Dragons

Dragons are one of the great powers of Wormwood. Almost as old as the world itself, dragons take many forms and can be found throughout the history and legends of Wormwood. Dragons have had an appropriately long and storied history, from living amongst the Forebears, to running wild after the Flame, to eventually being hunted to near extinction several times in the New World, relations between dragons and humanoids have always been a bit weird. There are generally considered to be five to six classes of dragon with varying degrees of power and forms. They are as follows from weakest to most powerful: lesser dragons, dragonfolk, modern dragons (wild and city), mystic dragons, primeval dragons and astral dragons.

The following is a basic and very brief overview of the different types of dragons currently living as well as those depicted historically and in myth. This article does not touch on the rich and diverse culture of dragons, or the reasoning behind such actions as hoarding or lairing behaviors.

Lesser Dragons
"'Lesser dragons are about as related to true dragons as a minnow is to a shark. That is to say both have evolved to fit the same ecological niche, but beyond that the similarities become much more difficult to spot.' - Trostoyev Gerrallax, Silver Age Dragonologist"Lesser dragons are creatures such as wyverns, drakes, pseudodragons and some species of wyrms that bear enough similarities to true dragons to be classified as "dragons", but lack the pure magical power and advanced intelligence of their more illustrious cousins. Comparatively common, lesser dragons often populate a fixed place on the food chain, acting as little more than beasts. Unlike common beasts, however, lesser dragons do posses some form of greater intelligence which makes them popular creatures to be trained and used as mounts, guards and exotic pets.

Wyverns have commonly been made mounts by some armies as well as outland sky raiders while drakes are popular guards, mounts or companion creatures. pseudodragons have long been sought after by wizards, warlocks and sorcerers to be used as familiars due to their intelligence and general resilience, though the exotic pet trade has greatly diminished these creatures numbers in the wild. Faerie dragons are in a strange place, they have the intelligence to match those of greater dragons, but are generally considered lesser dragons due to their fae connections.

Dragonfolk
"'No matter people's view on dragons, claiming some form of draconic lineage has always been a popular bragging right amongst nobles and wealthy family lines. Despite the varying veracity of these claims, the idea that one could be born with some form of innate power or birthright is perhaps the reason why draconic lineages have become so sought after in recent years.' - Elandea Greenhorne, 'On Bloodlines'"The term "dragonfolk" refers to humanoid creatures such a dragonborn, half-dragons and kobolds that are directly related to dragons in some way. Dragonborn claim to be the first to be blessed with dragon blood, and according to dragonborn lore, they are direct descendants of primeval dragons. Dragonborn certainly most strongly present the features of dragons, though the accounts of their species' history is a bit biased.

Half-dragons are either direct descendants of dragons or have otherwise been effected by draconic magic. Fairly rare, half-dragons can manifest seemingly out of nowhere and from any other races provided there is some genetic relation to dragons in the family line. Half-dragons who focus on and train their abilities can become full on sorcerers.

Kobolds are often left out of the dragonfolk roster due to their diminutive stature and general cowardice, but they are just as much related to dragons as any dragonborn. Though the great elemental magics of dragons are not present in kobolds, their mechanical ingenuity and surprisingly sonorous roars certainly betray the connection. It is also not uncommon for draconic blood to manifest strongly in certain kobolds, resulting in wings, limited spellcasting, and elemental resistances.

Modern Dragons
"'When one considers the dragon, they envision a terrifying beast of glinting scales and fiery breath. Though the awe and fearful wonderment at such a thought is well deserved, few people understand the subtlety that dragons are capable of. Why you could pass a dragon on the streets and not suspect a thing.' - Aegir Noresh, 'Shapeshifters and Other Hidden Peoples'"The most common of the true dragons, modern dragons are often divided up into two groups; wild dragons and city dragons. Like their name suggests, wild dragons shun the civilizations of humanoids, and prefer to live in caves and lairs in the wild, where they can live free and undisturbed. Originally considered evil due to their untamed and often hostile reactions to those trespassing on their territory, modern dragonologists find this designation to be a gross over generalization. Wild dragons are at the top of their food chain in their natural habitats, and see themselves as the most powerful beings in their territory. Attempts to settle or otherwise alter what they see to be their land is an act of challenge against the dragons' authority. The response to which varies quite a bit from dragons to dragon. While some may raze and pillage any settlements, others will attempt to trick the trespassers into leaving peacefully or otherwise ignore them as long as they don't directly interfere with the dragon's own life. Wild dragons have scales which take in a variety of bright chromatic shades depending on their habitat, from deep forest greens to glittering snow whites, these dragons posses powerful elemental magics which they use to defend their territory.

City dragons are called such due to their tendency to interact with, and occasionally integrate into, humanoid society. Rarely do these dragons make their presence known in cities, preferring to disguise themselves as magically inclined humanoids. City dragons see humanoid life as a game they can easily win, using their shapeshifting powers to become powerful leaders, wealthy nobles or unchallenged crime lords. Considered more reasonable and "civilized" than wild dragons, city dragons are not to be underestimated, their minds are just as alien and unusual as wild dragons. Humanoids are just pieces on a puzzle board to them, and they regard themselves as far superior than any the tiny, short-lived creatures they surround themselves with. They're right of course, but its still rude. City dragons have reflective, metallic scales that match the industry and innovation of the places they live. Rather than the raw, untamed elemental abilities of wild dragons, city dragons practice structured and controlled spells for subtler use.

Mystic Dragons
"'For the closest representation of primordial dragons in modern times, we must turn towards the mystic dragons. Beyond their strange and powerful magics, mystics demonstrate the neutrality and almost benevolence of the Chaos-Era dragons we've read so much about in our histories.' - Ashara Felwarden, Historian"The rarest of the true dragons, mystic dragons often seclude themselves to the highest mountain tops, deepest ocean depths, or even other planes. Rarely do these dragons involve themselves in the problems of others, rather they choose to follow their own pursuits. Unlike wild dragons who seek to rule over territory, or city dragons who play the game of politics and factions, mystic dragons choose to spend their incredibly long lives in pursuit of a single passion, training it and perfecting it to unbelievable levels. Mystic dragons love being recognized as the best in their craft, and if an adventurer seeks one out to learn from it, they will often be flattered enough to share in their knowledge and skill. Mystic dragons are sometimes referred to as gem dragons due to the deep and shifting colors of their scales. They also wield strange and potent magics such as psionic powers and unusual elemental abilities.

Primeval Dragons
"'Perhaps the most shocking archaeological discovery in recent years has been the countless depiction of dragons in ancient forebear ruins. Until recently, historians had considered dragons to be an entirely New World phenomenon, arising to fight alongside the First Ones in the Age of Chaos before splitting off into the modern species we know today. If dragons truly existed alongside the Forebears, it could permanently change our view of prehistorical events.' - Kressa Helgrock, 'Modern Archaeology'"Primeval dragons are the are the prehistoric ancestors of true dragons. Previously thought to have only existed during the Era of Chaos, modern historical evidence now places their existence to before the Flame. These dragons have long been extinct, but those who study ancient texts believe that they possessed immense elemental power and old magics that far surpassed even the eldest of modern dragons. Each primeval dragon was physically and magically distinct, and were believed to have been able to rival the First Ones in power. Primeval dragons also appeared to be more benevolent than most modern dragons, being depicted as downright helpful in Age of Chaos legends. Perhaps because they felt equal to the First Ones, or perhaps because they too were displaced by the Flame. Regardless, these texts show dragons fighting alongside civilization and creating magical artifacts to assist in the cleansing of the New World.

Astral Dragons
"'The Traveler came upon a dragon with a boar's head, an eel's body, and many legs like that of a bird. The Dragon offered the Traveler four gifts. One: a cloak that smelled of wind. Two: a horn that called the storm. Three: a shield unbroken. And Four: a fang to bite the cold.' - Excerpt from 'The Unwinding Road,' author unknown."Astral dragons, or wish dragons, are a hypothetical sixth class of dragon proposed by Eider Brom, a scholar of ancient Chaos Era texts. Brom suggests that some of the dragons described in these ancient legends are not, in fact, primordial dragons, but a type of dragon originating from beyond the stars. These dragons are described as having an amalgamation of animal features pasted together in a chimerical fashion and are often depicted granting wishes or bestowing gifts upon the main character of the myth. According to Brom, Astral dragons would be creatures of immense cosmic power, able to change their form fluidly to match their state of mind and employing wish magic to grant anyone their deepest desires. While the textual evidence presented by Brom is plausible, he is often dismissed in academic circles due to his more outlandish speculations. For instance, Brom claims that Astral dragons have indefinite lifespans and are behind many major historical events both in the past and in modern day. His more heretical claims also state that many of the draconic deities are in fact astral dragons themselves, a statement that has been a great cause of controversy. Despite these issues, Brom has a dedicated following of scholars who subscribe to his ideas, and his proposal only continues to gain popularity as it ages.