Dragon

The dragons of Ronia are one of the oldest and most powerful species to live upon the land. They are considered incredibly dangerous and are the subject of many legends, myths, and fairytales. Some that are true, some that are heavily embellished. One things they have in common in any case. One does not simply survive their wrath.
Dragons come in a multitude of colors and alignments. Those of the metallic variety tend to lean lawful good, while those of the chromatic colors generally lean chaotic evil. There is also a 3rd faction of dragons that take on the colors of gems. Their alignment falls in the neutral category, however some exceptions can be found.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dragons are best described as a larger winged reptile however under no circumstance should you refer to one as such. In many ways they resemble large felines being warm blooded. They have four limbs that are incredibly powerful so they can carry their weight, and leap long distances. Their wings are large but not large enough to allow them to fly on muscle alone. They must also rely on their innate magic to assist. Dragons have large tails that they are able to swing like at a battering ram, once they reach a certain size.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dragons reproduce through the laying of eggs. Depending on exact color they can lay anywhere from one to ten eggs. Many of the evil alignment tend to lay many, and allow the wyrmling that hatch take care of themselves. The strongest survive while the weakest become sustenance for their siblings.
Dragons of good alignments will often form families to raise their young, however once those young have grown up they will go their separate ways, unless more wyrmling's are born.
When dragons of two different colors mate, the female blood is often the dominating factor in the color the children inherit.
Thanks to older dragons ability to shapeshift, they quite often had the ability to mate with any other living creature. The creature that would come from this pairing would have strong dragon characteristics. This species is often known as Half-Dragons, no matter what the other species' blood runs through their veins. The most common of these pairings where through humanoids or elves. However reports of Demons, Angels, and even Hobgoblins have been reported. Most of the time these pairings would rarely actually resort to offspring being produced.

Growth Rate & Stages

As dragons age they become stronger and larger. Their innate magic as it grows gives them innate resistance to magic and other damages. Their breath weapon becomes far more powerful as well.
As thet age they are able to tap into their magical reserves, allowing them to cast stronger and more dangerours spells. Unlike a wizard who would need to recite a long incantation, and offer their power to the spirits to manifest their spell. Dragons can surpass these steps and use their own inner wellspring of power.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dragons are omnivores being able to digest all manner of things thanks to their elemental nature, they are able to digest many things that other races would not find edible, some of which includes metals, minerals, and forms of vegetation.
Although most dragons prefer a carnivorous diet, some can pick up some unique dietary habits.
Most Dragons can consume their own body weight in meat every day. When a dragon moves into an area they can cause ecological disasters to the local wildlife or livestock. However dragons do not need to consume this much to survive. In fact when needed to can persist off of the natural magic that floats through the air.
Dragons seldom get fat, as their body converts any extra energy into innate elemental energy for future use. Most of this elementary energy is expended using their breath weapons and the changes that happen to their bodies as they advance in age.
In some instances dragons could eat magical items, allowing them to inherit the items powers for a limited time. This could have some tactical value, however given the destruction of the item from digesting it. Most dragons would only do this as a last resort.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The meat of dragons tastes quite close to grouse however far more intense. When word gets out of a dead dragon, teams quite often get formed to collect all usable materials. These teams are quite well armed given how profitable and rare these materials can be.
Dragonhide was valuable for crafting armor, the innate magic of the dragon persists even after death. Giving the material resistance to the main element of the dragon it came from.
The teeth and claws also were harvested and turned into weapons. As with the dragon's hide these materials also held the innate magics of the dragon and the weapon was able to manifest elemental effects.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

As apex predators, dragons are highly perceptive. Their sense of smell, and hearing are highly developed. As dragons age, their eyes are further augmented by their innate magics. Given that they have the power to see through all illusions, see into the ethereal plane, and discern the true nature of all things. Dragons can see twice better then the average Human in daylight and can see better in the dark then any creature that lives below ground.
Their sense of smell is augmented by their serpent like tongue. They are able to "taste" the air and track pray. Their hearing was about the same as an average Human however they are much better at filtering out what they hear.
Dragons have a good sense of taste, however they don't have a fondness for sweet things. No dragon has revealed why this is the case.
Out of all the senses the only one to decrease with age is their sense of touch. Mostly due to their hardening scales.

Creatures of Magic

Dragons are highly adept with magic. Their innate powers allow them to use magic without any components. Allows them to fly, and even affect their surroundings.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Hoards

All dragons are territorial and covetous. They hoard wealth, although that wealth can mean different things. Dragons will jealously protect their hoard, many to the death. There is no such thing as to much treasure to a dragon. They collect coin, jewels, artwork, and magical items. They will make beds and nooks out of their hoard. The habit of sleeping on their hoards, the greatest of wryms will often have gold and gems embedded within their scales.
Evil dragons will often defend their hoards with violence even against other dragons. Good aligned dragons will try to attempt diplomacy first, however don't mistake their diplomatic approach to weakness. A good aligned dragon will protect it's hoard just as violently as an evil aligned dragon.

Lifespan

2500 years

Related Myths

• Age of Dragons