Dragons are a species of powerful and intelligent magical beings that inhabit the lands of Xadia. They are one of the rare few creatures that come in six different races for each of the six Primal Sources of magic that exist in nature. Furthermore, each of these six races have a number of subspecies.
The dragons are currently ruled by Queen Zubeia, a Storm Dragon and the mate of the late King Avizandum.[1]
Biology[]
Most types of adult dragons appear as massive, scaled reptiles with horns, two to four legs, bat-like or butterfly-like wings, razor-sharp teeth, slit-shaped pupils, and clawed feet. Hatchlings, or dragonlings, appear to be slightly larger than Glow Toads, as shown with Azymondias moments after his birth. Like most animal offspring, dragonlings feature a head and limbs that are proportionally too big compared to the rest of their body.[2]
Reproduction[]
The dragons of Xadia are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. How often dragons reproduce and the circumstances required for the egg to hatch varies between different types of dragons. For example, Storm Dragons are known to reproduce only once every 1000 years[3] and their eggs can only hatch in the eye of a storm.[4]
Lifespan[]
Dragons live for 500 years on average,[5] while some Storm Dragons[6] and Archdragons such as Sol Regem or Luna Tenebris have lived for over a millennium. Dragons have been implied to not die of old age, or that it would at least be described as "an old age on an astronomical scale that humans could not fathom".[7]
Information[]
Some dragons are solitary, while others like to live in groups.[8] The language of the dragons is known as Ancient Draconic. They are also capable of learning human and elven speech upon reaching the age of 75.[9]
As dragons are particularly powerful creatures, they can be used for impressively powerful dark magic spells and their body parts, such as their horns and their earwax, have many different uses. Even dragon snot has an entire spellbook chapter.[10][11][8]
Archdragons[]
The Archdragons gathered
There are a rare few dragons known as Archdragons; they are several times larger than regular dragons and many times more powerful, they also have a much longer lifespan. Like Archmages, Archdragons are masters of their respective arcana and have the deepest possible connection to them, as opposed to regular dragons.[8][12] Because of this, Archdragons are seen as the physical embodiments of the Primal Sources themselves.[13]
It is from among the Archdragons that the rulers of dragonkind are chosen.[14]
There is at least one Archdragon for each of the six Primal Sources, although, there is not currently any evidence of an Archdragon of the Stars existing. There can be more than one Archdragons to a Primal Source at a time, as there is no actual limit to their respective kind, though they are extremely rare.[7]
Some Archdragons are capable of sensing dark magic in humans, but whether this is due to their heightened senses or another reason is currently unknown.[15]
Some Archdragons have been known to collect a vast horde of treasure, armaments, and magical artifacts that hold significant powers, or have a noteworthy history.[16]
History[]
Dragons have ruled the magical lands of Xadia alongside elves for thousands of years, and the latter revere them for their magic and power. The Archdragons tirelessly worked together in maintaining peace across the vast continent.[16] Traditionally, one of the greatest of the Archdragons is chosen to be granted the title of King or Queen of the Dragons, with Sol Regem, an Archdragon of the Sun, becoming the first known king 1200 years before the birth of Azymondias.
Sol Regem faces Ziard
At some point in history, the human mage Ziard discovered the benefits of dark magic, a power gifted to him by an unrevealed benefactor, which used the essence contained within magical creatures to cast spells. This power was used to help the dying city of Elarion to flourish. Sol Regem, the reigning King of the Dragons at the time, discovered this destructive development and demanded that Ziard and his followers immediately give up the practice of dark magic in its entirety. When Ziard refused, however, Sol Regem declared that the city of Elarion would be burned as a punishment. Ziard attempted to stop Sol Regem and managed to scar and permanently blind the Archdragon with a dark fireball to his face, though Ziard himself was incinerated by Sol Regem's fire breath. The Archdragon managed to fly into and submerge himself in a body of water to extinguish the flames,[15] and carried out the destruction of Elarion regardless of the efforts to stop him.[17]
Following these events, 1000 years before the birth of Azymondias, Sol Regem stepped down and was succeeded by Luna Tenebris, an Archdragon of the Moon. At first, she agreed with the elves that all humans should be annihilated. But after some convincing by a lone elf, she decided to spare humanity and instead banish them to the western parts of Xadia before splitting the continent in half. In Xadia, this day became known as the "Judgement of the Half-Moon".[18]
Luna Tenebris rules over Xadia
Roughly 300 years before the birth of Azymondias, Luna Tenebris died under mysterious circumstances. As she lacked a suitable heir, the Archdragons of Xadia fought bitterly to become her successor. Among the candidates were Rex Igneous, an Archdragon of the Earth, Domina Profundis, an Archdragon of the Ocean, and Avizandum, an Archdragon of the Sky.
It was during this time period that Avizandum rose to power and learned about the existence of the Order of the Blood Moon, a cult of Moonshadow Elves in the Moonshadow Forest who extended their lives and enhanced their magic by drinking the blood of still-living beings.[19] Avizandum led his supporters in hunting the cultists down, leaving their leader, Kim'dael, the sole survivor.[20]
The fighting between the dragons over who should ascend the throne began escalating towards violence, but ceased when Queen Aditi, the great leader of the Sunfire Elves, stepped in to broker peace and to decide the next ruler for them instead. The dragons recognized her as a wise and kind leader, so they decided to put their trust in her and agreed to abide by whatever she decided. However, Aditi mysteriously vanished before she could finalize her decision, which provoked the elves into almost waging war against the dragons, believing that the latter had killed their beloved queen. Just when war threatened to tear Xadia apart, the truth of these unfortunate events was later discovered by a human girl, who revealed the treachery of the Startouch Elf Aaravos, who had secretly been pulling the strings during every great crisis the world had suffered for a thousand years.
A Startouch Elf is no ordinary opponent; their enemy was literally a greater being from the heavens themselves with vast and mysterious powers. Even after Avizandum and his mate Zubeia managed to become the new King and Queen and unified the other Archdragons and the elves under them and returned peace to Xadia, they could not risk a direct confrontation. Instead, they had to beat Aaravos at his own game of plotting, conspiring, and deceiving. The inhabitants of Xadia never letting on that they knew of Aaravos's treachery, so that at just the right moment, the Startouch Elf would let his guard down, allowing the Archdragons and elves to seal him away through a collaborative effort.[14]
The Archdragons commissioned the Jailer, a human mage, to construct a magical prison that could hold a Startouch Elf with the aid of the Tidebound Elf Archmage Akiyu.[19] The greatest security measure of the prison was that no one knew its true location, not even Aaravos himself. While each Archdragon possessed a clue, not one of them had the complete picture. Avizandum received an enchanted looking glass to keep watch over Aaravos,[14] Rex Igneous received a carving of a map to the prison's location into one of his teeth, which points a mark into the center of the Sea of the Castout,[21] and Domina Profundis was given a description of the prison's true nature as a pearl in a giant clam.[22]
At some point, ancient Archdragons of the Sky sculpted a palace of solid stone at the top of the highest peak of the Storm Spire that would act as the official domicile of King Avizandum, Queen Zubeia, and their unborn son Azymondias.[23]
Avizandum guards the Border
During his era that lasted for 300 years, Avizandum would jealously guard the Border from any incursions by the Human Kingdoms into Xadia,[24] even killing the queens of Duren, Annika and Neha, and the Queen of Katolis, Sarai.[25] Nine years later, Avizandum was slain through means of unspeakable dark magic by King Harrow and Viren to avenge the queens' deaths.[11] After Avizandum's demise, the humans ransacked his lair and stole many of his possessions, including his looking glass, and supposedly destroyed his only egg. In reality, the egg was not destroyed, but secretly stolen by Viren and hidden away inside Katolis Castle. The elves and dragons believed in Viren's deception nonetheless, and Avizandum's mate, Zubeia, ordered Moonshadow Elf assassins to be sent to Katolis and kill King Harrow and Prince Ezran in an act of revenge.[26]
Book One - Moon[]
Upon discovering that the Dragon Prince's egg was alive, Callum, Ezran, Rayla, and Bait made it their mission to return the egg to Zubeia.[27] During the trip, the egg had hatched into Azymondias, the future King of the Dragons.[28]
Book Two - Sky[]
Azymondias traveled to Xadia alongside Team Zym as he learned to fly and hone his connection with the Sky Primal.[29] During their travel, the Fire Dragon Pyrrah got into a conflict with Soren, continuing the cycle of prejudice and hatred between dragons and humans.[10]
Book Three - Sun[]
Azymondias returned to his mother, Zubeia
Despite meeting Sol Regem while crossing into Xadia and being denied entry due to Callum's use of dark magic,[15] Team Zym eventually managed to return Azymondias to the Storm Spire. However, due to the grief of losing her mate and son, Zubeia had fallen into a deep slumber. When Viren was marching his forces into Xadia and into Thunderfall, with the intention to kill both Azymondias and Zubeia, a pack of Fire Dragons aided the allied forces in fighting against their common enemy in the final battle at the Storm Spire. Claiming victory in battle, Azymondias could finally return to his mother for good as she awakened from her slumber, happy to learn that elves and humans worked together in bringing her son back.[30]
Book Four - Earth[]
Following the return of the Dragon Prince and the defeat of Viren's army,[30] the dragons entered an era of peace with the Human Kingdoms.[31] To further the development of this peace and to better the relationship between the nations, Ezran invited Zubeia and Azymondias to Katolis two years later,[32] where he intended to gift the Dragon Queen a portrait that signified their bond in the Valley of Graves - a place where the royalty of Katolis had been buried for generations. As said portrait was found to have been vandalized, both the humans and the attending dragons realized that their relationship was still rocky, and that the history of hatred and violence required more work than simply being at peace.[33]
After learning of the return of Aaravos from a message of Ibis,[33] Zubeia and Team Zym allied once again to travel to the Storm Spire, during which she shared the Startouch Elf's history with them. Mourning the death of Ibis, whom they had found to have been killed upon their arrival, the group quickly concluded that Claudia appeared to assist Aaravos. Additionally, Zubeia explained that the magic mirror Callum possessed was an ancient looking glass that had been entrusted to Avizandum to keep an eye on Aaravos inside his prison. After allowing Team Zym a glimpse into the mirror and witnessing Aaravos take control of Callum, then shattering said mirror, Zubeia carried her allies to the mountain range of Umber Tor, where they hoped to meet with the Archdragon of the Earth, Rex Igneous, so they could locate Aaravos's prison before Claudia could, knowing he possessed another clue to its whereabouts.[14]
Team Zym meets Rex Igneous
Hindered from entering the lair of Rex Igneous by rubble that had blocked the Great Gates of Umber Tor, Zubeia entrusted Team Zym with finding the clue on their own.[1] After entering the mountain through a secondary entrance inside the Drakewood,[34] Team Zym eventually made their way through Umber Tor and met with Rex Igneous inside his lair.[35] Following initial complications with the mighty Archdragon who had deemed it too dangerous to share information about Aaravos's prison, Team Zym learned that he possessed a map that could lead them closer to the prison's location.[36] However, before they could retrieve said map, Team Zym was forced to retreat after being ambushed by Claudia, who managed to acquire a copy of the map carved into Rex Igneous's tooth through the help of Terry, and had caused Rex Igneous to go on a rampage by breaking the little trust he had for humans. When Rex Igneous cornered Team Zym at the Great Gates of Umber Tor, Zubeia flew down and confronted the Archdragon of the Earth. Rex Igneous chose to forget his grievance rather that fight Zubeia and retreated back into his lair.[21]
Book Five - Ocean[]
Ezran seeking counsel with Domina Profundis
Having failed to get the information they needed from Rex Igneous, Team Zym and Zubeia instead attempted to get a possible new lead from the Archdragon of the Ocean, Domina Profundis. Using the Siren Stone to summon her, Domina Profundis revealed that she did not know where the prison was, but she did know what it was.[37]
Following Domina Profundis's revelation about the true nature of Aaravos's prison, Zubeia and Ezran managed to beseech the dragons of Xadia to help them in searching for Claudia and Viren and preventing them from liberating the fallen Startouch Elf.[38] Meanwhile, Karim, the banished prince of the Sunfire Elves, approached Sol Regem, hoping that he would be willing to assert his claim to being King of the Dragons once more and assist in driving all the humans out of Xadia again. The embittered and tired Sol Regem refused and turned Karim away. However, Karim started to think that if he could steal Janai's Sun Seed, he could use it to heal Sol Regem's eyes, and believed this might convince the Archdragon to regain his former glory.[39]
This plot incidentally coincided with the corruption that was festering within Zubeia after a corrupted Banther infected her when she rescued Team Zym in the Great Bookery of Lux Aurea.[39][19] Zubeia's weakened state prevented her from aiding Team Zym in their quest, but she was able to find help upon meeting an Earthblood Elf mage named Mukho.[22]
Sky Dragons[]
Sky Dragons have a connection to the magical energy of the Sky. They make use of various elements of the Sky, including movements of the wind, storms, and clouds. They are said to have an overall free-spirited and playful nature.[13]
Sun Dragons[]
Sun Dragons have a connection to the magical energy of the Sun. Their nature is known for being passionate, protective, and loyal. They can harness the powers of the Sun, allowing them to breathe streams of fire from their mouths or store immense heat in their bodies.[13] They are also known for their symbiotic relationship with Sunbirds.[40]
Moon Dragons[]
Moon Dragons have a connection to the magical energy of the Moon. They are perceived as beautiful and elusive, but also mysterious. Their powers make use of illusion, illumination, and shadow-craft. Some Moon Dragons are affected by various phases of the moon cycle.[13]
Earth Dragons[]
Earth Dragons have a connection to the magical energy of the Earth. They are incredibly difficult to find due to their expertise in the art of camouflage. Their habitat includes forests or stony terrain, and some even dwell underneath the surface of the Earth.[13]
Ocean Dragons[]
Ocean Dragons have a connection to the magical energy of the Ocean. They are uncommon to encounter due to always being in motion, regardless of their social nature. Their habitat includes the Ocean and even streams, and they merge with their liquid surroundings upon entering a body of water.[13]
Star Dragons[]
Star Dragons have a connection to the magical energy of the Stars. There is currently no evidence of the existence of an Archdragon of the Stars in the world, and their kind is generally as mysterious as any other Star creature.[13]
Notable Dragons[]
Sky Dragons
Sun Dragons |
Moon Dragons
Ocean Dragons
|
Earth Dragons
|
Dragon Monarchs[]
- Sol Regem - became Dragon King 1200 years before the Modern Era
- Luna Tenebris - became Dragon Queen 1000 years before the Modern Era
- Avizandum - became Dragon King 300 years before the Modern Era
- Zubeia - current Dragon Queen, and mate of the late Avizandum
- Azymondias - current Dragon Prince, and son of Avizandum and Zubeia
Trivia[]
- The existence of Frost Wyrms suggests that ice-related dragons can exist in both the Sky Primal and the Ocean Primal.
- Another Archdragon of the Moon existed during Luna Tenebris's reign. However, they were deemed unsuitable to succeed her as the monarch of the dragons.[7]
- The monarchs of the dragons are the supreme rulers of the skies, lands, and seas of Xadia.[33]
- Thus far, no dragon dynasty has lasted more than a single generation.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Book Four, Chapter 5: "The Great Gates"
- ↑ Azymondias as example
- ↑ Book One, Chapter 5: "An Empty Throne"
- ↑ Book One, Chapter 9: "Wonderstorm"
- ↑ Scholastic Homebase chat
- ↑ Storm Dragon breeding time
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Official Discord Q&A - Dragons (Dec 08, 2022)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Callum's Spellbook
- ↑ Creator Q&A (16.12.2019)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Book Two, Chapter 7: "Fire and Fury"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Book Three, Chapter 6: "Thunderfall"
- ↑ The Art of The Dragon Prince
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Tales of Xadia - Official Handbook
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Book Four, Chapter 4: "Through the Looking Glass"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Book Three, Chapter 1: "Sol Regem"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Deep Below
- ↑ Midnight Star Poem
- ↑ Book One: Moon (Novel)
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Book Five, Chapter 5: "Archmage Akiyu"
- ↑ The Queen's Mercy
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Book Four, Chapter 9: "Escape from Umber Tor"
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Book Five, Chapter 9: "Infantis Sanguine"
- ↑ The Dragon Prince Official Website - World
- ↑ All Storms End
- ↑ Book Two, Chapter 6: "Heart of a Titan"
- ↑ Book One, Chapter 1: "Echoes of Thunder"
- ↑ Book One, Chapter 3: "Moonrise"
- ↑ Book One, Chapter 9: "Wonderstorm"
- ↑ Book Two, Chapter 4: "Voyage of the Ruthless"
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Book Three, Chapter 9: "The Final Battle"
- ↑ Through the Moon
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 2: "Fallen Stars"
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Book Four, Chapter 3: "Breathtaking"
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 6: "The Drakewood"
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 7: "Beneath the Surface"
- ↑ Book Four, Chapter 8: "Rex Igneous"
- ↑ Book Five, Chapter 1: "Domina Profundis"
- ↑ Book Five, Chapter 3: "Nightmares & Revelations"
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Book Five, Chapter 4: "The Great Bookery"
- ↑ Animationscoop - Interview with the creators
[]
| Fauna | ||||||||||||
| Xadia | Adoraburr • Ambler • Banther • Cuddlemonkey • Dragons • Glow Toad • Magma Titan • Moon Phoenix • Moonstrider • Shadowpaw • Soulfang Serpent • Twin-Tailed Inferno-Tooth Tiger • Unicorn | |||||||||||
| Human Kingdoms | Banther • Glow Toad | |||||||||||
| Dragons | Earth Dragons • Moon Dragons • Ocean Dragons • Sky Dragons • Star Dragons • Sun Dragons | |||||||||||