Dragon

Basic Information

Anatomy

Their anatomy differs slightly depending on their ethnicity. They can be divided into two broad different types, bird, and lizard.
Birds tend to have smaller, or thinner frames and be covered in feathers. Lizards tend to have larger, or wider frames and be covered in scales (though it’s not uncommon to see lizards with patches of feathers). Both have elongated snouts, though oftentimes you’ll find birds with beaks instead of a regular mouth. Neither have regular hair, unless they have a humanoid form they can transform into.
Dragons are what most people think of when hearing the name. They have two wings, and four legs in their dragon form. For the most part, they’re lizards in East Jyalb and Maefyzer, and birds in West Jyalb. In Shiza there’s more of an equal mix in bird and lizard populations.
Wyverns are the second most commonly found ethnicities of dragons, having only two legs, and two wings. Unlike dragons, they’re both part lizard and part bird. While it’s not uncommon to see them present more heavily bird or lizard, it’s more standard to see them with an even blend of traits from both groups.
Amphitheres are one of the first ethnicities to pop up naturally in Mirthae without Lord Ätol’s influence. They have two wings and no legs, and are entirely birds.
Wyrms are second to pop up naturally, and are entirely lizards. They have no wings, and no legs, often looking like gigantic sentient snakes. Some are able to fly, but not all of them are able to.
Drakes have no wings and four legs, and are exclusively lizards. They’re quite often on the chunkier side, and cannot fly whatsoever.
Komodo Dragons were native to Mirthae before Ätol brought his dragons over. They were one of Ätol’s favourite species on the planet, and Lady Merthicz allowed him to become their god. Like drakes, they’re exclusively lizards, have no wings and four legs, but can’t fly whatsoever.

Genetics and Reproduction

The gestation period lasts roughly three months, five months for larger eggs.

Growth Rate & Stages

They go through 7 stages of life, starting as an egg. The eggs themselves are very large and sturdy, looking like gems. It’s not uncommon for the adult dragons to have to bust the baby out.
The second stage is the hatchling. They’re at their most vulnerable state and thus never leave the nest until the next stage. At least one of the parents will supervise them 24/7.
The third stage is the nestling. The babies start trying to fly, as well as learning to use their elemental powers. They start venturing out of the nest under supervision in the later part of this stage.
The fourth stage is the fledgling. They’re able to fly now, and are able to leave the nest on their own for short distances, mostly just around the den. Their elemental powers are very basic, but just enough to help them defend themselves if need be.
The fifth stage is the juvenile. They’re given a bit more freedom to explore the area around them outside of the den. They undergo a plumage for the first time.
The sixth stage is the sub adult. They’re almost fully independent, learning how to care for themselves usually. They’re given free rein to explore the country around them, especially if they’re able to fend for themselves and fly long distances. More often than not their ability to use their elemental powers are very adept, and are beginning to explore other forms of magic.
The seventh stage is the adult. They become sexually mature, and can choose to live fully independently. Some areas prefer multiple generations of families stay together, but a few parents kick out their offspring at this stage. They become very advanced in their magical capabilities, especially after their first moulting into adulthood.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They all primarily only eat meat, but metals and gems are popular snacks for them. Is especially useful for them to help fortify the dragon eggs before the mother lays them.

Additional Information

Domestication

Each race of dragon has a mini version of them that are fully domesticated. They seem to only pop up around moon elf settlements, but are occasionally known to wander all over Symilf, especially wyrms. Like drakes, the smaller subspecies only have partial sentience, and tend to be much more docile. Komodo dragons are still rather blood thirsty, but their smaller cousins are a bit more tame.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Their domesticated kin are often used as pets, or a more “acceptable“ form of livestock for things like food and leather armour.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most concentrated population of dragons can be found in Jyalb all over the continent, being 60% of the population. Maefyzer has 15% of the population, Shizan 10%, Fzalder 6.5%, Nirilf 6%, Nuiri 5.5%, and Symilf 2%.
Dragon;

1. East Jyalb: 37%
2. West Jyalb: 25%
3. Maefyzer: 8%
4. Shizan: 20%
5. Fzalder: 3%
6. Nirilf: 3.5%
7. Nuiri: 1.5%
8. Symilf: 1%

Wyvern

1. East Jyalb: 30%
2. West Jyalb: 30%
3. Maefyzer: 17%
4. Shizan: 20%
5. Fzalder: 2%
6. Nirilf: .9%
7. Nuiri: .1%
8. Symilf: 0%

Drake

1. East Jyalb: 70%
2. West Jyalb: 14.5%
3. Maefyzer: 5.5%
4. Shizan: 5%
5. Fzalder: .1%
6. Nirilf: 4.9%
7. Nuiri: 0%
8. Symilf: 0%

Wyrm

1. East Jyalb: 45%
2. West Jyalb: 5%
3. Maefyzer: 30%
4. Shizan: 15%
5. Fzalder: 3%
6. Nirilf: 1.9%
7. Nuiri: 0%
8. Symilf: .1%

Amphithere

1. East Jyalb: 1.7%
2. West Jyalb: 10%
3. Maefyzer: 20%
4. Shizan: 50%
5. Fzalder: 9%
6. Nirilf: 0%
7. Nuiri: .3%
8. Symilf: 9%

Komodo dragon

1. East Jyalb: 50%
2. West Jyalb: 2%
3. Maefyzer: 40%
4. Shizan: 1.9%
5. Fzalder: 6%
6. Nirilf: 0%
7. Nuiri: 0%
8. Symilf: .1%

Average Intelligence

Except for drakes, all dragons have full sentience, and generally high intelligence. Drakes are only partially sentient, likes whales.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Bird dragons have the advantage of taking in information about the air through their feathers, able to tell how far away someone is and how big they are, and can sense the temperature. Their tongues don’t often have a lot of taste buds, but those with beaks make up for it with extra buds on the tips of their beaks.
Vision usually isn’t that great in dragons overall. Most can see enough to get by, but folks like drakes and other lizard types don’t have very sharp vision. Many even are colourblind in some form.
With hearing, it’s very much lacking across all folks. They can usually only hear things shouting and above.
Their taste and smell are connected, using their tongues to capture scent particles.
All dragons have elemental powers that vary. Dragons mostly have fire based abilities, but can occasionally have ice based abilities. Amphithere specialise in air magic, but are also able to work with water and fire if given enough training. Wyvern usually have rock based abilities, but can occasionally get air, or water magic. Wyrms specialise in rock magic, and can occasionally dabble in water magic. Drakes specialise in fire magic, and can occasionally dabble in rock magic. Komodo dragons often possess rock magic, but can occasionally get fire magic. Most dragons have the capability to turn into a humanoid form, except a few drakes.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

They love forming symbiotic relationships with other species, lending aid to various creatures regardless of their sentience. More commonly they can be found in said relationships with their domesticated kin, humans, and various prey animals like goats.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

When born they don’t have names. Merely nicknames often based on their markings, colour, or number of when they hatched. Once they’re old enough to travel the outside on their own they have a celebration to mark their juvenile years, and are assigned names to them based off of their various traits. They can range from literal names like “Gentle Heart” to more symbolic names, like “Radiance storm” for someone who is optimistic and passionate or someone with vibrant gem-like colouring with a short temper.

Beauty Ideals

They love flashiness. Whether it’s someone with vibrant coloured feathers or someone covered in jewellery, they like the look of shiny things.

History

Dragons are an ancient species that popped around the same time as Lord Ätol did. Originally they travelled through space, with no official home planet, though they did like to often rest on the Sun. After many years they settled on Mirthae when realising ivierae were being subject to attack from humans and lynç elves.

Origin/Ancestry

Elf

Lifespan

200-360 years

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Colouring and markings vary a lot between different toes of dragons. The more bird-like kind tend to have regular fleshy coloured skin in their original form, while their humanoid form tends to take on the colour and markings of their plumage which are very vibrant. More lizard type dragons tend to have duller scale colouring though it isn’t unheard of to see them with very vibrant colouring. Their humanoid forms always match their scale colours, whether or not they have actual scales or human-like flesh.

Geographic Distribution

• Jyalb <continent>

Related Ethnicities

• East Jyalben
• Maefyz
• Shizan
• West Jyalben