Dragons

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Revision as of 20:30, 14 November 2023 by >Honoo-no-Tsubasa (Technology)

(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] and are known to molt their scales upon growth.[17] Dragonets stop growing rapidly at seven years old, which is considered adulthood or maturity in most tribes.[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 use armor[109][110][page # needed][111][page # needed][112][page # needed][113] and handheld weapons such as spears[114][page # needed][115][page # needed][116][page # needed] and swords.[116][page # needed][117] They also use throwing weapons such as throwing discs,[118][page # needed] chakrams,[119][page # needed] and throwing knives.[120] SkyWings use dragonflame cacti as bombs, igniting them to explode and spray sharp seed pods.[121][122]

Dragons are skilled at building and can construct large, impenetrable palaces, such as the SandWing stronghold and the SkyWing Palace. Some of these palaces may be constructed with the assistance of animus magic, such as the Summer Palace and the IceWing palace. They can also build structures such as huts and construct entire towns such as Possibility. Dragons are also capable of constructing prisons. The SeaWings used a waterfall prison featuring electric eels strong enough to kill a full-grown dragon, which could be turned on or off with a switch.[123] The SkyWings had specifically constructed prisoner traps[117] and restrained prisoners with wing clamps,[124][page # needed] snout clamps,[125][page # needed] and chains.[125][page # needed] HiveWing wrist cuffs could inject venom into a SilkWing when activated remotely.[126]

Dragons are particularly skilled in the arts. Dragons can carve statues,[127][128] create glass art[129] and murals,[130] weave woven articles such as tapestries,[131][page # needed][132] and paint.[133][134] They are also skilled in making jewelry such as earrings,[135] armbands,[136] bracelets,[137] and rings.[138] Some dragons have tattoos[139][140] or jewels embedded in their bodies. [109][139][141] Dragons enjoy reading and writing literature. They are capable of singing and dancing,[142] and playing instruments such as drums, mbiras, shakers, harps, stringed instruments, and didgeridoos.[143] The SkyWings have orchestras who perform music during celebrations.[144] According to Sunny, the SandWings are a surprisingly musical tribe.[145][page # needed] The NightWings once put on theatrical performances, evidenced by the abandoned theater in the lost city of night.[146]

The NightWings place great emphasis on research and study. This attitude was especially prominent during the War of SandWing Succession when the tribe had a research and experimentation program on RainWings and their venom. NightWings also study geology, metalworking, biology, chemistry, and genetics.[147] NightWings can predict when an egg will hatch using their foresight ability.[148][page # needed] SandWings study astronomy by making telescopes, copying down star charts, and tracking the phases of the moons.[149] Lady Scarab is known to own the only telescope in Cicada Hive.[150]

Dragons are also knowledgeable about medicinal uses of herbs and dragon anatomy such as blood vessels.[151] RainWings create blow darts using poison from poisonous frogs.[152] LeafWings, particularly the PoisonWings, demonstrate impressive knowledge of plants and insects, and constructed the PoisonWing village to keep out dangerous plants and animals.[153] Both Pyrrhian and Pantalan dragons have knowledge of ophthalmology through the ability to construct eyeglasses.[154][37]

Pantalan dragons have more advanced technology than Pyrrhian dragons. Pantalan dragons predominantly use books instead of scrolls,[155] grow plants in terrariums and greenhouses,[156] work with sugar to create confections,[157] and have plumbing.[158][159]


History

Before the Scorching, humans dominated Pyrrhia. There were three known major settlements: Cottonmouth's empire, the Diamond Empire, and the Jaguar Empire. After humans began stealing dragon eggs, a dragon known as the first Dragon Queen recruited an army to take back their treasure and land.[160] After the Scorching was complete, dragons became the dominant species of Pyrrhia.[160] 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.[161]
  • 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.[162]
  • It has been mentioned that some dragons could knit in the time of Darkstalker.[163] It is unknown if dragons can knit in present-day Pyrrhia.
  • Bars and taverns exist in Pyrrhia.[98][164]
  • Fierceteeth said that dragons always assume that the dragonet inside an egg is a female.[165]

References

  1. The Poison Jungle, page 142
  2. Dragonslayer, page 152
  3. 3.0 3.1 The Dragonet Prophecy, page 6
  4. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 84
  5. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 9
  6. Darkstalker, page 62
  7. Dragon guides
  8. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 115
  9. The Winglets Quartet: Deserter, page 106
  10. Dragonslayer, page 383
  11. The Hidden Kingdom, page 71
  12. The Lost Heir, page 145
  13. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 138
  14. Moon Rising, prologue
  15. The Hidden Kingdom, page 184
  16. Escaping Peril, page 215
  17. Dragonslayer, page 118
  18. Winter Turning, page 8
  19. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 176
  20. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 39
  21. Talons of Power, page 42
  22. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 78
  23. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 82
  24. Moon Rising, page 122
  25. Talons of Power, page 270
  26. Moon Rising, page 52
  27. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 210
  28. Moon Rising, page 172
  29. Moon Rising, page 263
  30. Winter Turning, page 109
  31. Talons of Power, prologue
  32. The Lost Heir, page 119
  33. Moon Rising, page 23
  34. The Dangerous Gift, page 37
  35. The Brightest Night, page 54
  36. Darkness of Dragons, page 12
  37. 37.0 37.1 The Lost Continent, page 19
  38. Darkstalker, page 115
  39. The Hidden Kingdom, page 49
  40. Dragonslayer, page 104
  41. The Dark Secret, page 115
  42. The Brightest Night, page 76
  43. The Dangerous Gift, page 305
  44. Dragon guides
  45. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 168
  46. The Dark Secret, prologue
  47. The Dangerous Gift, page 83
  48. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 157
  49. Dragon guides
  50. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 212
  51. Dragon guides
  52. The Dark Secret, page 29
  53. Darkstalker, page 120
  54. The Winglets Quartet: Assassin, page 60
  55. Dragon guides
  56. Dragon guides
  57. The Hidden Kingdom, page 278
  58. The Dark Secret, page 53
  59. The Hidden Kingdom, page 265
  60. Dragon guides
  61. Dragon guides
  62. The Brightest Night, page 43-44
  63. The Brightest Night, prologue
  64. Darkness of Dragons, page 18
  65. The Lost Heir, page 171
  66. The Brightest Night, page 73
  67. Dragon guides
  68. The Lost Heir, page 100
  69. The Lost Heir, page 13
  70. The Lost Heir, page 35
  71. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 76
  72. The Dark Secret, page 77
  73. Escaping Peril, page 141
  74. Dragon guides
  75. Winter Turning, page 159
  76. 76.0 76.1 A Guide to the Dragon World, page 205
  77. The Lost Continent, page 112
  78. Dragon guides
  79. The Hive Queen, page 173
  80. 80.0 80.1 The Lost Continent, page 41
  81. Dragon guides
  82. Dragon guides
  83. The Lost Continent, page 81-82
  84. The Lost Continent, page 148
  85. Dragon guides/Third arc
  86. The Poison Jungle, page 18
  87. The Poison Jungle, page 45
  88. The Poison Jungle, page 25
  89. Escaping Peril, prologue
  90. Dragonslayer, page 320
  91. Darkstalker, page 176
  92. Escaping Peril, page 14
  93. Moon Rising, page 226
  94. Moon Rising, page 289
  95. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 32
  96. Dragonslayer, page 199
  97. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 129
  98. 98.0 98.1 The Dragonet Prophecy, page 51
  99. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 23
  100. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 249
  101. The Flames of Hope, page 89
  102. Talons of Power, page 277
  103. Talons of Power, page 197
  104. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 224
  105. Darkstalker, page 96
  106. Darkstalker, page 134
  107. The Dangerous Gift, page 40
  108. Moon Rising, page 294
  109. 109.0 109.1 The Dragonet Prophecy, page 91
  110. The Dark Secret, page Ch10
  111. The Dark Secret, page Ch22
  112. Dragonslayer, page Ch26
  113. A Guide to the Dragon World, page 171-172
  114. The Dark Secret, page Ch21
  115. The Brightest Night, page Ch21
  116. 116.0 116.1 Darkstalker, page Ch8
  117. 117.0 117.1 A Guide to the Dragon World, page 171
  118. The Hidden Kingdom, page Ch16
  119. Darkness of Dragons, page Ch8
  120. A Guide to the Dragon World, page 172
  121. Escaping Peril, page 100
  122. Escaping Peril, page 103
  123. The Lost Heir, page 255
  124. The Dragonet Prophecy, page Ch14
  125. 125.0 125.1 The Dragonet Prophecy, page Ch20
  126. The Lost Continent, page 73
  127. The Lost Heir, page 89
  128. A Guide to the Dragon World, page 143
  129. Darkstalker, page 283
  130. The Lost Continent, page 29-31
  131. The Hidden Kingdom, page Ch15
  132. A Guide to the Dragon World, page 188
  133. Moon Rising, page 150
  134. Darkstalker, page 343
  135. Moon Rising, page 34
  136. Escaping Peril, page 87
  137. Darkstalker, page 354
  138. A Guide to the Dragon World, page 170
  139. 139.0 139.1 Moon Rising, page 140
  140. Darkness of Dragons, page 57
  141. Winter Turning, page 169
  142. Escaping Peril, page 248
  143. Moon Rising, page 160
  144. Escaping Peril, page 249
  145. Moon Rising, page Ch7
  146. A Guide to the Dragon World, page 103
  147. The Dark Secret, page 48?54
  148. Darkstalker, page Ch2
  149. Darkness of Dragons, page 94
  150. The Lost Continent, page 160
  151. The Hidden Kingdom, page 148
  152. The Hidden Kingdom, page 21
  153. The Poison Jungle, page 48
  154. Darkstalker, page 280
  155. The Lost Continent, page 65
  156. The Lost Continent, page 94
  157. The Lost Continent, page 21
  158. The Hive Queen, page 97
  159. The Hive Queen, page 178
  160. 160.0 160.1 A Guide to the Dragon World, page 3
  161. The Hidden Kingdom, page 48
  162. The Dragonet Prophecy, page 152
  163. Darkstalker, page 168
  164. The Hidden Kingdom, page 118
  165. The Winglets Quartet: Prisoners, page 13
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