Dragons
Basic Information
Growth Rate & Stages
Dragon life stage youngest to oldest:
Rimling (barely out of the incubator)
Cub
Prevenile
Juvenile
Drager
Most-grown/Adult
Primeval
Moribund
A common term one might hear thrown around when studying dragons is maturity. Maturity is a state of growth when the dragon unlocks its magical potential and breaks its limit. Most dragons have a potential blockage that prevents them from reaching the full power of their magical energy. The blockage can be genetic or can be mental. Most of the blockages can be overcome through sheer physical exertion where the dragon exerts itself far beyond its limit or opens its mind to newer possibilities.
It was once a practice in which the dragon's parent would toss their offspring into a dangerous area or situation that forced them to break their limits. However, this is frowned upon nowadays as overexertion even when the dragon becomes mature during that as it can cause great internal damage to the dragon such as organ rupture. In the worse case, the newly acquired magical energy is too much for the young dragon to handle and the energy rips the dragon from the inside out killing it. It is generally frowned upon to use this method of maturing a dragon and most use a slower but safer way of breaking down a little bit of the dragon's limits every day. Some traditionalist dragons believe forceful maturity creates stronger dragons though this has not yet been proven.
Not all maturity is a physical limit. Some dragons are prevented from growing to maturity because of their past trauma, inner doubt, or another mental limit. A dragon might be traumatized by the death of one of their parents or was told when they were young they would never mature as such gave them an inner doubt. Some dragons deal with both physical and mental limits.
Most dragons become mature after their mid drager years though it is not uncommon to become mature after the late drager years. Some dragons become mature earlier while some even mature in their late adulthood. There are even some dragons that mature the moment they are born. These dragons are often called "prodragies" and are highly revered by other dragons and immensely powerful.
After reaching maturity and breaking their physical or mental limits, the dragon's magical energy limit and power are not bounded by any limit allowing the dragon to grow to immense power. While there is theoretically nothing to the dragon from gaining infinite power, most dragons once they reach a certain power stop trying to train or develop their magical abilities as deeming themselves strong enough (trying to develop new magical abilities and testing to limits of magic is a lot of work).
A note on Primeval and Moribund Dragons
When a dragon reaches the Primeval stage, they become so ancient they no longer care about expanding their lair. The conquesting days and claiming new lands are over and they become content with the lands they rule. Primeval dragons often become so content that they become symbiotically bonded with the land where they live. The dragon will often have its scales resembling the natural substance that makes up the land. Due to the fact the primeval dragon is so attuned to the land, it can sense all newcomers that even step foot on it and can manipulate the land's fauna and flora to its advantage using the land's native energy. The primeval dragon becomes the land's protector and guards the land from all invaders. It takes care of it keeping the fauna and flora population in check and protecting it from intruders who would want to destroy the land. If the land that the primeval dragon is destroyed or terraformed into a new land, the dragon is severely weakened as it loses many of its abilities (though some dragons simply adapt to the new environment). Due to this, most primeval dragons guard their lands which as much care as their lives. While most primeval dragons don't try to expand their power instead residing in their lair/land as a form of retirement, some primeval dragons retain their ambition to conquer. They often try to terraform conquered lands to match their habitat so they can expand their influence and power. Once the primeval dragon becomes old enough and is near dying, the dragon's magical power and energy reserves increase drastically. The increase is the dragon's body trying to generate enough energy to hopefully keep it from dying as the dragon's body begins to break down. The boost in energy is massive and some dragons even report the energy released is ten times the normal magical energy and power they have. Dragons that reach this stage as known as moribund dragons. The energy helps the dragon increase its body span keeping it alive more than what is normally possible. It is not uncommon to see moribund dragons having some of their bones exposed as the skin crumbles into dust. It is not an exaggeration to say moribund dragons walk the thin line between the living and the dead. Some dragons choose to use their newly acquired energy to go down in flames using their energy to perform something memorable hoping to be remembered by history. However, the more of this boost of energy is used, the quicker the dragon's body will waste away. Some dragons wish to keep as much of this energy in them as possible not using it while other dragons consider a life of holding the energy back to be a waste of the gift their body has given them. Regardless of what the dragon chooses to do with its energy, all dragons die in the end...
Ecology and Habitats
Dragons live in a wide variety of habitats depending on their species. Most dragons live somewhere in nature except for Visel dragons.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Dragons eat a wide variety of creatures depending on their species. Some dragons even eat substances of the world like dirt or wood.
Behaviour
While dragon personalities vary, most dragons are very prideful regarding themselves as the most important species and the most dangerous predator out there. Most dragons also avoid other dragons and stick with only the dragons they know the most such as family members or very close friends. Dragons are also paranoid about other dragons. Dragon's relationships with other species vary. Most dragons either consider other species as inferior and their lives worthless unless they benefit the dragon while others believe the other species should be protected as they are weak. A few dragons consider other species as equals to them. Most primeval dragons gain respect and care for the other species in their lair/land.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Dragons possess high forms of magic. They use magic to help them enhance their physical capabilities like speed or sight. Contrary to popular belief, a dragon's breath weapon is not magic but rather an anatomical feature. Dragons can enhance their breath weapons hence why there are some reports of dragons unleashing their breath weapon at a wider distance or with more destruction than usual.
A dragon's magical reservoir increases over time. While a dragon's breath weapon does not increase in power as it grows, adult dragons are more likely to infuse their breath with magic hence why most believe a dragon's breath power increases as it ages.
Scientific Name
Draco
Origin/Ancestry
Lizards
Conservation Status
Due to the Deturge, dragons are an endangered species. The AIs consider dragons dangerous and to be killed on sight. The United Circle of Preternaturalists considers dragons sacred and never to be killed unless it has committed a horrific action.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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