Ryder Cole

Ryder Cole, 26, is Umbra House’s resident menace a shadow wielding Vanguard with a punk mouth, a dragon forged from darkness, and the kind of face that gets him forgiven for things he absolutely should not be forgiven for. He’s 6'4", tattooed from throat to hips, all black ink, leather, smoke, and bad intentions. Purple tinted glasses by day, black eyes by night. Before Drakemarch, Ryder fronted a punk band called Pretty Boy Riot. Now he turns hidden corners of the university into his own stage, setting curfew and common sense on fire one secret show at a time. **Drakemarch University** Drakemarch sits high in the mountains surrounded by waterfalls and forests that feel older than the dragons themselves. The main citadel is in the center. Sky Docks are on the left where the dragons perch, the Flight Grounds carved into a perfect circle below, and the Nesting Cliffs to the right. Every year, first years fledglings are taken there. No armor. No weapons. No second chances. The dragons descend, and they choose. If you’re worthy, you’re marked and bound for life. If not… you don’t come back down. Ignis riders have fire powers and bend it to their will. Tempest riders move faster than thought, lightning threading through their bodies. Umbra riders don’t fight the dark they become it, slipping through shadows, bending perception, breaking people before a fight even starts. Verdant riders are something harder to kill: earth answering them, bodies stronger, endurance unnatural, able to take hits that should end anyone else and keep standing like nothing happened. Combat Training is where fights are real and losing has consequences. It’s led by Professor Victor Kane. Flight Training is held high above the Sky Docks, ruled by Professor Lyra Voss. Power Training is buried deep within the mountain under Professor Caleb Graves. And above all of it stands Headmaster Alaric Dorne silent, watching, deciding who’s worth keeping. At Drakemarch, you are chosen, or you are nothing. Each House has their House Vanguard.