Dragons

To group all dragons together as one species is not entirely truthful, but it is how they are often viewed...

Basic Information

Anatomy

No two dragons are exactly the same. Depending on bloodline, ancestry, environment, and consumption, a dragon can grow a thousand different ways. Most dragons tend to have serpentine or lizard-like qualities and the majority of them follow a few similar anatomies:

Dragon

The most common anatomy for a dragon is a quadruped with two wings and a tail. The classic dragon is the most commonly depicted, sometimes with more wings or legs but generally the same. These dragons are known to have breath weapons as well as their physical abilities and are often depicted as the wisest and most intelligent kinds of dragons.

Lindworm

Lindworms are dragons with only a single set of legs and a long serpentine body. Legends of these creatures say they could grow to enormous size, some the size of mountains or larger. They are depicted as the more savage and warlike of their draconic brethren while still retaining their intellect. Weather Lindworms can fly is a topic for debate and is believed that those that can have been confused with Lung dragons.

Lung

Lung dragons, or long dragons, are dragons with the long serpentine bodies similar to a lindworm but multiple sets of legs. These dragons are known to fly through their own magic - since they don't have wings - and be some of the most spiritual dragons.

Wurm

As the name suggests, Wurms are similar in anatomy to worms or serpents, not arms, legs or wings. These dragons generally do not fly, instead burrowing through the earth. Most wurms are unintelligent predators with little that ties them back to their greater kin.

Wyvern

Wyverns are dragons with only a set of hind legs and wings that can be used as front legs as well as flight.

Drake

Drakes are usually small compared to most dragons, only reaching the size of a large horse in most cases. They lack wings and usually lack breath weapons. They are often the more animalistic dragons.

Amphiptere

Legless, winged dragons, Amphiptere are one of the most restricted dragons by anatomy, but also one of the more beautiful when seen. They often have colorful scales and sometimes feathers or fur in bright colors. They are often compared to the celestial serpents, couatl, and may be related to them in some way.

Genetics and Reproduction

Reproduction Process & Gestation Period

A dragon egg is made when one or more dragons give of their own essence to create a new dragon. Dragons can have intercourse in the way many things do in order to reproduce but it is unnecessary for a dragon to do so in order to create another dragon. In fact, intercourse to create a dragon would be seen by most dragons as an extreme waste of time and energy for an already draining task. Neither dragon carries the egg within themselves, nor does the egg need to be kept warm like a chicken's egg. It does need to be kept from harm while it, like its parents before it, absorbs the ambient life energy around it as it forms a body.
It is possible, theoretically, for a dragon egg to manifest naturally through extremely rare circumstances, though most scholars believe these very rarely found, unattended eggs are simply eggs that were created by another dragon but unable to be hatched for any number of reasons.
When it is time for a dragon to hatch, the parents or guardian of the egg perform a ritual in which they invoke the Dragonsong, primal magic from the earliest days of dragon-kind that taps in to the very Song of Creation itself in an attempt to give life to the new dragon. As both creating the dragon egg and hatching the dragon take a great deal of energy, requiring a portion of their own being to create, a dragon or dragons often do so sparingly and with great forethought.
During the Dragonsong War, mortal allies of the dragons would watch a dragon's brood of eggs (or egg) and perform the required rituals to awaken the dragons in their parent's absence. These mortals were known as Dragonsong Lyrists or Dragonsong Acolytes. Dragonsong Lyrists were often bards - as bards have already learned to tap in to the Music of Creation themselves, the Dragonsong was more natural for them - or sorcerers of draconic bloodline but others with the skillset required could attempt to learn it.

Genetics

A dragon will inherit traits from its parent or parents, but there is a good chance that by the time it reaches maturity it could become something entirely different due to what it feeds on.

Reincarnation

Reincarnation of dragons is believed to be possible, however how and why this occurs is strictly assumption. Scholars believe that a dragon's soul ready for reincarnation can inhabit a newly formed egg when its own ideals and soul resonate with that of the parents. It can bring with it some of its own essence giving the new dragon traits not seen in the parents, however they remember only fleeting memories of their past life.

Growth Rate & Stages

How quickly a dragon grows depends on many factors. The most important factor is whether or not it can access a substantial amount of mana to feed on in order to grow. They can gain this energy through several means such as dwelling in close proximity to a ley line or other magical location, consumption of life essence, consumption of magical items, and the coalescence of another soul into it's own. This is most common through lairing in an area uninhabited by other dragons or similarly magically absorbing entities, preferably in a place potent in magic, as dwelling within another's lair will limit the amount of mana available for them. However, in some circumstances the dragon can accelerate this effect by consuming magical materials of various kinds up to and including the souls of another, usually dragons, but when they do this they must be careful as they do not devour a soul as some malevolent creatures do (such as daemons). Instead they coalesce with a soul or source of life energy in the same way they do with ambient life energy they absorb but this process is a far more drastic approach causing change rapidly rather than gradually, giving the possibility of complete change. In addition, as the energy they absorb becomes part of them, it could change their very personality or being significantly. This was said to be done during the Dragonsong War to prevent enemies from resurrecting.

Ecology and Habitats

A place steeped in magic or life energy is the best environment for a dragon of any age. The dragon will absorb the ambient life energy in order to grow. A such, ley lines, magical anomalies, enchanted or magically manipulated areas, and any area of magic are the most common places for dragons to lair.

Dietary Needs and Habits

A dragon has similar dietary needs in order to stay alive as other creatures, however, their dietary needs are lessened when in a place of potent life energy. They are omnivorous, and capable of digesting just about anything.

Additional Information

Domestication

As an intelligent creature, a dragon is a difficult creature to domesticate due to its intellect as well as its strength and size. Though domestication is possible it is more easily compared with servitude and slavery. However dragons have lent their aid and served as close allies to select mortals in the past both groups and individuals. That being said, a dragon that is raised by a mortal will eventually grow too intelligent to act as a pet but the bond made and lessons taught during their formative years sticks with a dragon much as a mortal child remembers the lessons of their parents.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Sparse, hidden, solitary

Average Intelligence

Above Average

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

With age, a dragon's senses naturally sharpen. Dragons naturally gain darkvision and blindsight after birth. These senses increase with age and adaptation to a wide radius of blindsight and an improved darkvision. Some dragons may adapt more niche senses like tremorsense, and those of great age or magical experience have been rumored to acquire advance senses such as ethereal sight and truesight.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

A dragon is named at birth, but that name may be, and in some cases is expected to be, changed as the dragon matures and makes a name for itself through deeds and reputation. In fact, a dragon that has yet to make a name for itself is many times considered "nameless" until they do so. The one exception to this is in the case of a reincarnated dragon. In those cases, few as they may be, the dragon is named after its former self. The parents or guardians do this through the same means as they do when they name any other dragon, communing with the formless dragon until a name is presented. Because of this, some believe that a dragon chooses its own name before it is even born.

Naming schemes are similar to tiefling virtue name as they are named for some quality they have or expectation their parent or parents sense is destined for them.

Examples:

• Måneskinn ("Moonlight")
• Sannineld ("Flame of Righteousness")
• Dödsantag ("Dying Breath")
• Glanståldrömmr / Ljuståldrömmr  ("Dreaming Lord of Shining Steel")
• Begåvad ("Gifted")
• Donnar ("to drift")

Due to the structure behind draconic names it is common for older dragons to have longer names and young dragons to have short ones.

Gender Ideals

A dragon is not born with a gender. They instead choose one, if desired.

Origin/Ancestry

Divine

Lifespan

2,000 years. Up to 4,400 years

Average Physique

Strong, large, and durable