Ferrosian Marbled Dragons

Ferrosian Marbled Dragons: A Primer

Average size: 15-20ft tall, 30-40ft long, 60-80ft wingspan

Magical properties/abilities: Y

Sentience: Y

Group Type: Territory Claiming, Colony Forming.

Native Language: Centro-Ferrosian

Threat Level: High

 Bio: 

Ferrosian Marbled Dragons are a species of western style, non-transmogrifying dragons native to the continent of Ferros. They naturally live in actively volcanic areas across the north western region. Highly territorial and comparatively large in size, this species makes for a formidable foe.

Appearance:

The Ferrosian Marbled Dragons can vary widely in appearance, despite being rather limited in body color. They are commonly rather drab in color, sporting muted tones and mottled patterning. However, on a landscape dominated by volcanic rocks, this provides excellent camouflage. Their horns are always a dark gray with white lines. These horns can vary in size and shape (See Fig.1 for common morphologies). Eye color ranges from shades of green, yellow, and blue. Curiously, these seem to be the only colors present in their genome. On average, the species reaches fifteen to twenty feet in height and thirty-five to forty feet in length, but larger and smaller specimens have been documented.

Behaviors:

This species has been documented to be more aggressive than most, with infighting common in colonies. One of the few species with a mating season, these dragons become fertile on five year intervals in the summer. Egg clutches range from one to three, laid in the summer, hatching the following spring. 

Physical and magical properties:

The volcanic regions of Ferros are “hot spot” volcanoes with very silica poor magma, causing eruptions to be less explosive and more magmatic. Due to their frequent close proximity to magma, this species has evolved highly fire retardant scales, trading physical durability for near imperviousness to heat and fire. They also possess a very hardy and robust respiratory system, allowing them to shrug off the superheated air and noxious gasses produced by the eruptions and fumaroles. The accelerant for their fire breath is a gel like substance with a significant concentration of hydro-sulfuric acid, making even the unignited accelerant dangerous. Although rather rare, the species sometimes possess some innate magical abilities (~5% of births inherit magical abilities).This does not include the ability to shift to human form, which any member of the species is able to do. Abilities include fire magic, earth manipulation, and very rarely, lighting and wind based magic (~1% of births). The corporeal form of this species also possesses magical properties that are of interest to the medicinal and alchemical fields. Most famously, the horns of a Ferrosian Marbled Dragon are a powerful magical catalyst that boosts the effects of medicinal brews and magical potions by an outrageous margin. Because of this, and the fact that the species is rather scarce, the horns are extremely valuable and they are commonly the target of poacher and hunter activity. 

Weaknesses:

Perhaps due to their close evolution to extremely high temperatures, this species is sensitive to the cold. In temperatures below 40F, they become sluggish. If they fall asleep in these conditions, they will enter a long hibernation, not awakening until the temperature becomes sufficiently warm. As previously mentioned, the scales of a Ferrosian Marbled Dragon are more fireproof than durable, allowing conventional weaponry to penetrate. .308 rounds minimum are recommended when defending one’s self. However, all researchers should keep in mind that this is an endangered species and killing specimens should be avoided at all costs.