Types of Dragons
Dragons beget dragons and phoenixes beget phoenixes
Chinese Proverb
Dragons have lived in Europe for countless ages. Leviathan, the giant creature mentioned in the Book of Job, with a burning gaze, a fire-breathing mouth, and scales so thick that it was immune to weapons, was, certainly a typical dragon. Unfortunately, early Christians came to confuse the real peace-loving dragon with serpent-like symbols of evil.
Earth Dragons
The most common and most abundant dragon species found on our planet is that of the Great Earth Dragon, or Draco Rex Cristatus, as it is commonly called. They are great winged creatures of enormous size. They can grow up to fifteen to thirty meters in length with a wing span of up to thirty meters Their coloring is usually greeny-brown, with their many-hued scales ranging from lemon-yellow to emerald-green. There are some earth dragons that can breathe fire, although the force of their flames is not as powerful as that of the fire dragon. The earth dragon is an expert flier and glider.
Although his great size sometimes makes take-off awkward, once in the air he can reach great altitudes and cover enormous distances by gliding, using solely the wind. The Draco Rex is reserved by nature, and an introvert. He does not like being around members of his species other than in the mating season and even then only for a limited time. This behavior seems to be governed by the wish to avoid disputes over food and the possession of the female. Given the size and strength of dragons, such squabbles could be dangerous. Interestingly though, when an earth dragon grows old, it is not unusual for him to be accompanied by a young page, whom he will instruct in dragon wisdom and who will inherit all his wealth.
Water Dragons
The water dragon, or Draco Splendens, is rarer than the common dragon. He can be found in both salt and fresh water, although he prefers lakes. Magnificently colored, this beast is perfectly at home in water, moving through it with great agility and speed. Although his front legs end in sharp claws, his back legs have been transformed into fins, which hamper his movements on land. He has a tremendous lung capacity and can store oxygen in his stomach and transfer it to the lungs when he needs it, which enables him to remain underwater for hours on end.
Because he lives in water, this dragon has partially lost the ability to fly, and it makes only short gliding flights, although some of them can attain a reasonable air speed. Water dragons have very specific eating habits, especially the adults, which is why the few remaining examples are in danger of extinction. Apparently, the water dragon only eats virgins. If this requirement is not satisfied, as is often the case, legend has it that the animal suffers excruciating indigestion, which leaves him at death's door. The only cure considered effective consists of massive doses of virgin olive oil and a concoction made from orange blossom and magnolia petals.
The water dragon is physically much more beautiful and graceful than the earth dragon. He has a soft, tuneful voice and cherishes beauty above all else. He is an inspired poet and can spend hours contemplating his own reflection in the water, in a narcissistic pose, or go into ecstasies over a beautiful sunset. There are stories of dragons who have rejected the maiden they were about to eat because she was not beautiful, or not correctly attired, for they like their victim to be dressed in sumptuous silks with a circlet of fresh flowers in her hair. The water dragon is also an amorous creature, and there have been occasions when the maiden destined for his dinner has become the queen of his heart.
He is a brave adversary and if called upon to fight will defend himself ferociously and to the death. However, he is shy, and it is not possible to catch more than a glimpse of him. He always conducts himself with elegance, even when capturing food. One curious fact is that this delicate and beautiful creature cannot bear any kind of chains or bonds around his neck, for this is the method that was used in antiquity to capture him. It was sufficient to tie a noose around his neck and the dragon would allow himself to be led away without a struggle.
Dragons as Sea Serpents
Throughout history, water dragons have often been sighted, with the most recent incidents dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century. The most scientifically reliable description is that of Peter Karl van Esling, the director of The Hague Zoo, who gives an account of a water dragon sighted during a voyage to collect marine species in the Atlantic in 1860: We saw a gigantic reptile, bright blue and silver in color He swam gracefully around the ship before the sailors' eyes, and submerged himself without a splash. His eyes were enormous, with vertical pupils and an intelligent expression. They seemed luminous, but this effect could be due to the reflections from the setting sun.
His head was adorned with bright blue and green crests. Even though he disappeared under water and we did not see him again, he appeared to measure some seven meters in length, and on his back we could make out something resembling crests or fins. I think he was serpent like, but the sailor beside me thought he saw legs and claws. We know about the life cycle of Draco Splendens thanks to the investigations of the eminent English botanist and explorer, Sir Reginald Wort, who at the close of the eighteenth century spent months observing the fauna of the Zaragoza Sea. In the course of his investigations into water dragons, the British aristocrat witnessed the nuptial ceremonies of this species. His patient observations have given us the following account.
The female in heat looks for a seaweed-covered bed on which she lies and emits a luminescent glow. Her brilliant colors cause the males to launch into an energetic display of acrobatics. They leap into the air only to disappear again, resembling streaks of light. The female being courted then swims rapidly down to the depths of the ocean, followed by the throng of males. Only the fastest and strongest succeed in mating with her.
After coupling has taken place, the female dragon hands over the fertilized egg to her partner, who deposits it in the warm sands of a safe beach and watches over it until it hatches. When the young dragon hatches, the father's duty is done, and he disappears, partly so as not to betray the young dragons presence to predators. During his lonely infancy, the young dragon feeds on tropical fruits and is strictly vegetarian.
However Sir Reginald was wrong on one point. The little dragon is not abandoned as would appear from casual observation. The father visits his young at night, and during the day he keeps watch over the area from a prudent distance. The truth of this is borne out by the dramatic fate that befell a bold but inexperienced naturalist as told in the Diary of Expeditions and Discoveries of the New World by the Portuguese adventurer, Da Silva, in 1612.
Paulo and the young Andre Da Gao disembarked on the lush island, which seemed to be inhabited only by birds and crabs. Paulo saw a huge brilliantly colored water lizard, which appeared to be quite tame but very timid. He called his companion and they managed to catch the animal. When the two naturalists wanted to bring him on board, the animal let out a series of shrill howls and from the sea appeared an enormous lizard that threw itself on the unfortunate pair.
Andre died in the fray, with his head virtually torn from his body, and Paulo managed to survive because he threw the basket with the young lizard into the sea. Immediately, the sea monster abandoned the pursuit to save the drowning animal.We were so overwhelmed by this incident that we did not dare return to the island to recover Andre's body and bury him. This little-known tale was considered spurious in scientific circles at the time, but it confirms our observations on the behavior of Draco Splendens.
The Development of Draco Splendens
When a young Draco Splendens has grown to one meter his coloring becomes brighter and more luminous. He loves the water and soon learns to swim. When the father believes the young dragon is able to swim, he abandons him once and for all and continues his adult life elsewhere. During his first days alone, the young dragon often howls pitifully, but he soon gets used to it. His instinct prompts him to take to the water, leaving the land forever. During this phase he feeds solely on sea anemones,
which do not harm him even though they are poisonous.
Draco Splendens' first destination is the underwater cave where the Dragon Father's court resides. There he grows up and receives his education, and after a while every young dragon follows the Gulf Stream and sets off in search of a place to make his permanent home. During this journey, he reaches full maturity. By the time he reaches the European shores, he is a magnificent animal measuring seven meters in length, brilliantly colored and beautiful to behold. He has mastered the power of speech and is an expert magician.
Carried by subterranean currents unknown to man, he penetrates the European mainland. He cannot tolerate polluted water and eats only once a month, feasting as usual on virgins.
The Water Dragon's Abode
The usual home of Draco Splendens is a cave with a submerged entrance. Curiously, this cave is always dry and the floor is covered with sand that the dragon himself brings from the beach. This complex of caves is bigger and more elaborately fashioned than that of the common dragon. The rooms are decorated with pearls, corals and gems of great beauty, which the owner has collected over the years, and with which he creates original and elaborate patterns.
Stalactites and stalagmites are also part of the cave's decor while artistically arranged vases of flowers enhance the rooms. It is not unusual for one of the caves to have a subterranean stream running through it. The dragon swims in it and his slaves drink the water and bathe in it. The water dragon's family is small but select. It is usually made up of water creatures such as lower class water Sprites, with little magic power, small newts and a few human beings. He never captures water nymphs or sprites from the large rivers, for they are very powerful.
Among the human beings are poets and troubadours, and, very often,the maiden of his dreams. The dragon's lady is both his mistress and his slave, and he lives surrounded by. a select entourage of damsels, pages and squires. When the dragon keeps humans in his cave he usually makes a small opening so that they can leave easily. His taste for art and his exclusive feeding habits mean that this dragon family has frequent contact with humans.
The Fire Dragon
The rarest of the three species is Draco Flameus. It is extremely difficult to observe and study this dragon, since his habitat is inaccessible to human beings. This virtually unknown dragon lives inside active volcanoes, and his natural surroundings are the great rivers of lava and the fiery caverns in the belly of the earth.
In this world of fire and incandescent molten rock dwells the Dragon Father, and this is where courtship and mating take place, rituals which no human being has ever witnessed. The fire dragon spends his infancy in these suffocating surroundings, and only when he reaches maturity does he venture outside on brief hunting expeditions. A nocturnal creature, he usually sallies forth enveloped in flames, when darkness reigns, but only if the weather is very dry and the sky clear. Water and humidity are a great threat to these creatures since they can cause 'scale corrosion, a fatal disease for Draco Flameus.
On his excursions into the outside world, the fire dragon sets vast expanses of land aflame, scorching everything in his path, and then avidly devours the charred remains of the animals left in the ashes. He breathes fire from his mouth due a mixture of phosphorous and methane which he produces and stores in a second stomach. The mixture ignites on contact with oxygen as it leaves the dragon's mouth. His favorite food is hydrocarbons, such as oil and bitumen, which he consumes in huge quantities. He also uses these substances to clean and shine his 'armor'- an occupation to which the fire dragon devotes many hours.
He takes great care of every single scale and is always on the lookout for any suspicious-looking blemishes. This is not a question of vanity, even though the dragon is a very conceited creature, but because he needs to guard against his most deadly enemy, 'scale corrosion, as mentioned earlier. This terrible disease causes the scales to flake off from the body, leaving the dragon's sensitive skin exposed and vulnerable, not only to the dreadful burns produced by red-hot lava but also to total dehydration, as a result of the intense heat of his surroundings. The scales, which cover his entire body, are made up of a metal and asbestos alloy. They are many-colored, ranging from bright golden-yellows to red, copper and black, and these scales are the dragon's only protection against fire. Without this armor, he is as susceptible to heat as any other living creature.
Apparently this species used to be abundant in the volcanoes of Iceland, and he would fly as far as Ireland and the north of Britain. It is also said that a small colony of this species has survived in Sicily. On the other hand, there is no evidence of the existence of fire dragons in Vesuvius. This mysterious, but fascinating animal has a - large family of servants made up mainly of salamanders, will-o'the-wisps and other igneous creatures.
Social Organization of the Fire Dragon.
As we said earlier, the fire dragon lives in a vast complex of caves inside craters, among streams of lava and suffocating gases. Despite his strange and fearsome habitat, this is the most amicable and peace-loving of the great dragon races, and also the most gregarious and outgoing. Fire dragon society is organized into three large matriarchal groups. A powerful and sexually mature female occupies the principle cave of a colony formed by the males and their sons. As is usual with dragons, only paternity is recognized, and the young are not considered descendants of the female, but offspring of the male.
Consequently, a female dragon does not object to a male joining her colony with an egg from another female. Despite this matriarchal structure, the great dragon family continues to be governed by a Dragon Father, but in this case the hierarchy is not so rigid. And given that the habitat of the fire dragon is restricted and the colonies are very close to each other and linked by narrow corridors, animals of the same age and sex live together, play together and learn together. This cohabitation with other members of the same species means that the fire dragon has the least contact with human beings, given that they can satisfy their emotional needs among their own kind, either in couples or through friendship with their neighbors in the colony. They usually practice many group activities, although they always hunt alone so as not to frighten off the prey.
The Little Fire Dragon
PThe Draco Flamula, which is usually less than two meters in length, is sub-species of the fire dragon. He lives in the chimneys of power stations, and has adapted perfectly to the high temperatures and the concentrations of sulfur and sulfuric acid. His scales have also taken on the sulfur-yellow and rust tones that facilitate his cam6uflage and make it almost impossible to distinguish him.The Little Fire Dragon the Draco Flamula, which is usually less than two meters in length, is a sub-specie of the fire dragon. He lives in the chimneys of power stations, and has adapted perfectly to the high temperatures and the concentrations of sulfur and sulfuric acid. His scales have also taken on the sulfur-yellow and rust tones that facilitate his cam6uflage and make it almost impossible to distinguish him. The first human being to see and identify this species was an engineer in a Bavarian power station who was a dragon fan. He gave it the name of Flamula, because of the little tongue of flickering flame the dragon produces when he emerges from the chimney. This sub-species is powerful and destructive because when these creatures fly they leave a trail of sulphurous gases that produce acid rain, a phenomenon which destroys trees and has damaged vast areas of woodland in Great Britain, Germany and Spain. Scholars believe that these animals are a throwback of the dragon race rather than an evolution of the species adapted to new surroundings. This theory seems to be borne out by the loss of Latin as their principal language (they are not known to speak any other language either) and by the absence of a stable social organization. Apparently the other species of dragons despise and loathe these diminutive relatives. The Sicilian 'Dragon Another sub-specie of the fire dragon is Estupidus Catalanus, which is very rare and found only in the craters of Mount Etna, in Sicily. Local inhabitants claim that it was brought over by the Catalan conquistadors of the Middle Ages. This animal, with its lusterless colors and short legs, was described at the beginning of the century by Professor Peter Ameisenhaufen, who baptized him Pirofagus Estupidus Catalanus due to his presumed origin, which is actually highly dubious, as far as we can see. He breathes fire like all the fire dragons, but on inhaling he breathes in the flames and this causes painful burns in the esophagus. He has to drink enormous quantities of water to soothe them. He lacks the dragon's traditional faculty of speech, and the evidence seems to point to a very limited intelligence. In his work Fauna Secreta, Professor Ameisenhaufe branded this unendearing creature an 'accident of evolution' The first human being to see and identify this species was an engineer in a Bavarian power station that was a dragon fan. He gave it the name of Flamula, because of the little tongue of flickering flame the dragon produces when he emerges from the chimney. This sub-species is powerful and destructive because when these creatures fly they leave a trail of sulphurous gases that produce acid rain, a phenomenon which destroys trees and has damaged vast areas of woodland in Great Britain, Germany and Spain. Scholars believe that these animals are a throwback of the dragon race rather than an evolution of the species adapted to new surroundings. This theory seems to be borne out by the loss of Latin as their principal language (they are not known to speak any other language either) and by the absence of a stable social organization. Apparently the other species of dragons despise and loathe these diminutive relatives.
The Sicilian 'Dragon
PAnother sub-specie of the fire dragon is Estupidus Catalanus, which is very rare and found only in the craters of Mount Etna, in Sicily. Local inhabitants claim that it was brought over by the Catalan conquistadors of the Middle Ages. Professor Peter Ameisenhaufen, who baptized him Pirofagus Estupidus Catalanus due to his presumed origin, which is actually highly dubious, as far as we can see, described this animal, with its lusterless colors and short legs, at the beginning of the century. He breaths fire like all the fire dragons, but on inhaling he breathes in the flames and this causes painful burns in the esophagus. He has to drink enormous quantities of water to soothe them. He lacks the dragon's traditional faculty of speech, and the evidence seems to point to a very limited intelligence. In his work Fauna Secreta, Professor Ameisenhaufe branded this unendearing creature an 'accident of evolution'.
The Golden Dragon
PMost revered among the dragons' legendary heroes are the golden dragon. His scales and wings are the color of gold, and, although he does not belong to any of the three great elements (earth, water and fire), by nature he embraces all three, and he is the dragon possessed of the greatest beauty. He is unique, pure and perfect. Neither fire, nor air nor water are strangers to him. Only one man is his friend and only three knights have ever set eyes on him. To become acquainted with this strange being we must consult the Book of the Golden Dragon, one of the sacred books of dragon culture. The Golden Dragon has never taken part in any aggressive action. Unsullied by any flaw, he is pure and without blemish. He is the Guardian. He defends the Enchanted Castle where a pure-hearted knight devotedly guards the Sacred Chalice. The Sacred Chalice is the font of peace, nature and life. It was concealed from the eyes of humans because they were not worthy of it. Only three knights succeeded in attaining it, and only one, who was free from sin, became its King. Before the astonished gaze of his two companions, the pure-hearted knight and the Sacred Chalice were plucked from Earth with the promise that they would be returned when the dwellers of this world were worthy of beholding the chalice and drinking from it. The Golden Dragon was summoned to carry the Guardian knight to the Enchanted Castle, in the heart of the Hidden Wood, and to watch over him until the Sacred Chalice returns to Earth. Then, all the Dragons will fly to meet him, carrying on their backs pure men, and all will pay homage to the Bearer of the Chalice and to the Golden Dragon. And then all Nature will be cured of its wounds. Fear and hatred will disappear. Virgins and dragons will be friends, and the era of Peace will dawn, shrouded in the golden radiance of the Sacred Chalice and in the sweetness of its life-giving Light.