Terrestrial Dragon Eggs

In the cultures of the Thousand Isles one of the staple foods and one with great ulitity in making other items is the Terrestrial Dragon egg. The eggs may be stored for a fortnight, longer with cooling or ice. Terrestrial Dragon eggs are 10 to 12 cm oval, oblong, dull colored grey or brown. The eggs are rich and flavorful with an orange yolk. Eggs may be served themselves, fried, boiled, or sauted. They may be mixed with other foods either fortifying the egg dish or adding depth and flavor to other foods. Eggs are of course essential in some breads and cakes. Households that keep Terrestrials have one or many layers and some farms focus on producing eggs and working Terrestrials. Due to ubiquity of Terrestrial Dragons, eggs are widely available to all but the poorest. Giant ant eggs do for the poor, but they possess a slight acrid taste and odor.   Diets higher in protein and minerals induce a laying cycle. In wild Terrestrials, this may include herd dead or actual attacks on bachelor or rival herds. The presence of and attention by a male does contribute to egg laying, but mating is not required. Typically the dominant and her seconds would enjoy the higher protein and attention of the male and produce eggs. The subordinates would have lower access and not begin laying. If they did, the dominants would typically eat the eggs themselves. Domesticated Terrestrials have accepted nonproductive females producing eggs as well as some degree of egg loss from the dominants ( the typical nest is 3 to 5 eggs, and the presence of just one egg or even an artificial egg causes continued laying with adequate diet for several cycles. Eggs are produced daily to every other day. They view this as trade for housing, care, food, and in support of favored individuals of the other species. Terrestrials seem to view other species as pets to some degree and think of surrendering eggs as a gift to favorites.   Terrestrial dragons are a semi intelligent, potentially aggressive omnivorous species. They have been domesticated for many centuries, or rather lent themselves to domestication. They are 3 to 4 meters in length snout tip to tail tip, mostly bipedal but may shift to a quadrupedal gait. They have a variety of skin colors and may be plain, striped, banded or piebald. They possess exceptional strength and vitality in a reptilioid shape. Unlike true dragons, they have no wings and no frills. Nor do they possess flaming breath or other such powers. They do have small, almost vestigial appearing ears. Vision is less than Oxymandian for acuity and distance but they have superior night vision. They have superior hearing and a wider auditory range. Like True Dragons, they maintain their own body heat. They are used as mounts, hauling creatures and sometimes in heavy lifting or digging. Additionally, they are a food source. Primarily eggs.   Terrestrial Dragons have a limited practical intellect and may learn a few words of the common languages. They do not have the ability to speak common and most species do not have the ability to produce Terrestrial vocalization correctly. They do learn names and have designations for individuals amongst themselves by some physical trait or characteristic. They do not have the dexterity to write, though they do seem to understand some symbols, and use head nods and shaking as "correct" or "true" and. "wrong" respectively. Their own language is fundamentally basic signals of warning, happiness, and threat, with just a handful of concepts for nouns and verbs. Affirmation is typically by double verb or noun, or repeating a noun or verb. Negation is a huff either before or after the noun or verb. Terrestrial Dragons have a herd, eusocial structure with a dominant female and one or two "seconds" with reproductive priority and one male. Daughters and other females help care for young and fight amongst themselves for status. Males are ejected from the herd at maturity ( typically 3-4 years) and form bachelor herds where they struggle for status. Males are chosen by females by showing cleverness, boldness, strength and resourcefulness.   Terrestrials don't seem to understand money, nor planning ahead. Past and future don't exist and cause them confusion - only now counts. They do not naturally wear any garments or decorations but seem to find them exciting and interesting. Small gifts like a head garland or a blanket cause great excitement and play. They are also very fond of baths and scrubbing or brushing.  Handlers report working with them like working with very large, very strong very young children.