Dragons

"To be a dragon is a glorious thing." -Nabiki, a copper dragon.

Dragons are mainly what they are in the "Council Of Wyrms" setting, if you exclude the setting specific data like the Dragonslayers and the Council itself.

The types of dragons, and their overall abilities are unchanged. Their attitudes on races are very different, however. All dragons like humans, on those rare occasions they can be found. Likewise, most dragons get along fine with elves, dwarves, or Delphins. They feel uneasy around the Mu, however, and some halfling races are viewed as undesirable.

In the Seventh Age, there is a civil war brewing. Many of the older and powerful dragons, regardless of alignment, have prospered under Shadarian and Nihon rule. While not being able to eat various other Citizens is a problem for some of the Chromatics, their property lines are public record. It therefore becomes the Empire's responsibility to make sure that treasure hunters and true monsters don't bother them. Handy when one is off on a dragonsleep.

Dragons are considered Nobility when they have settled down and stopped wandering. They oversee a territory, then tithes (whether of livestock or money) are funnelled through the dragon into the Empire with a portion that remains behind with the dragon. Big menaces are dealt with by the dragon directly, or if the dragon has knights - those chosen as champions.

Most are found in the Dragonlands (if Nihon) or on scattered small islands (if Shadar). There are a few Black Dragons in the Goblin Reaches and a few Reds on a set of volcanic islands 300 miles to the SE of Shadar. These last two groups are independent groups.

Dragons of the Chromatic variety (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White) become mates for a few years at most, and more likely only for a few days, before parting on hostile terms. They also tend to be reclusive and hostile, with a minimal amount of servants or buildings allowed on their property. These dragons tend to be the most boisterous and have the most young supporters of the Rebellion. There are few Kindredbonded among the Chromatics, though most dragons will have at least one that takes care of the pesky bureaucratic details.

Dragons of the Gem variety (Amethyst, Crystal, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz) choose mates through a "contract" that has a set period stated within the initial signing. (Adopted from an Elven custom.) Usually it is for seven decades, leading to the term "seventy year itch" - at which time it is considered void or it has been renewed. There are some Emeralds and Sapphires who feel that the Rebellion is a good thing and should be encouraged, especially if they've covered their tails so that no guilt comes back to hurt them or their clan. A large number of the Gem Dragons use Kindredbonded Voices and Champions, so that they can have their minions go about their duties without fear of being betrayed. Most Gem Dragons choose their Voices shortly after birth of the new Voice, so that the child can be raised to this station.

Dragons of the Metallic variety (Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, Silver) choose mates for life and often form a Lifebonding (telepathic/fate link) with their mate. Gold Dragons generally choose a single mate. Silver and Bronze usually have multiple mates in a hugely sprawling aeyrie. Brass and Coppers almost always have the single male-multiple female arrangements - but then centuries can go by without the various mates even meeting one another. There are no Metallics in the Rebellion, at least that anyone knows of. Many of the Metallics use Kindredbonded vassals and Voices, it is simply an efficient way of doing things for them. Many have followed the lead of Glisten (Copper f, Very Old, Nihon) who changes Voices every five years by having the previous Voice choose an Heir and retire.

Dragons generally mate only infrequently - two or three periods a year (dependent on breed) occurring when the female hits a breeding cycle. When the female enters this phase, her changed scent will trigger a similar thing in the male. When this cycle is not in effect, Gem or Metallics will find themselves friendly or neutral towards their mates. Chromatics generally can only stand each other when the female cycle is at work.

Able to fly, with powerful claws and jaws, with a breath weapon of fire or another powerful element, dragons are despite their advantages fairly rare within the Empires. Shattershell, a disease that weakens the wall of a dragonegg, is responsible for many wild dragon deaths and not a few losses among the societies of the Empires. Other deaths occur due to misadventure and magical mishap.

When a dragon "comes of age" it will often explore the society of the Empires. In the case of those not normally able to take a humanoid form, Shadar uses a minor magical device - a Bracer, which causes the wearer to aassume a single form of a race most like the dragon in dominant personality. Most become elf-like. Nihon uses a potion which lasts for seven years. These dragons are referred to as "Wanderers" - based on the Delphins term for those who are going on a self-discovery exploration and trying to figure out where they fit into the world. The exact age this takes place changes from dragon to dragon, there have been some who go a wandering in their Juvenile stage and others who wait for Adult.