True Dragons
The mightiest masters of reality, immortal beings of pure power born at the beginning of all things
Immortal Masters of the Cosmos
Few creatures evoke the same level of fear, awe, adoration, terror, and respect as the almighty True Dragon - tracing their lineages back to one of the three great and mighty High Dragons created at the dawn of reality by The Yema charged with the creation and construction of life itself as well as the various realms of reality, the Imperial, Chromatic, and Metallic dragons are counted as the "Original Three" breeds of True Dragons, descendants of the mighty High Dragons. True to their nature as beasts born to uphold the fundamental structure of reality, True Dragons yet retain their full divine spark gifted to them by the The Yema so many eons later - they are functionally immortal beings who only grow stronger as they age, reaching the peak of their power after nearly 1,200 years of life(See "Draconic Age Categories" on the sidebar for more information) and never truly "dying" as the mortal races know of it. Sadly, truly little is known of the "death" of True Dragons or how it might happen naturally, if at all - from what is known, their immortal souls are so powerful and enduring that upon their untimely death it is common for them to linger on as powerful Spirit Dragons - beyond the most simple facts True Dragons are notoriously secretive about their own natures, and thus dislike and resist others studying their kind, making gathering such knowledge about them very difficult. Primal and Esoteric Dragons are altogether different, despite their irrefutable status as "True Dragons" - though many Draconic Scholars refute the notion of Esoteric Dragons being considered as "True Dragons". These two breeds are believed to have come into existence at a later date far later into the history of the cosmos - after the three great and mighty High Dragons were punished by The Yema and split apart for their sins during The Age of Silent Vigil which saw them wage an eternal war on the Titans, second of the ancient High Races, for control of all things, the Elemental Planes of Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, and Void soon came into existence and thus birthed the Primal Dragons as The Spirit Kings ineffable might took hold within the elemental planes and created life from what was once pure elemental matter, though some scholars argue that they were created intentionally. Esoteric Dragons, in contrast, are far more unknown in their origins - true to their name. Though their origins are heavily debated and disputed among Draconic Scholars, a popular theory that prevails is that they were born from the dying and scattered essences of Aenarith-Dahmu and Dasgol-Dahmu, rulers and creator deities of The Old Gods - that they sprang into existence long after The Yema killed and scattered these two beloved rulers of Cosmic Constants such as Space, Time, Gravity, and the like, born as fragmented shards of their minds gathered together over eons to form new infant beings imbued with shards of their power in the various planes of esoterica such as the Dimension of Dreams, Astral Plane, Ethereal Plane, and more.Five Immortal Breeds
Though some various types of "Dragons" exist outside of the classification of "True Dragons" such as Drakes, Wyverns, Pseudodragons, and the like, "True Dragons" have been divided historically into five broad categories, or breeds - though many still argue and dispute whether Esoteric Dragons are a true breed of "True Dragon". These five breeds vary wildly in shape, size, power, and loyalty - for example, while Metallic and Chromatic dragons have historically sided with The Yema who created them and have thus waged war on Zheng-Kitar and its people since the dawn of all things, Imperial and Primal Dragons have historically taken the side of The Old Gods, The Spirit Kings, and the people of Zheng-Kitar, seeing their roles as guardians of the cosmic balance and children of the elemental planes as their true purpose in life beyond simply "serving their creators" like mindless puppets. Esoteric Dragons have historically remained neutral in the eternal divide between Dragonkind, working for their own self-interest above all else. Below, the five types of Dragons are listed and described:Imperial Dragons
Imperial dragons, sometimes termed Dragons of the celestial host, are a type of dragon and serpentine agents of cosmic balance native to Zheng-Kitar. Like other true dragons, they grow in power as they age and are beings of immense and unfathomable power - however, Imperial Dragons differ in appearance from other true dragons quite wildly, possessing a long serpentine body, lacking wings but able to fly gracefully through supernatural means. All imperial dragons have large horns with which they can gore prey and foes, and exist solely to safeguard and uphold the lands of The Old Gods and The Spirit Kings, guard the people of such lands from harm, and uphold the cosmic balance of reality. Imperial Dragons, as one of the most important and notable creatures on all of Zheng-Kitar, exist as The Progenitors of The Element of Light and all it represents - protectors of good, masters of magic, and bringers of hope, they are beings whose souls shine brighter than any mortal, and are the most regal and powerful of all the world's beings that are blessed with both incredible mastery of magic and highly powerful and lethal physical bodies both. They tend to take a much more active role in mortal affairs than any other breed of True Dragon, such that many ancient nations were referred to as Dragon Empires, or claimed to have been blessed, protected by, or even ruled over directly by one of these majestic beasts. Blessed with powerful shapechanging magic and existing in five specific sub-types(Each tied to a part of the natural world), the Imperial Dragons are divided into the dilungs, protectors of forests and nature, jiaolungs, protectors of sea and oceans, tienlungs, protectors of the sky and air, lungwangs, protectors of all things that stand far above and beyond even their own kin such that they are often called "Kingmakers" or "Sovereigns", and futsanglungs, protectors of souls and the underworld. Uniquely, Imperial Dragons are also some of the most likely to use their shapechanging ability and take on mortal forms, while also existing as beings more divine than perhaps any of the other draconic breeds - they are the focal point of most all Zheng-Kitaran spiritualism and treated as guardian deities of the entire continent and its people.Primal Dragons
As the sibling breed of the divine, respected Imperial Dragons, Primal Dragons are the children of the The Spirit Kings and the Elemental Planes, formed from the first swirling pockets of elemental matter deep in their respective home planes and given life and sentience from the slumbering minds of The Spirit Kings - making them quite literally shards of The Spirit Kings themselves, and children in the deepest and most personal sense. The Primal Dragons are a reclusive but proud lot, with exotic appearances such as skin resembled cracked black scales covered in rivulets of glowing lava, blue frills and spines alongside dark azure scales and more - moreover, each Primal Dragon is tied to an elemental plane, emboding one of The Elements in its rawest, most mighty form and visage. They are often somewhat jealous of The Progenitors of their elements(Though not always) for taking what they see as their rightful place as true children of The Spirit Kings, and are only seldom seen on the Material Plane - when they are, it is often either due to being exiled from their home planes or a portent of a great and dire task given to them by one of the Elemental Lords or even The Spirit Kings themselves. However, despite their solitary attitudes they are often extremely close friends with the Imperial Dragons as a whole - with each Primal Dragon typically preferring a certain type of Imperial Dragon's company. However, both breeds of Dragons find commonality in their hatred of The Yema and their desire to see Zheng-Kitar and its citizens protected - often dividing their tasks between protecting the mortal plane(A task left to the Imperial Dragons), and protecting the Elemental Planes(A task left to the Primal Dragons). Their appearance is often seen as a sign of turbulent times, for better or worse - though they are still worshipped as divine beings by most all Zheng-Kitarans, though to a lesser degree than Imperial Dragons.Chromatic Dragons
One of the two dragon breeds in service to The Yema, Chromatic Dragons are wholly evil beings who simply seek to quench their endless lust for treasure, food, and bloodshed. The scales of these dragons all match the color given in the name, and are divided into Red, Black, Green, Blue, and White - unlike Imperial Dragons and like the rest of their dragon kin, they appear with two massive sweeping wings coming off a large four-legged scaly, draconic body. Altogether little is known of them - they are said to be the children of a long-dead five-headed dragon goddess of evil and destruction, and even amongst The Yema and their servants they are believed to be hated and reviled as evil monsters. They are frequently found attacking Zheng-Kitar under orders from The Yema who drive them to Zheng-Kitaran shores as if herding rabid beasts, throwing them at Zheng-Kitaran lands with reckless abandon for them to sow discord and chaos with no strategy or forethought - though the Imperial Dragons tend to seek them out and destroy them as soon as they attempt to pierce the Noctum Veil that hides the continent from the rest of the world.Metallic Dragons
One of the two Dragon Breeds that exist in service to The Yema, the Metallic Dragons are the "good" counterparts of their vile siblings the Chromatic Dragons, often found defending their lands from evildoers, particularly evil dragons and servants of The Old Gods and The Spirit Kings. As per their name, the scales of these dragons are composed of the metal in the name or recreate the appearance of such, divided broadly into Gold, Brass, Copper, Silver, and Bronze. They are most often the breed of Dragon found assaulting Zheng-Kitar as they are the favored children of The Platinum Dragon, master and leader of The Yema - they often attempt to capture and corrupt Imperial and Primal dragons wherever they can, and most frequently clash with Imperial Dragons that guard the Noctum Veil that protects the continent of Zheng-Kitar. They are most often found on the continent itself as their more cunning and intelligent natures allows them to trick and decieve the righteous Imperial Dragons that guard Zheng-Kitar, and often are found leading concentrated assaults or organizing more ordered resistance movements on or outside of the continent like powerful, scheming masterminds. They appear much as their Chromatic Brethren, with four-legged serpentine bodies covered in scales, with two massive wings or more to assist in mundane flight.Esoteric Dragons
Perhaps the most mysterious breed of True Dragon, the Esoteric Dragons are wildly varied in appearance and origins - they are the dragons born of strange realms such as the dimension of dreams, Astral Plane, and the Ethereal Plane, and those who inhabit the far reaches of the material plane such as Moons and Suns, guarding over time and space and serving as emissaries of gods, outer beings, and unfathomably ancient beings. Their allegiances are typically to themselves alone, and when combined with their solitary natures means that they are rarely encountered in groups or even pairs - only those found on moons and in the hearts of suns typically nest with one another, and even then as with all Esoteric Dragons they prefer to stay far removed from mortal affairs, with extremely rare exceptions. Their appearances can vary from the glowing blue hue of Lunar Dragons to the Dark Red glow of Solar Dragons or the glowing purple shimmer of Time Dragons. Some, like the Nightmare Dragon and Dream Dragon, exist only in formless states - drifting in the depths of minds that slumber far from the waking world.Basic Information
Anatomy
The anatomy of True Dragons is a thing that is not well understood - there are incredibly few chances for Dragon Scholars to study True Dragon biology and anatomy because they are so hard to kill and so reclusive.
Genetics and Reproduction
True Dragons reproduce through sexual reproduction - though because of their overwhelming power and immortal bodies, it is known that they have incredibly low fertilization rates such that only extremely rarely do True Dragon matings produce true and viable children.
Growth Rate & Stages
When True Dragon Couplings produce actual children, they are not raised anywhere that is known to the mortal races - because of their rarity, many Dragon breeds are assumed to have a sacred land where mates of their breeds go to raise children under the supervision of elders or possible even Great Wyrms or Sages of their breed in relative safety.
Ecology and Habitats
True Dragons are capable of fitting into almost every environment and habitat with almost no issue.
Dietary Needs and Habits
True Dragon diets vary from breed to breed - some prefer vegetarian diets while others are carnivores or omnivores.
Biological Cycle
True Dragons, as best as can be determined, have no biological cycle - they simply get stronger and more imposing the longer they exist, seemingly without end.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Almost every aspect of a True Dragon is immensely valuable and powerful - from their blood to their eyes and scales, everything is charged with magic and extremely valuable and powerful such that a single dragon corpse could likely refund an entire small country and fill its coffers.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
True Dragons can be found all over reality, although only Imperial Dragons and Primal Dragons are commonly found on Zheng-Kitar. See the Five Immortal Breeds section above for more info.
Average Intelligence
True Dragons are quite possibly some of the smartest beings in all the cosmos - they are unfathomably wise, intelligent, and personable and only get moreso with age.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Little is known about the senses of True Dragons - they are rumored to be able to see through all illusions, to see the currents of mana and life in the air, and much more.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
Immortal
Conservation Status
Though dragons are extremely rare and few and far between, so powerful that reproduction is challenging for them, they are not endangered or close to extinct - their numbers remain plentiful enough to sustain a population.
Average Height
Easily as large as 64ft (20m), can be smaller or larger depending on age.
Average Weight
Easily as heavy as 125 tons or more (122,469kg). Can be lighter or heavier depending on age.
Average Length
Easily as large as 64ft (20m), can be smaller or larger depending on age.
Average Physique
Blessed with astoundingly perfect and tough physiques, True Dragons have some of the best and mightiest bodies in reality capable of shrugging off entire collapsing buildings, exploding fireballs, and shattering mountains with singular ease.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
True Dragon bodies' coloration and marking depends on their breed - varying from the blues, reds, and chromatic colors of the Chromatic Dragons to the Golds, Silvers, and Bronzes of the Metallic Dragons or even the simple Golds, Blacks, Greens, and such of the Imperial Dragons.
Draconic Age Categories
As seen above on the table Draconic Age Categories, Dragons are beasts that never strop growing stronger - unlike mortal beings who grow weaker with age, Dragons are exactly opposite: with each passing year their intellect and physical might both grow mightier until they reach the pinnacle of their power at 1,200 years of age as Great Wyrms. These paragons of dragonkind are mighty indeed, capable of felling armies and laying low entire countries - though one category yet exists above them: Known only as Sages, these mysterious Sage Dragons are incredibly reclusive but are believed to be the utmost champions of Dragonkind such that other Dragons of their breed will do anything and everything to ensure their survival. Though much about these Sage Dragons is unknown, from what little is known they hold special and unique power - whether that power is a total power over others of their Dragon breed, overwhelming magical power, or otherwise is unknown, as their kind is so incredibly rare as to appear once in a thousand years only when a unique storm of a True Dragon surviving for 2,000 Years and attaining some unknown "enlightenment" combines to trigger an ascendance into a Sage.
Age Category Age in Years Wyrmling 0-5 Very Young 6-15 Young 16-25 Juvenile 26-50 Young Adult 51-100 Adult 101-200 Mature Adult 201-400 Old 401-600 Very Old 601-800 Ancient 801-1,000 Wyrm 1,001-1,200 Great Wyrm 1,201+ Sage 2,000+ Enduring Immortal Spirits
Similar to how Cyclops return to the great "Lifestream" upon their death and merge into the surrounding terrain to vivify it with life, so too do True Dragons merge with this mysterious "great river of life" that supposedly flows throughout all of creation - however, unlike the Cyclops, True Dragons do not simply "fade away" into such a river...at least, not always. When an especially serene, wise, and powerful True Dragon who has attained the highest degree of enlightenment possible such that they have gained key knowledge of the universe and its workings dies(Often by violent means, as True Dragons are believed to be functionally immortal), they are often able to become a unique and powerful Dragon variant known as a Spirit Dragon - a Dragon who could manage to retain their personal identity and sense of self in that very "great river" such they remain able to interact with the land of the living. Different than Ghosts in a fundamental way as they are not tethered to the material world by some regret or grudge but instead by simple enlightenment and purity of spirit, these Spirit Dragons are legendary beings who act as guides, shamans, and wise beings who live on well past their death to shephard those(Typically their own Draconic Breed) in the land of the living along the paths of their life.
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