Magic
Dragonlings
This page details the dragonling mutation, which may be applied to a character with a dragonling slot from the Bits Store.
Due to their inborn magical nature, those who spend a lot of time exposed to dragon’s blood (and other dragon materials) may experience… unusual effects. Known in polite society as the ‘Dragonslayer’s Mark’ and as dragonlings otherwise, it is a mutation that causes humans to develop draconic traits.
These vary from eyes, scales, fins, to sometimes wings. While lucky dragonlings may receive the gift of flight, most receive only small and vestigial wings at most. The changes depend on the type of dragon as well as what areas of their body are most often exposed.
Dragonlings are most common in Xocrium, as the nation actively hunts dragons, but can be seen in any individuals who are exposed to a lot of dragon blood consistently over a long period. This is usually through violent means, though medics, gravediggers, and other people whose occupations demand they spend a lot of time in contact with dragon remains may also undergo a transformation.
These vary from eyes, scales, fins, to sometimes wings. While lucky dragonlings may receive the gift of flight, most receive only small and vestigial wings at most. The changes depend on the type of dragon as well as what areas of their body are most often exposed.
Dragonlings are most common in Xocrium, as the nation actively hunts dragons, but can be seen in any individuals who are exposed to a lot of dragon blood consistently over a long period. This is usually through violent means, though medics, gravediggers, and other people whose occupations demand they spend a lot of time in contact with dragon remains may also undergo a transformation.
The process of becoming a dragonling is a gradual one for most, but varies highly on the individual case. It usually takes between six and twelve months to be complete, but less extreme transformations may be briefer.
How much exposure to dragons is needed is unknown; some individuals are able to hunt dragons for their entire life and avoid even minor changes, while others may undergo a partial transformation after only a handful of years. In rare cases, humans may be born with such an intense sensitivity to dragon’s blood that only one or two thorough soakings can cause a transformation - though this is uncommon enough for many people not to have heard of such a situation.
After a while, the body tends to ‘settle’ into its new shape and the changes stop, although they may pick up again years or even decades later, if the individual is exposed repeatedly to dragon blood/flesh once again.
It is rarely a comfortable experience. Bones shift, new ones grow in, claws appear, scales grow out from the skin, etc. Most become extremely hungry while this is happening, and should be given constant access to food to both avoid them becoming aggressive or just simply wasting away.
The dragonling condition is not genetic, and traits gained from it cannot normally be passed down through the generations. The only known exception to this is if a child is conceived by, or carried to term, by a parent who underwent a transformation - in this situations, the infant may be born a dragonling.
Post-transformation the need for food goes down, but dragonlings tend to require more than the average human to sustain themselves.
How much exposure to dragons is needed is unknown; some individuals are able to hunt dragons for their entire life and avoid even minor changes, while others may undergo a partial transformation after only a handful of years. In rare cases, humans may be born with such an intense sensitivity to dragon’s blood that only one or two thorough soakings can cause a transformation - though this is uncommon enough for many people not to have heard of such a situation.
After a while, the body tends to ‘settle’ into its new shape and the changes stop, although they may pick up again years or even decades later, if the individual is exposed repeatedly to dragon blood/flesh once again.
It is rarely a comfortable experience. Bones shift, new ones grow in, claws appear, scales grow out from the skin, etc. Most become extremely hungry while this is happening, and should be given constant access to food to both avoid them becoming aggressive or just simply wasting away.
The dragonling condition is not genetic, and traits gained from it cannot normally be passed down through the generations. The only known exception to this is if a child is conceived by, or carried to term, by a parent who underwent a transformation - in this situations, the infant may be born a dragonling.
Post-transformation the need for food goes down, but dragonlings tend to require more than the average human to sustain themselves.
This section goes over how a dragonling transformation affects a person.
Physical Effects
Dragonlings have features influenced by the sort of dragon(s) they were most often exposed to. They may have only features from one type, or a mix, depending on the individual case. Their features may also be somewhat erratic and not necessarily link to any one specific type of dragon. Due to the high amount of exposure usually required for a dragonling transformation, it would be very unlikely for a dragonling to take after the appearance of one individual dragon person.
The transformation may increase or decrease their strength, the potency of their senses, and their lifespan and overall health. It depends on the luck of the individual. Some may live close to two hundred years, while others do not survive the transformation process. |
Some official dragonling characters. Please note that these characters belong to RoS members, and should not be copied directly; they are included here as examples only. |
Psychological Effects
Also highly dependent on the individual. Some retain full clarity of mind while others are driven to behave in highly erratic manners, perhaps due to the pain of the transformation.
Dragonlings often pick up small quirks from their mutation, influenced by what type of dragons they were most exposed to. For example, those with shipwrecker or tidekeeper traits might start to crave fish, while those with sundrake traits might start wanting to spend periods of time sunbathing. Most dangerous are those who were affected by abyssal tidekeepers, as they often inherit a weaker - but still potent - desire to consume everything, especially the flesh of dragons.
Dragonlings often pick up small quirks from their mutation, influenced by what type of dragons they were most exposed to. For example, those with shipwrecker or tidekeeper traits might start to crave fish, while those with sundrake traits might start wanting to spend periods of time sunbathing. Most dangerous are those who were affected by abyssal tidekeepers, as they often inherit a weaker - but still potent - desire to consume everything, especially the flesh of dragons.
This section goes over different cultures views on dragonlings.
Xocrium
While publicly respected for their many years of fighting dragons, dragonlings may find themselves subject to fear and apprehension in their private life. Some Xocrians may be intimidated by their inhuman features, or even view them as a danger for the sometimes volatile temperament they gain during their transformation, or simply be jealous of the extra gifts the transformation bestowed upon them.
Xocrium tries to keep incidents involving their dragonlings quiet, as the fact that the condition is most common in their nation is a bit of an embarrassment for some.
Xocrium tries to keep incidents involving their dragonlings quiet, as the fact that the condition is most common in their nation is a bit of an embarrassment for some.
Other Human Nations
Outside of Xocrium, dragonlings are far more uncommon. If the transformation does happen, it is often triggered deliberately or through sheer bad luck. In the Land of Rivers, where dragons and humans live and work together, dragonling mutations can happen among medical and funeral staff, though are most heavily associated with the dragonslayers who come to raid and kill their citizens.
Outside of these locations, dragonling transformations occur most commonly in mercenaries, human medics who work on dragons, certain test subjects in Ironbrook, and human pirates living amongst the shipwreckers.
Outside of these locations, dragonling transformations occur most commonly in mercenaries, human medics who work on dragons, certain test subjects in Ironbrook, and human pirates living amongst the shipwreckers.
Dragonkind
Though many dragons who do not live near the nation of Xocrium may be unaware of the existence of dragonlings, all have an instinctive, uncanny-valley type response to those they encounter. While they may not understand why, they feel as though something is off when seeing a human bearing the features of a dragon.
For dragons who are aware of the condition, it can either cause even more terror - knowing that this human has killed a lot of dragons, or at least been exposed to a lot of their blood - or calm them, if they have the knowledge that not every dragonling is born from violence.
While it is not illegal to be a dragonling in any country, some dragons will actively hunt them down for revenge, especially if they’re known dragonslayers.
For dragons who are aware of the condition, it can either cause even more terror - knowing that this human has killed a lot of dragons, or at least been exposed to a lot of their blood - or calm them, if they have the knowledge that not every dragonling is born from violence.
While it is not illegal to be a dragonling in any country, some dragons will actively hunt them down for revenge, especially if they’re known dragonslayers.