Dragons

A species of sapient reptiles, characterized by a quadrupedal body arrangement, additional wings, unlimited physical growth, and the ability to harness and channel Raw Magic.   Dragons are widely understood to be the oldest of intelligent species. At least a hundred thousand years before the first Proto-Elf managed to wrestle the latent raw magic to a useful purpose, dragons were casually bending it to their will. They have spent unknown eons perfecting their comprehension of natural magic, and have developed their own variety which complements that which is found in the wild. In so doing, they have laid claim to every part of the world and can be found, though very widely spread, on every landmass. However, because they are solitary by nature, they have never flourished in any form of society and have not built any kind of structures. After the Mammalian Lineages came into their own and spread haphazardly across the world, dragons began to study them and some have come to imitate them in various ways, while others remain aloof or entirely disdainful of the mammalian races.   Dragons vary in personality much as members of any race do: some are inherently malicious, others feel innate goodwill for others. Most are selfish, caring mainly for their personal best interests and pursuing these at the expense of all others. Because they are naturally more powerful and long-lived than all other races, they tend to be haughty in dealing with them; even if they do not hold them in contempt, they will seldom be impressed by their actions, and view their works and productions as quaint attempts to recreate the majesty of nature.  

Varieties and Powers

Perhaps the most widely known trait of the dragon beyond its physical form is its innate magical power. Though this gives it many benefits in life, the most famous is its aura, which reflects a chosen element of raw magic, giving it limited protection from and control over said element, and can be concentrated into a devastating breath attack.   On reaching adulthood, a dragon adopts a chosen variety of raw magic as its own, gaining an aura pertaining to the choice, which has a characteristic coloration and glow, and bequeaths related powers. At need, it can unleash a concentrated wave of magical energy from its mouth. This can utterly destroy a foe (or, depending on the nature of the magic, achieve a non-desctructive purpose), but it causes the aura to disappear temporarily, leaving the dragon relatively vulnerable. For instance, a fire dragon emits constant heat and flickering, fiery light, while also being not only immune to even the most intense of heat, but also able to tolerate moderate degrees of cold as well. Its breath weapon is a lance of intense heat capable of melting stone and killing almost any creature caught directly in the blast.   If it chooses, a dragon can change the nature of its aura. The process of doing so takes a day, and cannot be done again for a full year. However, most dragons are sure enough of their personalities that such changes are rare.   A very old dragon (about 1000 years of age) can actually adopt a second aura, and use it independently of the first, also giving it two breath attack options. Additional auras can be attained with progressively longer periods in between. The only known dragon to have attained all elements of magic (thus being sometimes known as the Chromatic Dragon) is Mehen.  

Combat

Dragons have bite, claw, and tail attacks. They also gain flight at adolescence, and use it to maintain a safe distance while using their breath attacks. The most reliable way of fighting a dragon is to tempt it to attack a target with its breath attack, thus depleting its aura and leaving it vulnerable. Alternately, fighting in a confined space limits its attack options and keeps it grounded. To prevent this, dragons prefer to build their nests in open areas or large caves, and are reluctant to enter smaller spaces.