Okay, get ready for a big headcanon post about how Gembond works for certain breeds and flights. I spilled all of my creative juices onto this on Tumblr and somehow the post didn't make it to the Flight Rising tag so I'm sharing it here and hoping the site doesn't eat it.
Warning for some gruesome headcanons.
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Long ago I saw a post about dragons and the gene Gembond and how it would’ve been uncomfortable for the dragon to fly with growths on their wings and body, and I responded with a headcanon I just came up with then. So, I’m going to share that headcanon.
Gembond works differently for all breeds of dragons and their birth element. It can be as light as pumice, heavy for ground-bound dragons, rough to the touch, or smooth as river stones. Some can be beneficial for the dragon to survive, others can be lethal to the dragon itself or others, some may result in death.
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Warning for some gruesome headcanons.
_________________________________________________________
Long ago I saw a post about dragons and the gene Gembond and how it would’ve been uncomfortable for the dragon to fly with growths on their wings and body, and I responded with a headcanon I just came up with then. So, I’m going to share that headcanon.
Gembond works differently for all breeds of dragons and their birth element. It can be as light as pumice, heavy for ground-bound dragons, rough to the touch, or smooth as river stones. Some can be beneficial for the dragon to survive, others can be lethal to the dragon itself or others, some may result in death.
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• Coatls, Spirals, Faes, Skydancers, Nocturnes and all Wind dragons alike all have Gembonds as light as pumice, enabling them to fly freely and keep them from being weighed down. The gene is porous and very rough, much like pumice.
• Guardians and Bogsneaks and all Water dragons have smooth, pebble or river stone-like Gembonds, making it difficult for leeches and algae to latch onto the dragon. Sometimes the gene can act like barnacles, becoming very uncomfortable and weigh the dragon down and drown it if it doesn’t rub against rocks to wear it down. Barnacle Gembonds are removed surgically to prevent drownings, especially for younger and elderly dragons, and must be filed down every time it tries to grow back.
• Mirrors and all dragons of the Plague element have Gembonds that are rough and spiky, adding as protection against foes, slicing scales and wing membranes on their foes, making them lethal and dangerous to face off against. Dragons with Gembonds like this don’t often mate as it can tear their partner open, and are often avoided.
• Ridgebacks and all Lightning dragons have quartz-like Gembonds that hold and store electricity. Their points capture lightning and can redirect it into machines or store it inside the quartz-like gene for later use. It may have a minor or major side effect on those that are unstable with their birth element and give a small shock or electrocute them.
• Imperials, Pearlcatchers and all Light dragons have opalized Gembonds that refract light, or obsidian to absorb light and utilize it into magic. They act as natural heaters by absorbing sunlight and keep the dragons warm.
• Gembond for Tundras and Gaolers is often hidden underneath their fur, but it can develop on their manes, acting as braids or becoming too heavy and making the dragons uncomfortable enough for them to cut their mane back. The gene for Tundras, Gaolers and Ice dragons are normally white or icy blue and cover their whole body, making it hard for them to fly.
• Snappers and Earth dragons have Gembonds that are very heavy, making them slow but act as armor. As hard as diamond, the dragon is well protected from oncoming random attacks and a swing from their tail can knock foes unconscious or crack bone. Earth dragons with Gembond can use their club-like tails to crack open rocks. Each Gembond can become precious gems like sapphire and emerald with diamond-like properties.
• Wildclaws and Nature dragons have bumpy Gembonds that look like moss clusters or become wood-like to blend in with their surroundings. Wildclaws use the sharp edges of their bumpy Gembonds on their wings and tail to cut intruders as they dart past before giving chase or fighting the intruder.
• Shadow dragons’ Gembond is similar to moonstones and shimmer eerily under the moonlight. Shadow dragons use their Gembonds to lure dragons into traps, scare away dragons, or to communicate with fellow Shadow dragons. They often appear as glowing fungi, fireflies, or wisps in the pitch blackness of the Shadow territory.
• Fire dragons have coal-like Gembonds that can burst into flames as a form of defense and can never burn out, allowing it to be burned over and over. Flying may be difficult, especially with burning coal-like Gembond on your wings, so flight with flaming Gembond is forbidden to prevent dragons from overheating and collapsing into a flaming corpse.
• Arcane dragons have Gembonds that glow with arcane magic and ancient runic patterns dance on the surface of the gene. Stars can be visible on some Gembonds, leading dragons to wonder if the gene is transparent and containing tiny stars or if the gene is reflecting the stars.
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Extra Gembond headcanons:
Gembonds uncommonly can be mixed elements, but only when the egg they come from is a different element to the nest or region. An example is Arcane Gembonds with ember-like stars or a flaming orange galaxy, being a mix of both Arcane and Fire. If the Gembond ignites like Fire's Gembond, it will expel flames and arcane magic, embers and runes dancing around the dragon in a hypnotic display. Both beautiful and deadly.
- Idea from @Sillette's dragon, Vulcan
• Guardians and Bogsneaks and all Water dragons have smooth, pebble or river stone-like Gembonds, making it difficult for leeches and algae to latch onto the dragon. Sometimes the gene can act like barnacles, becoming very uncomfortable and weigh the dragon down and drown it if it doesn’t rub against rocks to wear it down. Barnacle Gembonds are removed surgically to prevent drownings, especially for younger and elderly dragons, and must be filed down every time it tries to grow back.
• Mirrors and all dragons of the Plague element have Gembonds that are rough and spiky, adding as protection against foes, slicing scales and wing membranes on their foes, making them lethal and dangerous to face off against. Dragons with Gembonds like this don’t often mate as it can tear their partner open, and are often avoided.
• Ridgebacks and all Lightning dragons have quartz-like Gembonds that hold and store electricity. Their points capture lightning and can redirect it into machines or store it inside the quartz-like gene for later use. It may have a minor or major side effect on those that are unstable with their birth element and give a small shock or electrocute them.
• Imperials, Pearlcatchers and all Light dragons have opalized Gembonds that refract light, or obsidian to absorb light and utilize it into magic. They act as natural heaters by absorbing sunlight and keep the dragons warm.
• Gembond for Tundras and Gaolers is often hidden underneath their fur, but it can develop on their manes, acting as braids or becoming too heavy and making the dragons uncomfortable enough for them to cut their mane back. The gene for Tundras, Gaolers and Ice dragons are normally white or icy blue and cover their whole body, making it hard for them to fly.
• Snappers and Earth dragons have Gembonds that are very heavy, making them slow but act as armor. As hard as diamond, the dragon is well protected from oncoming random attacks and a swing from their tail can knock foes unconscious or crack bone. Earth dragons with Gembond can use their club-like tails to crack open rocks. Each Gembond can become precious gems like sapphire and emerald with diamond-like properties.
• Wildclaws and Nature dragons have bumpy Gembonds that look like moss clusters or become wood-like to blend in with their surroundings. Wildclaws use the sharp edges of their bumpy Gembonds on their wings and tail to cut intruders as they dart past before giving chase or fighting the intruder.
• Shadow dragons’ Gembond is similar to moonstones and shimmer eerily under the moonlight. Shadow dragons use their Gembonds to lure dragons into traps, scare away dragons, or to communicate with fellow Shadow dragons. They often appear as glowing fungi, fireflies, or wisps in the pitch blackness of the Shadow territory.
• Fire dragons have coal-like Gembonds that can burst into flames as a form of defense and can never burn out, allowing it to be burned over and over. Flying may be difficult, especially with burning coal-like Gembond on your wings, so flight with flaming Gembond is forbidden to prevent dragons from overheating and collapsing into a flaming corpse.
• Arcane dragons have Gembonds that glow with arcane magic and ancient runic patterns dance on the surface of the gene. Stars can be visible on some Gembonds, leading dragons to wonder if the gene is transparent and containing tiny stars or if the gene is reflecting the stars.
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Extra Gembond headcanons:
Gembonds uncommonly can be mixed elements, but only when the egg they come from is a different element to the nest or region. An example is Arcane Gembonds with ember-like stars or a flaming orange galaxy, being a mix of both Arcane and Fire. If the Gembond ignites like Fire's Gembond, it will expel flames and arcane magic, embers and runes dancing around the dragon in a hypnotic display. Both beautiful and deadly.
- Idea from @Sillette's dragon, Vulcan
So many lore opportunities! Gembond is an underrated gene for sure.
