[1] Dragons
[1] Dragons
Dragon Subcategories (Excludes Great Dragons)
Known and practiced by House Draceryos, with partial knowledge held by House Belaerys and House Mataeryon. These categories are a standard classification in the Lands of the Long Summer, not theories in this fanfiction universe.
* War Dragons:
Most common type, especially during the Valyrian Freehold.Bred for battle: aggressive, strong, and dominant.Three major body shapes:
- Dinosaur-like (e.g., Balerion) – bulky, raw power.
- Horse-like (e.g., Syrax, Sunfyre) – elegant yet strong.
- Wyrm-like/Canine-like (e.g., Caraxes) – sleek, agile, wolf-like features.
* Dueling/Battle DragonsSlightly smaller than War Dragons.Bred for controlled combat, typically for duels between Valyrian Dragonlords.Used more for sport and entertainment than warfare.
*Construction Dragons (Road-Crew Dragons): Docile, enormous, with extremely hot flame output.Used to build Demon Roads, dragonstone castles, and magical structures.Easily guided due to their calm temperament.
*Troop Transport Dragons: Wide-bodied dragons capable of carrying groups of soldiers into battle.Inspired by similar concepts in Dune (e.g., Shai-Hulud transport).Rare, strategic asset during Freehold military campaigns.
*Messenger Dragons: Bred for speed, agility, and long-distance endurance.Used for swift communications, despite the superior efficiency of glass candles.Usually wyrm-like or canine-like in appearance and movement.
*Racing Dragons: Bred for entertainment and competition.Some were also repurposed as messenger dragons due to overlapping traits.Sleek, wyrm-like bodies for maximum speed and aerial maneuverability.
*Show Dragons: Small, elegant, and docile.Bred for beauty and trained for aerial displays during festivals and noble ceremonies.Known for unique color patterns and controlled flame artistry.
- The body type is influenced by Valyrian magic during hatching, a secret known only to the Great Dragonlord families (not the Targaryens).
- Magic cannot change a dragon's color or fundamental nature.
* Flame Color:
- A dragon's flame typically matches the dominant color of its scales.
- Some rare multicolored dragons can breathe multicolored flame (e.g., a dragon with three distinct scale colors may have a three-colored flame).
* Lifespan:
- Typical dragons live ~200 years, often less after the Doom.
- Targaryen dragons, lacking proper care and magic, rarely reach full potential.
- With the knowledge and magic of Houses Draceryos, Belaerys, and Mataeryon, lifespan can extend to ~300 years, though they eventually weaken and die naturally.
* Size:
- Dragons that reach 200 years old typically match Balerion's size, which is estimated to be 80 to 100 meters long (262 to 328 feet), maybe more & with a wingspan of 200 meters (656 feet) or more depending on body length).
- Even with Draceryos-level care, dragons rarely exceed this size, as it is a natural biological limit.
* Bonding:
- Only those with dragonblood can bond with dragons.
- The purer the bloodline, the greater the chance of bonding.
- No dragon bonds to those without dragonblood.
[2] Great Dragons
* Physical Traits:
- Distinguished by a visible metallic sheen to their scales (Dragons do not have this).
- Horns are metallic: Usually match the scale color, but rare exceptions exist (e.g., Azantyos has dark, almost black horns contrasting his magma-red scales).
- Size:
(1) At peak, 1.5× Balerion's size is standard.
(2) Exceptionally rare Great Dragons (e.g.,Azantyos) can grow up to 2× Balerion's size.
- Strength:
(1) Scales are impervious to scorpion bolts and ballistae.
(2) Claws, teeth, and muscle strength surpass normal dragons, comparable to Valyrian steel in resilience.
(3) Magical potency is far greater than standard dragons.
* Lifespan:
- Up to 600 years. Growth in size stops after ~150 years, but magical strength, physical power, and flame potency continue to grow.
- Eventually, their bodies become too powerful to sustain, and they die peacefully.
* Bonding:
- Only those with Great Dragonblood can bond with a Great Dragon, a legacy of the Seven Great Dragonlord families.
- A failsafe, crafted by ancient Valyrian mages, ensures that children of a female Great Dragonlord line married into non-Great Dragon families or Great Dragonseeds (bastards with Great Dragonblood)cannot bond with Great Dragons.
- This preserves the purity and exclusivity of Great Dragon bonds.
- House Draceryos is the only surviving Great Dragonlord family post-Doom, the sole inheritor of this legacy.
[3] Dragon Husbandry, Magic, and Care
* Magic in Growth:
- Dragons and Great Dragons require external magic for optimal growth:
(1) Rituals, nourishment spells, ambient magical energy, volcanic auras.
- Targaryens lack this knowledge; they rely only on basic cradling, resulting in weaker dragons.
* Hatching Rituals:
- Draceryos, Belaerys, and Mataeryon infuse eggs with Valyrian energy and rituals during cradling.
- This strengthens the hatchlings and forges a deeper bond.
* Martivia's Advantage:
- Built atop the Last Volcano, the heart of Valyrian magical energy.
- Home to:
(1) The largest Dragon Den in the world.
(2) The largest Dragon Hatchery, where eggs are incubated and imbued with magic.
- Expanded by Maelarr Draceryos, constructed fully by Vaemor Draceryos.
- Provides:
(1) Faster growth.
(2) Greater strength.
(3) Better healing and resilience.
* Outcome:
- Draceryos dragons are stronger, healthier, live longer, and grow faster than those of other Valyrian families.