Snowbell Dragon
Appearance: |
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Physical Details: Snowbell dragons are about the size of large deer or ponies – slightly smaller than the average horse. They do not have particularly strong backs (compared to dragons such as the Azure Assault or Night Fury), and can only comfortably carry up to about 200 pounds. They have a particularly acute sense of hearing, able to pick up a sound the volume of regular human speech from over 100 yards away outdoors. They also have a fairly good sense of sight. The large diamond-shaped set of feathers on their tail are used for enhanced flying maneuverability as well as dominance and breeding displays.
Age Cycle: Eggs are generally laid in mid-autumn and hatch around the beginning of winter, during the snows. One distinct characteristic of this dragon’s life cycle is the short hatchling period in comparison with its adult life. Hatchlings reach matured status in early spring and by the following autumn (a little under a year after being laid as eggs) have reached their adult size. Breeding takes place every year from about the ages of four to twenty-five (clutches are generally two to four eggs), but Snowbell dragons can live almost as long as humans, to about 75, in good conditions.
Behavior: Snowbell dragons tend to live in groups of ten to fifteen, including that year’s hatchlings. They are quite social and vocalize often with a variety of bell-like calls that is almost as complex as human speech. They are also incredibly curious creatures, always exploring new environments and investigating unusual sounds or happenings. They are quite protective of their eggs and both parents stay close to their hatchlings until adulthood, but when faced with terrible and immediate danger will occasionally flee even when raising young. They are also quite intelligent, able to understand several commands (vocal work best) if properly trained and sometimes using rudimentary tools of their own invention. Snowbells are also herbivorous, consuming mainly a diet of leaves (ranging from lettuce to wild tree leaves) and fruit (most wild berries that are poisonous to humans are completely edible for a Snowbell, and they will also eat cultivated fruits such as melon and apples - however, they are not too fond of tropical fruits such as bananas and detest citrus).
Habitat: Snowbells prefer cold climates, and avoid fire and warm temperatures, as they are particularly susceptible to heat damage and heat exhaustion. They make their nests by hollowing out dens of snow and ice as soon as material becomes readily available. They can fly for long distances, but despite this are not migratory animals, staying in one place as long as the food supply and shelter availability will allow.
Battle/Defense: Snowbells have little to no natural weapons or attack capabilities. They do not possess a breath weapon or exceedingly sharp teeth or claws (though a claw-rake from one can hurt quite a bit and occasionally draw blood), and young hatchlings (whose claws do not even grow in until halfway to maturity) depend mostly on camouflage with the snow for protection. Any predator who can catch one has an easy time of killing a Snowbell – however, for this reason, they have made themselves incredibly hard to catch. A Snowbell in flight is faster than an antelope in full gallop, and has quite impressive maneuverability even when carrying a rider, in part thanks to their tail rotors. They are not nearly as fast or agile on the ground, but can still surpass human running speed. Even hatchlings learn to fly in a few weeks and are capable of easily escaping lesser predators while in flight. In addition, adults’ bright and shimmery colors can be perplexing or overwhelming to some predators with poor or very acute vision.
Age Cycle: Eggs are generally laid in mid-autumn and hatch around the beginning of winter, during the snows. One distinct characteristic of this dragon’s life cycle is the short hatchling period in comparison with its adult life. Hatchlings reach matured status in early spring and by the following autumn (a little under a year after being laid as eggs) have reached their adult size. Breeding takes place every year from about the ages of four to twenty-five (clutches are generally two to four eggs), but Snowbell dragons can live almost as long as humans, to about 75, in good conditions.
Behavior: Snowbell dragons tend to live in groups of ten to fifteen, including that year’s hatchlings. They are quite social and vocalize often with a variety of bell-like calls that is almost as complex as human speech. They are also incredibly curious creatures, always exploring new environments and investigating unusual sounds or happenings. They are quite protective of their eggs and both parents stay close to their hatchlings until adulthood, but when faced with terrible and immediate danger will occasionally flee even when raising young. They are also quite intelligent, able to understand several commands (vocal work best) if properly trained and sometimes using rudimentary tools of their own invention. Snowbells are also herbivorous, consuming mainly a diet of leaves (ranging from lettuce to wild tree leaves) and fruit (most wild berries that are poisonous to humans are completely edible for a Snowbell, and they will also eat cultivated fruits such as melon and apples - however, they are not too fond of tropical fruits such as bananas and detest citrus).
Habitat: Snowbells prefer cold climates, and avoid fire and warm temperatures, as they are particularly susceptible to heat damage and heat exhaustion. They make their nests by hollowing out dens of snow and ice as soon as material becomes readily available. They can fly for long distances, but despite this are not migratory animals, staying in one place as long as the food supply and shelter availability will allow.
Battle/Defense: Snowbells have little to no natural weapons or attack capabilities. They do not possess a breath weapon or exceedingly sharp teeth or claws (though a claw-rake from one can hurt quite a bit and occasionally draw blood), and young hatchlings (whose claws do not even grow in until halfway to maturity) depend mostly on camouflage with the snow for protection. Any predator who can catch one has an easy time of killing a Snowbell – however, for this reason, they have made themselves incredibly hard to catch. A Snowbell in flight is faster than an antelope in full gallop, and has quite impressive maneuverability even when carrying a rider, in part thanks to their tail rotors. They are not nearly as fast or agile on the ground, but can still surpass human running speed. Even hatchlings learn to fly in a few weeks and are capable of easily escaping lesser predators while in flight. In addition, adults’ bright and shimmery colors can be perplexing or overwhelming to some predators with poor or very acute vision.