Dragons on Qirsyllviar

Dragons are winged, fire-breathing reptiles that come in every shape and size and inhabit every corner of Qirsyllviar. Widely regarded as terrifying yet awe-inspiring, they can be found all over the world. Most are considered dangerous if handled improperly. Dragons cannot be truly "tamed", but they can be bonded with and trained, and can be fiercely loyal to their masters.
== Dragon Physiology & Attributes ==
Probably the most famous attribute of dragons is their ability to breathe fire. Dragon flame can turn flesh to ash, melt steel, even Zedylrian Steel, and crack stone. Young dragons can only let out only a mildly hot fire in short bursts, but as they get older dragons can produce more intense flames for a longer duration.
All dragons are digitigrades with their hind legs, but quadrupedal dragons typically walk on the whole foot of their front legs. At first glance, dragons appear too heavy for flight, but they have large hearts and a honeycombed bone structure, traits typical of flying creatures. That said, not all dragons are flight-capable, as either their wings are simply too small or they're evolved too heavy. Dragon flight relies on a pair of sacks in their bodies called flight-bladders. Dragons produce hydrogen and methane when they digest their food; these gasses are stored in their flight-bladders. The lighter-than-air gasses allow dragons buoyancy, thus enabling flight. 
For dragons with wings too-small to fly, like forest/jungle dragons or marine dragons, they serve a different purpose. For forest/jungle dragons, the vestigial wings are too small to allow flight, thus such dragons are only able to glide small distances with their stunted wings; but the buoyancy of the gas bladders let them tread less heavily, and thus quieter when stalking prey. The forest/jungle dragons gasses can also be used for another purpose, a unique adaptation: mimicry. By controlling the flow of gases out of its bladder, a dragon is able to mimic the sounds of other animals, and thus entice prey to come closer, or tricking competitors into thinking they have easy prey. For aquatic marine dragons, who spend their entire lives in the sea, only venturing on land when food in the water is scarce, their flight bladders become swim bladders, allowing extra buoyancy, and preventing the dragon from sinking.
A dragon's fire-breath relies on the gasses too. Dragons have molars in the back of their mouths, but not for eating plants; these molars are for holding a metallic mineral: platinum. The dragons shoot the gas out of two tubes in the back of their throats; when these gasses hit the platinum and mixes with oxygen, the platinum ignites the gas, resulting in the concentrated flames dragons are known for. The bodies of dragons are also very resistant to fire, particularly their own flames, which don't even damage their own mouths as they expel them.
Another weapon that dragons possess is their own voice. Aside for mimicry mentioned above, dragons can also let out an earsplitting screech that can carry for miles. While dragons are incapable of making the screech loud enough to kill, those nearest to the source can become permanently deaf.
All dragons lay eggs, and dragon mothers build a furnace-like nest out of rock and breathe fire on the nest with their eggs inside to keep them warm. The rocks shield the eggs from the direct blast while also retaining the heat, and the eggs usually hatch within three, four or five months, depending on the species. As mentioned above, dragons produce hydrogen and methane from digesting food. While dragons eat meat from the time they're born, and thus produce their crucial gasses early on, the dragon's first fire breaths, usually accompanied by thick grey smoke, appear when the dragon is around six months old. However, the ability to fly is normally developed later, at around twelve or thirteen months, and the dragon will not be fully mature and ready to live on its own until it is six or seven years old. The only known exception to these "rules" is Nadeshiko Suguha's dragon Hitokage (火と影), who was able to fly and breath fire from the moment he hatched.
Depending on the size of the egg, and the adult size of the species, newly hatched dragons are about the size of a small cat or dog; but they grow very rapidly, reaching the size of a small pony in about seven months, and the size of a large horse in only one or two years. The only known exceptions are the magical Hachukaji eggs lying at the bottom of a pool guarded by Chiryoku in Mt. Hirotomo, which are twenty-five feet long when they hatch.
Dragons, like birds, tend to imprint on whoever is present when they hatch, regarding that person as their parent. Another part of dragon behavior is that some species, such as the wyvern, are attracted to shiny objects. Because of this, dragons are known for taking such object, such as particularly polished coins, tableware, armor, weapons, jewelry etc, thus resulting in the creation of so-called dragon "treasure troves." Some experts believe that the metal in these "troves" are for preserving heat in the spot where they build their nests, not out of a fondness for valuable treasure. Regardless, these habits by some dragons have been a source of adventurous spirit by ambitious treasure hunters, and one of the largest troves ever found was a wyvern trove in Albion, worth an estimated 16,000,000 Albinese Sovereigns today.
It is unknown at what age dragons reach reproductive maturity, but dragons usually reproduce for the first time at about four-to-six years of age. Dragons usually stop growing at the age of ten or twelve.
Adult dragon sizes vary by species; depending on the species, some full-grown species never get larger than one or two full-grown horses, while others can reach the size of two or three bull mammoths. However, much like fish, they grow in accordance to their environment. If dragons are chained or confined into an enclosed space for long periods of time it can hinder their growth and their overall size once fully mature.
While regarded as fauna, dragons are fairly intelligent animals, and like a horse or a dog they can be trained by handlers to respond to basic voice commands; some can even understand a whole language. Some experts even regard dragons to be as intelligent as sapient beings.
Dragons are heavily armored along their head and back, and usually have softer underbellies. dragon hunters usually exploit this weakness, but over the centuries, many dragons have learned and many have adopted strategies to protect that weak spot, though the underbelly is still relatively armored in its own right. Their eyes are a weak point as well, the weakest of all, but they're not an easy target.
Dragons are also rumored to have a strong connection to magic, but to what exact extent is unknown. What's more, it is rumored that some dragons, very rarely, spontaneously develop the ability to shapeshift into a humanoid form, allowing them to reproduce with other races (most often humans). This exceedingly rare ability allowed the birth of people claiming to be descended from dragons.
==Known Species:==
Including a dragon's wings (but excluding the tail, which all dragons have), dragons can be four-limbed or six-limbed.
=== Bipedal types ===
Bipedal Types are dragons that stand on two feet. Their wings and arms can be one and the same or they can have no arms at all (four-limbs); the former is the most common. They can also have arms and legs along with their wings (six-limbs), but these types are rare.
Some of these species are actually semi-quadrupedal, meaning that while they run on two legs, they will drop down to all fours when they walk, eat or stalk prey.
Species 	Known habitat & range 	Description
Angel Dragon 	 	The Angel Dragon is one of a few unique species of dragon. Unlike most dragons that have reptilian bat-like wings, Angel Dragons have feathered avian wings, which also serve as its arms. Feathers also run down the spine of the dragon. The feathers are coated with a natural resin that keeps them from catching fire.
It has a long snout like a crocodile, and it has antlers (not horns) that branch out in two directions, upward and forward, forming a wide V. The Angel Dragon is endemic throughout Geminos.
Ardealean Silverhorn 	Ardeal & northwestern Krajstwo, Soligaia 	The Ardealian Silverhorn has dark green scales, and two long, silverish horns, hence its name. Its arms and wings are one and the same.
Augustus Dragon 	Latium Peninsula, Soligaia 	The Augustus Dragon is a four-limbed gold-scaled dragon native to the Latium Peninsula. Because of its gold scales, it is also sometimes called the Golden Dragon.
Drakyncian Frostyrion 	Heartstone Peninsula, Aquilonis 	The Frostyrion is an albino armless bipedal dragon native to the Heartstone Peninsula occupied by Drakyncia, usually inhabiting the snowy mountains of the northwest.
Lechian Ironhide 	Central Krajstwo, Soligaia 	A dragon typically bred as livestock, primarily for its skin. It gets its name from its ultra-hard hide, which is used as outer padding of leather armor or for shields.
Raptor Dragon 	 	Raptor Dragons stand on two legs and have arms with three main fingers and an apparent thumb, a rare trait for a bipedal dragon. Its wings protrude from its back and it has two horns.
Raptor Dragons are the smallest of any known dragon species when fully mature, reaching the size of a large horse. Raptor Dragons are not inherently aggressive towards people and are a popular species for breeding as mounts.
Värdlandish Short-snout	Värdland, Soligaia 	A species most prevalent in Värdland. The scales are silvery blue, and its powerful flame is also a brilliant blue color – and hot enough to reduce timber and bone to ashes in seconds. Its attractive skin is much sought after for the making of gloves and shields.
Since it rarely comes into contact with humans, save for domestic ones, the Short-Snout has less deaths to its name than most wild dragons. However, the Short-Snout is nevertheless one of the most dangerous species due to its agile flying and the extremely hot fire that it produces. The Short-Snout tends to be less agile on the ground because of its lack of forward limbs.
Wyvern 	Mainly the Albian Isles, but also as west as Navarre and as south as Arcadia	The Wyvern is a four-limbed dragon native to the Albian Isles in southeastern Soligaia, but it is also endemic as far south as Arcadia, Nekrcoz, due to introduction by Soligaian colonistsn and their territories have been known to extend as far west as Navarre.
This species is usually in one of three main colors, albino, green, and red. It is one of several species known for taking vasts amounts of treasure.
=== Facultative Bipedal types ===
Facultative bipedals are dragons that are capable of walking or running on two legs, often for only a limited period, but normally walk on four limbs.
Species 	Known habitat & range	Description
Kaiser Dragon 	Throughout Starkland 	A Kaiser Dragon is a six-limbed dragon native to Starkland. Kaizer Dragons have tough black scales and horns that curve back once like a faun's horns before extending sharply forward.
Another defining feature of Kaizer dragons is the way it runs when not in flight: Their front legs are smaller than their rear, so while they're normally down on all fours while walking, they run on their hind legs.
Kraftriketian Ridgeback	 	It resembles the Starklander Horntail, except for the black ridges on its back instead of spikes, the browner texture in its scales, and its less hostile attitude. It has venomous fangs (which the Horntail does not) and its food of choice is large mammals, and sometimes people.
Ridgebacks are normally seen on all fours, but they run on their hind legs. Its eggs are black, and young Ridgebacks develop the ability to shoot flame earlier than any other species (around one to three months). Female Ridgebacks are generally more ferocious than the males.
=== Quadrupedal Types ===
Quadrupedal Types are dragons that walk on four legs. They can have front and back legs in addition to their wings (six limbs), or their wings and their front legs can be one and the same (four limbs).
Species 	Known habitat & range	Description
Agnishvasiअग्निश्वासी 	Throughout Tarak 	The Agnishvasi, also known as the Taraki Jungle Dragon, is a six-limbed flightless dragon species endemic mainly to the jungles to Tarak.
Aztec Feathered Dragon	 	The Aztec Feathered Dragon, or simply the Feathered Aztec, is a six-limbed dragon endemic to northern and central Nekcroz. Like the Angel Dragon, it is one of a few unique species of dragons that have feathered avian wings instead of reptilian. The Feathered Aztec has yellowish scales with feathers growing in random places along its back and a single brown horn on its forehead, similarly to a unicorn. The feathers are coated with a natural resin that keeps them from catching fire.
The Feathered Aztec is very rare nowadays, with fewer than ten thousand confirmed individuals in the wild.
Cheongsae청새 	Goryeo 	The Cheongsae is an antlered six-limed blue-scaled dragon native to western Marlakcor, and are found in greatest abundances in Goryeo. With similar features and proportions to the Hachukaji, aside for the color of their scales, it is believed to be a divergent species evolved from a common ancestor.
Gaolong皋龍 	Tianxia, Marlakcor 	The Gaolong is a six-limbed green-scaled dragon native to Qingjiang Hegu (青江河谷/Qingjiang river valley), traditionally called Gaoyu (皋峪), the original homeland of the Gao, the dominant ethnic group of the collective Wan. With similar features and proportions to the Hachukaji, aside for the color of their scales and a lack of antlers, it is believed to be a divergent species evolved from a common ancestor.
Starklander Horntail 	Starkland 	Native to central and northern Starkland, and beyond. It has black scales and yellow eyes, the front of it's mouth is beaked, its wings and forelimbs are one and the same, it has bronze horns and similarly colored spikes that protrude along the spinal area down to the tip of its long tail which it will gladly deploy in combat. The dragon's roar is a yowling, screeching scream, and its flame can reach to about fifty feet.
While having a very far reaching flame, the Horntail's breath can reach extremely high temperatures as it can make a stone turn red hot in seconds. Its eggs are cement-colored and particularly hard-shelled.
The Horntail's foods of choice include cattle, sheep, goats, and whenever possible, humans. It's one of a few dragons classified as a "man-eater."
Hachukaji爬虫火事 	Throughout Fuso 	The Hachukaji is the dominant dragon species endemic throughout Fuso and parts of western Marlakcor. Almost 500,000 are believed to be domesticated, while more than a million Hachukaji are believed to live in the wild, the majority of which live throughout Fuso and Morokoshi, with a many documented sightings beyond the borders of the Yamato Empire. The species has even been introduced to the Vieillesse Peninsula as a result of cooperation between Soleil and Yamatai.
Wild Hachukaji tend to live either alone or in family groups of up to eight, consisting of the parents along with any offspring. Adults usually leave the family to find a mate upon maturity.
Hachukaji are long and relatively slender. When fully grown, they can reach up to one hundred feet or longer from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, and their wingspan is usually equally long. Their bodies, from their neck to their pelvis, can get up to three yards around. Their muzzles narrow like crocodiles and their canines protrude out (the only teeth visible when their jaws are closed). Hachukaji also grow antlers, one of the few dragons that do. Hachukaji come in a variety of colors: the typical colors are red, orange, blue, green and purple; rarer colors are white, grey and black; and the rarest is gold. Gold Hachukaji are exceedingly rare, and the last known one lived over a thousand years ago.
While not classified as aquatic dragons, Hachukaji are excellent swimmers. When in water, they normally glide across the surface like crocodiles but are capable of diving; that said, as they're not evolved for aquatic life, they can't hold their breath for more than five minutes. Hachikaji prefer an aquatic diet; including fish, marine mammals & reptiles, or crustaceans. That said, they'll eat meat of terrestrial animals if there's no other meat available. It is for this reasons that wild ones normally hang out near the water.
Hachukaji are also one of the few known dragons that are gentle with humans and other sapients, preferring to spend their lives in their company and are fiercely loyal to their masters.
It is believed to be a divergent species evolved from the now-extinct Guhuo, along with the Gaolong and the Cheongsae.
Praserith White 	 	The Praserith White is a six-limbed albino dragon native to Siam. Its distinguishing characteristic is the elongated ivory canine tusks that grow forward out of their mouths, similarly to elephants.
These dragons are often bred as livestock for their ivory tusks.
Mole Dragon 	 	The Mole Dragon is a flightless six-limbed species that lives and tunnels underground like a mole. This species is blind and relies on scent to get around.
Rainbowscale 	 	The Rainbowscale is a six-limbed quadrupedal dragon native to Talmyrnia. It gets its name from the assorted colored scales that form rainbow-bands all along its body.
Rhino Dragon 	 	The Rhino Dragon is a flightless species of dragon native to the savannas of northern Nekcroz. It gets it's name from the rhino-like horn that grows from the topside of it's upper jaw, which is beaked. The Rhino Dragon's wings are large enough to imply flight, but it's body is so large and heavy that it makes flight impossible.
Soleillien Ironbelly 	Soleil 	A four-limbed quadrupedal species, metallic grey in color, with an immense wingspan, long talons and rough scales said to be as hard as steel. Its wings and arms are one and the same.
Native to Soleil, it is the largest species of quadrupedal dragon, reaching larger than three bull mammoths and up to six tons when fully grown. Its eyes are deep red. Sometimes the eyes seem to be the same color as its body because of a protective scale. It gets it name from the fact that it has a hard belly, a trait rare for a dragon, which usually have bellies softer than their backs.
Shiqiu獅虬
Lion Dragon 	 	The Shiqiu is a flightless six-limbed dragon often seen in the bamboo forests throughout Marlakcor.
It is a long dragon that can reach thirty yards in length. It gets its name from the rectangular-shaped snout and lion-like mane of hair that grows around its neck (females don't grow manes though). Though flightless, it is capable of gliding short distances.
A favored dragon of the Gao, it has been used as a beast of war and a symbol of authority for centuries.
al-Zahifالزاحف 	 	The al-Zahif, also known as the Sand Dragon, is a flightless desert-dwelling dragon native to southeastern Aquilonis.
It gets its name from the fact that it mainly inhabits ergs, where it hides itself beneath the sea of sand before jumping out to ambush its prey, which can range from camels and small animals, to people. Its approximate range is from the northern Great Dhahabi Desert to the dunes of Kemet on Nubia.
It's classified as a man-eater.
=== Marine Dragons ===
Marine Dragons, often known by the blanket term "marines," are a types of flightless dragons that spend their entire lives in or near the sea. Their flight bladders become swim bladders, allowing extra buoyancy; the "wings" serve as fins, their toes have webbing, and the large tails are rudder-like. Very few of these types of dragons that can still breathe fire.
Most are amphibious by nature, with mothers often laying their eggs on land and the hatchlings race toward the water as soon as they hatch. The Ocean Dragon is the sole dragon that spends its entire life in the sea.
All Marine Dragons are quadrupedal, no matter if they're four or six limbed.
Species 	Known habitat & range	Description
Ísjökullic Greenscale	 	The Greenscale is a four-limbed marine dragon native to the beaches and waters of Ísjökull and don't generally venture far from the island. It gets its name from its bright-green scales. Having a slender figure, it is the most agile of any marine dragon. This species is one of a few marines that can breathe fire.
Ice Dragon 	Arctica 	The Ice Dragon is a rare flightless six-limbed dragon species native to the frozen wastes of Arctica. Despite its name, the Ice Dragon breaths fire just like a normal dragon, but the flame itself is blue in color. It gets its name due to its native lands. It is also a good swimmer, and hunts most of it's prey in the water. It's for this reason that it's classified as a marine dragon, even though it spends most of its time on land, where it also hunts.
Magyar Krokodil 	 	The Magyar Krokodil is the term for a flightless six-limbed dragon native to the shallow swamps of Magyarhaza and beyond that looks and behaves like a crocodile, hence it's classification as a marine dragon. Is is also one of the few that can still breath fire.
Known for hunting humans as well as other wildlife, it's classified as a "man-eater."
Ocean Dragon 	 	The Ocean Dragon is a six-limbed dragon that spends entire life in the sea, only coming to the surface for air. Often reaching the size and weight of a cachalot (sperm whale), Ocean Dragons can be found in all waters of Qirsyllviar and often lay their eggs in warm lagoons near the surface.
PolemopsaroΠολεμοψαρο	 	The Polemopsaro is a species of marine dragon endemic to the waters of Keltikos. Due to its structural similarities to the fossils of the extinct Ostikisavra, it is believed to be the species' modern descendant.
Turtle Dragon 	 	The Turtle Dragon is a four-limbed dragon species that gets its name from the turtle-like shell it has, and is the only species of dragon like this. Its head and shell are similar to an alligator snapping turtle, but they retain the sharp teeth which turtles don't have. A Turtle Dragon's front limbs are what used to be its wings, and it's hind limbs are reminiscent of sea turtles.
Turtle Dragons are also capable of pulling their head and limbs into their shell like normal turtles, but their tails are too long for that and remain vulnerable. Turtle Dragon eggs are about the size of ostrich eggs, and are as large as ponies when they hatch, then they can grow up to the size of a bull mammoth but they weigh much heavier. Their diet usually consists of anything meat they can get their jaws on, and sapient beings are no exception. That said, they most often feed on small whales or squid and are sometimes known to eat seaweed.
Turtle Dragons are found in all of Qirsyllviar's waters. This species is one of a few marines that can breathe fire.
=== Concertina Types ===
Concertina Types are serpentine-like dragons without legs, leaving only their wings for flight. Without the use of legs, these types of dragon achieve flight by coiling their bodies like snakes and springing themselves upward.
Rather than serpents, these types of dragons are better described as legless lizards.
Species 	Known habitat & range	Description
Quetzalcoatl	 	The Quetzalcoatl is a serpentine dragon native to central and southern Nekcroz. It is one of a few unique species to have feathered avian wings. Their wings also also more dexterous, much like a harpy's. A Quetzalcoatl is fully capable of flight despite their lower half's sheer size.
== Extinct Species ==
While conservation efforts have been undergoing for centuries, sadly many great dragon species have gone extinct for one reason or another since before recorded history. Causes include over-hunting, habitat loss from climate change or human colonization, competition with other dragon species, etc.
=== Bipedal Types ===
=== Quadrupedal Types ===
==== Guhuo ====
The Guhuo (古火/Genjingo: Kohi/Sinjok-eo: Gobul (고불)), is an extinct species that is believed to be the common ancestor of the Gaolong, Hachukaji, & the Cheongsae. While records of sightings are scarce, the species is believed to have gone extinct sometime within the last four thousand years.
=== Marine Dragons ===
==== Ostikisavra ====
The Ostikisavra (Οστικησαυρα) is an extinct species of marine dragon that was endemic to the waters of prehistoric Keltikos. Fossils were first discovered by merfolk in the sea beds in the 3300'sAZC. Due to the structural similarities with the modern Polemopsaro, the Ostikisavra is believed to be the former's ancestor.
=== Condertina ===
== Notes & Trivia ==
* The study of dragons in known as Dracology.
Category:Qirsyllviar
Category:Fauna
Category:Dragons