I must admit that my view on dragons has been affected by what I've read in various books and by playing AD&D. When I made my dragons I liked the different color types in AD&D as well as other books. I have tried to make my dragons unique to my world, and I think I have done a pretty good job at that. The rest of this page is devoted to my system of dragons, and I hope I don't give away anything in my stories when I explain the dragons.
All dragons have four legs and feet. The hind legs are more powerful then the fore legs and the paw on those legs more resembles a foot. These paws have five short toes, none of which are opposable. Each toe is tipped with a straight claw. The paws on the fore legs resemble hands more then a foot. The five fingers on these paws are longer and have three segments. One finger is opposable to allow the dragon to grasp objects. The base joint on each finger is more flexible to bend backwards. This allows the dragon to walk easily using all four legs. The dragons are quadrupeds.
All dragons have a long muscular neck that ends in their head. Dragons are omnivorous but prefer meat, so the bulk of their teeth are sharp and pointy to rip flesh from their meal. A couple of their back teeth are long ridges to crush bones. Between these two types of teeth are some molars used for crushing plants. They don't have that many molars, just enough to feed the dragon if he can't find any meat.
Dragons have a long tail that is as long as their torso and half the length of their neck. This allows them to have a large rudder for steerage in the air, and to wrap around their head and neck when they're sleeping, to protect them against a sneak attack.
Most dragons have a well defined body that is three times wider then the tail and neck, some dragons don't have this wide torso. These dragons are usually faster but don't have the bone mass to attach muscles too. They are always weaker then the broader dragons. With the narrower torso they don't have the lung or chest capacity to have great endurance.
Dragons have very sharp vision, their eyes are normally larger then a human's and spaced wider apart. A human and dragon has basically the same field of vision except in the front and bottom. A dragon's snout gets in the way of that area of a dragon's vision.
Most dragons have the same night vision as a human.
Dragons can carry about twice their weight into the air including their body weight without discomfort. Any more then that and they start to tire out faster. This means that a messenger dragon that weighs about 200 pounds can carry an additional 200 pounds.
All dragons breathe fire. Some may have a hotter fire then others, and some may breathe other things then fire, but all breath fire. Well-trained dragon squads can perform something called a full fire strike. This is when all 17 dragons in a squad breathe a fireball in coordination. Starting at the back and flowing to the front. The coordinated fireballs merge together into one large fireball. This is used against ground targets to great effect; it is almost useless against airborne targets.
When a human rider takes to a battle dragon a mage joins them telepathically; they are then linked so they can fight better in battle. The better dragons and riders can actually think as one during battle, one mind with twice the senses and limbs as before. This allows them to look and fight in two different directions and not be surprised by what's happening on the other side. The dragons and riders call this the 'One Mind.'
The best riders/dragons can form what is called the 'second mind' this is where their joined intelligence can fight as one, but a separate entity monitors the battle and can act as a master tactician.
Some of the greater dragons have innate mage abilities. They can cast spells like a mage would, but most who do have this have not developed this ability. Only about 1% of the Medium Battle dragons has this ability, and 2% of the Heavy Battle dragons. All Master and Elemental Dragons have mage abilities.
Each major dragon type has the same sub types. Mainly determined by dragon sizes and body types.
Messenger Dragons
| Torso Size | 4 feet long, 1.5 feet wide |
| Wing Span | 20 feet wide |
| Neck Length | 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide |
| Tail Length | 5.5 feet long, 1.5 feet wide |
| Air Speed | 250 mph |
| Weight | 200 pounds |
Messenger dragons are the smallest, but some of the swiftest. They are just large enough to handle one small rider over long distances, two riders over short distances of about 20 km. Even though they are small they can fly for hours and hours with a small rider, 8 hours in a stretch are normal, 12 hours are not unknown. Some can handle 16 hours but need to rest longer afterwards. Like their name implies they are used exclusively for flying messages.
Light Battle Dragons
| Torso Size | 8 feet long, 2.5 feet wide |
| Wing Span | 40 feet wide |
| Neck Length | 5 feet long, 1 foot wide |
| Tail Length | 10 feet long, 1 foot wide |
| Air Speed | 180 mph |
| Weight | 500 pounds |
Light Battle dragons are big enough to carry a fully armed and armored rider. They are fierce and strong fighters, but don't have the staying power of larger dragons. They are more numerous then other types of dragons.
Medium Battle Dragons
| Torso Size | 12 feet long, 3 feet wide |
| Wing Span | 60 feet wide |
| Neck Length | 8 feet long, 1.5 foot wide |
| Tail Length | 16 feet long, 1.5 foot wide |
| Air Speed | 160 mph |
| Weight | 800 pounds |
Medium-battle dragons are larger then the light-battle dragons, they are stronger but slower then the smaller dragons. They serve as the foundations of the wings, used as the staying power between the heavy battle dragons and the light battle dragons. They are almost as numerous as light battle dragons.
Heavy Battle Dragons
| Torso Size | 18 feet long, 5 feet wide |
| Wing Span | 90 feet wide |
| Neck Length | 12 feet long, 2.5 feet wide |
| Tail Length | 24 feet long, 2 feet wide |
| Air Speed | 190 mph |
| Weight | 1200 pounds |
Heavy Battle Dragons are currently the second largest that fly. The are the strongest in battle. They generally lead wings. There is usually no more then one heavy battle dragon per squad. These dragons are usually not that numerous. But since master and elemental dragons are extinct they are generally the leaders.
Transport Dragons
| Torso Size | 30 feet long, 6 feet wide |
| Wing Span | 140 feet wide |
| Neck Length | 15 feet long, 3 foot wide |
| Tail Length | 37 feet long, 3 foot wide |
| Air Speed | 100 mph |
| Weight | 2500 pounds |
Transport dragons are big and slow. They generally don't serve as fighters. They carry supplies and men to battle. Serving as a good platform to drop troops onto the battlefield where they are needed. Each transport dragon can carry about 2000 pounds. They are very strong, and have great endurance.
Master Dragons
| Torso Size | 24 feet long, 6 feet wide |
| Wing Span | 130 feet wide |
| Neck Length | 18 feet long, 3 foot wide |
| Tail Length | 33 feet long, 2 foot wide |
| Air Speed | 220 mph |
| Weight | 2200 pounds |
Master dragons are very large fighters. They are the most skillful and always lead the fight. These dragons are now thought of as extinct. The master-dragons were created by the elemental-dragons to lead during battles and to run their kingdoms before the humans came into the lands.
Master dragons have a firm telepathic control over lesser dragons of their race; no smaller dragon will disobey an order from a master dragon. The Elemental dragons gave them this to control their subjects. Master dragons also have the same control over dragons of other races, but it isn't as strong or as compelling. But in a fight this control is very useful.
Master dragons were created to be the enforcers and minions of the Elemental dragons. They have almost as much magic as an Elemental dragon. They are extremely loyal to the elemental dragons. Elemental dragons also made them to be their spies among other races so they can transform themselves to look like other races for a limited amount of time.
Elemental Dragons
| Torso Size | 40 feet long, 8 feet wide |
| Wing Span | 220 feet wide |
| Neck Length | 30 feet long, 4 foot wide |
| Tail Length | 55 feet long, 3 foot wide |
| Air Speed | 300 mph or faster |
| Weight | 4500 pounds |
Elemental dragons are the kings and queens of dragons. Only a few elemental-dragons exist per elemental dragon race at a time. Since the elemental dragon races are thought of extinct, these are also considered extinct. Elemental dragons can travel almost instantly through their element, but when flying outside their element they are limited.
| Type: | Size: | Speed: | Endurance: | Battle Skill | Intelligence | Percent of Population |
| Messenger Dragons | 7 |
2 |
2(flight) 6(battle) |
6 |
7 |
8% |
| Light Battle Dragons | 6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
50% |
| Medium Battle Dragons | 5 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
30% |
| Heavy Battle Dragons | 4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
5% |
| Transport Dragons | 2 |
7 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
7% |
| Master Dragons | 3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
- |
| Elemental Dragons | 1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
- |
The breakdown of dragons to size is like this:
I started with the basics, the four elements. Elemental dragon races don't have the Messenger or Transport Dragon subtypes. Dragons of the Elemental races do not have the Transport or Messenger sub type. These two subtypes were created by human mages after the Elemental races disappeared and the other dragon races had made alliances with other races.
Color: White
Pedigree: Evolved dragon
Powers: Summon Air (cause a wind storm), build up static electricity and cause lightning from this. Can also breathe a blast of super cold air.
Alignment: Generally good, but mainly unknown. They do hate earth dragons.
Air dragons were one of the original four races of dragons, they are now considered extinct, for at least a couple of thousand years. Elemental dragons of this type were thought to have been made of the air of Mycle itself. They could instantly move through their element to anywhere on Mycle.
Color: Blue
Pedigree: Evolved dragon
Powers: Create clouds, call rains. Create Title waves. Breathe under water, and breath water like all dragons breath fire.
Alignment: Generally neutral with a good slant, mostly not caring about others. But they hate fire dragons.
Water dragons lived in the water, and rarely took to the air. They are considered extinct, but since they lived in water they were considered very rare before. Unlike other dragons that needed to live and breed on land they could hide from humans in the water. Elemental-dragons of this type could transport themselves anywhere on Mycle that had a big enough body of water for their body. Like Elemental Air Dragons, Elemental Water dragons where though to have been made of the waters of Mycle.
Color: Red
Pedigree: Evolved dragon
Powers: Breath so hot that it will melt anything.
Alignment: Evil, hate water dragons.
Fire dragons are the only elemental-dragons that are suspected of still being around. The Element Fire Dragons have the ability to look and talk through any size flame. They are thought of as evil imps and tempters. Little devils and demons that are suppose to sway men to evil. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen. But if it is true a cleric will have a hard time excercizing these dragons.
Color: brown
Pedigree: Evolved dragon
Powers: Cause Earthquakes
Alignment: Generally Evil, hates humans and Air Dragons, dislikes all other dragons, except water dragons.
These dragons are very protective of their element. Anyone who would set foot on any ground is instantly hated and they do their best to kill them. Earth Dragons are extinct, at least so humans hope. The wars between dragons and humans were between Earth Dragons and all others. They don't see themselves as evil, but all others consider them as evil.
These dragons are dragons that are mutant offspring of other dragons. They either decided to become mutants themselves, or were freaks of nature.
Color: Brown, black, or pebbly. Any color or pattern that a rock takes these dragons can wear as a pattern on their skin's color.
Pedigree: Mutant Earth Dragon
Powers: Build up static electricity in rocks and can cause lightning to strike that location.
Alignment: Generally evil, but not as bad as Earth Dragons. Allies with Lava and Night dragons. Have a racial loathing for Earth Dragons.
Rock dragons live in the northern lands. Living in the mountains or on the rocky plains. They are very protective of their territory and are always trying to expand.
Color: Black
Pedigree: Mutant Air Dragon
Powers: Cause a cloud of blackness around them. Have perfect Night vision, but can't stand sunlight for very long
Alignment: Generally Evil. Allies with Lava and Rock dragons. Hate Moon and Sun Dragons.
Night dragons usually live deep under the earth, in the darkest caves. They only come out at night.
Color: Yellow
Pedigree: Air and Fire Dragon cross
Powers: Can light up the night for a small area. Terrible night vision
Alignment: Generally Good, allies with moon and nature dragons.
Sun dragons generally fight along side the humans of the south.
Color: White to Black depending on the phase of the moon.
Pedigree: Sun and Night Dragons
Powers: Can light up the night and cancel out a Night Dragon's Powers during the day. Very good night vision. Don't like the light of the day but they can put up with it if they have to. They prefer the night though
Alignment: Generally good, allies with sun and nature dragons
Moon dragons were born when a Sun dragon tried to make a truce with the Night dragons. The alliance didn't last long but the Moon dragons were born.
Lava Dragons
Color: Black scales with glowing red highlights
Pedigree: Fire and Earth Dragons
Powers: Breath almost as hot as a Fire Dragon
Alignment: Generally Evil. Allies with Night and Rock dragons.
Lava dragons usually live in the volcanoes of the northern territories.
Color: Green
Pedigree: Earth and Water
Powers: Able to heal life, also cause plants to grow remarkably fast.
Alignment: Generally Good. Allies with Moon and Sun Dragons.
Nature dragons are allies with the humans of the south. They revere all life, and hate death and fighting. But that doesn't mean they will not fight. But mostly they serve as healers where their native gifts give them great abilities. With their ability to promote life and growth they can also take that life away from a foe.
Color: Grey
Pedigree: Water and Air dragons
Powers: Call Storms
Alignment: Unknown
No Water and Air dragons have ever mated to avoid creating this hybrid.