The Lost World Tribal Archive

Hypnowings

Name origin: Hypnowings were originally named because they had a mesmerizing stare, not unlike their current ability. It had a hypnotic effect on other dragons, but it wasn't nearly as powerful as it is today. As they evolved to have stronger abilities, the name had no reason to change. It is unknown exactly who named the tribe.

Tribe origin: Hypnowings, much like Eternitywings, have been a pure tribe for many centuries, and by no records have evolved from any other tribe. However, they have changed a bit over the years, as early Hypnowings were far different from the modern tribe.

Build and traits: Hypnowings are tall and thin dragons, with long, powerful limbs. Their long tails are especially strong, and are very good at wrapping around objects to grab them, or, you know, to strangle another dragon. As usual, they have a row of spines down their back, curled a bit like a claw and spaced well apart. The spines get smaller along their neck and at the end of their tail. They lack a spike on the end of their snout, but instead have a pair of smaller spikes on the back of their jaw. A Hypnowing's horns curl abruptly at the end, back towards their head, making a hook-like shape. Their eyes are quite hard to look away from, even when they aren't using their abilities. Hypnowings are known to be incredibly intelligent and cunning, their entire culture built around outsmarting and manipulating other dragons. They aren't an overly social tribe, but they aren't quite as solitary as the Eternitywings. In conversation, most Hypnowings are either witty and charming, uncomfortably stoic and emotionless, sarcastic and snarky, or a mix. A Hypnowing is never afraid to prove that they are smarter than you.

Colors: A Hypnowing's scales are a dark yellow or golden color, with lighter shades on the edges of the wings and darker shades on the underbelly. This yellow is broken up by black spots scattered over their scales, looking similar to inkblots. These patterns are random and vary wildly, with no two Hypnowings having the same pattern, not even twins. This is used as a way for Hypnowings to identify each other. But to the outside eye, they all seem to blend together. All of the Hypnowing's spikes are black as well, and their horns are a dark grey. Their eyes are a deep orange or yellow in color, but will turn black when their power is in use. If a Hypnowing's eyes are pure black, it is advised to look away.

Abilities: Hypnowings are capable of taking control of other dragon's minds and using them as puppets to do whatever they wish. They do this by staring into another dragon's eyes and concentrating, so it can't be done accidentally. They can be stopped if the other dragon looks away or their concentration is broken. However, looking away is extremely difficult, because their eyes are mesmerizing, so only dragons with the strongest of wills are able to avoid falling under their spell. This ability is tied to their eyes, so as long as they have at least one eye they can take control of other dragons. Having only one eye does make it harder to take control, since they only have half the power. Blind Hypnowings can still use this ability, as long as their eyes are intact. Downside being that a blind Hypnowing wouldn't be able to see where the other dragon's eyes are, so it's very difficult. The power is measured in levels, 0 through 10. The higher the level, the more powerful their mind control is; harder to resist, able to take control of more dragons, etc. Also, a higher level Hypnowing is able to take control of a lower level, so being higher also determines your social status in the tribe, whether or not you hold power over others. Level 0 is what all dragonets begin at, which is no power whatsoever. They must take special classes to make their ability stronger. Levels 1-5 are available to the public and anyone can learn them for free. Levels 6 and 7 are only available for those that are able to afford the exclusive class, or for those that volunteer for the military. Levels 8 and 9 are only accessible by the most powerful dragons in the tribe, nobles and royals. And finally level 10 is exclusive to the leader of the tribe. But, not just anyone can learn any level if given the chance. All dragons have a maximum level, which is the limit of what they are able to learn. Once a dragon reaches their maximum, their power cannot get better, so it's worthless to keep them in the class. A dragon's maximum level is determined by their parents; take the average of both parents, round up, and then give or take one. So the dragonet of two level 5s could be anywhere from a level 4 to a level 6.
Any dragon is able to be controlled, as long as they have eyes that a Hypnowing can target. Once a Hypnowing has control, they can order the dragon to do whatever they wish. The dragon being controlled can attempt to resist these orders, but unless their willpower is stronger than the Hypnowing's, their attempts at breaking the mind control are futile. However, orders that have a serious effect on the dragon's emotional state, such as an order to kill a loved one, is far easier to resist. If a Hypnowing has control, they don't get to shuffle through memories, or read the dragon's mind, or erase the other dragon's mind entirely. They are only taking temporary control of the body. The only way a dragon can be released from the mind control is if the Hypnowing controlling them willingly frees them, or dies.
The Hypnowings also have a variation of this mind control that is incredibly rare, seen only once in a generation, or less. Known as "mind manipulation" or "total mind control", this ability allows the Hypnowing to not only control a dragon, but completely tear apart their mental construct. They are able to make the dragon believe anything, rewrite their memories, change their personality, everything. It's as if the whole dragon's mind is laid out in front of them, and the Hypnowing is able to remove or switch out any pieces that they wish. This can be absolutely terrifying, having that much power in one dragon's talons. However, if a dragon is released from the total control, they slowly begin to regain their former conscious. So even if they get fully memory-wiped, over the course of a few weeks they will remember everything again. But as long as the Hypnowing has control, they can twist any dragon's mind to their own will, in every way imaginable.