Dragons
This article deals with Dragons as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.
Dragons are a very diverse class of beings. It would be better to consider dragons to be a large category rather than as a single species. Some forms of dragon are sentient and some are not. Some are winged and some are not. Some have four legs, some two, and some six or more. Many dragons are greedy while others are wise and spiritual. Generally speaking, dragons from Western cultures are more malevolent while Eastern dragons are more benevolent.
In NationStates this division opens up further, as some nations with an isolated geographical history have seen Dragons arise as natural species, usually descended from reptilian ancestors, as well as from traditional sources such as magic and the physical reincarnation of myths and legends. Noticably, naturally-evolving Dragons tend to lack some of the more magical aspects of mythological Dragons, such as sentience, the ability to talk and to breathe fire, though even these attributes are still occasionally seen in 'non-magical' Dragons.
The behaviour of many dragons also seems to be dictated by their origins and level of intelligence. Most of the Dragons in NS appear to be hostile to humans, either as simple, animalistic predators or as clever, manipulating creatures intent on causing havoc.
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Known Species
Gurennese dragon
The Gurennese dragon is a species of dragon closely related to East-Asian dragons. It is native to Gurenn and the strongest animal found in Ania. It was chosen as Gurenn's national animal. It has the horns of a stag, the head of a camel, the eyes of a demon, the neck of a snake, the belly of a clam, the scales of a carp, the claws of an eagle, the soles of a tiger and the ears of a cow. Just like the Chinese dragon, it has five toes. They control weather and water. They are immortal beings, but still know three life phases. The first is a plain green child form. Their powers are limited and they learn to fly using magic in this phase. They don't become adults until they are 60 years old. They have a vast array of magical powers now and their color slowly changed into azure blue. When 900 years old the dragon will become a golden yellow Dragon King with nearly omnipotent powers. Dragon Kings are deeply respected by all Gurennese dragons.
Scythirian Dragon
The dragons of Scythirus are nothing more than extra large reptiles. They are not supernatural in any way, nor are they in any way intelligent. Their short, stubby wings make flight for these creatures utterly impossible, and unlike dragons categorized in mythology, they do not breathe fire. It is often speculated that the Scythirian dragon is related to the Komodo dragon. This species is Scythirus' national animal and is endangered.
Tinisian Dragons
The few thousand dragons that live in the nation of Tinis are of two distinct varities. Both types are very intelligent, sport unusual abilities and most are citizens of Tinis. The main differences come from their origion. Darastrian dragons come from the lost kingdom of Darastra to the northwest of Tinis and are for the most part similar in body structure to the western dragon of human myth, with a few exceptions. The other type of dragon in Tinis, which out number Darastrian dragons 6 to 1 come from the lands to the north east of Tinis, many from the anchient Tinisian homeland of Pargalo. These Tinisian dragons are all bipedal and have wings capable of giving them flight. There are several distinct sub catagories of Tinisian dragons, mainly based on their body colorings and which type of unusual ability they have (be it the ability to breath fire or electricity and the like).
The current origion of Tinisian dragons evoluntion wise is unknown.
Daeronese Dragons
The primary species of the planet Daeron, also a sizable portion (about 15%) of the population of Miokalia is made up of these distinctively reptillian dragons. While they are bipedal, they are not anthropomorphic and rather closely resemble dinosaurian raptors with wings and additional horns and spikes. Daeronese Dragons are not known to be capable of any supernatural capabilities beyond those of similar creatures, if any at all. Similar to many other dragon species, Daeronese are capable of breathing fire using a combination of biologically-generated hydrocarbons produced in glands in the mouth and biologically generated current which arcs from the teeth to ignite the substance. Daeronese are of similar intelligence to Dincotians, they are also allies with them, although they have very different cultures.
At this time, the Daeronese have no active disputes with any humanoid species, despite having conflicts in the past.
Xirniumite Wyvern
Long considered a legendary monster of the northernmost arctic wastes of Xirnium, Eudraco nobilis xirnnis is an extremely rare, reptilian species of dragon indigenous to a chain of frozen islands northeast of the Eternal Republic’s mainland. Driven almost to extinction during the nineteenth century, due mainly to collectors, the lizard is now protected.
The Xirniumite wyvern is of smaller than average size, horned, spiked and lithe. It may live to an age in excess of two hundred years. It possesses only two, clawed legs, multi-hued scales, massive, leathery wings with which it can effortlessly soar through the frigid air, and a long, barbed tail. A mixture of hydrocarbons and other flammable chemicals (produced via complex, cellular-level biochemical processes) are stored in glands located above the creature’s mouth, and allow the Xirniumite wyvern to ‘breathe’ fire in extreme situations in order to defend itself.
Adult Xirniumite wyverns are known to eat smaller members of their own species and sometimes even other adults. Carrion, however, appears to be the animal's main diet, although the lizard has been observed killing and eating both reindeer, musk-oxen and even walruses.
Zoologists currently believe that the Xirniumite wyvern evolved millions of years ago from the same common ancestor as the flying repitles of the Pterosaur family, which included the pterodactyl.
Leninist Dynasty
Different types of dragons are known to exist in the wastelands of the Leninist Dynasty. Their origins are unclear, since the region in a future tech, not a fantasy tech region.
- Main article(s): Dragons (Leninist Dynasty)
Metropolis
Dragons created by natural evolution from Dinosaurs once ruled the world of Metropolis. These Dragons were, along with their lower dinosaur ancestors, killed by The Lord Kyrion with a "ball of fire, which fell from the sky". Some, however, managed to seal themselves of in magical seals underground, preserving their body and mind in stasis over the ages. Millions of years later, earth was now inhabited by humans loyal to the religion of Lord Kyrion, the Unknown Technocracy, a nation of heretics, found a way to draw the souls from their magical shelters and merge it with human bodies, creating Dragonites, dragon-man hybrids.
