Obtained: FR Kickstarter Backer (retired) Rarity: Limited Modern Breeding Cooldown: 30 days Diet: Insects Meat Seafood Plants

Overview
The Imperial breed originated from the Beacon of the Radiant Eye, though the species seems conspicuously absent from its point of origin.


Physical Attributes
These giants are among the largest of the known dragons. Each Imperial possesses a long serpentine body, short forelegs, lanky hind legs, and an impressive pair of fringed leathery wings. With the exception of their wings and inner ears, Imperials are covered in shining scales from snout to tail. Each wyrm boasts a coarse mane that must be trimmed regularly, and a pair of many-pronged antlers that are shed and consumed each season.

Imperials were Light's first children, an amalgamation of bone, blood, and the shed essence of the Lightweaver--excavated from ancient battle sites of the First Age. This reclaimed essence was a finite resource; no new Imperials have been shaped by the gods in a millennia, though the species has no difficulty replenishing its numbers. These dragons have incredibly unpredictable lifespans. Some individuals live only a decade, while others thrive for hundreds of years.


Social
These dragons are reserved with their words, and those not familiar with an individual often struggle to read them. Though distant emotionally, Imperials throw themselves into their Flight's cherished professions with focus and devotion. Perfection of a craft is highly valued among their society.

The treatment of the sick and the burial rites among Imperial dragons are something of a mystery to other dragon species. What is known is that when another Imperial is grievously injured or has recently passed, healthy Imperials move the dead and dying far away from one another before leaving the territory themselves.

Lairs
Imperials prefer to associate with a only handful of their own kind at a time. Solitaries, pairs, and trios are the most common groupings of Imperial dragons to be found. This desire to distance themselves from their own kind does not extend to most other dragon species. They will freely lair with dragons of all shapes and sizes. The exception to this tolerance is the Pearlcatcher species; the two breeds have a mutual disdain of their cousin species. Imperials believe their creator has replaced them, while Pearlcatchers are conscious of the fact that their patron did not create them with the grandeur of scale of their predecessors.


Tactics
Though they are physically capable maintaining flight for weeks on end, Imperials are not as maneuverable as many smaller species, and are vulnerable in aerial combat. They will attempt to swat, grab, and drive their opponents to the ground where Imperials may better use their strength and magic against them.