Dragon Legend

The oldest race in the world, the dragons are mysterious and immensely powerful immortal creatures. There is a race of dragons associated with each of the planes and most live in one of the elemental planes. Those dragons who make a home on earth usually live near, and guard, a dimensional gate back to their home plane. All Dragons have an innate command over their native element, and use other kinds of magic as well.

Each elemental race of dragons has it's own peculiar temperment and habits. They are all reknowned for wisdom and knowledge, although it is very dangerous to seek them out. Most dragons will require services or gifts before conveying any facts and it is impossible to force them to reveal things they wish to hide. It many be possible to trick them - a common feat of heros in stories - but it requires fantastic cunning. Perhaps the Dragons in question simply played along with the mortal's deception for reasons of their own.

It is commonly assumed that dragons are male and female and reproduce by laying eggs. In fact, this is merely a by-product of their lizard-like appearance and the natural unwillingness of those who meet them to attempt to pry into their personal lives. Such curiosity would not be rewarded, since even dragons are unsure about their origins. 'Baby' dragons simply emerge periodically from the depths of the elemental planes. The belief amongst most dragons is that they are created when points of absolute elemental purity are are imbued with awareness by the Great Dragons who created the world.

Dragons And Magic

Dragons are the supreme masters of magic. Their ancient language is so full of power that even ordinary conversations are charged with magic. The exception to this are the water dragons. Their element is beyond the reach of magic and whilst their lack of magic is in some ways a weakness, no spell may ever be laid on them.
Some dragons, especially those of Air and Water practise Dream Weaving. 

Dragons And The Gods

Dragons do not worship the gods. In some ways they are themselves incarnations the the Elemental Powers and they know that the gods worshipped by other races are also ciphers through which the Elemental Powers appear in the world.

Sun Dragons

Even amongst dragons, the Golden Dragons are noted for wisdom and also for their (relatively) gentle dispostion. However, they are implacable in their pursuit of the taint of Endless Night and any who seek the lair of these beasts must be sure their heart is pure. Golden dragons look with favour on followers of Amairya and will generally aid them.

Air Dragons

The Silver dragons were long the allies of the elves. They have always bitterly regretted their failure to stem the Endless Night, and the destruction of the beautiful Elven cities they loved to visit. Silver Dragons will always try to honour an honest request in Luinen's name. They are masters of Dream-Weaving and can fortell the future with great accuracy. However, they are wary of the damaging effects of prophesies and only reveal their knowledge with care.

Water Dragons

Famed for their unpredictable behaviour and wildly changeful moods, these dragons are fey and dangerous. What at one moment might be a playful ripple on the ocean can turn instantly into a raging storm with a great translucent Water Dragon at it's heart. The name of Typhon might cause a Water Dragon to give safe passage...but then again, it might not.
The water dragons are also masters of Dream-Weaving, but they do not use their skills to look into the future. They are creatures of the here-and-now and instead use their powers to keep a wide watch over the waters around them and to reach into the minds of those they meet. Little which happens in the ocean escapes their notice and for this reason water is generally shunned by the followers of Endless night. The taint of Darkness spreading through their realm is guaranteed to arouse the wrath of these dragons.

Earth Dragons

Physically the mightiest of Dragons, the Earth dwellers are also the most tranquil. It takes a great deal to rouse these creatures, but once awakened their rage can smash mountains and tear open the crust of the earth. Generally however, they are cheerful, stolid creatures, when they can be found awake. They respond better to respectful but honest approach then to flowery words and flattery.

Friendly to the dwarven peoples, these dragons have been known to help in underground constructions, the stone parting at their command. In return, they take wrought metals and carved stone, with which they decorate their lairs and return to another few hundred years sleep.

Fire Dragons

With their dens hidden in the fearsome Plane of Fire, Fire Dragons are hard to find. Masters of magic, they are deceptive and cunning, aways getting the better of any bargain. Power gained from a Fire Dragon is always two-edged, but they are still sought out for their prowess with wizardry. Some say their weakness is vanity, and that the sufficiently overawed will be more successful than the arrogant. Certainly, a knowledge of the Dragon's mighty deeds and fame never goes amiss.

Dark Dragons

Called Dark, these servants of the Endless Night actually have irridescent hides, a mix of colours playing over oily black scales. Their claws are unbreakable steel and they love to use them on helpless victims, vying with the Shades for cruelty. Fortunately, these creatures are lazy and not overly bright, preferring the amassing of treasure hoards, in the classical dragon tradition, to the pursuit of their Master's goals. However, when directed by the Shades, they can wreak terrible destruction.

Dragon Legend

The dragon is a legendary creature, which is prevalent to the mythic culture of many countries. Britain, with its diverse history, has a tradition of dragons stemming from Saxon, Celtic and Norse influences, as well as those from further afield. What follows is a brief overview of the dragon in legend and folklore, as well as some theories as to what the dragon may signify.

The Worm

The most common dragon to appear in British folklore, and perhaps the earliest root of the dragon legend is the worm (wurm), which stems from Norse influences and the Anglo Saxon word Wyrm or vurm. In appearance the worm is wingless and scaly with no arms or legs, very similar to a gigantic snake but with the added dread of poisonous breath, and the ability to rejoin after being cut into pieces. These great worms were often the metal to test the courage of aspiring heroes. The Lambton worm was one such creature as was the dragon of Loschy Hill. As well as being the making of young heroes, dragons often have other similarities within folklore. They are often associated with the guarding of treasure (or captive maidens), and with sacred wells, hillocks, springs and deep caves. This may have some relation to ancient religious beliefs and mythic patterns, and esoterically dragons have been linked with the belief in earth energies and chthonic subterranean forces.

Dragons And Early Christianity

One pattern that can easily be gleaned from dragon folklore is the early struggle between Paganism - symbolised as a dragon - and Christianity. A carving of a conquered dragon can be found on the font of the church at Avebury, that great temple to ancient religion. Another reflection of this battle can be seen in the early saints penchant for dragon slaying. Saint Sampson of Cornwall is said to have led a dragon from its lair in a moorland cave, to its death over the rugged sea cliff on the peninsula; St Serf is said to have destroyed a dragon living in Dragon Hole in Kinnoul, Perthshire in the 6th century. Other saints dealt with dragons less severely, St Petroc whispered a prayer in to the ear of a Cornish dragon, after which it swam out to sea to new lands; and St Carantoc led another dragon away from its swamp abode to the wild places where few ventured. Even local priests had the power to banish dragons, at Winlatter rocks in Derbyshire, a priest banished a dragon with such force that his footprints were left entrenched in the solid rock. This dragon retired to the Blue John mines where his sulphurous breath warms some of the local springs. The association of dragons with the early Saints and Christianity may be due to the fact that the dragon was often analogous with the Devil in some folk tales, and the relation between dragons and the serpent in the bible would not have been overlooked.

Other Dragons

In the south of England the name for a pool dwelling worm was a Knucker, they lived in deep pools known as Knucker Holes. One such lair was the Knucker Hole near Lyminster church in Sussex, a deep pool once thought to be bottomless. The dragon that dwelled here was slain by a conquering hero, who claimed the hand of the King of Sussex's daughter for his troubles.

The dragon that is most often depicted in art and visualized by most people is the heraldic dragon, which is fire breathing, has legs and arms equipped with sharp talons, and wings like those of a bat. This is a later rendering of the dragon, and may date from influences brought over by the Romans. It may have also developed from the Wyvern, which had the legs of and wings of an eagle and the body of a serpent.

The actual roots of the dragon lore are more difficult to discover, the dragon does not seem to be based on a physical creature, and suggestions that they are deep-rooted memories of the dinosaurs cannot really be upheld. Whatever their origin the dragon is now an image entrenched in our imaginations, invoking images of cunning fire breathing monsters, guarding vast hoards of gold and jewels within deep caverns.

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