Xaden Riorson

He is a very sexy young man with dark hair, slightly tanned skin, and onyx eyes flecked with honey. He has a scar that splits his left eyebrow in two and runs down to his cheekbone. He has broad shoulders and well-defined, not exaggerated, muscles.

He has marks all over his left arm, passing over his shoulder, hand, and neck, and he has a dragon that covers his entire back.

It measures approximately 1.93 meters

Their MBTI is INTJ with an enneagram 8w9:

Introvert (I): Processes everything internally; is solitary and only opens up to a tiny circle.
Intuitive (N): Always looks at the big picture. Their focus is on the future and long-term plans (the revolution).
Thinking (T): Prioritizes logic and efficiency over emotions (at least initially). It is pragmatic and direct.
Judgment (J): Needs order and control. Doesn't like improvisation; prefers to have contingency plans for everything.
Xaden fits perfectly into the Type 8, but with a Type 9 wing that softens it:
Type 8: This represents the desire for protection and the fear of being controlled by others. Type 8s are strong, assertive, and protective of the vulnerable. Xaden rebels against Navarre's authority to maintain his autonomy and that of his people.
Wing 9 (The Peacemaker): Unlike an 8w7 (who is more explosive and aggressive), the 8w9 is calmer, more reserved, and prefers peace in their inner circle. Xaden doesn't seek unnecessary fights; they are a "silent force."

Other typologies would be
Alignment: Lawful Neutral / True Neutral. Follows their own code of laws above the laws of the kingdom.
Temperament: Choleric-Melancholic. A blend of dominant leadership with a serious and reflective emotional depth.

Xaden Riorson is the perfect example of a character with an icy exterior and a fiery heart. His personality is defined by control, extreme responsibility, and unwavering loyalty to his own.

Titles and Rank: He is the fifteenth Duke of Tyrrendor and wing leader at the Basgiath War College.
Bond with Dragons: He is bonded to Sgaeyl, a powerful dragon of the blue Daggertail species, known for her relentless nature.
Abilities: He possesses the gift (or signet) of manipulating shadows, allowing him to hide, attack, and move with a terrifying tactical advantage.
Background: He is the son of Fen Riorson, the leader of the failed rebellion against the kingdom of Navarre. As punishment, Xaden bears the marks of rebellion on his body and is responsible for protecting the other "children of traitors."

Despite his father being executed for treason, Xaden technically retained the title of Duke of Tyrrendor, but under extremely humiliating and dangerous conditions imposed by the King of Navarre.

1. The Title of "Duke" on Paper
   The King of Navarre did not strip him of his title in order to maintain the appearance of stability in the province of Tyrrendor, but Xaden has no real power.
   He is a duke "under surveillance." He cannot govern his province or make decisions about his lands while he is on military service in Basgiath.
   His inheritance is blocked and his movements are constantly monitored by Navarre's leadership.
2. The Brand Pact (The Scars)
   The most important thing Xaden did after his father's death was to save the other 106 children of the rebels.
   Navarre wanted to execute all the children who witnessed the death of their parents in order to "cut off the lineage of betrayal."
   Xaden negotiated with General Melgren and General Sorrengail: he accepted full responsibility for the conduct of all those children.
   For each of them, Xaden received a mark of rebellion (a magical scar on his body). He has 107 marks in total, meaning that if one of them betrays Navarre, Xaden is the one who pays the price.

3. Forced Recruitment
   Instead of living like a nobleman in his castle (Aretia), he was forced to enter the Basgiath War College as a dragon rider.
   This was basically a death sentence, as the dragons were expected to burn the "sons of traitors" because of the smell of rebellion emanating from their markings.
   Xaden not only survived, but became the most powerful rider of his generation, earning respect through strength rather than title.
4. Secret Leader
   While at school he pretended to be an obedient (albeit arrogant) cadet, Xaden secretly became the leader of the resistance. He used his resources as "Duke" and his connections in Tyrrendor to smuggle weapons and protect the civilians Navarre had abandoned to their fate against the venin.
   In short: he is a Duke by name, a soldier by obligation, and a rebel by choice.

Xaden's parents, Fen and Talia Riorson, had very different destinies that profoundly marked their son's personality and past.
Fen Riorson (The Father)
Fen was the leader of the Tirria Rebellion against the kingdom of Navarre.

The Rebellion: He started the uprising because he disagreed with Navarre hiding the existence of the Venin and letting innocent people die outside his borders.
His Execution: After losing the war, he was executed by Codagh's dragon fire (General Melgren's dragon) in front of Xaden, who was only 16 years old at the time.
His Legacy: Before he died, he made sure that Xaden and the other children of the rebels were "protected" by magical relics, although this also branded them as traitors in the eyes of the kingdom.

Talia Riorson (The Mother)
Unlike Fen, Xaden's mother is a figure of abandonment and coldness in his life.

The Contract: Her marriage to Fen was one of political convenience. The marriage contract stipulated that her only obligation was to remain until her heir turned 10.
Her Departure: As soon as Xaden turned 10, she left Tyrrendor and her family. She currently lives in a place called Hedotis with a new family, and never attempted to contact Xaden after leaving.
Impact: Xaden rarely speaks of her, and this neglect is the root of his great difficulty in fully trusting others.

While Xaden's father is remembered as either a hero or a traitor (depending on who you ask), his mother is simply the woman who chose to leave him behind to start a new life.

It is vital not to confuse them:
Dragons: They have 4 legs, are natural beings, wise and linked to the magic of the sky.
Wyverns: They have only two legs, are artificial creations of the Venin, and are powered by dark magic. They are the mortal enemies of dragons.

Dragons are not pets or wild beasts; they are superior, proud, and highly intelligent beings who dictate the rules of the game. If a dragon decides you are unworthy, it will burn you before you can say a word.
Here's how they work:

1. The Bond
   Dragons do not "serve" humans. They choose to bond with a rider during "Thresh" to channel their magic through them and thus protect the valley.
   Magic: The dragon grants the rider a signet, a unique magical power (such as shooting lightning or reading minds).
   Mental Connection: Rider and dragon can communicate mentally. They feel each other's emotions, which is dangerous: if the dragon dies, the rider often dies from the shock of the bond. If the rider dies, the dragon survives, but is left emotionally weakened.
2. Types of Dragons
   They are classified mainly by their tail and their color:
   Tails: These are their natural weapons. There are Daggertails, Swordtails, Clubtails, Scorpiontails, among others.
   Colors:
   Blacks: The rarest and most powerful
   Blues: Known for their size and ferocity (like Sgaeyl, the dragon from Xaden).
   Reds, Greens, Oranges and Browns: They vary in temperament, from the most aggressive to the most analytical.
   Golden ones: They are extremely rare and are usually cubs.
3. Hierarchy and Laws
   The Empyrean: It is the governing council of the dragons. They have their own laws and secrets that not even humans know.
   Pride: Dragons despise weakness. If a cadet appears cowardly or physically incapable, the dragons incinerate him to "cleanse" the lineage of the riders.
   Bonds between dragons: Dragons can have mates. If their riders are in different places, the dragons suffer, which forces those riders to stay together as well.

The Venin (also known as "bearers of darkness") are the main antagonists of the Empyrean saga. They are humans who have corrupted their souls by channeling magic directly from the earth instead of through a bond with a dragon or griffin.

Origin and Nature
The Transformation: A human becomes a venin the moment they decide to steal power from the source (the Earth). This act is highly addictive: the more power they absorb, the more they lose their humanity and the more they need to keep draining energy to survive.
Environmental Impact: By channeling, the venin drain the life from everything around them, leaving the land barren and killing vegetation or even other living beings.
The Wyverns: The venin create and control wyverns, dragon-like creatures with two legs, with whom they share a collective consciousness.

Physical Appearance
They are recognized by traits that worsen according to their level of corruption:

Red Eyes: They have reddish rings around the iris that become permanent and more intense over time.
Distended Veins: They have red veins that expand from their eyes towards their temples, resembling spider webs under the skin.
Pale Skin: Their appearance is usually emaciated and cadaverous.

Venin Hierarchy
There are four known ranks based on their seniority and power:

Initiates: The lowest level, people who have just begun to channel from the earth.
Asim: Guardians who already show obvious physical changes but have not yet reached the rank of masters.
Sages: Powerful beings who act as teachers and tactical leaders.
Experts (Mavens): The equivalent of generals; they are extremely rare and lethal.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Abilities: They possess superhuman speed, can manipulate gravity, and are immune to normal dragon fire. How to kill them: They can only be defeated with weapons made from a special rune-infused alloy, or by the raw power of lightning.

It is a brutal institution located in the kingdom of Navarre, designed to train the military elite in various disciplines. It is divided into three main "quadrants":
Dragon Rider Quadrant: Where Xaden is located. It is the most dangerous; students frequently die during training or are incinerated by dragons.

Quadrant of Scribes: They are in charge of history, politics, and data recording.

Healers Quadrant: Dedicated to medicine and magical healing.

The school is built on a mountain and its entrance is the famous Parapet, a narrow and very high bridge that applicants must cross in the rain to prove that they are worthy of entering.