Pseudodragon
Pseudodragons and nimble, telepathic, housecat-sized dragonkin. They are formed in The Ether where magic is ample and easily accessible. Being mischievous and curious creatures, they sometimes chew their way through the folds of reality into The Hallowed Expanse. Much like a lapdog with the spirit of a wolf, pseudodragons are intelligent, fierce, and protective. The wise seek one as a friend, never as a pet. With a draw to magic, they are commonly attracted by 'find familiar' spells.
Pseudodragons lay mottled brown eggs, that start extremely small and grow to the size of a chicken egg when exposed to heat. Eggs are commonly laid in clutches of 5-8 and are guarded by their parents for six weeks of incubation. The newly hatched are relatively weak, relying on their parents for protection and sustenance. They are ready to care for themselves within a few months and leave the nest. They are social creatures and frequently stay close to home unless they find more interesting company. They are especially curious and often seek out wizards, druids, and rangers, presuming that master spellcasters have interesting magic to show and food to share.
While cute, pseudodragons are not defenseless. In addition to claws and teeth, they have a sharp stinger in their tails with potent sleeping venom. They are not very selective with their stingers and have put many a handler to sleep with it after becoming startled, angered, or simply feeling mischievous.
Pseudodragons are omnivorous but have highly individual tastes which develop over time. Expect your companion to decide one day that will eat nothing but fish and the next to swear never to eat it again. It is recommended to keep a wide variety of possible meals on hand. Their appetite is stimulated through play-hunting (or real hunting when older). All young pseudodragons must learn to fly. This is usually achieved by their parents chasing them out of the nest and then supporting them while they find their wings. A flight spell is the best way to teach them, but in a punch having them repeatedly run off a small cliff can work.
Immature pseudodragons sleep 16 hours a day, but in short bursts that last no more than a couple of minutes. This plays havoc with their attention span and can drive a handler crazy. It is advised for sanity's sake to hire an assistant to care for them overnight.
During shedding and growth spurts, they are itchy and uncomfortable. They will make it your problem. At this time, kindly carers will ensure easy access to firm surfaces for scratching, warm baths for soothing, and plenty of their favorite foods.
Rearing
There is no "taming" a pseudodragon-they mature in a few years, achieve an intelligence comparable to humans, and have an independent streak that is only slightly tempered by close bonding to those who reared or enspelled them.
Raising a pseudodragon is often a lesson in patience. The first few years are spent absorbing knowledge and skill, chasing magic, and asking an endless round of 'why'? If you have visitors it is not uncommon for your young companion to disappear for days at a time, returning with new skills and salty vocabulary.
Once your companion has matured, however, their company can be a joy. An adult pseudodragon is wise, witty, and charming, and loves to use their knowledge to help their family-why they consider anyone who has raised them, cared for them, and most importantly helped them build their many hoards.
Hoarding
Like Void-Dragons, pseudodragons have a strong hoarding instinct, and at a young age begin stockpiling small items, typically of a specific type, such as buttons or soaps. This persists until they lose interest, and which point they abandon that hoard and fin something else to collect. More than a few wizards have discovered missing spell components piled in their familiar's nest.
Pseudodragons lay mottled brown eggs, that start extremely small and grow to the size of a chicken egg when exposed to heat. Eggs are commonly laid in clutches of 5-8 and are guarded by their parents for six weeks of incubation. The newly hatched are relatively weak, relying on their parents for protection and sustenance. They are ready to care for themselves within a few months and leave the nest. They are social creatures and frequently stay close to home unless they find more interesting company. They are especially curious and often seek out wizards, druids, and rangers, presuming that master spellcasters have interesting magic to show and food to share.
While cute, pseudodragons are not defenseless. In addition to claws and teeth, they have a sharp stinger in their tails with potent sleeping venom. They are not very selective with their stingers and have put many a handler to sleep with it after becoming startled, angered, or simply feeling mischievous.
General Care
Pseudodragons are omnivorous but have highly individual tastes which develop over time. Expect your companion to decide one day that will eat nothing but fish and the next to swear never to eat it again. It is recommended to keep a wide variety of possible meals on hand. Their appetite is stimulated through play-hunting (or real hunting when older). All young pseudodragons must learn to fly. This is usually achieved by their parents chasing them out of the nest and then supporting them while they find their wings. A flight spell is the best way to teach them, but in a punch having them repeatedly run off a small cliff can work.
Immature pseudodragons sleep 16 hours a day, but in short bursts that last no more than a couple of minutes. This plays havoc with their attention span and can drive a handler crazy. It is advised for sanity's sake to hire an assistant to care for them overnight.
During shedding and growth spurts, they are itchy and uncomfortable. They will make it your problem. At this time, kindly carers will ensure easy access to firm surfaces for scratching, warm baths for soothing, and plenty of their favorite foods.
Rearing
There is no "taming" a pseudodragon-they mature in a few years, achieve an intelligence comparable to humans, and have an independent streak that is only slightly tempered by close bonding to those who reared or enspelled them.
Raising a pseudodragon is often a lesson in patience. The first few years are spent absorbing knowledge and skill, chasing magic, and asking an endless round of 'why'? If you have visitors it is not uncommon for your young companion to disappear for days at a time, returning with new skills and salty vocabulary.
Once your companion has matured, however, their company can be a joy. An adult pseudodragon is wise, witty, and charming, and loves to use their knowledge to help their family-why they consider anyone who has raised them, cared for them, and most importantly helped them build their many hoards.
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