Dragons & Dragonclad [INFO THREAD FOR PLAYERS]

[LillianVeteran Member]

Will Of The Beasts

[OOC Note: Dragons and Dragonclad are intended to be made using the High Spec Human sheet, this is just an information thread for anyone who may be interested in playing one]

What Are Dragons?

A diminished kind from a past long buried and forgotten, Dragons are organisms that do not follow the conventional ideas of life and death set by the current world. They are both living and spiritual, unable to be perceived by those lacking in power much like spirits, yet are capable of having a physical effect on the world much like the living. They are creatures of magic and mystery, thought to have arisen at a similar time humans did, though the relationship between the two has long been strained, filled with fear and hesitance. Spiritual beasts, though naturally lacking a will or ability to progress, find fulfillment in their human counterparts, the Dragonclad.

What Are Dragonclad?

Spiritually weak Humans who have interacted too closely with Dragonkind are bound to become Dragonclad. When a Human soul has contracted a high enough concentration of Drachenseele, their very spirits are changed to that of a Dragon’s. Upon this occurring, they are forever linked to the Dragon race, so deeply that even their kin will exhibit this connection, spiritually and physically. Unlike Dragons, Dragonclad naturally possess the will and might of a human, and thus are capable of developing aptitude in their power beyond the typical, unwilful beast. Dragons and Dragonclad share a strong link, living together in symbiosis.

Dragon Traits

Types of Dragons

Biest (Lit. Beast)

Dragons who rely on their natural biology rather than the elements, the Biest class possess no elemental aptitude, and instead operate most similarly to other living organisms, but with strengths that span into the supernatural. Powerful claws, impressive speeds, sharp senses, the physique of these dragons are what makes up for their shallow pool of elemental skill.

Erde (Lit. Earth)

Dragons of the earth, possessing things such as plants or earthly forms as part of their bodies, the Erde class are defined by their link to the earth all trod upon. Their magics lie in things such as controlling plants, shifting the earth, forming minerals, and far more. These dragons rely on light for food and energy, often getting the most out of sunlight - being deprived of this can cause a range of effects, such as illness, dormancy, or even death.

Meer (Lit. Ocean)

Dragons of the waters, possessing traits most similar to those who dwell in them, the Meer class are linked to the lakes, seas, and to a degree, skies of the world - if it is adjacent to water, there is likely a Meer dragon representative of it. Their magic lies in things such as shifting the waters, calling storms, affecting the state of such waters, and far more. These dragons rely on the waters they are native to for vitality, and if deprived of them will suffer and die from weakness and drying out.

Nacht (Lit. Night)

Dragons of darkness, possessing bodies for navigation in dark places such as caverns or the deep night, the Nacht class are linked to the variety of darkness the natural world contains. Their magic lies in things such as slipping through shadows, casting darkness upon places, creating forms from shadow, and far more. These dragons act much like darkness itself, and thus possess a great sensitivity to light, if exposed they will experience a range from blinding and immobilization, to horrific burning skin.

Eis (Lit. Ice)

Dragons of the sheer cold, possessing bodies like ice or prepared for the cold, the Eis class are linked to the chills of the world. Their magic lies in things such as creating ice, cooling things around them, calling snowstorms, and far more. Due to the makeup on their bodies, they will begin to break down and eventually perish if in extreme enough heat.

Licht (Lit. Light)

Dragons of energy, possessing bodies capable of generating some form of energy to produce their magics, the Licht class are linked to sources of light and vitality the natural world contains. Their magic lies in things such as breathing fire, producing electricity, revitalizing allies, and far more. However this natural generation of energy can become too much for their bodies if they go too long without using it up, causing overloading which can be extremely painful or even deadly to the dragon in the worst circumstance.

Rätsel (Lit. Mystery)

Anomalies amongst the dragon race, perhaps they once were numerous enough for their own classifications? Nonetheless, these are dragons who do not quite fit so well into the classes used by Dragonclad in the modern day, often due to having complex abilities, more than one kind of elemental aptitude, or some other reason. However, these dragons tend to have a critical weakness, often relative to what sets them apart from their usual kin.

Flight

Unlike many tales, Dragons don’t fly by a typical creature’s means, rather using Reishi as spiritual wind currents to lift themselves into the sky, often being referred to as The Winds. Winged Dragons use their extra limbs as a means to balance themselves as they fly, wingless species taking an approach similar to Shinigami, doing things such as creating small platforms of Reishi under their feet, or running it down their forms with their tail as a balancer as they navigate through the sky. If a Winged Dragon's wings are severed, it will be incapable of flight, as well as severing a Wingless Dragon's tail.

Resource Creation

As they are beings derived from facets of the natural world, Dragons naturally generate some form of harvestable resource, or possess natural attributes to assist in jobs. Of course the type of resource or utility depends on a dragon's type and species, but overall this facet of them is a part of their relationship with the Dragonclad. The Dragonclad supply them with knowledge, company, protection, and care, and the Dragons give back with their own unique gifts of nature, be it food, energy, or precious raw minerals. Of course, if the dragon's needs are not met, their productivity will greatly falter, so it is in the best interests of both parties to take care of one another.

Sensitivity

Similar to that of the Quincy, Dragons are very sensitive to negative forces, especially from beings such as Hollows or Demons, however the effect on their selves is much different. Rather than causing Soul Suicide, Dragons who have extended contact with forces such as Hollow Reiatsu will become Deranged (expanded on below).

Disguisers

Since dragons behave similarly to spiritual entities, they are able to inhabit vacant physical bodies through possession. Due to the lack of access to artificial bodies, the typical Dragon elects to use a discarded corpse to inhabit, be it of a human or animal. As long as the body is recoverable and reasonably fresh, a Dragon can use it with little issue, the body itself acting as if it never died, maintaining functioning organs, warmth, and continuing to age as normal.

Intelligence

Most Dragons are capable of undergoing rapid changes to their intelligence and mentality, rather than being trapped thinking as a beast their entire life. Through connecting with races such as Dragonclad and Humans, a Dragon with lesser intelligence may be observed to start parroting words it frequently hears, which later turns into contextually appropriate yet still simple speech, and it goes up from there. Many Dragons have the potential to reach up to a human level of intelligence, though it largely depends on their species and bloodline. Dragons with a sizable lineage of other Dragons who have achieved higher intellect have been known to either develop their intelligence very quickly or be several stages ahead of a dragon that is more lacking at a much younger age.

Aging and Development

Dragons grow up not much unlike other organisms, but they do have their own unique facets. Often a Dragon will start as an egg or live born, most species capable of opening their eyes and getting around on their own a few hours after birth. They will stay close to their mothers for the first part of their lives, learning everything from flying to hunting to even stories from her. Dragons age very similarly to small children, but jump considerably in development at around 7 years old, in which they are far more resembling of teenagers than children. The age of independence for Dragons tends to be around 14 years old, at this stage they're able to fend for themselves and don't need to be reliant on their mothers, though often times siblings will stick together or even remain in a group with their mother.

Drachenseele
[Though the term for this is usually Dragotoxin, the Dragons and Dragonclad refer to it differently]

While Dragons are not terribly unlike other spiritual entities, their selves possess an additional element known as Drachenseele (Lit. Dragon Soul), or simply put - Seele, an element that connects every dragons and draws all the way back to the legends of the First Dragon.

Seele can be detected much like radio signals, often interacting with electronics if thrown out carelessly. Every Dragon and Dragonclad are connected to this spiritual network and are able to communicate with others who lie nearby, tethered together and capable of understanding each other on a level uncommon amongst other beings. It's much like a sixth sense, being able to do things such as sense intent, powerful emotions, or being able to find each other. Lower grade communication, such as from dragons with lower intellect, is often described as sound similar to singing - being able to understand the meaning but not quite having words for it.

However, Seele has an insatiable desire to expand itself, to reach and grow it's network. It will attempt to assimilate spiritually weak humans most notably, though even a modest amount of spiritual power will be enough to prevent a true connection, though a poor one is formed which, under unideal circumstances, can lead to negative emotions and intent being fed to the Dragon. If a true connection is formed, the human loses their Chain of Fate and in place, their soul transforms into that of a Dragon's.

It is thought that this network is Dragonkind's way of finding ways to progress, by absorbing the intent and emotions of humans and similar lifeforms.

Seele Link

Unlike simply speaking through the network, a Seele Link is when a voice is able to cry out beyond the local scope of communication. A Dragon or Dragonclad exhibiting powerful emotions such as terror unconsciously use this link in order to cry out to those they possess a strong bond with. Rather than simply being heard, it drags both into a momentary mental plane, both sides having physical elements of their location making up their ends of it to both clue the other in to where they are, as well as presenting as a temporary means of communication before the line dies out, though their physical selves only seem to momentarily go into a trance-like state.

Some are more sensitive to forming Seele Links than others, even being able to receive them without much of a relation to who's on the other end.

Derangement

A horrifying transformation, a malaise on Dragonkind, one suffers from Derangement when the ill emotions and intents of negative being's hearts have taken too heavy a toll on a Dragon. If a Dragon is in an environment where it could receive a consistent amount of negativity, typically humans ranging from a single person to an entire city's worth of people, it will begin exhibiting signs of Derangement. Many Dragons who fall victim to this rather easily have lower intellect or will - resembling of a wild animal's, while those with a more defined range of intelligence and will are shown to be more resistant to the worse end of symptoms, but with the right conditions even they would succumb.

Typically it starts with physical illness and mental deteriorations, the most common symptoms being confusion and repetitive behaviors in relation to the sort of negativity they've absorbed - This is known as Stage One. Stage Two is the worsening of the symptoms, one's physical body becoming distorted and changed due to the negativity absorbed and the mental acuity of the Dragon is noticeably worse at this stage. Stage Three is known as the transformative state, in which the Dragon becomes fully Deranged and often engages in the negative traits they have poisoning their minds in violent, unpredictable ways, suffering throughout the process.

Dragonclad on the other hand, have only ever been known to exhibit symptoms up to Stage Two - becoming fully Deranged does not appear to be possible for them, likely from their more willful, human-derived souls.

Derangement is also influenced by the Dragon's own emotions and will as well - such is why a Dragon with a stronger will or higher intellect may be able to combat their symptoms and not become fully Deranged, often remaining at a slowed-to-a-crawl Stage Two.

Unfortunately, many dragons who reach Stage Three are unable to revert to their prior selves, reduced to rampaging beasts that only know to act on the vices of humanity. Often times at this stage there is little to be done apart from putting the beast down, such a state being one of the major contributions to the dwindling of the dragon race.

When Dragons Die
All Dragons and Dragonclad have a level of awareness that the world they currently live in is not like the one they originally sprang from, a sense of wrongness to it, even. Dragons were never meant to die, is this feeling - Unlike other spiritually-inclined entities, Dragons are just as physical as they are spiritual, being able to interact with the material world as if they were just another living entity without the need for a physical body. Due to this strange in between, it is believed that this paradoxical existence leads to an equally puzzling death; When a Dragon or Dragonclad perishes, there is a chance they will produce an Echo.

Echos are fragments of the Dragon or Dragonclad's prior existence, shattered versions of their minds and emotions, only tethered to existence by powerful sensation. Be it unfinished business or a sense of regret, something keeps these shadowy pieces intact and active, appearing as a black fog-like creature in the vague shape of the deceased. These creatures are incapable of interacting with anything or anyone, only capable of being clearly seen through those who have a connection to Seele's networking.

Echos are not a part of the cycle of souls, the idea of persisting after death often perceived as torturous and unideal by Dragonkind. These entities are often looked upon with a sense of sadness and mourning for the unfortunate trapped in this sort of limbo.

Though is not formal knowledge, there are legends that speak to the idea that the culmination of these entities, these Echos, is what births Märchen, as the poem goes:

"When the earth chokes blood,
When the skies grow quiet,
When the waters redden,
When the weakened fear,
When the fallen cry suffering,
The Märchen come, the Märchen come."

Märchen
Märchen are dragons who are born from the culmination of Echos. Unlike their kin, Märchen are inherently very human-like when it comes to their robust development and will, thought to possess the heart of a dragon and the will of a human. Due to the sheer amount of Echos required to form one Märchen, these dragons are extremely rare, requiring dire circumstances and copious amounts of death to even be possible.

Märchen appear in the world as infants, motherless and sudden to existence. They instinctively seek out a Human or Dragonclad, particularly any that exhibit the same intent and will as the Echos they sprang from, being able to determine one who is "worthy". From that, they grow over time alongside their chosen person, typically quite fast. They require highly specific conditions to molt under, often being environmental, and from that their bodies transform and they realize their true power.

Märchen were feared by those who knew of them due to their innate power, and their ability to control and conduct other dragons. Märchen who grew old and wise enough were able to organize hoards of lesser minded dragons in order to fulfill attack efforts, even if such attempts were ultimately in vain and they were forced into hiding.

When Märchen are slain, their bodies disperse, scattering in the wind. They are not dead forever - if enough of the energy expelled upon their death is left to gather again, they will form into a child once more and form elsewhere, this process typically taking about one-hundred years if occurred naturally. They will have no recollection of their previous lives, and in fact are practically a brand new Dragon.

However, a Märchen can forsake this ability to reincarnate to give another their power. If a Märchen surrenders their heart to another, provided they are able and compatible, the devouring of the Dragon's heart both gifts the recipient their power, but in turn the Dragon is no longer able to persist.

In the past, the two primary characteristics of a Märchen were known to be six talons on each foot, and the ability to use Stealth Scale.

Stealth Scale
A once rare skill that belonged to the Märchen alone, Stealth Scale grants a Dragon the ability to become completely invisible and difficult to trace, even by spiritually aware means. This skill can be used at ease, however dispels anytime a Dragon uses their spiritual abilities or exerts their presence, and thus makes the ability more viable for hiding, hunting, or ambush rather than direct combat.

In order to hide from the world, Märchen of old gifted the clusters of rescued Dragons and Dragonclads their scales, having them eat them in order to receive this power. Most of what is left of Dragonkind is capable of using this ability and pass it to their children as a result.

Dragonclad Traits

Turning & Bloodlines

Dragonclad in the distant past have come together to form families, Dragonclad who are turned in their lifetime often referred to as ‘Erwacht’ while those from bloodlines are referred to as ‘Drachenkind’. The connecting of Seele from parent to child is as simple as the child being carried to term by Dragonclad parents, a link being most easily formed with a child in the womb of a Dragonclad mother. Though through enough generations, the connection to Seele individuals from a Dragonclad lineage possess are inherently stronger than those who get turned. Due to this strong link, even the human appearances of these children are different than normal humans, possessing more dragon-like qualities.

Spirit-Body Separation

As previously established, the souls of Dragonclad are entirely Dragon, and thus if one were to separate the body and soul of a Dragonclad, the "spirit" would be entirely inhuman. Dragonclad are able to partially manifest their spiritual bodies, often used to form wings or extra appendages as needed, often giving them an advantage in various situations.

A Dragonclad can completely separate their souls from their bodies, not much unlike Shinigami do, however they don't need external tools to do so, their bodies unrestricted by chains or otherwise. Though the initial discovery of this ability tends to happen accidentally during rest, it can be purposefully controlled through a meditative state. Dragonclad lack a Chain of Fate, and thus can roam freely as their spiritual body, while their physical one is left in a resting state. However, whatever happens to a Dragonclad's spirit as it roams will happen to the physical body, so any harm or even death that comes upon them will be real.

Magics

The magics of Dragonkind are numerous and diverse, yet still retaining a sense of structuring. Similar to Kido, they require some form of incantation or ritual to give them power, though the methodology of this goes beyond words - Dragonclad use methods such as runes, ritual circles, material sacrifice, and more in order to fuel their magics, often starting education of the subject when their children first show capabilities of spirituality.

Magics are divided into the traditional dragon elemental typings - with the exceptions of Biest and Rätsel, Dragonclad often will have a comparably more difficult and consumptive time learning spells of other Dragon types. These difficulties can be alleviated by using a wand crafted from parts of the desired Dragon type as a spell conduit, though due to their culture and treatment of Dragons, the parts they are allowed to use tend to not be the most optimal for most spellcrafts.

Biest-derived magics are the easiest to adapt, though Rätsel-derived magics tend to fall into more taboo areas due to their unpredictable and often dangerous nature.

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Taming and Control

Dragonclad inherently draw Dragons to them through their link, their presence inherently endearing to the rest of Dragonkind. Even those with a weaker presence and control of Reishi are able to give off a calming presence to other dragons, more skilled users able to even momentarily settle the rampage of a Deranged Dragon.

Those with a particularly strong link to Seele are able to utilize the power to control animalistic Dragons through their will, not much unlike Märchen. However, such a skill is difficult to nurture as there is no known way to improve one's connection to Seele, even the strongest of user's ability being limited to a few dragons to actively coordinate.

Drachenmantel

Talismans

Vows

Oaths

[LillianVeteran Member]

[OOC Note: This section is going to be a continuous WIP, but it's more just social and historical stuff, and since I actually want to get this done in some timely manner so they're playable... If anyone has any questions about anything NOT covered by this, let me know.]

Clans

Dragonclad families are very tight knit and keep dragons as friends and companions, the very idea of having a Dragon as a pet typically sounding quite abhorrent, considering these beings to be family that they can confide in and have experiences with. Typically, Dragonclad families who grow to be large enough have been known to form clans, forming a hierarchy out of multiple families while having the strongest family as their leader, typically being Dragonclad bloodlines who have lasted through the ages.

These families are typically matriarchal, though there are egalitarian rules - a matriarch typically deciding to rule alongside a male partner, though of course only the females of their generation can pose a challenge. Patriarchal rules are not unheard of, though are typically during times where no female heirs exist, susceptible to being pushed out by their daughters. The rules behind succession are different to each family, but in general it’s typically a situation of either sisters, daughters, or granddaughters challenging the matriarch for the position, since the lead is considered the most capable of their lineage at the time.

Current Status

Due to the multitudes of genocide, home destruction, and overall torment both Dragons and Dragonclad have experienced throughout the centuries, these families are fearful of, or outright untrusting of outsiders, since those very people have forced them to create safe havens for themselves and the Dragons to live within, far into nature and out of most’s reach, as anything less has had a track record of being discovered and destroyed, be it through reckless destruction or targeted attacks.

That isn’t to say they are total isolationists, however. If they are able to find each other, Dragonclad families are known to create avenues of communication and trade between each other, maintaining good relations with the mutual understanding it’s for the better of their people and Dragons. Though there are Dragonclad who have ties to human civilization, able to pass as typical humans relatively easily and operate in society for whatever means, typically to gain resources, wealth, or educational material for those back home.

Many families are able to successfully integrate themselves into human society, typically starting as tradesmen exchanging Dragon-sourced goods for money. As resources gathered from their well cared for Dragons tend to be of mid to high quality, it isn't strange to expect that these families are often in good financial standing, though often have to figure ways to cover up their sources as to keep Dragonkind a safe secret, though this hasn't proven to be a massive task given the cooperative efforts of pre-existing integration predominantly in the East.

Religion & Beliefs

Stories

The First Dragon
It is told in stories that in an old world, a being emerged from the chaos. While it was not the first being to do so, it was the first to possess the shape it did. It roamed the old world, and lived for millennia, it's body ever growing in size, power, and complexity. It possessed thousands of parts, be it eyes, wings, teeth, tails, legs, horns, and far more. Though one day, it had grown just a little too large for the world it dwelled in, and as a consequence, it shattered, all of those shattered pieces possessing pieces of the large organism and pieces of it's power. Thus would be the beginning of the Dragon race, ever connected through being pieces of a greater whole, shards of a single soul.

The Blazing One
Not long after the birth of the heartless ones, The Blazing One came to be. The heartless beings caused illness and distress amongst the Dragon race, but He was able to extinguish the wicked presences. Dragonkind would come to recognize and appreciate this figure, this glow of power and mercy. It is told this figure suddenly vanished, not long before the world faced change, Dragonkind mourning His disappearance. Though He is not worshipped in any deific form, He is eternally immortalized in stories told from parent to child and various small shrines to honor Him.

Our History, Unheard
From Blaze We Rise
To Blight We Fall
May We Be Rekindled

The Age of Blaze

Ancient stories tell of an old world, a world where Dragons flew freely and fearlessly. The world was filled with these creatures, living amongst nature like any other creature would. They gave, they took, they lived.

But then, they would learn they were not alone after some time - other beings too lived in this world, Humans. The two races had minimal interaction, often only coming to spats when their settlements were treading over the Dragon’s grounds. Though most humans could not see them, they certainly were aware of the beasts lurking in the wilds.

However, some humans came around to the wild ones, and extended a hand wishing for understanding and acceptance. These humans were the first to truly understand and bond with Dragons - They were Dragonclad.

However, as time passed, the division between the two would become greater and greater. Humans slowly grew more numerous, more daring, Dragons gradually being pushed from the lands they once freely occupied. Dragonclad were often seen negatively amongst human peers, and were cast out due to their changed selves. They would find company amongst each other and Dragons, forming the first clans as they decided to embrace their wild souls, rather than remain with those who would not understand.

The Land Wars

It was unknown what truly caused this tipping point - Was it the increase of human society’s development? Was it the amount of humans who bonded with and became Dragonclad? Was it merely the changing course of the world? None know for certain what the cause was exactly, but it was one thing for certain - Tragedy.

Dragons were forced far from their homes, pushed deeper and deeper into the wilds, lest they be killed by fearful humans. The first known cases of Derangement occurred at this time, some dragons going wild and rampaging on cities, having absorbed the excessive negative emotions of the humans who dwelled there and losing themselves within them, only to be killed.

Such activity would result in greater forces intervening - To the east, many dragons were ruthlessly killed upon discovery, powerful beings garbed in black and wielding swords, while to the west a similar practice was employed, however they were far more merciful than their eastern equivalent, in that they did not wish to entirely eradicate their species, seeing materialist value in the creatures. Though Dragonclad were an exception to this, killed off as they did not wish to comply with these people’s desire to tightly control the Dragon race, putting incredible pride in their race's freedom and taking the idea of servitude and control very poorly.

The deaths of so many provoked the birth of Marchen, who would rise and attempt to strike back in response to the cries of fury, but ultimately were either killed or driven into hiding with whatever they could save, even their anger proving to be not enough to push back.

The remaining Dragons and Dragonclad, those who were still free, fled deeper into the wilds of the world, residing in places where they could still feel the air of freedom in secrecy, even if their world had shrunk so terribly much.

The Howling

This way of life would not last, even as they were forced more and more into hiding, never given lasting peace, losing many loved ones over time, things would only get worse as the world flooded with howls of those heartless ones. The cries of those beasts would become a permanent mark of fear in the hearts and minds of all Dragonclad and Dragons, their very presence driving their own people to madness and mauling, friends and loved ones cannibalizing each other with the survivors hiding or fleeing in terror.

The survivors who regained their minds after the violence realized what they did, and would live with the guilt of their frenzied selves' actions. The matriarchs of several families decided this could no longer stand, and devised a plan - they would create homes beneath the earth with their combined efforts, and reside underground. They would give up their freedom, for the hope of the future.

The Age of Kindling Flames

Dragonkind live.

Though many hid away, more had taken the pressure to adapt to the new world, mingling with human society in order to gain some foothold in the world. Cooperative efforts have been done between the currently known matriarchs to maintain the Dragon race, but there are many who do not desire the life of hiding.

For the worst sin to do unto a dragon is to strip them of their freedom.