Dragon
Here is a list of the words different languages use for dragon:
ijit /ˈijitʲ/ - Old Zistroyan
vmask /vmʲask/ - Draconic
ächts /ɛçts/ - Dwarvish
mahind /ˈmahind/ - Elvish
plult /plʉːlt/ - Giant
svoiph /svoiph/ - Gnomish
nyanyunish /ɲaɲuˈniʃ/ - Goblin
cind /kiːnd/ - Halfling
speto /ˈspeto/ - Minotaur
rolu /ˈroluː/ - Old Akath
bairmolok /bai̯rˈmolok/ - Old Brecica
mocu /moˈku/ - Old Kemira
faibh /fˠəuvˠ/ - Old Scorlandian
ubi /ˈubi/ - Old Sluyan
bār /pɛ˥ʐ/ - Old Wrodand
sprootroundged /spɹʊˈtɹaʊnʤd/ - Orc
muniw /ˈmuniw/ - Celestial
hodae /ˈhodae/ - Primordial
hodae /ˈhodae/ - Auran
roulae /ˈroulae/ - Terran
aowoir /ˈaoʋoir/ - Ignan
lohau /ˈlohau/ - Aquan
chorlás /ˈxɔɾˠɫɑːsˠ/ - Sylvan
bas /bas/ - Infernal
Basic Information
Anatomy
A dragon has a muscular body, a long and thick neck, and a horned or frilled head with a toothy maw. It also has a sinuous tail and large, bat-like wings that allow it to fly. Its body is covered in heavy scales, from its snout to the tip of its tail. Despite all these features, a dragon's body is almost more feline than reptilian.
The toothy maw of a dragon features powerful jaws, a forked tongue, and sharp teeth. The number and size of teeth vary based on environment, diet, and age. However, they usually include four fangs, two on top and two on bottom, that curve slightly inward and have cutting edges on both the interior and exterior facing sides. These fangs serve as a dragon's primary physical weapons and are used to impale and kill prey. Immediately in front of the fangs in each jaw lie the dragon's incisors, which are oval and have serrated edges at the top. When biting down, these create a semicircle in the flesh of its prey. Behind the fangs in each jaw lie the dragon's pointed molars that help it grip onto prey.
Spines, frills, and other projections that adorn a dragon's body are primarily for show, their majesty more for intimidating prey or rivals than anything else. Its horns, however, are quite real and are keratinous projections growing directly from the skull. Those that point backwards protect the neck and are useful for grooming, while those that project from the sides of the skull protect the head. A dragon's spines are also keratinous, but not as tough as its horns. These spines are embedded into the skin and linked to the skeleton by ligaments. The majority of spines are located on the back and tail of a dragon, and are mobile, having varying degrees of flexibility depending on the type of dragon.
A dragon's legs deviate from the scaly reptilian, as they are positioned essentially directly under its body, a more mammalian trait. Its feet are scaled and leathered akin to a large bird, with three to four clawed toes facing forward in addition to clawed toe set farther back and facing inward toward the dragon's body, similar to a human thumb. The front two feet are capable of grasping objects and are known to contain enough dexterity that a dragon can cast spells and use magic items.
A dragon's hide is similar to a crocodile's in that it is tough, leathery, and thick. However, a dragon has hundreds of hard scales covering its body. These too are keratinous, but are not maneuverable like the dragon's spines. The largest scales are attached to the hide on one edge and overlap their neighbors like shingles on a roof or articulated plates in a suit of armor. As a dragon moves, these scales often shift as the skin and muscle moves and shifts, causing the free end of the scale to raise and lower. These scales will grow throughout a dragon's life, and due to a dragon not truly ceasing growing itself, it is never required to shed them. However, they can be damaged and pieces fall off. A lost scale regrows, but never at the same strength that the original scale was.
The dragon's tail is its rudder, stabilizer, propulsion in water, and a weapon all in one. As such, the tail is among its most important feature to function normally as a dragon. As for the wings, they are a membranous hide stretched over strong, lightweight bones. The use of these wings relies on powerful muscles in the chest of the dragon. Most dragon wings are bat-like, with vestigial claws at the end of a supporting alar limb that juts forward. Most of the area taken up by the wingspan consists of the leathery membrane that stretches over fingers that splay out from the alar limb.
A dragon's skeleton is composed of slightly over 500 bones, primarily in the wings and spine. Despite their low weight, these bones are immensely durable. In cross-section, they resemble a honeycomb, with thick walls made of concentric circles of small chambers, staggered like brickwork. Layers of strong connective tissue and blood vessels run between the layers.
Most of the eyes are buried inside the skull, with only a fraction visible from the outside. The brain is large, even for a creature the size of a dragon, and it continues to grow, much like the rest of the dragon. The neck contains numerous vocal folds that provide a wide range of control over their voices.
The trachea connects the larynx to the lungs, serving as the conduit for respiration and the dragon's deadly breath. The lungs occupy most of the chest cavity and resemble those of avian creatures. They are capable of taking in oxygen on both inhale and exhale.
A dragon's heart has four chambers, similar to that of a mammal. However, a gland located near the heart is naturally attuned to a specific element. All blood flowing through the heart passes through this gland, causing the lungs to produce an excretion that allows the dragon to unleash its deadly breath. This gland also powers the dragon's metabolism, converting food into energy throughout its life. All parts of the dragon are fueled by this elemental energy from the gland, including the gizzard. The gizzard relies on secretions caused by the gland to break down swallowed prey beyond the powerful muscle action and bony plates that break up chunks.
Additionally, the gland can utilize excess heat generated by the body for energy, and store energy to generate heat when needed. This way, a dragon does not need to sweat or otherwise discharge excess heat, self-regulating within the body.
The toothy maw of a dragon features powerful jaws, a forked tongue, and sharp teeth. The number and size of teeth vary based on environment, diet, and age. However, they usually include four fangs, two on top and two on bottom, that curve slightly inward and have cutting edges on both the interior and exterior facing sides. These fangs serve as a dragon's primary physical weapons and are used to impale and kill prey. Immediately in front of the fangs in each jaw lie the dragon's incisors, which are oval and have serrated edges at the top. When biting down, these create a semicircle in the flesh of its prey. Behind the fangs in each jaw lie the dragon's pointed molars that help it grip onto prey.
Spines, frills, and other projections that adorn a dragon's body are primarily for show, their majesty more for intimidating prey or rivals than anything else. Its horns, however, are quite real and are keratinous projections growing directly from the skull. Those that point backwards protect the neck and are useful for grooming, while those that project from the sides of the skull protect the head. A dragon's spines are also keratinous, but not as tough as its horns. These spines are embedded into the skin and linked to the skeleton by ligaments. The majority of spines are located on the back and tail of a dragon, and are mobile, having varying degrees of flexibility depending on the type of dragon.
A dragon's legs deviate from the scaly reptilian, as they are positioned essentially directly under its body, a more mammalian trait. Its feet are scaled and leathered akin to a large bird, with three to four clawed toes facing forward in addition to clawed toe set farther back and facing inward toward the dragon's body, similar to a human thumb. The front two feet are capable of grasping objects and are known to contain enough dexterity that a dragon can cast spells and use magic items.
A dragon's hide is similar to a crocodile's in that it is tough, leathery, and thick. However, a dragon has hundreds of hard scales covering its body. These too are keratinous, but are not maneuverable like the dragon's spines. The largest scales are attached to the hide on one edge and overlap their neighbors like shingles on a roof or articulated plates in a suit of armor. As a dragon moves, these scales often shift as the skin and muscle moves and shifts, causing the free end of the scale to raise and lower. These scales will grow throughout a dragon's life, and due to a dragon not truly ceasing growing itself, it is never required to shed them. However, they can be damaged and pieces fall off. A lost scale regrows, but never at the same strength that the original scale was.
The dragon's tail is its rudder, stabilizer, propulsion in water, and a weapon all in one. As such, the tail is among its most important feature to function normally as a dragon. As for the wings, they are a membranous hide stretched over strong, lightweight bones. The use of these wings relies on powerful muscles in the chest of the dragon. Most dragon wings are bat-like, with vestigial claws at the end of a supporting alar limb that juts forward. Most of the area taken up by the wingspan consists of the leathery membrane that stretches over fingers that splay out from the alar limb.
A dragon's skeleton is composed of slightly over 500 bones, primarily in the wings and spine. Despite their low weight, these bones are immensely durable. In cross-section, they resemble a honeycomb, with thick walls made of concentric circles of small chambers, staggered like brickwork. Layers of strong connective tissue and blood vessels run between the layers.
Most of the eyes are buried inside the skull, with only a fraction visible from the outside. The brain is large, even for a creature the size of a dragon, and it continues to grow, much like the rest of the dragon. The neck contains numerous vocal folds that provide a wide range of control over their voices.
The trachea connects the larynx to the lungs, serving as the conduit for respiration and the dragon's deadly breath. The lungs occupy most of the chest cavity and resemble those of avian creatures. They are capable of taking in oxygen on both inhale and exhale.
A dragon's heart has four chambers, similar to that of a mammal. However, a gland located near the heart is naturally attuned to a specific element. All blood flowing through the heart passes through this gland, causing the lungs to produce an excretion that allows the dragon to unleash its deadly breath. This gland also powers the dragon's metabolism, converting food into energy throughout its life. All parts of the dragon are fueled by this elemental energy from the gland, including the gizzard. The gizzard relies on secretions caused by the gland to break down swallowed prey beyond the powerful muscle action and bony plates that break up chunks.
Additionally, the gland can utilize excess heat generated by the body for energy, and store energy to generate heat when needed. This way, a dragon does not need to sweat or otherwise discharge excess heat, self-regulating within the body.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dragons are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. A female dragon can lay eggs as early as her young adult stage and can remain fertile through her very old stage. Male dragons can fertilize eggs beginning at the young adult stage and can continue to do so through their wyrm stage. The eggs are fertilized before laying while still inside the female's body and are ready for laying a quarter of the way into incubation, which varies greatly from type to type (specifics will be given in the individual "true dragon" article). However, even within the same clutch, the incubation period can vary by as much as 10 days.
Depending on the dragon species, an egg's size varies significantly, but generally, it bears the same coloration and immunities as the dragon that laid it. Its shape is that of an elongated ovoid and has a hard, stony shell. Dragon eggs are laid in small clutches of two to less than half a dozen eggs but only once a year. Ovulation begins at mating, and both mating and egg laying can occur during any season.
Most dragon eggs are laid inside the mother's lair, where they can be protected and tended to by the parents. The nest usually consists of a pit or mound where the eggs are completely buried in loose material. The eggs are tough enough to endure great pressure, such as the mother laying, walking, sleeping, and even fighting atop the mound without breaking them. When a mother has to leave the nest unattended, they take great care to keep their nest hidden from immediate discovery.
When the incubation period is over, the wyrmling dragon must break free from the egg, and they are often assisted by the parents, if possible. If no help is nearby, it can take up to two minutes to break free, and each egg in a clutch hatches at roughly the same time. If properly tended and incubated, a dragon egg has a success rate of nearly 100%, but eggs that have been disturbed, especially removed, are much less likely to produce live wyrmlings.
When a dragon and another creature mate, the offspring can sometimes be half-dragon. This can also happen if a creature is transformed into a half-dragon through the use of magic, such as a spell from a wizard or a ritual bath in dragon's blood. The result is a creature that combines features of both its original species and the dragon, including special senses, resistance to destructive energy, and a breath weapon. Despite their diverse origins, all half-dragons share these common characteristics.
It's important to note that half-dragons are unable to have naturally born offspring. However, those who want to propagate can find other ways to do so, which usually involves the use of magic. As a trade-off, half-dragons have the advantage of long life. Typically, a half-dragon's lifespan is twice as long as that of its non-draconic ancestors. For example, a half-dragon human could expect to live for more than a century and a half, barring any unforeseen events or accidents.
Depending on the dragon species, an egg's size varies significantly, but generally, it bears the same coloration and immunities as the dragon that laid it. Its shape is that of an elongated ovoid and has a hard, stony shell. Dragon eggs are laid in small clutches of two to less than half a dozen eggs but only once a year. Ovulation begins at mating, and both mating and egg laying can occur during any season.
Most dragon eggs are laid inside the mother's lair, where they can be protected and tended to by the parents. The nest usually consists of a pit or mound where the eggs are completely buried in loose material. The eggs are tough enough to endure great pressure, such as the mother laying, walking, sleeping, and even fighting atop the mound without breaking them. When a mother has to leave the nest unattended, they take great care to keep their nest hidden from immediate discovery.
When the incubation period is over, the wyrmling dragon must break free from the egg, and they are often assisted by the parents, if possible. If no help is nearby, it can take up to two minutes to break free, and each egg in a clutch hatches at roughly the same time. If properly tended and incubated, a dragon egg has a success rate of nearly 100%, but eggs that have been disturbed, especially removed, are much less likely to produce live wyrmlings.
When a dragon and another creature mate, the offspring can sometimes be half-dragon. This can also happen if a creature is transformed into a half-dragon through the use of magic, such as a spell from a wizard or a ritual bath in dragon's blood. The result is a creature that combines features of both its original species and the dragon, including special senses, resistance to destructive energy, and a breath weapon. Despite their diverse origins, all half-dragons share these common characteristics.
It's important to note that half-dragons are unable to have naturally born offspring. However, those who want to propagate can find other ways to do so, which usually involves the use of magic. As a trade-off, half-dragons have the advantage of long life. Typically, a half-dragon's lifespan is twice as long as that of its non-draconic ancestors. For example, a half-dragon human could expect to live for more than a century and a half, barring any unforeseen events or accidents.
Growth Rate & Stages
Assuming they don't die early, dragons can live for millennia, especially if they are well-fed and in good physical condition. A dragon's life consists of twelve stages, starting with the egg and progressing through various stages of physical, mental, and behavioral development. Here are the twelve stages:
1. Wyrmling - From hatching to five years old, a wyrmling emerges from the egg fully formed and ready to face life. It hatches at a size about twice that of the egg it came from, which varies based on the type of dragon. When first emerging it is cramped and sodden, and it takes about an hour before it is ready to fly, fight, and reason. A wyrmling possesses considerable amounts of knowledge it inherits from its parents, but such is buried in the subconscious until necessary. Compared to older dragons, a wyrmling seems awkward, as its head is slightly oversized and wings are proportionally smaller than it will be when it gets older. If a parent is present, a wyrmling will likely see a secure existence for its first decade. Otherwise, a wyrmling is in for a struggle. Primary among a wyrmling's concerns are the ability to secure food, find its own lair, and understand its abilities. Food is also its first quest when emerging from the egg, and the egg itself is often its first meal. Dragon parents will often provide food as well, even live prey, offering the wyrmling both its first lesson and its first meal. Once this first meal is finished, a wyrmling seeks some hidden and defensible cave, nook, or cranny where it can rest, hide, and begin storing treasures. Even those who live with a parent seek out a section of the parent’s lair to call their own. When both its food sources and lair are comfortably in place, a wyrmling can work on honing its innate abilities. Wrestling with nestmates, fighting creatures, and even meditation are all ways that the wyrmling uses to develop its fitness for survival. If a parent is present, they are often active in this development process, and those wyrmlings that do not hatch within the lair of a parent they will often seek out a dragon from whom they can learn how to be a dragon. These mentors require gifts and deference as a price of their mentorship, but even the most vile dragons rarely refuse such a relationship, knowing the importance of ensuring the young survive.
2. Very Young - This stage is considered from ages six to fifteen of a dragon's life. By age six, a dragon has grown enough to double its length, though the head and feet have still grown disproportionately to the rest. Having grown stronger and more robust it has outgrown its lair and needs to find a new one. For most dragons, this is the stage they choose to relocate, parental guide or not. A dragon at this age does not want to have to start competing with their parents or become a local nuisance enough that locals seek to kill them. This stage is marked by an increased confidence in itself.
3. Young - Ages sixteen to twenty-five marks another large growth spurt for a dragon. In this stage, the dragon's intellect sharpens, and most will have mastered their innate abilities. If they have not left their homes yet, the urge to strike out on their own continues to increase, and the pressure is often too much for a dragon to take.
4. Juvenile - From ages twenty-six to fifty, a dragon reaches its adult proportions but has yet to reach adult strength. During this time is also when they develop their magical powers, if the dragon type possesses them.
5. Young Adult - Passing into its half-century, and by the time it reaches a full century, the dragon enters adulthood. This is marked by a readiness to mate, an impressive intellect, and spellcraft. Most dragons would have already left their parents and nestmates behind, but any dragon that has not will find this stage the one to do so.
6. Adult - As a dragon goes into its second century, its body slows growth but doesn't fully stop. It is this stage that a dragon is likely to have a long term mate and share its lair with a mate and offspring. In addition, as an adult, a dragon continues to hone its magic and mental acuity.
7. Mature Adult - The next hundred years are marked by a pride and confidence that comes from being a force to be reckoned with. It is the mature stage that a dragon seeks out schemes for power and greater wealth. This stage is the one where a dragon will find it very difficult to remain unnoticed by the world at large and must start to consider defenses for the lair, even relocating again if a better, more defensible location.
8. Old - From inside the fourth and to the beginning of the sixth century of a dragon's life, a dragon's growth slows even more. This does not include their intellect or magical potential, which can continue to be honed and perfected as if the dragon were young. A sign of this stage is their scales, which often are seen cracking and chipping at the edges, as well as darken and lose luster. Their eyes too seem to fade into featureless orbs, and they demonstrate more caution than they had in earlier stages.
9. Very Old - This stage is considered to start when a dragon passes into the sixth century until the start of the eighth, but is mainly marked only in biological female dragons, who cease being fertile at some point during this time.
10. Ancient - This stage marks a dragon reaching its first millennium, and by this stage, most dragons are teaching the next generation of dragons what they know.
11. Wyrm - Surviving past the first millennium and especially for another century beyond that, marks a great achievement for a dragon. Surviving such a long time means a period of great respect among dragonkind. Some young female dragons will lair nearby a dragon of this stage, hoping to convince the dragon to mate with them and provide their wyrmlings with an excellent mentor.
12. Greatwyrm - Beyond the second century of that first millennium, a dragon reaches this stage, where its mental, magical, and physical powers are at its peak. So in tune with magic, a dragon at this age is capable of reaching through the multiverse to different versions of themselves. Some choose to become the only one, invading other realms to destroy their other selves and claim their hordes for their own. It is suggested that Zindraaldein chased his brother Ausdremwuld into this universe to stop him from attempting this.
The death of a dragon is usually not an observed occurrence, leading some superstitions to believe that they never die naturally. Dragons themselves are happy to allow people to believe this, as it provides them a mysterious air. However, dragons are mortal, and reach a point in their final stage where a dragon knows its time is approaching. When this moment arrives is heavily dependent on the type of dragon. For those dragons that wish to avoid this fate, there are methods to do so, but as they are not naturally parts of any stage or growth of the dragon, they will not be included here. This knowledge is partially known because there are dragon graveyards, great fields where the bones of dragons sit and wait for time to bury them. No flesh remains when a dragon dies, its spirit joining the weave of magic that Taeora spins through the ley lines of the world.
1. Wyrmling - From hatching to five years old, a wyrmling emerges from the egg fully formed and ready to face life. It hatches at a size about twice that of the egg it came from, which varies based on the type of dragon. When first emerging it is cramped and sodden, and it takes about an hour before it is ready to fly, fight, and reason. A wyrmling possesses considerable amounts of knowledge it inherits from its parents, but such is buried in the subconscious until necessary. Compared to older dragons, a wyrmling seems awkward, as its head is slightly oversized and wings are proportionally smaller than it will be when it gets older. If a parent is present, a wyrmling will likely see a secure existence for its first decade. Otherwise, a wyrmling is in for a struggle. Primary among a wyrmling's concerns are the ability to secure food, find its own lair, and understand its abilities. Food is also its first quest when emerging from the egg, and the egg itself is often its first meal. Dragon parents will often provide food as well, even live prey, offering the wyrmling both its first lesson and its first meal. Once this first meal is finished, a wyrmling seeks some hidden and defensible cave, nook, or cranny where it can rest, hide, and begin storing treasures. Even those who live with a parent seek out a section of the parent’s lair to call their own. When both its food sources and lair are comfortably in place, a wyrmling can work on honing its innate abilities. Wrestling with nestmates, fighting creatures, and even meditation are all ways that the wyrmling uses to develop its fitness for survival. If a parent is present, they are often active in this development process, and those wyrmlings that do not hatch within the lair of a parent they will often seek out a dragon from whom they can learn how to be a dragon. These mentors require gifts and deference as a price of their mentorship, but even the most vile dragons rarely refuse such a relationship, knowing the importance of ensuring the young survive.
2. Very Young - This stage is considered from ages six to fifteen of a dragon's life. By age six, a dragon has grown enough to double its length, though the head and feet have still grown disproportionately to the rest. Having grown stronger and more robust it has outgrown its lair and needs to find a new one. For most dragons, this is the stage they choose to relocate, parental guide or not. A dragon at this age does not want to have to start competing with their parents or become a local nuisance enough that locals seek to kill them. This stage is marked by an increased confidence in itself.
3. Young - Ages sixteen to twenty-five marks another large growth spurt for a dragon. In this stage, the dragon's intellect sharpens, and most will have mastered their innate abilities. If they have not left their homes yet, the urge to strike out on their own continues to increase, and the pressure is often too much for a dragon to take.
4. Juvenile - From ages twenty-six to fifty, a dragon reaches its adult proportions but has yet to reach adult strength. During this time is also when they develop their magical powers, if the dragon type possesses them.
5. Young Adult - Passing into its half-century, and by the time it reaches a full century, the dragon enters adulthood. This is marked by a readiness to mate, an impressive intellect, and spellcraft. Most dragons would have already left their parents and nestmates behind, but any dragon that has not will find this stage the one to do so.
6. Adult - As a dragon goes into its second century, its body slows growth but doesn't fully stop. It is this stage that a dragon is likely to have a long term mate and share its lair with a mate and offspring. In addition, as an adult, a dragon continues to hone its magic and mental acuity.
7. Mature Adult - The next hundred years are marked by a pride and confidence that comes from being a force to be reckoned with. It is the mature stage that a dragon seeks out schemes for power and greater wealth. This stage is the one where a dragon will find it very difficult to remain unnoticed by the world at large and must start to consider defenses for the lair, even relocating again if a better, more defensible location.
8. Old - From inside the fourth and to the beginning of the sixth century of a dragon's life, a dragon's growth slows even more. This does not include their intellect or magical potential, which can continue to be honed and perfected as if the dragon were young. A sign of this stage is their scales, which often are seen cracking and chipping at the edges, as well as darken and lose luster. Their eyes too seem to fade into featureless orbs, and they demonstrate more caution than they had in earlier stages.
9. Very Old - This stage is considered to start when a dragon passes into the sixth century until the start of the eighth, but is mainly marked only in biological female dragons, who cease being fertile at some point during this time.
10. Ancient - This stage marks a dragon reaching its first millennium, and by this stage, most dragons are teaching the next generation of dragons what they know.
11. Wyrm - Surviving past the first millennium and especially for another century beyond that, marks a great achievement for a dragon. Surviving such a long time means a period of great respect among dragonkind. Some young female dragons will lair nearby a dragon of this stage, hoping to convince the dragon to mate with them and provide their wyrmlings with an excellent mentor.
12. Greatwyrm - Beyond the second century of that first millennium, a dragon reaches this stage, where its mental, magical, and physical powers are at its peak. So in tune with magic, a dragon at this age is capable of reaching through the multiverse to different versions of themselves. Some choose to become the only one, invading other realms to destroy their other selves and claim their hordes for their own. It is suggested that Zindraaldein chased his brother Ausdremwuld into this universe to stop him from attempting this.
Death of a Dragon
The death of a dragon is usually not an observed occurrence, leading some superstitions to believe that they never die naturally. Dragons themselves are happy to allow people to believe this, as it provides them a mysterious air. However, dragons are mortal, and reach a point in their final stage where a dragon knows its time is approaching. When this moment arrives is heavily dependent on the type of dragon. For those dragons that wish to avoid this fate, there are methods to do so, but as they are not naturally parts of any stage or growth of the dragon, they will not be included here. This knowledge is partially known because there are dragon graveyards, great fields where the bones of dragons sit and wait for time to bury them. No flesh remains when a dragon dies, its spirit joining the weave of magic that Taeora spins through the ley lines of the world.
Dietary Needs and Habits
A dragon's teeth are not designed for chewing, but for tearing. Often, it will create a sawing motion by grasping prey tightly against its incisors and moving its jaw from side to side, allowing the serrated edges of its teeth to shear through flesh and bone. Dragons often shake their prey to death in this manner. The largest dragons have no need to tear or bite, and can swallow their prey whole.
Dragons are carnivores and apex predators. However, like most things in nature, they are omnivorous in practice and will rely on just about anything during lean times. This includes rocks and dirt if the need is strong enough. Dragons that wish to preserve an ecosystem will often supplement their diet with inorganic matter. Their elemental metabolism means that they will always be capable of eating, though they learn to consume only what is necessary to ensure ample energy for their deadly elemental breath and consistent growth.
Dragons are carnivores and apex predators. However, like most things in nature, they are omnivorous in practice and will rely on just about anything during lean times. This includes rocks and dirt if the need is strong enough. Dragons that wish to preserve an ecosystem will often supplement their diet with inorganic matter. Their elemental metabolism means that they will always be capable of eating, though they learn to consume only what is necessary to ensure ample energy for their deadly elemental breath and consistent growth.
Behaviour
Movement Behavior
Flight
Thanks to observed accounts of dragons flying within dead magic zones and antimagic zones, it is known that a dragon's flight does not rely on magic. The elemental gland attached to its heart provides the energy needed to keep flying, and its muscles are incredibly powerful. Its anatomy also makes it lighter than a creature of its size would be if it were strictly terrestrial. The biggest challenge a dragon faces is the initial lift into the air. Preferably, a dragon would leap from a great height, allowing the fall to provide the speed needed for eventual lift. Failing that, a dragon will use both its hind legs and tail to shove itself into the air.
A dragon's speed in flight is deceptive, as it requires few wing beats for an adult dragon to stay aloft. It can often soar for hours with little effort, similar to a seabird. Long-distance flights often involve following updrafts of wind, spiraling to an adequate altitude, and essentially gliding to the next updraft. When in level flight, a dragon tucks its legs up underneath it, using its frills and tail to maintain course.
Wyrmlings are an exception to these rules and often look like fluttering bats when in flight. One weakness of dragon flight is its difficulty with quick and agile maneuvers. A dragon is much better at wide, sweeping turns and uses its tail to change direction. Even when making a violent maneuver by using its tail and neck as a rudder and altering the shape and stroke of its wings at the same time, the radius of the turn is still larger than its own body.
A dragon learns as many tricks as it can for flight, as most prey are smaller and more agile. Additionally, if a dragon beats its wings with enough speed and efficiency, it can hover in one place. This can only be done for a short time, as it consumes a lot of energy from the dragon. The downdraft from this hovering is powerful enough to kick up clouds of dust and even, in some cases, be used as a tertiary weapon by the dragon to knock down enemies and prey.
Walking and Running
Dragons on the ground often move more like cats than lizards and can be relatively graceful. Their wings are loosely furled to their sides, and their tails sway off the ground in time to their gait. If their tails touch the ground, it is only briefly, to one side or the other, to maintain balance for the dragon's body. When running, a dragon can easily outpace a horse, using a galloping gait that employs its front legs, then back legs, to generate incredible forward momentum.
Swimming
All dragons are capable of swimming, but only a few variations are truly aquatic. Most swim in a manner similar to reptiles, folding their wings tightly to their bodies and throwing their legs back. They move their bodies from side to side in a sinuous motion while lashing their tails back and forth for propulsion. Truly aquatic dragons often deploy their wings like large fins, similar to manta rays. Their frills along the back help the dragon stay on course and prevent it from flipping over. While swimming, a dragon uses its head, tail, and feet to steer, unless it is close to the surface. In such cases, the dragon holds its head and neck out of the water to scan the surface while keeping the rest of its body submerged. When tracking prey along the surface, a dragon may expose only the upper half of its head above water, reducing its profile and making it harder to spot, similar to how an alligator behaves. Dragons can hold their breath for long periods, but truly aquatic ones can breathe water as easily as they can breathe air.
Burrowing
All dragons are capable of making holes and digging trenches with their powerful claws, regardless of their type. However, certain types of dragons can move through sand and loose dirt as easily as a human can walk along a street. Burrowing dragons typically have shorter and thicker necks, stubby legs, and wedge-shaped heads. When burrowing, these dragons push with their heads and use their front feet to claw away at the material. The hind legs then push the material further away. The tunnels these dragons form rarely remain intact, as they collapse while burrowing and their hind legs kick the material away behind them.
Fighting Behavior
The greatest weapon a dragon possesses against threats is its breath weapon. Some dragons have multiple types of breath weapons or even breath attacks made of non-elemental types. However, dragons do not have an infinite number of uses of this weapon, as it requires energy stores that must be replenished internally. A strength of the breath weapon is a dragon's ability to discharge it with little to no effort when the energy is available. Dragons seem to know innately when they have enough energy for a breath attack.
In addition to their breath weapon, dragons can terrify prey, instilling fear in anything that threatens them. Most dragons are immune to at least one form of elemental damage, usually the same type as their breath weapon. Thanks to their great constitution, they also resist paralysis, forced sleep, extreme temperatures, and even non-magical weapons very well.
Many dragons can cast spells and, being sapient beings, they choose spells based on personal preference. A unique feature of dragon spellcasting is the lack of component parts compared to humanoid spellcasting. This has led to the belief that dragons are in some way more in tune with magic than humanoids.
Dragons can use almost any part of their body as a weapon, including wings, claws, tail, and body. After the breath weapon, the most formidable weapon is a dragon's bite.
The Draconic Outlook
The most significant difference between dragons and humanoids is time. Even an elf, who can live for centuries, does not come close to the lifespan of a dragon. This has resulted in dragons being known for their lack of haste. For a dragon, there is no such thing as wasting time, and they primarily fill their days with mental exercises. A dragon may appear to be asleep when, in reality, they are deeply immersed in meditative thought over riddles and puzzles. Some scholars believe this is where their strong attunement to magic originates, as their minds are capable of working through magical enigmas much faster and more acutely than a humanoid wizard.
This penchant for mental exercise also means that many dragons collect and hoard knowledge as much as they do treasures, and can be great sources of wisdom and lore. The time they have to learn, adventure, scheme, and gather treasure is what most scholars believe is why dragons tend to be so prideful and arrogant. Dragons observe the rise and fall of civilizations and the passing of dozens of generations. What humanoid can match a dragon's understanding of history with such an immense gap in time?
It should not be assumed, however, that dragons are slow. In danger, a dragon is agile, strong, and deadly. A dragon simply does not consider problems in the same way as humanoids or react to change as quickly. This long-form way of thinking also means that dragons hold onto slights and grudges longer than humanoids do. Sometimes, they hold onto them for longer than recorded history. It is not uncommon for a dragon to decide it is time for revenge long after no one else remembers why.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Dragons are solitary creatures and prefer their own company to that of other creatures, with some exceptions related to mating, rearing young, and meeting some danger that a dragon cannot match alone. Few dragons form lifelong relationships, preferring not to remain attached to others for long periods. When other dragons encroach on what they consider their territory, all dragons feel threatened, but different kinds of dragons react differently to that invasion. A dragon considers everything within a day's flight to be its territory, regardless of whoever or whatever else already lives there. It will only truly share that with its mates and offspring, and even then not always. Dragons often allow small overlaps among dragons with common interests, which act as places where they can meet, share information, or mate. An exception to all this is nestmates, who often stick together until they are each strong and capable enough to survive on their own.
Dragons rarely get into fights over territory, and the younger of the two dragons will often concede to the older, sometimes after a dangerous display of warning towards each other. These displays rarely escalate since neither dragon desires to risk being hurt in a fight, especially if it is clear who would win. When dragons fight, it is usually in a bid to loot their rival's lair and increase the wealth of their own. There are also fights over mating rights, with prospective mates engaging in a skirmish to determine who is most fit to mate. Because survival is important, a mating fight will rarely end in death, with the unsuccessful participant leaving to seek out a different mate.
One factor of draconic behavior that is commonly known is a dragon's desire to hoard treasure. When first observed, it was believed that this was similar to some species of animals that enjoy taking shiny objects and bringing them into their nests. However, this take is offensive to dragons who do not take simply for aesthetic pleasure, but for the value it represents. It is not about how shiny something is, but how valuable it is that attracts a dragon. No dragon has ever explained their innate drive to create a hoard, but there is no dragon that can resist doing so. A dragon seems to know an item's intrinsic value and can even remember its entire hoard's value without any effort on their part. The wealth of a hoard is so important to dragons that they will apply a kind of status to it. Dragons of certain stages in life are expected to have acquired a certain amount of wealth, otherwise, they are considered low status among others in their age group. High status dragons are more attractive mating partners and have more influence over other dragons.
Dragons rarely get into fights over territory, and the younger of the two dragons will often concede to the older, sometimes after a dangerous display of warning towards each other. These displays rarely escalate since neither dragon desires to risk being hurt in a fight, especially if it is clear who would win. When dragons fight, it is usually in a bid to loot their rival's lair and increase the wealth of their own. There are also fights over mating rights, with prospective mates engaging in a skirmish to determine who is most fit to mate. Because survival is important, a mating fight will rarely end in death, with the unsuccessful participant leaving to seek out a different mate.
One factor of draconic behavior that is commonly known is a dragon's desire to hoard treasure. When first observed, it was believed that this was similar to some species of animals that enjoy taking shiny objects and bringing them into their nests. However, this take is offensive to dragons who do not take simply for aesthetic pleasure, but for the value it represents. It is not about how shiny something is, but how valuable it is that attracts a dragon. No dragon has ever explained their innate drive to create a hoard, but there is no dragon that can resist doing so. A dragon seems to know an item's intrinsic value and can even remember its entire hoard's value without any effort on their part. The wealth of a hoard is so important to dragons that they will apply a kind of status to it. Dragons of certain stages in life are expected to have acquired a certain amount of wealth, otherwise, they are considered low status among others in their age group. High status dragons are more attractive mating partners and have more influence over other dragons.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
As with any predatory creature, a dragon possesses acute senses that only increase in clarity as it ages. This is primarily due to the dragon training and honing them over time. An adult dragon is much better at processing information than a wyrmling.
Similar to a cat's eye, a dragon's eye has a large iris and a vertical pupil, allowing it to bring in more light than a human eye. The sclera of a dragon is commonly yellow, gold, green, orange, red, or silver, with a darker iris. The eye contains a second iris and pupil, which the dragon can shift and rotate for extremely accurate depth perception and focusing ability. The ocular structure is protected by a leathery outer eyelid and three smooth inner eyelids, with the innermost being clear and serving to protect the dragon's sight while flying, swimming, fighting, or burrowing with its eyes open. The ears of a dragon are often part of the frills that adorn its neck, with those without frills having small ear holes protected by scales or fringes.
Inside the dragon's eye, there are two lenses, with the outer lens similar in form and function to other creatures. However, the inner lens is a mass of transparent muscle fibers that polarize incoming light, magnifying what the dragon sees and accounting for its superior long-distance vision. The dragon's retinas are packed with receptors for both color and black-and-white vision, and behind the retina lies the tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer that helps the dragon see in dim light. The dragon sees light twice, once when it strikes the retina and again when it is reflected back, causing its eyes to glow.
A dragon's eyes not only have excellent depth perception, but can also bring in detail and motion twice as well as a human, and adapt quickly to changes in light and glare. In dim light, a dragon can see up to four times better than a human, and it is capable of sight even when there is no light. A dragon’s sense of smell is only partly dependent on its nose, and it can use its forked tongue to taste the air, similar to the way a snake does. While the ears of a dragon are about as sensitive as a human's, the dragon's ability to process information is far faster, allowing the dragon to filter and recognize sounds better than a human can. Combining all of these factors, a dragon is capable of perceiving even the invisible. A dragon’s sense of taste is also exceptional, capable of detecting even the most minor variations in water and food. Touch is the one sense that a dragon does not improve upon as it gets older. The rough scales and thick hide make such a sensation poorly acute.
Similar to a cat's eye, a dragon's eye has a large iris and a vertical pupil, allowing it to bring in more light than a human eye. The sclera of a dragon is commonly yellow, gold, green, orange, red, or silver, with a darker iris. The eye contains a second iris and pupil, which the dragon can shift and rotate for extremely accurate depth perception and focusing ability. The ocular structure is protected by a leathery outer eyelid and three smooth inner eyelids, with the innermost being clear and serving to protect the dragon's sight while flying, swimming, fighting, or burrowing with its eyes open. The ears of a dragon are often part of the frills that adorn its neck, with those without frills having small ear holes protected by scales or fringes.
Inside the dragon's eye, there are two lenses, with the outer lens similar in form and function to other creatures. However, the inner lens is a mass of transparent muscle fibers that polarize incoming light, magnifying what the dragon sees and accounting for its superior long-distance vision. The dragon's retinas are packed with receptors for both color and black-and-white vision, and behind the retina lies the tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer that helps the dragon see in dim light. The dragon sees light twice, once when it strikes the retina and again when it is reflected back, causing its eyes to glow.
A dragon's eyes not only have excellent depth perception, but can also bring in detail and motion twice as well as a human, and adapt quickly to changes in light and glare. In dim light, a dragon can see up to four times better than a human, and it is capable of sight even when there is no light. A dragon’s sense of smell is only partly dependent on its nose, and it can use its forked tongue to taste the air, similar to the way a snake does. While the ears of a dragon are about as sensitive as a human's, the dragon's ability to process information is far faster, allowing the dragon to filter and recognize sounds better than a human can. Combining all of these factors, a dragon is capable of perceiving even the invisible. A dragon’s sense of taste is also exceptional, capable of detecting even the most minor variations in water and food. Touch is the one sense that a dragon does not improve upon as it gets older. The rough scales and thick hide make such a sensation poorly acute.
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