Post by steeledraconis on Nov 30, 2005 0:38:51 GMT -8
Unlike their Avian counterparts, who only change physical form if they are Lawgivers or clutch royalty, Dragons have three forms and can shift easily between them at any time. In full dragon form, they are enormous Western looking dragons; that is to say, they look like something you might have found in Medieval Europe. Leather winged, tough scaly hide, armour plated underside, sharp talons, spiked tails. Most Dragons are born with the ability to breathe fire, though it's a latent talent that must be learned and practiced. The more flame they use, though, the less energy they have for flying, in full dragon or hybrid form. If their inner core temperatures are lowered enough, they are unable to produce it. The Royal family have black lightning breath (an unusual and deadly sort of magic fire that only the Draconis line possess) that they can use in addition to the regular flame, but like the regular flame, it must be learned and practiced.
In hybrid form, they are humanoid with leather wings. They have fangs and like Avians, have talons on their hands and feet, but unlike them, the talons are not retractable. They have been mistaken on the common realm for demons, but they don’t have tails in any form except full dragon. In humanoid form, they look just like ordinary humans, even their fangs look like human teeth. The only way to distinguish a Dragon in humanoid form from a regular human is hearing one speak. Since Beyond is a technologically arrested society, they know nothing about guns, cannons, or any type of weapon from ages later than our Middle Ages.
Dragons breed for nine months, and then lay their eggs which hatch soon after, not requiring the month of incubation that Avian eggs do. They have no Naming or Hatching ceremonies, though the twins Sin and Saint born to Steele and Subtle did undergo them, since Subtle was Avian by birth. The Dragon tradition is to have the newly hatched sleep in the parent’s bed the first night, in order to bond more fully. One thing I did fail to mention that both Avians and Dragons have in common is the fact that the infants both nurse and eat meat. The mothers lactate for a month, then the infants are on solids for the rest of their lives. Given the sharpness of Dragon teeth, the poor things couldn’t bear to nurse their children for more than a month anyway.
In hybrid form, they are humanoid with leather wings. They have fangs and like Avians, have talons on their hands and feet, but unlike them, the talons are not retractable. They have been mistaken on the common realm for demons, but they don’t have tails in any form except full dragon. In humanoid form, they look just like ordinary humans, even their fangs look like human teeth. The only way to distinguish a Dragon in humanoid form from a regular human is hearing one speak. Since Beyond is a technologically arrested society, they know nothing about guns, cannons, or any type of weapon from ages later than our Middle Ages.
Dragons breed for nine months, and then lay their eggs which hatch soon after, not requiring the month of incubation that Avian eggs do. They have no Naming or Hatching ceremonies, though the twins Sin and Saint born to Steele and Subtle did undergo them, since Subtle was Avian by birth. The Dragon tradition is to have the newly hatched sleep in the parent’s bed the first night, in order to bond more fully. One thing I did fail to mention that both Avians and Dragons have in common is the fact that the infants both nurse and eat meat. The mothers lactate for a month, then the infants are on solids for the rest of their lives. Given the sharpness of Dragon teeth, the poor things couldn’t bear to nurse their children for more than a month anyway.