Dragons

The Primordial Kings of Urth

    Legendary. There is nothing more frightening nor as iconic as the dragon. They are well known through stories and history, yet still enigmatic. Terrifying, but still draw people to risk just glimpsing them. Wars between dragons have left devastation throughout its path. Several kingdoms are ruled by dragons, and most people believe more are than is openly revealed. Like avatars of gods, dragonkind can walk amongst us, hidden.     Personalities and Sides. Dragons have been referred to by scale color or metallic luster, dividing them into bad and good ones. But that simplicity has not held up throughout history. The gem dragons were named for being neutral in the war between Tiamat and Bahamut. But some were just lesser-known chromatics or metallics or had no obvious metal to match the scale color (i.e. purple metals?). From a taxonomic perspective, dragons have unique identifying traits that divide them. They have a bond with the Urth and it alters the composition of the earth around their lairs. One such effect, which took centuries to comprehend, is the elemental composition of the earth around lairs. Metals, gemstones, rock composition, and it has been argued the flora, are changed by the long term presence of a dragon. Major alchemical elements can be found and are integral to the types of stones, ores, crystals, and other earthen materials. Dragons are cataloged by a unique identifying name, typically an alchemical element, which may not be the most common name used. For instance, Red Dragon lairs are rich in veins of iron ores, and gems of obsidian, hematite, rubies, , malachite, pyrite, black and red tourmalines, citrines, peridots, and chalcedonies. And more famously, mythrall ores. Each dragon entry lists the other names they are known under. For instance, Coal dragons are often called Black Dragons. Regionally they may be known differently, and infamous members often have unique colorful titles.   Tiamat is well known for having seven heads, identifying which dragons are evil by nature. Artwork and text disagree on the seven, some ancient pre-Cataclysm carvings even showing only five. There are always a Red, White, Blue, Green (not Emerald), and Black, (or Coal), and then some combination of Sulfur/Yellow, Sand, Bronze/Brown, Bone, or Purple/Night have appeared across history. Few have ever lived after seeing her, so the legends will have inconsistencies. And there is some evidence that the colors of Tiamat's heads in myths are related to which dragons have been prominent in the region telling the story.   Bahamut is more consistent, but not having seven heads simplifies the artist's choices. Bahamut is openly worshipped as a god by some, so his image is more common. Bahamut is said to live behind the east winds in a palace with seven ancient gold dragons attending him. Stories about Bahamut often mention seven birds, or some creatures of seven-count near him in whatever form he takes.   Dragon Lairs. Because of their size, large caverns are a natural choice for lairs. But most dragons can assume other forms and live in other structures. Most prefer and enjoy being in their native form, so some large space is needed that offers protection. While dragons would classically live with their hoard (the infamous red sleeping on its mound of gold comes to mind), they may have multiple lairs and their hoard might be separate from where they sleep or feed. Even reds were known to have multiple underground and connected lairs, with more than one treasure area. It is typical for a lair to have more than a single entrance to prevent the dragon from becoming trapped. Some of those entrances might be small since the dragon could assume a bird’s form to escape.   Dragons can be found all over the world. They can survive in any biome, but there are clear preferences by some. Whites are rarely seen outside of cold regions of high snowy peaks. Emeralds and greens prefer forested lands. Some famous brass have historically stayed in arid deserts, but they can be found almost anywhere. Blues are near seas and stormy areas. That places blues more to warmer regions where there is more storm energy, but cold wet coastlands have had blues living there. The indigo, Dragoneella, has not been seen outside the Maelstrom Sea. Though research says that some species of large river eels and lake serpents maybe its young or a close relative.   The Dragonlands. The greatest of dragons and the largest number of their kin lie deep within the Cataclysmites. In the deep interior of that mountain range, lay a series of valleys and mesas called the Dragonlands. Old maps named it Draconika, but it has no one nation nor one unchallenged ruler. There, dragons are the kings and emperors. The dragons live in massive palaces, the greatest of them a few times over 1,000 years old, surrounded by cities and citizens of many different types. Most of the governments are run by Dragonborn. Their race was created for this, to be the liaison to the many races under their rule. The dragons have uneasy peace with one another, but they are also very separate and independent. If two opened hostilities against one another few would join in, allowing them to fight it out and prove a winner. There the skies always have dragons flying. Most of the known ancient dragons of the world are within the Dragonlands.   Secrets of the Dragons. Dragons have lived for an unknown number of years, exceeding several millenniums, for certain. They have access to information that predates any other living creature, except for perhaps a few otherworldly creatures written of in myths and rare books. Only the reclusive High Langlorn Elves live to be 1,000 years old, so their past generations might have recorded some of this knowledge. The dragon’s ability to polymorph and walk amongst any society undetected allows them to be almost anywhere and hear a great many secrets. This ability is used heavily by some and rarely by others. Some simply find their true form superior and reducing themselves to more common forms is distasteful.   Intimate knowledge of the biology and ecology of dragons is a forbidden subject in any region too close to active dragons. The dragonologist Elmeer wrote several stacks on the different dragons. He suggested that they varied enormously, even biologically. He stated they were chimeras of the greatest of nature’s creatures combined in their highest form. A mix of bird, insect, beast, cattle, fish, and all the most superior feats creatures could perform. He wrote about his findings from some of their corpses and births. But it was outlandish fantasy and he was ridiculed and driven out of academia wherever he went. He died a scribe copying other people’s works in the back rooms of the Librium Canonika. Hundreds of years after his death his writings took on a new life of acceptance. However, copies of his work have all but been destroyed or hidden away. Cults of dragon worshippers have targeted them whenever one surfaces. The mystique of his writings has become legendary. They say the dragons themselves hunt down any copies to destroy them.   We must proceed with caution on this subject.   Dragon Biology. Dragons refuse to be easily classified. Within this single genus is a shocking range of creatures that are believed to have descended or created from the blood of dragons. Even amongst the True Dragons, we find characteristics and aspects found in other distant species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. The first trait of note, is that there is only one sex. Dragons are referred to in the feminine when discussing reproduction. But in the masculine for those times that they, well are being what we fear dragons do. However, dragons are hermaphroditic egg layers, but they are capable of sexual external reproduction.  

Dragon Reproduction

  Dragons possess the most complex reproduction cycles ever examined. They mimic several other creatures and combine them in complex ovoviviparous developments. Every dragon has multiple uterine folds, each capable of producing and hold a developing fertilized egg. The ovaries and spermatheca produce a fertilized, but not fully developed dragon egg. They produce several per month. These eggs may be released or remain within the ovum folds being fed by further uterine secretions that are absorbed by the softened eggshell. These secretions advance the biological complexity of the egg's embryonic form. And it seems clear that the dragon consciously controls this timing and release. Whether this control is perfect or not is unclear.   A second, external fertilization occurs. This is essential to produce a True Dragon. After the eggs are external, there is a regurgitated mix of blood and bile produced from the organ of their breath weapon. This covers the eggs and is absorbed by them over time. This will determine the type of dragon the egg will produce. During the period when eggs are exposed, the clutch is vulnerable to a competing dragon fertilizing them with its bile as well. If an egg produced a different breed of dragon, it would often be killed by the different parent. But wyrmlings are born capable of surviving, so they may escape.   Common Herd Drakes. Eggs released quickly are smaller, 4 to 8 inches in length and the shell becomes hard within a day. The smallest and earliest and will become wingless herd drakes, reptilian beasts that herd and will eat almost any plant matter they find. Common herd drakes are lowly cattle who will eat until plump, making them a fine source of meat for a dragon. Common drakes do not run in fear of dragons. In fact, they instinctively move towards a dragon’s roar. This makes their very nature designed for dragons to use as cattle. They lack any of the spectacular features of their parent. No resistances or elemental abilities are present. They are no smarter than cows or goats. They can be raised and trained as beasts of burden or to be ridden, but they must be watched as they will gorge whenever allowed to until they become fat and slow.   The second fertilization has little effect on herd drake eggs. Often just colorization or borrowing singular physical features. Winged herd drakes have been seen. But the wings are underdeveloped and provide an assisted leap much like a chicken.   Lesser Drakes. These are often referred to as land drakes, but lesser drakes here can be applied to a larger family of sub-species that can be amphibious or fly. Amphitheres, wurms(giant snake-like form), landwurms, polymeliates (such as a basilisk), may all have branched from early drake stage eggs. While these connections to dragons have long been suspected, dragons are talking, so we are left waiting on more evidence. Longer nourished eggs become more reptilian and more visually like dragons. These soft eggs are 6 to 11 inches in length, irregular, and very cylindrical. Over the next day, the shell will contract to form the more typical egg shape, 4 to 8 inches long and 3 to 6 inches at its widest in diameter. They'll weigh one to about 7 pounds at the most. These land drakes are more vicious and wilder. They do not domesticate and while they are omnivorous at birth, they become predatory and rely solely on meat. It is believed that through true-breeding, land drakes lose some of that violent nature and become more tameable.   The second fertilization provides some visual characteristics, coloration, minor elemental abilities, and influences demeanor. Lesser drakes can receive resistances, a reduced breath weapon, even some winged flight. Lesser drakes are identified by the limited number and reduced capacity of dragon characteristics they possess.   Greater Winged Drakes. Eggs held longer within an ovary and tended by a dragon's bile fertilization produce a Greater Drake, which will exhibit some solid features like their dragon parent. The freshly laid eggs are 15 to 20 inches long. Like other drake eggs, they are elongated more like a cylinder. These take longer to tighten and harden. The hard shell will be 10 to 15 inches long, 7 to 10 inches at the widest diameter, and weigh 14 to 42 pounds. Visually, a greater drake will be born more distinctly draconic, have resistances or immunities from the parent, and full winged flight. Outside the Dragonlands, these are usually rare gifts from a dragon to someone.   True Dragons. A true dragon egg remains inside the dragon for 90 to 160 days. The released egg is one to four feet in length depending upon breed and stage of development. The shell is thick and pliable. The shape is irregular. The eggs are elongated and the shells the most pliable when freshly laid. Over the next few days, the egg will absorb gases and take on a more spheroid shape and harden the shell. True dragon eggs weigh as little as 30 pounds when first laid and up to 1400 lbs before hatching.   Brooding true dragons release multiple eggs within a translucent egg case. There is usually more than one true dragon egg in the clutch. But several smaller ones may be laid into the sack over days. There will be food for the hatchlings. These egg cases are dragon-sized versions of ones found amongst sharks, rays, skates, and merfolk. Long tendrils at each corner uncurl to the nearby ground and burrow slowly in, eventually securing the egg case in place. The tendrils only react with natural forms of stone. They are transmutative, much like some rapid burrowing creatures, dissolving stone on contact and absorbing the liquified stone. This will be oozed out over the entire surface of the case over many days. During this time, the eggs swell with gas and fluids becoming spheroid. The case acts as an external womb, nurturing and protecting the future hatchlings. The exterior develops into solid stone merged with the surrounding rock. This layer of stone may develop to more than two feet thick. This overcomes most divination attempts to locate the eggs.   Dragons fertilize eggs externally, but they do so with a regurgitation of blood and bile that is modified by the glands of their breath weapon. The bile is laid on the egg casing within the first few days or weeks. It is believed that the egg case releases a scent that attracts other dragons. During this time, the egg case is vulnerable.   This has been in contention for hundreds of years, as it does not match any known creature. However, dragons are rarely ever found in mating pairs, despite the presence of wyrmlings or eggs. The dragon is able to brood by itself. Dragonologists believe having other dragons provide the fertilization produces a superior brood. Many dragons would not want a wyrmling to ever become a challenge to it, so self-fertilization may be considered a survival mechanism for a creature that can live to produce thousands of dragons. Consequently, a mated pair brood is extraordinarily rarer than any general dragon brood. A dragon produced by more than one dragon is often differentiated as a Greater Dragon. Some use the term True, but that used to differentiate them from a drake egg as well. Elmeer, to much outrage, stated that Bahamut and Tiamat were single true breeding of multiple dragons. Tiamat was born with the physical heads of her parents, while Bahamut had the strength, resolution, and wisdom of all of hers.   Egg-laying dragons become vicious and will immediately chase off other dragons. One dragonologist, Braxis, stated that the fertilizer determines the dominant breed. So that a red dragon could fertilize the eggs of a blue dragon, resulting in a red dragon brood. Evidence of the eggs of different types destroyed in lairs points to this cross-bred possibility. It is believed that the egg-laying parent would often destroy such cross-bred eggs and wyrmlings.   Once fertilized, the bile is absorbed into the egg casing, and the case will seal and swell. It then develops a slimy, excreted exterior which is transmuted from the ground around it. Over days this excretion will harden into a stone structure that matches the surrounding stone and ground. It continues to grow thicker as the tendrils convert the stone surrounding into a slime over the case, slowly reconstituting it into stone again. Fresh claw marks on cave walls may indicate that the parent buries the eggs underground stone and debris. This may help it to develop the thick natural stone shell faster. Within a month’s time, the egg case is completely hidden under more than six inches of stone. By three months the stone is close to two feet thick. Obviously, this eliminates most magical scry and augurs. The excreted stone is undetectably different from the surrounding natural stone.   The eggs develop for 300-600 days, depending upon the variety and parentage. Eggs from older parents gestate longer and produce larger wyrmlings. Three-quarters of the way the hatchlings inside the case are active and could be viable, although smaller. During this time, the wyrmlings may eat any unhatched eggs or even hatched weaker siblings within the egg case. Their darkvision is fully developed as the egg case is completely without light.   The birth of the dragons from their stone shell is believed to happen slowly. The egg casing begins thinning the rock shell, reverting it to a slime. It is unknown what triggers the reversal. But the wyrmling may feed on this slime. When it thins enough, the wyrmling or the parent may break the rock shell to release the wyrmlings. The wyrmlings should be 3 to 10 feet long and a 6 to 14-foot wingspan.   Dragons see themselves as a perfection amongst nature. As such, perfection is expected and demanded from a new wyrmling. As is natural, not every dragon is born biologically perfect. Any defect or poorly bred dragon is usually sorted out while it is a wyrmling, often within the egg case and devoured by a stronger sibling.    

Aging Dragons

  Dragons take centuries to grow. The major categories starting with wyrmling are widely recognized. Dragonologists start with the ovarian while internal, then womb when within the external egg case. The latter portion of which they have already hatched but continue growing within it. Wyrmlings leave the egg case, fully formed and has been functional for some time. Wyrmling lasts for a few decades. Youth extends for 100-200 years. Adulthood reveals itself in swey energies that bend to the dragon's presence. This stage lasts through their second millennium. Ancient dragons continue for another five millenniums. During this powerful stage, some dragons sleep heavily while others reign openly over the races and beasts. The final wyrm stage is one greatly steeped in myths and legends.

Age	Stage	Category
0-160 days	Lesser Ovum	Ovarian
130-550	Ovum	Womb
200-700 days	Hatchling	Womb
2-20 years	Wyrmlink	Wyrmlings
15-45 years	Very Young	Wyrmlings
35-95 years	Young	Youths
80-160 years	Jevenile	Youths
150-250 years	Young Adult	Youths
200-700 years	Adult	Adults
600-1,200 years	Mature	Adults
1,100-2,000 years	Elder	Adults
1,500-3,700 years	Old	Ancients
3,400-4,900 years	Very Old	Ancients
4,000-7,000 years	Ancient	Ancients
6,000-10,000 years	Venerable	Wyrms
10,000+ years	Great Wyrm	Wyrms

Stages and sizes vary with breed and could develop slower or quicker by as much as 50% in some exceptional cases. Their strengths, powers and intellects develop over thousands of years. Very old dragons aren't simply a bigger young dragon.   Dragons are more feral and beastly during their younger years. Younger dragons are seen in the world more and are closer to popular stories of dragons. Powerful, frightening, devastating, covetous, and brutal are common traits, and these are labeled chromatics. Better behaved dragons also display these traits but show more self-control. However, if crossed or on the wrong side of a conflict with them, they will be just as brutal as their vicious brothers. Some equate wyrmlings as being closer to a drake in behavior at first, but that falsely suggests minimal intelligence. While some breeds tend to be more intellectual than others, dragons are never stupid by any measure. Wyrmlings hunt regularly to feed, fly, and roam, usually building and abandoning nests as they travel. If a dragon were born that lacked the expected intelligence of a wyrmling, it would almost certainly be killed and eaten.   As they age, they develop additional powers. For most, the ability to naturally polymorph comes during early adulthood. This forces younger dragons to prove themselves in their native form, to prove they can survive and rule the world around them as a dragon should. Most of the dragons encountered in Urth are young adults, or younger. Most of the known ancients and greater wyrms are found in the Dragonlands, deep in the Cataclysmites. And Urth is safer for that fact.   The older dragons get, the more they sleep. It has been suggested that there are more ancient dragons than is known because so many of them have been asleep for centuries, possibly millennia.   It has been suggested that the Tarrasque are the oldest of dragons, sleeping far beneath the earth.   Natively living in other simpler forms may be a way to avoid the natural voracious hunger of such gargantuan beasts. A gargantuan dragon would easily consume one to two cattle (1,000-1,200 gross pounds per beast) a day. A huge dragon would eat 1 to 2 cattle every 4 days. A large dragon would eat smaller meals as large cattle would feed it for 16 – 32 days. Unless it was being cooked, cured, and served to her, a dragon would leave most of such a large kill for scavengers and prefer fresher meals after a few days. White dragons are an exception, as they freeze their kills. We are certain that they can live in humanoid form continuously and have shown no signs of eating a cow every other day.