Academy Drake

This species of drake has been much maligned over the years, for the reputation that it has garnered as a dangerous nuisance. Farm animals and small pets regularly disappear in the clutches of these carnivores, and there are known cases of them stealing away children or even adults of smaller races. Most often seen after storms, when an academy drake is spotted near a village, the people quickly hide any vulnerable targets before placing bounties for the creature’s head. But in years past, these fascinating beasts weren’t always so universally hated, and made for impressive familiars for powerful spellcasters.   Primal Ancestors Originally much larger and more feral, the ancient ancestors of today’s academy drakes were attracted to all forms of lightning, both mundane and magical, making them a near-constant threat to the towers of mage performing electrical experiments. Over time, it was found that certain drakes could be temporarily assuaged with controlled bursts of lightning, which the creatures apparently relied upon for temporary energy boosts. These drakes would then fight away others of their kind who came to the tower seeking the same.   Historic Reputation In the course of hundreds of years, the drakes were bred into further docility, until they were capable of being tamed even without the use of magic. The original, more feral version, died out or were interbred over generations with their tame cousins. Magical colleges and institution took to using flocks of them as guardians, leading to the name of academy drake, with their impressive vision letting them spot intruders and other dangers from far off. Requiring only the highest rafters and upper spires for nesting, the creatures proved valuable as lightning rods as well, preventing further damage from potentially disastrous storms. As the years progressed, the drakes grew smaller and less aggressive, rendering them less and less useful as flying guards.   Evolutionary Reversion As use of the drakes fell out of favor, groups of them were released into the wild, where their docility slowly became a disadvantage. Over time the creatures adjusted to this, once again becoming a threat, but now only dangerous for those who farm or raise children. In a misguided attempt to return them to their position of relevance, some mages experimented with changing the drakes to more closely resemble their ancestors, stronger and more aggressive. These experiments succeeded, but the resulting Ur-drakes escaped capture, instead joining the breeding population already in the wilds. This has led to a return of the much larger academy drakes of years past, often led by a pair of Ur-drakes which incite the others to attack larger and more dangerous prey, including groups of travelers or isolated farmsteads.