No fantasy setting is complete without DRAGONS, so I'm going to use this as my excuse for telling you about the Dragons that inhabit Evaryn.
Dragons. They are only half of the title of the damned game. When building a fantasy setting, I feel that dragons need to be looked at. They can be done uniquely, but they need to be addressed. So, here I am, and I'm going to be telling you about the dragons of my home brew setting, Evaryn.
Dragon Creation Myth
Dragons are thought to be one of the first species to have arrived on Evaryn, long ago before any of the kith inhabited the land. During this primal time, they ruled the land. They had come from the cosmos, their magical eggs thought to have descended to Evaryn from the stars. Where in the cosmos they came from, none are certain. From these eggs, the first three dragons were born; Azor Bael, Gaer-Toldorath, and Drakaan. It is said these three dragons could be the oldest living beings of Evaryn. From these dragons, it is said they brought up the dragon species, creating them from the magic that flows in Evaryn. The three, progenitor dragons also are thought to have been responsible for some of the geographic features of the land.
Throughout all the changes that Evaryn has gone through, and all the cataclysmic events, the dragons have survived. They survived the arrival and fall of the Aedellions, the Sunless Era, and even are currently surviving the technological boom that is making hunting them easier. It is believed some of the most ancient dragons are older than the Sunless Era, and some scholars speculate a few dragons can still recall the time of the Aedellians. As the ages have passed they have come to be more than the great magical creatures they are. They have become a symbol of power, honor, and even godhood. Dragons in some societies, especially Dragonsand, are worshipped as gods themselves. It is often believed that dragons actually helped lead to the creation of the Astral Star.
Types of Dragons - A variety of dragons and draconic creatures exist within Evaryn. They are categorized into a variety of categories, but scholars often put dragon species into one of three categories. Lesser dragons, True dragons, or other dragons.
-Lesser Dragons- The lesser dragons are often considered to be distant relatives of the dragons, but often are set apart from their kind for a variety of reasons such as different physical features, less intelligence, a lack of magical nature, or any combination of these reasons. Many of the lesser dragons also do not live nearly as long and are more animalistic than their counterparts. Major lesser dragons include bogas, wyverns, and lyndwyrms.
Boga - Perhaps the most least impressive of the dragon-kin, the boga lack the wings of their supposed relative, and they are generally a greenish color to help them blend in with the forest or marsh that they call home. They are stocky creatures that stand on four, stumpy legs and are about the size of a small horse. Bogas are rather bestial in terms of intelligence, and they act as animals moreso than anything. Their snouts are crowned with a horn, and horns and spikes
adorn the head and back of a boga. They are very territorial creatures, as they do not appreciate trespassers on their territory and will often attack. Boga’s are very well known for the poison clouds they can breathe and how they can ignite these fumes by adding a spark from their mouth.
Bogas gather in small groups to hunt in their territories, and these groups will often comprise of a few families of bogas. The only time bogas leave their territory is for mating or if food is scarce. Some druids and rangers have had some luck with taming bogas, but most find them to be surly and grumpy creatures that are more likely to look at a kith as a snack before seeing one as its master.
Wyvern - Wyverns are perhaps the closest relative to true dragons compared to any of the other lesser draconic creatures. They range in colors of greens, browns, and greys. They stand upon two legs and have two wings, unlike the dragons with four legs and two wings. They grow large, but not as large as fully grown dragons, but some have been reported to grow about as large as a young dragon. Their mouths are adorned with razor sharp teeth, long claws, and a venomous barb at the end of their whip-like tales.
Wyverns are not especially intelligent, especially when compared to their kin, but they can speak the Draconic language. Also, they cannot breathe fire like their kin, but rather, they can spit a poison saliva and use this to cripple prey and enemies, leaving them helpless. Wyvern hide is often used in armor and book bindings and other materials.
Lindwyrm - Lindwyrms are not as common a species as the Wyvern, but they are also a close relative of the true dragon. They have long, serpent-like bodies, and have one pair of legs, generally located toward the front of the body. Unlike the other dragon-kind that are mostly reptilian, the Lindwyrm is more of an amphibian. They hatch from eggs as little tadpoles and eventually grow into adult Lindwyrms where their gills turn into lungs and their fins turn into their legs.
Lindwyrms are often colored with dark tone and sport dark, orangish brown stripes to help them camouflage in the swamps, bogs, and estuaries that they call home. Their tadpoles are often highly sought after as a delicacy, but this food is often expensive as raiding a lindwyrm nest is a highly risky venture, even for experienced adventurers. Instead of having fire breath like true dragons or the poison spit of wyverns, Lindwyrms interestingly have been noticed using psionic abilities, often using them to assault, and especially proficient Lindwyrms are known as 'Gazers.' Lindwyrms grow in intelligence as they grow older, and elder individuals can be extremely intelligent, even as intelligent as true dragons, thus proving to be very dangerous should they get involved with kith affairs.
Scorcher- Stalking the mountains of and foothills of Evaryn are the scorchers. The least like dragons of the dragon kin, they stand on two legs while carrying their shield shaped bodies from an upright position. Their long tails follow behind them as they stalk the mountains for prey. Their heads are reminiscent of a pterodactyls, and the only way they are even considered dragon-like is in their ability to breathe fire. Scorchers do not get large like other dragon kin, most standing slightly shorter than an elf.
Their brownish hides are often used in the crafting of leather, and some people have been known to tame them and keep them on farms. Scorchers often travel in packs, using their fire to take down prey or other creatures, and when they fails, they also will lash out with their claws. Scorchers are not especially intelligent and are often no better than most animals.
-True Dragons Drake, dragon, wyrm, hellkite, and ryu are some of the names that true dragons go by in Evaryn. These are dragons in the most traditional sense
Dragons share the common traits of having reptilian features, four legs/limbs, and two powerful wings. All dragons have a magic based breathe they often use as a weapon, and the typically pictured one is fire. But this breathe weapon may vary and it often depends on the type of dragon or its ancestry. Dragons are hatched from eggs, but the mating ritual and their nests are very difficult to discover. They hatch from eggs, their young are whelps that grow into drakes, and then eventually fully grown dragons, which are massive creatures, towering over even many buildings. The oldest, most powerful of their kind are called ancient dragons.
Astral Dragon - Arguably the most powerful of dragons (and perhaps most powerful creature) on Evaryn, the astral dragon is truly a sight to behold. They are usually covered in a shimmering azure tone, and it looks almost as if they are made of the night sky, and “stars” can be seen on them. Their eyes glow deeply, and it is speculated that astral dragons are the ancestors of all dragons in Evaryn. When they unfold their wings, it is said that it looks as if they house the night sky in them. Many of them are often thought to be older than the Sunless Era, and most people who tell of an encounter with an astral dragon are usually waved off as just telling a tall tale. These dragons would like to think they are the children of the chief deity of the dragon pantheon,
which is if dragons have one.
Some religious folk see them as servants of the gods, especially Stargazers, and this is hard to reject for them, being that astral dragons not only have the appearance, but the power that mirrors a god-like being. Astral dragons wield powerful magic, especially in their breathe. The have a temporal breath that can alter reality and time along with a powerful nova breathe said to be as if they are breathing the radiance of a star.
Wyrm/Drake/Dragon- Wyrm can be used to describe most true dragons, and often is by the people of Maywikt. If asked to describe a dragon, most people will describe a wyrm. Most dragons come in the metallic or chromatic varieties, their naming coming after the colors of their scales. Forest dragons, cloud dragons, storm dragons, frost dragons, faerie dragons, hellkites, scion dragons, elemental dragons, moon dragons, spirit dragons, and elder dragons are some of the other types of dragons that exist. Perhaps dragons cannot simply be categorized as it seems most dragons are simply unique members of one species rather than multiple races/subraces. To describe each and every individual type of subspecies of dragon would take too long on this post.
Some traits are more common than others, causing the categorization.Most dragons prefer an environment that matches their traits, but that is usually far enough away to be undisturbed by the nosey and paranoid kith. As kith become more advanced and develop more tools to effectively hunt dragons, their numbers begin to dwindle, and some dragons are beginning to fear the technological advances kith are making, even the ones that cooperate and get along with the kith.
Shadow Dragon- Beyond Evaryn there is thought to exist a realm that mirrors the world, but the major difference is that this realm is covered in an unending darkness where little light gets through. This realm is referred to as the Shadowfell, and it is thought to be home to a multitude of dark creatures born of it. The thought is that if a creature stays there too long, they could be corrupt by it or that its energies seep into Evaryn much like magic already does, is how shadow dragons are born. Much like how kindred are born when unborn kith take in magic, shadow dragons are born when the eggs of a dragon absorb the dark magic of the shadow magic source.
Shadow dragons are corrupted by this dark energy, being truly evil beings. They can use these shadows to help them blend into the dark, being stealthy creatures. A dark, whispy shadow seems to surround them. They are more graceful in movement, but shadow dragons are not as strong as some of their true dragon counterparts in terms of raw physical strength, but this does not hinder them. They can breathe darkness that blinds and drains either temporarily or permanently those caught in their breath all while empowering themselves. Shadow dragons can also turn the kith they kill into undead shades that serve them.
Ryu- The land to the east of Maywikt, Shivar, is home to a variety of dragon not seen in most other parts of Evaryn. They are referred to as Ryu in the homeland of dark elves, and they often view them with great respect. Ryu dragons are unlike their wyrm counterparts; they rather have a long, slender body and often many sport horns like antlers. Ryu dragons also prefer the sea as a habitat over the air, but they will take to the sky. The emperor shogun of the dark elf nation of Shivar is actually blessed by a great, old ryu dragon. This dragon is Kokushu, the Evening Star, and it is thought to be a guardian for the people of Shivar.
Ryu dragons actually take an interest in kith, and see themselves as protectors and guardians to keep watch over them and the mystical lands of Shivar. Like other dragons, ryu have breath weapons and other sorceries at their disposable. Those that have encountered ryu speak of their untold wisdom, and most dragons respect the sage advice of the ryu. Dragon turtles are often also thought to be an offshoot of Ryu dragons.
-Other Dragons Not all dragons fit into the mold of categorization that scholars in Evaryn have placed on them. These dragons have are truly different and often have broken away from their own kind and are rejected by them.
Dracolich - Even though they are long lived, dragons must eventually die. To some, the idea of death does not sit well with them, and some will use necromantic energy to be transformed by ancient rituals into a powerful, undead dracolich. This is not unlike the ritual that some kith will undergo to become a lich, but due to the size and power of a dragon, this ritual needs to be greater than a kith’s. Dracoliches often possess many of the abilities they had in life along with the “benefits” of being undead. As they begin to rot and pass on through death, they begin to take on a more emaciated and skeletal appearance.
A dracolich, like a normal lich, cannot be killed through normal means and must have the phylactery that contains their soul destroyed, or they will resurrect and return. Upon death, the spirit returns to the phylactery to recuperate, and the spirit returns to reanimate the bones/body of the dracolich after a few days. Should the body be destroyed, the soul will remain in the phylactery, but upon contact with the corpse of another dragon, the dracolich spirit may possess that body.
Only the most narcissistic of dragons pursue becoming a dracolich as by doing so, they sever all ties to their kin and whatever gods the dragons follow. Dragons are known for vain and selfish goals, but dracoliches are almost worst, and many of them wish to rule over all if they could. The creation of a dracolich requires the cooperation of a dragon and a group of mages, usually formed into a cult. With the knowledge of an ancient dragon, and whatever other knowledge they have obtained in undeath, dracoliches are highly intelligent, tyrannical creatures that like to operate from the shadows.
Terrorgheist- Dragons are natives to Evaryn, and one of her more common inhabitants are vampires. Vampire kind usually embodies kith and other beasts, but some stories tell of vampric dragons. However they came to be, terrorgheists are truly unique monsters. They do not respect the species hierarchy of vampires, but rather carry on in true dragon fashion believing themselves to be the truly greatest. Some scholars speculate that vampric dragons were born of rituals similar to the process of becoming a dracolich, but some of the Black Coats claim it was vampire experimentation; by tainting stolen dragon eggs with vampric blood, vampires were trying to create a new species to use as a weapon to retake Maywikt after the fall of the Dreadlords.
Regardless, terrorgheists did not end up working out to be the perfect weapons that vampires wanted, mainly due to their draconic nature of feeling superior and free will. Terrorgheists often have a difficult time satiating their blood lust, as some say only draconic blood can satiate that bloodlust. Like vampires, terrorgheists cannot be killed in standard fashion, and often they seem to think nothing of most weapons. They have a strange, necrotic breathe that drains enemies of their very life essence, and it can also induce vampric bloodlust. It is thought by some that the vampire House Malfaegoth’s head is a terrorgheist, but this would be a rare case because most vampires view them as failures, but there are those that see them as the race’s salvation.
Kindragon- The magic of the land is known to spawn creatures with a shape similar to man or kith (see my last post on Evaryn), but once in a very rare time, the magic storms that spawn Kindred will spawn a kindred-like creature, but in dragon form... This creature is referred to as a Kindragon. They are immensely powerful and are viewed if shock from their own kind, but also a reverence and respect. Kindragons can take on a variety of personalities much like their kin. Kindragons are very are, and are often thought to be just as rare as Astral Dragons. They take on an elemental appearance toward the type of magic energy that spawned them, much like Kindred do. A fire Kindragon will often be covered in flames and a moon Kindragon will have a shimmering appearance.
Dragon 'Culture'
Despite being beast-like in appearance, dragons have a society and culture of their own.
Dragons are hatched from eggs, but the mating ritual and their nests are very difficult to discover. They hatch from eggs, their young are whelps that grow into drakes, and then eventually fully grown dragons, which are massive creatures, towering over even many buildings. The oldest, most powerful of their kind are called ancient dragons.
Like other relicts, such as dryads, dragons view death with a deep solemnity and they will try to lay the bones of their kin to rest in massive graveyards. These graveyards are often considered hallowed ground by dragons, as they have different beliefs when it comes to souls than most kith, but many kith are too afraid to bother asking a dragon what their spiritual beliefs are.
Dragons often will find themselves to think they are much more important than kith and see themselves in a greater light than most the creatures of Evaryn. How dragons act upon these sentiments depends on their alignments, which often vary as much as dragonkind does. Some view other kith with an indifference while some feel a need to protect Maywikt from whatever forces they deem a threat, even at the cost of innocent lives; while others see kith as a source of food or servants.
In recent years, with the rise of technology, dragon hunting has become easier and settlements with the proper means are able to better protect themselves from dragons, but these great creatures of old still survive in this era.
And that is it for this post on dragons of Evaryn. It got lengthy but thank you for having read it all! I hope you enjoyed the bit on flavor the dragons of my home brew setting. No fantasy setting is complete without dragons!
Anyway, until next time, happy gaming
Puddins
ANNOUNCEMENT!
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