Arcane Drake

INFOBOX
Type: Unlockable companion

Location: Sirith; domestic only

Lifespan: Unknown

Size: 64 ft long / 16 tons

Abilities: Psychic Trance, Telekenetic Shield, Breath of Sleep

Diet: Arcane Energy

Created by Argus with Digend’s aid in the year 1702 after gifting their younger sibling the egg Ignacio had intended for them, the Arcane Drake is a gift from the god of the arcane to their people. While one of Hireath's smaller Wyverns, at almost three times the size of any equine in in the worlds, these arcane creatures are some of the largest and most imposing in Sirith. Due to their recent creation, very little is actually known about these strange drakes at this time.

## **Life Cycle and Biology**

The arcane drake is an asexual, genderless creature which reproduces by utilizing stored arcane energy to "create" a single crystalline egg. These eggs typically appear to be large, polished gemstones that have a distinct warmth and a steady pulsating glow.

An arcane drake will typically only have a single egg in their clutch as the process to create the new life is incredibly taxing. The mature adult parent will typically hide their egg in a stone nest - typically an area with a large amount of arcane energy before leaving the egg to grow and hatch on it's own.

Eggs typically take around 12 weeks to hatch, and once they do, hatchling drakes typically remain within their nest for two to four weeks, feeding off the arcane energy in the area as they grow. Once they are a more substantial size and no longer easy prey for terror birds, they will begin to wander from their nests. It is around this time they begin to teach themselves to fly by gliding on the arcane currents found throughout Sirith by spreading their arms for their "wing" flaps to catch said currents.

Arcane drakes will continue to grow quickly, with some reaching their full size within almost four months of hatching, though others may take up to five years to reach their full size. That said, Arcane drakes do not reach maturity until they are about ten years old and will not produce eggs until then. It is unknown at this time how long arcane drakes live naturally.

### **Additional Notes**

* Arcane drakes are entirely nocturnal, as they are not fond of the sun and tend to be rather sensitive to strong light.
* Arcane drakes have crystalline growths are embedded in their bodied - usually as a ridge down the back but they may present in other ways as well. These crystals are bioluminescent and store arcane energy. They may also give off a soft hum and have a pulsing glow when storing arcane energy.
* Drake tails are prehensile and slightly longer than the length of their body; They are both muscular and incredibly strong, and are often used to pick up, move, carry, and hold all manner of things regularly in place of their mouth. Many prefer to use their tails for these sorts of things instead of their short limbs and massive paws.
* Drakes that do not bond with equines may form bonds with each other instead, living quiet lives of companionship in the Whispering Range or Isle of Spirits unbothered by equine affairs.
* Their blood is bioluminescent and can be either blue or purple in color.
* Drake's vision allows them see arcane energy and currents, including the arcane spark inside of all living things.
* Drakes tend to be moody and easily affected by the emotions of those around them.
* Adult drakes can be relatively social, but they prefer the company only one or two others (whether they be equine or wyvern)

## **Behavior**

Drakes tend to be rather curious, emotionally driven, and impulsive - more in touch with and ruled by the emotional side of the arcane than it's logical one. While not aggressive, they can be incredibly reactive, especially when provoked. They are playful and fond of games, though they are far less mischievous than their chaotic counterparts, preferring games of storytelling or wit to pranks and jokes.

Arcane drakes are easily influenced by the emotions of those around them, doubly so with the emotions of their bonded equine. Because of this, there is often some emotional bleed between the two due to the bond, with both partners influencing each other frequently - usually the one with the stronger more emotional opinion winning out. As such, bonded partners tend to have similar moral compasses, though their reasons and beliefs for it may differ between them.

Drakes typically claim lairs in existing tunnels or caves, making the Labyrinth prime territory for nesting. These lairs are typically quiet, cool, and filled with small items the drake has hoarded and claimed for itself. Typically, drakes hoard gemstones and items with emotional echos, while bonded drakes tend to prefer cast offs and gifts from their equine partner. Drakes tent to keep these treasures in their home caves, tunnels, or nests (Ie: A broken teapot that meant a lot to the previous owner, a discarded cloak from a long deceased horse, etc...). Arcane drake hoards are typically rather small, and carefully curated to the individual drakes tastes, treating them more as collections that are built up over their lifetimes rather than hoards of treasures with little meaning.

While they have no mouths and are not capable of speech, mimicry, or loud booming roars, Drakes tend to communicate quite vocally through all manner of humming sounds - with others of their kind, familiars, as well as equines they are not bonded to. These hums are almost musical in nature and are often said to have a calming effect on those around them, although there is no actual proof that that is the case.

## **Abilities**

Not the strongest or fastest fliers, drakes glide on arcane currents more than actually flying, typically keeping them rather low to the ground. They are incredibly flexible and agile though, and will often twist, twirl, and spin through the air as they glide along, curling over themselves frequently. At their fastest, they can fly about 80 mph. On land they are typically much slower, as their short legs are not built for speed, keeping them around 30 mph when at a full run.

Even so, speed isn't everything. A tough hide and protective covering of thick fur protects the drake's long, snakelike body even in the unlikely event it is attacked. Large, sharp retractable claws can be found on each of the creature's massive paws, giving the drake a formidable weapon to defend itself with as well. Strong and powerful, their long muscular bodies and prehensile tails can make them tough combatants and stalwart protectors as well.

The drake's abilities lie within it's ties to the arcane. Much like arcane blessings, these abilities are more often defensive than overtly aggressive, making the drake a rather adept defender. While each drake may only be born with **one** of these three abilities, it seems to be entirely random which the young hatchling will end up with.

### **Psychic Trance**

* causes equines caught in the drakes aura (those within 30 ft of the drake when the ability is active) to fall into a state of confusion that can cause them to harm themselves and/or their allies for up to a half hour after leaving the drakes aura.
* Aura may depicted as any color, though it is not truly visible.

### **Telekenetic Shield**

* Drake is able to create a 50ft tall by 100ft wide wall or a large sphere that surrounds them that can block most blessings and projectiles.
* Shield can appear any color.

### **Breath of Sleep**

* Causes creatures caught within the drake's smoky breath to fall into a deep slumber, pacifying them and allowing the drake and their partner to escape.
* Those who fall into this slumber will sleep for at least one hour.

## **As Companions**

Native to Sirith and born of the arcane, drakes will only ever bond with Breimian equines - both Umare and Kawaru alike. Drakes bond with their soon to be equine partners through dreams, with both the drake and their equine ending up in the same dreamscape creating a bond when they meet, often continuing to share dreams through the duration of their partnership.

A bond between a drake and their equine is deep and profound, comparable only to a bond between a god and mortal - deeper than love or friendship. The bond creates a telepathic link between the pair. This link allows the sharing of emotions and thoughts, and is present even if the pair is far apart from one another. Drakes don’t speak, per say, rather projecting their thoughts as complex and emotional images and feelings. The understanding is instinctual - their partner will understand them without issue, but explaining the communication to a third party will provide challenging.

Arcane drakes are incredibly loyal, protective, and possessive of their bonded equines and will often head directly to their partner when able if they so much as sense they are in danger. This can cause some issues for equines living within city limits, as Breimian cities are not at all built with the ability to accommodate the massive size of these drakes. As such, many bonded equines choose to move to and live in small villages outside of larger cities, or on the outskirts of surface built towns, making it easier to live in close proximity to their arcane drakes. Those who do remain in the city often have to work extra hard in order to convince their wyvern to remain outside the city, and often have to find ways to accommodate a lair for them nearer to the city in order to appease their bonded drake, with many using the Labyrinth beneath the city as a compromise.

As the bond between the pair grows, drakes may become more confident in their partner causing them to be a bit more independent and less possessive over time. As such, drakes who have a strong bond that's been built up over time may be more inclined to stray further from their partner, trusting the connection the two have over physical proximity.

Arcane drakes will never leave Sirith on their own, only leaving the lands of their birth due to a bonded partner traveling. That said, drakes taken outside of Sirith grow significantly weaker and lethargic, and will even shrink drastically in order to conserve energy if kept out of Sirith for prolonged amounts of time.

If an arcane drake's bonded equine dies, most drakes will disappear into the battlefield of the gods to live out the rest of their days never bonding with another equine again, often finding companionship among their own kind. Those who spent a long time with their bonded partner, or shared a particularly strong bond may allow themselves to dissipate and become arcane energy once more instead due to the intense emotional connection the bond can create.

## **Arcane Drake Creation Rules**

**The Arcane Drake will always:**

* Have a long body with six legs
* Have between 4-8 eyes
* Have between 2-6 long, wide ears
* Have 6 nostrils
* Be mamillian in nature
* Be soft, muted tones of any color
* Have a long prehensile tail
* Have 3 sets of triangular skin flap type “wings” (like a sugar glider) Which it uses to glide on arcane currents for flight
* Have Arcane crystal growths

**Arcane Drakes can:**

* Have the natural patterns and marking of rabbits, ferrets, dogs, and horses.
* Have any color and any number of arcane crystal growths anywhere on their head, topline, and shoulders (Can manifest as spikes, gems, horns, antlers, etc…)
* Have bio luminescent crystals
* Have any color eyes
* Have ears that flop instead of stand out from the head
* Have short or long fur in any texture
* Have excess fur (beards, tufts, manes, leg “feathering”, etc….)

**Arcane Drakes can not:**

* Have crystal growths on their “wings”
* Have a mouth
* Have scales
* Have feathers
* Have fins
* Be overly saturated or neon colors