Dragon
Kobolds are one of the eight known sentient races that inhabit Aedes. Dwelling in isolated places of great natural power, tribes of kobolds will pass generations of drudgery awaiting the birth of a unique kobold. Such unique kobolds grow to massive size and power, gathering dozens of kobold clans under their dominion as chief, or dragon.
This page is relatively sparse, containing primarily dragon-specific information. Information on commonalities between dragons and regular kobolds can be found in more detail on the kobolds page.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The physical form of a dragon can vary wildly from one dragon to the next. They may be bipedal, have as many as six legs, or no legs at all. Nearly all dragons are born with wings, hence the literal translation of "dragon" from the kobold tongue: "winged savior."
Genetics and Reproduction
Dragons are incapable of reproduction with other kobolds, and even on the rare occasion that two dragons of opposite sexes have met, no offspring has ever been recorded. Female dragons have been known to lay eggs from time to time; such prismatic treasures are considered extremely rare artifacts, but none have ever hatched.
Growth Rate & Stages
The early lifecycle of a dragon is similar to that of an ordinary kobold, but they quickly become taller and stronger—while other kobolds reach maturity at 6, a dragon will stand head and shoulders above them (5.5 to 6 feet) and still be considered small. Dragons never stop growing over the course of their lives, and (depending on the dragon) can stand dozens of feet tall, 3-4 times as long, with wings as wide as they are long. Their weight is measured on a scale of tons.
Dragon scales grow gradually alongside the dragon, and even as the the dragon becomes quite large, it does not molt; damaged or lost scales are replaced over the course of a month or two.
This unchecked growth makes them all the more terrifying later in life, but comes with its downsides. Dragons begin to hibernate once they attain roughly a century of age, and spend an increasing amount of time in hibernation as they continue to age; this process is referred to as nesting. Additionally, later in life, scales cease to grow, and lost scales will not be replaced. When combined with the ordinary weaknesses of age (slower reflexes, frailer bones), the dragon can find itself much more vulnerable than it was in its prime despite its massive size.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Dragons require more and more food as they grow, a requirement that is somewhat checked by them becoming more and more sedentary. Large dragons require at least two cows per week depending on how active they are, a meal that will likely be consumed in one large sitting rather than paced throughout the week.
Civilization and Culture
Common Etiquette Rules
All dragons are erratic, but never in the same way twice. Some are prone to strange quirks or harmless tics, while others are driven to obsession; some are uncommonly wise, while others uncommonly cruel. They are, in many ways, larger than life.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Dragons are a great deal more magically potent than their kin, and capable of magic well beyond what the average human or Therian can accomplish on their own. Kobold tribes pass down knowledge of rituals that no kobold could ever perform in the hopes of one day empowering a fledgling dragon by teaching them those rituals.
A dragon with several tribes of kobolds behind them can bring to bear a great deal of magical power. The kobolds, en masse, will perform rituals to bolster or enhance the dragon, and the dragon can combine that power and their own power to devastating effect.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
150 years
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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