Rastaban's Native Creatures
Rastaban boast of three rather splendid creatures within its boarders. The dragon, the phoenix, and the dolphin. A small relative of the dragon, called a drache, will be included in the dragon section below. These creatures are how they act and behave within Rastaban's boarders, regardless of similar/same creatures elsewhere.
Contents
Dragon Kind
There are two type of dragon kind. The large breed of dragons and their smaller cousins the draches.
Dragons
Dragons within Rastaban once roamed free and wild. Its is unclear before man came how these creatures lived since little ancient text remains from then. What is known is that they lived in kind of packs with a dominate white female dragon leading them. In modern times dragons are organized into Flights which a group of dragons lead by male picked by the Queen of Rastaban and her white dragon (if she is bonded to one). If the queen is not bonded to a white dragon then the eldest female rider under the previous queen takes over the Dragon Air Force. Currently Queen Cora is bonded to a white dragon named Etana.
Rastabite dragons have scales that need to be taken care of on a weekly, if not twice a week basis. The scales are subject to getting dry especially when they are young. A special herb oil is applied to them. Dragons are also skill telepaths as that is how they communicate with their riders and each other. A rider obtains a dragon usually between the ages of 12 and 17 though cases of those bonding (as the act of a dragon find his/her rider is called) earlier and later have been known to occur. However those brave boys and girls wishing to bond to Rastaban's national animal must enter as apprentices between the ages of 10 and 12. They are required to work as types of servants to the dragons and their riders. The only exempt from the rule is the heir apparent. Only the commanding female is allowed to lays (dragon rules, not human) though there maybe several white riders (all whites dragons are allowed to mate, however), and she only does so when, as it has been put, there are enough apprentices to bond to the new born dragons. Those lucky enough to bond are called journeymen/women for the duration of five years before they receive the ranking title of dragon rider.
If the commanding female grow sterile because of age or illness then she gives permission to a younger female white dragon to lay eggs. It has never been explained as to why the white females act like this. All white dragons emanate a type pheromone which causes female dragons of other colors to be sterile. Below is the colors and hierarchy of dragon society.
- White dragons are always female and always bonds to a female rider. The dominate white over all the other whites and dragons is called an Empress while those under her are called queens. The Empress always commands from New Avalon while queens may be sent out to other Dragon Air Force Bases to command from with permission of the Empress. Their scales ranges from anywhere between off-white to pure-white. They often have a type of sheen to them. Whites with off-white colored scales that looked like pearls while pure-white colored ones have a multi-color/iridescent sheen. When ever a white is born the heir apparent to the throne is required to stand as with the other female apprentices to see if she would bond to the baby dragon. More often than not they do. The whites are one of the largest dragons.
- Black dragons are always male and always bonds to a male rider. They are leaders over the Flights of dragons. They command enough authority from the other dragons to be respected as leaders, but not as those that rule over them. When it comes to mating flight blacks usually when, as it is only this pairing that will create another white dragon. It has not been unknown for a black rider to become the Queen of Rastaban's husband, as his dragon may usually catch the queen's dragon and as a pair-bonds feelings are often shared. The blacks are the other largest dragons. Their colors range from the deepest, darkest black to dark gray.
- Red dragons are always male but may be bonded to male or female riders, though often male. In Flights they are often second or third in commands under blacks. They are sturdy creatures and though may be in leadership positions they and their riders tend to be a little more relaxed then the blacks or whites. They are smaller than blacks and therefore tend to loose in mating flights against their bigger brothers though once in a while a red will surprise everyone and win. They however are rather good at catch other smaller dragons. Their colors range from burgundy to bright red.
- Orange dragons are always male but may be bonded to male or female riders. These dragons are the work horses of the Flights. Because they are smaller than the whites, blacks, and reds they tend to have more manoeuvrability in combat. They quick thinking and great learners. Often they and their riders train the journeymen/women. Their colors range from a burnt orange to light orange.
- Green dragons are always female but may be bonded to male or female rider, though often female. They are the same length and height as the oranges but are of leaner build. They are much more maneuverable than the oranges but their stamina is no where near close. Perhaps this is why greens are one of the most numerous dragons. They have to be switched out during combat. They also help train journeymen/women. While greens are infertile/sterile they do rise to mate seasonally. Their colors range from the pales green to the darkest green.
- Purple dragons may be male or female and be bonded to male or female riders. They smaller than the greens and oranges and don't have anywhere near their stamina. While they maybe apart of the Dragon Air Force they are not apart of any Flights. However they and their riders act as guards for numerous cities around the nation. More purples are slightly more numerous than greens. Besides being guards they are also responsible for finding future riders. Purples are very gifted in doing so. Their colors range from the pale violet to magenta.
Dragon Bonding
What is bonding? Bonding is the act in which between the mind of a dragon and human an unbreakable link is made. It allow the dragon and human to communicate with just thought, feel each other's feelings and to understand each other completely. Also if one or the other should dies, his/her pair-bond (as the two are called afte the act) will die also. That is how completely linked the two are.
When does bonding occur? Right after the dragon is born. It's instinct is took see out a mind to link to. It is suspected in ancient times, before humans tamed them, that it would seek out an elder dragon. Now apprentices gather around dragon eggs when they are ready to hatch to offer their minds to bond too. After trial and error it is found out that boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17 have the best chances to bond to a dragon as their minds are open to many different things.
How is one chosen to be an apprentice? One must be born in Rastaban, unless the Queen herself gives special permission. Must be between at least 9 1/5 years and 12 1/2 years when a purple dragon and his/her rider inspect the would-be-apprentice. If found acceptable he/she is sent to a any one of the Dragon Bases in Rastaban to serve at before they are allowed to even try to bond.
How do you get the opportunity to bond? After two years of serving a dragon and his/her rider apprentices must pass a series of tests. These usually consist of their knowledge and physical fitness. For those that made it through the first two years many will not pass, though they are welcomed to stay on as apprentices and try again. Once an apprentice passes he/she will stand before a pyrimid of eggs laid by a white. There is little indication as to what color the dragons will be but an easy way to predict them. Whites lay their eggs in a pyrimid and them procced to gather timber to create a bondfire around the eggs to keep them warms. Their fire is maintained by the firey breath of the mother and/or father dragon. Black dragons usually can be found at the bottom of the pyrimid, as that where the dragon breath their flame and thus the hottest. Red and orange are found just above the blacks, greens above them, and then the sole egg at the top is usually the white. Purples maybe found within any layer. When they are ready to hatch the mother and/or father will clear away the timber. They eggs will rock and fall down, though they rarely break since they have near diamond-hard shells.
