Dragons are a key part of the Kerren ecology and the dominant native animal in the world.
They are not the largest creature, nor the strongest, nor the fastest, nor the most dangerous, in all the world. Humans aside, they are the most intelligent. They maintain the animal populations in territories, by selective hunting of species.
The Dragons, like several species of Kerren have the ability to sense and manipulate the energy field known as Warp. They use their ability to both fly and migrate great distances by moving through warp.
Physically, the Dragons are large Hexepods, six limbs with both a long neck and tail. Four of those limbs are legs, two are wings. These 400 Kg creatures have bodies are 2 meters long, with a 1 meter neck and a 2 meter tail. Their wingspan is 6 meters. There forelegs are small and weak when compared to the main rear legs, which are .75 meters long. All their legs end in sharp claws, with slightly opposable digits. These claws are formidable weapons and capable of digging through soft rock. (Note: these sizes are for the larger Partnered Dragons, Wild Dragons are 75% smaller.)
The have gas bladders inside of themselves to assist in lift and generating the fire bursts.
The dragons could not fly with gas bladders and muscles alone. It appears their ability to warp allows them to generate lift as they push through the warp.
Dragons are Omnivores. While they prefer meet, they also eat plants. In an odd addition, they also eat certain rocks. The eating of rocks not only helps to clean out their intestinal system, but generates the gas that helps them fly and belch fire.
They generate Fire breath (by eating rocks and certain foods). Every fireburst reduced their internal gas supply and reduces their ability to fly. (See Backfart). The fire breath is initiated by a release of gas, some gastric juices and bits of unprocessed food, and an electrical generating organ in their skull, near their tonsils.
They can fly at a Fast pace. They can fly at 45-75 MPHs.
They are pack animals, living in large social groups called Prides. A wild pride, will have a dominant mated pair (Alphas) and 5-19 additional adults, and 6-12. Partnered dragons will live with their Ryder Wings in groups of seven, with a given Ward having one to five wings. They are pride animals. they think in terms of the group and their friend.
They live in cliff side caves that are in common in high mountains of Kerren terrain. They will dig into the cliffside, expanding natural caves and making their own tunnels/ warrens. This process has been expanded upon over the years by partnered dragons so they can make room for their partners and the rest of the warren folk. Also the rock they dig through is often kept aside for future consumption.
With a wild pride, only the mated pair will breed. After their bi yearly mating flight, a clutch of 6 eggs is produced. The genders of young are evenly distributed. In partnered dragons, the adult pride members all participate in the mating flight. However, only one pair will “win� the flight and be the breeding pair for year.
Wild Dragons migrate four times a year to new regions in their ranges. Partners Dragons do not migrate, as humans help supply their needs through the other times.
They are sensive to warp energies.
They instinctively attack Zhan and Zhani.
They are humankind’s partner.
They are an telepathic herd creature with an instinctive hatred of Zhan.
They are more than instincts, they are very, very smart.
They are not quite human/ sentient smart, but they are close. They have a 150 active word vocabulary (A smart, well trained terrestrial dog has a 40 to 50 active word vocabulary, a toddler has an 800 active word). The words dragons know are a combination of a dragon’s language and human language.
They have learned more language because of their relationship with humans. The dragons that returned to the wilds after their warrens fell to disuse brought human language with them.
They have the ability to enter warp lines and exiting out somewhere else down the warp line. Wild dragons only warp during the seasonal migrations (4 times a year, around the time of the equinoxes and solstices) to the regular grounds. With a bonded Ryder, a dragon can warp other times a year. The dragon must be airborn. They can not be touching or connected to the ground, nor any body of water, larger than a deep puddle. The partners must have a clear picture of the destination in their mind (or line of sight) to begin the search. Once set, the partners spend 1-20 impulses of open flying to find an appropriate warp line to reach the desired destination (within the Far range it can have). With some familiarity with the destination (i.e. several warps to it) from a given location, can cut the time down to 1-10 impulses (1d20/2) for common destinations or 1-6 (1d20/3) for frequented destinations. It takes a minimum of one impulse free flying to find a warp line. The character arrives on the top of the next impulse.
It should be noted that the borders of a given Ward are within the Far distance from the Warren. Some Wards protect Outlands that are beyond that distance, taking two warps to reach them. It normally takes two to four warps (depending on the intervening Outlands) to travel between Wards.
