Dragon

Dragons consist of multiple species of serpentine reptiles with ekati-infused skeletons. This allows them to innately use magic - most famously through their breaths. Certain dragons are attuned to certain elements with fire being the most common, though more powerful types of dragons can make use of multiple elements. Dragons are also known for their extraordinary life spans, capable of living thousands of years due to their ability to go into long term hibernations. However, each species matures at different rates with older, more ancient species tending to have longer maturation cycles.

All dragons are said to have descended from a common ancestor - the Protegenoi Dragon. These ancient dragons lived in their prime years before the Shattering as apex predators. Modern dragons have since diversified, shrinking in size to accomodate to Erudite's declining levels of ekati. They have taken on various roles in their local ecosystems.

Some types of dragons are capable of speech. More magically powerful dragons tend to be considered more intelligent. Because of how influential they were in Erudite's prehistoric era, almost every culture in the world has some sort of myth or legend relating to dragons. They vary from portraying them as wise, benevolent keepers of knowledge to untamed, destructive beasts.

Known types of dragons

Elemental

Elemental dragons all have very similar body plans, largely serpentine in appearance but with a leg configuration similar to that of a feline. Some dragons also have wings which vary in size from being vestigial attachments to being some of the largest wingspans in Erudite.

• Spirit Dragon - Spirit Dragons are highly intelligent species of dragon capable of taking ethereal forms. They are very rare, although it is well-known they have a significant population in Shuang.
• Wind Dragon - Wind dragons are known to be excellent fliers, being able to cross vast distances without rest. This is in large part due to their ability to use wind magic as lift for their wings.
• Fire Dragon - Fire Dragons are one of the most ferocious types of dragons who, by which their name implies, can breathe fire.
• Water Dragon - Water Dragons are fairly diverse in size and shape. They usually appear as sea dwelling serpents capable of shooting powerful jets of water from their mouths. Water Dragons tend to be the largest elemental dragons. They are known for hunting whales and Godfish in packs.
• Ice Dragon - Directly related to Water Dragons as they use the same type of elemental magic, but their adaptation to a different climate resulted in them taking on a very different appearance. They can breathe ice crystals and encase themselves in ice as a form of defense.
• Forest Dragon - Forest dwelling dragons that often rely on camoflauging themselves into the environment to hunt their prey.
• Rock Dragon - Rock dragons are known for having scales made of stone. They are usually found in mountains and deserts.
• Metal Dragons - Metal Dragons, as their name implies, have scales made of varying types of metals. Some advanced civilizations in the past once raised them as livestock for their scales serving as one of the world's only sources of renewable metals and precious gems. As of the Steampunk era, due to heavy poaching, they have become critically endangered. Less than one thousand are known to exist.

Prehistoric

• Protegenoi Dragon - The oldest species of dragon which all other dragons descend from. They were some of the largest creatures to ever inhabit Erudite. They are thought to have gone extinct during the Shattering although a handful survived. The last known Protegenoi was named Piasa, who died during the Tribal Era to protect a society of elves from a volcanic eruption. The fossilized remains of Piasa and other Protegenoi Dragons can produce powerful magical substances.

Similar species

• Wyvern - Wyverns are similar to dragons in that they share a common ancestor - the Protegenoi Dragon. After that, they completely diverge with any similarities simply being the result of convergent evolution. They lack forelimbs and instead have stockier hind legs. Their horns tend to be bulky and curved forward while sporting a large lower jaw.
• Wyrm - The closest genetic relatives to dragons, sharing a more recent common ancestor than wyverns. Like dragons, they also take on a number of different roles in the ecosystem. Their most distinguishing trait is their lack of limbs or wings as well as their tendency for being larger in size.
• Drake - A dragon-like creature with its own similarities being its external appearance. They are genetically unrelated having simply evolved a dragon-like appearance as a form of mimicry to ward off predators and other competition. They can be told apart from real dragons by the shape of their scales.
• Dinosaur - Dinosaurs consist of a number of non-magical dragon-like species. While some more heavily resemble dragons than others, they are actually descendants of Giant Rocs and other large avians.