The first in a series of dragon guide books that goes deeper into the know information about the dragons of Calluncia. Published in the year 1958 D.E. (Dragonotic Era) this book is considerably old, however is the only guide about dragons.
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Crooked is only the tip of the iceberg with this dragon. Imagine a crocodile with hollowed bones, thicker scales, vestigial wings on its back, rows of sharp spines running down the neck to the base of it's tail covering every inch of it's back, and legs that sprout directly under it's body. Now make it two to three times bigger than a nile crocodile and the ability to shoot fireworks from it's mouth. That is the Draci scolosuchus, commonly nicknamed the "Gar" for the similar appearance. Living in bogs and swamps rather than clear rivers and lakes like most other aquatic dragons, the Gar (dragon) is well adapted to the environment. Their chainmail-like body makes it hard for these beasts to be killed, but makes healing take longer as well as moving on dry land.
Coloration of these giant beasts ranges from dark green to a green-gold color with the occasional burgundy bands around the snout and tail. This helps them blend into the plant and algae filled waters they call home. Their eggs however are a bright green or teal color.
The lifecycle of this dragon can be compared to that of crocodiles, but with its differences. Gar dragons are constantly changing mates, usually a single female being fought for by a whole harem of males of the same age. However it has been documented that young males challenging older males for a female and the new pair reproducing successfully in the next breeding season. This phenomenon is due to the the rarity of females among the population. One out of fifteen eggs hatches an female infant.
The breeding season is around summer, when tensions are high and pheromones fly. Males become highly aggressive towards one and another and mark larger than normal territory borders to keep most of the competition out. The females however are passive but defencive, becoming the aggressor in a fight when encountered alone. After an whole month of fevered fighting, the female creates a depression in the ground and lays her eggs while the male collects as much swamp muck, plants, and tree branches to cover the incubating eggs. The female sits right next to her brood and exposes her warm belly to help incubate the young inside. She take this post for an entire month, never moving, always relying on her mate while she guards and protect the nest.
The young hatch after the month incubation into very, very tiny miniatures of their parents. It is surprising how tiny the young are, no larger than a person's arm from the tip of their middle finger to the back of the elbow, from snout to tail tip. The parents are the main caretakers of the young, however every dragon in the area will tend to the young when they are separated from their parents or in great danger. Youngsters benefit greatly from this, which skyrockets their chances of survival.
It is not until they are a year old that their parents care for their young. A new batch is on it's way and the young are large enough to fend off most predatory creatures. Females, however, are swarmed by youthful males in an attempt to claim her as their mate before they are quite old enough, and are usually chased off by the female if they become too pesterous. This will continue for the rest of her life, as many males will fight to be her champion. At her second year, she is old enough to clutch.
Gar dragons, with their amphibious life style and chainmail skin, are considered beautiful and spectacular creatures for their ability. They can shoot up to three rounds of mucus globs that are high in phosphorus and pyrophoric minerals that cause a chemical reaction resulting in a multi colored fireball that can be compared to fireworks. These globs quickly burn up in their spectacular and destructive display. Many are kept as royal pets for this reason, both as a decorative display and mighty weapon.
Tips!: Never ever try to raid a nest of these dragons, and just as well as any other kind of dragon, because you will be left off nothing more than a smoldering pile of ash. Gar dragons do not actively hunt people unless they have stolen an egg or hatchling. I restate the first tip one more. Tamed Gar dragons are feed bits of crocodiles and live crocodile hatchlings as part of their daily meals or as treats. The legendary silvery-golden Gar dragon has had numerous sightings over the past two centuries, however this dragon is still elusive and have never been caught. Many believe its a hoax, others a spirit, and only a handful believes it truly exists.
