Dragons

Dragons.
The bane of existence to those hoarding untold riches deep inside castles and caves. The thing that strikes fear into even the most evil and vile of warlords and tyrants.
And although they are ancient beings, they are known for their resilience.
Many dragon species have come and gone, but many have also stayed.
There are recorded in Rethium's history more than one-hundred or more species of these terrifying flying beasts, each of them more distinct and unique than the other. Some are born without wings and the ability of flight, while some are born with wings in varying shapes and sizes, and can fly for seemingly indefinite periods of time. Others still are born with four legs and others are born with only two. Some are born to breath fire and other elements, some express their emotions simply through the enormous sounds they make from the depths of their being. They can be long, short, skinny, fat, or short and even tall, but all the same dragons are dragons and will never be confused with any species that have existed before or since.
They are believed to have originated as lizard-like beings filled with the essence of the gods and the universe, sent as beings to protect the young world after their creation in order to stave off the darkness that would surely attempt to corrupt them and shroud the new universe in vile, ancient shadows that were prophesied to bring the Eldritch beings with them to destroy the universe and the gods. The first believed dragons to have existed were called The Elysian. These dragons are much larger than any known species of dragon on Tarris, and this is for one reason above all else. The Elysian were the first dragons, and thus were so large that they could not be seen or comprehended by humans and other races, only by the gods who sent them to guard the universe that they first entered in the beginning of time by Hosios-Dyn and his wife, Xyfarae who created them. Thus also in legend, Hosios-Dyn is known as Femphethhaehr, The First Dragon and is depicted as the largest of all the Elysians and the most powerful, clad in all the elements of the universe as his armor, and all the stars of the universe as his sword and shield. In typical artwork, his dragon form is depicted sitting around a large nest filled with golden eggs, watching them hatch as dragons appear from them, each in different colors and styles than the other. These smaller dragons are The Elysians, and the eggs from which they hatch are also the universes that they were sent to protect.

It is believed that the known dragons were born from the power of The Elysians as they sailed through the universe to guard it from evil, and that the power of those Elysians took the form of magical stones and artifacts when they landed on the surface of Tarris Six before the other beasts could appear. Why then that other planets were not blessed with this same magic is not fully understood, although it can be assumed that it was a sign of being chosen by the gods as the first planet to truly harbor life in the universe.

There are several categories or species of dragons that are known to exist in the world, and they have been split down this way because listing the various evolved species would take too much time.

The Elysians: Dragons with untold power and size, and the ability to cause devastation to the worlds that they visit while travelling through the universe. They are the Sons of Femphethhaehr, and are his soldiers and guardians that report to him on the matters and state of the universe. Depicted with four legs and four large wings, as well as horns sharper than any sword or dagger and eyes that can see through all, including the minds and hearts of those that are subject to them. Their call, when heard, is said to symbolize death.

The Common Dragon: The most commonly found dragon on Tarris Six, they are depicted with two large wings, four legs, extremely sharp teeth and claws and long, powerful bodies full of muscle. They are known to breath superheated smoke that can cause fires to erupt, but they cannot breath fire exclusively. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, but are believed to be the strongest of the earthly dragon types. Some are born with horns while others are born without them. They lay eggs in clutches and are extremely territorial over them, and are also the most carnivorous of the earthly dragons. 

The Limnials: These dragons are the most unique of them all, because although they have many characteristics of known dragons such as claws, teeth, horns, tails and body types, they are not believed to have any powers whatsoever. They are commonly sighted as long, slender dragons with beautiful coats of fur or feathers rather than scales, and they are supposedly depictions of the gods and goddesses of the Pantheon, standing as their earthly representative. They have the ability to think with the same capacity as humans and other races, and they can take on any animal form they wish at their own will. They communicate telepathically with mortal races and even other dragons, and have the ability to influence thought and actions, and can even predict outcomes of situations such as trials, wars or other disputes common to human nature, although they do not share this information because it is deemed unlawful to do so by the gods that created them. 

The Dragonette: These dragons are characterized by their size. They can possess wings, claws and tails but do not have the size to support horns, as they would be too heavy to allow proper flight. They cannot breath fire or other elements, but can still vary in their level of strength. The largest that a Dragonette can grow is to about the size of the average human, but never grow much larger than this. Some dragonette's can be as small as an individuals finger. This makes them extremely adept at fitting into small spaces that humans cannot reach, such as small cracks in walls and floors, and even pockets of coats worn by other humans or members of mortal races. They are one of the only types of dragons known to have poisoned blood which depending on their dosage can kill anything from another dragon to even animals and humans, but the dosage also depends on how much of the poisoned blood is taken from these dragons. For this reason they are also known to be amongst the most prized dragon type and laws have been put in place to prevent their hunting and maltreatment by those seeking to make a living off of their poisoned blood. 

The Wyvern: The most animalistic of dragon species. Characterized by their two legs rather than four, two wings which are typically larger than their bodies, and their extremely long, coiling tail which has evolved with a deathly sharp and poisoned tip with which to hunt their prey and kill with a single blow. They possess a toxin unknown to man but coveted by them for it's properties, but the Wyvern is so powerful that most avoid trying to hunt it down. One single blow of a Wyvern's tail is enough to kill five fully grown humans, and can cause seizures, tensing of the muscles and extreme fevers or other effects in the race known as Psedi, as their bodies are much more evolved and protected against the elements. They are the most territorial dragons of them all, and are known to kill other Wyverns when fighting for a mate or for the ground that they claimed as their territory, which can be up to several miles of land in size. 

The Aviath: The Aviath are a species of dragon that are rumored to have been the ancestors of the modern bird and other air fowl, although they are also famed for being the dragon that evolved in multiple directions to create several of the known and more unique dragon types that exist in the modern world. The Aviath do not possess horns, element breath, or even many other of the same characteristics as the other dragons. They are known to be small and slender dragons covered in coats of feathers, with thin legs that each possess three talons at their end. They come in the widest variety of colors - owing to their claim as the ancestor of modern birds and dragons - and are compared to the Dragonette in their size, although the former does not possess poisoned blood either. Because of the sounds they make when communicating between their species, they are considered in legend to be the offspring of the deity Paqion, who is the Goddess Of Music in the Rethium universal pantheon. For this reason, many symbols of music are related to various species of birds and dragons, as they are created to honor her in their music and use in modern life. 

The Haemon: The Haemon is a small dragon, in size smaller than a human and even some felines and canines. They are believed to be the ancestor of the common Hens and Roosters, and the Sqwook is also believed to be a modern species of fowl that is indirectly descended from the Haemon. The Haemon is also considered to be one of the most deformed types of dragon and can be found in many horror stories as the beings who carry the darkness with them that create nightmares. For this reason also they are believed to have given birth to the many modern and fictitious horrors of the modern world, and the gods Pitos and Odis are believed to own innumerable hordes of these small beasts. They thrive on beasts smaller than them which makes them a carnivorous species, and their tendency to leave blood and gore in their wake is supported by their beaks full of rows of sharp teeth and their endless sense of hunger. They possess the head of a rooster with a rotting comb, glowing golden eyes and the body of a dragon with wings of bone and dry, dead feathers. They also possess two legs, one of a dragon and the other of a hen, while their tail is an odd mixture of both. They ley golden eggs that let off a rotting stench, and they are commonly found in lowlands and swamps, or anywhere of the type where the ground and sky are cool and easy to hide in. They stand at an average height of between one to three feet tall.

The Bursagon: This type of dragon is believed to have given birth to the modern reptiles, lizards and other similar animals through a constant stream of splitting evolutionary lines. They are the type of dragon without wings and confined to the ground, as well as lacking element breath or horns of any type. They also do not possess the same sharp talons as the other dragon types, and are considered the weakest of the dragon types. They are characterized by their bodies lying close to the ground, their short, fat legs and similarly-sized tail and long snouted head, which can hide up to two long rows of teeth. They also have a long, forked tongue and eyes that are primarily positioned on the side of their head. Much like their other dragon types, they ley eggs and are territorial as well as primarily carnivorous. The most familiar descendant of the Bursagon is the Kimono Dragon, which possesses a poisoned spike, and they also have a tail lined with non-poisonous spikes. They measure out to ten feet in length but can grow up to fifteen feet long. 

The Hydra: Sometimes told to be the Dragonlord, or even The Destroyer Of Men. This particular species of dragon has been adapted into various myths and legends across the world, but the description is generally the same. A towering dragon with doubled wings and two long, sharp tails extending from it's body, as well as a neck severed into three parts with long, slender heads extending outwards from it's body. This triple-headed horror beast is thought to be the harbinger of nightmares and the father of the Haemon species, although the evolutionary line both species follow do not appear to connect. The end of these long, slender necks possess three bone-like folds underneath which lie seemingly endless rows of sharp teeth that can rip prey to shreds with ease. They do not appear to have eyes and instead navigate through sounds and smells in the air. They are deathly territorial and will fight their own kind to the death over the smallest of things such as finding the best place to nest or even fighting over the remains of a kill. They are tall dragons and can breath an intensely toxic breath from their three mouths, but one breaths this toxin while another can breath the element which provides the potent chemical that ignites it and can cause severe burns or lethal internal damage, which is their main method of killing their prey before devouring it. Although it was assumed that their species had gone extinct, there have been rumored sightings in the south of Tarris in recent years. 

The Wirm: Wirms are the most primitive dragon type, and are characterized by their legless and wingless appearance. They can grow to almost any length and live underground in burrows and tunnels. They do not possess poison breath and also do not see through pairs of eyes but rather through vibrations in the ground that can lead them to smaller critters such as bugs and beetles that live in the dirt. Despite the fact that they lack eyes, legs and wings common to the other dragons, they can still roar much like the others. They are harmless to animals and humans as well as other races, but many other species are known to feed on them due to their lack of defense. The Wirm is considered by evolution to be the ancestor to modern snakes of all known kinds. 

The Drakes: Drakes are one of the most legendary types of dragons, and are also known by another name: Elementals or Seasoners. These dragons are characterized by their lack of wings as well as their elongated snouts full of sharp teeth, but are also notable for their tall stature and the varying colors of their bodies. True to their name, they are the dragons which can breath different elements, as well as roaring which is a common trait to all dragon species. They are primarily herbivorous dragons and stand at a maximum height of between three to ten meters tall, and despite their lack of certain features common to dragons, they are extremely powerful and fast. They have long tails which are not equipped with spikes or poisons, but they are covered in armors of scales around their back, stomach, legs, tail, neck and head but not completely covering their body. The two most common drake types are fire and water, but ice and others exist although not in as large numbers as others do. 

These are only a few of the many species of dragon that exist within the world of Rethium, but other entries can be found elsewhere concerning their own evolutions and features. They have lived in this world for countless centuries or more, and it is thought that they will only die out for the last time when the world dies before them. It is unknown exactly how they managed to survive through the many extinction events that the various species of dinosaurs were wiped out by, but if it was not their evolution, then it was their boundless resilience and tenacity to keep on surviving even through the worst of worldly conditions.