Lenthean Dragon

Homeworld: Lentheas.

Climate/terrain: lenthean dragons does well in any terrain and climate
except for the arctic, provided that there is a stable and self-substaining
source of prey available.

Mental abilities: while it may vary slightly between the colors, browns,
reds and silvers generally being considered to be slightly smarter than the
others, the intelligence of the lenthean dragons is generally set along the
same range as humans and elves. However, it also seem like the three larger
colors and the occational sport may be a bit less empathic than the smaller
colors.

Special Abilities: basic abilities of all lenthean dragons are telepathy,
empathy, minor telekinesis and elemental magic linked to Fire and Air.
However, the strenght of such abilities can vary between the colors, also--
blues and some sports are also capable of using non-elemental magic, this
including the ability to teleport.

Society: while it is a fact that the lenthean dragons have been affected by
the races of human and elf, as they are dependent on bonding with one to
live, but they have still managed to develop something which may be
considered a society. To a certain degree, a dragon's rank is determined by
its rider, although the color and skill of the dragon can also affect such
matters. In the Lairs, matters of rank are often more strictly enforced, the
chain of command being important to make things move smoothly and to make
sure that a good relationship between riders and non-riders is upheld.
But still, among the lenthean dragons, seniority and experience is more
often important qualities in a leader and potential leader-- as they are far
more comfortable with following someone who is more likely to know what he
or she is doing. Also among the dragons, color IS a matter to be considered,
but it is not as important as the former when it comes to choose a leader.
Among wandering dragons and riders, rank is generally far less important as
they are rather independent and strong-minded spirits, and they have a
tendency to regard Lair-dwelling dragons with contempt.
Being a carnivorous race, lenthean dragons can be quite dangerous despite
their intelligence, and they will attack and even kill someone they percieve
as a threat with little in the way of moral qualms-- especially when they
are young and have not yet learned much in the terms of self-control or less
lethal methods of dealing with a threat. Still, there has been times when
even adult dragons have killed riders or civilians that they have taken a
dislike to.
While a female dragon comes into 'season' only a limited number of times a
year, usually between two or four times, they can and do develop intimate
relationships with male dragons who they like. When ready to Fly, the female
dragon will invite a number of males which she likes, making them prove
themselves in a chase before she chooses the one she likes the best.
Size of the clutches produced by a fertile female vary from color to color;

The large females can produce all colors;
BROWNS: 15-20 eggs in each clutch.
REDS: 20-30 eggs in each clutch.
BRONZES: 10-15 eggs in each clutch.

The medium females will never produce browns, reds, silvers or bronzes;
FERTILE GOLDS: 1-3 eggs in each clutch.
CRYSTALS: 10-15 eggs in each clutch.

The small females will only produce greens, blacks, steels, crystals and
sports.
FERTILE BLACK AND WHITES: 5-9 eggs in each clutch.
FERTILE BLUE AND GREENS: 3-5 eggs in each clutch.


Description: the lenthean dragon are medium-sized dragons native to the
planet Lentheas. Their heads are wedge-shaped, with a thorn-shaped horn
between the nostrils and two horns curve backwards from the top of the head.
Slender and almost meagre of build, they are still extremely tough and
strong dragons-- something that make them excellent fighters. From just
behind the horn at the nose starts a doubble row of thorn-shapes spikes that
run all the way down to the tail, which end in a blade of bone. The
wing-span is twice the entire lenght of the dragon-- with four wing-fingers
and a wing-thumb that ends in a long claw. Lenthean dragons have the ability
to breathe fire, and they also have an innate talent for using the magic of
the elements of fire and air. A dragon's body is covered with leathery and
almost impenetrable scales that come in a wide variety of colors which
determine a dragon's size and sometimes abilities.

[Browns]
Females, 70-80 feet long.
The browns are the rarest and most intelligent of the dragon colors. At
most, there have been recorded three browns existing at the same time, so
due to the nomadic lifestyles lead by many dragonriders, there are no exact
records of the abilities of brown dragons. However, they are known to
possess an exceptional talent for telepathy which permits them to not only
speak with their rider and other dragons, but also other riders and
non-riders if they choose to. Brown dragons are also known to be fertile.

[Reds]
Females,70-75 feet long.
Like all other dragons, the reds are capable of breating fire, but they also
have the unique ability to spit a paralyzing gass which they use to disable
a charging opponent or when hunting. Reds possess only a limited ability
within the use of magic, they will also only bond to female human or elves,
without exceptions. Also reds are fertile and dragons of this color are
always producing far larger clutches than any of the other fertile females.

[Silvers]
Males, 65-72 feet long.
Silvers are the largest and most physically powerfull than any of the other
male colors. They are more easily angered than other dragons and many of
this color can have a tendency to fly straight into danger without
considering the consequenses, a trait they occationally share with their
riders. A silver dragon will most often choose male humans and elves as
their riders, but female silverriders aren`t completely unheard of.

[Bronzes]
Females, 58-65 feet long.
The bronze dragons are extremely protective of dragon eggs and younglings,
so it is this color that most often are the protectors of the Hatching
Grounds. However, bronzes are incapable of agression if it isn`t guarding a
nest of eggs or youngling dragons, so they are useless in any other kind of
fighting. A bronze dragon will always choose a rider who`s mild-mannered,
and bronzes can choose both men and women as riders.

[Blues]
Females, 50-58 feet long.
Although they are infertile and therefore cannot lay eggs, the blue dragons
are known to be experts in the use of magic. Blue dragons will always seek
to subdue any opponents through magic before they would inflict physical
harm. This color can choose both men and women as riders, but the person a
blue bonds to will always have some magical talents.

[Golds]
Females, 50-58 feet long.
The golds have no magical abilities at all, but no other color except the
browns can match a golds talent with telepathy. Like blues, golds are
sterile, though there have been a few very rare incidents when a gold have
clutched a egg or two after a mating flight. Due to that human and elven
females are usually better telepaths than males, golds will almost always
choose females as their riders.

[Greens]
Females, 45-50 feet long.
Greens are the most numerous of the dragon colors and the number of greens
equals the number of all the other colors put together. They are sterile,
but also excelent fliers who are incredibly fast and agile in the air,
something that also makes them excellent fighters. Greens can choose both
males and females as riders, although male greenriders are more common. The
riders of green dragons are also often more likely to end up as freelancers
and wanderers, prefering such a life rather than attaching themselves to a
Lair.

[Blacks]
Males, 40-45 feet long.
They are incredible strong and most are able to outfly any other color if
they put their mind to it, so there aren`t unheard of that blacks sires a
reds or bronzes clutch, ut such clutches tends to be far smaller than
normal. Blacks are generally thought of as choosing exclusively male riders,
but there are records of the occational female rider as well.

[Steels]
Males, 35-43 feet long.
Steel-colored dragons was bred to be warriors, so that`s all they know how
to do. They only care for fighting and killing, and are also very easily
angered, so they and their riders usually live appart from all other
dragons, or any inhabited areas for that matter. Both women and men can ride
steels, but they are always hardy people who makes excellent warriors.

[Crystal]
Females, 30-35 feet long.
The crystal dragons are considered to be the most beautiful of the dragon
colors, and except the browns, they are also the most intelligent. They are
nimble of build and with their shimmering crystal scales, they are a immense
sight in flight. However, though crystals is fertile, they are the second
rarest of the dragon colors and at best, a crystal hatches in every fiftieth
clutch. Crystal prefer women as their riders, but there have been some rare
incidents when a man have been chosen.

SPORT DRAGONS
This dragon variant was created by elven and human sorcerers ages ago when
the world were still at peace. Occuring infrequently in dragon clutches, the
sports can possess any of the qualities of the nine normal dragon colors, or
they can display unique and surprising talents. There are four variants of
sport dragons;

[Black and white mottled]
Females, 30-35 feet long.

[Amethyst]
Males, 25-30 feet long.

[Amber]
Males, 15-20 feet long.

[Iridescent blue and green]
Female, 15-20 feet long.


Size at birth: 50-100 cm long.
Size at maturity: 15-80 feet long.
Time to maturity: 3-5 years(females mature more slowly).

Combat: the prefered method of fighting for the lenthean dragons is usually
aerial combat. Not only do they feel safer when on the wing, but fighting
when in the air gives them the opportunity to use their full range of
abilities-- from their agility, strenght, teeth, talons and tail, to safetly
make use of their talent for Fire and Air magic. A well trained lenthean
dragon in top physical condition is a formidable opponents in combat, as in
addition to the abilities previously mentioned, there are few standard
weapons of war that can acctually hurt them and much less hit them provided
that they see it comming. Just imagine how horrifying it would be to see a
dragon swoop down to grab a number of your fellow fighters right off the
ground and drop them to their deaths, or be caught in a blast of scorching
fire or bone shattering air.
But even at the ground a lenthean dragon can be dangerous.
Although it may have to be carefull with using its talents for magic to
avoid harming itself, it can still use teeth, talons or other such physical
weapons, or it can simply use its bulk to crush you-- especially in the case
of the larger colors. And while the sport colors may be smaller, they are
rarely any less deadly, their small bulk, ability and speed making them
dangerous opponents even in heavy forested terrain and the like.

Race weaknesses: dependent on their rider and the telempathic bond they
share to live, a lenthean dragon can be disposed off by killing its rider.