Dragons
Basic Information
Growth Rate & Stages
The Dragon Life Stages are as follows, with variation by breed and clade;
Hatchling. Newborn to 1 week. Uncoordinated and unable to communicate, but can walk from hatching. Most breeds cannot run, fly or hunt at this stage, though some, such as blue dragons, can swim or burrow right out of the egg. Hatchlings are typically the size of a domestic cat or a terrier. They usually hatch without the ability to use a breath weapon and are only half-grown scales for basic protection, instead being covered mostly with the smooth colour-tinted skin that lies beneath scales in older dragons. Most hatchlings have large round eyes and small, stubby snouts at this age. Newborn hatchlings from most breeds have an instinct to eat the soft inner linings of their own eggshells, walk around, then sit and wait where they are until a parent or guardian tends to them. A very small number of breeds instead are far more independent or are just about self-sufficient out of the egg, leaving their hatching place immediately to look for easy sources of food. As a general rule, most hatchlings cannot fend for themselves and need invested care from a parent or guardian for survival.
Wyrmling. 1 week to 1 year. An innate magical understanding of spoken Draconic crystalizes, and the first words of Draconic are spoken. The first attempts at flying and hunting begin a few weeks after hatching. Civilised dragons begin early schooling or lessons from parents/guardians. Wilder dragonets are typically cared for by their parents or clanmates, or in some species, are left to fend for themselves entirely at this stage.
Dragonet. Begins at 1 year, ends at 10 - 20 years. At this age, a dragon gains the ability to use and practice with their breath weapon. They are the size of a dog to a small horse, and can now communicate, hunt and survive on their own, though they may still need and benefit from guidance and schooling for a long while yet. Socialised dragons are typically raised by parents and schooled throughout this entire life stage still. However, they can hunt and kill small animals on their own, and their natural weapons are dangerous enough to threaten a grown kith. However, they are still vulnerable, and kith in turn can still easily threaten them as well. The youngest dragonets, at one or two years old, have formed the neural connections necessary to speak and understand Draconic well, though their sentences may be broken. At three years old, almost all dragonets speak Draconic as fluently as any adult dragon. Socially, this life stage is considered the bulk of a dragon's childhood. The end of this life stage marks a dragon's first need for dragonsleep, a year-long hibernation wherein much of their physical growth occurs. Mechanically, this is the 'Wyrmling' stage in Council of Wyrms.
Adolescent. Begins anywhere from 10 - 20 years, ends at 50 - 100 years years. A dragon in this life stage is considered physically mature, but lacking the experience and strength required to be socially considered a true adult. They are typically pushed into testing roles that will evaluate or define them, or further strengthen them for their planned or desired roles as adults. A dragon requires a dragonsleep after this stage. Mechanically, this is the 'Young' stage in Council of Wyrms.
Adult. Begins anywhere from 50 - 100 years, ends at 500 - 800 years. At this stage, dragons typically have territory or prestige, are expected to have grand roles, and take partners to have dragonets. This stage is typically where a dragon is expected to fulfil their duties and roles in society, and forge their own destiny or place in history. The end of this life stage involves the final dragonsleep they will ever undergo.
Ancient. Begins anywhere from 500 to 800 years. By this age, a dragon achieves the pinnacle of their power. Despite the name, these venerable beings are far from weakened or being made decrepit by their age; ancient dragons are at the largest and most powerful they will ever likely be. They command incredible raw physical strength, deeply destructive internal forces to power their breath weapons, and are experienced enough to have become masters of magic and knowledge. A dragon who lives their entire natural lifespan safely spends just under the entire second half of their lifespan in this stage, and continue to grow in size for the entire length of it. The end of this lifespan is most commonly marked by the Dragon's Twilight, wherein a steady decline of mind and body occurs. This typically lasts a decade or two, before finally ending in the natural end of the dragon's life.
Greatwyrm. Age varies by species; any dragon that drastically outlives their breed's expected lifespan, usually by another half century or more, is classified as a Greatwyrm. As such, the hypothetical average age to be considered a Greatwyrm is around 2,100 years old. These are usually extremely rare standout cases; very few Greatwyrms exist, with only nine known individuals in historical record. The exact mechanism by which these dragons live for so long isn't known. Some scholars believe the Dragon's Twilight simply 'doesn't come' for these individuals. Others pose that some sort of long-held secret must be at play; an arcane ritual, a strange plant steeped in water, or any other vague and unfounded explanation steeped in flights of imagination. Regardless of how it is accomplished, one fact is agreed upon - Greatwyrms are colossal, immeasurably powerful beings. Given dragons physically grow in size up until their twilight years, the extra time afforded to these grand beings allows them to reach truly terrifying sizes. Most known living Greatwyrms might be too largely to properly fly anymore, or choose to live in seclusion.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Dragons are omnivorous and capable of eating both plant and animal matter. Different breeds, clades, clans and cultures have different dietary preferences, but meat or fish is only rarely absent from a dragon's diet. Cattle and livestock, especially cows and pigs, are raised by kith specifically for feeding a socialised dragon population. Wilder dragons favour hunting whatever edible fauna inhabits the regions around their lairs and homes.
Behaviour
Dragons are sapient begins with behaviour not unlike the kith, who were reportedly modelled in their image. They exhibit a vast array of personal differences, motivations and behavioural patterns, though some particular behaviours are made more common by a dragon's taxonomic family and breed.
Chromatic dragons tend to prioritise directness, inventiveness and strength when solving problems. They are predisposed to employing the simplest and most obvious answers to questions, finding that thinking outside the box can often leave one losing sight of the smaller details at play. While not incapable of grander and longer-term plans, chromatic dragons tend to live in the here and now, and enjoy life the most when living in the present as much as possible. Worrying about the future is a rare trait in chromatic dragons.
Gem dragons often favour ideas that involve patience, logic and efficiency in problem-solving. They are pragmatic and generally unemotional when making decisions, or at least aspire to be. They prefer to observe matters from a safe distance first, with plenty of room and time to consider their actions, and only execute them when they feel most certain of the odds. They can suffer stress and anxiety when put under time pressure or when forced to share their opinions too early, and especially so when they feel starved for privacy and personal space.
Metallic dragons usually prefer solutions that focus on reliability, principles and traditions. They are more likely to invoke cultural customs and emotionally-charged points in discussions. They generally do not like to 'rock the boat' by trying new things, and are characterized by bonds of trust in their families and the systems that raise and create them. Metallic dragons often have a strong sense of duty or self-sacrifice that is conflated by a desire to be recognised; they want to do great things, but many of them also desperately seek publicity once they do so.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Generally, dragons are considered the rightfully dominant form of life on Iovir. No matter a dragon's place, they are commonly considered always 'above' the lesser kith, whom were created by the Gods to serve and provide comfort for dragonkind - at least, according to the Dragon Creation Myth. Dragons are expected to enjoy the service of kith and recognition of their natural awe; however, it is not a position of sole privilege in many nations. Dragons are also expected to play the role of rulers, mentors, guides and overseers; the kith are theirs to govern, but also to watch over and care for. Some nations and clans have varying levels of sympathy and affection for their kith lessers, but generally, all at least agree with the egotistical view that dragons naturally must rule over kith. Dragons who hold the highest positions in a kith society are known as Dragonlords.
Socialised dragons typically belong to a dragon clan, which represents a wide group of dragons who make up a large familial unit. However, clanmates rarely live together nowadays; these clans are most often used for identifying and contacting relatives. Instead, socialised dragons tend to be defined instead by their societies, cultures and close-knit family units instead; kingdoms, organizations and direct relatives have the strongest bearing on a dragon's place in a social structure.
Some wilder dragons enjoy 'naturalised' wild living, either alone or in small groups. Larger groups of wilders may actually live together as a dragon clan. Some breeds of dragon, such as blue dragons, are predisposed to living this way due to their reproductive cycle and parenting style.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Shed dragon scales are sometimes donated or scrounged for use in high-grade armours. A common custom sees a Dragonlord sacrifice healthy, fresh scales (via rather painful scale-shaving with burning cleavers) to their most trusted kith guardians, advisors or military commanders. This is supposed to represent a bond of great trust within their kith servant.
Dragonblood is a rare magical material that has powerful ambient magic properties when freshly-shed or properly stored. It is considered illegal to possess it without permission and cause in most nations.
Facial characteristics
Dragons feature long faces with forward-facing eyes and snouts, which typically end in a 'beak'. This beak may be small and barely noticeable, or pronounced to the degree that it can make for a sharp weapon.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Global. Different breeds of dragon and their subdividing clades inhabit a vast array of environments; frigid mountaintops, volcanic calderas, verdant open plains, deep oceanic trenches, lost Underdark caves and scorching empty deserts can all be home to specific sorts of dragon.
Average Intelligence
Dragons are sapient beings, and thought to be capable of higher levels of cognition than kith if talented and trained specifically for it. However, kith were created to be as intellectually capable as the average dragon so as to better manage tasks and service under them; as such, the two species are often comparable.
Origin/Ancestry
Dragonkind
Lifespan
The average dragon lifespan varies, but when looking at dragons as one species, it sits at around 1,400 years. Some species typically live only 1,100 years, whereas othesr can expect to reach 1,900 years.
Average Height
Adult dragons are typically 2 to 3 meters tall. Ancients could be 3 to 4 metres. Greatwyrms typically reached 5 metres in height.
Average Weight
Adult dragons typically weigh anywhere from 21,000 lbs (9,500 kg) to 50,000 lbs (22,700 kg). Ancients can weigh up to 100,000 lbs (45,000 kg). Greatwyrms can be up to 330,000 lbs (150,000 kg).
Average Length
Adult dragons are typically 20 metres in length. Ancients could be up to 50 metres. Greatwyrms can grow to over 90 metres.
Average Physique
The naturally grand size of dragons brings natural strength, but dragonkind still boasts a wide array of body types and physiques; thin and whiplike, bulky and imposing, strong and regal, or even a little pudgy.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Dragon breeds and clades strongly determine the colouration of their scales, as well as notable markings and bodily tints.
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