Bronze Dragon

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Bronze dragons will mate for life, and courtship is a deliberate and respectful affair. They have even been known to refuse a new mate even after its previous one has died. They will defend their eggs and young to the death, and never leave them without supervision.

Ecology and Habitats

These dragons love the water, but prefer deep water, be it fresh or salt. They use the depths to cool off as well as search for treasures. Their lairs exist in caves that are accessible only from the water, but their lairs are always dry. They do not lay eggs, sleep, or store treasure underwater. This means that a bronze dragon lair is often tiered, where the first tier is the entry underwater or tidal dependent, and a second tier that remains dry above sea level.

Dietary Needs and Habits

A bronze dragon eats aquatic plants mostly, but some varieties of sea life as well. This is especially true of sharks, and they will hunt sharks for days on end.

Behaviour

Bronze dragons enjoy polymorphing into other forms, often elder humanoids or friendly animals, to observe the activities of other creatures, whom they find fascinating. They spend much of their time in these forms, preferring not to draw attention to themselves or disrupt events. They greatly value moral order and altruism, and frequently aid those in need. However, they rarely reveal their true dragon form to those they assist. Those who exhibit good conduct or receive aid earn respect and possibly even a reward of some kind. While bronze dragons do not share brass dragons' desire for conversation, they outdo them in terms of intermingling. Bronze dragons frequently congregate, play, and fight together with other bronze dragons and humanoids. They do not lack in draconic pride, but they believe in the necessity of cooperation. It is not unheard of for a bronze dragon to fight on the side of a humanoid war they believe is just and noble. They will even gather with others to discuss the war and its consequences afterward. However, when not fighting for a cause they believe in, a bronze dragon prefers not to attack outside of self-defense. From the perspective of a bronze dragon, anything they don't intend to eat deserves a chance at life. They would rather strand malcontents on a deserted island where they can rethink their lives than kill them outright.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

A bronze dragon is recognizable by the ribbed and fluted crests sweeping back from its cheeks and eyes. Horns curve out from the end of the crests, smooth and dark, curving inward towards the spine. The largest of these grow from the top of the head. In addition to these horns, there are smaller horns beneath the chin and jaw. Bronze dragons have an almost beak-like snout and a pointed tongue. Additionally, bronze dragons have small frills that frame the head and a tall neck frill that rises above the crests and horns. Their eyes fade into orbs of green as they age.

Lifespan

~3,800 yrs.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The scales of a bronze dragon are smooth and flat, and they have webbed feet and forelimbs. When young, a bronze dragon has scales of yellow tinged with green, which deepens with age into a fine bronze finish. The oldest of bronze dragons have a bluish black tinge at the fringe of their scales.