Lunar Dragonflight

The vast majority of names within the Lunar Dragonflight follow conventions of being related to the moon, it's phases, the tides, or night time. Names to do with stars, the sun, or in tradition with other flights' customs are frowned upon but not outright forbidden.

Dragontongue is the primary language of all dragons, and the Lunar Flight is no different. Due to isolation from others of their kind for many thousands of years, Lunar Dragontongue has become quite distinct and noted as having a strong accent with very sharp and distinct body signs. Largely, the dialect will lack descriptors entirely of objects, people, or animals, however when discussing concepts can become quite emotionally driven with focus put on whether or not something adheres to the strong ideals and customs within the flight.

The Lunar Flight is most well known for their advancements of many forms of magic, even beyond Lunar Magic. Illusions, spells that have been worked into every day life all around the world are the most notable for having been developed by them.

The vast majority of holdings and constructions by the flight are built directly into the ice of glaciers and icebergs by use of flame in the modern era. Due to the harsh environment of the arctic, lunar dragons have the most densely populated territories amongst dragons, often only claiming very small patches of land as their territories around a central hub for fishing or dug out fresh water pools. It is not uncommon for lunar holdings to be surrounded by larger bergs to shield their nesting sites from wind and snow, which are often decorated with guidestones taken from further south. Lower caste dragons are generally exiled to the edges of these holdings, outside of or at the edge of walls built for wind protection. It is not uncommon for these pits to be lined with pebbles, gravel, or sand taken from more southerly territories to protect against freezing to the ice.   The Lunar Guidestones are well known border markers created by the flight, primarily dividing up the flight's territory as a whole from that of the rest of the world, though smaller guidestones may break up land between different familial flights as well as upper and lower caste dragons.   Prior to their exile to the arctic, the lunar flight was well known for constructing massive open air dens and burrows. These structures commonly were semi or fully circular pits dug into the ground with a water source at their center, such as a pond or vernal pool. Prey caching pits, nests, and personal sleeping quarters would be constructed around the rim of the pool or pond, and often be planted over with mosses and lichens. The most well known of these holdings was the one dug into Rome's subway system by Neia Lun De Draco herself as her personal den, after she had conquered the city and claimed it as her own territory.

Due to their unique territory high above the glacial line, the lunar dragonflight is one of few where the bulk of their diets come from oceanic fishing. Fish, sea birds, seals, and coastal mammals are the highest portion of their diets respectively, though in deep winter, many individuals will travel further south to hunt on land taking prey such as bear, elk, moose, deer, and ram. Megafauna such as Needlecoat Wolf and Short-Tailed Cat are uncommon, and despite protected status, frequently hunted. Whales are considered to be forbidden among the flight, even under times of famine. Scavenging is also heavily frowned upon among the flight, with members expected to hunt their own food despite its scarcity.

Regardless of age, dragons of the lunar flight are not socially considered adults until they have proven their immortality in some fashion. Although there is no surefire way to tell that one's immortality has matured, there is significant pressure within the flight that when one feels ready to prove themselves, they must undergo the process of reforming their body.   The highest honor goes to dragons who prove their maturity and immortality through combat, especially in combat to protect their flight or further their goals. Challenging a much older or respected individual, fending off foes, or participating in warfare against other flights without first having proved one's immortality give the highest honors in lunar society, especially among younger individuals. While the goal of proving immortality is ultimately to die, it is considered in bad faith to ensure the death of one's body, purposefully throw or rig a challenge, or to wait to prove one's maturity until their immortality is nearly certain. Its extremely common for individuals who do such to be shunned, and such acts are seen as cowardice with heavy punishments to their social ranking.   Dragons who do not prove their immortality are forbidden from claiming territory or taking on a mate, and going against such tradition is an automatic exile to the lower caste.

Like most dragons, the Lunar Flight participates in mortuary cannibalism. Upon death, a body is bathed under the light of the moon, and ritually butchered by members of their flight before the sun is allowed to rise- the tongue and mane are returned to Neia herself or a high ranking official acting in her place to be interred in their burial grounds. Oftentimes, the mane will be tanned and used to record the history of the individual's life, achievements, and social standing as well as lineage.

Among Lunar dragons, it is strongly taboo to associate with Omnia in any context. Those who do are heavily punished, killed by their clan mates, or exiled to other flights as a traitor. Traitors are marked by scarification, either cutting or burning a Divine Runic sigil meaning 'lunar danger' into the flesh with magic or claw. Criminals to the flight often have their status advertised on The Lunar Guidestones that often mark the outskirts of their territory.   Due to their tedious relationship with the Solar Flight, it is also considered a taboo for Lunar dragons to use solar magic, although this offense is not enough alone to mark someone a traitor. Lunar dragons are also show a great disdain for other races and even other dragonflights, unwilling to associate with them and regard anyone as their equals. Those who do are often regarded as outcasts and low status.   From a young age, lunar dragons are trained in the ways of magic and those without skill often regarded as failures and a shame to their family.

The Lunar Flight idealizes those who are in the image of Terra's moon- Silver, white, or pale blue or purple scales and fur, with canine-like features such as long snouts, furred manes, and long and slender necks. Antlers are a common feature among those considered beautiful in their flight, in the image of their leader, Neia. Dragons with dark hides, such as black, grey, dark blue, and dark purples are considered to be the image of the New Moon, and a blessing upon a family.   It is theorized that the Lunar Flight was once much more diverse than it is in the current day, older members of the flight displaying a much wider array of traits. Many notable members of the flight are descended from the Solar Dragonflight, the vast majority of which being Neia's own children with Aien Sol De Draco or their descendants.

Courtship and interpersonal relationships within the flight are highly dependent on one's position in Lunar society, as the flight operates with a particularly strong two caste system. While not named directly in their dialect, upper class Lunars are generally considered to be the only ones allowed to claim territory, compete for mating rights, and reproduce. Lower class Lunars are, in theory, banned entirely from taking mates or claiming nesting sites to have children, though in practice often do so in secret.   Due to their xenophobia, courtship with those outside of the flight is highly frowned upon and in the vast majority of cases, banned. Exceptions of course exist for politically beneficial pairings, often arranged at the direct request of Neia Lun De Draco herself. Upper class Lunars may compete for mating rights but do not necessarily choose their mate themselves, rather, their mate is often chosen for them collectively by their peers, family, and in some cases, by Neia herself. Such pairings come with no expectation of love of bonding, but like all mated pairs among dragons, that the pair stay together until having successfully reared their offspring to independence.   Unlike wider draconic society, among Lunars failure to reproduce is not seen as an option, and the pair must successfully conceive and raise a clutch. Small clutches may demand that the pair conceive once again, until they have had a 'proper' number of offspring survive, though this number is not defined. While not confirmed, it is widely suspected that fertility issues among the flight may be due to rampant inbreeding caused by their xenophobia and ideals surrounding eugenics, castes, and political arrangements. As many lunar dragons suffer with low fertility and high infant mortality, paired with arranged pairings, it has become extremely common for higher caste lunar dragons to in secret adopt or outright steal the eggs of lower caste dragons.   The theft of lower caste dragons' eggs, and sometimes even their hatchlings, is both and open secret and deeply guarded one among the flight. To know of the act is considered guilt, and likely to get oneself branded as a traitor to their own kind, and thus 'exiled' to the lower caste themselves. Despite this, many of the upper caste frequently participate in the act to both free themselves from their mates as well as some who do so to ensure loyalty to the flight by raising lower caste dragons as upper castes. Such dragons are oftentimes set up for social failure, oftentimes being exiled later in life.   In the modern era, low caste dragons are forbidden from claiming territory, competing for mating rights, and reproducing entirely. Those that do are oftentimes heavily punished and subject to the above abuses, but also commonly may have their hunting rights, prey, and resources taken as well. In the past, restrictions were not so harsh and lower caste lunars were freely allowed to take mates and have children, though could never rise in social standing.