Dragons
(This is the page for the dragon species. You may be looking for the language, or Dragon, the cat owned by Undauntable, instead.)
Dragons are the current dominant species of both Pyrrhia and Pantala, and the main perspectives of the Wings of Fire books. Humans were once the dominant species on Pyrrhia, but were overthrown by dragons during the Scorching.
Dragon species are known as tribes, and there are currently eleven known tribes. The Pyrrhian tribes consist of IceWings, MudWings, NightWings, RainWings, SandWings, SeaWings, and SkyWings. The Pantalan tribes consist of HiveWings, LeafWings, SilkWings, and the now-extinct BeetleWings. LeafWings and BeetleWings formerly lived on Pyrrhia, but fled to Pantala due to an unknown trouble.[1]
Click here for a list of all known dragons.
Biology and anatomy
Dragons are sentient and sapient species capable of speaking both the dragon and human languages,[2] constructing tools, composing literature, and complex thought. The BeetleWings and LeafWings spoke the Pantalan language prior to Clearsight's arrival on the continent.
Dragons are quadrupedal. Pyrrhian dragons, as well as LeafWings, possess six limbs, consisting of two wings and four legs. HiveWings and SilkWings have eight limbs, consisting of four wings and four legs. Dragons have four toes on each foot, accompanied by four claws. Some tribes have a dewclaw on their hind legs, while some have dewclaws on all legs. Some dragons, such as Six-Claws, may be born with polydactylism. Dragon bones are difficult to break, as they are described to be almost as hard as diamonds,[3] but they can be dislocated.[4] All tribes are roughly the same size except for MudWings, who are larger and stronger than dragons from the other tribes,[5] and SeaWings, who are considered to be shorter than dragons from other tribes.[6] Additionally, SkyWings have notably larger wings than most tribes.[7] Dragons do not have sexual dimorphism.[event 1]
They have lengthy natural lifespans, but are susceptible to injury,[8] illness,[9] and poison.[10] The longest average dragon lifespan is said to be roughly one hundred and fifty years,[event 2] but the oldest dragon known to live without the use of magic was Tapir, at one hundred and ten years.[11] Dragons reproduce via eggs that take a year to hatch.[12] Eggs may contain twin dragonets.[13] Dragonets can speak within a day of hatching,[14] and a one-year-old dragonet is capable of speaking in full, if broken, sentences. Most dragons at three years of age can fly, but cannot fly for long periods without stopping to rest.[15] SkyWing dragonets can fly at one year old.[16] Dragonets stop growing rapidly at seven years old, which is considered adulthood or maturity in most tribes.[17] SkyWing dragonets are known to molt their scales upon growth.[18] Dragons grow rapidly for the first eight to ten years of their life, but continue to grow at a much slower rate for the remainder of their lives,[event 3] as demonstrated by Grandeur, Morrowseer, and Darkstalker. Older dragons are typically the largest.
Wings are attached to a dragon's shoulders and have a slightly transparent wing membrane stretched between five small bone digits, each of which has one small claw on the tip. A larger claw is attached to the front of the third digit. All dragons are capable of flight, but SilkWings hatch without wings and cannot fly until their wings grow in during their Metamorphosis. Dragons require their tails for flight, and severe tail injuries may ground a dragon for life.[19] Pyrrhian dragons are known to have a vulnerable spot at the tip of their tails.[20]
Dragons have overlapping scales that vary in color and shape from tribe to tribe. Some dragons hatch with freckles, splotches of color, or other unusual patterns on their bodies or wings. They can also have birthmarks, and in the case of SeaWings, Aquatic birthmarks.[21] Dragons have skin underneath their scales.[22][23]
Dragons can faint,[24] sweat,[25] and cry. Dragons can also have allergies[26] and become intoxicated.[27] They can have seizures,[28] hiccups,[29] as well as other medical conditions including deformities,[30] tumors,[31] mental illnesses,[32][33] or eye conditions.[citation needed] Most dragon tribes hate getting wet,[3] except for SeaWings, RainWings, and sometimes IceWings.[34]
Dragons have a hoarding instinct, preferring shiny or brightly colored objects.[citation needed] Pyrrhian dragons typically barter with gold, gems, and other treasure,[35] but they also have coins that are used as currency.[36] Pantalan dragons use a currency called scales.[37]
Hybrids
Hybrids are dragons with parents from different tribes. Hybrid dragons have a mix of features from both of their parent tribes; many of them look unique among other dragons, while some can blend in with one of their parent tribes.[38] Burn may have had several stuffed hybrids in her collection.
Click here for a list of all known hybrids.
Diets
Most dragons are omnivorous, but many have primarily carnivorous diets. SilkWings are herbivores that subside mainly on fruit,[citation needed] and RainWings are primarily vegetarian, but can eat meat if they choose to do so so.[39] Dragons of non-vegetarian or non-herbivorous tribes may choose to be vegetarian.[40] Most dragons can survive for up to a month without food.[41]
Dragons sometimes drink milk[42] and eat ice cream.[43]
Specialization
Each tribe has specialized structures and abilities that differentiate them from the other tribes.
Pyrrhian abilities
| Tribe | Abilities |
|---|---|
| IceWings | IceWings can withstand subzero temperatures and very bright light.[44] They have serrated claws for gripping ice, which can also be used offensively in battle.[45][46] They have sharper eyesight than the other Pyrrhian dragon tribes.[47] IceWings can exhale a freezing weapon called frostbreath, which appears as a cloud of sparkling smoke.[48] |
| MudWings | MudWings can breathe fire if their bodies are warm enough.[49] They can hold their breath for up to an hour and blend into mud. They are usually physically strong. MudWings hatched from blood-red eggs have fireproof scales.[50] |
| NightWings | NightWings can breathe fire and blend into dark shadows.[51] They have a strong sense of smell[52] and powerful night vision.[53][54] NightWing dragonets hatched under one full moon have the power of mind-reading or prophecy, and those hatched under two full moons have both. Dragonets hatched under three full moons have both powers, which are further enhanced by the third moon. |
| RainWings | RainWings have prehensile tails which are used for climbing trees and swinging through the rainforest.[55] They are capable of absorbing sunlight, which gives them energy and makes their scales become more vibrant. RainWings can manipulate their scales to be any color they wish to blend into their surroundings or express their emotions,[56] and they can also change the color of their eyes.[event 4][57] They can spit a corrosive venom that dissolves organic materials.[58] Some are capable of mimicking bird calls.[59] |
| SandWings | SandWings have scales that radiate warmth.[60] They can breathe fire, bury themselves in the desert sand for camouflage, and survive on very little food and water.[61] They also have sharp hearing and smell,[62][63][64][65] and barbed tails which capable of injecting venom that can kill a full-grown dragon.[66] |
| SeaWings | SeaWings can breathe and see underwater, and are strong swimmers.[67] They have exceptional night vision[68] and powerful tails.[69] SeaWings have bioluminscent stripes on their bodies which are used to converse underwater[70] and attract partners.[71] They can control when the stripes on their bodies glow and can light up each one individually. Different combinations of stripes indicate different words in Aquatic. |
| SkyWings | SkyWings have enormous wings[72] and are capable of flying long distances due to their stamina.[73] They can breathe fire and are considered powerful fighters.[74] They can see farther than other dragon tribes.[75] A SkyWing dragonet in a twin egg may develop firescales, a condition where their scales are incredibly hot to the touch and can ignite anything flammable by merely making physical contact with it. |
Pantalan abilities
| Tribe | Abilities |
|---|---|
| HiveWings | HiveWings powers vary from dragon to dragon. Abilities include deadly stringers that can extend from their wrists to stab targets, venom in their teeth or claws,[76] a paralyzing toxin known as nerve poison[77] that can immobilize targets, or spraying a boiling acid from a stinger on their tails.[78] They can also emit a horrible stench.[79][76] HiveWings have a precise internal clock that keeps their days on schedule and warns them when the rainy season is coming.[80] |
| SilkWings | SilkWings can spin silk from glands on their wrists to create webs and other woven articles such as tapestries.[81] They can detect and sense vibrations with their antennae to assess threats.[82][83] SilkWings have a precise internal clock that keeps their days on schedule and warns them when the rainy season is coming.[80] They are also great climbers.[84] Some SilkWings have the power to produce flamesilk. |
| LeafWings | LeafWings can absorb energy from sunlight and are accomplished gardeners.[85] Some LeafWings possess leafspeak, which allows dragons to talk to plants; leafspeak can be used to convince plants or seeds to grow at an accelerated rate[86] or grow in a certain way,[87] or convince the plant to attack a specific target. However, leafspeakers cannot produce plants from nothing.[88] |
Dragon fire smells different from normal fire.[89] The average dragon is physically strong enough to rip a tree from the ground and throw it across a short distance.[90] Some dragon tribes, notably the IceWings, NightWings, SeaWings, and SkyWings, have animus magic, which allows the user to enchant inanimate objects, plants, animals, and other dragons as they please.
Society
Dragons live in a matriarchal society where each tribe is ruled by a queen. The SilkWing tribe formerly had a queen, but are now ruled by the SilkWing Assembly as of The Flames of Hope. Typically, tribes live in separated kingdoms, but after the events of the NightWing Exodus, the NightWing tribe is now ruled by Queen Glory. On Pantala, the LeafSilk Kingdom is home to SilkWings, LeafWings, and some HiveWings. In most tribes, queens are hereditary and decided through the royal challenge or other means. The Eye of Onyx may choose a commoner to be SandWing queen rather than a royal.
Most dragons feel strong loyalty to their tribes, and loyalty to dragons outside the tribe is considered unnatural. They view their tribe as extremely important to their identity and consider acting against others of their tribe or their queen to be traitorous. Some tribes, notably the NightWings, IceWings, HiveWings, and SkyWings, see their tribe as superior to other tribes. In formal settings, it is common for dragons to use their tribe as a title, i.e. "Prince Arctic of the IceWings."[91]
Each dragon tribe has their own religious beliefs.[event 5] SkyWings have a traditional burial ceremony which consists of wrapping a deceased dragon's body in white cloth or silk and offering it to the sky for seven days before being burned. It is said to allow the dragon's spirit to fly free and reincarnate into a SkyWing instead of a dragon from any other tribe.[92] IceWings swear by the Great Ice Dragon, and have several temples dedicated in its honor. IceWings believe in snow monsters[93] and spirits under the ice,[94] and may also believe that the world was hatched from eggs. The Pantalan dragons see Clearsight as a divine being of guidance and wisdom.
Body Language
Dragons use body language to communicate with each other. Dragons may raise their wings in a shushing gesture,[95] and they spread or wave their wings to catch attention. Flicking one's tail at someone is another way to get another dragon’s attention and can also be used to indicate something of interest[96] or signal to other dragons. Flicking wings at one another indicates an argument. A dragon lashing their tail is a sign of anger or impatience.[97] SeaWings may flare their gills when angry,[98] and RainWings flare and color their ruffs when angry or indignant.[99][100] Drooping wings or a tail are typically signs of tiredness, sadness, or hopelessness.[101]
The Talons of Peace have a signal for greeting one another, consisting of tilting one’s wings to catch the sunlight. Dragons can use their claws to indicate numbers.[102]
Nudging or brushing another dragon's wing or twining tails together is a sign of affection and closeness.[103] Wrapping wings around one another, hugging, and pressing snouts together are also signs of affection.[104][105] Dragons also kiss to express affection. Dragons tent their wings over others as a way to comfort or embrace them in a protective gesture.[106][107] Dragons also kiss to express affection.[108]
Technology
Dragons have armor[109] and handheld weapons.[110] Technologically and socially, they seem to be somewhere around the Middle Ages.
NightWings are the most technologically advanced Pyrrhian tribe, seeming to put great emphasis on research and study. This attitude was especially prominent during the war, when the tribe experimented on RainWings and their venom. NightWings studied geology, metalworking, biology, chemistry, and genetics.[111]
SandWings study astronomy. They make telescopes, copy down star charts, and follow the phases of the moon.[112]
SeaWings use a waterfall prison that can be turned on and off with a switch.[113] This prison system features electric eels strong enough to kill a full-grown dragon.[114]
Dragons are skilled with building. They make large, impenetrable palaces.
Dragons know medicinal uses of herbs and blood vessels.[115] RainWings, in particular, know about poisonous frogs, and use certain venom from them to create blow darts.[116] SkyWings use dragonflame cactus bombs that explode when ignited, spraying sharp seed pods.[117]
Some dragons can carve statues, as both Orca and Frostbite are sculptors. They also know how to create glass and make artwork out of it.[118]
Both Pantalan and Pyrrhian dragons have the ability to make eyeglasses,[37][119] and have known how for thousands of years, showing they have had some knowledge about the biology of eyes for a very long time. However, the knowledge of how to make glass seems to have been lost in Pyrrhia over time, as Mastermind did not know how to create venom-proof armor that protects the eyes but allows one to see.
Dragons on Pantala seem to be slightly more technologically advanced than dragons on Pyrrhia. They use books instead of scrolls,[120] work with sugar,[121] grow plants in terrariums,[122] run stores,[123] and have created massive silk bridges between the Hives.[124] Sundew shows an impressive knowledge of plants and insects, similar to RainWings. Pantalans are skilled in the area of farming, as shown when Blue, Cricket and Swordtail see the various plants grown in the greenhouses. There are also water towers in Pantala,[125] used by SilkWings and HiveWings living in the Hives; the existence of plumbing is suggested in The Hive Queen when a sink is seen.[126]
The HiveWing wrist cuffs can seemingly inject poison into a SilkWing when activated remotely.[127]
The LeafWings, particularly the PoisonWings, have also shown skill in keeping away dangerous plants and animals, as seen in the construction of the PoisonWing village.[128]
History
Before the Scorching, humans dominated Pyrrhia. There were three known major settlements: Cottonmouth's empire, the Diamond Empire, and the Jaguar Empire. After Cottonmouth began stealing dragon eggs, a dragon known as the first Dragon Queen recruited an army to take back their treasure and land.[129] After the Scorching was complete, dragons became the dominant species of Pyrrhia.[129] After the Scorching, there were 500 years of war between the Pyrrhian dragon tribes.[citation needed]
The only known war to take place on Pantala was the Tree Wars, which took place fifty years before the events of The Lost Continent. The war was caused by Queen Wasp, who convinced the SilkWings to submit under her rule by telling them the Book of Clearsight said it must be so. The LeafWings, however, demanded to see the book, which Queen Wasp would not allow because it would expose her plan. The LeafWings were nearly wiped out in the following war and proclaimed by the HiveWings to be extinct. All the trees in the HiveWing-controlled areas were cut down to prevent the LeafWings from coming back. HiveWings later lied about the war, claiming that LeafWings had tried to wipe the HiveWings and SilkWings out.
Although there are many wars in Pyrrhia's history, such as the wars between the NightWings and the IceWings, the most notable war was the War of SandWing Succession, caused by Queen Oasis's death at the hands of Stone, followed by her daughters Blaze, Blister, and Burn trying to claim the throne for themselves. This sparked a war among the dragon tribes as each of the princesses formed alliances with the other tribes to in order to defeat their sisters.
After the war was ended by the dragonets of destiny, the tribes were at an uneasy peace, though hostilities and tensions are still high, as many dragons are still bearing grudges against certain tribes. After Darkstalker was released from his eternal slumber, he provoked a war between the NightWings and IceWings, almost leading to the downfall of Pyrrhia. However, Darkstalker was stopped by the dragonets in the Jade Winglet, who transformed him into a young NightWing-RainWing hybrid named Peacemaker.
Trivia
- Tui supports dragons having unique colors amongst their tribes.[event 6]
- Additionally, Tui approves the graphic novel pages, thus making odd-colored dragons official.[event 7]
- Pets do not do well in dragon communities, as they often get eaten by forgetful relatives or even by its owner.[130]
- Dragons can be LGBT+.[event 8]
- The dragon tribes are intentionally not written with accents or details based on real-world human culture.[event 9] However, the audiobooks depict some tribes with certain accents.
- Dragons celebrate the day they were hatched, calling it hatching day instead of birthday.[131]
- It has been mentioned that some dragons could knit in the time of Darkstalker.[132] It is unknown if dragons can knit in present-day Pyrrhia.
- Bars and taverns exist in Pyrrhia.[98][133]
- Fierceteeth said that dragons always assume that the dragonet inside an egg is a female.[134]
Gallery
-
A typical IceWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical MudWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical NightWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical RainWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical SandWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical SeaWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical SkyWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical IceWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical MudWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical NightWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical RainWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical SandWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical SeaWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical SkyWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical IceWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold -
A typical MudWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold -
A typical NightWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold -
A typical RainWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold -
A typical SandWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold -
A typical SeaWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold -
A typical SkyWing from the German publication, by Max Meinzold -
A typical HiveWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical SilkWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical LeafWing (colored), by Joy Ang -
A typical HiveWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical SilkWing (lineart), by Joy Ang -
A typical LeafWing (lineart), by Joy Ang
References
- ↑ The Poison Jungle, page 142
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 152
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Dragonet Prophecy, page 6
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 84
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 9
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 62
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 115
- ↑ The Winglets Quartet: Deserter, page 106
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 383
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 71
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 145
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 138
- ↑ Moon Rising, prologue
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 184
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 215
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 8
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 118
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 176
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 39
- ↑ Talons of Power, page 42
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 78
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 82
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 122
- ↑ Talons of Power, page 270
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 52
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 210
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 172
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 263
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 109
- ↑ Talons of Power, prologue
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 119
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 23
- ↑ The Dangerous Gift, page 37
- ↑ The Brightest Night, page 54
- ↑ Darkness of Dragons, page 12
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 The Lost Continent, page 19
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 115
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 49
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 104
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 115
- ↑ The Brightest Night, page 76
- ↑ The Dangerous Gift, page 305
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 168
- ↑ The Dark Secret, prologue
- ↑ The Dangerous Gift, page 83
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 157
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 212
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 29
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 120
- ↑ The Winglets Quartet: Assassin, page 60
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 278
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 53
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 265
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Brightest Night, page 43-44
- ↑ The Brightest Night, prologue
- ↑ Darkness of Dragons, page 18
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 171
- ↑ The Brightest Night, page 73
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 100
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 13
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 35
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 76
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 77
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 141
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 159
- ↑ 76.0 76.1 A Guide to the Dragon World, page 205
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 112
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Hive Queen, page 173
- ↑ 80.0 80.1 The Lost Continent, page 41
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 81-82
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 148
- ↑ Dragon guides/Third arc
- ↑ The Poison Jungle, page 18
- ↑ The Poison Jungle, page 45
- ↑ The Poison Jungle, page 25
- ↑ Escaping Peril, prologue
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 320
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 176
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 14
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 226
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 289
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 32
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 199
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 129
- ↑ 98.0 98.1 The Dragonet Prophecy, page 51
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 23
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 249
- ↑ The Flames of Hope, page 89
- ↑ Talons of Power, page 277
- ↑ Talons of Power, page 197
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 224
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 96
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 134
- ↑ The Dangerous Gift, page 40
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 294
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 345
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 90
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 48–54
- ↑ Darkness of Dragons, page 94
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 255
- ↑ The Lost Heir, page 266–267
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 148
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 21
- ↑ Moon Rising, page 206-207
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 283
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 280
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 65
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 21
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 94
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 18
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 3
- ↑ The Hive Queen, page 97
- ↑ The Hive Queen, page 178
- ↑ The Lost Continent, page 73
- ↑ The Poison Jungle, page 48
- ↑ 129.0 129.1 A Guide to the Dragon World, page 3
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 48
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 152
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 168
- ↑ The Hidden Kingdom, page 118
- ↑ The Winglets Quartet: Prisoners, page 13
