Crusader
Crusaders personally do direct battle against their enemy of choice, whether that means Mages, monsters, or just evil types that upset them in general. Or possibly all of the above, were they so inclined. These are the knights in armor that kick the doors to the building open, slaughter the demons, and let the prisoners go free. Technically one could try to be a nonviolent Crusader, but it wouldn't be an easy or fun thing to do, and I say good luck to any rare individual that might try it. And of course they don't have to be angry, blunt, tactless fighters; the dragon that travels around keeping beasts from eating travelers and routs the occasional small mage group is just as noble as the roaring titan championing great causes while wearing platinum plate armor.
Hunter
Ex: Mage Hunter
Similar to Crusaders in that they combat evil firsthand but vastly more specified, Hunters choose a single type of enemy and dedicate themselves to learning how to best wipe out the threat. Most often Hunters target evil beings- demons, dark mages or the like- but occassionally they take up a less specific cause like rooting out corruption or dishonesty. Either way, these dragons are experts at hunting down and taking out whatever specific shade of darkness they choose. Because their dangerous cause often leads them deep into enemy territory against strange foes, most Hunters sport a variety of scars.
(what world doesn't depend on a few Hunters of /some/thing?)
Protector
A dragon who, for some personal reason has chosen to devote their lives to looking after a particular area, people, town, or something similar. This could mean that the Protector settles down in one place to watch one town, or that they travel constantly looking for Sira that need standing up for. Obvious threats such as mages and monsters are just the beginning of the many duties a Protector would have; other duties could include:
- Helping deal with serious conflicts such as fights or wars between creatures if the Protected item is a race or a town, or even protecting a Chosen place from the ravages of any kind of war that would damage it
- Preventing damage or loss of life due to weather or natural disasters. (lets all pause to picture a noble looking, devoted Suva sheltering a group of lost Sira under its wings in a giant rainstorm. ...aww.)
- Seeking help in the case of serious illness or injury. (now lets all pause to picture a worried looking Suva taking an injured Sira on an emergency flight to a place of healing or, even cuter somehow, a big wise old Suva fretting tenderly over a diseased tree in Their forest, giving it some kind of treatment that they had to fly halfway across the continent to find. ...awww.)
- /Preventing/ such things from happening, which could include taking measures to get news about the surrounding area.
- And I'm sure there are many, many more things.
Guardian
Ex: Guardian of Innocence
This may seem very similar to the Protectors, but these watch over intangible concepts rather than people or places. A Guardian of Fairness, for example, might take up residence in a large town to make sure that business and personal practices are conducted justly. People might come to them to complain about theft, cheating, or crime. A Guardian of something like Innocence might make sure that children are well taken care of, not being mistreated or wandering naively into danger. Other interesting concepts could be wisdom, peace, individuality, freedom, comfort, etc...
(mental image time again. picture a stern but gentle looking Suva stopping a little Sira child from playing with a pretty flowery plant that has thorns on it.)
Guide
Guides would take up the cause of the wandering traveler. They might keep watch over roads to make sure those on them aren't attacked by anything or anyone, or they might be guides for hire through rough wilderness that they know well. Often, these suva have adornments of their class, such as some sort of compass, or map tattoos. In Lliyani, Guides might be on call to find and rescue the lost, in which case one would probably want to be good friends with either a Mage Hunter, a Crusader, or a relevant Protector, since the lost cross paths with mages often enough. Elsewhere, they would be sure to keep in touch with the equivalent inhabitants of their realm away from home.
Conscience
Aka: Family Patrons
These Suva have attached themselves to a particular family, probably because of some powerful emotional attachment or vow to a past member. A suva who outlives their companion, or even bondmate, will often become one of these. Consciences watch over their chosen family and do whatever they can to help, whether that means acting as councilors, babysitters, transit, protectors, or just a helping hand. They remember the wisdom of past family members and retell of it to the young, making sure the family and it's name stays strong and honorable, and watching over heirlooms to keep them safe for future generations.
An interesting note: if one of these has a child they could raise it to carry on the job. Watching over a family could run in the family. It would make for a very interesting, very long and well preserved generational history, and probably an amazing bond between the two families.
Councilor
Often friends of Lorekeepers, if not retired 'Keepers themselves, Councilors have gained deep wisdom from their time and travels. A Suva doesn't choose to be a Councilor; they rather happen to become one over time. People realize that they can always count on the individual to have time to share a kind, helpful word that somehow gently presents an idea that you never thought of before and sends you home thinking. The older Councilors who've gathered a reputation probably take up residence somewhere stable so that they can be sought for advice. Whether this is an easily found, plush tea room right outside town or a high mountain cavern that makes one earn their consultation is up to the personality of the dragon in question. Either way their thoughts are worth seeking out and have a way of calming the anxious, bringing peace to the grieving, and quieting the curious. All visitors leave satisfied and thoughtful. Some are never quite the same.
(If you ever need a wizened old cryptic advisor, you've got your group.)
Lorekeeper
These dragons take advantage of their long lifespans and sharp minds for the good of those that will come after, writing down anything of possible import that they see, do, or hear, keeping it safe and available for study. How many troubles would already be defeated, they reason, if only the solutions to them weren't lost to time and circumstance? Lorekeepers spend half their time holed up wherever they choose, whether that means a peaceful groove, a cavern, or a plush library, recording their information, double checking it, editing it, researching it, and backing it up more than once to store away somewhere safe. The other half they spend traveling for field research and consultation with others of their persuasion.
Healer
Healers would be interested in taking care of the injured and sick, either with herbal and medicinal remedies or with some kind of healing art. Suva may develop limited healing magics, though this is very rare and they’d have to spend a great deal of time honing their skills lest they mistakenly cause more harm than good. (Basically, let me know if your suva wants to try and learn magic; there will likely be a lot of effort involved on your part.) Healers could range from traveling medics to the wise shaman that lives alone in a secluded cavern, practicing healing arts and making every kind of remedy to store up for anyone who manages to come to them for help.
Sentinel
These dragons would be wise in the signs that something dangerous is going to happen, traveling from place to place as needed to minimize injury or loss of life. They often arrive just in time, though occasionally before or after the event takes place, and ferry inhabitants to a safe haven, or support the community during the crises. Sentinels are a serious minority, probably only a handful in the world, since at any given time there are only a few major natural disasters or attacks of serious weather going on in the world.
(mental image session: a Suva with a home in some high hills with a good view, all manner of gismos, either technical or natural looking, monitoring the sky and tremors in the ground, sniffing at the wind, enlisting the help of others far and wide to send him news by N'C of distant weather patterns that he charts out and calendars. And then when something does happen, the thought of the same Suva flying people out of earthquake zones and the paths of flash floods. Or saving people from rock and mudslides, all chaos and lightning and rain. Mmm.)
Guerdon
You know, life isn't fair. Good guys finish last and cheats take all the glory. The Guerdons are sick and tired of it. Stealthy, nimble, and often pranksters at heart, Guerdons are best described as 'backwards theives'. They delight in seeing the senselessly shocked look on a person's face when they find a gift hidden in their bag and have no idea how it got there. Secretely rewarding people who've tried to be annonymous in commiting a random act of kindness is a favorite hobby of theirs. It's stealthy, guerrilla tactics against unappreciation... and it's fun too.
These are a quiet and secretive lot by necessity, often pretending to be a member of some other Calling or a member of no Calling at all to keep people from watching them too closely for them to get anything done. Even if anyone somehow found out that they exist they wouldn’t be able to find one, because they'll never admit to what they do. Rumors have it that they have some kind of signal to recognize eachother by, since the last thing they want is for everyone to know what they are.
Joybringer
Those who follow this cause, probably cheerful and light spirited creatures, devote their time to being a bright spot in as many lives as possible. The physical battle against darkness and evil is one thing, but it easily overshadows the battles of internal, emotional wars. Few things have greater power to affect a hard life than having something wonderful to look forward to, so many Joybringers make a travel schedule for themselves and keep it up reliably. Nothing in the world makes these feel more fulfilled than to see a town full of Sira sitting outside waiting for their arrival, only to see the crowd's eyes light up when they see their entertainment coming. Others travel or don't on whim, visiting and entertaining wherever and whenever they want. Imagine a lot of heart lifting, happy music, bright colors, toys, bubbles, and dancing. They would gladly make fools of themselves if it would lift another’s spirit, and indeed, they make a practice of it.
(Random unnecessary example that I can't get out of my head: this is what Gandalf was doing when he brought all the uber fireworks to the Shire. Mmmm. Shiny.)
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