Dragon

Basic Information

Anatomy

Relatively slender scaled body with four limbs and a long, thick, tail. Two webbed wings and two legs. The head can have a variety of different snouts, from thin to thick. Rarely is the snout stubby. Their neck is almost as long as their tail. Dragons have thick hides and solid bones. Older dragons can grow horns or spikes, these are cancerous in nature.

Genetics and Reproduction

2 months after the female is impregnated she lays 1-2 eggs. It takes 6 months for these soft-shelled eggs to hatch.

Growth Rate & Stages

(8 months of development in the egg)
Hatchling: Length; 1.25m - 2m. Wingspan; 2.25m - 3.60m. Weight; 35kg - 45kg
(1 year after hatching)
Whelp: Length; 2.50m - 4m. Wingspan; 4.50m - 7.80m. Weight; 105kg - 135kg
(10-15 years after hatching)
Young Adult: Length; 5m - 8m. Wingspan; 9m - 15.60m. Weight; 315kg - 405kg
(30-40 years after hatching)
Adult: Length; 7.5m - 12m. Wingspan; 13.5m - 23.4m. Weight; 630kg - 810kg
After reaching adulthood dragons do continue to grow, this growth however is severely minimal. 1% mass increase per 50-60 years. Most of this mass comes in the form of horns. These can grow on the top of the head, back of the neck and all the way down the spine to the tail. Horned dragons are also refered to as ancient dragons.

Ecology and Habitats

Dragons that live in the wild are mountainous creatures by ancestral nature. They will create nests, usually near the summit, with rocks that they grind up into 'soft' gravel. They then either use rock worm saliva or plants, this depending on environment, to further insulate their nest. They can live in almost all climates, except extremely cold ones. Dragons will sometimes settle for nests closer to the ground if no mountains are nearby or the mountains are already occupied by stronger dragons. There are also a select few trees that are strong enough to carry the weight of an adult dragon, those will also very occasionally be used as a nesting ground.
Dragons that live within society are usually revered and have their own temples build. These temples come in many different shapes and sizes. Some dragons will still prefer a mountaintop over one of these temples. They have the freedom to choose, much like any other citizen of the empire.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dragons are carnivorous, but can supplement their diet by a select few fruits.
'Wild' dragons fortunate enough to live in the mountains can use their vantage point and brilliant eye-sight to track their prey at the base of the mountain. They also use their tongue, that can sense heat signatures, to find rock worms. It's common for dragons to not eat all the giant worms and lets them reproduce. Some are even known to ranch them by creating damp caves and "herding" the worms inside.
Dragons that live within a society are often taken care off by the citizens. They repay this high consumption maintenance by protecting or preforming hard labor. It's an imperial edict that dragons may not be fattened to the point where they're unable to fly. This was a problem in the early days of the empire.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

A dragon has an extremely developed sight and can see accurately at extreme distances. They can also use their tongue to sense heat at close proximity.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Dragon names are gender neutral. First and last names are joined, lasts names are only given when a dragon reaches young adulthood and having proven themselves worthy.
Important families last names: -nox, -eldras, -nix, -pholox, -phumn, -drax, -daephos
Common first names: Phara, Noro, Aldro, Pheni, Pheiro

Beauty Ideals

Although difficult for mating, the horns dragons can grow when they grow older are often seen as beauty marks. Bright golden coloring (like the emperor).

History

Before Pharanox created the empire and the 'civilized' world dragons were already smart and ruthless. They used their intelligence to dominate the food chain. They could communicate with a few very simple languages with many different dialects across the world. Their culture was almost non existent, they mainly kept stories between families by verbal communication. There many dragon caves filled with carvings in the walls that depict themselves hunting and otherwise marking their territory with distinct family marks. These were usually made by the females who rarely ventured away from their territories.
After the empire many dragons aligned with Pharanox and fell under strict laws. It took two generations of dragons (circa 100 years) for them to properly adapt to this new environment. They could read but for obvious physical reasons couldn't write and usually had scribes do it for them. Many dragons, not all, are known for their philosophy and wisdom. They're not inherently more intelligent, in matter of fact it takes longer for them to reach the same mental fortitude then it would take a human or jotunn. However they have far more time to live, thus the strike of wisdom can fall later with little consequence.
All dragons within the empire must be able to fly and must be capable of protecting the empires lands. There are of course some few exceptions. Laws had to be enacted on population control. Dragons live extremely long and can potentially have many children, especially in safe environments that the empire provides. Although controversial at first dragon eggs are allowed to be eaten by non-dragons. It even started an uprising from a couple of dragons, saying they'd rather discard the eggs then see them eaten. However, emperor Pharanox declared it and that the 'unfertilized' eggs must be used to feed the poor. Although it is accepted now, it still sparks controversy with older dragons.
Note: Throughout all this time 'wild' dragons, those that refused to follow Pharanox, became a greater danger and eventually it was clear that to expand the empire these dragons had to be wiped out.

Lifespan

Unknown, the oldest dragon is Emperor Pharanox at the age of 927.

Average Weight

630kg - 810kg

Average Length

Length; 7.5m - 12m Wingspan; 13.5m - 23.4m

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

From 'Dark grey' to 'White' to 'Bronze' or 'Gold' scales. A dragon's belly side is usually much lighter then the top.