NOTE: The horn-crested dragon is a variation of the "Skyhaven" dragon from the Main Adoption Lairs at Skyhaven Keep; much of this information is identical to the Official Guide entry for Skyhaven Dragons, though there are a few variations.
NOTE: The horn-crested dragon is a variation of the
"Skyhaven" dragon from the Main Adoption Lairs at Skyhaven Keep; much
of this information is identical to the Official Guide entry for Skyhaven
Dragons, though there are a few variations.
Though dragonlike beings have appeared in art and story around the world since the earliest surviving myths, many believe that the modern, popular image of the European, or Western, dragon originated as exaggerated stories of African pythons. Over the years, different cultures and storytellers added various limbs and powers, until they became the four-legged, two-winged, firebreathing reptiles we recognize today. In medieval Europe, which so many people identify with the dragon, they were depicted as terribly tempered agents of darkness, defending vast treasures and devouring livestock and maidens (not to mention knights on rescue missions), who would commonly be overcome by brave knights or heroines acting on behalf of the Christian god. Over time, this view shifted, and today dragons are often considered ancient, wise, sometimes benevolent spirits, widely misunderstood and dangerous only when angered. A wide variety of dragons appear in modern literature and art.
Origins
Very similar in most respects to the "Skyhaven" variety of dragon,
horn-crested dragons also have an ancient lineage predating Tiriallean
history. Like their relatives in Skyhaven Keep, horn-crested dragons
usually grow to about a hundred-odd feet, and males and females appear similar
to outsiders.
Habitat
Dragons can be found almost everywhere in Tirialle. Horn-crested dragons
prefer hilly areas, but can turn up almost anywhere. All they require is a
place for their hoard, such as a cave or sturdy abandoned castle, and sufficient
game.
Feeding
Horn-crested dragons are entirely carnivorous, feeding on most any subsentient
life form, though they favor larger mammals. A good meal will last a
healthy dragon for upwards of a week, longer in cooler weather when they aren't
as active.
Life Cycle
The eggs of the horn-crested dragon are easily recognized by the subtle spiral
ridge and mottled metallic color on the otherwise smooth shells. They are
laid in clutches of two to five in stony nests, though while many dragons prefer
to use volcanic heat, horn-crested dragon parents use their fiery breath to heat
the nest itself to near-molten temperatures. Usually, it takes a decade
for the eggs to fully harden and hatch. The young grow quickly;
horn-crested dragons, being somewhat more inquisitive and precocious than
Skyhaven dragons, usually leave their parents' lair by the time they are 25.
Immature young adult dragons of most species often wander, seeking adventure and
excitement. They may study magic or other arts during this time, or they
may join up with other beings of similar interests. Before their powers
fully develop (see Magical Traits, below), dragons have less need for gold
exposure, freeing them to wander the land relatively unemcumbered but also
without full protection. It is during this time that a dragon is often
tempted by the darker side of their nature, as the heady rush of wakening power
and the natural urge to acquire treasure collide with youthful inexperience and
ambition.
Like Skyhaven dragons, horn-crested dragons commonly reach sexual maturity
sometime between 125 and 150 years, but they don't always select a partner at
this time. With maturity comes an increased desire and need to establish a
hoard and home territory, though a dragon who is willing to sacrifice magical
potency can ignore these instincts to a degree. If and when they do decide
to settle down, dragons often mate for life, but this is not a hard-and-fast
rule. Much like humans, dragon loyalty between mates is not always
eternally binding. Some change partners as often as the seasons change,
while others never take a mate at all. Females only lay clutches of eggs
every fifty years, an adaptation to their long lifespan and few predators.
Most species of dragons grow throughout their lives, and the horn-crested
dragons are no exception. After their one thousanth year, however, the
growth rate is virtually undetectable. Horn-crested dragons generally live
only for about 1500 years, a bit shorter than their Skyhaven-variety cousins.
Culture
Like dragons themselves, dragon culture is very hard to generalize. Though
they usually have solitary lairs, they often form communities with other nearby
dragons or sentient creatures (usually excluding humans), such as griffins.
Within a community, social hierarchy is loose, but often one individual will
emerge as the "king" or "queen" of a particular area; it is
to them that the others turn to settle disputes or help organize themselves in
the event of danger. Dragons do not historically cooperate by instinct
under pressure, however, so the title tends to hold little weight in a true
crisis. A dragon who has the power to actually unite and command their
fellow dragons is very rare, and thus often revered.
Most "Western" dragons must have some sort of hoard, and ideally a
method of increasing it over time. Gold is not only a comfortable bedding
material (for a dragon, at any rate), but the mineral enhances their magical
energies. Being a magical being, this is essential. Lying on a bed
of gold increases their healing rate, brings restful sleep, and can inspire
powerful, even prophetic dreams. Their hoards are rarely limited to just
one element, though; dragons collect all sorts of beautiful things, often with
little regard for outside worth. The size and variety of a dragon's hoard
acts as a status indicator, though gold always dominates. Horn-crested
dragon hoards tend to be somewhat smaller than most dragon hoards, perhaps owing
to their more active lifestyle.
Temperament
Dragons, like all sentient beings, vary widely in temper, but many have a touch
of ego and a hot temper (no pun intended). Skyhaven dragons can live on
their own or adapt to small groups, and will usually get along with other
residents of their land, but they are still dragons, and as such deserve a
certain amount of respect and privacy. It is best not to try their
patience. Two of the surest ways to do that are to attempt to confine them
or to enter their lair unbidden. Remember, defending their hoard is not
simply a matter of greed, but a matter of well-being and survival; dragons
without access to gold bedding will die from gold energy deprivation. They
have learned to be wary of outsiders to whom gold is no more than another shiny
object, a means to an end, or a simple obsession.
One common failing of dragons, especially older dragons, is greed. The
urge to increase their hoard is very strong, and they often think themselves the
better of other beings who challenge them in games of riddle or chance.
Challenging a dragon should never be done lightly, as they are indeed rather
clever and perhaps a bit more lucky than pure chance might explain. Though
most dragons will honor a loss (if very angrily and reluctantly), beware the
unscrupulous loser, especially if you happen to be flammable or edible.
Horn-crested dragons tend to be more active and curious than many
"Western" dragons, less inclined to laze around the lair all day on
their gold and more inclined to poke their nose in wherever or whenever
something of interest is happening.
Magical Traits
Many Western dragons can "breathe" fire, or more accurately spit fire.
They have a magical substance known as fireblood in their bodies, which helps
them maintain internal temperature (being reptiles, this can be a problem) and
achieve flight by adjusting their buoyancy. It flows through their veins
but, like oil and water, fireblood and true blood never mix, though neither
interferes with the others' functions. The firelung, also called a fire
heart, is a uniquely draconic organ that concentrates and distributes the
substance into the bloodstream, filtering it out of the veins and pushing it
back into the arteries, acting as both heart and lung to the fireblood. It
exists just below and behind the true heart and lungs, surrounding both with
specialized filtering vessels. No fireblood enters the blood-pumping heart
(whose turbulence might trigger an adverse incendiary reaction) or true lungs
(lest the fireblood ignite on contact with air), and no true blood enters the
firelung. At the back of a dragon's throat are two openings connected to
muscular sacs filled by the firelung. Through these, the dragon can spit
streams of fireblood, much like a spitting cobra can spit poison through their
fangs or a horned toad can squirt blood from its tear ducts. Upon
hitting open air, the fireblood ignites into the characteristic defense
mechanism of the Western dragon. This results in a ball or stream of fire
with a semi-liquid core which can stick to victims until consumed by flame,
similar to napalm. The flame shape, temperature, and color varies by
species and mood. Fury-induced flames burn hotter and brighter than
teasing blasts. Dragons are highly resistant to burns, and their
saliva gives added protection to their mouth. Because they usually use a
blast of air to enhance the flames and propel the burning fireblood outward more
forcefully, the misconception that the fire was coming from the dragon's true
lungs arose. Actually, the lungs are vulnerable to fire, and a dragon who
actually does inhale open flames (very rare, due to physical adaptations) will
die. When a dragon is cut or stabbed, the exposed fireblood cauterizes and
disinfects the wound instantly, usually burning whoever or whatever caused the
cut in the process.
Also noteworthy is the effect of a dragon's hoard on the dragon itself.
Because they absorb energies from the gold and other substances, they can also
absorb blessings or curses from hoard objects. "Evil" dragons
who go on fiery rampages, develop a gruesome taste for sentient beings, or
otherwise behave irrationally are often victims of cursed items in their hoards.
Heroes who, after slaying said dragons, succumb to cruel fates are also often
the victims of the same items, having confiscated the hoards for themselves
without bothering to have the contents checked out by a competent mage. On
the other hand, blessed items in a dragon's hoard can have quite the opposite
effect, transforming a dragon into a near-divine being capable of great healing
and oracular advice. Dragons themselves have stron enough energy auras
that they often don't recognize a curse or a blessing unless it is particularly
powerful (the equivalent of trying to see the light of a candle in a sunlit
room), which is how tainted items end up in hoards to begin with.
Horn-crested dragons, like their Skyhaven cousins, are poor shapeshifters
(unlike some Western species.)
Other Notes
As noted in many stories and legends, dragons are capable of speaking any human
tongue (and most inhuman ones as well), and are very quick students of written
languages. The native dragon tongue sounds to most beings like a mixture
of growls and hisses with a vaguely harmonic resonance, a language very few
non-draconic beings ever learn to speak fluently, or even competently.
Considering how similar many dragon curses and compliments sound to the
untrained ear, practicing should only be attempted within earshot of
particularly understanding dragons.
The Skyhaven Adoption Hunt and related text and
images were created by TBW 2007
Only the awards and the adoptable creatures/beings are to be taken
E-mail: tbweber (at) comcast (dot) net or tbweber (at)
brightdreamer (dot) com
(Remove spaces, replace (at) with @ and (dot) with . Please put Skyhaven
Hunt in the Subject line!)