#roag

Shifting the frequency of your aura can only be done once, so it’s socially expected to be a life-time bonding. Pairing is the umbrella term for the process, and it also refers specifically to two animals bonding. It can be between two dragons, two ven, or a ven and a dragon. Three (and rarely four) animals can pair, and would be referred to as a grouping. Siblings can pair, ven and dragons can pair with a pet, and it’s even been noted that some unintelligent animals will pair with a mate. Some species are incapable of pairing, and some species of dragons see themselves above it, or as unnecessary (morae and chorrel specifically).

Taking on a third person is done often enough that most people don’t have a problem with it. Taking on a fourth is not unheard of, but isn’t as widely accepted. Groups of five will usually be rejected by society and left to live on their own. Each dragon species has their own set of social rules regarding pairing, and it’s usually based on how long the species as a whole has been a part of bonded society.

Pairing cannot be kept a secret. People can notice the shift in an aura when it is synchronized with another. People can also sense the same aura in the other(s) of the pairing.

The pairing process can take point at any age, but takes a few weeks and a lot of meditation to pull off. You have to have a good understanding of who you are, and of who you’re going to pair with. The more people you have in your pairing, the more difficult it is for someone to join, as they need a good understanding of who all the participants are.

A dragon of a species that has entered bonded society, yet has not paired is called a ‘Sin’. An unbonded ven is called a ‘Sin-set’. Unbonded dragons live a different amount of time per species, ven live for roughly 230 years, and paired ven and dragons can live to 600. If a paired ven dies immaturely the dragon will revert to an almost feral state, and is referred to as a ‘tens’. If a paired dragon dies immaturely it’s ven will lose the ability/desire to communicate, and is referred to as a ‘tens-set’. These states can be temporary, but are often permanent. Neither tend to live more than a few years afterwards.

Re-pairing is possible, but it is not considered healthy or acceptable. Re-pair’s will still be referred to as a tens/tens-set, and will be socially outcast.