Dragon

All art is mine unless otherwise credited <3 -theo/invadersforever

Dragons are a complicated and mysterious part of Siv’ian history. Their bones have been found all over Siv’ia, and there are historical depictions of them living on Faerie as recently as the Fall of the Emberton Empire. Many other continents may have had Dragons even longer. What is known for sure is that dragons have virtually disappeared in the years since. Why exactly they disappeared is unknown, though the more recent bones from many places suggest they were in ill health. Another certain fact is that Dragons weren’t originally from Siv’ia, but were instead brought there from Tshiv’iash as companions and weapons.
A common confusion that comes up when discussing dragons is that the dragons featured in Dancing Iles folklore are completely different from all other references we have of the beasts. The explanation of this is that these “dragons” are in fact spirits or minor gods who took the form of dragons to mimic their power (and possibly intimidation factor), while maintaining their godly intelligence and will.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dragons were/are colossal creatures, with an adult dragon’s head sometimes being several times the height of an adult Fae. They had an elongated snout with two slit-like nostrils and very sharp teeth and horns. Dragon eyes seem to have been quite unusual, with a black sclera and a bright glowing green iris. Their pupils seem to be either non-existent or otherwise hidden from sight.
Dragons had long bodys and spined tails. They had massive wings with platinum laced bones and translucent, bioluminescent wing membranes. These platinum bones have created problems for those trying to research dragons, as the bones are very valuable and are often sold on the black market.
Another curious feature of dragons is the bioluminescent crystals that grew from their skin.

Weapons of War

While dragons made exceptionally good companions, they were bred primarily to be weapons. Dragons were amphibious and possess the ability to fly, as well as being insanely adaptable. They could also use magic fields generated by their crystals to do a variety of things, including creating a psychic bond with their owner.
Dragons had massive teeth and horns which could do incredible damage to those unlucky enough to be in their way. Additionally, their scales were so strong that even most modern weapons would stand little chance of hurting one.
Contrary to many mortal depictions, dragons did not “breathe” anything other than ordinary air. (A dragon’s roar has been rumoured to have enough power to level a city wall, however, so it is ill advised to disregard even this characteristic.) Instead, dragons used their magical fields to produce effects such as lightning, increased gravity, fire, and drastic changes in the weather.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dragons also had a suitably terrifying method of reproduction. When a dragon reaches adulthood, it sheds its skin- and for the first time, the crystals come with it. These crystals can incubate for anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 millenia, but once they are activated, a cloned dragon hatches.
This gave their original owners an easy way to sneak large numbers of dragons around. Once a dragon hatches, it takes 4 to 7 years to mature to full size and grow its egg crystals. After the egg crystals are shed, the dragon will grow it’s adult magic crystals and be fully grown.
As dragons never existed in a natural setting, it is unknown how exactly their life cycle would progress from this point. However, few dragons lived past 200.000, so it is safe to assume that is closest to their natural lifespan.

Ecology and Habitats

Dragons, being an engineered species, don’t really have a natural ecosystem. They do prefer wetter areas, as they were created on what is likely a waterworld and are amphibious.
One of the largest sites for dragon bones is the Desolate Expanse in Faerie, where the site of a pre-Corruption battle may have been found. Due to the age of the site, what exactly happened has been lost to time but there seems to be two groups of ancient fae, one with dragons, one without. From the positioning of the bones and the remains of what may have been a fort, it would appear that this was in fact the site of a battle where a large number of dragons died, likely from dehydration.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dragons grow fast and expend a lot of energy, meaning they need a whole lot of food and water. Dragons ate a wide variety of foods, though it is likely that a large organized dragon cavalry would have standardized feed. Despite the appearance of their front row of teeth, dragons were omnivores.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Dragons could see exceptionally well in the dark and under water. They also had an exceptional sense of smell, and an extraordinary ability to sense and manipulate magical and gravitational fields.
Dragons could also create psychic bonds with those closest to them, including handlers, riders, and family members. This was important, since dragons had a terrible sense of hearing, and often relied on others nearby to pick up on threats they couldn’t see or smell.

Related Materials

• Draconium