Snake Collars

The **Snake Collars** are a pair of green snake-like artifacts crafted by Malefor in *The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon*. Throughout the story, Spyro and Cynder are chained together with these devices by a magical chain generated by the snake collars, which limits their movement and forces them to stay near each other.

## Abilities

The snake collars were originally magical green snakes created by Malefor. Upon coiling themselves around the wearer's necks, the snakes are permanently turned into collars that can't be removed. If another is shackled with another snake collar, the collars will link themselves to the other. Only Malefor has the power to completely remove the collars and place them back on, as he was the one who created them.

In gameplay, whenever Spyro and Cynder move apart, the snake collars would materialize around their necks and a green magical tether will appear connected to the collars to keep the dragons from moving far away from each other. The snake collars are usually invisible, but can become visible to the naked eye if Spyro and Cynder attempt to move away from one another, if one of them irritates either the collar or the magical chain itself, and if one of them summons the green collars. Fortunately, Spyro and Cynder can use the snake collars and the chain it generates to their advantage to get through obstacles, solve puzzles, and swing up to high places that are unreachable.

On the Floating Islands, small machines created by the Grublins will throw black staples to the ground that will link onto the collars' green chain if Spyro and Cynder are nearby. This will limit their movement until the black staples are destroyed along with the turrets that shoots them out.

## Story

The Grublins released Spyro and Cynder from their crystal prison and shackled them together using a pair of green snakes. These snakes instantly transformed into irremovable collars upon coiling around Spyro and Cynder's necks, as a means of linking them together with a magical chain and preventing them from being able to move freely or away from each other. The Grublins then proceeded to drag the two dragons away to the Catacombs.

Soon afterward, Spyro and Cynder roused from their three-year long slumber to find themselves chained to the platform they were sleeping on by the snake collars they wore, unaware that they were planned to be sacrificed to the Golem under orders of Malefor. With Hunter's help, they managed to escape the Catacombs and the Golem, but remained chained together because of the collars. Along the way to safety, Cynder attempted to bite at the tether generated by the collars in an attempt free herself and Spyro to no avail. Spyro suggested twisting the chain, only to receive a sharp retort from Cynder stating that the tether was magic, displaying her irritation, much to Sparx's amusement.

    When they were taken captive by the cheetah tribe along with Hunter, the green collars acted as shackles that were connected to a magic-infused lookout post in the Cheetah Village to keep Spyro and Cynder restrained.

After Spyro and Cynder saved the city of Warfang from Malefor's army and the Golem, Cynder showed Ignitus the collars she and Spyro still wore. After inspecting one of the collars with a mole named Mason, the Fire Guardian responded that it was irremovable. As Spyro and Cynder wondered on how they would fight back if they were forced to fight tethered together, Ignitus added that the chain was more than a hindrance, but a reminder of the bond Spyro and Cynder shared, and that their destinies became intertwined as a result.

On their way through the Burned Lands, Cynder claimed to Spyro that she would face Malefor with him only because she wanted to get rid of the chain that binded her to Spyro. However, it was evident that this wasn't the only reason. When they reached Malefor's Lair, Malefor dismissed the collars completely off Spyro and Cynder to make them feel "more comfortable". After Cynder, who was turned Dark again by Malefor to attack Spyro, broke free from his control to be with Spyro, Malefor became enraged and shackled Cynder back to Spyro with the green collars in order to kill them both at once. Upon Malefor's defeat at the power of the dragon spirits, the green collars that binded Spyro and Cynder together disappeared completely along with Malefor's magic, freeing the two dragons at last.

## Gallery

Concept art by Yan Le Pon of the green snakes that would turn into green collarsConcept art by Yan Le Pon of the chest that contains the snake collars seen in the introduction cutscene to *Dawn of the Dragon*Concept art by Yan Le Pon of the key for the chestThe green snakes as seen in the cinematic introduction cutsceneA Grublin holding one of the green snakesAn unconscious Spyro being shackled with the snake collar by the GrublinsSpyro and Cynder discovering they've been chainedSpyro and Cynder chained to one of the Cheetah Village lookout posts by their snake collarsA close up at one of the snake collarsThe Snake Collars shortly after being materiallized back on Spyro and Cynder's necksThe Snake Collars disappearing upon Malefor's defeatSpyro and Cynder chained down by their snake collars by a turret
## Trivia

* It is displayed throughout *Dawn of the Dragon* that Cynder was the only one of the two dragons who was greatly irritated that she was tethered to Spyro, and wanted to get the green chain off as soon as possible.
* In the Cheetah Village, there is a green device on the lookout post that was used to keep Spyro and Cynder prisoner when they were captured by the cheetahs, having the same kind of magic as the green chain Malefor created. It is possible that the Cheetahs discovered this, and use these devices to keep intruders, who have been restrained by the Snake Collars, hostage until they are released by Chief Prowlus, who is the only one in the tribe who has the key to release them.
* Though the green crackling tether linking to the snake chains on Spyro and Cynder's necks is supposed to be magically ethereal, Cynder is seen biting the chain in a cutscene when she tries to get it off.
* The design of the chest containing the snake collars, referred to as « *le coffre de jade* » (French for “the jade chest”) by the concept artist, is most likely based on the description of the Ark of the Covenant found in the Biblical book of Exodus.

## References

1. ↑ *Etranges Libellules Interview of DotD*. (Date Posted - September 28, 2008). *GameFAQs*.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *LES PAGES DE YAN [Sketchbook 01]*. (Date Posted - Mar. 20, 2009). *Café Salé*.

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