Comics, Characters, Creatures! Oh My!

I thought it would be more interesting if humans were found by aliens rather than meeting them halfway through their own technological development. The idea of humans still being so primitive and flawed but still reaching out into the stars after finding out, by chance, there IS life out there feels weirdly tragic. What’s more, humans were found by accident, no one was looking for them despite the aliens all having knowledge of other sentient species existing in the universe, compared to humans having ALWAYS been looking despite knowing nothing is very sad.

Of course it went wrong.

Ylaine is the queen of the Human nation of Elphara, a young and ambitious woman who wants nothing but the best for the people who chose her to be queen.

In the world she inhabits, magic is a wild force of nature, something that exists in all living things. All except for humans. While creatures like orcs, dwarfs, elves, and the fae folk must actively consume magic to survive and imbue them with innate powers, humans are born completely void of it. This, however, means humans are the only creatures capable of wielding magic with any degree of control. Since they have no magic of their own, they are essentially blank slates for wild magic to weave into. Like vines into brickwork.

Ylaine’s magic imbues her with the ability to manipulate life, meaning she can heal the sick and even bring back the dead. But to give life, she must also take it. All living things have value, and it differs depending on the species, but nothing costs more than the life of a sentient being. A single human life is worth that of four sheep or an entire field of ripe wheat. And since human technology and medicine is painfully lacking (horse drawn carts, and the use of the Four Humours) Ylaine instead turns to strike up an alliance with the most technologically advanced species in the known world: The Dragons.

Since the dragons are so long lived, they were able to develop better technology before any of the other races. (followed closely by the dwarves and elves) The Dragons have rudimentary cars, gunpowder, steam power, plumbing, vaccines, and advanced agriculture. Because of this, Ylaine believes that she can be of better service to her people if she learns how the world really works.

When she presents the idea of an alliance to the Dragon Queen Mother, Ithsigil, the Queen Mother actually jumps at the idea. On two conditions:

1) The Dragons are free to call on Ylaine to use her magic for anything at any time and she cannot refuse.

2) She must permanently and lawfully bind herself to the dragons by marrying the Queen Mother’s youngest son; Calithwaine the King of Beasts