The Washed Away AU/Mudwings

Aquila non capit muscas
 ‘The eagle does not catch flies’ 
==Description==
Towering above all other tribes, Mudwings are truly a sight to behold. They have thick limbs and brawny chests to fit their massive lungs used for holding their breath for long periods. Distant relatives of Beetlewings and Icewings, they have the iconic protruding fangs all Trilowing descendants share. Their talons dwarf any other’s, made of digging and moving tough soil. Mudwing horns curve forward with age and eventually wind around themselves like a ram’s.
Mudwing mainscales are small and tightly knit together, but are half a centimeter thick and work like chainmail. Secondary scales on their spine are large plates that are vestigial from the transition from Beetlewing armor-like-scales to a more robust style. These occasionally effect movement, and thus Mudwings are not as dexterous as other tribes. Their underbellies are their weak point, unprotected, and made of thin, translucent scales that shed often to minimize infection.
Mudwings mostly come in shades of brown but are often accented by yellows, greens, oranges, whites, golds, and reds. Their soft underbelly is commonly the most vibrant part of the body, second to their wings. Possibly once used to attract mates, Mudwing wings are beautiful by most tribe’s standards.
==Abilities==
=== Fire-breath ===
Mudwings, unlike most other tribes, are ectothermic. While they can function fine without much heat, to breathe fire they need to be at a temperature higher than 35°. When able, Mudwings can shoot wide bursts of flame out of their mouth that come in shades of orange and yellow. Mudwing soldiers often bask on rocks in the sun in their free-time to be prepared for an attack.
=== Burrowing ===
Mudwings are equipped with naturally powerful arms made for digging tunnels and dens. They have massive paw-like talons with dull claws designed for carving away tightly-packed clay they may run into. While a forgotten practice, biologists have theorized that Mudwing’s past relatives lived under the silt in shallow waters, never leaving their tunnels.
Modern Mudwings have lost some of their old ability but still can excavate areas quickly and are often recruited into mining operations. Mudwing homes are mainly underground and can be read about in the culture section.
=== Affinity for Water ===
Mudwings, particularly when born near the shore, are very strong swimmers. While no match for a Seawing, Mudwings can hold their breath for about two or three hours and have large, thick tails to act as rudders. They have a second, clear eyelid that allows them to see underwater without irritation.
== Mutations ==
=== Fireproof Dragons ===
Dragons born from blood-red eggs are highly resistant to any kind of fire injuries and have generally thicker scales, even on their underbelly. This is pretty common, occurring about once every four clutches of eggs. 
A fireproof dragon is the pride of the troop, and often is the second in command to the bigwings. Historically a fireproof dragonet would be required by law to join in the army, and the entire troop would follow them. While this is no longer enforced, many enlist anyway simply out of tradition.
=== Sickjaws ===
Once about every fifteen clutches of eggs, a Mudwing can be born with venomous properties. They appear like any other, excluding the sharp spurs on their heels. Their venom is released either through these spurs or a bite to a vulnerable area. The existence of these Mudwings has led to questions about the current accepted evolutionary line, as Rainwings, Nightwings and Sandwings are all on different branches than the Mudwings. The venom most resembles the Nightwing’s corrosive saliva, although it does not seem to have evolved with the intent of hunting; instead a kind of defense. 
The effects depend on the dosage, but once any of it gets to an assailant's bloodstream, they will experience fatigue, coughing, delirium, temporary blindness, and a weaker immune system. These can be treated by the Sandwing cactus juice, or just common healers, but if a medium-high dosage is allowed to fester, death is probable.
These dragons are very controversial and the laws about them change about every 200 years. Most sickjaw go unnoticed, or enlist in the army in the modern age. However, in the past killing these dragons as soon as they hatched was required, and rumors were spread about them being terrible luck for the rest of the troop. Occasionally the bigwings will kill them after a year or so on pure instinct. It is unknown why this happens, but it might be linked to the bigwings seeing the sickjaw as a threat to their role as leader of the troop, even if they have no such intention.
=== Hatching Defects ===
Mudwings are prone to mutations in the egg as they are very fragile before hatching. While most misplaced eggs are stillborn, trained doctors can still save them if their parents are watching over the clutch. Depending on where the egg was wrongly incubated, Mudwings will sometimes mutate to adapt to their environment. Reportedly, Mudwings have been hatched with Seawing-like webbed spines or gills that give the appearance of a hybrid. Dragonets hatched at lower temperatures than commonplace can have Icewing-like traits. These ‘hybridizing’ effects only happen with Trilowing descendants.
Beside hybridization, Mudwings can also hatch with ‘average’ mutations such as albino, melanisim, piebald, axanthism, multiple limbs, heads, or eyes, or missing limbs. These dragons are less shunned as in other tribes, due to the wide range of traits Mudwings exhibit. Most of these mutations are passed on to offspring.
== Society ==
=== Values ===
==== Religious System ====
Mudwings are fire worshipers, believing that there were once two moons and two suns before the younger star turned themselves into a dragon egg and hatched as the first living being. Afterwards, the discarded ‘shell’ of the younger sun turned into the largest moon, and the remaining sun watches over their sibling’s lineage.
Their religious expression tends to discourage temples or assigned religious leaders, instead each town has a shrine near the center where Mudwings leave small gifts from their chosen profession. Troops pray together regularly in their den, resting on the ground and whispering their wishes to the remaining Sun.
==== Ideology ====
Mudwing ideology is mostly unchanged, even during the great enlightenment, and stems mainly from their natural instinct to help others. They focus on the many rather than the individual, seeing losses in battle as a sacrifice for the kingdom. They see materialism as ‘under’ the tribe, and while don’t try to convert outsiders, have a certain distaste for them.
Mudwing communities are very tight-knit, with a high amount of respect for each other. 
Mudwings are very loyal to their religion, as it is taught from birth. While of course some switch to different belief systems, many stay as Followers of the Sun their entire lives. Even outlaw towns such as those in the Diamond Spray River have shrines that are kept clean and are almost never stolen from for fear of inciting the Sun’s wrath.
====Domestic Life====
Mudwing domestic life is notoriously simple, leading to stereotypes of ‘dumbness’ by enemy tribes. While occupation changes exact details, most Mudwing days go similarly. 
They wake up with the dawn, an old tradition possibly related to their religion, and eat, before heading out with their troop to farm and work. When the sun begins to set, the troop returns to their town or village to a massive bonfire, created by the local mayor, to cook and share food with the community. This is a mundane kind of worship, and builds tight bonds with fellow troops.
===Economy===
====Imports====
Mudwings are big buyers of produce from the Rainwing and Silkwings, as well as fine arts from the Seawings, and building materials from the Sandwings, Skywings, and Hivewings. They have an attitude of neutrality in business, leading to strong trade routes and security in case of a war.
==== Exports ====
Mudwings are large sellers of grains, cotton, livestock, and manual labor, leading to a mass of money and animus-touched stored up in the Royal Treasury. Outside of the kingdom, Mudwings often work in mining or building operations.
=== Expression ===
Mudwings express themselves in a variety of ways, the rich wearing jewelry or cotton fabrics to exemplify their wealth. Lower-class dragons commonly prefer more active forms of personalization, with kinds of yoga and meditative exercise almost universal. Tattoos are very prominent as well, although they don’t carry as much importance as Skywing tattoos. 
Spirituality is also a common form of expression, even simple things such as burning specific incense or murals on the walls of establishments are extremely personal to Mudwings and destruction of art is a personal offense.
=== Organization ===
== History ==
 This section will be expanded on and edited as TWAA world history changes. This is a brief record. 
== Gallery ==
 Originally made by Platypus the Seawing, edited by me to reduce bright colors 
Category:Content (SmolBiblicallyAccurateAngel)
Category:Alternate Universes
Category:Work in Progress
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