Endonym: Fels
Dragons used to be plentiful across the lands, but long ago Oromasdes, the God of Dragons was slain at the hands of Iovis. Without a God to guide them, a disease called the Scaleplague, known to Dragons as Dewr, decimated their numbers, without a divine protector, the Dragons were unable to fight the disease which affected only a few to begin with, but quickly spread, causing all of their kind to shed their scales, leaving them defenseless. Seeing an opportunity to strike at the Dragons, many jumped at the chance to slay a Dragon, whether the purpose was altruistic such as seeking revenge against a terrible beast that acted tyrant over your village, or merely hunting them for sport, the ensuing bloodshed made for a near complete collapse of Dragonkind. Now, seeing a Dragon is a rare occurrence, many even believe they are myths. The Dragons who survived did so one of two ways, the hording of treasure, and the consumption of others.
Dragons quickly found themselves split into two factions led by the Dragons who would become the major Celestials of their kind. Ordibehesht spoke of virtue in the face of the looming challenge. She spoke words of comfort and taught her followers to defend the smaller races even in the face of their hatred. She preached that they should integrate themselves into society and that with time and effort, they would be viewed as beacons of hope and prosperity, worthy of gifts of gold which they could eat and fashion into new scales. She taught them not to take too much from their companions, only what they require to ensure they are able to defend their civilizations by defending themselves.
The other faction was led by Ordibehesht’s twin brother, Draojista. He spoke of the present, and the hatred the Dragons faced in the current moment following the Scaleplague. He stirred up angst and vitriol by playing to Dragons’ fears. The Dragons had been hunted, and smaller folk looked to wipe their kind from the face of the earth simply because they feared the Dragons’ might. He spoke of subjugation, that they were strong and therefore deserved to rule over the weak. He preached that society should bend their knee to the Dragons and that with time and enough sacrifice, the Dragons might decide to spare them their scraps. That they could protect society through their own strength in return for their undying loyalty. Draojista’s followers seek to take what is not freely given, and fashion their scales around the values they consume.
Prophets of Ordibehesht were taught to stave off the disease by consuming metal to replace their scales and while gold is perhaps the most plentiful for one reason or another, many dragons sufficed on copper, silver, and other metals. They lived near Human settlements and offered protection for tribute. Several were worshipped and found offerings through churches they started. They are good by nature, they try to live in peace with the smaller races and do no harm to them, but when their supply of gold runs low, the fear for their lives drives them to desperate means of gathering more gold. Their consumption of treasure has given them their signature hue.
Each metal grants the dragon not only their signature hue, but different dragons have learned to adapt to the metal they consume, producing scales with different properties to suit the strengths and weaknesses of their metal. Gold gives the dragon shield-like scales, suited best for defense, which gives them time to bide while waiting for an opening.
- The singular Platinum Dragon sits at the top of the hierarchy of Metallic Dragons and serves as the avatar of Ordibehesht. Many believe the Platinum Dragon to be a myth as few have ever laid eyes on its radiance. The Platinum Dragon’s virtue is a reflection of the Purple Dragon’s sin, they are mortal enemies, the same as Ordibehesht and Draojista. Unlike other Dragons, the Platinum Dragon does not hail from a long line before it. As each Dragon serves as the avatar for the Dragon Goddess, they are not born, but instead made. When one Platinum Dragon falls, the world enters an age of sin, but sin and virtue cannot be so easily wiped out, and eventually, the collective virtue of the world will cause a new Platinum Dragon to be born to usher in an era of balance. The Platinum Dragon’s scales resemble halos, floating off the skin of the beast, each one is said to represent a kind act someone has committed in the world.
- Gold dragons, know also as Shield Dragons, are perhaps the most noble of the metallic dragons, most willing to fight and die by the side of the settlements they defend. Their golden scales are each shaped like shields, which can be willingly shed in order to provide protection to its companions.
- Electrum Dragons, colloquially referred to as Banded Dragons, produce scales that wrap around themselves in tight, thick coils reminiscent of bracelets and necklaces, which help them charge their lightning based attacks. Electrum dragons are said to be the most scholarly and intelligent of all metallic dragons, spending their off time writing poems, manifests, and encyclopedias as well as reading them.
- Silver dragons, commonly referred to as Image Dragons, produce thin and fragile plate-shaped scales. What their scales, and they themselves, lack in sheer strength, they make up for in cunning. Each scale on the Silver dragon acts like a mirror and the dragon possesses the ability to move their scales to create dazzling images aimed at confusing their attacker. Silver Dragons are sleeker and more flexible than their siblings and cousins, which aids in their illusions by allowing them to morph into various shapes to confuse their enemies.
- Bronze Dragons, also known as Tower Dragons, are adorned in bell-shaped scales that loosely hang from their skin, giving them the ability to produce a cacophony of sound when threatened, alerting allies to enemies and their location. While most of their scales hang loosely, some are strategically placed with their open side toward the skin and filled with corrosive liquid which will punish any attacker willing to confront them in close quarters.
- Copper Dragons, also known as Quill Dragons, produce long, thin, needle-like scales similar to the leaves of a pine tree. These sharp quills work to insulate the dragon from area attacks such as rival dragons’ breath weapons and prevent attackers from getting too close where they could do real damage.
On the other hand, Draojista tempted his Prophets with an alternative means to survival, the consumption of living, or in some cases, decaying, flesh. Most often it was in the form of blood, though Draojista offered other sources of power. The blood of sentient being is the most potent and most delicious, with the blood of their counterparts being most effective of all. They became feared and revered and were paid in a different kind of tribute, their blood red scales being a sure sign of their arrival. The gluttonous frauds took hold of mountain ranges to make their lairs and slept for years at a time to conserve their strength, awaking only to feed their insatiable appetite. Their betrayal marked the beginning of a divided Dragon race.
- The Purple Dragon is the sinful reflection of the Platinum Dragon, and just like its reflection, only one Purple Dragon exists at any given time. Should the Purple Dragon die, the world enters into what the followers of the Draconic Faith call an Age of Virtue. But just like the Age of Sin, an Age of Virtue cannot last forever, for sin will never be completely wiped out. These ages usually last no more than a century or two before a new Purple Dragon is spawned as a result of the worlds collective sin and the cycle starts anew. The Purple Dragon, just like other Chromatic Dragons, generates its scales through wanton consumption. In the case of the Purple Dragon, it consumes perhaps the most valuable resource of all, souls. It fashions these souls into non-Euclidian scales; everchanging wisps of ghostly energy that can take on the form the Dragon needs in that moment, a sword, a shield, a face, a person. The Purple Dragon unleashes a fog of necrotic energy using its breath attack; the energy it reserves within creates a decaying aura that saps the life energy away from nearby targets and reduces their overall will.
- Red Dragons, as mentioned, formed their scales by consuming the blood of sentient beings, giving their scales their signature red hue. They are accompanied wherever they go by the strong smell of iron and rust, giving them the nickname of Iron Dragons, though they harbor nothing but hate for metallic dragons. Their scales retain some of the properties of blood, being able to be converted into a liquid to move to a specific part of the body for added defense, though this tactic leaves whatever part they borrowed from vulnerable. The scales are also able to gain strength when the dragon takes damage, regenerating scales from their own blood. Red Dragons are the most tyrannical of all dragons. The raging fire within a Red Dragon gives them increased speed and stamina allowing them to move quicker while they have their breath attack readied.
- Blue Dragons can collect the magical energy from a variety of sources; books, scrolls, and pieces of technology can provide sufficient energy if consumed in great enough quantities, but spellbooks, arcane foci, and powerful potions hold much more energy to absorb. Above all else, powerful mages and magical items provide the greatest amount of energy and provide a Blue Dragon their favorite meal. Blue Dragons form their spiral-shaped scales from converting magical energy into a solid mass. The spiral shape of the Blue Dragons’ scales gather static electricity from the air, empowering their lightning breath attacks and giving them a natural shield of energy along with a method of harsh retaliation against those who venture too close to them. A byproduct of this consumption of magic is the creation of a field of static electricity that surrounds them, protecting them from certain attacks that utilize energy, such as spells that deal fire, force, and lightning damage. In lieu of using their breath attack, they can retaliate against those who come close to them with a strong pulse of electricity or magnetism.
- White Dragons feast on mineral deposits, typically those that give their scales a white countenance such as limestone, salt, and calcium, but occasionally another mineral could stain their scales toward another color. Their scales are reminiscent of icicles but are much closer to stalagmites and stalactites, with the largest forming on the chin and spine. In desperate times, a White dragon may even consume ice to produce scales, though the scales formed using ice are, similar to the material used to form them, brittle and weak. White Dragons will typically only resort to this measure if they need to, such as if they have depleted their mineral deposits and need to keep up the appearance of power. Their breath attack sees them unleash a wave of cold energy, while they have enough energy reserved, they produce a bone-chilling aura that slows nearby opponents and makes them more susceptible to strong attacks.
- Black Dragons, also known as bone dragons, create their scales by consuming the dead and decaying, the rotting flesh staining their new bone scales black. Their favored feasting grounds are cemeteries, due to their sheer abundance, but should a town fall victim to war, famine, plague or some other disaster, you can be certain a Black Dragon won’t be far behind to feast on those who could not yet be buried. While they can subside on the long dead, their scales would not come out the same dark black as if they had also eaten decayed flesh. In those instances, they may try to mask their appearance by rolling in dirt, tar, or pitch, but it does not offer the same protective qualities as decayed flesh. Black Dragons scales are dripping with a strong acid produced from decaying flesh and bone, those that get too close to a Black Dragon risk irreparable damage to their equipment.
- Green Dragons, also known as Swamp Dragons, believe it or not, generate their scales from plant matter. It is, then, unsurprising that they would need to consume a massive amount of plant matter to do so, wiping out entire forests just to generate a new coat when needed. Their scales mimic that which they consume, unlike there counterparts, whose scales protect out of rigidity and hardness, the scales of a Green Dragon protect out of abundance. Green Dragons are often soaked in water as well, making it difficult for fire-breath attacks and arrows to pierce through to their skin. The foliage growing from them gives them and incredible level of stealth, able to blend in to most forested areas, though they typically prefer swamps for their access to water, hence the name. Green Dragons use the breath attack to unleash a wave of poisonous smoke; while the Dragon has enough poison stored, they produce a noxious aura that makes nearby enemies more sluggish and less likely to resist effects forced upon them.
While their numbers are much fewer than thousands of years ago, the Dragons have bounced back slightly. Still, the Scaleplague disease remains active in them and their children, and they must do what they can to survive. Any fight risks the possibility of losing a substantial number of scales and leaving them weak to follow up attacks and even at risk of being killed by a few dozen Humanoid warriors. Some have abandoned their Draconic forms in favor of their Humanoid forms, as the disease takes longer to spread and is easier to control that way and easier to blend in, though it leaves them even more susceptible to a weapon. Dragons, where they can be found, are often viewed as holy beings, worshipped and feared by those around them.
The Prophets of Ordibehesht and Draojista, are charged with choosing who to bestow the gift of Ost on mortals who prove themselves worthy, making them into Half-Dragons. Prophets of Ordibehesht are incredibly adept at judging the soul of a mortal and whether their intentions were pure and free of alternative desire. However, Prophets of Draojista are willing and ready to grant their gifts on anyone who promises their life to Draojista and spreading sin and evil wherever they go. Both sides keep very close tabs on those bestowed with their gift, and will hunt down those who turn their backs on their mission, and the punishment is usually death. In either case, bestowing this gift requires giving up a number of scales equal or greater than the recipients’ weight, the greater the offering, the more likely the gift is to take hold. For this reasons, Dragons are incredibly selective of giving out the gift, and even if multiple worthy souls present themselves, they will often only select the most worth to prevent themselves to becoming too vulnerable.