Historical Background on Dragons

[Captain Eleanor Hawke]

A Note on Dragon Breeds


Each country boasts multiple dragon breeds, some of which have historically been bred with native or foreign species to create new species.  

Crossbreeding with Continental species is the source of all the heavy-weight breeds found in Britain, none of which can be considered properly native to British shores. This is likely due to climate: heavier dragons prefer warm environs, where their air sacs can more easily compensate for their tremendous weight.  Regal Coppers, for example, were bred from the Bright Copper and the Cauchador Real during the reign of Edward I.  A heavyweight hatchling may grow to the size of a carthorse within its first year of life.
 
Small breeds such as Malachite Reapers and Grey Widowmakers prefer cool climates and mountainous regions.

Fire-breathing species are uncommon.  Venom spitters are more common but most dragon breeds have no special abilities at all.  No fire-breathing dragons are native to the British Isles and rare crossbreeding attempts have not yet proved successful.  Spain and France both boast fire-breathers.  England does boast a venomous breed, the Sharpspitter.  Longwings are a crossbreed of the Sharpspitter,  Ironwing and Honneur-d'Or.  The first true Longwing was hatched during the reign of Henry VII.  They were first considered intractable and there was some thought of destroying them until new methods of harnessing were developed during the reign of Elizabeth I.  

Most dragon handlers are male due to the dangerous lifestyle and social convention, but Longwings prefer female handlers, so young girls are recruited to the service for this purpose.

[Captain Eleanor Hawke]

Dragon Life

Dragons live much longer than people, usually for a century or two, though some breeds live longer than others.  Most dragons can expect to have several captains during their lifespan.

Dragons have 4 legs.  Their size, wingspan and body shape and size vary according to their breed.  Some may also possess other features specific to their breed.  Crossbreeds are common as breeders are constantly attempting to create new breeds with desirable characteristics such as speed, strength or special abilities.  As European breeds are typically bred for their fighting prowess, intelligence may be sacrificed for physical traits.  

Dragons are sentient creatures capable of speech and independent thought, though the latter is typically discouraged in favour of obedience to a human handler.  They learn languages in the shell and emerge fluent in any language they have had significant exposure to.  This may be the case for more than one language.  Western dragon breeds do not often learn new tongues outside the shell, particularly in adulthood.  Dragons of lesser intelligence may have more basic speech patterns than their fellows.  Dragons cannot usually read or write but may enjoy being read to.  

Western dragons are fed upon raw meat, typically from cows, sheep and pigs, though fish is sometimes eaten.  

Dragons and their handlers often (but not always) share a deep emotional bond with their handlers, although this is not always the case.

The outside world typically treats dragons as dumb beasts despite their ability to speak and think for themselves.  Most people who are not accustomed to dragons are frightened of them.  

A hatchling of the most valuable breeds are typically assigned a captain well before hatching.

Feral dragons are often enticed to live in breeding grounds so they may provide eggs for future harnessed dragons.  Ferals are provided with food but are discouraged from pursuing freedom.

Dragons fight in formations, usually with a regal copper or longwing as formation leader, sometimes an anglewing.

Although dragons spend much of their time wearing their harness, they are not often physically restrained.  If a dragon causes trouble, a threat to their handler is typically the most effective way to control them.

Dragons are jealous and possessive by nature, particularly of their captain but often of their crew as well.



Harnessing


Baby dragons are usually harnessed straight after hatching in order to prevent them growing feral.

Even adult dragons who have been harnessed may choose to rejected future handlers after the death of a companion if they feel the offered candidate is unworthy.

A dragon harness is made up of leather straps with a number of buckles to fasten it together, and loops whereby aviators may attach their carabiners to prevent themselves falling to their death.  

A dragon's name will usually be chosen by their first captain, with Latin names popular in Britain.  Sometimes a strong-willed dragon may chose their own name.

[Captain Eleanor Hawke]

Aviators 

An aviator is a dragon rider, most often a young man of good birth.  All harnessed dragons have their captain, a lifelong companion who has harnessed them since hatching, or a chosen successor to their first captain. Larger dragons have multiple officers as part of their crew, but couriers are typically ridden only by their companion and sometimes a passenger.  

As aviators live outside society and are not always subject to ordinary social convention, their lifestyles can be considered eccentric.   Many aviators raised in coverts exhibit a tendency towards informal behaviour.

As dragons are regarded with fear and aviators with suspicion, they usually live apart from normal society. These communities are known as coverts. They include living quarters for both humans and dragons, training areas and feeding grounds. Coverts may be in remote locations or outside cities. 

Historically, dragons were bred and ridden by noble families, some of whom still have small coverts on their estates.
  Some of those families maintain an interest by sending their sons to serve on dragonback.

No aviator captain may harness more than one dragon at a time, nor may they care for an unharnessed hatchling while their dragon lives.

Dragon captains often forgo marriage rather than subject their spouse to long periods of loneliness, or to avoid making their dragon jealous.  Illegitimate children are common among aviators.

As dragons live longer than humans, captains often produce children in the hope their dragon will be persuaded to accept the child as a future rider.  This is often successful, but a dragon may still reject a candidate.

An aviator will often sleep out in the open with a wounded or distressed dragon

Although most aviators are male, women have begun to serve as companions to Longwings during Queen Elizabeth's lifetime, though they usually hide their status on the rare occasions they enter society.  Young girls are now beginning to be recruited and trained for future Longwings.  

[Captain Eleanor Hawke]

Coverts:


England

Dover (canon)
London (canon)
Tynemouth 


Scotland

Edinburgh (canon)
Loch Laggan (canon)