Dragon

Ransera was not the first world created by the gods. Before the creation of the Veil and the unending mystery of the Land of Nod, before the planes were divided and structured to allow mortal lives to thrive, Eikaen and Naori thought to forge the first world from primordial order and primordial chaos. Instead of making the mortal world distinct from the raw power of the Aetherium, they sought to build it within the heart of this realm of ideas and build outward from there. Their experiment was a success but they found that the creation of life lesser to their own was a supremely demanding task, an answer that eluded them. Thiovan provided a solution. From this solution were born the first beings that can truly be considered mortal.

Dragons.

As the gods toiled and experimented with pushing the boundaries of both their mastery of the Aetherium, a great and terrible event transpired that lead to the breaking of this elder world. They were forced to abandon it but dragons carried on. Following in the footsteps of the gods, they eventually came to roam the many planes of existence that the divine one forged. This ultimately led them to accompanying many of the gods to the material plane and to the world of Ransera where they heralded the arrival of the divine. This, accompanied by the fact that draconic shapes had become the norm for the divine ones to inhabit, is attributed to the rise of some gods being referred to as Dragon Gods. A trend that continues into the current era as the gods pay homage to that ancient first world and the first of their mortal creations.

As a Note: Dragons occupy a pivotal role in Ransera. As such, the introduction of a dragon to any plot must be supervised by a moderator. While they might grant permission to self-write the interactions with a dragon, ALL threads involving the use of a dragon must be reviewed by a member of Staff upon completion. As such, if you intend to involve the presence of a dragon in a way that would dramatically alter the course of both a character and a domain's story, it is best to consult with the moderation team sooner rather than later.

Creatures of Primordial Aether

Dragons are linked to the Aetherium in ways the mortals of Ransera are not. Dragons are more heavily tied to the primordial forces of the cosmos lending to their immense capacity to wield mastery over aetheric powers beyond what even the greatest of mortal mages are capable of. The presence of a dragon in any area has a profound effect on the environment simply because the dragon exists in that space. The longer a dragon chooses to reside in a given place, the longer that place becomes subject to how they themselves interpret and influence the flow of the primordial forces in the world around them. Because of this, the presence of a dragon can either be an incredible boon to mortals or it can be terrifying. It is all dependent upon the dragon and their individual temperament. Dragons can wield Runes of Magic just like any mortal. However, they are capable of wielding the powers of the runes to a degree that far surpasses anything an elf or a human could devise. Beyond the runes of magic however, dragons wield a specific power known simply as Dragoncraft.

Dragoncraft is believed to be a lesser form of Archmagic. Indeed, it is because of this power that all dragons inherently possess that would-be Archmages often seek out dragons or their parts to use in their rituals. Essentially, it is how a dragon chooses to express their interpretation of the flow of the Aetherium into the mortal world. It is typically expressed through a specific medium, such as writing, song, painting, or even sculpture. Additionally, it typically aligns with themes commonly associated with a dragon’s Dragonflight. Young dragons find dragoncraft particularly exhausting but the older and more powerful dragons can often do it with some measure of regularity. Below are listed the most common forms through which dragoncraft is expressed.

Draconic - Draconic is a language of willpower and primordial meaning. Writing or speaking this language requires immense focus and mental fortitude. Draconic carries incredible weight as it is the closest thing to actually speaking the purest meaning of something short of divine intervention. All dragons inherently know Draconic. Learning it from them, even a single word, is a gift worth the price of entire kingdoms.

Polymorphism - Dragons are natural born shapeshifters capable of adopting a variety of mortal guises. This ability is learned from their parents at a young age. As the dragon grows and forms their own perspectives on the world, they typically come to adopt more than one guise over their lifetime. While all dragons seems to easily be able to adopt the shapes of the mortal races, only Wild dragons seem to be able to adopt animal shapes on a whim. Other dragons typically have to take up the rune of Animus to do so.

Progenecy - Every dragonflight exhibits dominion over certain powers commonly attributed to the Dragon God most closely associated with them. Whether this is because those particular Dragon Gods were directly responsible for their line’s creation or they were merely taught these powers over generations is unclear.

The Dragonflights of Ransera

These dragon types are the known flights that the people of Ransera have encountered across the Ages. While this is not a comprehensive list, these are the dragons that have been recorded as being seen at least once in the span of the world's history.

• Amethyst - Dragons of Lust, Desire, Illusions
• Black - Dragons of Death, Mourning, the Afterlife
• Blue - Dragons of Time, History, Alchemy
• Brass - Dragons of Music, Song, Dance
• Bronze - Dragons of Art, Theater, Poetry
• Celestial - Information forthcoming...
• Copper - Dragons of Science, Wisdom, Artificing
• Crystal - Dragons of Daydreams, Mist, Rainfall
• Diamond - Dragons of Dreams, Hope, Purity
• Emerald - Dragons of Luck, Fortune, Chance
• Green - Dragons of the Forest, Earth, Beasts
• Gold - Dragons of Life, Healing, Rejuvenation
• Hollow - Dragons of Rot, Pestilence, Horror
• Iron - Dragons of Tyranny, Pride, Brutality
• Opal - Dragons of Mania, Whimsy, Addiction
• Red - Dragons of Fate, Destiny, Heroism
• Ruby - Dragons of Vanity, Wealth, Power
• Rust - Dragons of Decay, Withering, Sickness
• Sapphire - Dragons of Truth, Faith, the Mind
• Sea - Dragons of the Sea, Storms, Thunder
• Shadow - Dragons of Terror, Fear, Nightmares
• Silver - Dragons of Justice, Honor, Protection
• Topaz - Dragons of Joy, Charity, Abundance
• Void - Information forthcoming...
• Wasteland - Dragons of Rage, Hatred, Dust

Life of a Dragon

Dragons measure their lives in the hundreds if not thousands of years. While young dragons can often be brash and passionate creatures, the elder of their kind display an impartiality to the affairs of mortals that can sometimes border on callous. This may not be because the dragon is disinterested but rather because their perception of time is vastly different than that of the average person. Most dragons will outlive entire towns, cities and even entire civilizations. As a result of this, the urgency sometimes exhibited by shorter lived races is seldom something experienced by an elder dragon. It is easy to believe that a dragon is eternal but in time, even their long lives will come to an end.

Reproduction

Dragons reach full maturity at roughly 30 years of age and can reproduce at this age as well. Many choose to wait until much later in their lives before choosing a mate and having their first clutch of eggs. When a dragon chooses a mate, it is for life and will take another only if their current mate has perished. There are six distinct phases of a dragon’s lifespan though most mortals rarely see dragons in the first phase of their life. Dragons do not reproduce often but when they do it typically results in a clutch of between 3-6 eggs at a time. Within the egg, the dragon will mature for approximately 1 year, following this timeframe the egg will hatch only when the infant dragon is awoken by an older dragon. Typically one of their parents. Until this time, a dragon can exist indefinitely within the shell of its egg. If that shell is compromised, and provided the infant dragon was not harmed, the egg will hatch and the baby dragon will awaken.

Dragon eggs are particularly durable but are not impervious. Additionally, there are mortals who make it a profession to hunt and find clutches of dragon eggs in the hopes of finding them unguarded. Most of these foolish hunters meet a grim demise at the hands of the dragon parents but success, though rare, is not unheard of.

Wyrmling (0-1 Year) - Wyrmlings are rarely seen by most mortals. Typically the size of an average house cat at birth, wyrmlings are under the constant care and supervision of their parents. Wherever a wyrmling is found, often one or both of their parents are nearby and usually within earshot. Most wyrmlings are viciously protected. Dragon parents will not hesitate to kill even the smallest perceived threat to their wyrmlings. These baby dragons cannot fly yet and do not possess the ability to use their inherent magic. When they are first born, wyrmlings require a great deal of care and attention as they get oriented to the world beyond their eggs. At two months of age is when a dragon typically starts to develop its communication skills. They exhibit minor telepathic abilities used mostly to convey simple moods such as hunger, curiosity, displeasure and the like. By six months of age, wyrmlings are capable of communicating simple thoughts and small phrases. This is also when they usually learn how to fly. By a year, they are typically capable of communicating without difficulty.

Young (2-15 Years) - Dragons experience a period of immense growth and development following their first year of life. By 14 months, they are typically the size of a horse and have a full grasp on their ability to communicate telepathically. It is at this stage that they begin to learn how to master their inherent abilities, usually learning from their parents. By 24 months, a dragon is usually large enough to fend for themselves against ordinary predators and has learned how to hunt for themselves. By 5 years of age, the dragon has usually adopted their first mortal guise. Finding a shape and appearance that suits them. Developmentally, they are usually in a state of what could be considered adolescence. They typically have a fundamental grasp on their powers.

Adult (16-800 Years) - By and large the vast majority of the dragons that people see in the world are adults. Their sizes range from the size of large horses all the way up to huge beasts that can demolish entire buildings with a sweep of their tail. Adult dragons have usually chosen to set out on their own in the world. The young adults typically travel widely, exploring the world, pursuing what drives their naturally curious minds to foster whatever interests suit them. The life of an adult is usually an active one and this is often the age range where dragons are most involved in the lives of the mortal races.

Ancient (801+ Years) - Ancient dragons are figures of legend in and of themselves. These are some of the mightiest beings across all of Ransera with enough power to give all but deific figures pause for thought. They are large enough to demolish castle fortifications with a sweep of their claws. Their wingspans are often big enough to blanket huge swaths of land in shadow. The presence of an ancient dragon has a profound effect on the world around them as these master of Dragoncraft shift the world to suit how they prefer to channel its primordial forces.

Greatwyrm (Unknown) - There are perhaps only a handful of Greatwyrms in existence. These colossal beasts are the epitome of dragonkind capable of dwarfing mountains and leaving entire cities shadowed by their wingspan. The state of being a Greatwyrm is less indicative of one’s age and more a state of being. However, it is commonly assumed that these dragons are vastly older than even their Ancient brethren. The path to becoming a Greatywyrm is unknown to mortals but suffice it to say, when one of these immensely powerful beings chooses to act, it is an act capable of changing the course of an entire plane of existence. Often these dragons are on par with Lesser Gods (Tier 3) in their might.

Coupling with a Dragon

Sometimes, dragons fall in love with a mortal. When this occurs then they are capable of coupling with them while adopting their mortal guise. This coupling would have the same effect as pairing with another person if the circumstances permit. The child or children of this coupling however, will live a remarkably different life than their mortal counterparts. This child will be a Half-Dragon. Cultures across the world have differing names for them but they are most commonly referred to as Dragonborn, not to be confused with a Draegir, which is a Demigod. Players interested in being a Dragonborn child will be considered on a case by case basis.

Dragonborn Traits

Physically, dragonborn are born as a mix of their mortal parent and the dragon’s mortal guise. However as they undergo puberty, aspects of their dragon heritage begin to present themselves. This can include but is not limited to:

-Appearance of scales on the skin.

-Sharpening of the teeth.

-Dragon-like eyes.

-Horns

Additionally, dragonborn children experience increased strength and vitality as a result of their draconic heritage. A dragonborn will typically be able to perform feats of physical strength that are double what the average of their race is capable of.

Draconic Resilience

Every dragonborn has inside of them a spark of elemental or aethereal power that manifests as a natural resistance to the elemental power of their ancestry.

Magic Affinity

Because of their unique heritage, a Dragonborn will always survive an initiation into Rune Magic. However, they will always suffer the absolute worst form of that discipline’s threshold sickness.

Death of a Dragon

Dragons are intricately tied to the flow of the Aetherium on the material plane or on any plane they choose to inhabit. Because of this unique relationship with the Aetherium, the death of a dragon is an event of tremendous significance. It is sometimes theorized that dragons often serve as anchors of vast amounts of aetheric power in the material realm and when they die, that anchor becomes unmoored. When a dragon dies, it has a very real and tangible effect on the environment. Depending on the circumstances this can be anything from a sudden blossoming of life both immediately around the site of the dragon’s death or for miles in every direction extending out from them or it can be the withering of life in the same radius.

Investiture

When a dragon dies, the power within them does not simply vanish. If an Investiture does not occur, then that power flows outward and into the world around them. Sometimes this can be an event of terrible destruction or it can be a wondrous miracle. There is a chance however, that an Investiture may happen. This is when the dragon’s power flows into a living person or another being who then becomes the inheritor of the dragon’s might. A dragon can choose to perform this incredible event of their own volition or it may happen spontaneously at the event of their death. It is an exceptionally rare circumstance and is a reason why some individuals adopt the ludicrously dangerous profession of dragon slaying.

Undeath

Some dragons are not content to see the end of their incredible lifespans. To that end, there are those that turn to magic to extend their lives by entering into the realm of Undeath. Few of these dragons are of a benevolent disposition as the rituals necessary to transform a dragon into a Lich are terrible indeed. Adventurers beware, encountering a Dracolich is almost certainly to result in a fight for one’s life.

Dragons and Territory

There is no exact measure of how many dragons there are in the world but they have been present across the world since the dawn of the Age of Dreams. Thus the exact number of how many dragons there are in the world is unknown. Suffice it to say, they are populous enough that most people will see them in some capacity a handful of times throughout their lives. Most of the mortal races hope that this sighting is either in passing or with a dragon that is particularly benevolent.

As dragons age, their sense of territory expands and thus they may establish multiple lairs across the region they call home. In terms of interacting with other dragons, there is an established hierarchy among them and when that hierarchy is threatened it can become terribly violent. To avoid conflict, dragons often arrange themselves into what is referred to as a Conclave which is a community of dragons that has agreed to live in relative close proximity to each other. Each of these has what is referred to as an Elder, which is a gender neutral term that designates which dragon is the leader of the local community of them.

In a 160 kilometer (~100 miles) radius, there might only be roughly five or six adult dragons but within their purview there could be up to two dozen younger dragons. Across a 480 km (~300 mi) radius, there might be three ancient dragons who usually serve as the Elder of a given community. Sometimes these ancients work in tandem, establishing themselves a tribunal that oversees younger dragons in their purview. In a span of 4800 km (~3000 mi) there might only be a single Greatwyrm, if at all. In terms of social dynamic, younger dragons often pay a form of tribute to their older counterparts as a means of maintaining the status quo and avoiding conflict. This in turn funnels its way to the Elder. When a dragon feels they no longer wish to pay tribute to a superior dragon, they are left with only a few options; leave the area and establish themselves in a place not occupied by other dragons or challenge one of the dragons over them.

Biology

Dragons are born as inherently magical creatures of vast intelligence and capability. Scholars have studied them for countless millennia and there are still some answers regarding their nature that still elude them. However, there are some basic things that are generally accepted to be true. The first is that dragons never truly stop growing. Their bodies continue to grow as they age and the unique properties of their anatomy and physiology mean that they draw sustenance from both organic foods and from the ambient aether in the world. As a dragon ages, they become more reliant upon the aetheric sustenance than the organic, explaining why some of the more gargantuan of the beasts are able to subsist without the need for hunting as often. In terms of appearance, dragons resemble winged reptilian beasts in most instances but there are variations across the different breeds of dragons. Only a fool would believe them to be simple lizards however and it is a mistake that, once made, seldom ends well for the individual in question.

Dragons possess scaled hides and usually exhibit horns or spikes growing in various places on their body, typically at the brow, along the spine, or at the location of joints. The scales of a dragon offer some of the most powerful protection known to mortal races. Depending on the dragon, this protection can range from near imperviousness to mundane weaponry to even magical protection that renders them immune to all but the absolutely most powerful magical manifestations.

All dragons are capable of flight, something achieved most commonly through the utilization of wings. Wingless dragons do exist and it is commonly agreed upon that they achieve flight similar to how a kineticist manages to manipulate materials with merely an expression of thought. Dragons all possess an inherent affinity for a particular element or an expression of aetheric manipulation. This affinity is most commonly expressed through the utilization of a concentrated breath weapon that can be devastating when turned to acts of destruction.

Dragon parts, even something as simple as a dragon scale, are all inherently magical objects. Due to the continual channeling of aether that dragons experience across the course of their lives, any part of dragon is densely saturated with aether and can produce potent effects when put toward magical crafting.

Psychology

Dragons are complex creatures with a myriad of personalities, interests, and mannerism. While dragons of a particular dragonflight will often exhibit similar values, expecting any dragon to be the same as one previously encountered is foolish. They are as intelligent and as expressive as any of the mortal races might be. They can ascend to great heights of power and fall just as low. All dragons are as equally capable of being a force for great good or great evil as the next person. The only difference is that when a dragon chooses to act, it can shape the fate of entire continents given the right circumstance. There are, however, a few hallmark traits that all dragons exhibit no matter what their background is.

Proud - Dragons are proud creatures. They have every right to be. The very eldest and most powerful of their kind are on par with gods in terms of their power. They are beings who can, on a whim, slay thousands if it suits them as there are not many creatures on the mortal plane that can contend with them in their full might. They are beholden to no one, not even the Dragon Gods, and while many hold a degree of respect and acceptance for the authority of gods, this does not translate to reverence. Dragons often view the gods as respected elders as opposed to figures deserving of worship.

Intelligent - Dragons are highly intelligent with just as much capacity to learn as any other mortal. Because of their extraordinarily long lifespans, they often devote themselves to pursuing their passions with a tenacity that is startling to the mortals races. They are driven to become masters in all of their pursuits and will push themselves to incredible depths. Mortals have reaped incredible benefits under the tutelage of ancient dragon masters. On that same token, there has been incredible suffering whenever this intelligence has been turned to more insidious pursuits.

Hoard - Dragons are driven to amass a hoard of treasure that is particularly valuable to them. Whether it be gold, jewels, magical artifacts, or valuable tomes of ancient knowledge, every dragon has a hoard. This hoard is carefully guarded and watched over in their lair.

Dragon Lairs

A dragon’s lair is not merely a den where they go to rest. It is a nexus wherein all of the aetheric power tied to a dragon becomes infused in the world around them. It is their home, it is their sanctuary, it is the repository of their hoard and their knowledge. A dragon’s lair is a sanctum wherein the world becomes subject to the will of the dragon as more of who and what they are becomes intricately tied to it and how they both view and express themselves in the world. Consciously or not, young dragons going in search of a place to fashion into their lair will often establish them in places that resonate with aetheric power. These places where the veil might be thin or where aetheric ley-lines interconnect, better suit a dragon’s will and whim. As the dragon ages, these lairs twist and warp to suit the dragon’s needs and to match the truly colossal scale of power that they can come to occupy.

This can result in not just the lair itself but the lands around it shifting to match the disposition of the dragon. A benevolent dragon might see that the lands around them become safer for travelers, the roads more easily traversed, the wildlife more accommodating to people. Waters around this dragon lair might even have rejuvenating properties. Conversely, a malevolent dragon might see the wildlife and lands around their lair become warped, twisted and inhospitable to other life. It is largely dependent upon the dragon and their individual disposition.

A Dragon’s Hoard

Dragons and treasure are inexplicably linked. This is not necessarily because dragons are greedy or actually place value in material wealth, though some dragons certain are and do. A dragon’s hoard is an extension of their power and interests. Entering into a dragon’s lair and beholding its hoard is both wondrous and a warning. The greater the hoard, the older and more powerful the dragon. How a dragon amasses its hoard is dependent upon the dragon. Some travel in the guise of mortals, working as adventurers and heroes accumulating wealth as payment for deeds and services. Some dragons delve into the ruins of ancient civilizations and loot the ruins for their wealth and wonders. Other dragons might pillage and plunder. Regardless, a dragon’s hoard remains a marvelous thing that contains a mix of all manner of enticing things.

Dragonkin

There are various offshoots of the Dragon species but none of them can be considered true dragons and most do not exhibit the incredible powers that dragons themselves do. Typically these creatures came about either through experimentation, some form of divine intervention or even a deformation that proliferated and brought about a new species. These dragonkin species include Drakes, Hydras, Dragon Turtles, Deepwyrms, Kobolds, and Wyverns. Only a fool would make the mistake of calling a dragon one of these things to its face.

Dragons and Dragonriders

The state of being a Dragonrider is more than just utilizing a dragon as a mount. A dragon would never tolerate being used merely as a taxi service. To be a dragonrider is to be inextricably linked to a dragon and be bequeathed a portion of its power. The older and more powerful the dragon, the greater this power becomes. It is a shared life wherein the dragonrider and the dragon live and support one another. It creates a bond that is emotional, mental and spiritual in nature that sees even the darkest of dragons and people finding companionship in one another. On top of being able to wield their own powers individually, the dragon and dragonrider choose to channel each others gifts through one another. The drawback to this incredible union is that the life of one is the life of the other. The mortal will see their lifespan matched to that of their dragon, seeing them live for centuries if not thousands of years. However, when one dies, so too does the other. Among their potential abilities, Dragonriders experience the following:

Soul of Dragons - A dragonrider is at least twice as strong as the most athletic of their race. Additionally, they experience heightened senses above the norm of their race.

Dragon Health - Dragonriders are not susceptible to mundane diseases.

Draconic Resilience - Dragonriders gain resilience to their dragon’s elemental affinity in much the same way that a dragonborn does.

Magic Affinity - The state of being a dragonrider confers upon the mortal heightened capacity for magic. As such, they will survive the initiation of any Rune of Magic they receive. Additionally, they will begin at the Apprentice level of mastery for that magic.

Becoming a Dragonrider

A dragon must willingingly invest a portion of their might into the one whom they wish to allow the honor and duty of becoming a dragonrider. This is achieved in a similar manner to drawing a Rune of Magic upon the body. Typically the dragon extends a claw and carves a rune in Draconic over the intended recipient’s heart. They then bathe the would-be dragonrider in their breath weapon. From there, it is a fight for the aspirant’s life as they must marshal the will to survive the experience or be destroyed by the power being gifted to them. Dragons will only enter into this arrangement with mortals whom they care for or respect. As such, convincing them to perform this rite is even more challenging because failing it means the death of the mortal whom they either cared for or respected in the first place.

Players who are interested in becoming a Dragonrider must first establish a relationship with a dragon to a degree that would invite such a phenomenon to take place. To achieve this, please petition your local moderation team about the idea. Only PRINCIPAL AUTHORS or above have the authority to confer Dragonrider status. As always, please consult the Support Forum or the Discord server Help Desk with questions.