North American Elder

Poised and dignified, elder dragons are one of the oldest species Dragon Federation has yet encountered. Also known as elemental or primal dragons, these creatures become highly attuned to elemental essences based on where their egg spent the majority of its time developing. Such affinities are expressed via bioluminescence; both the egg and the dragon itself emit soft light in a hue associated with the energy suffusing the creature. Primal dragons are solitary beings and fiercely protective of their territory. Their elemental nature seems to give them an almost indescribable understanding and connection with the land and its natural progression, which results in a vibrant region brimming with life and resources. Along with the abundant health of their territory, primal dragon regions can be identified by the “marks” the creatures leave throughout their land. These marks reflect the respective dragon’s elemental affinity and can appear in a variety of forms, such as deliberate scorch marks on inflammable rocks, ice crystals that cling to tree branches and never melt, or unique rock formations that repeat in various locations. General Appearance and Characteristics Large horns and a mane of spikes protrude off the elemental dragon’s head, giving them a formidable appearance. They carry themselves gracefully and with a regal bearing, but socially they are aloof and reserved, typically maintaining their territory in solitude. This species is very rare, and Dragon Federation has not yet encountered an adult Elder. The data currently available to the team has been gathered from old tomes and weathered texts. From these aged observations, it appears that primal dragons claim regions that resonate with the elemental affinity they are aligned with, which leads to them being scattered throughout the Dragon Realm. One of the most striking and best understood features of the primal dragons are their eyes. Most have irises that range between amber to bright gold in color, and the dragons’ pupils are X shaped as opposed to the cat-like slits nearly all other species have. Given science’s current lack of understanding regarding the full capability of pupil shapes and Dragon Federation’s need for an adult specimen to study, it can only be theorized that the elemental dragon’s remarkable aperture allows this species to observe light wavelengths yet undiscovered or defined. The other noteworthy detail that’s been gathered about this species is that they are bidirectional hermaphrodites. Elder dragons seem to have no set gender, and while some remain the same sex their entire lives, others may shift back and forth periodically. It is as of yet unclear what causes this change, but current theories speculate that it may be an evolutionary trait in response to how infrequently this type of dragon encounters others of its own kind. Since elder dragons are rare, it is believed that in the event two of the same gender encounter one another, one of them will switch to the opposing sex necessary for procreation. More data on this aspect of primal dragons will be added to the “Life Cycle and Mating” category as information becomes available.

Elder Elemental Affinities Also known as elemental dragons, this species has the ability to absorb various forms of radiation from their immediate surroundings while developing in their egg. This absorption results in an “elemental affinity,” allowing the post-hatched dragon to manipulate the specific energy to some degree. Mother elder dragons usually hide their eggs near strong fields of elemental radiation, often favoring their own chosen element. As a secondary effect of this instinct, the eggs are typically well-protected from any interference or predator – it isn’t uncommon for elder dragon eggs to be buried in the sides of active volcanoes or hidden deep under river and lake beds. As an elder dragon matures, it learns to control its affinity element to a preternatural degree. They can cause aspects of it to manifest spontaneously in the world, and when said element already exists in nature, they can manipulate and modify it with ease. Whenever a primal dragon utilizes its affinity element, a corresponding colored light begins to bioluminesce between its scales. This light emission varies in intensity in relation to the magnitude of the affinity control the elder dragon is attempting. Because these dragons are quite rare, Dragon Federation hasn’t been able to fully investigate what factors positively contribute to an egg’s elemental affinity. However, from general observation, it appears that the affinity isn’t necessarily a result of biological or genetic transfer from the parent. Current investigation reveals that the affinity is imprinted during the fetus’s growth in the egg, and it could theoretically be possible to manufacture an elder dragon’s affinity by moving the egg shortly after being laid. As there is significant risk in attempting to retrieve said eggs, however, this hypothesis remains speculation at this time.