Phylax (Dragons)
The Phylax (commonly known to the other species of Eryn as dragons) are a highly intelligent, sentient reptilian species native to the ancient planet of Starmist Prime. While they coexisted peacefully with elves and humans on their homeworld, they were not originally Seeded to the other Prime Planets due to the complexity of integrating them. However, fifty years prior to the events of The Savage Wild, the first dragon egg was brought to the jungle planet, leading to a rapid proliferation of the species.
Biology and Magic
Dragons are immense, powerful creatures characterized by their scaly armor, sharp claws, and expansive wings. While some subspecies (such as the talonwyrms) possess the devastating ability to breathe fire, others rely entirely on their flight, agility, and sheer size in combat.
Dragons possess a unique biological trait known as varlon, or genetic memory. This allows them to inherit the knowledge, languages, and history of their ancestors directly through their bloodline, enabling them to mature, speak, and comprehend the world at an astonishingly rapid rate. For example, the dragon Aena was capable of speaking fluent ellr and rylak at only three months old.
The Dragonbond
All dragons share a latent telepathic network that connects their species across vast distances. However, to fully access and utilize this network, a dragon must complete the Ritual of Bonding with another dragon. Once completed, the dragon’s mind awakens to the presence of all other dragons on the planet, allowing them to share thoughts, emotions, and summon each other for aid.
Order of Ascension
Dragons are classified into distinct subspecies and ranks known as the Order of Ascension. From smallest to largest, the known ranks are:
- Pi-grunt: The smallest of the dragons, capable of flitting about to move objects or spy.
- Grunt: A slightly larger cousin of the pi-grunt.
- Slinker
- Skyeel
- Pi-agile
- Agile: Fast and capable flyers, such as Aena (pink), Mela (green), and Vora (turquoise).
- Wingless Talonwyrm: Sinuous, fire-breathing dragons without wings.
- Winged Talonwyrm: Massive, fire-breathing dragons with black scales.
- Titan: The largest of all dragons, considered completely extinct since the destruction of Starmist Prime.
Culture and Society
On Eryn, dragons are widely regarded as the most fearsome predators in the Kalmansa and Sholorna Wilds. They hold a deep, fiery hatred for the rylak, who frequently hunt them for glory and have been known to ruthlessly slaughter dragon hatchlings. Consequently, dragons generally attack rylak on sight. Conversely, they maintain an uneasy, inscrutable peace with the free ellr of Aldaron, largely leaving the hidden city alone.
Key Events
The Attack on Felgr
In retaliation for the elite huntsake Skorn murdering dragon hatchlings, a flight of dragons attacks the rylak village of Felgr. During the chaotic battle, Skorn manages to mortally wound the great black talonwyrm Ranu. The rylak Jascyn, horrified by the violence, intervenes and kills Skorn with an ellr sword. Ranu escapes with Jascyn on his back, using his final moments to broadcast a worldwide cry through the dragonbond, naming Jascyn a "friend of the Phylax" before passing away.
The Hatching of Aena
The ellr slave Lysa successfully escapes Felgr carrying a stolen dragon egg. Upon reaching the safety of Aldaron, the egg hatches into a pink agile dragon named Aena. Aena forms an unprecedented, inter-species friendship with Lysa and Jascyn, referring to themselves collectively as the "Triad".
The Defense of Aldaron
When the ancient mage Calarel assaults Aldaron with a mind-controlled rylak army, Aena seeks refuge deep within the city. She discovers an ancient room containing the runes of the Order of Ascension, which unlocks a chamber holding her captive mother, Mela. Together, they complete the Ritual of Bonding. Aena immediately utilizes her new connection to summon ten thousand dragons from across Eryn, routing the rylak army and saving the city.
Calarel's Betrayal
Following the battle of Aldaron, Calarel leverages her mindmaster magic through Aena's freshly opened dragonbond, taking forcible control of the entire dragon horde. She forces the ten thousand dragons to assault the Kryptan Fortress in a bid to disconnect the Operators from Xyclami. During the horrific battle, Aena manages to break Calarel's control with the telepathic and magical support of Lysa and Jascyn. Enraged, the dragons momentarily turn on Calarel before fleeing the mountain, devastated by the unnatural manipulation of their sacred bond.
Notable Phylax
- Aena: A pink agile dragon who bonds with Lysa and Jascyn.
- Ranu: A massive black dragon who spares Jascyn and names him a friend of the Phylax.
- Mela: A green agile dragon and Aena's mother, held captive in Aldaron by Calarel's agents.
- Gala: An agile blue dragon who warns the ellr village of Ylfethas about an impending rylak attack.
- Vora: A turquoise agile dragon who arrives to escort Aena and Mela back to their homeland of Phylaxia.