Proto-dragon

Proto-dragons (also called primal dragonsSam Vostok - Dragonflight - Interview de Steve Danuser - "Proto-drakes (or primal dragons as they prefer to be known) are dragons untouched by titan influence [...]"https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-gb/news/23876527/the-story-so-far-take-wing-through-time-with-the-dragon-aspects or proto-drakes, and also spelled proto dragons or protodragons) are dragons untouched by titan influence. Millennia ago, the titans altered some of them into the Aspects and their ordered dragonflights, reshaping them both physically and ideologically. This new species is now simply known as dragons. Some primal dragons shunned the gift of the titans and still roam the wilds of Northrend and the Dragon Isles. Among the proto-dragons of Northrend, some were subjugated and used as mounts by mortal races such as the vrykul or the Dragonmaw orcs.
==History==
The proto-dragons descend from elementals who avoided being imprisoned in the Elemental Plane and instead remained on Azeroth, where some of them gradually transformed into creatures of flesh and blood.World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1, pg. 40 More specifically, Brann Bronzebeard recently uncovered evidence, corroborated by reports from adventurers in Deepholm, that proto-dragons may have origins in elemental drakes such as stone and storm drakes. The inhabitants of Deepholm, the Skywall, the Firelands, and the Abyssal Maw are less than talkative on these matters, however, and most of them were not around when the elemental prisons were created.Ask CDev Answers - Round 2
Galakrond, a massive proto-dragon,Legends Volume 3: Fiend, pg. 19 is known as the "progenitor of dragonkind" and long ago resorted to cannibalism. This act of consuming other proto-dragons gave Galakrond unbelievable strength and increased his size, but horribly mutated his body as well. His breath reanimated the dead proto-dragons around him into a form of undeath. It is said that from Galakrond the titans created the Aspects,Audience With The Dragon Queen (Alliance) / Audience With The Dragon Queen (Horde) but this is a rumor the Aspects actively encouraged so as to keep the truth about Galakrond's power a secret from the dragonflights.Dawn of the Aspects, part 5
The truth of the connection between Galakrond and the Aspects is that the five proto-dragons who would become the Aspects were united by Tyr and worked together to defeat Galakrond. Afterward, in recognition of their power when working together, the titans blessed those five proto-dragons and transformed them into the Aspects, the first dragons. However, some proto-dragons rejected the order of the titans, and infused themselves with elemental energy to become the Primal Incarnates and rebel against the Dragon Aspects.
===Wrath of the Lich King===
During the war against the Lich King, the Scourge raised some ancient proto-dragons into undeath to become members of the Frostbrood, but only those that were powerful members of long-forgotten draconic flights.Frostbrood Proto-Wyrm
In the Storm Peaks, the Hyldnir frost vrykul of Valkyrion served the Lich King by capturing proto-drakes and their eggs, in order to infect them with the Plague of Undeath through the Blighted Pool, waters filled with corruption and disease. The infected creatures became their mounts and nest all around in the mountains above their village.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 148 These plagued proto-drakes were also used as mounts by the vrykul of Valkyrion in Icecrown, and were later targeted by Gretta the Arbiter who ordered adventurers to destroy the plagued eggs.The Aberrations Must Die
===Cataclysm===
During the Ashenvale war, Garrosh Hellscream brought some proto-drakes from Northrend to invade Ashenvale, the Horde managed to domesticate them by holding their young hostage.Wolfheart 
===Mists of Pandaria===
Following the fall of Deathwing and the black dragonflight, the Dragonmaw clan began subverting proto-drakes for the needs of the True Horde.Secrets of Ragefire
===Warlords of Draenor===
At the time of the war in Draenor, Warlord Zaela and her Dragonmaw continued to use proto-drakes, and they brought Ragewing the Untamed to Blackrock Spire from the Twilight Highlands.
Consequently, troops were sent to recover proto-drake eggs from Warlord Zaela's army in Upper Blackrock Spire, as many druids feared that the proto-drake populations were plummeting.Egg Them On!
===Dragonflight===
The Primalists who rebelled against the Aspects long ago return and free their leaders, the Primal Incarnates, from their prisons.
Proto-drakes in Dragon Isles are described as being "...naturally flame resistant, stronger than steel, and don't lose flexibility in the process [of crafting][sic]." Proto drake whelps are further described as having smaller scales that "should be more pliable until we've mastered...techniques with [them]."Practice Materials
Within Tyr's hidden vault, Tyr had made note that proto-dragons have a unusual ability to adapt to all variations of the elements changing them uniquely in both physical appearance and utilization of abilities.
==Description==
Proto-drakes are generally bestial and display none of the great intelligence and wisdom of true dragons,Proto-Drake Skeleton though several ancient proto-dragons including those that would later become the Dragon Aspects proved otherwise when they fought alongside Tyr against Galakrond. Kalecgos noted in his visions of the past that this was extremely odd.Dawn of the Aspects Part 1
Proto-dragon whelps grow at an incredible rate and can devour nearly twice their weight in raw meat per day.Proto-Drake Whelp Some proto-dragons have a wide array of strengths and abilities, with examples including incredible fortitude, massive size or the ability to unknowingly tap into latent elemental energies in order to breathe fire or frost at their enemies.
The vrykul frequently use proto-dragons as flying mounts in the Howling Fjord and other parts of Northrend, and could be seen doing so in their constant siege of Valgarde. Wild proto-drakes can be seen in areas such as Storm Peaks and Sholazar Basin. Bronze proto-drakes were used as mounts by the Argent Crusade in Icecrown after they were discovered in the Bronze Dragonshrine by the bronze dragonflight. The Time-Lost Proto Drake is famous for being extremely hard to catch.
Black proto-drakes were bred specifically to honor those heroes who showed exceptional resilience and fortitude facing the dangers in Northrend,Reins of the Black Proto-Drake and the plagued proto-drakes to honor those who showed significant courage and persistence.Reins of the Plagued Proto-Drake
==Types==
===Types in Northrend===
; Red proto-dragons: Appear most abundant throughout Northrend.
; Blue proto-dragons: Mostly only found in the Storm Peaks.
; Green proto-dragons: One can be acquired through the Oracles. Their whelps can be found in Sholazar.Emerald Proto-Whelp
; Bronze proto-dragons: Native to the Bronze Dragonshrine. Have been seen in Icecrown working alongside their dragon brethren, some serve the Jotunheim vrykul. Two Time-Lost proto drakes were found, one in Northrend and the other in the Time-Lost Glade in northeastern .
; Black proto-dragons: Broodmother Slivina is found in Sholazar Basin. Dragonmaw Proto-Drakes are used during the Siege of Orgrimmar. Ragewing Whelps and Ragewing the Untamed can be found in Upper Blackrock Spire, ridden by the Dragonmaw clan.
; Plagued proto-dragons: Can be found in the Storm Peaks and Icecrown.
; Violet proto-dragons: Can only be acquired through achievements. A small terrified one was found by Alexstrasza and Ysera in the past.
; Ironbound proto-dragons: Covered in metal plates crafted and fused onto their skin originally by Ignis the Furnace Master. Due to the metal covering nearly every part of the proto-dragon, it is hard to distinguish from which flight they could be from by simply looking at them.
===Types on the Dragon Isles===
On the Dragon Isles there are a variety of proto-dragons infused with elements, the most powerful of which are the Primal Incarnates.
; Air proto-dragons: Infused with the element of air, they have gained the ability to express gusts of wind from their body, resulting in an effective, if rudimentary, deterrent for nearby foes.
; Earth proto-dragons: Imbued with the element of earth they exploit an increase in scale density with a minor reduction in flexibility compared to baseline proto-dragons.
; Fire proto-dragons: The element of fire has seen one of the most successful adaption rates of the species, with subjects being able to hurl globes of fire hot enough to melt metal.
; Ice proto-dragons: Infused with the element of water, they lost its fire-breathing capabilities and gained the frozen possibilities of ice.Hall of Samples (quest)
===Ancient types===
; Blue-green proto-dragons: Coros and three others, rivals of the prehistoric Malygos.
; Blue-white proto-dragons: Malygos and those related to him, such as Tarys.
; Orange proto-dragons: Alexstrasza and her brother Dralad.
; Yellow proto-dragons: Ysera, Alexstrasza's younger sister, is a "yellowish" color despite being related to an orange.
; Charcoal grey proto-dragons: Neltharion and an animal-like one that attacked Malygos and Alexstrasza.
; Dust-brown proto-dragons: One is seen hunting, catching two animals at once. Malygos admires his cunning and timing. Nozdormu is this color as well, possibly the same one seen hunting.
; Silver proto-dragons: Seen devoured by Galakrond and one joins in Talonixa's attack on Galakrond, breathing what appeared to be liquid metal.
; Gold proto-dragons: Talonixa and her mate Zorix. Their breath is a powerful blast of lightning.
; Copper proto-dragons: One is scarred by Talonixa's followers.
; Silver-green proto-dragons: One was seen attacking Neltharion and Nozdormu after being bitten by an Undead.
; Not-living: Shriveled undead husks, nothing but skin and bone, appear mysteriously in the northern reaches of Ancient Kalimdor. They are the regurgitated victims of Galakrond.
==Notable proto-dragons==
Name	Role 	Status	Location
 	Largest known proto-dragon, rumored progenitor of dragonkind 	 	Galakrond's Rest, Dragonblight
 	Primal Incarnate of storm 	 	Vault of the Incarnates, Thaldraszus
 	Primal Incarnate of earth 	 	Vault of the Incarnates, Thaldraszus
 	Primal Incarnate of ice 	 	Vault of the Incarnates, Thaldraszus
 	Primal Incarnate of fire 	 	Vault of the Incarnates, Thaldraszus
 	Broodmother of the Savage Thicket, quarry of Hemet Nesingwary 	 	Savage Thicket, Sholazar Basin
 	Broodmother of the Storm Peaks, former mount of Thorim 	 	Broodmother's Nest, Storm Peaks
 	Corrupted version of Veranus 	 	Razorscale's Aerie, Ulduar
 	Direct descendant of Galakrond, mount of Warlord Zaela 	 	Dranosh'ar Landing, Siege of Orgrimmar
 	Favored mount of Thane Torvald Eriksson, used against him by adventurers 	 	Voldrune, Grizzly Hills
 	Bronze drake in service of the Argent Crusade 	 	Argent Vanguard, Icecrown
 	Mount of Skadi the Ruthless 	 	Eagle's Eye, Utgarde Pinnacle
 	Mount of Overthane Balargarde 	 	Balargarde Fortress, Icecrown
 	Mount of Warlord Tartek 	 	Spearborn Encampment, Sholazar Basin
 	Extremely elusive proto-drake, source of the Reins of the Time-Lost Proto-Drake 	 	Storm Peaks
 	Proto-drake raised by the Dragonmaw clan, has formed a strong bond with Warlord Zaela	 	Hall of Blackhand, Upper Blackrock Spire
==As a flying mount==
Several proto-drake mounts are available as rewards for various achievements, as well as a few that drop from mobs and bosses:
Mount type	Availability
 	Drops from the rare mob Time-Lost Proto Drake.
 	Rare drop from Skadi the Ruthless.
 	Low chance to hatch from Mysterious Egg, purchasable at Revered reputation from The Oracles once every 3 days.
 	Reward for completing Glory of the Hero.
 	Reward for completing What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been.
 	Reward for completing Glory of the Ulduar Raider (25 player).
 	Reward for completing Glory of the Ulduar Raider (10 player).
 	Reward for completing Glory of the Orgrimmar Raider.
 	Was rewarded from Glory of the Raider (25 player). No longer obtainable.
 	Was rewarded from Glory of the Raider (10 player). Only obtainable through the Black Market Auction House as of .
==Notes and trivia==
*While not immediately obvious, proto-dragons do have tiny front arms beside their wings.
*Proto-dragons are described as, "...ruthless predators that can not be reasoned with..." by Azurathel.Primal Pests
*According to Muradin Bronzebeard, the Savage Thicket in Sholazar Basin may be where they first came from, though that's only a theory on his part.Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, pg. 122
*The Battlelord's Bloodthirsty War Wyrm resembles a proto-dragon.
*Before it gives Root Causes, the Ember Clutch Ancient reveals that Ember Clutch was the ancient breeding ground of the proto-dragon "broodmother" before the vrykul perverted it. Whether it referred to Broodmother Slivina, Veranus, or another is unknown.
*In an early beta of Wrath of the Lich King, proto-dragons used placeholder models that looked like pale white drakes, a model that was later used for the Reins of the Albino Drake mount.
*The proto-dragons were originally described as early version of dragons before they evolved into the sapient, beautiful majestic creatures they are known as today.http://us.blizzard.com/blizzcast/archive/episode3.xml But Dragonflight changed it so that many of the proto-dragons were actually sapient before that.
*Before ever venturing to the Dragon Isles, there was no evidence to suggest the higher than average intelligence level of the proto-drakes beyond that of eating, mating, and habitation.
==Speculation==
*Dinosaurs resemble proto-dragons, meaning that they may be related.
*Proto-nether drakes are basilisk-like creatures that resemble proto-drakes but seem to be presented as a stage in the nether dragon life cycle.What Came First, the Drake or the Egg?
==Gallery==
File:Primordial Drake.jpg|A proto-dragon from Wrath of the Lich King.
File:Frostbrood Proto-Wyrm.jpg|Proto-wyrm of the Frostbrood.
File:Emberscale Ironflight.jpg|:Emberscale Ironflight
File:Blazing Proto-Dragon.jpg|A Primalist proto-dragon infused with fire.
File:Searskin Proto-Dragon.png|A Primalist proto-dragon infused with fire.
File:Liskanoth.jpg|A Primalist proto-dragon infused with ice.
File:Granyth.jpg|A Primalist proto-dragon infused with earth.
File:Strunraan.jpg|A Primalist proto-dragon infused with air.
File:Dragonflight proto-dragon models.jpg|Various Dragonflight proto-dragon models.
File:Dragonflight proto-dragon whelps.jpg|Various proto-whelps.
File:Broodmother Slivina's Skull.jpg|A proto-dragon skull, with no visible eye sockets.
File:Legacies Proto-dragon.jpg|A proto-dragon as seen in Legacies.
File:Legacies Proto-dragon concept.jpg|Legacies concept art.
File:Valgarde dragon pens.jpg|Art of the dragon pens in Utgarde Keep.
File:Proto-dragon concept art.jpg|Early Wrath of the Lich King concept art.
File:Dragonflight proto-dragon concept.jpg|Dragonflight concept art.
File:Protoeggs Dragonflight.jpg|Concept art of Primalist proto-dragon eggs. From left to right: fire, frost, earth, and air.
File:Proto-dragon eggs.jpg|Primalist eggs: fire, earth, frost, and air.
;Card games
File:Razorscale HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Veranus HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Emberscale Drake HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Herald of Flame HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Plagued Protodrake HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Primordial Explorer HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Prized Promo-Drake HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Smolderthorn Lancer HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Time-Lost Protodrake HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Corrosive Breath HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Concert Promo-Drake HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Violet Proto-Drake.jpg|Violet Proto-Drake in the Trading Card Game.
==References==