Average Height: 6'1 (Far larger when transformed into larger forms)
Average Age Length: 500 years
Rarity: Extremely Rare (Nearly hunted to extinction)
General Info:
These rare but powerful beasts are both man and monster, their brightly colored scales making them one of the holiest creatures to exist.
Characteristics:
There are three forms of a Dragonkin. The first is that of a normal Elf, except it has the horns, wings, and tail of a Dragon. The second is a mid-sized Dragon. The third is the True Dragonkin, a massive winged reptile that can be close to twenty feet tall. Dragonkin have an extremely unique respiratory system. the heart acting as a furnace and fueling the body with extremely warm blood and much needed nutrients. That very same blood is used as a fire starter within the lungs of the beast, allowing these creatures to ignite the very air they breathe and create fire. The hearts of Dragonkin burn so hot that they glow, which can be seen through the skin and ribs of the creatures. It is to be noted that Dragonkin require extreme amounts of heat to survive. With their bodies being completely fireproof, they can be found bathing in lava or sleeping in forest fires. That being said, due to this heat requirement it is possible for a Dragonkin to die from cold, resulting in a special kind of heart attack known as Ashen Heart. To restart an Ashen Heart, it requires the help of another Dragonkin who must bellow flames down the throat of the patient in a special form of cpr. While these creatures are both regal and holy, they are also quite playful and curious. They can communicate through telepathy but have the same intelligence as normal mortals. They have overall heightened senses that allow them to hunt and live efficiently. They are servants of the people but will never hesitate to kill anyone who harms the innocent.
Religions:
Dragonkin are considered the holiest race, extremely close to the Gods and direct servants to Heranora. They are constantly at war with the forces of darkness, using their powers to protect the world of mortals. Devout in their prayer and worship, they are beyond powerful both in faith and power.
Mating & Reproduction:
Female Dragonkin are rare, so it is uncommon that you see these graceful creatures. However, these creatures are known to nest in the north western mountains of Harenfell. Male Dragonkin are larger then their female counterparts with larger wings, horns, and spines. They have evolved to be this way in order to protect their mates, as Dragonkin gestate their young for nine months and give birth like any other Elf would.
This race has some rather unique ways of showing affection. One of which is horn tapping. Dragonkin tap their horns against each other gently to show tender affection and comfort to one another. It is considered like a kiss to this race, meant to bring their gaze to each other while connecting with one another. The other way is a type of kiss that only Dragonkin can share. As they kiss they trade flames, which involves breathing fire into each other's throats while engaged in kissing. It is considered extremely intimate. As well, they also tend to hold tails which is akin to holding hands. Like Beastkin, they also practice nuzzling.
Dragonkin mate for life in a sacred ritual that has been passed down through generations known as the Dragon Dance Ritual. The male ruffles his wings in an attempt to impress the female, creating loud but soothing sounds to avoid causing her discomfort. If the female accepts the male must find a nesting ground by the time the sun sets, a nesting ground that they will use throughout their lifetime. These nests are their homes for life, just as Dragonkin only have one mate in their lifetime. Once the male returns to bring the female to their new home, things can only continue from there once a large bonfire is lit. Dragonkin finalize their relationship inside that fire, tying themselves to both the Gods and each other.
Females require the near constant care, protection, and warmth of their mate to gestate young, so pregnancies can fail rather easily if not careful. When near term, females have a strong instinct to return to their nesting ground to have their young. They typically give birth to one or two young, of which need high amounts of heat at a young age. It is to be noted that baby Dragonkin are born without the ability to transform or any sort of Dragon properties, only their fireproof bodies, and glowing hearts.