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Dragons I

Webster's Guide to Dragons, Drakes and Mythical Snakes

Dragons And Their Hoards
Despite the differences between dragon species, all dragons have a hoard. Since the bronze age, they've been universally known for stealing gold, silver and precious gems, and hoarding it away in their homes.  Ancient grave robbers were even said to train dragons to steal for them, though they often were forced to let the dragon keep what they stole. Nowadays, they are more likely to steal scrap metal and old cars than anything else, though small breeds have always been popular pets for protecting your valuables.

Despite the established fact of dragons hoarding these goods, many people never bother to question why.  The answer can be found by looking at other reptiles and their habits. cold-blooded animals, such as snakes, lizards and dragon sub-species are all known for sun bathing on hot rocks. They crave heat, and when the warmth is gone, so are they.* Many dragons are noted to prefer to do the same, especially fire breathing species. However, dragons do not go fully dormant, or migrate during the fall and winter months. Instead they burrow into their shelters, and guard their hoards nearly 24/7.

Over decades of study, Dragonologist and Herpetologists* have determined that dragons use their hoards as a pseudo sun. The traditional gold was likely what dragon thought was closest to the sun, and the silver and jewels were often found along side it. With the warmth that often radiates off of large creatures, the hoard heats with the dragons and keeps them warm. Many hoards of fire-breathing dragons have been found melted into a large pile, as they use their breath to heat it.

Modern dragons have mostly used scrap metal and old car in their hoards, as it has become much harder for them to raid human cities and villages, and many ancestral hoards are guarded by a family branch.* The change of gold to steel has only been a significant change over the last four centuries, and it is too early to tell what changes this may cause in the dragons longevity and habits.

(1)  Please note that  this does not include frost-based magical reptiles 

(2) Herpetology is the branch of zoology which deals with the study of reptiles and amphibians

(3) For more information about dragon hierarchy and ancestral hoards please go to chapter 6

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