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[Lore] Serpent Dragons


Bellosh

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Serpent Dragons - The Ancient and Wise

 

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(Art by community artist Zeig)

 

Across the eastern sea from Equestria lives a breed of dragon that few ponies know of. Aside from their gigantic scale-covered forms, reptilian biology, and ability to wield dragonbreath, little commonality exists between the Serpent Dragons of Long Guo and their monstrous cousins from Equestria and Whitescar. Known in their mother tongue as the Long, these draconic serpents, for which an entire nation and culture are named after, are regarded as among the most revered beings to grace the earth.

 

The first distinctive quality of a Serpent Dragon is its long snake-like physique, not too dissimilar from a Sea Serpent’s. Four slender legs with claws extend from the belly, used primarily to grab objects. Instead of spikes, hair grows on the Serpent Dragon’s back from the head down to the tail, with a prominent tuft on the tip. Antlers crown the head of all Serpent Dragons, with some males growing tendrils on their snout.

 

Setting a Serpent Dragons further apart is its ability to fly and hover in place without the use of wings. Via magical means, it can propel itself through the air and dive underwater with the greatest of ease. In fact, Serpent Dragons have been observed to be rather fond of shooting in and out of deep bodies of water. Like Sea Serpents, the innate magic of the Long allows them to stay permanently beneath the surface.

 

The most significant difference between a Serpent Dragon and its western brethren is an affinity for mastering a wide variety of breath magics. To obtain complete mastery in a particular school of dragonbreath, a serpent must spend an entire half-century’s worth of studying and training; learning several more requires hundreds of years. Yet when a dragon of Long Guo completes enough of its training, it will have enough knowledge and experience to manipulate the weather single-handedly!

 

Many of the Long reside in the mountains known as the Abode of the Ancients, although some adults who’ve developed a special fondness for the outside world live as solitary guardians of nature. These protectors prefer living in concealed abodes close to water: alcoves behind waterfalls, grottoes carved out by ocean tides, snow-covered mountain hideaways, and the clouds in the sky all do the trick. Such locales are also prized by adults requiring isolation for deep meditation sessions, which last upwards to a hundred years. Young serpents have been known to live among Long Sun civilization until they come of age, although it is believed that this practice is frowned upon by their elders.

 

Since ancient times, the Long Sun have sought out their draconic progenitors for wisdom and other blessings. Being of a benevolent nature, elder serpents will usually reveal their knowledge or summon a much-needed rainstorm for those who have upheld the Natural Balance and demonstrate sufficient deference to the Long. Those who’ve disturbed the Balance or show blatant disrespect, most notably by interrupting a deep meditation session, are liable of provoking a serpent dragon to calamity-inducing wrath. While the Long never discuss such matters with outsiders, there is also reason to believe that a serpent dragon unable to control an obsession with hoarding worldly possessions (usually gems) will become corrupted, its mind twisted into that of a ravenous beast.

 

Few of the Long question the collective sagacity of the Serpent Council that gathers in Longri-La, or of the Serpent King that presides over the Council. In eras of peace and prosperity, the average Serpent Dragon will have few dealings with the Council, if any. When times of doom and despair come however, the Long will rally around the King and the Council to overcome a great challenge. 

~Journey to the Dragon Kingdom

Dr. Tong Zei & Ash Ravencrest

 

Additional concept art (and comparisons to Equestrian dragons) by Zeig:

Spoiler

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