Dragons

The Dragons are an ancient race of creatures with an intrinsic connection to magic, believed to have existed in Taeva for as long as magic itself has. So great is their mastery over magic, it's commonly believed that the Dragons were the first mages to ever exist, and even today, the foremost duty of all Dragonkind is to preserve the balance of magic in the world. While many Dragons today prefer to keep to themselves, their presence can still have a great impact on the world around them.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dragon's typically appear as large, winged, quadrupedal reptiles with long necks and tails, and horns of various sizes and shapes. Additionally, all Dragons also have fur mixed with their scales, most commonly as a large tuft on the tip of the tail, along their limbs (including the outside of their wings), a "mane" around their chest, and a horse-like crest that runs along their back from the back of their head to just shy of the tip of their tail. Being so intrinsically tied to magic, some Dragons can develop unique characteristics based on the magic of their environment (e.g. crystalline growths, plantlike elements, feathered wings, etc.).

Biological Traits

While Dragons are already capable of living far longer than any other living thing in Taeva, they can further extend their lifespan by going into a hibernative state that seems to completely stop their ageing (or at least slows it to the point of appearing to stop). The downside to this is that for the duration of this hibernation, the Dragon is completely unaware of the outside world, with the world they wake up to often being completely different from the one they went to sleep in.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dragon's are an egg-laying race, often laying clutches of 3-4 eggs. No one knows how long these eggs take to incubate, as the gravid Dragon spends all of its time in their lair, but estimates place the process at around 2-3 years, give or take.

Growth Rate & Stages

Whelp: 0-5
Young: 6-30
Juvenile: 31-100
Adult: 101-500
Elder: 501-1000
Ancient: 1000+

Ecology and Habitats

Dragons can be found all over the world, though they prefer to make their homes in secluded places such as islands, mountains and caves.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dragons are omnivorous, though some have been observed eating gemstones as well. Some of the most powerful Dragons can even consume Aether, both in its original energy state and as Aetherite.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Dragon society is hierarchical, with a combination of magical aptitude, physical strength, wisdom, experience, and reputation all being taken into account when judging ones social standing.

Facial characteristics

Dragons have a reptilian face and horns. Depending on the individual Dragon, there may be a number of variants in their appearance (e.g. antlers in place of horns, a "beard", etc.).

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Dragons could be found all over the world, with each type preferring an environment that suited their physiology.

Average Intelligence

Dragons are among the most intelligent beings in Taeva, with hundreds, if not thousands, of years of knowledge and experience to their name. Additionally, some believe that Dragons are capable of passing down this knowledge at birth through some unknown means, as evidenced by the fact that whelps are capable of speech and possess a solid grasp of low-level Draconic Magic only a few days after hatching.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Dragons have two eyes, and two ears around the base of their horns. Being powerful spellcasters, Dragons have great skill both in using magic, as well as sensing its presence.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

No one truly understands the naming traditions of Dragons, as they seem to be all over the place. Some names are short, some long, some melodic, some harsh, and everything in between. The Dragons claim that there's some meaning behind their names, though they seem to be the only ones who know what these meanings are.

Male names: Yghinth, Edroith, Ordorriass, Tyvorrom, Ralrzrydur, Migaith
Female names: Yllass, Frydhaess, Nothae, Cheldrilth, Aeninthet, Reylyth

Beauty Ideals

While individual Dragons may have differing opinions on what's considered beautiful, some common traits that are considered attractive include some combination of strength, intellect, and/or experience.

Courtship Ideals

What little information exists on Dragon courtship seems to indicate that when two Dragons consider each other to be worthy mates, they remain with each other for life.

Relationship Ideals

Both parents are expected to contribute to raising their offspring until they can take care of themselves.

Common Etiquette Rules

It is said that dragons have great respect for those who can prove themselves to be their equal in either strength or wits, or at least come close. Additionally, appealing to the personality of a Dragon, or at least presenting them with an appealing gift, can help one get into a Dragons good graces.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Dragons are often considered to be prideful creatures by nature, especially when dealing with any non-Draconic beings. Even among Dragons who have generally friendly relations with non-Dragons tend to be condescendingly compassionate in their interactions. While it's generally acknowledged that such pride naturally stems from the vast difference in strength, intelligence, lifespan, and magical aptitude between Dragons and other mortal races, this attitude has been a source of great frustration among those who attempt to interact with them.

Being creatures who's lifespan can stretch into the thousands of years, Dragons have a very different perception of time compared to the other mortal races of Taeva. They have very little interest in the present moment, considering it to be nothing more than a fleeting moment compared to the millennia ahead of them, preferring instead to focus on the long term (Many Dragons consider the relative haste with which other races live their lives amusing). The most obvious example of this trait is their approach to decision making: A Dragon would spend months, years, or even decades mulling over a decision, analysing every possible detail and potential outcome before committing themselves to a course of action. The only times a Dragon would make what could be considered a "snap decision" would be if they, their hoard, or their family/ally is directly threatened.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Draconic Hoards: One of the most recognisable traditions among Dragons is their habit of building hoards within their lairs. It's believed that Dragons first began forming hoards as a way to pass the long years of their lives, analysing every detail of the items within their possession as a way of stimulating their minds. As such the contents of a Dragons hoard often reflect the particular interests of that particular Dragon; Some keep a vast arsenal of enchanted weapons & armour, others build great libraries filled with texts on a variety of subjects, others keep galleries of priceless works of art, etc. Alongside their physical and mental abilities, the size and quality of a Dragons hoard is a key indicator of their standing among fellow Dragons.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Since their fall, the dragons have become more reclusive from the rest of the world, preferring to keep to themselves, though one can sometimes gain an audience with a dragon if its been sufficiently appeased.

Lifespan

4,000+ years

Average Height

On average, Dragons can be measured at 12 feet tall at the shoulder.

Average Length

The average dragon is often measured at being around 55-65 feet long, with the neck making up about 14 feet of that length.

Average Physique

While body types tend to vary between individuals, all dragons are generally well muscled.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

A dragons scales and fur can come in a variety of colours, often influenced by the element they're the most closely tied to (e.g. dragons that are closely tied to the element of fire are more likely to be red). In addition, a fairly powerful dragon is said to start developing glowing markings on their body, though there are very few examples of this happening.

Related Materials

• Drakonite