Draconem

* Dragon
* Wyvern
* Ampithere
* Drake
* Lindworm

Coming straight from myth, these creatures of legendary scale have had no chance to become mere folklore, flooding Aether with common sightings and signs of their existence in both violent and docile forms.

Possibly the first sentient life form to ever exist within Aether, Draconem clearly reigns supreme in all terrain bar sea, Gorge and the Fade, coming in many shapes and sizes with various abilities and natural strengths that make them top of the food chain without much competition.

Many would think dragons are constantly hostile, always rampaging and burning away innocent villages and taking down cities, but many simply see no point in wasting their time or lack the capacity for it, being a docile sight or passerby if you don’t provoke them which is relatively easy to do.

Another shortcoming to dragons is rarely ever are they found in sociable situations, they are isolated, solitary creatures without a knack for technology or much magic. Making them a singular, physical threat that is by no means stupid.

Aramoor is the first civilisation to establish a deep rooted bond with dragons, this has remained so for millennia, and is very unique to them.

Dragon heights can vary drastically, their wings are almost always twice that of their height for maximum flying capability.

### **Place of Origin**

Unknown, though speculation and popular theory is that Dragons carry the blood of HuangLong himself, born from the very elements that make the Scales that Aether sits on.

### **Race Alignment**

Alignment is spread through the entire scale, though chaotic evil is most rare.

### **Natural Race Abilities/Affinities**

Dragons are most known for their elemental breath attacks. These attacks are launched from sacks under their collar bones, through to tubes in the corner of their mouth.

Unless stated otherwise below, all breath attacks have a two turn cooldown and can only be used in one long burst, or up to three short bursts.

* **Fire** 2,000C max, range of 40ft.
* **Ice/frost** - -120C max, range of 40ft.
* **Air** - 130mph max, range of 40ft but dissipates after 25ft.
* **Water** - Range of 60ft.
* **Acid** - Rare, hydrochloric acid/PH 1.1, range of 30ft.
* **Light** - Uncommon, only in one short burst and line of sight required, akin to a flash bang without the bang, bright enough to cause even those who cover their eyes well to see bright light, blindness no longer permanent after 40ft if eyes not protected enough.
* **Petrification** - Only found in Lindworms, 5 turn cooldown. Takes 3 turns for target to become fully petrified if not cured after being hit once. Range 20ft.
* **Lightning** - Uncommon max of 6,000 volts and 100mA, range of 40ft with preference of nearest/largest metal

As far as physical might goes, dragons can apply 19,000lbs of pressure max from their jaws alone, able to reach 10,000lbs of pressure max with a single limb or tail.

All types of dragons can fly up to 400mph at fully developed maximum as an adult, it is ill-advised to fly at more than 100mph on dragon back, however. The most common average speed for a dragon is around 200mph.

Dragons can run at a max of 50mph, wyverns 20mph, drakes 60mph, Ampitheres cannot run but slither at 20mph, Lindworms can run at 30mph and fly up to 400mph with peak magical skill.

### **Resistances**

A Draconem's resistance lays in their scales, they can withstand crossbow bolts, 10 mortal magic fireballs, jabs with steel swords with less than 1,000lbs of pressure behind it, arrows, as some examples.

However, they cannot resist the impact from trebuchet, meteors, natural occurrences such as storms and earthquakes as some examples. .

For any Draconem to enter a mass of water they cannot walk out off nearly always ends lethally.

Draconem do not have a natural resistance to their elements, certain key organs do due to needing to be for breath production and will need thrice the power and time to do damage, but they and their scales do not.

All bar Lindworms will struggle to fly during storms or winds exceeding 70mph.

Soaked scales are more malleable and attackers may find crossbow bolts and standard sword jabs become lodged in the scales easier but not enough to cripple even after many blows.

Scales can be removed, it is advised to aim for scale joints for this.

A Draconem's belly and neck are the weakest points, needing half the damage and force the other scales do to penetrate and deal damage to.

With the elemental breath comes a mild weakness and aversion to opposing elements, and while some may not necessarily be very harmful, they can cause discomfort to the Draconem. For example, Fire breathing Draconem will be weak to Water, Ice Draconem will be weak to Fire, etc.

Draconem can also have side effects of their breath attacks. Fire breathers can cough or choke on their smog, leading to many developing lung issues later in life, Ice breathers may experience a similar issue or brain freeze.

Alongside the above, Draconem breath attacks are ever instant, and require some charge. Knowing the signs of this charging period can grant the attacker an advantage, for example, Fire breathers flame can be seen building through their scales, the skin of their belly and their mouths, Lightning breathers will emit a tesla coil sound, Air breathers will create an increasing wind, Acid breathers will generate an acrid smell in the air and drool premature acid from their maws, and more or otherwise.

All breath attacks are aimed through the mouth, making the squishy inner flesh also vulnerable to attack when open and preparing.

### **Rarity**

Uncommon, extremely rare within the Gorge.

### Eggs

All dragons can only lay one to two eggs at a time, each egg can be a max of 30-40lbs and can be as tall as large dogs or as small as cats.

All eggs, regardless of dragon type except for Lindworms, must be heated to 350 degrees Celsius with a wiggle room of up to 3 degrees either way, making the process of egg hatching long and arduous. Eggs can take anywhere from 1 week to 4 months to hatch.

To bond to a dragon, one must be the first thing it sees upon birth as the Dragon will not develop a natural bond within the egg.

The second being the dragonling sees it will count as its father, though its bond to its mother is often far more vital for development and closeness.

The Dragonling must be kept warm and will shiver when they are cold, thick blankets are advised.

Dragonlings growth speed varies, they can mature and reach adolescence anywhere between 6 months to 3 years post birth.

They are always capable of flight at around 6 months to 16 months depending on growth speed, being able to carry their riders with ease from this point forth as well. For a good estimate, if the dragonling is 3 quarters the height of their rider then they most likely can carry them through some flight.

In the wild, two dragon parents will hatch and raise a child through to adolescence before violently sending it away, the paired dragons will likely never meet again and go their separate ways.

### Age

All dragons can live anywhere up to 1000 years of age with minor variances before succumbing to old age.

When a dragon dies they prefer to die completely alone, their souls will forever be stuck in limbo and are never given peaceful burial, turning them into tortured and withered souls.

For Dragons in the Guard, there is a ritual to give the dragon proper burial, Aramoor being the first ever civilisation to enable one to pass on into eternal rest away from limbo. This ritual is much the same as ones for mortals of Aramoor, having chosen words spoken, attendees and their bodies cremated and ashes scattered to the wind atop the peak of Panhandle Mountain due to his extensive size.

### Speech

Dragons communicate rarely through speech, requiring lips and expert control of their jaws and tongue and is best learned from a young age, their words are often clunky and slow. Only Lindworms excel at speech.

Otherwise, they commune via grunts, snorts, roars, various puffs of smoke or condensation and body movements. Should mortals wish to learn of their patterns, they can be easy to pick up as most docile dragons will take on humanistic or cat-like patterns of movements to express themselves more clearly to their companion.

### **History**

As far as mortals are aware, dragons have always existed and were perhaps one of the first sentient creatures to be found in Aether, they tell no tales of their collective past but mortals can. During times of strife and turmoil amongst mortal races, some Draconem have been found to approach the battlefield and take sides, becoming swift and decisive turners of war.

The Valir tell the tale of one such incidence, a wyvern named Demorum came to their aid against Northern Raiders, turning the tide of the war and being the deciding factor in how the Dsiri Northlands came to be controlled fully by the Valir. Dragons have been companions to the warrior of Aramoor for a long time, such as the most famous HuLing.