Water Dragon

Summary

Mysterious creatures rumored to live far to the east of Satra and its empire, water dragons are said to be magical in origin. It is said by sailors exchanging tall tales over drinks the enigmatic beasts live forever and only die when they are killed. They supposedly have serpentine bodies several times longer than a grown man and great curved horns. Their blood is supposedly used in potions that make people live longer and their scales are crafted into armor to make it impervious to steel blades or arrows. Water dragons are said to be bringers of good luck in Ortesa, where anyone who crosses paths with one in the wild is believed to be blessed with a year's worth of good fortune. These encounters are also thought to cancel out any bad luck a person may have accrued due to other circumstances.

Historical Basis

The myths are based on reality to a great extent. Water dragons are indeed real, but their size is exaggerated. Most never exceed the length of a large carp. They come in numerous colors: green, yellow, red, gold, silver, white, blue, black, copper, among others. The scales come in a variety of patterns, brought about by centuries of selective breeding. Although long-lived, water dragons are by no means immortal. They are semi-aquatic animals, preferring to spend their days in the water and emerging at night. The animals are collected by Ortesian kings, who house them in special gardens for the purpose of bringing royal distances good fortune and exchange them as gifts among themselves. Only monarchs are permitted to own them. Water dragons feed on small fish, amphibians, insects, and reptiles. Birds of prey are their main predators, so they must be provided shaded areas to hide from them.

Spread

The myths associated with water dragons have spread as far as the seas can carry it, via trade routes between civilized kingdoms and empires.