Dragons

**Dragons** are large reptiles in various mythologies and legends.

## Characteristics

Various cultures across Earth have different versions of "dragons".

### Western Dragon

The western dragon, or European dragon, is a four-legged beast with bat-like wings. European dragons tend to breathe fire, sleep near large piles of gold, and prey on any animal or person unfortunate enough to be in their way.

They became the source of one trope where knights are sent to kill dragons, usually to rescue women taken as prisoners or to recover (or plunder) their gold.

### Eastern Dragon

See also: Loong

The eastern dragon, or *long*, is a snake-like creature with the antlers of a deer and the snout of a horse. Longs tend to be associated with water and rain, and many longs are also gods and goddesses. The long is also a symbol of the Emperors of China and Vietnam, and by extension, the Han Chinese people.

### Norse Dragon

Norse dragons are known as *ormar* or *dreki*. Two examples are Jormungandr, the great serpent spawned from Loki, and Nidhogg, a dragon with antlers that eats evil people in Nastrond.

### Zmei

A zmei is a three-headed dragon in Slavic folklore.

### Makara

A makara is a sea dragon, resembling more like a crocodile. It is the mount of the marine god Varuna.

## In the Rabydosverse

### Vozonid

In Gauvajut and Vozonid mythologies, dragons are considered evil because of their association with the devil Illujankas, who appears as a monstrous four-headed serpent.

### Malendor and Konjor

On the other hand, the Novantirnas and Kuelgons, two races of a blue-skinned humanoid alien species, venerate dragons as holy symbols of their gods. The Kuelgons venerate the glov-teg, a flying reptile with a large hood native to Kuelgon's swamps. The Novantirnas venerate the hirhueh (a sea dragon) and arahirri (a sort of crocodile used as a royal steed), two kinds of dragons associated with the storm god Makravalas. Makravalas is also worshipped and invoked among the Novantirnas as the "Father of Dragons": all dragons, especially good dragons, are sacred to Makravalas. As he is one of the three high gods (the other two being Lumbařiz and Odin), killing a dragon and harming dragons' eggs are considered great blasphemies against the Gods.

Every member hatched into the bloodline of Razuklano, a noble house of Kuelgons on Rukthan, is born with the ability to transform himself or herself into a flying dragon. Although they gladly enjoyed their beautiful power, it was originally a curse and a punishment from Makravalas - but later on, the Razuklanos started to see their shapeshifting power as a blessing from the Father of Dragons. He intended to make the family into blessed dragons to help them fight the undead that infest their homeworld's depths. For example, Chandaelje can turn herself into a silver-white dragon at any moment.

### Sevraeja

The national animal of Sevraeja is an okoroko or morjoko, a sort of dragon that serves the sea and wind god Stribog. This creature is said to pull Stribog's chariots, or manifest in the form of waves or even thunderstorms when angered or excited.

### Siangwaan

Wiresa, a blue-headed Heronoi woman, *loves* dragons. She especially likes the loongs, water and sea deities, and even as a tomboy she likes to imagine herself as a dragon princess.

### Bujan

In Wonao mythology, the bajanda is a sort of dragon that resembles a rainbow. He serves the various gods of the wind and rain, weakening storms to keep Bujan safe. Bajandaau are among the blessed spirits who escort the souls of heroes to Heaven, and prepare them for their transformation into protector gods.

## Gallery

### Rabydosverse dragons

Arahirri (royal steed of Novantirna kings)ArahirriHirhueh, Novantirna dragonGlov-teg, Konjor dragon.Okoroko, Sevraejan dragon
## Trivia

* In 2021, the author started to like dragons, no thanks to the amusing fanart created by the Italian artist RandomVanGloboii and TheImperios.