Dragons

The most common species in Dorakor

Written by Skia

Dragons are the most common species in the world. Being extremely intelligent, strong, and with tremendous elemental power, they managed to spread all across the world after the Second Great Dragon-Wyvern War. While there are tons of different types of dragons, their general behaviour and customs is mostly the same, with the most notable exception being their relations with other sentient species, and general ideals.

Biology

Dragons are usually pretty big, usually quadruped and sometimes winged creatures, that are completely covered in scales, and sometimes fur or feathers. Most of them have evolved forked tongues, but that's a feature that was lost in eastern dragons, thanks to a more development sense of smell via their noses. They all seems to have, however, the Jacobson's organ. Dragons can live up to 1500 years depending on the species. One dragon year equivales to about 10 human years. They are usually omnivorous, however they usually prefer meat. Dragons are also oviparous, and the number of eggs one can lay depends on the species, although it's usually 1-3.

Control over the elements

Their anatomy can change varying on the order they belong to, but one thing they have in common is the control over at least one element, usually fire. Wyvernians science can explain how exactly they are able to do this:

• Fire: fire dragons have an organ that produces a special gas that ignites when released to the air.
• Ice: similar mechanism as fire dragons, but with the inverse result: the gas freezes when in contact with the air.
• Earth: earth dragons are usually really big dragons, capable of shaking the ground under their weight. This also means their attacks carry an extra punch because of it.
• Metal: metal dragons cannot control metal per se, but it is said that their scales have the same durability as it.
• Wind: wind dragons usually have very large wings, and their movement is enough to confuse and stun the enemy.
• Poison: poisonous dragons are, quite literally, dragons that can produce poison, and usually have a poisonous bite.
• Water: water dragons utilize high pressured saliva as a weapon. They have a sack inside their mouth that collects excessive saliva when not used, and they are able to split it at high speed to attack their preys or enemies.
• Electricity: they are electrogenic, much like Electric eels, thanks to an organ able to produce bioelectric fields
• Light: Much like deep sea fishes, they have one or more luminescent organ, able to light up in the dark.
• Shadow: shadow dragons are master of camouflage, and are able to change colours to blend with their surroundings.

Classification

All dragons belong to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylium Chordata, and Class Ignidentia. There are the 4 different orders:

• Ignialae, western dragons;
• Longisauridae, eastern dragons;
• Multicaputidae, hydras;
• Pelaganguisidae, sea dragons.

Each order is also divided in different families:

• Ignialae: Draconidae, traditional western dragons, with four legs and two wings; Celersquamae, drakes, with four legs and no wings; Ignicolubrae, wyrms, with no legs or wings; Brachiflammae, lindwyrm, with two arms and sometimes winged (they are different from wyverns cause they only have two front legs, instead of only two back legs Plumignidae, amphitheres, with no legs but a pair of wings.
• Longisauridae: Pentadactilia, eastern dragons with five fingers on each paw; Quadractilia, eastern dragons with four fingers on each paw; Tridactilia, with three fingers on each paw; Fluvisauridae, eastern dragons specialized in living in water; Pterignidae, very rare winged eastern dragons.
• Multicaputidae: Hydrae, four legged hydras with no wings; Hydruidae, hydras with no legs or wings; Hydralae, 4 legged hydras with wings.
• Pelaganguisidae: Regielapidae, sea dragons with 4 fins; Cetidraconidae, big sea dragons with 2 fins.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Dragons don't have family names, and instead they address themselves by using this formula:

profession title + name + son/daughter of (name of the parents)

There may be some variation (like avoiding mentioning the profession title in case of unemployed dragons), but intrudicing themselves for the first time in any other way it's seen as rude and disrespectful.

Other names

Nicknames are an acceptable way to refer to others, but only if you know them well. Many dragons will get angry if you use a nickname on them before getting to know them.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

While there are slightly different dialects between different types of dragons (eastern dragons tend to use the N, M and L more, while western use more rough-sounding consonants), they all speak Draconic. Some historian and scholar may also know Wyvernic or other languages, but they are never used in an actual conversation.

Culture and cultural heritage

Dragons consider any tradition and legend extremely important, even if it's not theirs. They think it has to be remembered at all costs, even if they don't believe or follow said legend/myth/tradition. As such, the Lorekeeper is a highly respectable profession. Out of all the lorekeepers, 12 are choosen by various trials and tests to become Elemental lorekeepers, who also guard the elemental fragments. Dragons in general value highly knowledge, and they will try to seek it as much as they can. They are mostly open to other cultures, even if they still believe theirs to be better.

Shared customary codes and values

Wild dragons can and will fight over territory or lair, unless they are mated. These fights are never lethal, and they are more akin to duels. Fire and any other elemental weapons aren't allowed, and it's advised against using claws or teeth. This is a custom respected by most dragons, as it has been a tradition of centuries, from way before dragons started building settlements.

Average technological level

The dragon society is very technologically advanced, only surpassed by the wyvernian one. Said technology is especially prevalent in big cities, but even the dragons who decide to instead live alone in the wild still use it.

Common Etiquette rules

It's common etiquette to slightly wave your own wings and bow the head. It's also common for most frilled dragons to wave the frills as well, but it's advised to avoid it with thunder dragon, as that is an aggressive behaviour for them.

Common Dress code

Dragons don't usually wear clothes unless it's required by their profession (I.E. armour for warriors). However, rich families may decide to wear jewels and gold on their horns, claws, neck and tail. Dragons who decide to wear clothes outside those reasons are seen as eccentric, especially if they do that in public.

Art & Architecture

Dragons love art very much. Painting, music, writing, all kinds of art are highly respected, as creativity is seen as a gift from the gods. After all, their main divine artifacts, the Elemental Fragments, known as "Sidorada", are part of a giant mural that would depict the king of all gods, Siriakor.
As for the architecture, western dragons don't usually put too much thought into it, as they prefer to live in caves or any place similar, even if artificial. The only exception are divine temples, which dragons put lots of effort into building. Eastern dragons however like to live in big and ornate buildings, similar to temples.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Collecting gold and jewel is a common custom for all the dragons. Some dragons may also hoard other things besides gold, based on their interests and hobbies. Sometimes it may also be related to their professions, such as lorekeepers hoarding books and dictionaries.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a dragon hatches from the egg, it is custom to keep a small piece of the eggshell and make a special necklace out of it. It is considered bad luck to lose said necklace.

Coming of Age Rites

There isn't an actual coming of age rite, but once a young dragon gets to a certain age, they are expected to leave their own and start study with a personal teacher for years. This is needed to have the required knowledge to find a job.

Funerary and Memorial customs

The funerary customs change depending on the dead dragon's major element. For example, a fire dragon will be honoured with a really big pyre on top of the body. There are also graveyards near any Sitagrador temples, and most of the poorer dragons who can't afford such custums will go there to die.

Common Taboos

It's considered a taboo to break up with your partner once reached adulthood. It's also discouraged for wild dragons to share their territory with someone else other than their partner/love interest.

Historical figures

This section is a work in progress, as I have not yet written down everything about their history

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Beauty ideals vary depending on the species. In general, bigger wings are seen as more beautiful for winged species, as it means they are able to fly for long distances and with more expertise in the air, while for drakes and eastern dragon it's either the brightness and thickness of the fur or the length of any horns and spikes.

Gender Ideals

Dragons don't consider gender roles important at all. Each individual can choose to be referred with any pronoun, even the neutral one, and everyone will try their best to respect them.

Courtship Ideals

Traditional courtship for dragons usually takes a long time. It takes lots of patience, gifts, flirting to even have the other notice. Some dragons will also adorn themselves with jewels on their horns and frills. Once the two start to have feeling for each other they will often fly together, if they are from a winged species, or run for miles, often for hours. For dragons who live outside of the cities, staying in another dragon's territory is also a sign that you're interested in them, as only mated couples will do that. The next step is to show each other their hoard, as this is a sign of trust. Then, the final goal of the courtship is what's known as "rogokedior", or "death dive", in which the two dragons will fly as high as they possibly can, embrace, and then dive to the ground, only separating at the very end. It's a display of complete trust, as not trusting your partner may cause both to seriously injure themselves while doing so. If the two dragons both belongs to species without wings, they will instead climb the nearest and tallest mountain, all with their tails wrapped around one another, and then roar together once they get to the top. It's important to remember that even if diving isn't involved, the name "rogokedior" doesn't actually change.

Relationship Ideals

Usually dragons are monogamous and they stay with their partner till one of them dies. Sometimes younger dragons do break up, especially if they realize that the relationship isn't working. That being said, it's seen a bit of a taboo to break up with your partner if you're an adult, as you're expected at that point to have enough experience to carefully choose your mate. As a note, dragons don't have marriage or any official cerimony, but a pair that has performed a rogokedior is considered mated for life.

Major organizations

The head of the government is a constitutional monarchy. While the king/queen usually inherits the throne from their family, they have to pass some specific tests to deem them worthy to rule over the kingdom. If they are unable to pass said tests they can't reign. This is because the ruler is supposed to guard and control 2 of the most dangerous Elemental Fragments, the life and death one.

From a religious point of view, there is no pope or any other head figure but a number of dragons each working in a specific temple. Those dragons are usually also scholars, and study old manuscript related to the gods. Sometimes, some of those dragons become really loyal to a specific god and master its element more than any other dragon is capable of. Those are called "followers of (element)" but they are not an official organization.

Illegal networks also exists and the biggest one is the group of dragons in Bony Ravine. They take advantages of the impervious terrain to trade illegal drugs and help criminals to travel through the valley without being seen. Unfortunately all this comes to the price that the place is extremely dangerous, and there aren't many who manage to survive said travel.

Trivia

• Usually dragons live in their own settlement, but sometimes some of them decide to live in the wild. They will find a lair for themselves like ancient dragons used to do, and will fight over territory with other wild dragons. They are called called "Keriadrakor" in Draconic.

Names

Feminine names

Mizara, Doraka, Skia, Akidra, Fafrimiza, Zarikada, Fudrara

Masculine names

Fafrador, Kafaridor, Zadaror, Rugridor, Sinduror, Fuzodigror, Fradrior

Unisex names

Mizorok, Fafariok, Akidorok, Roarodaok, Riakarok, Kargodok

Other info

Diverged ethnicities

• Wyverns

Encompassed species

• Black Dragons
• Common Drake
• Common Hydra
• Greater Western
• Lesser Eastern

Related Myths

• The Creation - Explanation

Languages spoken

• Draconic