Drake

Many drakes have claws, sharp teeth, long tails, and long powerful legs allowing them to run at frightening speeds. Drakes share a strong resemblance to dragons, the only difference being that they lack wings. Their scales are stronger than any armor or metal known on Eldorahn. Like dragons, when they are born their scales are strong but still weak to common blades. As they age and grow their scales become harder and stronger.   Unlike dragons, whom have two sets of lungs, drakes have only one set of lungs that enable them to breathe and use their breath attack.  Drakes are capable of breathing fire, ice, poisonous gas, acid, and spewing lightning etc.  Certain breeds of drakes actually have wing-like appendages where wings could have grown which has lead many to believe that they are close relations to dragons.     Their bodies are relatively sleek, making them ideal for running at high speeds through forests and maneuvering the forests, cliffs, and other tricky terrain. They are also great climbers and are capable of scaling almost any surface from stone towers, castles, battlements, to mountain ranges, trees, rocky cliffs, and other such obstacles.   Thanks to their strong powerful arms and legs, drakes can run at incredibly high speeds. They are easily capable of out running a man even on horseback. Other faster breeds are said to be able to run so fast that they can keep pace with a dragon in full flight. However, this is rare feat and only small number of drakes are capable of doing such a thing, and unfortunately many of these breeds are said to be extinct.

Drakes hatch from scaled eggs no differently than dragons, these eggs vary in size and shape and design depending on the breed of dragon.  Once hatched, the drakes need to feed immediately, they consume vast amounts of meat which is given to them by their parents.  The hatchling drakes are kept safe by either the parents or the brood depending on the breed.  If the breed of drake is solitary, the parents take turns hunting and bringing back food for the nest; if the breed of drake is more social and is part of a brood the entire brood leaves to hunt and brings back food for the hatchlings.    Drakes typically like to build their nests underground, if not then they take to hiding them in hallow mounds of dirt and sticks to keep them hidden.  Until the eggs hatch, the mother and father or the brood itself even, patrol the area around the nest within half a mile and ensure no serious threats are nearby.  Any threat that ventures too close are killed immediately.  Once the eggs hatch, the hatchlings are feed and protect until they reach full maturity and are capable of hunting and defending themselves.

Drakes are born from scaled eggs, which vary in shape, size, color, and design. They begin as hatchlings and feed until they reach their adult size within a few years. The sign of a fully grown drake is the horns and crests down their backs. As they age they slowly shed scales, and loose teeth that grow back quickly. This process is something that goes on for their entire lives.  Depending on how healthy a drake is and how much that it eats on a daily basis a drake can reach its adult size by the time a human is barely out of its toddler stage.

Drakes typically live in warm temperate climates, from vast forests, to humid jungles, and blistering deserts. Though they are typically found in warmer climates, certain breeds of drakes live in the cold frozen regions and the deep seas.  However there are only a handful of drakes that can survive in cold climates, whereas the vast majority of them live in warmer or even hotter climates.

All drakes are carnivores, and consume vast amounts of meat on a regular basis.  Similar to dragons, certain breeds of drake are actually omnivores, eating both meat and certain types of fruits.  Fire drakes also eat certain types of minerals and metallic ore that helps them with breathing fire.

Drakes shed scales and lose teeth their entire lives, but they always grow back eventually.  This is caused by the aging and increase in size.  Drakes also only reproduce every few decades, laying anywhere from three to twelve eggs at a time.  As a they age from hatchlings the color of their scales become stronger and more vibrant.  This however changes, as a drake reaches the end of its lifespan their scale color begins to dim and fade with time.

Drakes have been used as war mounts throughout history, in fact they have been used more often than dragons as drakes more easily trained.  Entire cavalries of warriors riding on the backs of drakes have been seen before, laying waste to entire armies and forts with ease.  Even without riders, drakes have been trained to be let loose on enemy patrols and battalions to cause a panic before strike.   Drakes have also served well for mining jewels, gold, silver, and platinum.  Many Azgyr tribes have used them for not just mining but also hunting larger more dangerous prey that they cannot hope to defeat on their own.  Certain azgyr have even kept them as household pets and guards to protect their homes and other areas holding valuable items.

Like their cousins the dragons, drakes have also been hunted for thousands of years but to a lesser degree. Due to being more common and traveling in broods more often than not hunting drakes is considered a sport in some cultures.  Larger drakes are said to be more solitary, but none the less are hunted by entire hunting parties and entire broods have been wiped out at a time.   The reasons for hunting them have varied from one people to another.  Like the dragons, drakes typically have been hunted for one of three reasons. The first is to do with religion, they are viewed as the signs of demons and dark evil forces. The second is for the resources they provide, the fact that they provide many alchemical materials from their tears, bones, scales and blood to manufacture things like medicine and cosmetics. The third and final reason if for reputation and pride, whether they are revered as magnificent beasts that are powerful, capable of magic, and capable of many abilities slaying them became a mark of honor in some many other cultures just like the dragons.

Drakes have keen eyesight on par to that of a dragon's own. Their vision is great during the day and even greater at night, however during the fading light at dawn and dusk their vison is unable to focus making their aim off.  Drakes are also capable of seeing as far as an eldorai or even an eagle.   All drakes have a sharp sense of smell, they can track their prey for miles, sniff out poisonous substances, and even detect pheromones.  They are also sensitive to vibrations within the earth, so much that they can actually tell what creature is near by its footsteps.  This ability allows them to track down their prey even in underground caverns and tunnels alike.

Drakknir the Cosmic Dragon and his mate Wryknia are said to be the Father and Mother of the dragon race and their close and distant kin alike. It is said that the dragons came from nine eggs that fell from the stars and crash landed on Eldorahn in the far north on a small continent known as Pretheria.  As drakes are close cousins to the dragons, it is said that they share the same divine relation.

Drakes strictly mate with their own kind, though the occasional hybrid has been seen from two breeds coming to contact; this is a rare occurrence and does not happen very often. Never in history has their ever been a hybrid between drake and other dragonkin.  The drakes do however know of their relation to the dragons have a mutual respect at best.