[1] Dragons
Dragon Subcategories (Excludes Great Dragons)
Known and practiced by House Draceryos, with partial knowledge held by House Belaerys and House Mataeryon. These categories are a standard classification in the Lands of the Long Summer, not theories in this fanfiction universe.
* War Dragons:
Most common type, especially during the Valyrian Freehold.
Bred for battle: aggressive, strong, and dominant.
Three major body shapes:
- Dinosaur-like (e.g., Balerion) – bulky, raw power.
- Horse-like (e.g., Syrax, Sunfyre) – elegant yet strong.
- Wyrm-like/Canine-like (e.g., Caraxes) – sleek, agile, wolf-like features.
* Dueling/Battle Dragons:
Slightly smaller than War Dragons.
Bred for controlled combat, typically for duels between Valyrian Dragonlords.
Used more for sport and entertainment than warfare.
* Construction Dragons (Road-Crew Dragons):
Docile, enormous, with extremely hot flame output.
Used to build Demon Roads, dragonstone castles, and magical structures.
Easily guided due to their calm temperament.
* Troop Transport Dragons:
Wide-bodied dragons capable of carrying groups of soldiers into battle.
Inspired by similar concepts in Dune (e.g., Shai-Hulud transport).
Rare, strategic asset during Freehold military campaigns.
* Messenger Dragons:
Bred for speed, agility, and long-distance endurance.
Used for swift communications, despite the superior efficiency of glass candles.
Usually wyrm-like or canine-like in appearance and movement.
* RacingDragons:
Bred for entertainment and competition.
Some were also repurposed as messenger dragons due to overlapping traits.
Sleek, wyrm-like bodies for maximum speed and aerial maneuverability.
* Show Dragons:
Small, elegant, and docile.
Bred for beauty and trained for aerial displays during festivals and noble ceremonies.
Known for unique color patterns and controlled flame artistry.
{A/N: The previous was mostly if not all inspired by David Lightbringer's video on the types of Dragons in ASOIAF. I just adjusted and changed some minor things here and there to fit my fan-fic.}
- The body type is influenced by Valyrian magic during hatching, a secret known only to the Great Dragonlord Families (The Draceryos Family).
- Magic to some degree may influence a dragon's color but not their fundamental nature.
* Flame Color:
- A dragon's flame typically matches the dominant color of its scales.
- Some rare multicolored dragons can breathe multicolored flame (e.g., a dragon with three distinct scale colors may have a three-colored flame).
* Lifespan:
- Typical dragons live ~200 years, often less after the Doom.
- Targaryen dragons, lacking proper care and magic, rarely reach full potential.
- With the knowledge and magic of Houses Draceryos, Belaerys, and Mataeryon, lifespan can extend to ~300 years, though they eventually weaken and die naturally.
* Size:
- Dragons that reach 200 years old typically match Balerion's size, which is estimated to be 80 to 100 meters long (262 to 328 feet), maybe a bit more & with a wingspan of 200 meters (656 feet) or more depending on body size).
- Even with Draceryos-level care, dragons rarely exceed this size, as it is a biological limit.
* Bonding:
- Only those with dragonblood can bond with dragons.
- The purer the bloodline, the greater the chance of bonding.
- No dragon bonds to those without dragonblood.
[2] Great Dragons
* Physical Traits:
- Distinguished by a visible metallic sheen to their scales (Dragons do not have this).
- Horns are metallic: Usually match the scale color, but rare exceptions exist (e.g., Azantyos has dark, almost black horns contrasting his magma-red scales).
- Size:
(1) At peak, 1.5× Balerion's size is standard.
(2) Exceptionally rare Great Dragons (e.g.,Azantyos) can grow up to 2× Balerion's size.
- Strength:
(1) Claws, teeth, and muscle strength surpass normal dragons, comparable to Valyrian steel in resilience.
(2) Magical potency is far greater than standard dragons.
* Lifespan:
- Up to 600 years. Growth in size stops after ~200 years, but magical strength, physical power, and flame potency continue to grow.
- Eventually, their bodies become too powerful to sustain, and they die peacefully.
* Bonding:
- Only those with Great Dragonblood can bond with a Great Dragon, a legacy of the Seven Great Dragonlord families.
- A failsafe, crafted by the ancient Great Dragonlord Families, ensures that children of a female Great Dragonlord line married into non-Great Dragon families or Great Dragonseeds (bastards with Great Dragonblood) cannot bond with Great Dragons.
- This preserves the purity and exclusivity of Great Dragon bonds.
- The Draceryos Family is the only surviving Great Dragonlord Families post-Doom, the sole inheritor of this legacy.
[3] Dragon Husbandry, Magic, and Care
* Magic in Growth:
- Dragons and Great Dragons require external magic for optimal growth:
(1) Rituals, nourishment spells, ambient magical energy, volcanic auras.
- Targaryens lack this knowledge; they rely only on basic cradling, resulting in weaker dragons.
* Hatching Rituals:
- Draceryos, Belaerys, and Mataeryon infuse eggs with Valyrian energy and rituals during cradling.
- This strengthens the hatchlings and forges a deeper bond.
* Martivia's Advantage:
- Built atop the Last of the Fourteen Flames (A chain of Fourteen Volcanos), the heart of Valyrian magical energy.
- Home to:
(1) The largest Dragon Den in the world.
(2) The largest Dragon Hatchery, where eggs are incubated and imbued with magic.
- Expanded by Maelarr Draceryos, constructed and warded fully by Vaemor Draceryos.
- Provides:
(1) Faster growth.
(2) Greater strength.
(3) Better healing and resilience.
* Outcome:
- Draceryos dragons are stronger, healthier, live longer, and grow faster than those of other Valyrian families.