings, believing that through protection and devotion, they will one day earn Kre'har's favour. Their ultimate aspiration is to be granted the gift of wings, allowing them to ascend beyond the limits of the earth and soar among the heavens alongside the creatures they so faithfully serve.

The Skyholder Clan is a diverse society, made up of both Wyrmlings and Drakelings, each fulfilling distinct roles within their monastic order. The Wyrmlings, being the more adaptable and scholarly, take on roles as scribes, elemental mages, and seekers of wisdom, dedicating their lives to study and enlightenment. Meanwhile, the Drakelings serve as guardians of sacred sites, protecting the monasteries, ancient libraries, and dragon sanctuaries from any who would seek to defile them.

Though they are not as war-driven as their desert-dwelling kin, the Skyholder Drakelings are still formidable warriors, trained to defend their sacred places with unwavering ferocity and faith.

To the Skyholders, every dragon is a living manifestation of divine wisdom, and their sacred duty is to protect, nurture, and learn from them. They believe that only through understanding and reverence will they achieve true enlightenment, their souls one day lifted into the skies by the blessing of Kre'har.

==== Culture and Traditions ====

Life in the Skyholder Clan is built upon a foundation of study, discipline, and devotion, where knowledge is considered the highest pursuit. Their stone monasteries, carved into the rugged mountainsides, serve as centres of learning and magic, where scholars delve into ancient texts and mages refine their elemental abilities. Unlike the war-driven Bone Clan, the Skyholders dedicate themselves to understanding the natural world, the heavens, and the wisdom of dragons, believing that through knowledge and patience, they will achieve true enlightenment.

To mark their progress in mastery, the Skyholders follow a tradition of jewellery and horn adornments, a visible representation of years spent in study. Copper is worn by initiates, denoting one year of learning, while silver is granted after five years, signifying an individual's status as an experienced scholar or warrior. The most respected among them bear gold, a mark of those who have dedicated a decade or more to their discipline, proving their unwavering commitment to wisdom and skill.

These adornments are not merely decorative but symbols of achievement, displaying one's place within the hierarchy of the Skyholder Clan and their lifelong pursuit of enlightenment.

==== Faith and Religion ====

The Skyholder Clan worships the same god as the Bone Clan, but they interpret his will very differently. To them, Kre'har the Benevolent is not a god of domination, but ascension. They believe that dragons are sacred, the closest beings to divinity, and that through protecting and studying them, they may one day be granted wings and rise beyond the earth.

Within their society, they are tasked as guardians of deceased dragon remains and abandoned eggs. They ensure that no dragon is forgotten, keeping their bones hidden from scavengers and their eggs safe from harm. Their belief holds that by taking on this protective role, the Skyholders will one day be elevated beyond their mortal forms, bridging the gap between Draken and dragonkind, earning the gift of flight as their ultimate reward.

Their faith stems from two interpretations of an ancient record of the First Dragon, though the full meaning of this text is a subject of great debate among their scholars. Some believe that dragons were once gods themselves, and that their fall from divinity mirrors the Draken's own journey. Others believe that dragons are messengers of Kre'har, and that only through devotion and understanding will the Skyholder Clan be granted their place among them.

==== Vume Ur Kre'har – The Voice of Kre'har ====

The Vume Ur Kre'har, or Voice of Kre'har, is the highest honour within the Skyholder Clan, bestowed upon the wisest and most devoted Draken. This revered title is reserved for those who have proven themselves in both knowledge and faith, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the teachings of Kre'har and the sacred duty of protecting dragons.

Chosen through divine signs, prophecy, and the consensus of the eldest scholars, the Vume Ur Kre'har serves as the spiritual and philosophical guide of the Skyholders. They are entrusted with interpreting Kre'har's will, safeguarding ancient wisdom, and acting as the bridge between the Draken and the dragons they revere. Their words carry the weight of the heavens, influencing decisions on diplomacy, sacred rites, and the future of their people.

To bear this title is to embody the Skyholder's highest ideals, becoming both the guardian of the past and the beacon of the future. The Vume Ur Kre'har is more than just a leader, they are a living testament to the belief that wisdom and devotion will one day grant the Draken their rightful place among the skies.