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Species Big Post: (Wanted to concentrate these)

Name: Gryphons
Appearance: Gryphons are a rather unique species that resemble a combination of birds of prey and mammalian big cats with frontal talons and rear legs. The most common comparison is eagles and lions, but there are some breeds of Gryphon that resemble other birds like Falcons, Vultures or Owls while their mammalian half can have more varied patterns such as stripes and spots not found on lions. There are two primary forms of Gryphons, the winged Sky Gryphs and the wingless Earth Gryphs. They are rather large animals standing at roughly 7 to 8 feet tall though shorter breeds exist, with lengths around 3-4 meters.
Diet: Carnivores. Birds, Large Herbivores, Reptilians and Smaller Animals are all favorable prey.
Environment: Mountains, Forest, Savannas
Magic Ability: Gryphons both Sky and Earth have a magical connection with the sky. They have been observed being capable of manipulating the wind and controlling gust of wind at will. Some older individuals have been claimed to be capable of controlling lightning though this is rarely observed.
Information:  Gryphons more commonly referred to as Griffins are a species of apex predator that was once quite common in Europa. These proud creatures once ruled the sky but were hunted for sport and challenge by many of the Europan peoples causing their population to decline. But their salvation came in the form of Christianity and Isa-Radi worship who declared that they were noble creatures due to their combination nature and their tendency to mate for life. There was also a military purpose, Griffins raised from a young age make loyal and faithful companions and mounts. They gained acclaim during the Dragon Wars where they proved to be effective dragon hunters as Griffins were trained to hunt dragons as they have a instinctual aggression against the Wyvern relatives of the dragons and made maneuverable aerial combatants against dragons.

Name: Wyverns
Appearance: Bipedal reptilians closely related to Dragons and Feathered Dragons. The definitive feature of Wyverns is unlike dragons they only have four limbs, two legs and two large leathery wings however there are some subspecies that develop six limbs but these extra arms are usually quite small and are used for grabbing rather than walking these Wyverns are known as Demi-Drakes. Due to extensive breeding and evolution there are various types of Wyverns that tend to vary is size and appearance. The smallest Wyverns tend to be no bigger than small birds, the common size being around 7 to 9 meters while rare  largest breeds known as Great Wyverns can reach sizes of 20 meters in length.
Diet: Hypercarnivores. Various breeds have differing diets, most prefer hunting smaller land animals and birds. Oceanic breeds tend to be piscivores.
Environment: Mountains, Forest, Ocean Cliffs
Magic Ability: Wyverns much like their close relatives the Dragons have the ability to unleash magical breath as a weapon. Most Wyverns have the ability to breath red fire at a weaker strength than dragons. Acidic Liquid and Venomous bites have also been observed.  
Information: Wyverns are a species of highly intelligent reptiles closely related to Dragons and Feathered Dragons. Some scholars believe them to be the ancestors of the dragons or at least descended from a common ancestor. Wyverns unlike dragons however are not sapient their intelligence is roughly comparable to highly intelligent animals like dolphins or apes. They can be found in various parts of Europa but have become extinct in some areas due to being mistaken for dragons during the dragon wars. But one salvation for the wyvern population is the act of Wyvern Riding. Practiced in various parts of Europa, if raised from birth it has been noted that Wyverns can grow to become quite tamed and obey commands to the letter. They closely bond with their riders and make faithful mounts, this was even used during the dragon wars as Wyverns were trained as dragon hunters alongside Griffins.

Name: Drakes
Appearance: Drakes are reptilian creatures closely related to Wyverns and like them are a part of the Draconic family tree. Like Wyverns, Drakes have four limbs but they lack the famous wings of their relatives and unlike the bipedal Wyverns they are quadrupeds using all four limbs. They have equally sized legs that stand straight under them, though some subspecies are more sprawled. A rare breed loses their rear legs and maneuver their hindquarters like a serpent while using their frontal legs to walk. Drakes adapt swiftly to their environment and many subspecies exist however they tend to have muscular armored bodies. Drakes develop natural camouflage to reflect their environment regardless of subspecies stripes and spots are common on their scales because of this. Drakes stand around 2 to 3 meters while are 6-7 meters in length, some larger subspecies can reach 10 meters in length.
Diet: Carnivore. Drakes will consume nearly anything they can kill.
Environment: Various. Mountains, Forest, Deserts, Savanna and even Tundra can be braved by Drakes.
Magic Ability: Drakes like Wyverns and Dragons have the ability to utilize fire or poisonous breath. Unlike Wyverns that shoot continuous breaths they tend to fire their weapons in burst allowing for increased range and precision.
Information: Drakes are a wingless species of draconian that are believed to be another primitive relative of Dragons. They are descended from a progenitor of Wyvern that developed the Demi-Drake mutation that led to the evolution of Dragons and grew strong powerful frontal limbs. Unlike dragons however they did not keep six limbs and their wings eventually disappeared. They are rather rare in Northern Europa but can be found in Southern Europa in the Great Forest and eastern deserts with populations in Northern Alke. Drakes are capable of being trained as mounts but require great care and skill to handle.

Name: Aquatic Wyverns
Appearance: Aquatic Wyverns closely resemble their land based counterparts they are bipedal reptilians with four limbs, legs and two large wings. However they are easy to tell apart from the common Wyvern, their scales are smooth and flat unlike the pronounced spiky scales of common Wyverns, their feet and fingers along their wings are webbed and they have have long quills with membrane along them on their heads and tails which act as fins. Demi-Drake Aquatic Wyverns exist and are classified as their own subspecies, they use their additional limbs as extra paddles allowing them to swim faster. They have long necks and tails which afford them great reach. They are quite large compared to other common Wyverns standing at 3 meters tall and they can be around 18 to 25 meters in length.
Diet: Primarily Piscivores. But may hunt other animals if hungry.
Environment: Open Ocean, Beaches
Magic Ability: Unlike Land Wyverns, Aquatic Wyverns do not possess a typical breath weapon however they retain the organ that allowed for fire breathing and instead use it to suck up water, heat it to an intense heat and fire off a boiling stream. They also have venomous bites to poison their prey.
Information: Aquatic Wyverns also known as Sea Wyverns are a distinct breed of aquatic draconian. Descended from sea cliff Wyverns that live by the sea the ancestors of the Aquatic Wyverns thrived by diving into the water to hunt eventually they began to dive longer and longer developing into a seaborne breed of Wyvern. Their powerful wings have become massive fins which allow them to race through the sea with staggering speed. Though they are adept as sea living they still come on land to lay their nest and are even capable of limited flight though they need to launch from deep water to sustain the power for a glide. Like their land based relatives they are capable of being tamed by oceanic peoples, mer people often use them as mounts in the sea.

Name: Semi-Aquatic Demi-Drakes (Sea Drakes)
Appearance: Sea Drakes are a species of aquatic draconian that stands out from their other aquatic relatives. The primary difference of this species is that they are quadrupeds descended form Demi-Drake Aquatic Wyverns, but their frontal limbs have grown to full  powerful enough to support them and can live on both land and sea. Sea Drakes have bodies that are often described as crocodilian, unlike Aquatic Wyverns they have thick scales and rather than being serpentine like Sea Serpents they have long yet powerful bodies build for wrestling large prey in water and walking on land. Sea Drakes tend to have smaller undeveloped wings which are used to help propel them through the sea, some species abandon them all together. They tend to be quite large for Drakes, having a length from 30 to 40 meters.
Diet: Carnivores
Environment: Their favored terrain are Islands or Archipelago, but they may settle in waters near continents typically found in the Pacifica Ocean.
Magic Ability: Unlike their Aquatic Wyvern brethren they display more advanced breath weapons. Boiling water, fire and even electricity have been observed being preformed  by different species of Sea Drake.
Information: Sea Drakes, known completely as Semi-Aquatic Demi-Drakes are a draconian species descended from Aquatic Wyverns that live a more evenly divided lifestyle between land and sea. While they still prefer water overall, Sea Drakes are capable of traveling further inland and prefer to live on islands. Powerful swimmers and apex predators, they often establish large hunting grounds and are somewhat reserved living solitary lives except for mated pairs who work together to rear their young. They are both feared and respected by those who witness them even revered as gods.

Name: False Drakes
Appearance: False Drakes closely resemble their Europan namesake. The easiest way to tell them apart is these draconic quadrupeds tend to have feathers or thick layers of quills covering their body usually on their neck and head. Their scales tend to vary from smooth to more rugged depending on their adapted environment. Unlike True Drakes, all False Drakes retain their four limbs regardless of breed what tends to vary in the presence of webbed claws, feather or length and the length of their deer-like horns. There are many species of False Drake some range from around cat sized to as large as 12 meters in length.
Diet: Carnivore.
Environment: Mountains, Forest, Rivers, Desert, Beaches, Shrubland, Grassland
Magic Ability: False Drakes unlike many of their relatives lack any breath weapons. However it is said they possess the power to manipulate the weather as they have been describe as being able to cause storms and control the energy level of running water.
Information: Across Rigo there is a highly widespread and diverse draconic species that closely resemble the Europan Drakes. They are identified as False Drakes, a species that ironically are not descended from Drakes at all but descended from Sea Drakes  that immigrated to Rigo and fully adapted to land once again. Unlike the Drakes of Europa, False Drakes are much more common sight in Rigo compared to aerial wyverns. The locals refer to them as Mishipeshu or Nguruvilu in North and South Rigo respectively. False Drakes have a mixed reputation that varies among the people some believe them to be benevolent  protectors while others believe them to be threats. For cultures that embrace the False Drakes they co-exist with them peacefully and may even ride them as mounts. False Drakes are known for being natural enemies of Thunderbirds and stories are often told of conflict between the two beings.

Sapients:

Name: Alphyn
Appearance: Alphyns are large quadrupeds that resemble a mix of a canid and a bird of prey. They have wolf-like heads while their necks are covered by feathers, followed by a large powerful body covered in long fur, their frontal legs are a pair of bird-like talons and their rear legs are mammalian. Alphyns come in a variety of colors brown, white, red, yellow, black, cream and many have mixed patterns of colors. They are quite large standing at 4 meters tall and are 11 meters long.
Average Lifespan: Unknown
Magic Aptitude: Alphyn's possess a powerful connection with natural magic. They are the guardians of nature and can wield great powers linked to the natural elements. They can harness magic to enhance their natural abilities, camouflage themselves with the environment and even manipulate the flora and fauna to an extent such as being able to see through the eyes of animals.
Information: Alphyns are an ancient race that roam the free forests of Europa. They possess a deep connection with the ancient druids who they formed an alliance with long ago. The Alphyns served as their protectors and allies until their culture disappeared and so too did the Alphyns. They were believed by many to be extinct but the Alphyns still live roaming the land in the deep forest never forgetting their ancient mission.



Name: Wyrms
Appearance: Wyrms are massive serpentine dragons, they retain their legs large and powerful but like the Drakes they are descended from are wingless. They have large heads that are long and flat compared to other dragon species with frills on the side to cover their eyes when digging and they have smooth flat skin-like scales which are very rubber-like in texture and moist, some individuals get soil caught on their scales and plant life grows on them. Wyrms have rather few colors black, grey, white, green and gold are the common colors among them. There is no known size for how big Wyrms can grow, it is said the oldest among them can reach titanic proportions in length.  
Average Lifespan: 50,000+
Magic Aptitude: Wyrms possess rather limited magical ability. They are capable of controlling the earth moving and shaking it as they dig through the ground allowing them to reach great speeds. They also are skilled craftsmen able to use the materials of the earth to create powerful weapons and tools.
Information: Wyrms are descended from extinct northern drakes that evolved to develop great intelligence like the Wyvern ancestors of the dragons. While the Dragons took to the sky, the Wyrms found themselves seeking out the underground where they built great caverns which they spend the majority of their lives within. Wyrms are something of outcast from other dragon kind, they do not shun hording and in fact are known for their insatiable greed over their hordes. All Wyrms build great collections which they gather in the underground but they are not thieves, their collections are found by their own merit or built themselves the Wyrms find beauty in that earned by their own hands. Wyrms are a race that avoid trouble, they are content to living peacefully under the ground so long as they are unbothered. In recent times they have shown great charity granting the Darak Elves, the descendants of the Luna Elves safe havens in their great caverns allowing them to live in their underground world so long as they protect it from outsiders. Because of this Wyrms are worshiped by the Darak Elves and each clan and city has a patron Wyrm who serves as their host.

Name: Grootslang
Appearance: Large long neck and long tailed dragons, resembling the long necked feathered dragon relatives. Grootslangs have large stocky bodies with long legs that sprawl out under them keeping them low to the ground, they have long skulls with long noses that extend from their muzzle like an elephant trunk, along with large  flaps at the back of their head which resemble elephant ears and have a pair of large tusk that grow on the front of their face. They have wings but they have become incapable of flight and simply remain as proof of their lineage. Grootslangs come in only two colors, grey and black giving them an appearance similar to a reptilian elephant. They are a large race having a height of 20 meters standing and a length of 50 meters.
Average Lifespan: 10,000+
Magic Aptitude: Grootslangs possess high magical aptitude and practice many form of natural magics similar to traditional shamanism. Interestingly they lack breath weapon found in many dracononic races, they thus rely on their physical strength as their main means of defense.
Information: Grootslangs are a southern breed of dragon found in the land of Alke. They are amphibious dragons that live in underground caverns and warm bodies of water. Grootslangs are highly social dragons that live in communal communities, female Grootslangs in a community all nest in the same place and young Grootslang chicks are raised together by elders while adult males and females protect their communities and secure food. Grootslangs are known for hording diamonds but this is for survival purposes, Grootslangs consume diamonds to strengthen their tusk which absorb the crushed diamond and help them grow. Grootslangs take great pride in their tusks which are symbols of strength and wisdom, they utilize them in sparring sessions to impress their peers and earn authority in their communities.

Name: Mamlambo
Appearance: Mamlambo are short low to the ground, lizard-like dragons with aquatic features. They have smooth flat scales, webbed claws and their wings are adapted for propelling them through water and are capable of flight, however unlike other dragons they have eight limbs due to possessing an additional pair of wings. They have short heads with long necks adapted for snatching prey from a distance. They come in three colors, shades of green, brown and blue. They are quite small by dragon standards, standing usually no higher than 2 meters and having a length of 4 to 10 Meters.
Average Lifespan: 500-700
Magic Aptitude: Mamlambo have rather average magical ability. However they are quite skilled at illusion magic to create camouflage.
Information: Mamlambo are a race of semiaquatic dragons found in Alke. Mamlambo organize themselves into a tribal society, they all live in various tribes which are spread throughout the jungle and rainforest regions of Alke. Mamlambo tribes are led by a group of Elders who are responsible for around 10 to 20 families of their descendants and their mates. Mamlambo tribes usually have differing outlooks but many of them believe themselves to be the protectors of the land. They keep the peace by maintaining balance both in nature and with civilization they often intervene in wars and conflicts to prevent them from escalating. However some tribes believe they should rule over other races and have a deep hatred of civilization and hunt down and harass other races that settle in their territory.

Name: Inkanyamba
Appearance: Inkanyamba are long semiaquatic serpentine dragons adapted for living primarily in the sky. They have no legs but retain the eight limbs of their Mamlambo relatives, they have four pairs of large wings which extend from the side of their body and they have long flat heads similar to Arslan Dragons but are smooth in shape similar to a serpent. They are known to grow to over 250 Meters. They can be green, blue, red, black and silver.
Average Lifespan: 10,000+
Magic Aptitude: Inkanyamba possess incredibly powerful weather magic. When in flight they are surrounded by storm clouds and when angered or threatened they can unleash devastating tornadoes by rapidly spinning and unleashing destructive storms upon all below.
Information:  Inkanyamba are a feared and  respected breed of dragon found in Alke. They are the unchallenged masters of the skies able to utilize its power with devastating effect against those who earn their wrath. They spend most of their lifetime living within waterfalls resting in quiet meditation but during the warm months of summer they will take to the skies and roam the air in search of their own kind. Inkanyamba are known for being quite unpredictable and aggressive beings while content to spend most of their time roaming the skies they can display acts of intense rage and devastation. They live relatively isolated but females rear their young within their waterfall, occasionally going out more often outside of the summer to hunt food for their chicks. The fathers do not directly raise the chicks but it has been found they settle close to their mate's waterfall and will patrol during the night to ensure their safety. Inkanyamba and Grootslangs are bitter enemies and are known to fight great battles against each other.


Name: Dingoneks
Appearance: Dingoneks are rather unique out of the Alke Dragons. Like Mamlambo and Inkanyambe they have eight limbs, but their upper body is covered by thick heavy scales that also cover their four wings which they fold over their body to use as shields. They have a large horn and a pair of saber teeth on their armored heads and have long tails with a thagomizer. They have camouflage green scales with brown or black spots. They are 5 meters long and stand around 3 meters tall.
Average Lifespan: 5,000+
Magic Aptitude: Dingoneks have rather low magical ability but they have a great sense for magical powers.
Information: Dingoneks are a race of armored Alke Dragons that live around rivers. They are rather unique socially as they have a social structure reminiscent of lions. Dinogneks live in patriarchal communities led by a lead male who has a monarch-like rule over his peers and has exclusive mating rights. Dingoneks are warriors by nature and often fight to secure their position over their own kind, even females fight to secure their dominance over each other and earn respect. For both genders the stronger you are the more authority you have. Young Dingoneks often leave their communities because of this and travel the land to seek wisdom and strength on their own so they  can mature and return strong enough to fight their elders. Despite their heavy weight they make skilled swimmers and traverse the rivers of Alke.

Name: Southern Dragons
Appearance: Large quadrupedal dragons descended from the land based Drakes. Southern Dragons are wingless, have only four legs which are sprawled out in stance similar to Northern Dragons  but are capable of standing more rigidly to move faster. They have a row of spines descending their back and large tails with membrane linking them, some individuals develop thick armored plating on their back. They have large pointed faces with two large horns at the end of their head. They come in several colors green, yellow, orange, purple, brown and rarely black or white. Typical size can vary dramatically standing between 20 to 30 meters tall and have a length between 40 to 60 meters.
Average Lifespan: 10,000+
Magic Aptitude: Southern Dragons possess relatively high magical potential but it is a learned art as they have no inherited many magical teachings from other species. They are capable of breathing fire but like Drakes can mostly only breath fireballs or short burst however Southern Dragon fire is unique in that Southern Dragons power it by consuming petroleum and spitting it making their fire incredibly sticky.
Information: Southern Dragons are a line of dragons born from the Drake line of the draconic family tree. In the past they once lived in Northern Europa and were sometimes referred too as Tarasque. During the ancient reign of Faranir The Terrible, they became subjects of discrimination by their winged relatives and in response fled the north into the Great Forest and the southern east. This ultimately saved the Southern Dragons from the sad fate of the Northern Dragons but the Southern Dragons remain bitter over their treatment. In the south, Southern Dragons retain a uneasy but quiet existence they tend to isolate themselves as not to earn the ire of local races settling in caves and old ruins. But they retain some community often making trade with southern mages protecting their workshops and hidden gathering places in return for food and a living place. When they gather it is in small numbers as to maintain their safety. Southern Dragons have a very loose culture but they identify the black scales of their kind as descendants of a great lineage and have a monarchy centered around them, all of their kind are expected to answer the call and serve the Black King if there should ever come a time for them to gather.