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|  | Dragon Info
« Thread Started on Jan 16, 2006, 6:56pm » | |
In this you will find a brief run over about the information of dragons. I do not take credit for most of this information; all was taken from a book called Dragonology by Dr. Ernest Drake except for a few parts.
*Note- the dragons on the site will eat cattle, deer, humans and equine (occasionally), or whatever they find in the mountains. Also, all dragons will reside in the Latiner Mountains, yet the Frost dragons may live near the top where it’s colder and the Knucker dragons may live near the forest line of the mountains.
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<Random Topics>
-Fire
It is hypothesized that dragons breath fire as a result of generating methane gas in their stomachs. In fact, as the dragon's head passed through evolution, so did the fangs and venom-producing organs that are actually responsible for creating the dragon's fiery breath.
-Language
This area of dragon behavior is a mystery. They are the only creatures apart from humans who both speak and, when occasion demands, write. The written language of dragons has been found on stone, yet have not been deciphered. However, not all dragons have managed this feat, and it seems likely that it is only the older, more experienced dragons that have developed this skill. This also goes for dragons speaking human. Not all dragons can manage that, but most can speak the common tongue, which is a crude language that all creatures can understand.
-Sea Serpents and Dragons- The Same Thing?
The Sea Serpent has often been called the "dragon" of the seas. But it seems that the evolution of these creatures is entirely different from that of a true dragon. Some differences:
Serpents do not breathe fire; dragons do
Serpents cannot fly; dragons can
Found in the sea; found inland or flying over the sea
Attracted to wooden ships; attracted to treasure
Do not hoard treasure; hoard treasure
-Location
Dragons are indigenous to almost all parts of the world.
Legends of Western dragons portray them as vicious, bloodthirsty monsters. Eastern dragons, on the other hand, are portrayed as benevolent helpmeets to mankind (they are good and help mankind). The reasons for this most likely stem from the historical interactions that mankind has had with different species of dragon.
<Types of Dragons>
Western Dragons
-Draco occidentalis magnus or Euopean
Known to most people through their ability to breathe fire and their love of treasure
Lair or Nest- A mountian or sea cave in a remote area
Dimensions [Adult]- 45 feet long; 13 to 17 feet high
Coloration- Red, green, black, or occasionally gold
Forms of Attack- Flame, tail, claws, horns
Food- Cattle, Sheep, humans [the last only if no other food is available-due to bitter flavor]
-Draco troglodytes or Knucker
Found in damp, woodland locations, near food sources such as rabbit warrens. Serpentine in appearance, these creature have only vestigial wings and cannot fly.
Lair or Nest- A deep pond, well, or "knucker hole"
Dimensions [Adult]- 30 feet long; 3 to 6 feet high
Coloration- Leathery brown, dull red, greenish blue
Forms of Attack- Venomous bite, constriction
Food- Rabbits, deer, farm animals, stray children
-Draco occidentalis maritimus or Frost
Annual Arctic-to-Antarctic migrators, frost dragons fly thousands of miles each year to ensure that they spend the greater past of the year in their favored dark, winter climates, hunting for food
Lair of Nest- A sea-facing cave hollowed out from a glacier or icebergs
Dimensions [Adult]- 40 feet long; 12 to 15 feet high
Coloration- Pure white, or white tinged with blue or pink
Forms of Attack- Fearsome frosty blast, tail, claws, horns
Food- Giant squid, polar bear, orca, walrus, harpoon seal
Eastern Dragons
No Eastern Dragons can fly, they do not have wings either.
-Draco montana or Tibetan
Thinner and redder than its counterpart, the Asian lung, the Tibetan dragon is a lover of high altitudes. Its main prey is the Himalayan yeti, a large mountain ape that has adapted to the cold conditions and rarefied atmosphere found in the higher mountains.
Lair or Nest- On the open mountainside in summer, in a shllow den of snow in winter
Dimensions [Adult]- 40 feet long; 10 to 12 feet high
Coloration- Almost invariably red.
Forms of Attack- Biting, or else constriction
Food- Usually the large mountain apes known as yetis, sometimes yaks.
-Draco Serpentalis or Lindworm
Fleet of foot as a wild pony, the Lindworm is most often at a distance, sometimes in pairs, chasing its prey of wild Bactrian camels on the huge empty steppes of the Asian interior.
Lair or Nest- A shallow scratch or nest in the earth, out of the wind
Dimensions [Adult]- 35 feet long; 8 to 10 feet high.
Coloration- Usually green, pale orange , or sandy yellow
Forms of Attack- Claws, constriction
Food- Bactrian [two-humped] camels. The Lindworm sometimes menaces silk caravans by night.
-Draco orientalis or Asian Lung
Lung are most often found near the rivers, streams, and lakes that hide their underwater lairs. Females carry their eggs with them for safety, using the lairs to store the pearls opals they hoard away. The number of toes varies across the various subspecies. Japanese lung have four toes, Indonesian have three, and Chinese or Imperial have five toes.
Lair or Nest- Usually an underwater cave or grotto.
Dimensions [Adult]- 40 feet long; 12 to 15 feet high.
Coloration- Blue, black, white, red, or yellow
Forms of Attack- Horns, teeth, & claws used defensively
Food- Mainly birds and fish, particularly roasted swan
Other Dragons
Apart from the primary Eastern and Western species of dragon, there are a wide variety of other species deserving of attention. Unfortunately, space is limited in such a wide-ranging tome, and so we must pass over the Gargouille, the Naga, and deal instead with the most prominent dragons of Africa, the Americas, and Australia.
-Draco Africanus or Wyvern
Unlike most other dragons, the wyvern has only two legs. However, being the largest form of dragon, it finds these perfectly sufficient for carrying off its elephant prey.
Lair or Nest- A rocky crag, or occasionally a circular nest in an area of sand dunes or grass.
Dimensions [Adult]- 50 feet long; 18 to 20 feet high
Coloration- Muddy brown to lime green
Forms of Attack- Teeth, claws, lashing tails, dropping from great height
Food- Elephants, hippos, rhinos, or other large herbivores
-Draco americanus or Amphithere
In addition to the well-known Mexican feathered amphithere, there is a furry North American variety that primarily hunts buffalo and has sometimes been mistaken for a gigantic moth. It is legless, but has large feathered wings.
Lair or Nest- Among the reeds on lakesides or offshore islands
Dimensions [Adult]- 45 feet long; 5 to 10 feet high
Coloration- Green
Forms of Attack- Flaming breathe, tail lash, constriction
Food- All the large indigenous mammals of the Americas, typically llamas in the south and buffalo in the north
-Draco marsupialis or Marsupial
Thought to be extinct, the marsupial dragon is largely confined to southeastern Australia. It breathes blue smoke and often starts bush fires so that it can catch its prey as they are driven before the flames. Its powerful hind legs evolved to be much longer than the front, and with it the wings shrunk in size. The marsupial dragon rears one young at a time in a fiery pouch.
Lair or Nest- Rocky caves in Blue Mountain eucalyptus forests.
Dimensions [Adult]- 25 feet long; 15 to 18 feet high
Coloration- Green or bluish
Forms of Attack- Flaming breathe, lashing tail, kicking feett, boxing fists
Food- Any large marsupials; smaller prey are sought while rearing young.
<Biology of a Dragon>
Flight
The laws of flight say that dragons, like bees, can't fly, yet in they really can. Their aerial skill is assisted by the dragon's ability to bend its wings and rotate them quickly in their sockets and also by the fact that draon bones are lightweight and hollow like those of a bird.
Sight
Dragons have the best sight of any animal and were sometimes slain so their eyes could be used in telescopic lenses. A dragon's eye has six optic nerves, used to see light in different parts of the spectrum. Also, they can spor a valuable gem from 6,000 feet. That gives you a good idea how good their eyesight is.
Scales & Claws
The hard scales of the dragon are capable of resisting most prejectiles, and can be made into bulletproof armore, using metal rivets. (If going for an attack against them I suggest you go for the softer belly). Dragon claws are made of keratin, like our own hair and nails, except alot stronger.
Feeding and Digestion
Digestion is fairly straightforward in dragons. In general, a dragon will eat its prey while when this is practicable. If not, the dragon may rip its food into tasty chunks that are small enough to eat. A dragon feeds once every few weeks. Sometimes, when a tough specimen is eaten, or one with a hard, armoured exterior, the dragon wil regurgitate its prey at leasure in order to "shell" it and flame-grill it to a more succulent tenderness.
<The Life Cycle of Dragons>
Dragons have a life cycle that resembles that of lizards, although they actively learn some aspects of their resulting adult behavious when young, unlike most lizards, whose behaviours are innate. Dragons are egg layers which means they do not give birth to live young.
A Dragon's Nest
A dragon's nest need not be soft, for dragon eggs are highly resilient, but it must be warm. However, the eggs retain heat very well. Generally, a nesting mother breathes a jet of flame over her eggs every three or four hours. Lindworms and wyvern pairs share nesting duty, whereas only female European dragons care for their nests.
Unlike most reptiles, Western dragons spend much time caring for their egg-incubated young after they hatch, and a firm bond develops quickly between chick and parent.
Three Months: In the first stage the embryo develops
Twelve Months: In the second stage the features will become discernible.
Twenty-Four Months: In the third stage an "egg horn" develops to aid the chick in chipping open the hard shell.
Thirty-Six Months: At birth, the horn and tail differences between male and female chicks are in evidence. The male will have longer/bigger horns and the tail will be bigger; the females horns are shorter and the tail is slimmer.
Signs of Growing Maturity
There are a number of behaviors that show a chick is nearing maturity and will soon seek to leave the nest.
-Hoarding: The chick collects precious objects from around the lair, reluctant to return them.
-Fire play: The chick seeks out iron and flint objects and plays by making huge showers of sparks.
-Language: Chicks repeat any words and phrases they hear repeatedly, in a parrotlike fashion.
How to Estimate Age
Dragons are diffcult to age. They shed bi- or triennially and grow a certain amount every year, so it is possible to make an estimate from their size. Sometimes the dragon's memory of historical events can help. Dragonologists estimate a life span of about 300 years for a typical European dragon. However, no one has any idea how long Chinese lung live.
<Dragon Behavior>
The behavior and feeding habits of dragons have evolved to enable their survival as a species. They share most of these traits with other animals, bt two unique habits are dragons' love of hoarding and their ability to speak human language. While there are many theories that relate to the dragon's hoarding imperative, so far no one has found a credible reason for their linguistic abilities.
"Tame" Beheaviors
As a result of their interactions with humans, Asian lung have been known to exhibit "tame" behaviors. They are quite ready to accept a gift of food, provided that it is of suitable quality.
Courting Behavior
Like the bowerbirds of New Guinea, the male dragon woos a female by creating an elaborate "nest" decorated with treasures selected to please. Frequently, a male will attempt to gain favor with his bride by presenting her with a particularly choice gemstone. The larger species seek a mate every 28 years or so.
<Magic/Power>
Dragons are magical beings by nature, but most do not know how to use their power. There are though, two spells which all dragons know how to use.
-Dragonfear: A simple one here. It cast their prey/enemies in utter terror, freezing them from movement and taking away the use of their senses. This does not work on other dragons.
-Spell of Darkness: This spell casts the enemy in complete darkness, they can see nothing. But the caster of this spell gets the same effect though, yet there strong senses allow them to do a better job at moving about than there prey.
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This is it for night but if I find out something else, or if I decide to add something I will. I will tell you though, so just look out for anouncements.
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