Skywings

Skywings are fairly lithe, at least when compared to their bulkier counterparts, like Mudwings and Seawings. Their wings are broad and strong, giving them extreme aerial maneuverability, as well as the hottest fire breath of all tribes. Their society is mitiliaristic and strict, even bordering on violent, depending on which queen is currently in power.
Dragons in the SkyWing tribe are considered adults at 8 years old, and if they are in good enough health, are drafted into the military. They are required to serve for four years, and then are allowed to stay or leave, their choice.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Most names are unisex, however names generally considered feminine are the ones associated with gemstones or other natural beauties.

Masculine names

Most names are unisex, however names generally considered masculine are ones associated with birds or forces of nature.

Family names

Royalty seem to prefer names that reflect luxurious things, like gemstones or vibrant pigments, though it seems that commoners do often take inspiration from these themes.

Other names

Naming traditions generally tend to follow either minerals (Ruby, Carnelian, Garnet), birds of prey (Eagle, Osprey, Hawk), anything red (Scarlet, Vermillion), or things associated with the mountains (Avalanche, Cliff). However, it seems they break their own naming conventions at times, reflected in the name Peril.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Skywings speak the common dragon language, but have a fair bit of slang and often make up words. Dragons from stricter tribes like NightWings of IceWings may find themselves completely puzzled by the strange dialect and mashed-together words. Grammar is completely unimportant, as long as your point can be made.

Culture and cultural heritage

SkyWings have a deep sense of pride in their culture, and even though the cultural climate may change depending on the queen in power, the core of what makes the SkyWings what they are never changes. A culture that values simplicity and functionality over luxury, and blunt honesty over reassuring lies. Affection is shown through affectionate teasing and roughhousing, and loyalty to friends, family, and one’s mated partner are important above all.

Shared customary codes and values

It’s no mystery that SkyWing culture has a heavy focus on combat and physical strength, matter over mind, but what many other tribes do not know is that honor, loyalty, and courage are respected much more. A scrawny SkyWing that is loyal and brave will be respected just as much as an honorable and strong soldier. Cowardice, dishonesty, and betrayal are seen as high offenses, and will often get a dragon completely ostracized from the group until they can improve themselves and prove that they have.

Average technological level

Education can vary greatly considering the current political status. During wartime, soldiers are given very little education, and illiteracy rates are high. However, outside of wartime, education is at a fairly decent level. All dragonets born into the breeding program are put through basic schooling as a default, taught how to read, write, do basic math, and anything else that is useful for simple daily function. SkyWings are not very focused on academics, and any dragon that wishes to be a scholar may be sent to another kingdom to study abroad, if inter-tribe relations are good enough at the time to enable such a thing.
Because of this, many SkyWing tools are very basic, and mostly made of simple machines. You’ll rarely, if ever, find anything of an industrial nature in the SkyWing kingdom. Everything is handmade, and built to last as long as possible. Very little automation exists, and the little that does is generally received due to trades with other kingdoms.

Common Etiquette rules

SkyWings are generally fairly blunt with one another, as long as one is not a superior to the other. Being candid and open is seen as a sign of respect towards equals, since politeness and reverence is a sign of seeing one as above you, and being condescending or untrusting is seeing one as below you. Thus, a SkyWing’s “rude” nature is generally an attempt at showing another dragon equal treatment, which is unfortunately often lost in translation and taken as offensive.

Common Dress code

Jewelry is really only an indulgence seen in nobles and royalty. Most commo dragons prefer not to wear any kind of accessories, and the few that do generally choose clothing based on functionality. Common accessories are goggles to assist flying in storms by preventing water from getting in the eyes, leather bags attached onto the thigh for carrying various objects, and armbands that show one’s rank in the military, should they have one.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Birthdays: The queen’s hatching-day is celebrated as a holiday all around the capitol of the kingdom. Depending on the Queen, it can be an extravagant celebration dedicated towards her, or it can be a fun time to let go of the usual strict atmosphere for all dragons to enjoy. Princess hatching-days are also celebrated within the castle. Princes receive a similar treatment, but to a slightly lesser degree.
Common dragons often have small celebrations for each other’s birthday, but nothing over the top. The dragon’s mate and friends will often get them a large meal, which is then shared. The last hatching day before one retires from the military is especially important, however, and warrants a much larger party, often celebrated by the entire squadron. It functions as a sending off party as well as a celebration.
Holidays: Not many holidays are celebrated in SkyWing culture, however the first day of summer is regarded as one of the most important days of the year, and so families and groups of friends celebrate it together. It is called the Dawn Solstice, since it dawns the warmest time of year.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When a SkyWing dies, their body is brought up to a high peak, and whoever is succeeding them (a mate, a child, a sibling, etc) will use their flames to set their body on fire. It is believed that the soul is stored in the smoke of this final flame, and to preform such a ritual atop a mountain increases the chances of the dragon either going to Paradise, or being reincarnated into a SkyWing instead of another dragon tribe.

Common Taboos

Lying is considered a great taboo, even in a situation where a lie may be kinder. Honesty is valued, even when the truth may hurt.

Common Myths and Legends

There are many folklore stories, generally because they were made up by soldiers telling stories when they and their fellow soldiers couldn’t sleep for various reasons.
Rose Gold and the Fox: This story is of a SkyWing princess who was arrogant and selfish, as well as cowardly. Her name was Rose Gold, and one day, she ran away from the palace instead of doing work she was required to do as a princess. She met a fox that could speak, and she vented her childish frustrations to him. The fox bluntly asked her why she could lead with an attitude like that, and she indignantly responded that she was stronger and faster than any other dragon. The fox challenged her to a race to prove it, which she accepted. However, the race was through a swamp, and Rose was too disgusted to run. The fox waded fearlessly through the muck, and won. He came out looking bedraggled and disgusting, but proud. Rose Gold learned to put her pride aside and work hard from this.
The Headless Dragon: A common scary story. It’s about a military general that betrayed his squad in order to survive a losing battle, leaving all of his dragons to die. The last survivor was taken prisoner and beheaded publicly. On his way back to the castle, the headless corpse of the fallen dragon followed and haunted him, and slowly drove him mad before forcing him to claw his own throat open.
The Smoke-Breather: This story is an inspirational tale, generally told to younger, weaker dragonets. It’s about a dragon born with the rare mutation of too little fire. He could only breathe hot smoke, and nothing else. He was mocked and belittled for being so weak and sickly, but in the thick of a battle, he saved his entire group by concealing them all in thick smog, which the attacking dragons got lost in. The squadron was able to regroup and ambush the enemy, retaking the upper hand and winning the battle.

Historical figures

Queen Redtail: The brave queen that guided her tribe through a messy war with the SeaWings 500 years after The Scorching.
General Horizon: An honored military general that had his whole squadron kidnapped during the SeaWing war. He went in alone to rescue all of them, and even after the prison went up in flames, he went back in time and time again to get every single soldier out.
The Great Thief Robin: A daring thief that was captured, but then offered to use her skills to steal back treasure that was stolen by enemy tribes. A popular antihero.
Wyrm-Wings: A SkyWing born without wings. Despite that crippling disability, she became like a vigilante during the civil war that occurred 1000 years post-scorching, taking out violent terrorists. She has become a symbol of justice for the courts.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Having pale or murky scale color is associated with illness or being born without fire, and so vibrant colors are considered most attractive in society. Aerial maneuverability is also a very attractive trait, same with having visible strength (like visible muscles or battle scars) or honor in battle. These things are, in the end, seen as more important than appearances. Though you may be seen a small bit more attractive if you’re a vibrant red, even an ash-gray SkyWing can be seen as gorgeous if the traits in flight and battle are present.

Gender Ideals

When compared to other tribes, SkyWings have some of the stricter gender roles. Female dragons are expected to be elegant, and to have strength in finesse and agility. Meanwhile, male dragons are expected to be more suited for brute strength, and bulk.

Courtship Ideals

The vast majority of SkyWings are born through a breeding program, in which the strongest and healthiest soldiers are paired up (a bit of mind is paid to personality compatibility, so they don’t set each other on fire) in order to produce healthy offspring. These dragons are then raised in a hatchery run by the queen.
However, having a relationship and raising dragonets together is not forbidden or frowned upon. SkyWings often show the other party their interest by showing off skills, like flight, fire breathing, or strength. If their potential partner is impressed or interested, they will often spend the evening together, watching the sunset and having a conversation. From there, they can become partners, often working together and having meals together. If the relationship pans out, they can become a mated pair and, when not currently on service to the military, can start a family. Nobles and royalty have weddings, but commoners rarely do. Instead, the two dragons fly up to a high peak, sometimes accompanied by family and friends, and breathe fire high up into the sky, letting the flames mingle.

Relationship Ideals

SkyWings aren’t exactly interested in PDA. Instead, a relationship often involves finding a partner who is easy to talk to and spend time with. Going on ‘dates’ is fairly uncommon, instead the common practice is for a SkyWing to simply invite their mate along for otherwise mundane activities. Romance and lovey-dovey stuff is replaced with the ideal of having a companion that makes life easier and more enjoyable. SkyWing relationships are mostly very peaceful for this reason, since they involve mostly calm, passive coexistence.

Major organizations

Royal Family: SkyWing reputations change greatly depending on who is in power at the time. For example, a ruthless queen like Queen Scarlet gave her tribe a fearsome reputation for being cruel and warlike. However, a much more calm and merciful queen like Queen Ruby settled the dragons much more, instead making them simply strict instead of blatantly militaristic.
Spirits of Flame: The church of the SkyWings. Many adhere to the centralized religion, in which loyalty and honor in battle is rewarded in the afterlife. The souls of heroes who fall in battle shall live on forever in Paradise, whereas the souls of the good but not legendary will be peacefully reincarnated. The souls of the wicked and corrupt, however, are reborn as rats. Rats are seen as vile creatures in SkyWing culture, and to compare one to a rat is considered a very high insult. Queen Scarlet was mostly neutral to this religion, but she did propose changes that allowed dragons to do her much crueler bidding without dooming their souls. It is believed that burying a SkyWing at a high altitude gives them a better chance of being reborn as a SkyWing.
FlameWings: A criminal organization with unknown whereabouts. They deal mostly in illegal trade, and have some of the best assassins for hire. Burn called upon them regularly during the war, often sending them to the outskirts of the Ice Kingdom, considering the fact that their fire breath was disastrous towards IceWing construction that wasn’t animus protected. Hybrid and mutant dragons are often sold like pets, and poorer dragons kidnapped as hatchlings are sold like slaves.
SkyWing Military: The majority of healthy SkyWings are a part of the military, however this does not make for the most sustainable society, so all members of the army oftentimes take up secondary jobs. Barracks and military bases have become like small towns, with soldiers taking up jobs like baking, hunting, forging, and even less ‘necessary’ jobs like music or library work. After the SandWing War, the armies themselves were not needed for actual fighting as often, and thus these settlements often loosened and turned into proper towns. Queen Ruby supported this wholeheartedly.