Post by Storm on Feb 25, 2010 18:57:41 GMT -5
Amphiptere:
Many people have over looked these dragons. Instead, they have dubbed them "winged wurms" or "wyverns". In fact, they are a separate race all together. These dragons only have wings, and possess no other limbs. Most of these creatures are depicted with feather-wings. However, a small few are know to have bat wings. In Mexican mythology, the Quetzalcoatl, one of the famed Amphipteres, flies overhead and appears as a shimmering serpent.
Drake:
One of the seldom heard of species, drakes are much like western dragons. Unlike them, however, these dragons have no wings, only four legs. They vary from type to type, but they usually fire-bearing creatures. Like the Western Dragons, too, they come in different "styles". Some are extremely serpantile, with long, skinny bodies that stretch out wide and long, whip-like tails. Others, however, have much thicker bodies. These are usually portrayed as medium-sized western dragons without wings.
Faerie Dragon:
Faerie dragons are thought to be among the smallest of all dragons. Many people believe that they are related to butterflies, as they usually have butterfly-shaped wings. Most of the faerie dragons consort with the faeries, and they seldom to never eat meat. They are also considered to have many bug-like qualities with them. They are often depicted with antennas, for instance. Also, most people see them as mini-Western style dragons. However, there has been an occasion when a wyvern type faerie dragon has appeared.
Eastern Dragon:
Unlike their abhorred counterpart the Western dragon, the Eastern dragons were respected among those of the East. They are made up of several different species, and each species contributes a piece of the dragon. Furthermore, the dragon is a symbol of balance, as the dragon had a total number of one hundred and seventeen scales, with a specific balance of yin and yang scales. Eastern dragons are also one of the twelve zodiacs, and many people hope to have their children in the Year of the Dragon. The dragons, however, tend to be bossy. Other than that, they have wonderful leadership skills as well as a good deal of luck and charisma. Also associated to weather and nature, many people asked these dragons for rain during the drier months. They also pleaded for good weather. When ever there was a bad occurrence in the weather or in crops, people were sure man was doing something wrong to the dragons. Eastern dragons vary in slight ways from Japanese, Chinese, to Korean. This is based primarily on their toes, but there are a few extra difference about them. Japanese dragons have three toes while Chinese dragons have five toes. Korean dragons have four toes.
Western Dragon:
When people hear the term dragon, they usually think of the western dragon. The western dragon is usually a large reptilian beast with bat wings and four legs. Commonly, there are two hind legs and two fore legs, and, while the dragon may walk on all four of them, the dragon can also sit back on the haunches and use its fore legs. These dragons also tend to be highly decorated. Their crocodile-shaped heads (also referred to as Wedge-shaped) usually have horns on them or elaborate ears. They may also have spines down their back, and have thick, rudder-tails. Most people picture western dragons as particularly cruel creatures that horde gold and torture small towns. For the most part, older stories told of dragons are fire-breathers, but some Acid-spitters as well as Ice-breathers have now been appearing. Usually, their abilities are reflected in their scales. While some cultures felt pain towards dragons, others believed that they were superior beings that would bring gifts to you if you managed to slay one. For instance, some say that if you eat a heart of a dragon, you will understand the birds. Other things include rubbing dragon's blood against the skin, which supposedly protected you from stab wounds, and eating a dragons tongue, which allocated you the power to win any fight of words. Viking used to have dragons along the sides of their boats, and there are many English crests and coat of arms that feature dragons upon them. Today, their symbol is still strong. The Welsh flag has a red dragon on it.
Hydra:
It is believed that the hydra's first major appearance with in Greek mythology. When found in history, this creature is usually a serpentile creature with multiple heads. However, many people now depict the hydra as a sort of western-style dragon with multiple heads and/or tails. Though the Greeks were not the first people to tell the story of a hydra, their stories of Jason and Hercules are perhaps the most popular. As one of the great tasks Hercules was suppose to do, he slew a hydra. Jason, in his mission to save the Golden Fleece, also fought and killed one. Some Hydra's can have multiple personalities, one for each of the heads it has. But for some, one head controls the rest of the heads.
Lindworm:
Sometimes also referred to as Lindworm. Supposedly, these creatures were discovered by Marco Polo during his venture across Central Asia. They are extremely swift, and they are also deadly. The lindorms are often depicted as serpentile creatures with two legs and no wings. Usually, they have long tails and shorter legs, and their legs serve more like arms rather than perches.
Sea Serpent:
These creatures live in the waters. They can live in fresh or salt water. They are depicted as long, serpent-snakes usually without limbs but with long, steering tails. Other types include finned as well as serpents with webbed limbs. Some are depicted with wings, but they tend to be useless in the water. Fear of these creatures was rampant during the 1400s, when man was attempting to reach India. Many people believe that man was afraid of "falling off of the world" because man believed the earth was flat. However, the fear of the sea serpents was much more prominent. If there was ever a place with uncharted waters, the map would be marked "HERE BE DRAGONS" Many speculate that the sightings of these creatures were simply larger squids, pieces of kelp, and even dinosaurs. Many believe that the Basilosaurus could have been mistaken as a Sea Serpent.
Wyrm:
These dragons are completely limbless, leaving no legs nor wings for them. However, they are usually huge serpentile creatures with thick bodies. Most portrayals of these creatures hold a snake-like head and body type. However, many have begun portraying them with wedge-shaped heads. (This is the same thing as Western Dragons.) They also have hard, protective scales as well as rigid underbellies. Wyrms play a prominent role in English literature. Many famous Wurms are from this area, none more so than the ever known Lambton Worm.
Wyvern:
Wyvern look much like birds. They have two legs and a pair of wings. Sometimes these wings are depicted as "hands", such that they can claps each other when the wings are folded. Wyverns are usually small and have wedge-shaped heads, but are sometimes depicted with smaller, more rounded heads. In addition to a beak-like jaw, which would be necessarily for the wyvern to carry food, the wyvern might also have a stinger tail. Rather, a tail with a poison sting at the end of it. Finding wyverns in history is harder then it appears. It seems as if they have been adapted from their cousins the Western Dragons. They are depicted on shields, banners, and coats of arms for quite some time. They are a sign of strength, power, and endurance.
Malevolent Dragon:
Malevolent dragons originate from a group of dragons whos hearts were tainted with horrible deeds. Once they died, they were sent to the Fade to to banished to the Underworld, but Rakina had different ideas. She cursed them, casting them back to the earth. They were demons, reflections of their own hearts. These forever blood-thristy creatures have only one ambition: To kill whatever crosses their path. Some of those dragons wanted forgiveness, so they went back to Rakina and begged her to lift the curse. She refused, but she proimised one thing. The dragons were sent back to earth, but when they returned their appearance wasn't restored, but they could control their urge to kill.
Seraph Dragon:
These dragons are the peace-keepers. They are guardians of the Eternal Goddess, sent back to earth to stop war. Some have found a way to restore their original bodies, although they are still considered 'dead'. They are unable to kill, unless they are harmed first. They usually are light elementals, but some have been found with other elements. All of them, however, have feathered wings, which is how you tell them from other dragons. Their colours range from blue to white, and rarely will you ever see a Seraph Dragon that is a darker colour.
Many people have over looked these dragons. Instead, they have dubbed them "winged wurms" or "wyverns". In fact, they are a separate race all together. These dragons only have wings, and possess no other limbs. Most of these creatures are depicted with feather-wings. However, a small few are know to have bat wings. In Mexican mythology, the Quetzalcoatl, one of the famed Amphipteres, flies overhead and appears as a shimmering serpent.
Drake:
One of the seldom heard of species, drakes are much like western dragons. Unlike them, however, these dragons have no wings, only four legs. They vary from type to type, but they usually fire-bearing creatures. Like the Western Dragons, too, they come in different "styles". Some are extremely serpantile, with long, skinny bodies that stretch out wide and long, whip-like tails. Others, however, have much thicker bodies. These are usually portrayed as medium-sized western dragons without wings.
Faerie Dragon:
Faerie dragons are thought to be among the smallest of all dragons. Many people believe that they are related to butterflies, as they usually have butterfly-shaped wings. Most of the faerie dragons consort with the faeries, and they seldom to never eat meat. They are also considered to have many bug-like qualities with them. They are often depicted with antennas, for instance. Also, most people see them as mini-Western style dragons. However, there has been an occasion when a wyvern type faerie dragon has appeared.
Eastern Dragon:
Unlike their abhorred counterpart the Western dragon, the Eastern dragons were respected among those of the East. They are made up of several different species, and each species contributes a piece of the dragon. Furthermore, the dragon is a symbol of balance, as the dragon had a total number of one hundred and seventeen scales, with a specific balance of yin and yang scales. Eastern dragons are also one of the twelve zodiacs, and many people hope to have their children in the Year of the Dragon. The dragons, however, tend to be bossy. Other than that, they have wonderful leadership skills as well as a good deal of luck and charisma. Also associated to weather and nature, many people asked these dragons for rain during the drier months. They also pleaded for good weather. When ever there was a bad occurrence in the weather or in crops, people were sure man was doing something wrong to the dragons. Eastern dragons vary in slight ways from Japanese, Chinese, to Korean. This is based primarily on their toes, but there are a few extra difference about them. Japanese dragons have three toes while Chinese dragons have five toes. Korean dragons have four toes.
Western Dragon:
When people hear the term dragon, they usually think of the western dragon. The western dragon is usually a large reptilian beast with bat wings and four legs. Commonly, there are two hind legs and two fore legs, and, while the dragon may walk on all four of them, the dragon can also sit back on the haunches and use its fore legs. These dragons also tend to be highly decorated. Their crocodile-shaped heads (also referred to as Wedge-shaped) usually have horns on them or elaborate ears. They may also have spines down their back, and have thick, rudder-tails. Most people picture western dragons as particularly cruel creatures that horde gold and torture small towns. For the most part, older stories told of dragons are fire-breathers, but some Acid-spitters as well as Ice-breathers have now been appearing. Usually, their abilities are reflected in their scales. While some cultures felt pain towards dragons, others believed that they were superior beings that would bring gifts to you if you managed to slay one. For instance, some say that if you eat a heart of a dragon, you will understand the birds. Other things include rubbing dragon's blood against the skin, which supposedly protected you from stab wounds, and eating a dragons tongue, which allocated you the power to win any fight of words. Viking used to have dragons along the sides of their boats, and there are many English crests and coat of arms that feature dragons upon them. Today, their symbol is still strong. The Welsh flag has a red dragon on it.
Hydra:
It is believed that the hydra's first major appearance with in Greek mythology. When found in history, this creature is usually a serpentile creature with multiple heads. However, many people now depict the hydra as a sort of western-style dragon with multiple heads and/or tails. Though the Greeks were not the first people to tell the story of a hydra, their stories of Jason and Hercules are perhaps the most popular. As one of the great tasks Hercules was suppose to do, he slew a hydra. Jason, in his mission to save the Golden Fleece, also fought and killed one. Some Hydra's can have multiple personalities, one for each of the heads it has. But for some, one head controls the rest of the heads.
Lindworm:
Sometimes also referred to as Lindworm. Supposedly, these creatures were discovered by Marco Polo during his venture across Central Asia. They are extremely swift, and they are also deadly. The lindorms are often depicted as serpentile creatures with two legs and no wings. Usually, they have long tails and shorter legs, and their legs serve more like arms rather than perches.
Sea Serpent:
These creatures live in the waters. They can live in fresh or salt water. They are depicted as long, serpent-snakes usually without limbs but with long, steering tails. Other types include finned as well as serpents with webbed limbs. Some are depicted with wings, but they tend to be useless in the water. Fear of these creatures was rampant during the 1400s, when man was attempting to reach India. Many people believe that man was afraid of "falling off of the world" because man believed the earth was flat. However, the fear of the sea serpents was much more prominent. If there was ever a place with uncharted waters, the map would be marked "HERE BE DRAGONS" Many speculate that the sightings of these creatures were simply larger squids, pieces of kelp, and even dinosaurs. Many believe that the Basilosaurus could have been mistaken as a Sea Serpent.
Wyrm:
These dragons are completely limbless, leaving no legs nor wings for them. However, they are usually huge serpentile creatures with thick bodies. Most portrayals of these creatures hold a snake-like head and body type. However, many have begun portraying them with wedge-shaped heads. (This is the same thing as Western Dragons.) They also have hard, protective scales as well as rigid underbellies. Wyrms play a prominent role in English literature. Many famous Wurms are from this area, none more so than the ever known Lambton Worm.
Wyvern:
Wyvern look much like birds. They have two legs and a pair of wings. Sometimes these wings are depicted as "hands", such that they can claps each other when the wings are folded. Wyverns are usually small and have wedge-shaped heads, but are sometimes depicted with smaller, more rounded heads. In addition to a beak-like jaw, which would be necessarily for the wyvern to carry food, the wyvern might also have a stinger tail. Rather, a tail with a poison sting at the end of it. Finding wyverns in history is harder then it appears. It seems as if they have been adapted from their cousins the Western Dragons. They are depicted on shields, banners, and coats of arms for quite some time. They are a sign of strength, power, and endurance.
Malevolent Dragon:
Malevolent dragons originate from a group of dragons whos hearts were tainted with horrible deeds. Once they died, they were sent to the Fade to to banished to the Underworld, but Rakina had different ideas. She cursed them, casting them back to the earth. They were demons, reflections of their own hearts. These forever blood-thristy creatures have only one ambition: To kill whatever crosses their path. Some of those dragons wanted forgiveness, so they went back to Rakina and begged her to lift the curse. She refused, but she proimised one thing. The dragons were sent back to earth, but when they returned their appearance wasn't restored, but they could control their urge to kill.
Seraph Dragon:
These dragons are the peace-keepers. They are guardians of the Eternal Goddess, sent back to earth to stop war. Some have found a way to restore their original bodies, although they are still considered 'dead'. They are unable to kill, unless they are harmed first. They usually are light elementals, but some have been found with other elements. All of them, however, have feathered wings, which is how you tell them from other dragons. Their colours range from blue to white, and rarely will you ever see a Seraph Dragon that is a darker colour.
