Serpents of Heaven
Anatomica Draconis
The Pulmonary SASS (Subcutaneous air sac system) are a complex system of air sacs located beneath the skin that act as bellows for the lungs as well as to pneumatize bones - filling them with air, meaning the bones can be bigger without being heavier or weaker. To be specific, they have post-cranial skeletal and soft-tissue pneumaticity; meaning there are hexagonal (honeycomb structured) spaces and pneumatic foramina filled with air within the bone and some tissue. The pneumatization in the wings is perhaps being fueled by the SASS. The air sacs may have played a structural role in holding wing shape and posture, as they do in some birds. This feature aids in the oxygenation of the muscles, and unidirectional flow of oxygen in the lungs. Their large lungs, coupled with their efficiency of exacting oxygen from the air serve to support their size and powerful flight muscles. The SASS would also allow the animal to control the mechanical properties of the wing, perhaps even allowing the inflation to be used in display as it does in some birds. The most important muscle in the tail for dragons as well and crocodiles is the Caudofemoralis. As this illustration shows only the surface musculature, the caudofemoralis which is a deep muscle doesn't show up much. But it's one of the largest muscles in the dragon’s body, as it affects the abduction of the hindlegs. The bigger the caudofemoralis, the faster the dragon. Birds whose main source of locomotion is flying, and don't spend as much time moving on the ground as dragons do have short tails and small caudofemoralis. It is a fact that for most dragons the spikes are made of bone, aka extremely long spinous processes. This could work for terrestrial creatures but for flying animals its additional and unessential weight. The spikey bones have the potential to provide a very easy way for the animal to injure itself and more specifically its spine. Not to mention greatly reducing flexibility, (though this doesn't matter too much as a flying creature would be stiff backed to begin with). Spikes found on other reptiles are made of flesh and scale, a good example being the Thorny Devil. This lizard when calm can be very soft, but is able to make its spikes rigid and sharp when threatened. This is the kind of spike that would make sense for dragons as well. It seems more and more, that dragons represent their own species rather than belonging to the reptile family. Long necks developed in dragons as well as in some birds to allow ease of breath. Most dragons had long to mid-length wings for efficient flight and powerful downward thrust, but low wingbeat frequency. And as wing-beat frequency determines respiratory frequency, this calls for bigger longer breaths, so a longer trachea and therefore longer neck is required to breathe deeply without hyperventilating in flight. This creates the right dead space to tidal volume proportion to create the correct mixture of dead space air and fresh air upon inhalation and co2 concentration. Smaller dragons with shorter wings, higher wingbeat frequency, and shorter breath do not require this, and so have shorter necks. Long necks also come in handy for creatures with stiff backs/Vertebrae, they develop a long neck in order to get a better look around. Flying creatures are always very stiff, as too much flexibility in flight creates drag and makes it harder to support weight. This is observable in birds, who all have long necks. Even the small songbirds necks are secretly proportionally long, their length is just hidden beneath feathers. When it comes to the larger birds, like herons and vultures, the necks are even longer.Black Dragons
These dragon specific identifiers (as pictured for the black dragon subtype) usually only allow the identification of younger dragons. As dragons age their intelligence develops and so do their magical abilities. These in turn shape the dragon's physical appearance into something completely unique by the time a dragon is a few centuries old. How much control the dragons have over these changes is as of yet unknown. The only constant is that their skin color remains unchanged over the years. A black dragon has deep-socketed eyes and broad nasal openings that make its face look like a skull. It has segmented horns that curve forward and down, somewhat like a ram’s horns, but not as curly. These horns are bone-colored near their bases but darken to dead black at the tips. As the dragon ages, the flesh around the horns and cheekbones deteriorates, as though eaten by acid, leaving only thin layers of hide covering the skull. This phenomenon is not harmful to the dragon but enhances its skeletal appearance. Most of a black dragon’s teeth protrude when the mouth is closed, and big spikes stud the lower jaw. A pair of small horns jut from the chin, and a row of hornlets crown the head. The tongue is flat, with a forked tip, and the dragon often drools acidic slime. A black dragon smells of rotting vegetation and foul water, with an acidic undertone. A black dragon flying overhead is marked by a distinctive profile. Its horns, with their characteristic forward curve, are clearly visible. The wing membranes are marked with blobby stripes, and the leading edges of the wings are fringed or scalloped near the tips. A black dragon also has exceptionally long alar thumbs. The trailing edges of the wing membranes join the body ahead of the back legs. On hatching, a black dragon’s scales are thin, small, and glossy. As the dragon ages, they become larger, thicker, and duller, helping it camouflage itself in swamps and marshes.Engagement
Fighting a dragon is always a bad idea, but it cannot be avoided. There are simply too many of them. It is always prudent to follow the Konungr's advice. However, the Drakver are not always available, and you have to take things into your own hands. If you encounter a young dragon, hunt it like any other flying beast. They are among the more clever beasts, but they're a beast nonetheless. Make sure to kill it, do not let it grow up, even if it costs you an arm and a leg. You will save more lives of your fellow Joghat in the long run. If you have to engage an older dragon, do not do it on your own, and be prepared. Know what type of breath weapon it uses and position and protect yourself accordingly. Be aware of their magic and prepare for it. If you cannot ensure the dragon stays grounded do not engage. Recent theories propose that older dragons are simply too heavy to be able to fly solely by the force of their muscles and wings. It is presumed that the older dragons keep themselves flying through magical means, as such any magic negating effect could potentially be used to keep the dragon on the ground. If you should be in possession of an Edrinok infused weapon, make sure to use it. However, even raw Edrinok can be fashioned into a rudimentary spear, which will work better than ordinary weapons. If you manage to slay a dragon, do not let the body rot away. Drain its blood, skin its hide, and defang the beast. Everything can be used one way or another. Armor made out of dragon scales for instance will protect you in future encounters with a dragon of the same type. Furthermore, it will also intimidate any dragons you encounter and remind them that they are not invincible, a fact the older dragons often seem to forget.Historical Details
History
The book was rediscovered by Tenacious-Tsunami in the year 211 EoL, while exploring ancient Giant ruins, hidden in the mountains of Vrinn Island.
Serpents of Heaven
