How to Train Your Dragon: Flame of the Isle
Chapter 1: A Field Guide
To whomever reads this, I hope it will serve you well. It is time to learn about the dragons that call the Isles home. For a dragon-rider, it's common knowledge to be well-versed in all the other species of dragons. There are many kinds of dragon in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and The Isle of Man. Each region has a few of their own dragon species.
Dragons of the Isle are classified under the broad category of 'Long-Snouts'. They are also known as the 'Classic Dragons'. Look at it this way, one will never find a dragon in the Isles that is overweight. They are toned, and healthy and very fast flyers. With all that being said, let's begin our journey into the realm of Dragons of the Isles. Care to join me?
Wales
'Welsh Red'
Often found in Central Wales, consider yourself lucky if you encounter this species of dragon and live to tell the tale. Their chevron-shaped armor plating is as red as blood. They are heavily covered in spikes with prominent ones on the elbows of their front legs, and often have two sets of black horns and large wings. Couple this with sharp teeth, and fire
Welsh Red Dragons are difficult to tame. They are notoriously territorial, and do keep hoards of treasure either taken from people that 'go missing' or from other dragons. Sad to say, this dragon has a reputation for eating people. Most incidents occur when people will stray too far into their territory, and this is why being a shepherd in Wales is dangerous
'Dolaucothi Gold'
Due to being very curious around humans, the Dolaucothi Gold is a favorite for Welsh Dragon-Riders. They have long snouts with a small snout spike, and chin spike. They have smaller spikes around the eyes, and the backs of the lower jaws. They have two sets of horns similar to those of a goat. They have chevron under-plates, and serpentine scales.
This species is most common in Western Wales. One other name this species goes by among the Welsh is the 'Ogofau Whiteflame' as it breathes white fire instead of the usual orange or red fire of most other species. The Dolaucothi Gold are known to be rivals with the Welsh Red Dragons, and often do fight each other for territory and nesting grounds
'Aberdaron Sapphire'
This is a coastal dwelling species seen as a moderate difficulty in terms of being able to tame. In terms of it's appearance, it is similar to the Irish 'Benbulbin Emerald'. The only difference is that this species scales are a beautiful shade of blue. Other than it's claws, teeth, and fire breath, this one has a two spike tail bludgeon that it uses for self-defense.
Like it's Irish relative, this species is highly intelligent. This species chooses it's rider rather than a rider choosing the dragon. Like most species, the females are larger than the males. As a coastal dragon, it is also an accomplished swimmer and swims in water in the same manner that a serpent does. It's diet consists mainly of fish, but it will scavenge
Ireland
'Mount Gabriel Copper'
Like the Welsh Red, the Mount Gabriel Copper is the most dangerous dragon in all of Ireland. It's strikingly beautiful with it's copper-colored scales with black underbelly chevron armor-plating and twenty turquoise scales going down the sides from the top of the neck to the tail. This type has a long chisel-point snout, scythe-like horns and heavily spiked
Also like it's Welsh counterpart, it too is known to eat people. It's jaws are lined with sharp, chisel-shaped teeth which are also serrated, making them good for tearing into the flesh of it's victims. A very opportunistic hunter, it will eat anything it can get it's claws on from cattle to sheep or any human that strays too far into it's territory. Nothing is safe.
'Lowland Bronze'
This species is the easiest to tame of all the Irish Dragons. Found around Central Ireland from Limerick to Leitrim, like most Isle Dragons they can reach the height of a two level house at the peak of their maturity. They have one small upward-facing snout spike, and two small downward-facing chin spikes. They have a single pair of large goat-like horns
This species is best to those that are new to Dragon-Riding. The hatchlings can be temperamental, but it does not take long for them to warm up to a chosen rider. The 'Lowland Bronze' is known as a very graceful flyer with a large row of black-tipped spikes going down the length of it's back with two other small rows to the left and right of the main row
'Benbulbin Emerald'
Named after the flat-topped rock where the first nesting colony was discovered by the Ancient Celts, this is said to be the most beautiful of the Irish Dragons. A relative of the Aberdaron Sapphire, this species has a pointed snout, and a pair of sword-like horns. These dragons are found in the Northern Counties like Tyrone, Antrim, and County Down.
Like it's Welsh cousin, this dragon species is very smart and will choose it's riders rather than the rider choosing the dragon. Though there are a few known incidents of dragon species attacking flocks of sheep, goats, and even the catches of fishermen, there hasn't been an encounter that has resulted in human fatalities in well over one thousand years
Scotland
'Hebridian Mountain King'
The largest species. Adults are as big as mountains. It has a long snout with two rows of spikes going down the bridge to a chisel-shaped end, and slightly longer spikes behind the cheeks. It has two pairs of straight black horns, a small pair and a large pair. A large row of spikes goes down it's back with large wings, and silver scales with dark blue tips
These dragons live in the mountains hence their name. If a traveler were to be in it's presence, and bow to the dragon as a show of respect, the dragon will bow back and allow the traveler to pass. If proper respect is not given to the dragon, then the dragon will eat you as punishment. Still, if one earns the respect of 'The King', you might be an expert.
'Stirling War-Forged'
Ever wonder why there are so few Roman ruins in Scotland? This is why. It is said that the Picts rode these dragons, and used them to drive away the invaders. This very colorful species has silver chevron under-plates, and copper-colored scales that fade to black on it's back with large black spikes. It is swift on it's wings, making for a formidable charger
Sometimes known by locals as the 'Bannockburn Black-Leg' because some do migrate to the Bannockburn to fish, and raise their young. This species also has a large, sickle-like claw on it's second digit of it's front paws which it uses to pin down it's prey. This species has a single pair of black sword-like horns which make putting a bridle on it very simple
'Great Highland Claymore'
So named because it's scales are silver like the blade of a sword, this handsome, medium-sized dragon is comparable in size to an Irish Benbulbin Emerald or a Welsh Aberdaron Sapphire. This long-snout dragon has eight backward-facing spikes on the bridge of it's muzzle, and chin spikes with the two largest in front and smaller ones moving to the neck
It's armor is a mix of chevron under-belly plates, and serpentine scales. It has a single pair of straight, twisting horns made of ivory. It has back spikes shaped like the thorns of a rose, and three long spikes on the end of it's tail that it uses as a weapon along with it's teeth, claws, and fire-breath. This dragon has a mild temper, and mild taming difficulty
The Isle of Man
'Manx Whitefang'
The soul dragon of the Isle of Man, this species is also the rarest of all the Isle Dragons. Completely white from the tip of it's snout to the spade-shaped tip of it's tail with silver-grey tiger-like stripes. It has small backward-facing spikes on the bridge of it's pointed muzzle, along the sides, below the chin and longer straight spikes on the backs of the jaw
The only things not white in color are it's silver grey twisting goat horns, and long curved claws. Rarely ever spotted in the wild, the last recorded sighting was on Snaefell over one hundred years ago. Not much is known of it's temperament or how well it interacts with humans. What is known is that the Isle of Man is a popular nesting area for Dragons.
England
'Midland Red-Black'
Only the best of dragon-riders, or darkest hearts can tame a Midland Red-Black. It's comparable to the 'Mount Gabriel Copper' and 'Welsh Red' in terms of danger to humans. It's scales start off as black, and fade to dark red with black chevron underbelly plates. It has two sets of straight horns, and is heavily spiked from it's long pointed snout to it's tail.
What makes this species of dragon even more dangerous is that it's the only species of dragon with a venomous bite. It's two main fangs have a potent venom. One drop can kill a man in two minutes. This dragon is also known as a bully to other dragons, and do bully other dragons out of nest grounds, and caves. One must use caution with this species.
'Sheffield Arrowhead'
Named so because when flying over this dragon, observers found that the head shape looks just like a bodkin arrowhead. This is the most common dragon in Northern England. Like all Isle Dragons, it's well-toned and muscled. It has one pair of straight horns and three lower jaw cheek spikes on each side of the head, and large spike row down it's back
Of all the English Dragons, this one is the easiest to tame, and also the fastest. It's horse-like temperament makes it a helpful companion to those in Northern England looking to get into dragon-riding. They are a medium-sized species when fully matured, comparable to a full-grown Midland Red-Black. In flight, their speed takes some time to get used to
'Cornish Graceful Blue'
This colorful species of dragon is known for it's beautiful scales which are cerulean blue with black tips. Common from the Isles of Scilly to North and South East Cornwall, this chisel-snouted dragon sports black chevron underbelly plates, and three long black spikes on the end of it's tail resembling a trident which it uses as a weapon for self-defense.
Although docile and approachable to humans in the wild as they share a curiosity of humans like the Welsh Dolaucothi Gold and Irish Lowland Bronze, they are a rival species of the Midland Red-Black, and fight over nesting grounds, caves, and other items of value. This species does hoard treasure not as riches, but they find gold coins to be comfortable
Well, that concludes the lecture on all the known species of dragon in the isles from Ireland to Wales. I really hope you all learned something new today. Maybe there is a dragon among the species that fits your fancy. Whether you start off as a beginner or your have experience with other dragons, I highly recommend you give these dragons their chance
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