Dragonkin Shapeshifters -Archived-
At the start of the Second Age, Soulmages, and specificaly Shapeshifters, began to be born all around the world. While many types of Shapeshifters appeared during the early years of the Second Age, the first kind and in fact, the only kind of shapeshifter that existed for many years were Dragon Shapeshifters, more commonly known and referred to in modern day as Dragonkin.
Basic Information
Very unique Shapeshifters
While Dragonkin are usualy considered to just be another kind of shapeshifters, they are actualy very different and possess unique ablities and challeges that other shapeshifters dont. The biggest difference between them and the other shapeshifters is that they do not control how or when they shift. Rather, this ability is directly tied to the Veosian lunar cycle.Veosian Control
In fact, the moon itself not only makes their etherial link hard to manipulate, like for other shapeshifters, it makes it impossible to do so, which means that as the full moon approches every month, it allows their Ikshai to exert more and more control over the appearance of their body, until they become fully hybrid by the full moon. Because of this, The dragonkin live, for the better part of their life, in a hybrid body, resembling an anthropomorphic dragon. However, they do not experience pain or other hardships by staying in that form, as would other shapeshifters.A non-existant Dragon Form
Another feature, or more accuratly, a lack thereof, is the fact that Dragonkin do not, despite their name, possess the ablility to transform into a fully a full-fledged dragon form. While many have tried to acheive that form in the past, using various religious rituals, potions and other methods, none of them worked. However, many are still trying, so far all in vain.Anatomy
Human Form
Only younger Dragonkin, meaning individuals under the age of 25 are able to turn back into a human after the Veosian full moon. Adults pass the age of 25 are generaly no longer able to revert to a human form. During their teenage years, the changes occuring to their bodies during the full moon tend to stick around for longer and longer, with each passing month, until eventualy it never goes away, despite the absence of Veos. Eventualy, the appearance of their bodies throughout the month remains the same and stop reverting back entirely by age 25. However, before that happends, and especialy as young kids during the new moon, they can somewhat easely pass for a normal human as the only disctincty dragonkin feature they have is their eyes, which remains very much draconic in appearance their entire life. Instead of a round pupil and a round iris, theirs is more of a vertical slit, surrounded by a diamond shaped iris.Hybrid form
Even younger dragonkin spend most of their time in some sort of hybrid form, even if its not fully developped yet, while individuals pass the age of 25 are parmanetly in this form. From then on, their appearance permanently features many dragon-like characteristics, such as a pair of wings that may or may not be usable, depending on the mass of the individual and size of the wings themselves. This is accompagnied by a long and dexterious tail, covered in scales and generaly tipped with sharp bone blades. In some individuals, fur also grows along the top of the tail, in the back, neck and top of the head. Two or more horns may also grow from their forehead and jaw bones before curving back, separating the face from the top of the head. They can grow up to 15cm in lenght over the course of a dragonkin's life. Dark and very sharp claws replace normal nails while their hands and especialy their feet grow larger and sturdier. Their ears become elongated and pointed upwards while they develop a short muzzle to accomodate the space required for larger and longer teeth as well as their longer forked tongueHybrid Form Evolution
From the age of 0 to around 25, Dragonkin's hybrid form evolves. As a child, their Hybrid form aren't too dissimilar to a human form, but as they grow up, and with each passing Veosian full moons, it becomes more and more decidedly not human. Once in their teenage years, the changes start to stop reversing, meaning that they slowly lose their human form until around the age of 25, they no longer shift back and forth during Veos's lunar cycle.Hybrid Form Variants
Fur and Scales
Fire Dragonkin
Fire dragonkin do not have fur along their backs, tail or head. Instead, it is replaced by a series of spikes along their backs and along the tail. The top of the head also has an aditional pair of horns, while the rest is covered in scales. The scales covering their bpdies are bright red in the front of their body, excluding the face and transition to a darker red on their backs, tails and head, including the face.Water Dragonkin
Just like Fire dragonkin, water dragonkin do not possess any fur and unlike other dragonkin, their scales aren't hard and rough, but instead smooth and plyable. These smooth scales, palmed hands and the large fins at the tip of their tails alllows the water dragonkins to be the best swimmers of their species. These scales are mostly turquoise in colour, with hints of green on the belly.Stone Dragonkin
Stone Dragonkin do have some fur along their backs, but mot much along the top of the tail and none on their head. Their body are covered in the hardest scales out of any dragonkin, mimicking the attributes of their dragon counter-part. These scales are grey on the front of their body and dark grey, almost black on their tails, back and top of the head.Ice Dragonkin
Ice Dragonkin have the most fur. It covers their backs along the spine from the tip of their tails, all the way to the top of their head, where is sort of replaces the human hair they once had. Half-way there, where the wings connect to the back, fur does not grow. The fur along the tail, neck and top of the head is longer, giving the effect of a horse's mane, only the hair stands up. The Scales covering their bodies have two colours. Light blue on the front, concetrated on their belly, while the rest of the body is instead covered in dark blue scales.Horns and spikes
Fire Dragonkin
Fire Dragonkin have 6 horns arranged in three pairs. The first one is the recuring pair that all Dragon have. They also have the same pair of horns that grow from the sides of their head as Stone Dragonkin. However, they also have an additional pair of horns that grow further back on their head, behind the first pair and closer together. These are shorter than the one in front of them but longer than the ones on the sides.Water Dragonkin
Water Dragonkin have only one pair of horns, which grows from their temples and curves back. All dragonkin have this pair of horns, but other types have at least one more.Stone Dragonkin
Stone Dragonkin have 4 horns, arranged in two pairs of different sizes. The longer pair grows out just above the temples and curves back. The second pair of horns grows from the sides of the head, pointing back. They are located bellow the first pair, near the top of the jaw bone, in front of where their human ears would be. These horns are shorter and stubbier.Ice dragonkin
Ice dragonkins have three horns. A pair of horn grows from their temples and curves backwawards. A third horn, much larger that the other two, grows from the top portion of the forehead, in front and in between the two other. This horn is bigger than those two combined and also curves back, though not as much as the others.Eyes
Fire Dragonkin
The pupils are in the form of a vertical slit, surounded by a red iris and a yellow sclera. When exposed to Veosian moonlight, the iris becomes blue. Fire Dragonkin have the worst vision out of the four types, but its is still many times better than normal human vision, particulary in dark environements.Water Dragonkin
The pupils are the form of a vertical slit, surounded by a green iris and a white sclera. Unlike Fire and Ice dragonkin, Water dragonkin have a third, traslucent eyelid that protects their eyes from the water, or dust. The iris loses its green colour when exposed to veosian moonlight, and becomes light blue.Stone Dragonkin
The pupils are in the form of a vertical slit, surounded by a orange iris and a grey sclera. Just like Water Dragonkin, their eyes contain a third eyelid that protects them from dust or other debris. When exposed to Veosian moonlight, the iris takes on a deep blue colour.Ice Dragonkin
The irises are in the form of a vertical slit, surounded by a purple iris and a white sclera. Ice dragonkin have the best vision overall, and particulary in the dark. The iris changes from its purple colour to a deep blue when exposed to Veosian moonlight.Magic Abilities
Extra Sensory Ability
Dragonkin shapeshifters have some of the same extra abilities that other shapeshifters have, like being able to receive visions and prophetic dreams like a Soothsayer would as well as having the ability to see someone's soul and a naturaly strong intuition like a Soulweaver would have.Elemental powers
Unlike Dragons, Dragonkin do not all have innate elemental powers, even if Dragons do. However, they have a higher likelyhood to become an Archmages than any other group of mages, including other shapeshifters.Dragonkin Archmages
If they happen to be an archmage, their elemental powers will always be reflected by their appearance, which means that Dragonkin Archmage only have the possibility of controling Ice, Water, Stone or Fire. While they do have a higher likelyhood to become Archmages than other groups of mages, they are still extremely uncommon.Sharp Senses
Appart from those magic abilities directly linked to them being soulmages, Dragonkin individuals also have very sharp senses. Their eyesight is widely recongnise to be the best out of any Shapeshifter type, and far superior than any human. Their ears and nose are also very sensitive.Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Dragonkin individuals are proud of their tails and wings. The longer the tail is and the wider the wing span is, the more are the chances that they will be seen by a potential lover.
However, it is not purely for cosmetic reasons. Indeed the size of the wings are very important in determinating if a dragonkin can fly or not, while the lenght of the tail is crucialy important during fights, as it is often used as an extra limb with natural weapons attached to it.
A dragonkin with longer horns are also treated with much more respect by the other members of the community, as it is a clear indication of the age of that person, and associated wisdom.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
In some countries, such as Nan-Tao or the Rumalian principalities, they have adopted the local languages, though some retain a discinct dialect or accent as they are still isolated from the rest of society, particulary in Rumalia.
In other places, the influx of dragonkin indivduals speaking various difference languages created hybrid languages, like in the Vechor Islands, where the dragonkin population here speaks a language that is a mix of Carathengian, Valcorian, Hazian and Kavasian that only vechorian inhabitants can understand.
History
For decades following the end of the Long Winter and the start of the Second Age, Dragon shapeshifters, as they were called at the time were the only type of shapeshifter that existed. This, combined with the fact that they were very few in numbers and disperesed over large area, mean that they were easy pickings.
Dragonkin bore the brunt of the persecution targeted towards Soulmages during the early years of the second age. Because of this, particulary in Enask and Samaria, these continent were quickly being depopulated of dragonkin, as these individuals were either killed or displaced towards other parts of the world, creating some of the largest mage diaspora.
Over the following decades and centuries, they established themselves in Arros and Mahador. Particulaly the region of Rumalia, which is very welcoming to all soulmages. Some other fled to the kingdom of Tomboraan in Mahador while the last group of Enaskian dragonkin left their homeland and established another in the Vechor islands.
By the time of the rise of the Essanian empire, during the mid-second age, Enask and Western Arros were already mostly devoid of Dragonkin, to the point that some living in those regions started to doubt of their existence, just like they did towards real dragons. Since The Fall and the start of the third age, dragonkin have establish themselves in multiple different places around the world.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Relationship with other Shapeshifters is somewhat rare in most communities, but in Rumalia, it is fairly common, despite their isolation. As for with humans, it is regulary discouraged thanks to it being very taboo. Some even consider it an insult to one's family if the person couple with a human.
Lifespan
120 to 150 years
- Dragonkin are generaly very physicaly strong since they naturaly possess muscular bodies which also makes them larger than most humans and many shapeshifters.¸
- The scales covering their bodies can act like natural armour, able to resist and deflect sword blows and arrow hits. These scales are at their hardest in the back and shoulders, while the ones over their belly and face are thr softest.
- The kingdom of Nan-Tao: Scholars estimate that nearly 2/3 of the population of dragonkin today live on the Continent of Osian, particulary in the Kingdom of Nan-Tao, who took in many refugies from Enask and Samaria. Originaly, the kingdom of Nan-tao did not have a large dragonkin population originaly, but their religion considered Dragons to be holy beings, so when the dragonkin arrived, they were welcomed with open arms, simply because of their resemblance to actual dragons.
- Vechor Islands: The Vechor Islands are home to the largest population of Dragon shapeshifters in Arros and became the new homeland of the Dragonkin who were expulsed out of the City of Lylos, they traveled east for years until they reached these islands and established themselves on it.
- Rumalian principalities: Rumalia was, with Osian, one of the first places that Dragonkin groups flead to during the start of the second age. As a result, it has one of the oldest diaspora, which has all but assimilated into the wider Rumalian culture by this point. They, along with other Shapeshifter, form a core group within rumalian culture and society.
- The Kingdom of Tomboraan: This large kingdom, situated in western Mahador, on the Tombor plateau, hosts one of the largest population of Dragonkin outside of Osian or Arros. Their descendants came to the kingdom after fleeing their last holdout in Enask, situated in the Sarkanian hills. They fleed by boat south to Mahador during the second Darnian-Kavasian war, which devastated the region and arrived in Tomboraan, where they were welcomed. They are credited with bringing Choranism to the kingdom of Tomboraan, which eventualy it converted too. They constitute the largest population of Dragonkin outside of Osian.
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