Loong

Dragon of Mor Thia

by Shu Qing Tan

Loong by Andrea Alemanno

The loong is an amphibious serpentine dragon with four clawed feet. The loong tends to be associated with water and the weather.
The head of a loong can resemble that of a cow, a deer, or even a crocodile. Antlers sprout from above its expressive eyes. Some loong have beards or manes. Some sport a pair of long whiskers, like the barbels of a catfish but longer. Like its cousin the draco, the loong’s body can be covered with scales, like that of a carp, or fur, or even leathery skin. All loong have eagle claws and palms like those of a tiger. The loong can fly without wings, slithering gracefully through the air from cloud to cloud. Some trail vapor in their wake. Loong live in well-organized and hierarchical social groups.

Origins

Not much is known about the origins of the loong. The elders whisper of how the spirits of the earth, water, and sky once grew restless in a time when the world was devoid of sentient mortals. These spirits threw spirit fragments bearing their thoughts and feelings into the world, and these seeds exploded, becoming the first loong. The first loong were not as well-organized as the loong we know today, for they were curious newborns, and as they explored, they learnt more about the world around them and built their own society and culture. According to legend, the earliest loong occasionally fraternized with mortals. Many loong deny this, and their records show no such association. However, humanoid folk legends abound of beasts and humans touched by the spirits of water and sky and through centuries of trials, attained dragonhood.

Habitat

Many loong live in underwater kingdoms where they hold dominion. Others lair in the sky amongst the clouds.

Behavior and Culture

Unlike other dragons, loong are quite social due to their family-oriented culture. The family is the core social unit of loong culture. Anyone outside of the family unit is not afforded the same level of trust and warmth unless they prove themselves worthy. Loong adhere to a hierarchical social order. Within the family unit, elders occupy the top and younglings are at the bottom. Outside of the family unit, non-loong nobility, trusted advisors and associates are at the rung below the younglings, and so on. In loong society, social status and respect accrue with age and achievements. Loong keep mostly to themselves and their families, and some maintain friendly relations with other loong. However, they also deal regularly with the courtiers and vassals who serve them in their kingdoms. Interactions with humanoids are mostly transactional, but should a humanoid impress a loong with a heroic deed or perform some favor for them, the loong will become a staunch friend and ally. If one should cross a loong, though, the opposite holds true: the loong will curse the humanoid and make their life miserable.

Powers

The loong can turn into clouds and other forms of water to blend in with their surroundings. More potently, loong can control the weather, including calling down rain, hail, and lightning. Coastal flooding and raging waves on the sea are often the work of vengeful loong who consider themselves to have been wronged by greedy farmers and lying sailors.

Roles

The loong is a generalized depiction of Chinese dragons. Their culture is akin to a collectivist culture. Their behavior is modeled after the royalty or ruling classes in medieval China. The GM may portray them as quest-givers or as individuals to be negotiated with for assistance or a boon.

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This article was originally published in issue #1 of Drintera Magazine, which you can download for free.