Dragons

Dragons have long held an important place in the Wode, as a dragon has featured prominently in most major Wode events. A dragon assisted Krin in the Void war, and another was the last creature to speak to the Heroes of Dirth before their fight with Politico and Groven.  Other dragons have been at the central core of different conflicts.  The people of the Wode have long seen dragons as symbols of strength and change.  Many nations have used their iconography as part of their heraldry.  Metallic dragons have been associated with goodness and strength with virtue while chromatic dragons are used to symbolize brute strength and savagery.  Gem dragons have been seen as symbols of peace and neutrality, often representing strength through control.  Dragon kin usually gain the same connotations, with the exception of the Dragon born as they are seen as offspring of Bloodmoon and not actually descended from dragons themselves.   Although revered by most cultures, the fear of their strength has led to groups hunting them.  Additionally, many in the black markets attribute magical properties to their pieces and they have been hunted for this as well.  Most dragons stay clear of established settlements for this reason.  A few noble dragons have diplomatic ties to nations, but often they outlive the family who those ties are with and become the enemy of whatever new leadership is established.  The major exception to all this is the goliaths and their clans.  They tend to see dragons as their equals and thus do not fear or revere them.  This neutrality annoyed the dragons at first, but over time the dragons began to appreciate it.  This has caused dragons to prefer to lair in goliath lands if possible.  The hard winters make it difficult for some breeds but the volcanic activity helps, and those that can have paired in the most hospitable sections of goliath lands.  This has caused the goliath lands to become even more dangerous for outsiders, as the dragons will aid goliath in the defense of their lands and laws.  Many attempted ironwood harvesters have found their demise at the end of a dragons breath instead of the edge of a goliath axe.