Category:Dragon: Difference between revisions

Dragons are a sentient race that dwell in western Kermoria in "the land of the dragons." The most comprehensive description of dragons is Aaron Albuam's Journey to the Forbidden West, a fanciful account of the author's supposed travel to the western shores of Kermoria and back again.

In addition to the qualities given to them in folklore, the flying, fire-breathing lizards also have a poorly understood connection to the land. The few scholars that have studied dragons note that their power and temperament are influenced by the health and weather of the domain they claim for their home. They are sensitive to, or at least discriminating of, the supernatural "purity" of their domain as well, leading to sometimes violent antipathy with holy men, Moon Mages, sorcerers and Necromancers.

Physiology

Common dragons can live more than 2,000 years. The lifespan of Life Dragons can be multiple times that of common dragons.

The only physical ailments that Albuam described were due to extreme age and corruption of the dragon's domain.

Society

Dragons are divided into two castes: Life Dragons and Elemental (common) Dragons.

Life Dragons are said to be the priest-kings of dragonkind, following a druidic tradition of rulership over nature and transformation spells.

Elemental Dragons are the "commoner" dragons, who practice a tradition of pure elemental manipulation.

Scale color does not indicate a dragon's class or status.

Domains

A domain is what the dragon calls home and a significant area around that. "That forest, "the valley," "the mountain over there" were examples that Albuam cited. A dragon's domain is not marked, and nothing prohibits domains from overlapping. This is the primary cause of strife between dragons.

Travel

Dragons are not bound to their domains and can travel. Albuam cites the Five Provinces' heavy pollution -- both the wholesale creation of towns and industry, as well as the heavy practice of extraplanar-based magic -- as keeping dragons away from civilization.

Ethics and Religion

Dragons are fascinated by the Immortals, but they do not worship them directly, as they do not have access to the holy realm. (The Immortals don't answer the prayers of dragons.)

"Dragons are incredible majestic creatures that are above the pursuit of base evil." However, they value the health of their domains more than Human life and would not hesitate to harm Humans who inadvertently damaged their domains.

Magic

Dragons have access to Elemental and Life Mana and can perform Sorcery, although sorcery is as as poorly regarded among them as it is among Humans. (Sorcery can damage a dragon's domain.) The strength of dragons' attunement depends on the health of their domain.

There are two lines of draconic life magic: "rulership over nature" which is druidic in form, and the ability to warp their shape. (Albuam claimed that Life Dragons could assume the form of a S'Kra Mur.)

Draconic elemental magic is fundamentally similar to that of Warrior Mages. If Albuam's account is true, their style of elemental magic is compatible with ours, because Albuam's host offered to teach him elemental magic.

Albuam's host stated that most of these "classical dragon qualities" (flying for the hopelessly unaerodynamic beast, breath weapons of fire or even more exotic types) are Elemental magic at work, not natural abilities. Life Dragons supposedly lack them altogether.

Recall

You recall that dragons are nigh-mythical creatures, due to the isolation they prefer and the draconic guises of the Heralds Eerayn, Glacis and Sildua. Seeing one is a rare treat, but not without precedent.

In addition to the qualities given to them in folklore, the flying, fire-breathing lizards also have a poorly understood connection to the land. The few scholars that have studied dragons note that their power and temperament are influenced by the health and weather of the domain they claim for their home. They are sensitive to, or at least discriminating of, the supernatural "purity" of their domain as well, leading to sometimes violent antipathy with holy men, Moon Mages, sorcerers and Necromancers.

The works of Aaron Albuam, a Bard who wrote fanciful travelogues of his alleged journeys to the west, features a conversation he claimed to have with an ancient dragon. According to the story, draconic society is divided into two castes, based on whether the dragon is attuned to Life or Elemental mana. Life Dragons are said to be the priest-kings of dragonkind, following a druidic tradition of rulership over nature and transformation spells -- notably, Albuam claimed, the ability to assume the form of a S'kra Mur. Elemental Dragons are the "commoner" dragons, who practice a tradition of pure elemental manipulation, fundamentally similar to the Warrior Mages.

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