What Is Threshing Day?
In the fantasy universe of the Empyrean series, Threshing Day represents the crucible of cadet life. After enduring the brutal Parapet, lethal sparring rings, and tactical exams at Basgiath War College, surviving first-years are granted permission to march into the secluded, volcanic valley where wild, unbonded dragons roost.
Unlike typical military mounts, dragons in this world possess sovereign intelligence, intense pride, and volatile tempers. They cannot be tamed with ropes, whips, or honeyed words. A dragon only bends its back to a rider who exhibits genuine courage, sharp tactical awareness, or an uncompromising will. Those who show fear, insolence, or false bravado are often incinerated on the spot.
The Three Sacred Rules of Threshing
- Never Approach a Juvenile: Approaching Feather-tails or younglings results in immediate annihilation by parental dragons.
- The Dragon Chooses, Not the Rider: You do not select your dragon; you stand your ground and let the dragon inspect your marrow.
- A Bond Is For Life: Once the psychic tether is established, the death of either partner leaves an indelible shock on the survivor.
How Our Threshing Game Brings the Trial to Life
Inspired by the immense popularity of the Threshing trial in dragon lore, our Threshing Game transforms the valley into an interactive text-based simulation. As you progress through 10 high-stakes scenes—from avoiding sulfur geysers to confronting ambushers and looking a colossus in the eye—the game silently tracks eight psychological dimensions:
At the conclusion of the trial, an algorithmic vector-matching engine pairs you with one of 8 distinct dragon archetypes (such as The Shadowhunter or The Pyrewarden), diagnoses your Rider Type, and predicts the Signet power you will manifest in combat.