Tredecimosian Beastiary

Dragonkind

 Among the realms of Tredecimos are great, winged reptilian creatures referred to as "Dragons". Though the term "dragon" is often used as a catchall term for those of Dragonkind, there is actually a variety of subspecies with distinct physiology; and some do not even fly. The subspecies of Dragonkind are as follows: balaur, dragon, drake, hydra, wyrm, and wyvern.

In addition to the various subspecies of Dragonkind, each comes in a variety of colors which mark their elemental alignment. Though different colored Dragonkind do not generally get along, occasionally interbreeding does occur. The offspring of these matings will often have the colors of both of their parents, coming in a variety of patterns.

Balaurs are a rare offshoot of the more common dragon, the most distinguishing factor being that they have not one, but three heads growing from their shoulders. Usually the three heads will have differing personalities, which can cause the young balaurlings much trouble until the point where two heads submit to the third.

Dragons are large, with the most ancient growing to be upwards of a mile in size. They have four legs, massive wings, varied horns cresting their heads, and scales harder than adamantium. Depending on their coloration, they have an elemental "breath" attack, in which they exhale elemental fury upon a wide area. They mainly live in mountains, caves, and volcanos; once again depending on their coloration generally.

Drakes have long, snakelike bodies with smaller, proportionate wings. They have 3 sets of tiny, razor sharp teeth; which they use to bleed out their prey moments after catching it, effectively eliminating any chance of escape for most smaller, less durable creatures. Ancient drakes are rarely found, though they are rumored to be larger than leviathans.

Hydras are wingless Dragonkind which have 5 heads atop 5 long necks, sprouting from a large body with legs around 10 feet in circumference. The heads shoot projectiles in the form of their aligned element, and when any one head is left alive, the remaining necks will sprout two heads apiece, until all heads are cleaved off in a short enough amount of time. They are more feral than most other Dragonkind.

Wyrms are massive subterranean Dragonkind which grow to be roughly 100 feet long and 50 feet in circumference. Based on coloration they will have an elemental spewing attack, and one by itself can devour a barn full of cows in under five minutes. They move incredibly fast underground, tunneling through roughly a mile of earth and rock per minute. Lacking eyes, they rely on tremorsense to navigate.Wyrms are completely feral, lacking any semblance of sapience. As such, they are the exception to most emotional and attitude-related aspects of each color. They are simple, savage creatures in dragonscale hide.

Wyverns are two-legged, winged Dragonkind. They are more bestial in nature than the four legged Dragon, and have an elemental venom spit attack based on coloration. Many lesser creatures, through magic, manipulation, machinery, or any combination thereof, have tamed these creatures to an extent, and ride on their backs into battle.

Now we will discuss the different colorations of Dragonkind. Each element has a color which alludes to its alignment on a member of Dragonkind. The different colors one may find are black, blue, brown, cyan, gray, gold, green, platinum, purple, quartz, red, ruby, silver, and yellow. Below is a general outline of what to expect based on coloration.

Black Dragonkind are of the darkness element. They are cunning and ruthless, and their elemental attacks can blind its prey. Black dragons, along with ruby and silver, are more likely than most colors to become demons in the next life. It is even rumored that Emperor Diabolus himself was a black, ruby, and silver interbred Balaur before he ascended to the role of Archdevil.

Blue Dragonkind are generally calmer than the other species, and are tied to the water element. Their attacks can drench opponents and are released at such a high velocity that they can pierce through stone. Blue Dragonkind generally live on islands or underwater.

Brown Dragonkind are of the stone element. They are peaceful, judicious, and shrewd. They make fine diplomats, when they bother to meddle in the affairs of lesser beings. Their attacks come as a flurry of rocks summoned forth from their gullet with the force of a hundred rockslides.

Cyan dragonkind are attuned to wind magic, and often keep perches high above the clouds. Their attacks can blast enemies back several feet, and the force with which any debris is carried certainly does damage as well. They are generally peaceful, however; usually not fighting with much besides any roc birds they make their homes near.

Gray Dragonkind are less metallic and shiny than silver Dragonkind, and are attuned to the element of time magic. Their projectile attacks can cause rapid aging on the individual hit. Their roars can stop time in a small area for a short period, usually a few hours at their smallest; though it is said the ancients can skip years, even decades at a time. Despite all this power, or perhaps because of it, they don't really do much in general.

Gold Dragonkind are shinier and more metallic in appearance than yellow Dragonkind. They are a noble breed, wielding power over life itself, their elemental "attacks" can actually heal and, for older Dragonkind, revive the dead. They mainly stay in Terminus-Vitas, guarding the flow of souls, rarely meddling in the natural affairs.

Green Dragonkind are of the nature element, and have a bark-covered throat to protect from the thorny vines they spew. Green Dragonkind are noble and caring, tending to nature and regularly communing with druids to share their wealth of knowledge.

Platinum Dragonkind are shiny, gleaming, metallic off-white in appearance, their scales seeming like great chunks of platinum. They, as a species, are hard to read. Being attuned to the soul element associated with Shamanism, they know much, and tell little. Their attacks can damage their enemy's soul directly, an ancient being able to rend the soul from one's body in one fell breath; to consume or destroy entirely.

Purple Dragonkind are attuned to the illusion element. They are deceitful and Machiavellian. Their attacks can twist reality, causing their victims to go insane. They will often disguise themselves as Fae to further their goals, or simply to have fun.

Quartz Dragonkind are of the mind element. As one of the crystalline Dragonkind, their scales are more translucent than most. Their elemental attacks can confuse and paralyze enemies, and they are among the most likely to shapeshift into humanoids and ascend to positions of societal wealth and power through business.

Red Dragonkind are attuned to the element of fire. They are prideful, greedy and arrogant. The classic "fire breathing dragon", they do indeed build large, large hoards of gold, often as tithe from the Ash Dwarves in Wyveria, or Fire Giants in Pyresus, the elemental plane of fire.

Ruby Dragonkind, or "the other crystalline Dragonkind" are attuned to the blood element. They are cunning and ruthless. Their elemental attacks can create diseases in the blood of its victims. Young rubies will usually produce no more than a cold or flu in a single blast; whereas an ancient ruby can essentially mass-produce a type of - for lack of a better term - super-cancer bioweapon from within itself. Like the black and silver variants, this coloration is more inclined to becoming a demon; and like the quartz variants, they are much more likely to meddle in mortal affairs, often becoming powerful CEOs on Earth, in the blood realm Trivalis.

Silver Dragonkind are more metallic and shiny in appearance than their grey cousins, and are attuned to the element of death. They are dramatic and grim, and their breath can raise the dead as undead. They often roam Terminus-Vitas, generally attacking Gold Dragonkind on sight.

Finally, Yellow Dragonkind. These creatures are brave, noble, and judicious. They are attuned to the light element, and can dazzle foes with their breath, which is a shining beam of glorious light. Their breath is also highly damaging to the undead. Many stay in Lumenis, the elemental plane of Light; though many more roam the other planes to destroy undead they find.