Dragon Culture

The mortal races such as humans, Elves, Dwarves, Trolls, and Wolfen know very little truth about the many varying races of Dragons. Dragons are rather careful to keep their nature as much of a secret as possible which only contributes to the mass of rumors and legends that surround these mystical beasts. This is how it seems Dragons prefer it, rumored and guessed but the truth never being known. It is a wise strategy, as the less other races know about them the less that can be used against them.

Then, 984 years ago, an ancient text was uncovered on one of the Floenry Islands. The text is entitled Tomes of a Golden Dragon: Book 3. It is written in a very ancient form of Elven and, according to the text if it can be trusted, was written by the most powerful race of Dragons to ever exist. There are several oddities within the book that make scholars believe it is a fake, created as some type of elaborate practical joke or, at the very least, by a madman. However, there are others who chose to believe the words written within its pages are true and that any discrepancy is a result of things changing over several thousand years.

First off, the text repeatedly speaks of various Dragon races that, if they ever existed, must have died off or left the Palladium World to never return. Also, there are several references to a "Land of Dragons" which cannot be found and not even the archaic races such as Elves, titans, or danzi have any knowledge of it. To add even more to the conflicts the text speaks of an alternate language of Dragons, their true language which currently no other Dragon even contemplates. All of these facts only add more doubt to the already questionable material contained within it.

After it was discovered it was translated from its ancient Elven text and copied into a more modern form. A second copy was made for the purpose of sending it to a scholar who specialized in Dragon lore living in the Western Empire. Eight copies in total are recorded as being made. Whether the "truths" of the text are to be believed or not is left to debate, but many scholars who focus on Dragons have gone through great lengths just for the chance to see a copy let alone own one. Even if only one line is true and the rest is false it could still be a worth it to someone who has dedicated their life to trying to learn more.

Finding a copy is becoming increasingly more difficult though. Most Dragons will go through great lengths to destroy any copy of the tome whenever it is discovered. The reason Dragons go through such amazing lengths to destroy the copies causes some to speculate that it must be true, at least in some small portion. Otherwise there would be no logical explanation for Dragons to go through with such acts. According to a few Dragons who actually have taken the time to comment on the matter, it is not the information that bothers them as that is just a joke, it is the fact the writer claims to be a Dragon that is so offensive.

Currently it is believed that all eight copies were destroyed, but that has not stopped adventurers from searching all the same. In truth, there is an original copy maintained by the Library of Bletherad and another that has been quietly passed down through the generations by a noble family in the Land of the South Winds. Whether any copies have been made from these surviving copies is questionable. Despite the efforts of Dragons and scholars alike the original tome vanished and has never been found since. Its fate remains a mystery.

Though the remaining tomes may remain a secret, some of the information contained within the rumors created from them has remained. The information below is based upon the information from that text. Whether it is true or untrue remains to be determined, but for the purposes of examining the information more thoroughly it will be addressed as if those writings were fact so that the readers of those words may decide for themselves without the biased opinion of this scholar.

Language

Although Dragons are well documented for speaking Elven, also known as Dragonese, this is not their true language. This language is reported as having been created by Dragons during the Age of Chaos so that they could better communicate with their allies in their war against the dreaded Old Ones. This language has since been adopted by the Elven race as their official spoken tongue (see the Elven culture for more information on this language), usually attributed to the elves as having been the ones to create it.

However, the true language of Dragons is said to be "beyond the means of mere mortals to comprehend." The language of the Dragons is a simple language in nature but difficult to truly master and translate. There are no spoken words and no written form. Instead they communicate with nothing more than emotion. When dealing with other Dragons they possess a heightened form of empathy that allows them to convey entire thoughts through their emotions. Merely being psychic is not enough though as it is a type of empathy that is more than just empathy, empathic transmission, or telepathy.

While there are similarities to these psychic powers there are some notable differences. First, this type of communication does not require the expenditure of any I.S.P. It is simply a natural talent that all Dragons possess. Secondly, it works only with other Dragons, regardless of species, and someone with the "soul of a Dragon." This last part is mentioned in the text as it mentions one mortal who had such a soul and could understand and communicate with Dragons using this method. The author believes the soul of a Dragon may have been reincarnated into the body of a mortal.

Finally, this is said to be an automatic ability that cannot be blocked. This means that another Dragon must listen. On the other hand it also means that a Dragon cannot lie to another. Of course, Dragons tend to avoid lying to each other out of a general respect. Any other race on the other hand is not always given the same courtesy and will be lied to as seen fit by each Dragon. Even a good Dragon may lie to mortals for their protection. The fact it cannot be blocked is left to some debate as it seems that Dragons simply chose not to block other Dragons, but a mind block or strong mental focus (conscious attempt to save vs. psionic attack) could resist.

According to the text the saddest part about this language is that it is starting to fade from the abilities of Dragons. As Dragons become more accustomed to living around mortals they have become more and more reliant upon spoken words. Their natural empathic sense to understand each other diminishes constantly.  It is this lack of communication and understanding within the Dragon race that has further served to alienate them from one another. With all the time passed since it was written, perhaps it already has completely faded away, though the warnings in the text would indicate otherwise.

It goes on to say that if those bonds ever completely vanished then it will result in a giant war for ultimate supremacy. This fragile empathic bond is the only thing preventing such a thing from happening this very moment. Few actually believe this section of the text as it is just another prophecy of doom, but not one listed in the Tristine Chronicles which is held in much higher regards. However, should such a war happen, there is no telling what would happen to those around them (mainly mortals) and how many worlds may be destroyed in the process.

Extinct Dragons

Very early in the tome it goes into the many details of a golden Dragon. It mentions that the golden Dragons were far fewer in number than all the other Dragons, but they were also the largest and more powerful which more than made up for their smaller numbers. The text describes them as at least 70 feet (21.3 m) tall, 125 feet (38 m) long, with a wingspan of 150 feet (45.7 m). Their scales were a magnificent gold and their beautiful manes were strands of silver. When the sun shined upon them their scales and manes would sparkle magnificently causing all who saw them to stop in awe.

The Golden Dragon goes on to describe his race as the most diverse in the ways of magic and the most powerful in sheer strength. They were also master psychics by nature. Mortal races had such respect and reverence for this race that they based their currency on gold and put a picture of a Dragon on their coins in honor of the golden Dragons. Many who hear of this part believe that at least some of this had to be boasting and cannot be completely true. It is not uncommon for a writer to embellish the truth so that he sounds better, but it also draws more doubt to his objective view of the facts within the tome.

As natural psychics his race had a tendency to look into possible futures and he was no different. In all of his visions he mentions a "Darkness" which constantly crept in to trouble him. It always held the same outcome of a future when Dragons would finally "fall into discord." While mortals respected golden Dragons the other Dragons races grew envious and their jealously would eventually lead to betrayal. Time and time again in his writings he predicted the destruction of his race at the hand of the other Dragons. His only consolation is that their eternal enemies would meet a similar fate at the same time.

The prism Dragons, also described as the "Dreaded Trickster," could change their size and shape at will and never stood in one form for long. They changed forms so often that their true form is forever forgotten. It goes on to say they loved to instigate conflict and while they lacked raw power their cunning was more than a match for any other. The prism Dragons favored the "Dragon of Nights" and shared with them many secrets. It is the "Dragon of Nights" though that would ultimately betray the prism Dragon in a siege for power. Scholars speculate the "Dragon of Nights" refers to the night stalker Dragons which are well known as the tricksters of the Dragon race, possibly after usurping the throne of their former masters.

There are also references to several other Dragons that would soon join "the Necro-Dragons" during the time when Dragons "fall into discord." If the tome is accurate there are over fifteen different types of Dragons that became extinct during this time. More interesting here is the reference to the Necro-Dragons who are not listed as one of those to go extinct, but one that is long since dead and cursed to fall victim to the dark magic they were so well versed in. There is a theory that the Necro-Dragon is actually referring to the Yema. The yema are large flying reptiles that have been extinct for as long as anyone can remember and are often used by necromancers (see Monsters & Animals for more details on the yema). With no proof to back it up it is commonly dismissed as a rumor.

Death

When Dragons reach a certain point in their life they can accept their end is near. A Dragon will then make their journey to the Valley of Dragons. The valley is said to be a graveyard where Dragons go to die peacefully. Its location has remained a secret since the other races first heard of it. To most educated men and women this valley is nothing more than legend with no basis in reality. If it is real and anyone ever finds this Valley of Dragons it could prove to be a variable gold mine due to all the Dragon body parts that would be found there. Though if anyone stopped to consider the consequences of looting such a sacred place of Dragons they would realize they would run the risk of gaining the wrath of every surviving Dragon.

Despite the fact Dragons usually dislike each other their method of empathic communication forms a close bond between their races. Some feel it is acceptable for a Dragon to die at the talons of another Dragon, but to die at the hands of a mortal is an insult to every Dragon. These Dragons take it very personal if a mortal dares to commit the crime of slaying a Dragon. Others find the idea of it humorous. If a Dragon was stupid enough to be killed by a mortal then he/she deserved to die. There are others who don't concern themselves with the death of a Dragon, possibly even a rival. With the short life spans of mortals the matter will resolve itself soon enough without them needing to do anything at all.

The presence of a dead Dragon will cling to any slayer, especially a mortal, and can be sensed by other Dragons for no less than one year. This presence is amplified greatly if the slayer keeps a part of the dead Dragon such as a tooth, eye, or bone. As long as the body part is carried a Dragon will be able to sense it. Even after the item is gone its presence will last for an amount of time equal to how long it was carried. A Dragon can sense this aura of death from miles away.

Whether this rumor is true or not is unknown to all but Dragons. In support of the statement it is known that Dragons will seize and destroy any part of a Dragon carried by a mortal. Some even go so far as to track down and kill the makers of Dragon Bone Weapons (see Dragons & Gods for more details on Dragon Bone Weapons). This only increases the amount of people who believe this particular section of the text. Only the very foolish or the very brave will kill a Dragon for this reason.

Land of Dragons

According to the tome there was once a "Land of Dragons." This land welcomed any type of Dragon, except for the "Dreaded Trickster." It was a place for Dragons to meet, converse, and simply relax for a few thousand years. In this land the Dragons discussed philosophy, science, and magic, developing countless new types of each during their stay here. "The Land of Dragons" was said to be a place all Dragons could call home whenever the millennia of travel took its toll and they wanted someplace familiar and safe. Only Dragons were allowed here with mortals being prohibited from its boundaries.

Later in the tome there is mention of a mortal who was allowed access to the "Land of Dragons." The mortal is stated as having the build of an Elf, the prowess of a Dwarf, and the charisma of a Gnome, and the "soul of a Dragon," yet was none of them (a human?). Legend states the mortal could communicate with a Dragon as a Dragon, referring to the true language of Dragons. He was given respect in the Dragon community and even accepted as one of them. This mortal is only mentioned briefly in the tome, but its mention gives further doubt to the authenticity of the tome. Mortals and Dragons alike find it hard to believe a Dragon would ever accept a mortal as an equal.

The Golden Dragon goes on to describe how the "Land of Dragons" was first created. According to his accounts after the Age of Chaos the other archaic races were still young and undisciplined. There was no culture or civilization for these races, so the Dragons remained to look after their allies from the Chaos War. This guidance lasted until the Age of a Thousand Magicks. That is when the other races first started to develop civilization and culture.

It was then that Dragons decided that the other races needed to continue without their talons showing them the way. However, after so much had happened after fighting the Old Ones together and several millennia of upbringing the Dragons could not simply leave the world unattended. They stood so they could council the still "young" races, but did not wish to become a crutch for the "young" races to rely upon. So they removed themselves from the mainland and created the "Land of Dragons," presumably through magic, where they could watch from afar.

It was designed to be a place where Dragons could be close enough to help if they were needed, but not so close the races would rely on them for everything. The book still speaks of the "Land of Dragons" after humans (14,000 years ago) and canine races (12,000 years ago) first began to emerge. This is around the same time period the book stops. There is speculation that there may have been a fourth tome of the Golden Dragon, not to mention two earlier ones, which may detail more. However, despite centuries of looking, no other tomes of the Golden Dragon have ever been found.

While the "Land of Dragons" is an interesting story, that is likely all it is for a number of reasons. First, Dragons are not known to have any type of society at all. Dragons act more like rivals than friends making the civilized paradise of such a land highly doubtful. Also, there are several land marks given which do not exist on the Palladium World. If such a land did exist, it was most likely on another world or a different dimension altogether. It is possible that the Dragons had some type of deific realm like the gods, but created by the collective will of all Dragons. Once the Dragons had their "fall into discord" the land vanished as well.

Being: Supernatural or Magical

Note: The difference between Supernatural Beings and Creatures of Magic are discussed in detail within the pages of Rifts: Ultimate Edition. While that book is not necessary for this next section, it is the source for some of the information and can be useful when determining the difference between the two types of beings.

Many question whether a Dragon is a supernatural being or a creature of magic. They are large, ancient, powerful, dimension traveling beings of immense power. This causes many to believe they are definitely supernatural beings. Others consider them both, even documenting them as such in official texts adding to the confusion. Those people are wrong. Any Dragon will answer they are creatures of magic, and would sooner be considered a human than a supernatural being. Beyond the personal word of Dragons though, there are actual facts to support the creature of magic stance.

A key difference not many know about is that supernatural beings have such a strong connection to their home dimension they can only be truly killed there. Death anywhere else will result in reincarnation in their home dimension. Seeing that no Dragons possess this ability, or even know anything about their home dimension, this eliminates the possibility of them being supernatural beings. Or at least it does in the minds of those who favor proof over theory and speculation.

There is one theory that Dragons are still supernatural beings, but since they've forgotten their home dimension their spirits are no longer linked there. This theory is commonly dismissed among "men of reason" who argue that if they ever had such a connection it could not be possible to forget such a place. In a world where supernatural beings are still not fully understood and magic is as potent as any technology, with countless arcane arts lost over the ages, it is impossible to make such a claim with absolute certainty.

One psychic scholar attempted to test the theory by using Mind Wipe to erase the memory of a supernatural being and then slay it. Unfortunately the test was inconclusive. Some witnesses say they observed a change in the decay pattern suggesting a different death than normal, others say it was the same and anyone who saw something unique merely had an active imagination or wish fulfillment. Without the ability to dimensional travel himself the psychic scholar was incapable of verifying the results. There are still debates over the merits and success over this test.

If we turn our attentions to the Tomes of a Golden: Dragon Book 3, the author describes Dragons as both supernatural beings and creatures of magic. To many this gives further proof the author is a hoax. However, within its pages may lie the answer. Like some theorists, he mentions Dragons are supernatural beings, or at least had been at one time and since lost that nature. Unlike the theory of simply forgetting their home dimension, he mentions the dimension being "lost." At first glance this may sound similar to forgetting the dimension or losing its location, but closer examination of the text suggests something different.

There are hints that the Dragon home dimension was lost during the Age of Chaos during the war with the dreaded Old Ones. During the war Dragons became such a threat that the Old Ones attacked their home causing the dimension to become lost. The author references Tomes of a Golden Dragon: Book 1 for full details. Since the first and second tomes remain undiscovered, if they ever existed at all, it leaves the matter of how the dimension became lost open to interpretation.

The most popular interpretation is that the Old Ones destroyed the whole dimension. In so destroying it, their great bane the Dragons could never return there thereby becoming weak and vulnerable. Without the ability of reincarnation a Dragon could be killed anywhere. These same theorists commonly suggest the Old Ones created all dimensions, the Megaverse in its whole. This allowed them to destroy an entire dimension, and also the reason they could not be killed. To truly kill an Old One so it could not reincarnate, someone would have to destroy the entire Megaverse, something none would survive.

There is a second theory though, one that gives hope. That which is created can never be truly destroyed. Instead of destroying the Dragon dimension, the Old Ones hid it so that no one would ever find it. When it became hidden their link severed, no longer even able to sense its location with their natural abilities. To this day it remains lost somewhere in the Megaverse. This is even suggested as the true reasons Dragons are dimensional travelers. They continue to travel in the hopes of one day finding their lost home, or at least some clue to its location. If they can find this home, then it's possible that Dragons will become supernatural beings once again.

According to the Golden Dragon, every Dragon spends years pondering their place in the universe and where their home may still be waiting for them. He also suggests it is their perseverance, both to survive the Age of Chaos after their loss back then and now to still hold hope on finding their home, that has earned them such respect in the eyes of the "little Old Ones" (such as the Splugorth). They give honor and respect to Dragons rather than earning their wrath and risking the same fate as their older brothers who still slumber.