Longzhu
The draconic reptillian race from the Jade Island to the west. As a race they pride honour as one of the greatest virtues, it was passed down to them by their ancestor dragons.
Believing entirely in a rigid caste system that was established by the first dragons. The colour of ones scales determines their lot in life.
The only time when the caste system is altered is in times of war. Then all Longzhu capable of wielding a spear, bow, sword or magics are expected to fight for their Dynasty.
Some monastries that reside inside the dynasties borders also pay no heed to the caste system. Accepting all longzhu as equals.
Colour and Caste
Gold - a gold scale is one born into prestige and politics, hold seats of administration, lordly titles or sitting atop then Onyx Throne as Emperor.
Silver - priests, clerics and holy men the silver scales are deemed to be most in touch with the god dragons.
Red - the warrior caste, red scales are the greatest soldiers, commanders and strategists as told by the first dragons.
Blue - magic courses through all longzhu but the blue scales are the only ones designated to use the magic they are gifted to practical effect.
Bronze - the bronze scales have always been the civic souls of longzhu society, tending to all the duties that come with maintaining their civilisation.
Green - these longzhu commune with the spirits of the world. In touch with nature and wilds they are tasked with maintaining the wilds of the Jade Island and keeping relations with fey and spirits.
Copper - merchants, traders and tenders of money, the copper scales are the finacial and mercantile caste of longzhu.
Brass - brass scales are responsible for all the craftwork and construction with in the Dynasty, they were the first to discover and utilise stormpowder weapons.
White - the agricultural caste of longzhu, white scales own and tend to the farms of rice paddies and livestock across the Dynasty.
Black - the hardiest of the longzhu castes, the black scales are assigned as miners, woodcutters, road layers and all other tough physical work.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Tall bipedal reptillian humanoids standing between 5-7ft tall, longzhu are generally slender in build with slightly elongated necks.
With long snouts filled with razor sharp teeth and scaled tendrils drooping from the end of their nose. Frilled spines trail down their spine from the top of their head, some may have frilled necks too.
Their limbs are long with sharp clawed fingers and toes. Lacking any wings or tails.
Genetics and Reproduction
The longzhu are ectothermic (cold blooded) reptillian creatures. They reproduce through laying eggs, an average clutch of eggs is around 4-5. Hatchlings have the potential to be either scale colour of their parents, neither one is more dominant than the other.
Growth Rate & Stages
Hatchlings reach maturity at 15 years of age and will live on average up to 80 years. From the age of 9-14 would be considered adolesences for a longzhu where they will apprentice under an elder within their colour caste.
Ecology and Habitats
Residing on the Jade Island vast amounts of their habitat is tropical. The high temperatures and humidities suit the longzhu well. Some prefer the hotter drier climes to the south and only the hardiest venture north to cold windy steppes beyond the Taecho Wall.
Most longzhu find the rest of the continent intolerable. Apart from the hot south realms of the Niasb humans and High Elves.
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