Draux

Draux are one of the oldest species of mammal on Sekkai. In all appearance they resemble a dragon with their long, slender necks and arching bodies, along with their reptilian heads and whip-like tail. Despite their physical appearance, draux are not reptiles and lack scales of any sort.

Appearance

Although draux have bodies similar to dragons, they have smooth, virtually hairless skin instead of scales. Each draux has a mane of silken hair which runs along their spine. Their feet have three toes on the front legs and four on the hind. Draux also possess wings, which are extremely similar to those of a bat, though they lack the ability of true flight. They can instead glide with ease in most conditions. Draux also have short muzzles which connect flawlessly to their forehead, a joining that results in a slightly slanted, but flat, face. Each draux has a distinctive pair of ears, their length varying depending on classification.

Draux come in a myriad of colors, from the brightest and most vivid of shades to the drab and dreary. The majority of draux come in plain colors, neither bright nor dark. Females tend to have a brighter coloring while males are usually more subdued. Draux also have a variety of markings which appear to be limited only by the possible breeding combinations.


Draux are for the most part frugivores. Although they possess long canines, these are used to tearing through the thick skin of their favorite fruit, which is the culmination of many years on a kahna tree. They often eat bits of grass while browsing, as well as leaves and berries but prefer larger fruits and melons. They do not, though, eat vegetables of any sort. Rice is also a staple of theirs, often eating it with a fruit sauce.

Draux often reside in herds, living with others of the same gender and classification in a pasture. This pasture contains fruit trees and vast stretches of grass, as well as sources of moving water for drinking and deep pools for bathing.

In previous years draux made up a good portion of the ground forces, along with dire and Earth dragons. When fighting, they were often armored and used the blades attached to their armor to combat a foe. Claws and fangs are also effective, though when young these are soft and can break easily.

Draux young are born live, often into litters consisting of four or five, though some litters have been recorded as containing a massive thirteen to fourteen young. Draux mature fairly quickly, often over a period of six months. They are able to breed at the age of eight months. Breeding is controlled by draux owners, often breeding draux of the same or similar classification to come up with the strongest results.

Draux As Pets

With the advent of the Infection spread by Nidhogg's Influenza agents the Sekkaian terran forces were targeted harshly and almost all fighting draux were killed off. Not targeted were the toy draux which had been bred as pets of nobles in Lihn. This led to a population boom in the rare dwarf mutation and birthed a trend of fancy draux bred for show.

Toy draux are, at the largest, comparable to Great Danes in size and are incapable of carrying a rider. They come in a variety of colors, often brighter than their extinct cousins and their wings are generally too short to be capable of true flight. Because they are not expected to fulfil any work-related purpose there was room to develop their silky manes, colour and body shapes for purely aesthetic value.

While their bond is similar to that of the former fighting draux, it is considerably more limited even though they are still very intelligent animals. They are regarded as precious pets and can be very expensive and hard to obtain with only the high nobility in the Inner Ring possessing them, and rarely at that.