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Description

Edit: Update Coat of Arms

When talking about a beast of great prowess whose wings cast a humongous shadow upon the land, followed by a breath of seething dreadful flame, most people from Northern Eurus would point to the one and only creature without hesitation. An animal that has long been ingrained into lore and culture, either as a monster or a valuable ally.

The Northern Black Drake (Pachydraco borealis) is the largest species of the Great Drake and also the largest living land dracomorph. At 9 metres long, 14 metres wingspan, and the iconic solid dark grey colouration, a fully grown northern black drake is a sight to behold, especially as the great beast spread its wings and flies through the northern sky.

Aside from being the biggest, the northern black drake is also the most widespread member of its genus as well. Historical range of this dragon covers from the north-most part of Paranthir to Wild North. They are among the most successful dracomorph species that thrive in various climates and habitats, placing themselves as the top predators in any ecosystem they live in, even in the world where mammals are the dominant group of vertebrates.

Although being a powerful flyer that can cover a large distance in a single flight, northern black drake, like all Pachydraco species prefers to spend most of their time on the ground. They are quite competent on ground locomotion, unlike other dragons, with their hind legs mostly free of the patagium, allowing for a longer stride in their walk and run locomotion. They are ground hunters that ambush and chase prey on the ground, especially in a wooded area with enough coverage. With a burst of speed at 60 km per hour, the black drake can run down even the more cursorial ungulate prey if they manage to get a drop on them. In open ground such as plains and plateaus, the black drake may also utilize endurance hunting by flying above a herd of prey, driving them into a stampede until any of the prey slow down from exhaustion, in which the dragon would then land and continue the pursuit on the ground.

Northern black drake is the most adapted great drake in the cold temperature. Population in the north accumulate fats that allow them to thrive even in the sub-zero climate, especially females with whelp that have to live through winter in the north. Special protein in their tissue acts as anti-freeze in the area with large surfaces such as their wing membrane and tail. A large gas crop that is twice the size of those from tropical species like the Red Drake (Pachydraco rufa) helps build up heat to regulate their body temperature. As enduring as they may, most northern black drakes like males, non-whelping females, and independent juveniles would migrate to the southern region during winter to the better feeding grounds. Even the whelping females that remain usually spend their time hiding in caves or dens in the mountain, going into torpor to conserve energy, and waking up occasionally only to hunt and feed.

The most notable feature of the northern black drake is perhaps their excellent fire-breathing ability that surpasses all other dragon species. While other dragons can only manage a quick few seconds of spray in each shot, northern black drake can hold their fire breath for 10 seconds, and a dragon with a full gas crop can do so many times. This makes them extremely dangerous creatures when provoked. Like other great drakes, the natural use of their fire is mainly in combat with another dragon or other predators. However, they never use them in dispatching prey, unlike the Mountain Dragons in the genus Draconus. Researchers are still puzzled about why northern black drake developed such a potent mechanism further than other great drakes in the first place, aside from the enlarged gas crop that help them withstand the cold.

Although once widespread, northern black drakes are facing a decline in many regions. In Eropan and Paranthir, the resident population that inhabits year-round has long been extirpated, with only wintering population from the north being the only black drakes that are still present. The main factor came from excessive hunting by humans and shapeshifters that once inhabited the land. Northern black drake was once an important part of the now mostly disappeared shapeshifter cultures in Eropan. As an apex predator that was once viewed as invincible during the early civilization, shapeshifters viewed them as a near-equal adversary and thus hunted them for generations, often excessively. This practice persisted even at the peak of their civilization, leading to overhunting and the extinction of these dragons in their reign.

In Pensivior, wild dragons are also in decline, but for a completely different reason.

200 years ago, during the time of The Great War between the Kingdom of Pensivior in the north and the Shapeshifter Kingdom in the south. A deal was forged between the king of Pensivior and a singular magus, a female sapient black drake named Gracemaw, who held supernatural control over the black drakes she had gathered known as The Roost. Their new alliance turned the stalemate of the war upside down as northern black drakes are tamed and used as war artillery against the enemies. Their ability of flight and fire breath, now used at the command of men, turned even the Kingdom of Eropan which was once an ally to the shapeshifters into Pensivior’s side. The Shapeshifter Kingdom, pressed from every direction, was eventually crushed by the force of the enemies.

The dragons had thus ironically played a part in bringing ruin to the civilization that once leisurely hunted them.

Nowadays, northern black drake is still an important part of Pensivior, adopted into their culture where dragons and humans coexist in peace. They are regarded as regal beasts and a proud military prowess. A black drake is presented in the kingdom’s coat of arms, along with a Pensivion Daggerjaw (Machairognathus pensiviorensis), an extinct species of ancient wyrm that the kingdom has long honored as the symbol of their power. The black drake represents their union and adaptability that have led to Pensivior’s triumph and prosperity.

Nowadays, wild dragons are being tamed and taken into captivity by the use of magic granted by Gracemaw. It’s estimated that less than 5 breeding populations of the true wild dragon remain in Pensivior, existing in a remote mountainous region that has yet to be discovered. The only place where numerous breeding populations of northern black drake still persist is in the harsh and unforgiving land of Wild North.

Description

Edit: Update Coat of Arms

When talking about a beast of great prowess whose wings cast a humongous shadow upon the land, followed by a breath of seething dreadful flame, most people from Northern Eurus would point to the one and only creature without hesitation. An animal that has long been ingrained into lore and culture, either as a monster or a valuable ally.

The Northern Black Drake (Pachydraco borealis) is the largest species of the Great Drake and also the largest living land dracomorph. At 9 metres long, 14 metres wingspan, and the iconic solid dark grey colouration, a fully grown northern black drake is a sight to behold, especially as the great beast spread its wings and flies through the northern sky.

Aside from being the biggest, the northern black drake is also the most widespread member of its genus as well. Historical range of this dragon covers from the north-most part of Paranthir to Wild North. They are among the most successful dracomorph species that thrive in various climates and habitats, placing themselves as the top predators in any ecosystem they live in, even in the world where mammals are the dominant group of vertebrates.

Although being a powerful flyer that can cover a large distance in a single flight, northern black drake, like all Pachydraco species prefers to spend most of their time on the ground. They are quite competent on ground locomotion, unlike other dragons, with their hind legs mostly free of the patagium, allowing for a longer stride in their walk and run locomotion. They are ground hunters that ambush and chase prey on the ground, especially in a wooded area with enough coverage. With a burst of speed at 60 km per hour, the black drake can run down even the more cursorial ungulate prey if they manage to get a drop on them. In open ground such as plains and plateaus, the black drake may also utilize endurance hunting by flying above a herd of prey, driving them into a stampede until any of the prey slow down from exhaustion, in which the dragon would then land and continue the pursuit on the ground.

Northern black drake is the most adapted great drake in the cold temperature. Population in the north accumulate fats that allow them to thrive even in the sub-zero climate, especially females with whelp that have to live through winter in the north. Special protein in their tissue acts as anti-freeze in the area with large surfaces such as their wing membrane and tail. A large gas crop that is twice the size of those from tropical species like the Red Drake (Pachydraco rufa) helps build up heat to regulate their body temperature. As enduring as they may, most northern black drakes like males, non-whelping females, and independent juveniles would migrate to the southern region during winter to the better feeding grounds. Even the whelping females that remain usually spend their time hiding in caves or dens in the mountain, going into torpor to conserve energy, and waking up occasionally only to hunt and feed.

The most notable feature of the northern black drake is perhaps their excellent fire-breathing ability that surpasses all other dragon species. While other dragons can only manage a quick few seconds of spray in each shot, northern black drake can hold their fire breath for 10 seconds, and a dragon with a full gas crop can do so many times. This makes them extremely dangerous creatures when provoked. Like other great drakes, the natural use of their fire is mainly in combat with another dragon or other predators. However, they never use them in dispatching prey, unlike the Mountain Dragons in the genus Draconus. Researchers are still puzzled about why northern black drake developed such a potent mechanism further than other great drakes in the first place, aside from the enlarged gas crop that help them withstand the cold.

Although once widespread, northern black drakes are facing a decline in many regions. In Eropan and Paranthir, the resident population that inhabits year-round has long been extirpated, with only wintering population from the north being the only black drakes that are still present. The main factor came from excessive hunting by humans and shapeshifters that once inhabited the land. Northern black drake was once an important part of the now mostly disappeared shapeshifter cultures in Eropan. As an apex predator that was once viewed as invincible during the early civilization, shapeshifters viewed them as a near-equal adversary and thus hunted them for generations, often excessively. This practice persisted even at the peak of their civilization, leading to overhunting and the extinction of these dragons in their reign.

In Pensivior, wild dragons are also in decline, but for a completely different reason.

200 years ago, during the time of The Great War between the Kingdom of Pensivior in the north and the Shapeshifter Kingdom in the south. A deal was forged between the king of Pensivior and a singular magus, a female sapient black drake named Gracemaw, who held supernatural control over the black drakes she had gathered known as The Roost. Their new alliance turned the stalemate of the war upside down as northern black drakes are tamed and used as war artillery against the enemies. Their ability of flight and fire breath, now used at the command of men, turned even the Kingdom of Eropan which was once an ally to the shapeshifters into Pensivior’s side. The Shapeshifter Kingdom, pressed from every direction, was eventually crushed by the force of the enemies.

The dragons had thus ironically played a part in bringing ruin to the civilization that once leisurely hunted them.

Nowadays, northern black drake is still an important part of Pensivior, adopted into their culture where dragons and humans coexist in peace. They are regarded as regal beasts and a proud military prowess. A black drake is presented in the kingdom’s coat of arms, along with a Pensivion Daggerjaw (Machairognathus pensiviorensis), an extinct species of ancient wyrm that the kingdom has long honored as the symbol of their power. The black drake represents their union and adaptability that have led to Pensivior’s triumph and prosperity.

Nowadays, wild dragons are being tamed and taken into captivity by the use of magic granted by Gracemaw. It’s estimated that less than 5 breeding populations of the true wild dragon remain in Pensivior, existing in a remote mountainous region that has yet to be discovered. The only place where numerous breeding populations of northern black drake still persist is in the harsh and unforgiving land of Wild North.