A Modern Index to the Dragons of England including helpful illustrations as to their nature and appearance, with commentary from the Dragons themselves.
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Sea Dragon: Species Unknown
A very solitary creature. Many of these wide, flat-bodied sea dragons do not realize thier powers of persuasion can be used on anything other than fish. To be fair, they have very little contact with warm blood and little motivation to do anything else.
All told they are a quite happy species. Only one known attack has ever occurred, but that involved a truly unfortunate anchor drop, not only scaring off a very large and tasty looking fish, but also chipping several of the dragon’s teeth.
Drake, Thorny tropical drake
A rather peculiar example of persuasion from around the world.
This specimen was found in the collection of a naturalist after a visit to the southern edge of Terra Australis.
Of the several specimens of what the dragon-deaf naturalist believed were all simple, though exotic, lizards, two were found to be draconic in nature. (And duly confiscated and liberated by Blue Order officials)
Interestingly, the dragons, species of small drakes, were nearly identical to the natural lizards, thus avoiding the need for active persuasion.
It is believed that because the continent of Terra Australis is only sparsely populated, this dragon has faced more threats from mundane creatures than man. Thus, it appears, it was forced to rely on camouflage for its protection from predation, supporting the position of many Blue Order researchers that persuasion was specifically developed in response to human presence.
Cockatrice: Species unknown
This newly discovered cockatrice species favors the warm, wet climates of tropical islands. The occasional individual found in England usually complains of having been blown off course by a storm while seeking shelter in the warmest place availalbe.
Of all the draconics that disguise themselves as avian, none seem as obviously draconic in appearance as this species. While its colorations fit its environment and the local fauna, its excessively angular features make its draconic nature quite clear to hearers.
However, the obviousness of this specimen is exclusive to facsiminal depictions. In person, this dragon’s above-average skills of persuasion make up for its striking draconic features.
Sea Dragon: Water Fairy Dragon
What I have taken to calling a Water Fairy Dragon, is a beautiful, but surprisingly innimble specimen. While their sky-based cousins flit about with ease, the Water Fairy is largely subject to the whims of the current.
They appear to primarily feed by filtering debris from the water they float around. This makes them quite sensitive to water quality. While the antigue Pendragon census records suggests they once inhabited Thames, I have found no evidence they have been found in centuries. I attribute this to the growing stench of London
AXOLOTL
The study of native cultures and languages is often incredibly helpful in identifying novel draconic species. This particular specimen’s native name is perhaps the most direct example of this. The natives of this region have named it after one of their more significant deities, the Xototl.
I fear that why this small salamander-resembling dragon was named after a dog-faced god of evil will be never fully understood. The destruction of native records and disruption of oral tradition by the spanish conquest has appeared to destroy any line of inquiry I might have followed.
My working theory is that this new world dragon has, in addition to its innate persuasion, a related sense of the larger creatures around it. As I hope my depiction shows this creature is quite delightful and too precious for harming it to be conceivable. However, this reaction may be cultural and a different perception may be more advantageous to a different culture. Perhaps, convincing the natives it was the embodiment of a fierce evil diety, they would be left in greater peace, perhaps fed as a form of offering.
I will continue to survey the dragons of the new world for similar tendencies.
Queen Fairy Dragon
A rare form of fairy dragon, also called the Queen Fairy dragon.
An exceedingly interesting, if frustrating, case both for what we can understand from it regarding the nature of our draconic peers and as to our influence upon them.
The “Crowned Pigeon Dragon” as it is often called, is a beautifully adorned, feather-scaled, bird-type dragon, found impersonating pigeons in only the most well-kept, prestigious peristeronic estates. Of great interest, though, is the appearance of two different underlying species of dragon with very similar appearance, living in dovecotes, persuading the warm-blooded community they are the same, unusual sort of pigeon.
Of the examples of ‘Crowned Pigeon Dragon’ found, about 70% are Queen Fairy dragons. The Queens not only roost themselves but gradually drive off the pigeons who are not happy to cohabitate with these fairy dragons, and replace them in the roost with their own offspring. Thus creating a whole colony of fairy dragons that persuade the pigeon fanciers that they are merely unusual pigeons. Such colonies operate under the auspices of a matriarch, rather than the usual harem structure found in fairy dragon colonies.
The remaining 30% of ‘Crowned Pigeon Dragons’ are a species of cockatrice. The cockatrice variants do not develop their own colony within the roost. One or two individuals live among the pigeons and prey upon vermin and predators around the colony, taking symbiotic advantage of the food source, while providing protection for the colony.
Most fascinating is that the pigeons around these Crowned Pigeon Cockatrice, treat the dragon with great deference and often entrust their nests and hatchlings to them. In turn the cockatrice accept the recognition of their dominance and fiercely protect the young pigeons.
The origin of these unique dragons remains a mystery. Most dragon-hearing persterons refused to speak with investigators, suggesting they had some special knowledge regarding the origins of these unique dragons. Smuggling is not suspected but is entirely possible.
BLUE Spice Snake Dragon
Hailing from the Dutch spice islands, this snake-type species has been given the uninspired local name of “Blue Spice Snake Dragon.” I am still trying to determine what the local population calls itself.
The lone species representative in England was rescued from a Dutch ship as part of a smuggled cargo. It seems, like many small domestic dragons, this specimen was collected for its naturally unique color. As such I am adding it to the list of dragons at particular risk for capture and use in the smuggling trades. Unfortunately, since its habitat appears to be exclusively in the Dutch Indies , Blue Order protections will be difficult to enact.
Adding to the difficulty in enforcing these restrictions is this specimen’s similarity with its local viper population. While the draconic snakes are a striking blue, the true vipers are nearly identical in size, texture, and features, only their striking green color differentiate them to the dragon-deaf eye. except they are strikingly green. Locals, who often kill the vipers on sight due to their hemorrhagic venom, are sufficiently prejudiced against the true vipers that they often resist the persuasive attempts of the Blue Spice Dragons that the ‘blue snakes’ should not be meddled with.
Notes for further investigation: in addition to the Blue Spice Snake Dragon and the Green Pit Viper, there are reports of semi-blue serpents. This has led some members of the Order to speculate on the possibility of snake-dragon hybrids within the larger population. No such specimens have been collected to permit investigation.
Pink underwing moth
(The extraordinary specimen spotted in Currumbin Valley on the Gold Coast, Queensland, is the larvae of one of Australia’s most threatened species – the endangered Pink Underwing Moth.)
The currently named “Australian Psuedo-Larval Moth Dragon” hails from far eastern coast of Australia. While we have been able to glean remarkably little from the one draconic specimen collected by the naturalist on the exploratory expedition, there were remarkably similar true larval moths in his collection and a potential adult moth specimen.
This has led to the natural speculation of how far this dragon’s lifecycle mirrors the moth. While we are familiar with the general lifecycle of western dragons: eggs hatch into hatchlings that resemble small often oddly proportioned version of their adult counterparts but no complete metamorphosis like in the common moth or butterfly. However, the specimen collected in Australia appears entirely unique in its bodily composition. No clearly defined bones or teeth, rather much more similar to an insect.
Further investigation is needed to find a fully grown specimen or to otherwise observe its lifecycle. This specimen could be the first insect-type dragon observed by the Order and might entirely rewrite our fundamental understanding of our dragon compatriots.