Species Name: TRANSYLVANIAN GHOSTWING
Location: Transylvania, parts of North America
Appearance:
This bizarre dragon carries an ethereal white coloration. Its wings are almost see through and are lined with tiny, royal blue veins.
Overview:
The Transylvanian Ghostwing is perhaps, the most bizarre dragon species in the world. Found primarily in the mist covered forests of Transylvania, it nevertheless makes it's home throughout the forests of North America, preferring undisturbed forests above all. While in flight or on land, this dragon makes absolutely no sound, consequently particularly astute researchers have given it the nickname of the "owl dragon". They are particularly wary of humans and generally prefer to slip away unnoticed, rather than attack when there are intruders in its territory.
Diet:
The Ghostwing is an all round carnivore but strangely, wild specimens have been observed to only go after prey with white or silver coats. These means that cows in particular, but also albino animals, are fair game for the Ghostwing.
Skill with Fire:
Like the Swedish Short-Snout, the Ghostwing's 'Liquid Fire' is extremely efficient. Its flames are bluish-white, with some records claiming them to reach temperatures in the early six thousands. In flame intensity, aside from Short-Snout, it is rivaled solely by the Spitfire and the Chinese Oriental.
Relationship with Humans:
Native American legends speak of this dragon with great fear as its stealth and ethereal coloration led them to consider the beast as a bad omen. Indeed, many a potential farmland or homestead were abandoned simply because a Ghostwing either flew past or chose to nest there. It probably didn't help matters that European colonists ruthlessly utilized Hebridean Blacks and other dragon species to decimate the Native American magical community, increasing the survivors' fear of dragons in general. Even today, remnants of these unfortunate tribes look disfavorably upon dragons.
This sad chapter in Britain's history is rarely mentioned when the topic of our colonism attempts is brought up. Perhaps this overly harsh response can be explained by the shocking discovery of the incredibly advanced magical populations in Africa and Asia; places which were widely thought to be primitive. Hence, the colonists' decision to take the land by force rather than risk being swamped by another advanced magical civilization. This, of course, does not excuse their behavior; we do not seek to exonerate rather to educate. That is the purpose of this work after all.
Mating Rituals:
Like most other dragon species, Transylvanian Ghostwings mate in the spring to summer months, with individual heat periods sometimes stretching into the winter months. Females in heat gradually begin to fade until they are almost transparent, then they take flight and bask in the sunniest places they can find. This makes them incredibly hard to see, even with the Ghostwing's excellent vision and only males that successfully make contact with a female (sometimes by sheer luck) will earn the right to mate.
Eggs are laid in groves and other such thickly wooded places, covered up with leaves and debris, then abandoned by the mother. The young dragon hatches out in ten weeks, just as transparent as the its mother, until sometime around its fourth year, when it is old and big enough to protect itself.
Best Product:
Ghostwing scales are currently being studied to see if they can be appropriated into invisibility cloaks.
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Species Name: TURKISH QUARTERBACK
Location: Turkey
Appearance:
This dragon's scales are a dull brown, with unimpressive black markings. It's truly distinguishing features are the large, membranous wings on its back.
Overview:
Native to Turkey, but found in parts of Iran, Iraq, Greece and much of what is known as Eurasia, it is the dragon with the largest wingspan relative to body size and the dragon with the largest wingspan period. Stretching up to 15 meters, these unusually broad wings are ridged and divided in such a way as to give the illusion that the Quarterback actually possesses four wings. This gives it the unique ability to hover for indefinite periods of time.
Like the Ghostwing, they are wary of humans and will take great pains to avoid crossing paths with us if possible; sometimes abandoning entire nesting areas. They have a great preference for hot and dry locales and because of this, are rarely found in their native land.
Diet:
This is unknown simply because the dragon chooses to nest in remote and extremely hot deserts where humans cannot survive for long – even with the aid of magic. It is theorized that they may be omnivorous, feasting on cactus as well as lizards, snakes, and other such fare.
Skill with Fire:
Surprisingly for a dragon of its size, the Quarterback is a poor fire breather. Specimens in the Romanian reservation have been known to have flame ranges of around 7 – 9 meters, with the coloration being a dull red. As stated above, they actively avoid conflicts and will generally prefer to flee than attack. Consequently, anyone claiming to have been attacked by a Turkish Quarterback is immediately suspect for having willfully aggravated the beast.
Relationship with Humans:
Despite its skittishness towards humans, Turkish Quarterbacks occupy a favorable niche among the locals. It is the national symbol of the Magical Nation of Turkey, with displays in honor of the dragon being held every National day. The sighting of a Turkish Quarterback during last year's celebrations caused much fervor and was taken as a sign of good times ahead by local Turks. The dragons also appear in various stories, often as wise guardians of treasure who bestow them upon worthy heroes. This may have arisen because of the Quarterback's tendency of nesting in abandoned ruins and temples.
Mating Rituals:
Again, because of the harsh nature of its habitat, most expeditions to study the Quarterback have either returned empty handed or not returned at all. It is known that they lay large, earth colored eggs, whose shells are the thickest of all the dragon species. The young escape from these through unknown means, as there is no obvious feature on the Quarterback like Horntail's tail spikes to explain how they do this. It is theorized that the Quarterback may form families like the Common Welsh Green, but the frustrating lack of information available makes this, at best, an educated guess.
Best Product:
Research is underway concerning the discarded eggshells of the Ridgeback as it is believed that they may make excellent construction materials.
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Species Name: UKRAINIAN IRONBELLY
Location: Ukraine
Appearance:
Ukrainian Ironbellies have metallic grey scales, deep red eyes and particularly long and vicious talons.
Overview:
The largest breed of dragon, the Ironbelly has been known to achieve a weight class of six tones. Though it is rotund and slower in flight than the Vipertooth or the Longhorn, the Ironbelly is nevertheless capable of crushing dwellings on which it lands. They are not very aggressive, but will not tolerate incursions into their territories and will retaliate with extreme force.
Diet:
This dragon has a massive appetite and will feed on anything it can fit into its mouth; hence, birds, reptiles, insects and mammals are all on the menu.
Skill with Fire:
The Ironbelly's distinctive swollen belly holds a large amount of pyrosacs, making it so that – outside of the African Bigsnout – it is the dragon with the ability to extrude the greatest amount of flame. Its 'Liquid Fire' is particularly sticky, giving its bright yellow flames some napalm like qualities.
Relationship with Humans:
Save for the Romanian reservation's Dragon Tamers, barely anyone else bothers to rear this dragon. Its great size, short temper and the fact that it doesn't seem to make any distinction between humans and food has kept prospective Tamers away. The Ironbelly has been a subject to constant observation by the Ukrainian Wizardkind authorities ever since an Ironbelly carried off a (mercifully empty) sailing boat from the Black Sea in 1799. In the magazine Witch Weekly's Most Feared Dragons list, the Ukrainian Ironbelly ranks extremely high, superseded solely by the Ridgeback and the Fireball.
Mating Rituals:
The Ironbelly is one of the few creatures that doesn't have a mating ritual or season, with individuals simply mating when and wherever they feel like it. They lay two slate grey eggs, roughly the size of a human child, which they immediately abandon to its fate. The young hatch out in two to three days and spend most of their youth hiding from the cannibalistic adults until they hit sexual maturity at age ten.
Best Product:
It has been said that wands made from Ironbelly heartstring are particularly gifted with engorgement charms.
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Species Name: WELSH FLOWERCATCHER
Location: Wales
Appearance:
Welsh Flowercatcher's are very beautiful dragons with white eyes and scales bearing patterns of the colors of the flowers it eats the most.
Overview:
This gentle dragon is found solely in Wales, though populations have been introduced on mainland Britain and the Romanian reservations. It will only nest in valleys and flowering meadows, preferably close to a fast flowing stream or river. They are extremely tolerant of humans, even going as far as forming strong bonds with Dragon Tamers assigned to care for them. However their tolerance has a limit, and attacks on foolhardy humans are not unheard of.
Diet:
The Welsh Flowercatcher is the only herbivorous dragon in the world, with a huge preference towards colorful flowers and fruits, though it has been known to eat meat on occasion.
Skill with Fire:
The Flowercatcher's herbivorous diet has affected its 'Liquid Fire' causing the flames its extrudes to carry a green coloration. They are not particularly hot (barely reaching 1000℃) and serves mainly as a warning signal.
Relationship with Humans:
The Flowercatcher enjoys a very favorable reputation among Dragon Tamers; only the Common Welsh Green is higher, ranking high in The Daily Prophet's Most Popular Dragons list. Its calm disposition and unique green flames has made it a favorite amongst children and there are whole lines of toys dedicated to this iconic beast.
Mating Rituals:
The Welsh Flowercatcher's mating rituals are quite short and straight to the point, with the male approaching the female with an offering of flowers. Chosen flowers are usually sweet smelling and brightly colored, with some species being more favored than others. Mating occurs for at least three days, interrupted solely to eat and relive themselves. A single, jade green egg is laid by the mother and is cared for by her until it hatches in about a month; after which it has to fend for itself.
Best Product:
Like the Welsh Green, the Flowercatcher's blood has found popular use in Love potions.
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