An Impractical Guide to Dragons
A short guide on the different dragon species, highlighting the characteristics most seen in each one. Remember though, your dragons don't have to follow these stereotypes. This is just additional information that you can use if you wish.
Banescale Dragons
The ancient wyverns.
Banescale are a medium sized dragon, with a taste for insects, meat, and seafood. Their presence is as widespread as their diet.
Appearance And Diet
-Banescale sport hides of thick interlocking scales. When a scale is lost in a minor injury or simply falls, it can be easily replaced within a few sheds.
-They lack a set of front limbs and instead boast a set of powerful hind legs, as well as large wingspans.
-Their curved horns and row of long spines create an impressive figure.
-While their diet is rather diverse, they simply refuse to eat their greens.
Social Life
-With most of their history left to a final song, Banescale have worked hard to carve themselves a new place in Sorneith.
-They most often gravitate to Coatls for their singing abilities and their common origins in Fire.
-In battle their strong talons are their ultimate weapon, used for grappling enemies in the air. Their breath attacks are a close second as a means of hit and run tactics.
Home Improvement
-While the ancient Banescale migrated to the Blacksand Annex to nurse their clutches, those in the modern era avoid it and instead keep their young with them at all times.
-They avoid gathering in too large a number and will break off from a clan after a dozen breeding pairs have been established in their colony.
-Abandoned dens, no matter how complex, are taken over by local flora and fauna after the Banescale have left.
Bogsneak Dragons
The stealthy crocodilia.
Bogsneaks are a medium sized dragon, with a taste for both meat and plant matter.
Appearance And Diet
-Bogsneaks are low slung dragons with thick limbs and large head crests.
-The head crests are supported by their thick, long necks.
-Due to their mass, Bogsneaks are not known for flying or gliding.
-Their legs can carry them very quickly over short distances, and their strong jaws are perfect for snatching prey.
Social Life
-Bogsneaks are fairly solitary dragons, secluding themselves whenever possible.
-Their head crests can sometimes be used as an indication of the Bogsneak's mood, but isn't entirely reliable due the crests fanning and collapsing with temperature as well.
-They are much more interested in self-preservation than hearty conversation.
-Many dragons stray from boggy/marshy areas and wetlands, due to the high risk of surprise Bogsneak attacks.
Home Improvement
-Bogsneaks live in the darkest, dampest places they can find (or make), generally under piles of dead logs and bushes.
-Even bonded mating pairs will have separate dens, only coming together when producing a clutch.
-Lairs with a variety of dragon species will find their Bogsneak companions often missing, and there will probably be an odor of rotting wood.
Coatl Dragons
The deaf tone serpent.
Coatls are a peaceful bunch. Munching on seafood and handing out gifts, they're probably one of the friendliest dragon species out there!
Appearance And Diet
-They are vibrant feather-butts, and believe fading plumage means that the Coatl is sick.
-Dull colored Coatls are regarded with sorrow and trepidation.
-Natural born grey and white Coatls are considered bad omens, and tend to be exiled.
-They have an awesome prehensile tail, perfect for grabbing items and hanging around.
Social Life
-Coats gift others small pieces of metal to get on an enemy's good side.
-If gifts don't work, they're not afraid to tussle. And they're fast!
-Coatls have their own native tongue, consisting of humming in various pitches.
-Their ears aren't as great as other dragons, and they can produce rather horrible sounds.
-Speaking traditional Draconic is not easy for them, but they understand it pretty well.
-Communicating with Faes is difficult for them, nearly impossible even.
-They're very polite when living with other dragons.
Home Improvement
-Coatls like "open-air" lairs, with shelving shapes around molten pools.
-When living with other dragons, they leave den designing to their clan-mates.
-They prefer nesting in sweltering environments, usually close to the Flamecaller's domain.
Fae Dragons
The monotone butterfly.
Faes are small magic users with an odd way of showing emotion. They love to eat insects and flit about.
Appearance And Diet
-Faes are the smallest of the different dragon species.
-Their wings are rather large compared to their bodies.
-They sport some pretty sweet head frills, which they use to convey emotion and tone.
-These tiny dragons require a constant supply of food to travel long distances.
Social Life
-Faes are literal social butterflies in the dragon kingdom.
-Their voices are monotone, and they have trouble understanding other dragon species.
-Due to their frills, Faes don't exhibit body language other dragons are familiar with.
-Angering these tiny dragons is a bad idea, because they're incredible with magic.
-When in a fight, they'll hide and rain down magic-based attacked upon their enemy.
-One downside to being so small though, is that they have tiny magic reserves.
Home Improvement
-Faes use magic and tree sap and to form lovely amber roosts.
-They live in large colonies on the sides of cliffs, and on giant tree trunks.
-When living with mixed species, they'll create roosts wherever they can in the den.
-Fae colonies can have up to tens of thousands of individuals.
Gaoler Dragons
The ancient jailer.
Gaolers are large wardens hailing from the Fortress of Ends. They consume both meat and plant matter to fuel their focus.
Appearance And Diet
-Created to watch over those imprisoned deep within Icewarden's domain, Gaolers are protected by thick fur, and wield and impressive set of horns.
-Their horns are shed each spring and are buried away from their lairs.
-While the wings these dragons boast are rather stunted, they are used in various activities such as digging, climbing, and in battle.
-These mighty dragons consume mainly meat, but won't turn their nose up at vegetation.
Social Life
-Gaolers are bound by their duty given by the Icewarden to seek out and contain the Shade.
-There are 5 orders within their society. A Gaoler not within an order is typically seen as a child, receiving no duties or respect from others.
-Upon joining an Order, they are given a name and entered adulthood.
-The Gaoler Orders are as follows (quoting from the Encyclopedia):
- Seekers: An order dedicated to hunting the lands of Sornieth to capture and contain Shade creatures.
- Sentries: An order dedicated to stalking the perimeters of Gaoler prisons. They are the first line of defense against intruders, and the last line of defense against escapees.
- Keepers: An order dedicated to guarding lesser Shade creatures imprisoned in the mid-levels of a ward.
- Overseers: An order dedicated to containing the largest and most ancient Horrorbeasts.
- Sentinels: An elite guard that assist in protecting the Icewarden and the Pillar Fragment locked-away in the Fortress of Ends
-In battle, these mighty dragons will move in groups to slow ground enemies and ground aerial attacks. Once all threats are hampered in movement, they will be herded and contained.
Home Improvement
-Gaolers don't care much for the "comforts of home" and as such have very basic lairs. Their duties lie in watching over prisons, not being homemakers.
-When joining a mixed lair, they will carve out an area for themselves that is very clear of personality.
-They do not maintain hoards and prefer to keep their living space free of baubles and trinkets.
Guardian Dragons
The mighty protector.
Guardians are one of the largest species, sporting some impressive fins and natural armor. They're omnivores with a mighty need to protect.
Appearance And Diet
-Guardians have several large, rigid fins. These fins can be collapsed for swimming.
-Males grow beards, and take excellent care of them.
-Being omnivores, Guardians don't need to worry about finding food.
-Their wings are thick and tough, used to protect the Guardian in combat.
Social Life
-Guardians live in small groups, though they generally prefer solitude.
-They are always on the front lines when engaging in combat.
-Once they reach adulthood, a Guardian will go on
The Search, to find their charge.
-A charge can be anything from another dragon, to an item, place, or even rarely a concept.
-Losing a charge brings dishonour to a Guardian, and the dragon will slowly die.
Home Improvement
-Guardians need plenty of space to carve a lair.
-Lair size and shape varies from dragon to dragon.
-They care very little about the appearance of their lair.
-If a Guardian's charge is a location or item that cannot move, they will build their lair near it.
Imperial Dragons
The silent colossi.
Imperials are another of the largest species in Sornieth, and are also omnivores. They are perfectionists at heart.
Appearance And Diet
-Imperials are long, serpentine dragons, and each one boasts impressive antlers.
-Their wings are fringed and leathery, and are absent of scales.
-Every dragon has a lovely mane that they trim and keep tidy.
-Thanks to their large wings, these dragons can stay in the air for days on end.
Social Life
-Imperials prefer solitude, and normally will only be found alone, or in duos and trios.
-They are very reserved, and can come off as rather distant.
-Perfection is something they adore, and do their very best to achieve it.
-Because of this perfectionism, Imperials are rather good at most crafts and activities.
-When in combat, they prefer to be on the ground, where they can better use their strength.
Home Improvement
-Though distant from each other, Imperials enjoy denning with other dragon species.
-Being rather large, they tend to make lairs where they have room to move.
-When an Imperial dies, healthy Imperials will move the dead far from other bodies, and then vacate the area.
-Too many dead Imperials in one place will create an Emperor, a terrible being that even the gods struggle to vanquish in battle.
Mirror Dragons
The savage pack hunters.
Mirrors are ferocious carnivores with talented secondary eyes. Tussling with them is always a bad idea.
Appearance And Diet
-Mirrors are lithe hunters, able to sprint at up to 50 milers an hour.
-Their second set of eyes can track prey by heat signatures, making them rather sneaky predators.
-Each dragon possesses a fanned crest, primarily used in shows of dominance.
-While not the best fliers, they're certainly not the dragon you want to upset on the ground.
Social Life
-Mirror dragons do not mix well with other species, preferring to roam in large packs of their own kind.
-These packs are leaderless, growing and splitting at their leisure.
-Such packs commonly range from 5 to 40 members and upwards.
-Lone Mirrors are usually injured, or unable to keep up with their pack.
-These dragons see no need for words, preferring to communicate via actions.
Home Improvement
-Mirror packs scavenge any and all materials to build lairs.
-The lairs are temporary structures, and are abandoned once food in the area is depleted.
-If the prey population rebuilds, then a new Mirror pack will move into the structure.
Nocturne Dragons
The little mimic bat.
Nocturnes are small, but persistent dragons. They consume meat and insects while being mischievous.
Appearance And Diet
-Nocturnes boast rather impressive wingspans, wrapping themselves up during the day.
-They have several small sets of horns, and are covered in spiny armor.
-Their rather flat faces are perfect for snapping up flying insects.
Social Life
-Nocturnes are mimics by nature, and are little tricksters.
-They come to the surface for two weeks after the Winter Solstice, to breed and claim new territory.
-When they follow around a different species, they will copy that dragons traits and actions.
-These dragons are excellent at deceiving others when in battle, mimicking voices and battle strategies to their own benefit.
-Loathing solitude, they become rather excited upon meeting new individuals, and can sometimes be a tad overwhelming.
Home Improvement
-Nocturnes are rather clever when crafting lairs, camouflaging them to match their surroundings.
-These masterpiece homes have allowed these dragons to thrive in almost any place.