THE
RESONANCE
DRAGON |
“Ancient
texts and tablets, dusty scrolls from long ago, tell of a dragon incomparable to
any known today. The echo of their song has fallen out of the memory of those
souls today that wander without so great a love and respect of music, of
mystical vibrations that course through the
earth, through the vast empyrean. Those sounds are but whispers telling
secrets to those who have a spirit that resonates from their aria, resonates
from the song of the Resonance Dragon.”
– Telór Cáey’cáo, Aellenrhim Scholar of Ancient Civilization,
Ximax (920-1662)
The Resonance Dragon has long been a creature of unspoken myth. It is said to
have disappeared long ago, and those texts that still speak of it are tucked away in
various libraries across Caelereth. Some were lost, others destroyed. It is
believed that many extremely important Resonance Dragon scriptures contained in
the Aellenrhim Library were burnt in the
orc raid of 207 b.S. There are many who
believe that some of the most important texts are still hidden away in the great
libraries of Ximax, though these have yet to be revealed.
Limited resources have yielded very little information on what these
dragons
were like. It is still unsure if they had even existed on the plains of
Caelereth, or if they were merely some extraordinary creation of a dream or
fleeting vision. In the passing centuries, they were rather unknown, and it
wasn’t really until the Age of Discoveries (1249-) that a few scholars began to
take some interest in this forgotten legend. Since then, old texts have been
re-read and different theories have been formed on what these creatures were
like, or if they even existed.
Appearance.
Different scriptures have revealed different accounts on the appearance of this
creature. Various writings, however, reveal some undeniable features of this
dragon:
Its size is rather large, though not so large as other
dragons;
It is described as being about 8 peds from head to tail, and being anywhere from
4 to 5 peds wide. No accounts state their weight, but scholars have estimated
that they weigh at least a few hundred pygges. One ancient and unknown scholar
theorized these
dragons
could vanish, were evanescent in the sense that they were there one minute and
gone the next.
Their corporeal form, in any case, is without horns or spikes. Instead, clear
webbing protrudes from the back of their jaw, along their back, and on the back
of their legs. This webbing seems inclined to shimmer in the light, perhaps in
the semblance of clear silk. These extensions are very sensitive to sound and
the echo of sounds in the air. Many have theorized them to be extremely acute in
their ability to pick up noises.
Texts lead to the conjecture that the figures of these dragons
are surprisingly lean and elegant. They don’t have many of their brethren’s
sharp angles. The head is elongated slightly, but lacks a pointed mouth opening.
One account stated the dragon “seemed to have no mouth,
as though it spoke through some entirely different medium, or as though it was
not a being to speak, but to listen, like the embodiment of the
Principle of Ahm. Everything it needed to
say glistened in its large, ebony eyes. Such eyes could not have been more
innocent, or wise!” (Vaiaél Aeli’pherán, “Avenní’valía”) Many authors describe
the eyes as round, almond shaped, and being completely black. Many write also of
the expression of both innocence and wisdom shining through them, and being
truly unable to explain the paradox of the Resonance Dragon’s eyes.
The elegant neck of the Resonance Dragon broadens out into the body, upon which
the wings and legs are connected. The wings are attached near the shoulder
blades and sweep up. The material pulled over the bones that allows flight is
very thin, but tends to be of the same hues as the dragon's
body, not clear like the webbing of its back and jaw, though it allows some
light through. The legs are proportional to the body, though one ancient text
declares the claws of the front legs have “amazing versatility, with an ease in
grabbing objects as small as a human’s ring”
(Geldian Rupel, notes printed in “Dragon Research”). Gentleness imbues the
dragon claws, one of its few sharp body parts.
The tail is rather unspectacular, as it were, coming to a simple tip, without
the spines and horns that equip other dragons.
Records reveal an interesting growth that seemed to form from the Resonance
Dragon’s scales. These growths, known today as Resonance Jewels, are theorized
as marks of age. They are small, relative to the dragon,
being about a nailsbreadth in diameter. One scripture reads, “They shimmered as
though filled with perennial light, even in the caverns where only shadows
dwelled, or in a sky of pure darkness” (author unknown). Ancient writings allude
to these gems. A poem written in the Age of Myth spoke of “Resonance Gems”. For
centuries it had been believed to be a misspelling, but was eventually revealed
to be an allusion to the jewels growing on these dragons.
Often these gems appear around the eyes, and sometimes on the back, usually
spread a good distance away from each other.
Scales cover the body of the dragon from head to tail.
Those on the head and back tend to be rounded, while long, plate-like scales run
down the inner-neck and on the inside of the belly. The scales have the
appearance softness, almost as though they were thin as cloth, though the true
texture of them is yet unknown.
The color of the Resonance Dragon is still undetermined. All the accounts and
scriptures describe the dragon being of different
colors. Some stated the scales of the dragon “shone in
a haunting bluish glow, touched by a deep purple like that of the night sky”
while others said that they “shone a wise and frightening turquoise, alluding to
the glimmer in the eyes of the Sea Goddess”.
One account even stated that the dragon “blazed like
fire, each scale a smoldering star left in
Foiros’s wake!”
The true color of the scales is unknown; though a new theory assumes that
vibrations and sound determine the color of the scales; that lower, deeper
sounds produce one color while higher sound produce another. Whispers drive the
dragon to transparency, if not clarity. It is predicted
that when the world loses all sound and song, the dragon
will vanish into the air and be gone.
Otherwise, it is believed to be immortal. None are sure if these theories are
correct, but they currently reign in the realm of dragon
studies.
Despite the dragon's inclination to sounds, it is
apparent by the texts available that the creature has no ears. Most scholars
agree that the webbing on the dragon's body picks up
these vibrations, and resonate from the sounds heard, thus causing the
coloration of the scales.
Special Abilities.
The Resonance Dragon, in all its strange and haunting mysticism, carries so much
mystery. What it is and how it functions, where and how it lives, and what
powers it possesses is vastly unknown, and thus people must make informed
conjectures as to what abilities it has. Most scholars agree on at least one
ability: the Resonance Dragon is powerfully affected by sound.
Though it seems not to possess any ears or any holes that would imply ears, the
webbing on various parts of its body are said to pick up the slightest
vibrations. One human philosopher stated that
the
dragon
could probably “hear the gentle sob of an elven
maiden high upon the Prominent Mountains in the north while feeling the sleepy
whisper of a dwarven child deep within the
Mithral. So extraordinary was the
being that I felt it could sense even the beats of my heart, even the sound of a
softened thought floating through my mind.” (Dylian Embelyer, "The Music", an
Autobiography)
Because accounts either do not mention a mouth or state the mouth’s apparent
absence, the assertion that the
dragon
does not eat reigns in many scholars’ mind. Most of the researchers believe that
the dragon does indeed have a mouth, and must eat to sustain itself, claiming
that the accounts stating otherwise contain flaws. Many who claim the beast had
no mouth also beheld the
dragon
in rather dark settings, typically at night, and a few times in the twilight
hours. Very few who witnessed the Resonance Dragon actually saw it during day.
Though the
dragon
has wings, it seems to float, as though it were a feather left to fly on the
current of the wind. Thus, the wings may
act more as resonant material rather than being an appendage used for flight. In
either case, the
dragon
must have amazing versatility with its body. It does not seem weight down as its
cousins. “The control the creature had over its own form must be spectacular, as
it was able to move with such elegance, all of its movements done with so
perfect a precision as to tough nothing but what ground it had planned to
touch.” (Geldian Rupel, notes printed in “Dragon Research”)
Territory.
One of the great enigmas of this
dragon
concerns its location, its general territory. Ancient writers and researchers
hail from all across Caelereth. Some
stumble upon these creatures while way up in the mountains, sometimes in dark
caverns and caves, but there are also quite a few stories of confrontations
within forests, especially in glades and small clearings. Prairies and heaths
seem less written of as Resonance Dragon-witnessing grounds.
Most people run into these beasts in a time of great emotional crisis, though
many don’t write of them but in tranquil recollection. Their presence, in nearly
all cases, seems to pacify and relax. Their careful, listening manner and their
wise yet innocent eyes are said to have comforted many who were lucky enough to
see them.
The scholars and researchers since the Age of Discoveries propose that the
dragon
lives in dark places close to the ground. As previously stated, these
dragons
are believed to vanish if they cannot hear sound, and thus it is said that they
spend most of their time close to the ground, which carries to them vibrations
of sound, of screams and whispers, and of music. One scholarly artist portrayed
the Resonance Dragon lying close to the earth amidst tall, wild trees, dripping
with vines and showered with mushrooms and unknown birds with bright plumage,
under a dark, star-speckle sky, its eyes closed as though to listen, as one
observer interpreted, “to the beating of
Caelereth’s heart.”
Habitat/Behaviour.
None have beheld the dragon for extended periods of
time or witnessed it more than once, so very little is known concerning its
behavior but within a short time period. How they approach other
dragons of their kind is unknown, though most scholars
agree these are creatures that live alone, not traveling in flocks and avoiding
contact with other dragons, both Resonance and
otherwise. It is also believed that, when coming across another
dragon, they probably maintain calm and cool composure,
given none of the accounts told of these dragons in
fits of anger. Never did the witnesses feel threatened.
The spirit of the Resonance Dragon certainly seems to be a gentle one. They have
never been known to stack or even touch one who witnessed them, but moved with
very fluid, very careful gestures. Recordings say that the animal moved slowly,
though it is unsure whether the dragon was being
careful to not frighten the onlooker or if the dragon
was just slow. Most scholars believe that, because of the sensitivity of the
Resonance Dragon, these slow movements were to clam and sooth.
The innocence held in the ebony eyes of the dragon
suggests a timid manner. Upon first reinitiating research on the dragon,
scholars believed these creatures to be extremely shy beasts, which they
supported through the various descriptions of people, influenced by the
almond-shaped eyes, expressed of the dragon and through
the lack of any confrontations with the dragon for so
many years. Surely, they believed, it was this shyness that kept the dragon
away.
Since then, though, scholars have seriously questioned the manner of the dragon.
It’s versatility and ease seems to imply that perhaps the dragon
isn’t as timid at first thought. “The eyes may have skewed the perceived
behavior of the Resonance Dragon. All accounts refer to the eyes as holding a
‘wise innocence’ that few can explain. Past scholars have taken too much of how
the dragon was portrayed in the writer’s mind into
consideration to make an accurate conjecture as to the true nature of the dragon.
If one looks deeper, past the way the account is written and delve deeper into
the actual content, the shyness of the dragon seems to
melt away.” (Treviil Merilan, Helcrani Scholar of Ancient Beasts,
Ximax 1347)
Dated entries have revealed that this creature is active during all times of the
year, and does not hibernate like some animals do. People have encountered them
even within the most frigid months of the year, as well as in the most
scorching. The plethora of confrontations made during the night and twilight
hours has paved way to the belief these dragons are
nocturnal creatures, hiding within their shadowy homes during the day and
awakening at night.
Diet.
The Resonance Dragon’s diet is perhaps one of the most argued over factors of
this dragon's lifestyle, because it is the most
unknown. How and what the animal eats has not been confirmed by anything close
to a majority of scholars. Since research of the dragon
began, there were widely differing views on what that dragon
eats, or if it eats at all.
Some scholars propose that the dragon does not eat;
that this is a being that is probably immortal and does not need to sustain
itself through any sort of food. Some good evidence supports the proposal. For
one, it would explain the lack of any fecal matter. It would also agree with the
mouth, which some contend is absent all together. Many assume that the dragon
does have a mouth, but the narrowness and almost fragile appearance of the snout
would seem to assume that, if there were teeth within, they would be too small
to eat much.
Opposing views say that this theory is the “default theory”, that so little
analyzing has actually gone into it and that is really doesn’t take into
consideration that all animals must eat to survive. Most scholars believe the
animals are omnivorous. No scholars currently believe that the dragon
could eat the meat of something else, both because this would make traces of the dragon
far more identifiable (through rotting carcasses in its wake, or through fecal
matter containing the parts of animals) and because the nature of the dragon
leads many to believe the beast would never hurt another creature.
Most scholars believing in the omnivorous nature of the dragon
assume that grasses and the leaves of small trees and shrugs probably make up
most of the diet. Many of the plants eaten are probably rich in vitamins and
minerals, some of which pass through the dragon and are
released in extremely fertile fecal matter on which plants quickly grow, thus
soon hiding any trace that dragon was ever there.
All of these are merely theories. No Resonance Dragon has ever been seen eating,
nor has the skull of a Resonance Dragon been found.
Mating.
Mating, due to insufficient knowledge on the process, is, for the most part, not
discussed among researchers. The dragon, from the
rather uniform descriptions of its appearance, save the color of the scales,
seems to assume that the beast has no male or female genders at the least! The
sizes, when noted, were very close to being the same measurements, nor any
physical feature that would distinguish a dragon as
male or female. This includes the genitals, which are absent in all accounts. It
is unsure whether the genitals were simply not mentioned, or if the
dragon was completely absent of them.
When questioned, most scholars admitted to not really believing the animals
mated at all. “The evidence suggests that the Resonance Dragon may have never
reproduced at all. Not only do the accounts suggest this, given none even
mention any reproductive organs anywhere on the beast, but also the
dragon has not been seen or heard of for thousands of years. We may conclude
that the dragon's failure to reproduce may have indeed
caused its extinction.” (Treviil Merilan, Helcrani Scholar of Ancient Beasts,
Ximax 1347)
Many scholars also mention that there is no record of Resonance Dragons meeting
to mate. Most animals must seek out a mate, but these
dragons have maintained a mystery and have remained unseen and unheard of
for scores of centuries.
Some still contend they may have reproduced, and lived and died just like any
animal. Scholars have used the Resonance gems as proof, saying that from birth,
assuming the creature mates and gives birth, these gems appear and become more
numerous as the dragon grows older.
Not all the reproduction theories include two dragons
and intercourse. Some conjectures seem far-fetched, but in many cases there is
just as much evidence to support it as any other of the pro-reproduction
theories. A small group believed that the dragon could
bud: that is, split apart into two separate entities. This would require only
one dragon. Others believed that the
dragon would periodically lose a body part, which would then grow into a new
dragon.
The reigning theory among the pro-reproduction scholars is that the
dragon is hermaphroditic, and its reproductive organs may all be kept inside
the body. In this way, the dragon may be able to
regulate how many offspring it creates. The rarity of the
dragon may suggest that they haven’t chosen to create offspring for a long
time. Still, the lack of any Resonance Dragon remains, the lack of any bones or
fossils, works against any theory again anti-reproduction.
Myth/Lore.
The Resonance Dragon is considered to some to be myth all together. No real
scientific records lead to the assumption that these
dragons were perhaps merely a work of imagination. This is supported by the
lack of any bones or fossils. The Resonance Dragon is a puzzling creature,
though, because it seems that people from throughout
Caelereth, without any contact or
connection to one another, beheld the dragon and wrote
of it with similar descriptions in appearance.
The reigning theory of how so many so far apart yielded similar accounts of the
dragon deals with what may have once been a popular or semi-popular myth
concerning these dragons. Perhaps a story spoke of
them, and this story set the seed for the dragon to
appear in visions. To this day, however, there is no sign that any myth ever
existed. Of course, many of the records on this dragon
and on the stories and myths of the ancient times have been lost or destroyed.
The great mystery surrounding the Resonance Dragon has made it a small flit of
inspiration for bards and storytellers, some of whom delve into the mysticism
headfirst. Since the re-initiating of research, hundred of talented bards have
made stories about these dragons, or have made
references to them in their works. Some have even created their own myths on how
the dragon came into being, or where the legend of the
Resonance Dragon began. The following tale is one of the more popular ones:
THE
RESONANCE
DRAGON |
Many
Santharian bards play on the idea that
Nehtor and
Eyasha created the
dragon together. Nehtor, often being
associated with sound and music, is obviously tied to the brilliant hues it is
said to don when music resonates from its clear webbing. This perhaps most
prominent features of the dragon's appearance is also
sometimes associated with the hobbit deity,
Dalireen, who is said to wear
wonderfully bright colors and to greatly enjoy music, often being called Bardess
Dalireen. Because
Dalireen is such a small and less-known
deity, most relate the dragon's colors to
Nehtor.
Eyasha’s relevance stems from the accounts
of the dragon's ability to sooth and comfort. All those
who witnessed it seemed to be in crisis, and the sight of the
dragon helped to seemingly untangle the black web that
hid the person’s path. There is something undeniably peaceful about the
Resonance Dragon, and thus Eyasha also
comes up when the question of engenderment arises.
The works of Aeruillin bards seem to imply that none other than
Nakashi herself, the
Aeoliran High Goddess of Light,
could have ever created so wondrous a beast. They say that she, seeing the
troubled creatures of her land, created the Resonance Dragon to help bring light
and hope to those who needed it, to be a guiding star to those plunged into
darkness. She endowed it with all the colors her imagination could think of,
brought to the surface through sound and song.
All these stories are ones recently created, and because the Resonance Dragon
hasn’t been studied for so long, many cultures haven’t yet learned of the
dragon, or don’t yet believe in its existence. The
accounts available are rare and antiquated. There are some ancient writings that
come from this time. Long had a poem mentioning “Resonance Gems” been thought of
as a mistake until the dragon came to the light:
“Bedecked
in silver fairy dust |
One of the most popular Resonance Dragon poems was found in the notes of Ýph’lonía Sphergís, most of which are too faded and messy to read. Her poem, however, has withstood the test of time. It was published in a small collection of poems long ago, but with growing popularity and interest in the Resonance Dragon, the poem has been republished several times, both in Tharian and the original Styrásh:
RESONANCE |
Researchers. All of
the researchers of this extraordinary creature lived during the Age of
Discoveries, during which past writings and old, forgotten knowledge were
explored once more. The study of the Resonance Dragon really started with
Cýr’kará Quaeronía (500-1293), an elf of the
Aellenrhim tribe who stumbled
across the Resonance Dragon during her studies at
Ximax Academy. It is said that, having
first come to the library at Ximax, she grew
lost in the various floors and towers, for while, she later admitted, she was
well-aquanted with the layout of the Great Library in
Bolder, the layout of
Ximax greatly confused her. She came across
Geldian Rupel’s “Dragon Research”, which was considered too out of date to be in
the bestiary tower. It is here that she learned about the Resonance Dragon, and
began collecting research.
Cýr’kará Quaeronía collected a lot of data while at
Ximax, though many of the accounts were vague
and a bit mysterious, but had to give up her research for the sake of her school
work. It wasn’t until near the end of her life that she picked up the study
again and published “Resonance Dragon, Accounts of Song” in 1290, three years
before her death. The book was merely a collection of various accounts and vague
ideas, but it helped to pave the way to greater interest in the
dragon.
Telór Cáey’cáo (920-1662), an
Aellenrhim who later became a
scholar of Ancient Civilization at Ximax, took
up the torch. It is said that he read Cýr’kará Quaeronía’s book and began
research of his own, first in the Great Libraries at the
Bolder, then at the
Ximax Academy.
His research was extremely thorough, and he uncovered some accounts and
mentionings that had been skipped. Soon after his graduation, he published “The
Color of Sound, Theories on the Resonance Dragon” (1322) which outlined and
explained many of his philosophies and theories on the life of the
dragon.
The book inspired Treviil Merilan (1282-1354), a
Helcrani who later became a scholar of
Ancient Beasts at Ximax. He studied the
Resonancace Dragon along with other mystical creatures, shedding new light on
their existence. He published a few works in his time, two of which spoke
briefly on the Resonance Dragon.
Without the ancient accounts of the Resonance Dragon, none of the current
research would have ever been possible. Little is known about the writers, but
one of the most influential was Vaiaél Aeli’pheran’s “Avenní’valía,” which gave
eloquent details of the dragon's appearance and
movements. Vaiaél Aeli’pherán is said to have been of the
Ylfferhim tribe, having lived around
that area and having made a mention of very light-colored haired.
Geldian Rupel is believed to be the oldest of the
ancient witnesses. His tribe is unknown, though most suspect him to be either a
Kyranian or a
Helcrani. His notes printed in “Dragon
Research”, but are believed to be far older than that book. His notes are
extremely important both in appearance and in outlining many of the notions of
the dragon that are still held today.
Dylian Embelyer is known as an
Erpheronian. He was an
adventurer and magician of sorts, who catalogued his adventures in his published
work, “The Music, an Autobiography”. He played a plethora of instruments and
wanted to bring music to the people of the north, but turned back when he could
not pass through the Tandala. It
was here, in the mountainous highlands, where he said he saw the lovely
dragon, and played for it, watching its scales turn to
brilliant shades. Though his description was brief in comparison to the others’,
the dragon's changing of colours has helped to lead to
a better idea of the dragon's abilities.
Usages. There is no trace that the Resonance
Dragon ever existed: no bones, no fossils, not even a footprint left on
the ground. Thus, many of the usages other
dragons lend are lost on the Resonance Dragon. Its scales are not
used to make any kind of armor. Its teeth are not used to make
weapons. Though its meat may be edible,
none have ever tasted it, and thus the taste or texture is unknown.
This does not mean that the Resonance Dragon does no
good. All of those who witnessed the dragon
were suffering from great emotional crisis, and in the color and light of the
dragon, many of them found comfort, relief, and
were able to relax. The aura of the dragon
seems to have a calming effect.
Information provided by
Rayne Avalotus
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