Report: Characteristics and Behaviourisms of Tamrielic Dragons
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| Report: Characteristics and Behaviourisms of Tamrielic Dragons | ||
| Implemented | No | |
| ID | TBC | |
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| Value | xx Septims | |
| Weight | x.00 | |
A strictly confidential report commissioned by the Arch-Mage of Evermore By Andries Gottier, researcher and Evoker of the Mages Guild
Preface: This report concerns those dragons which likely originated in Tamriel - not to be confused with those dragons whose arrival in Tamriel can be traced to the Akaviri invasions. A distinction should also be drawn between true Tamrielic dragons and the so-called "dragonlings", folk myths and legends notwithstanding. (See M. Lareis' report on “draconization”).
Tamrielic dragons are intelligent, powerful beasts generally known to inhabit the west of Tamriel. Few have ever been sighted - mostly around the Wrothgarian and Dragontails mountain ranges, and nearby forests - and even fewer have had interactions with any men or mer. Characterization of these beasts has therefore proven quite difficult with such a limited pool of knowledge. Nevertheless, there are three prominent known Tamrielic dragons in recent history whose histories provide illustrative examples of their kind. The first, Skakmat, was the familiar of the late mystic Nulfaga, the Dowager Queen of Daggerfall. Tiber Imperator's dragon ally Nafaalilargus is no doubt familiar to Iliac readers. Finally, I am pleased to inform the Arch-Mage that I have confirmed the existence - and death - of the Dragonne Papré. (This - and other facts about the fate of the former Imperial Battlespire - should naturally be secured and shared only with caution).
Physiology: Dragons' sizes are oft reported as colossal, but firsthand observation of Skakmat indicates that individuals may vary in size, with a wingspan that can be as "small" as an average guildhall or immense enough to span a town. Many large dragons therefore choose to stay grounded, except for in the wilds, to avoid being located. All dragons seem to have two hind legs and two wings that also act like arms (similar to collected dragonling samples, but of course with a much larger wingspan), as opposed to the 4 legs of their Akaviri counterparts. A scaly, magic- and fire-resistant hide (sampled from Papré's corpse), seems to cover most of a dragon's body. Unlike the thick hide on the torso, dragons' wing webbing appears extremely elastic, though this is likely no indication of vulnerability - the tissue is intricately layered, and appears sturdy enough to withstand an attack by spell or sword. Other internal tissue and organs, including the eyes, mouth, and tongue, seem very quick to regenerate, though do show lasting damage when attacked. All tissue is observed to be light but strong, and resistant - but not impervious - to physical force exerted upon it. Piercing force seems particularly effective at breaking the skin.
Capabilities: Dragons' true capabilities are little-known and poorly documented. Generally, it is assumed that all dragons are capable of breathing fire and are immensely strong, making them deadly when engaged in physical combat. A member of the Order of the Hour traveled to the Wrothgarian Mountains before the Warp and suggested he had single-handedly killed dragons, though this has never been officially confirmed. Attempts to engage members of the Guild in Cyrodiil on the nature of Naafaalilargus met with little success, though I suspect that the Archmagisters may know things about the great drake-general we humbler guildfolk do not. (I kept our knowledge of Papré's existence to myself, of course.)
Behaviour: All reports indicate that dragons prefer to either live in solitude in the sparsely populated areas of the west (rural High Rock, Hammerfell, and Valenwood), or to participate in a symbiotic relationship with powerful men or mer - including the Empire. My use of the term symbiotic here is quite intentional - there is some evidence that the relationship between a mortal and their dragon familiar manifests physically, emotionally, and spiritually, though the specific details of such arrangements are unknown. Dragons are known to seek and accumulate physical and abstract manifestations of power or wealth, which they feel compelled to protect and guard. While we know little about personal relationships between known dragon-companions and their familiars, we do know that the character of these relationships can vary between the deeply intimate (as in the cases of Skakmat/Nulfaga and Papré/Samar) to more informal alliances of convenience (as in the case of Nafaalilargus and Tiber).
Conclusion: Despite my best efforts, I could not find any firm reason why a dragon has not contacted you, Arch-Mage. My suspicion is that dragons are simply too rare, prideful, and far from Evermore to reliably contact via astral or other remote means.