Dragon

Of all the magical beasts of Altairus, dragons are some of the most immediately recognizable and the most marveled. All dragon species are of the genus Draco.

Like unicorns, dragons can be of any element and possess a menagerie of magical powers. Perhaps the most well known is elemental breath; dragons are well-known for breathing fire, but dragons of different elements can breathe frost, lightning, poison gas, or even light or shadow energy. While they are smart creatures, dragons can be quite unpredictable. Extreme caution is recommended when approaching these marvelous creatures.

Types of Dragons

There are four subtypes of dragons; standard dragons, wyverns, long dragons, and quetzals.

Standard Dragons

These are the dragons most commonly associated with the name "dragon." Standard dragons have six limbs; four legs and two wings. They are considered sapient beings; they are fully capable of speech and are known for collecting vast hoards of treasure, whether material or non-tangible. While they are solitary beings, they are commonly sought out for their wisdom and power.

Wyverns

Wyverns are dragons that have four limbs; two legs and two wings that double as wings. Wyverns are smaller than standard dragons and are not capable of speech, though they are not mindless animals, either. They possess incredible empathy and reason, which they use when moving in packs. These are the dragons most commonly domesticated by faery races for the purposes of riding.

Long Dragons

Long Dragons are associated with the eastern regions of Altairus. They have four legs and snakelike bodies. They do not possess wings, instead flying through levitation. These are perhaps the most docile of the dragon species, but they are still a force to be reckoned with. They are also the dragons most likely to skinwalk as other species to communicate with them. Long Dragons are the most similar in Earth legends to Oriental Dragons.

Quetzals

Quetzals, or Rainbow Dragons, are similar to Long Dragons in some ways. They resemble venomous snakes with colorful scales and feathered wings. Native to the tropical areas of Altairus, Quetzals are typically associated with the Air or Water elements. As their name suggests, their greatest powers have to do with conjuring rainbows, whether tangible or not. They have more control over Undifferentiated Anima than other dragons and are less likely to become wendigo-possessed because of this.

Significance on the Altairian Sigil

On the Altairus Sigil, the black dragon (Mutamoph) is the beast who represents and protects the Unseelie elements of Earth, Water, and Dark. She rests on the right side of the sigil, close to these elements.

In mythology, Mutamoph is the mother goddess of Altairus. Her power is said to be greatest around autumn and wintertime. On the Summer Solstice, she lays an egg that matures throughout the second half of the year to hatch on the Winter Solstice. When it does, the whelp within gives his life to restore the sun and start the cycle of the year all over again. Until Fatamoph (the unicorn) grows his horn back, she watches over and cares for him in the months after.