Dragons

[Mari]

Dragons

The Dragons arrived on Yalanze by around 1000 CE. Why they came is a mystery to the Yalanzens but to the dragons it was one of convenience. Yalanze was close to their native world and it was easy to simply create a portal and step on through. This allowed for much needed space for as anyone can tell you, dragons are big.

Many dragons on Yalanze have mastered the skill of out massing when they shift to their human guise. This is to say that their mass is mostly hanging out as a non-corporeal energy field around them. It doesn’t go anywhere it simply surrounds them like a very warm coat on a cold day. Many races lack the ability to see it and so dragons can walk among them easily without fear of discovery.

Dragons tend to have natures that represent their element. Fire Dragons are temperamental and quick to anger, while water dragons are calm and peaceful unless stirred up. Each dragon type (Those being Earth, Air, Fire, Water) has its preferred place to live. Fire dragons live in the volcanic mountains of Yalanze while Earth dragons prefer to live underground or in the mountains themselves. Water dragons can disappear entirely into the depths of the sea while no one has ever been able to see exactly where the dragons of the air really live.

Most dragons prefer it this way; It allows them to focus on their crafts and meetings undisturbed by those they consider too small to notice for the most part. This is not a sign of arrogance per sec so much as a realistic view. Most humans are the size of a fire dragons pupil if one were to get a good ratio of scale going. It would seem as if there could be nothing to stop dragons from taking over the planet with this being the case. Being so large one would think that it would be easy. Until one realizes that to be so large on a planet such as Yalanze is to die a slow death if the dragon remains in their natural form. Gravity alone would press down on their bodies too much and their wings would have difficulty long term functioning with the laws of physics of Yalanze.

And so it is upon the dragons to change and adapt to their environments. Already they see their species growing smaller to better survive the world. Eggs they would have discarded as runts hatch while their larger siblings die off and are food for their smaller kin. This has caused many dragons to venture out of their seclusion to investigate the other races; Survival being a very good motivating factor for interaction.

After 900 years, dragons have gotten very good at hiding who and what they really are. Many do not even know they are in the presence of such beings unless the dragon sees fit to let them know otherwise. The one thing that has come to light is that dragons hate vampires. Seeing them as walking dead meat that should be removed from the planet. Vampires for their part, are simply glad their lands are too toxic for many to live there thus saving their race from being extinguished by an irate fire dragon.

Hierarchy

The many different sub-species of Dragons are all ruled over by one king who is infused with the power of the celestials. This one Dragon is considered their "God" king and has been given divine right to rule. He however does not make all of the laws alone as there is also a ruling council of elders, one from each sub-species, who also get to cast their votes. The families of the elders are considered to be nobility in the draconic lands and they are to be respected above all others, save for the king himself.

The kings rule may be challenged, however, by an offical challenge and majority vote from the council. If it comes to pass, the king and the challenger fight to the death and the power passes on to the victor creating a new royal line. As most dragons are not as ambitious as humans when it comes to their goverment, this does not happen incredibly often.

Sub-species

Dragons exist in five different sub-species which are as follows; Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, and Celestial. Each sub-species has it's own unique strength, weakness, and is immune to the element in which it is born.

Powers

• Flight: Through the use of large leathery wings, Dragons have the ability to defy gravity and soar through the skies of Yalanze.
• Human Form: All Dragons have the ability to take on human shape. While in this form they are for all intents and purposes mortals with extraordinary abilities and have the power to mingle and breed with human-kind.
• Immortality: Dragons live eternally, immune to all forms of disease, and afflictions caused by old age. They can however die from injuries inflicted by outside sources or potent poisons.
• Spellweaving: Dragons are perhaps one of the most powerful users of Yalanzian magic. Being in touch with their surroundings, they can cast spells using powerful incantations, and without the use of a catalyst or ritual in most cases.
• Elemental Breath: All Dragons have the power to breath their element, so to speak, in a powerful cone in front of them. Fire Dragons can breath flames, Earth Dragons can spew acid for example.
• Magical Resistance: On top of being resistant to piercing damage, a Dragons scales also reflect all but the most powerful of spells. As powerful sorcerers, they have developed a tolerance to it over time.
• Ressurection: It is a mystical power amongst the Dragons of Yalanze, one that grants the user the power to bring someone back from the spirit realm. They must have died recently, however, in order to make this happen as it guides the recently departed soul back to it's vessel. (Celestial Dragons only)

[Adam]

Dragon Warrior Culture

Draconic Warrior Code

Claiming the Glory of Another Dragon: Taking claim for another warrior’s victory is considered a highly shameful and dishonorable act. An example would be is two warriors are locked in combat, and both fight to near death, and another dragon appears and kills a fellow dragon’s opponent. This is considered one of the highest insults issued to a dragon, and if committed, the dragon that’s robbed of glory has the right to challenge the culprit to combat to the death.





Killing A Worthy Opponent Without Direct Challenge: It is considered dishonorable to stealthily kill an opponent without first directly challenging them. The exception to this rule is if the opponent has already been previously challenged by the challenger, and their battle was cut short. The exception to the rule often goes disregarded, as most dragons prefer to outright challenge an opponent openly, no matter how many times it takes them to finish the combat.





Never harm the innocent: Dragons must never harm those that would not harm another. If a dragon offers a challenge and is denied, then the dragon must honorably accept this (unless to defend another). If someone or something poses no harm, then the dragon must leave them be in terms of combat.





Hunting for Food: Only when hunting for food may a dragon harm the weak, and even then, they must make sure that they do not affect the populace. A dragon is also to use every bit of their prey’s body, so as to not leave wastes that would dilute the land around them.





Even the Odds: If you find a worthy opponent to challenge, but they are ill equipped for the match, remove anything that may give an advantage in a fight. For example, if you come across an opponent that may have potential in defeating you, but are unarmed, or lacking proper protection, then a warrior must disarm, themselves so as to provide a fair advantage for a worthy opponent.



Joining Another Fight: Do not fight another dragon’s battle for them, or join them against others, even if they are outnumbered, unless they give permission. It is considered dishonorable to step in to fight another’s battles on both the dragon, and the person they fight for.



Mercy: Those who defeat you in a fair fight, or who are the victors in more dangerous fights (such as a battle with a god), and show you mercy are to be considered our equals. You must either kill them and yourself, or bestow them with a reward. Furthermore, if an enemy is at the mercy of the elements, causing the fight to be disrupted, you are to assist your enemy, for it is dishonorable to leave an enemy to the fates, rather than grant them an honorable death in equal combat.







Code Violations: Those who take the oaths of the warrior and break the codes are considered Fallen. They are considered the most shamed of dragon-kind, and doomed for the Abyss, as per the ancient beliefs of dragon-kind.. They are often killed on sight by other dragons, and are treated as pariahs of their species.





Never Harm the Ill or Offspring: A dragon is to never harm, or kill the sick, or the young. The exception to the latter is if the child is going through the Rites. It is otherwise one of the most dishonorable acts to harm children, or even the sick. Dragons are forbidden to do combat with a woman that is with child, even if she poses a potential threat. If the dragon’s life is in danger, then it is allowed to at the most, incapacitate an attacking female with child. The same goes for the sick and the disabled. A dragon is to never kill those that are considered too sick and weak to fight, but may subdue them if they prove aggressive. There is no honor in their deaths.