Crystal-tails

Crystal-tails are the species of dragons that live in the Amethyst Mining Kingdom often referred to as cave dwellers. The Amethyst Mining Kingdom(or AMK for shorth) are the "head" of the fat dragon-shaped Stryan continent. The AMK is the dominant trading, mining, and naval kingdom with the 2nd largest port in Strya, the most mines in Strya, the 2nd largest city in Strya, and 84% of all the Amethyst in Strya. Their wealth and navy are something else with ships the size of mountains and enough gold to build a city with.

The Crystal-tails are a neutral species and will not take sides or seek conflict unless they are attacked first.

## Appearances

Crystal-tails scales are oval shaped with a sharp point and range from any type of precious metal or gem in color. These scales disorientate most dragons as the sun may reflect off their scales because their scales act as a sort of mirror and their scales almost make them invisible in their home caverns. Crystal-tails have been described to be blindingly beautiful in the sun like an angel and almost glow when having no light source. They have forked tongues, bright shifting chromatic eyes, and white blood.

Crystal-tail heads look like the average Dragonians though it does usually have sharper bits around the edges and the fact that their horns are made from gemstones.

## Diet

Crystal-tails have a special advantage against every other dragon species on Strya because their teeth were designed for heavy duty eating. Their teeth instead of being made of bone are made of a crystal-like substance with hardness similar to that of endo-steel. Using their upgraded teeth Crystal-tails usually eat raw, processed, or pure metals or minerals found in the underground such as iron, gold, platinum, rubies, emeralds, or diamonds. Crystal-tails can eat other things it's just to them that they don't taste that good "Not as good as the rubies fresh from the mine," They say(rubies actually to them taste like strawberries).

## Abilities

Crystal-tails are able to see in the dark because if they couldn't they wouldn't be able to find their way around the winding mine tunnels, caverns, and mountain caves. Their scales because of their diet are harder than diamond and break or deflect most weapons when weapons are used against them. Their claws and teeth are just as hard as their scales and sharper than knives and are used to sever limbs, create tunnels, or cave sculpt when in times of need. All their external body parts are smooth and sharp just like the gems they mine. All Crystal-tails are able to withstand burning or freezing temperatures.

Flying for Crystal-wings is more difficult as their heavy bodies weigh them down.

Crystal-wings are shown to be able to exhale a concentrated beam of crystalizing liquid hardening to a substance like diamond when in contact with about anything including itself(it does not work on air). This crystalizing breath is used to make walls for cover from projectiles or trap enemies within the crystals. Being fully encased for a long period of time will eventually shut down an organisms functions and kill them.

An interesting ability for Crystal-tails is that some types of magic does not seem to effect them. One theory is that the magic glances off their scales similar to what happens to Spike-tails and other users of magic that cast a reflecting spell.

Bubbles has been able to withstand their crystalizing breath by using his hand to deflect it though no other dragon except Porcupine has not been confirmed to be able to do this yet. Spike-tails have more resistance to crystalizing breath than other dragons as the crystals form slower and sometimes ricochet off the tips of their spikes.

### Gifted

Some Crystal-tails have been hatched with more advanced abilities than an average Crystal-tail and can do more things than exhale crystalizing liquid such as shooting out their crystal scales as projectiles, camouflaging perfectly against crystals, healing wounds using crystalizing breath, and create creatures, clones, minions, or objects from crystalizing breath. These dragons usually came from the royal family, warrior families, or already gifted dragons and were allowed to free range though they could choose to join the Crystal Militia(the Crystal-tail army) or serve as royal guards without taking the full course as long as they didn't turn against the Amethyst Mining Kingdom. Gifted were determined every year by holding battles against one another at the age of 10 utilizing the effects of combat to expose gifted.

Some gifted with too much stress or abuse of their powers are shown to undergo a mental trial to determine whether they stay sane or descend into the pits of madness. This trial can change from gifted to gifted but most describe it as fighting a better version of yourself. Winning this mental trial will harden your nerves and your sanity control giving the gifted a toughened mind.

## Society

Crystal-tails like most of the other tribes are a hierarchy and manage society more loosely if compared to species like Tide-winders or Spike-tails. Serving in the Crystal Militia is not required but is recommended by most as if you complete your 10 years of service you are granted additional rights such as entering Palace Diamond(the royal palace) without permission, a veteran rank giving higher authority over most other dragons, and choosing to take the royal guard course to be one of the king or queen's personal guard.

Crystal-tail royals were more attentive than other kingdoms listening to every possible threat, innovative idea, or war threats. Royals were less strict with rules but they were enforced or risk to face the punishment of being thrown into the ocean. Royal guards do have to follow strict rules and never fail in their duties and stand guard around the palace or in the throne room.

In Crystal-tail society there can be a king or queen with the role of decision making, war negotiations, and judgment and are determined by what do you humans call it... voting... democracy? Another way to determine a king or queen is the standard way put the contenders in an arena and make them fight until one kills the other or admits defeat.

Crystal-tails do not worship any deity or god but instead put faith in their rulers.

### Rankings

The hierarchy of the Crystal-tails are used in ranks which are shown as a pendant made of a metal or gem the value of scaling with their rank and just incase someone forgot the scaling the ranking is etched into the pendant. The higher rank you have the more authority and power you have over the ranks underneath you and with enough authority you can get into important areas, participate in ruler votes, and attend war meetings. Crystal-tails can raise their own ranking by completing tasks, getting important achievements, being successful in combat, or very rarely challenging someone above you.

The rankings from top to bottom are:

* Ruler
* Nobles
* Royal Guards
* Amethysts
* Diamonds
* Emeralds
* Rubies
* Sapphires
* Veterans
* Crystal Militia
* Golds
* Silvers
* Citizens

## Names

Crystal-tail names are chosen by consensus of the entire family and are not chosen by part of the family or the parents of the dragon. Crystal-tails are named after gems such as Gemstone, Crystal, Amethyst, and Ruby. Various types of rocks such as Granite, Stone, and Basalt. As well as caverns found around Strya, Conduit, and the Finalverse.

### Gifted

* Gemstone
* Ruby
* Granite (succeeded trial)
* Basalt (failed trial)
* Emerald
* Queen Silver III
* King Gold III