Faerie Dragon

Basic Information

Anatomy

Faerie dragons are generally in the size range of a cat to a medium-sized dog. They have four legs, a tail with some prehensile qualities, and wings. Their wings are usually butterfly-esque but can also be somewhat more dracanic. Their front feet have some limited grasping qualities, though can not handle most fine motor skills.

Genetics and Reproduction

Faerie dragons do not mate for life, but a pairing will stay together at least until their clutch have grown and left the family group, at which point they may choose to have another clutch together or find new partners. A successful mating will usually produce 1-3 eggs, which are laid by the female and cared for by both parents. Few matings are successful; faerie dragons are known to pair off and complete this ritual several times a year or even more frequently, but a female dragon might actually lay a clutch of eggs onlya few times in her life. Mating rituals tend to be elaborate affairs of illusions and the parents' euphoric breath magic; unsuspecting passersby who are caught in the area tend to behave as if under the influence of a seduction drug or spell.

Growth Rate & Stages

Egg incubation time varies and can be from 3 months to 9 months. Once hatched, faerie dragonlings are fully formed but not ready to fly or fend for themselves. The membrane of their wings is delicate at hatching and takes several weeks to reach a toughness to enable flight. They then learn flying, hunting, and magic skills from their parents over the course of their first decade of life. They have been observered beginning to pair off and begin the mating ritual around 25 years of age, but it is suspected they are not actually actually mature and fertile until much later, perhaps 50 years or more.

Ecology and Habitats

Faerie dragons can thrive in almost every environment, from the inhospitable wilds to the crowded city, but most tend to prefer the company of other sentient beings, and live near settlements and cities.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They are omnivores; they will eat fruits and vegetables and some other tasty vegetation but a balanced diet also requires meat and fish. They are skilled hunters of small game such as birds, rodents, and fish. Some will eat bugs, especially if game is scarce, but most bugs are not a preferred dietary item.

Behaviour

Faerie dragons get along well with other intelligent species and other magic and magic-hybrid creatures. Domesticated prey animals tend to be somewhat wary of them, recognizing them as possible predators, but can be conditioned to tolerate their presence. They have no natural known predators.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Left to their own devices, they tend to form clans or colonies of 5-25 dragons, many of whom are related or close friends. These groups are referred to as Rainbows. Some individuals will choose a humanoid companion or family instead, but there is some indication that these individuals simply return to their Rainbow when they lose interest (which could be a couple of hundred years later...) or their two-legged friends die.

Domestication

Faerie dragons aren't really "domesticated" as such, though they often choose to live alongside the sentient species of the world. Living with a faerie dragon has been described as living with a feral teenager - they will do many things out of loyalty or curiosity, but might just as well refuse.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Faerie dragons are naturally and most commonly found on Oskksul and Saman, though their popularity as pets and famliars and adaptability means they can be found anywhere other intelligent beings have settled. They have a close aquatic cousin, the Seadragon, which is native to Ryold.

Average Intelligence

Faerie dragons are incredibly intelligent. They can learn to understand any language, and communicate in it telepathically. Some can learn to speak a very limited childlike vocabulary out loud. They are mischievious, friendly, and nosy.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Faerie dragon senses are, generally, similar to those of a domestic cat. However, they are proficient magic users who don't hesitate to flaunt their prowess.

Quick Look

Lifespan

Effectively Immortal

Conservation Status

Uncommon, Not Endangered

Average Height

1-2 Feet (at the shoulder)

Average Length

2-4 Feet (Nose to Tail), 3-6 Feet (Wingspan)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Faerie dragons come in many colors but most commonly are arrayed in bright, jewel-like tones, often many shades of the same color family or related colors. Less commonly, they have been seen in duller metallic shades of white/black/brown/gold/copper. They can have many patterns and markings. They reflect light shone directly on them in a bright, prismatic dazzle that can be hard to look at and are faintly reflective in all light situations.

Where to Find

Worldwide
Oskksul (Native)
Saman (Native)

Attempting to bottle the vapors given off by faerie dragons to use in creating potions is a common activity amongst both professional and amateur potioneers, with varying results.