CBOX

[ButterflyStorm]

"Riverdragons"

(Please note that riverdragons are a relatively new mutation/evolution of common dragons, and are considered a subspecies, not an independent species all of their own. Riverdragons are ranked the same as normal dragons, placed in wings, and go through the same training, though all females are automatically placed in the Queen's wing. They also will commonly serve as guards at the Hold and Weyr.)

This unusual new mutation was quickly dubbed 'the riverdragons', in homage to their more recognized, smaller cousins. Indeed, these dragons bear a striking resemblance to riverlizards, sharing the creatures' low-slung, sinuous bodies and preference for water. Similarly, their legs are shorter and their toes are longer and webbed. Though the dragons only have the usual, singular set of wings, their wingsails are wider and slightly thicker than regular dragons. This build makes the dragons gawky on the ground and it will take riverhatchlings an exceptionally long time learn to keep control of their feet, wings, and tails long enough to walk anywhere without tripping. But the awkward adults become graceful in the air, and breathtaking in the water.

The modified build allows these dragons to swim exceptionally well, and every riverdragon seems to be most at home within the water. There are few creatures that can outmatch these dragons under the waves. Riverdragons are able to fly, but the same mutations that aide their swimming hinder these dragons' manoueverability. Their stamina seems to be slightly increased, with the help of their thicker wings, and the length of their bodies is balanced by their thinner forms, keeping the flying speed of these dragons to remain average with normal dragons.

This mutation seems able to affect all ranks of dragons, though blood, calico, gold, white, and bronze river dragons are incredibly rare. Some have theorized that the mutation has a way of discerning the dragon's color, as all can agree that those rare colors are the least able to camouflage themselves underwater. Unsurprisingly the most prevalent colors seem to be green, blues, and darknesses. Each riverdragon also seems to possess a stronger mental bond with their riders, a trait that has proven useful for their underwater swimming, for any prolonged swim must be performed riderless. It would be impossible for a human to hold their breath to match their dragon.

While every riverdragon's personality, and gender stays true to the color of their hide, every specimen seems to be fertile. Females fly as often as is usual for their rank, but every Flight thusfar recorded has produced eggs. Strangely enough, with their universal fertility, clutch sizes remain exceedingly small. The largest clutch recorded was 5 eggs, from the maidenflight of the only gold riverdragon hatched up to this point in time. Average clutchsize is 2-3 eggs. Riverdragons are able to breed with normal dragons, and even within the clutch of two riverparents, the percentage of river offspring to normal hatchlings is unpredictable. 'Normal' riverdragon offspring do seem to act as carriers, and should a male win a flight, or a female of the normal clutching ranks, there is a slim chance that the resulting clutch may contain riverdragon offspring.

The discovery of universal fertility has kept every female (and many of the males) riverdragon from ingesting firestone, and automatically put those dragons out of the flaming count during Threadfall. This has caused some weyrfolk to complain of the dragons usefulness. Many riverdragons volunteer to run stones or keep watch during a Fall, or find another way to give contribution to the Weyr.

Advantages
~Exceptional swimming skills--potential to plan underwater spying trips/attacks, fishing, etc with the help of riverdragons
~Heightened bondstrength between dragon and rider
~Increased stamina
~Ability to clutch


Disadvantages
~Majority cannot flame
~Decreased manoueverability
~Any prolonged swimming must be done without rider--therefore the dragon must be trusted to judge its own instincts in whatever situation encoutered
~Very ungainly on land

[ButterflyStorm]

The Forsaken'
(Please note that the Forsaken are a new to Lyris mutation, the result of breeding between a wher and a dragon done at the Holds. The eggs were 'stolen', and taken to Lyris, and thus, no Forsaken can be created at this time.)

Also known as wher-dragons, these poor creatures are neither dragon nor wher, they are the reviled bastards born of a forced mating. Usually a captured female dragon is tied down during her Heat and forced to mate with a higher ranked male wher, or a gold/moonstone wher is mated by a small captured dragon male. Though the first of these experiments resulted in the death of the mother and resulted in few Forsaken, these children mated with whers and occasionally threw one of these creatures.

Forsaken Whers are medium sized, usually about blue or brown, but with truly enormous wings that would belong on a dragon of that rank, long legs on a greyhound like body, gnarled hide, a short, bulldog face, and an even shorter, stumpy nub of a tail. Flying is extremely hard for them at first, and they can carry their rider only, but they are extremely fast as well as long-winded, and will quickly find a place in the Weyr as scouts and messengers, lasting easily twice as long as dragons.

All Forsaken are born fertile, but it is a hit-or-miss with their breeding, as they can either be Flown by small dragons or Chased by large whers, if either dragons or whers can be given to Chase, and their bodies tend to reject most eggs. Forsaken have no Queens, and all known 'ranks' can come as both males or females equally. Their intelligence is quite surprising considering their lineage, on par with a mid-ranked, though they do have a tendency to be somewhat flighty.

All Forsaken whers end their names in -set, rather than -sk or -th.

All Forsaken whers are ranked just above a Blue.

Types
-Storms : Typically slightly larger. Their hides are a mix of gray-washed purples, blues, and greens that can be lighter or darker, and with any pattern.
-Lunar : Slightly smaller than most Forsaken, more delicate and elegant. Their hides are non-metallic silvery-gray or golden-yellow with black or white markings.
-Unknown

Advantages
-Incredibly quick in the air with amazing endurance, even flying higher than a dragon normally would, as well as able to move about quickly as scouts or messengers.
-Able to remember short messages on their own.
-All specimens have proved fertile so far.
-Generally very even tempered, and have proven smarter than whers.

Disadvantages
-Will not accept multiple bonds.
-Unable to Between or Flame.
-Fertility is spotty, and usually the mother will abort the eggs in vitro.
-Are looked upon as curiosities by many, and looked down upon by some, and are completely new to the weyr, needing a training system that most are unfamiliar with.
-Forsaken often have a hard time fitting in due to their background.