Post by Natascha Falkenberg on Jan 27, 2016 22:51:34 GMT 1
Species name: Foggy Kitewing (Kitewing for short)
Class: Sharp
Images:
Physical Description:
Foggy Kitewings got their name from their coloring, which ranges from light to dark grey to help them blend in with foggy climates, and their shape when gliding, in which all feathers are fully fanned out to provide maximum lift, giving them a triangular shape, similar to that of most eagles. When not gliding, their wing-feathers and tail-feathers collapse slightly to allow for more aerial agility. (See the above diagram for a visual.) Kitewings most resemble a combination of real-world velociraptors and harpy eagles.
Body size: about 75% of Deadly Nadders', but wingspan is much larger due to actual body mass
Height: 5-6 feet tall not including 1.5-foot head frill
Wingspan: 25-30 feet in total
Length: 12-17 feet w/o tail, 15-20 feet w/ tail
Kitewings have two legs, a tail, and two wings. Their feet have five claws: three midsized frontal claws, one large frontal claw, and one large talon claw. They're aerodynamically shaped, with a triangular beak and head and a large chest with large lungs that tapers down towards the tail. Their bodies are covered in light down for warmth. They have fine muscles at the base of each flight feather, which make up the frill, wings, and tail. These muscles give two functions to the flight feathers: first, feathers can fan out, collapse, and condense to form a strong, inflexible, metallic surface; second, the feathers can be ejected, similarly to the spines of Deadly Nadders or Razorwhips. However, since the ejectable feathers are flight feathers, there's a serious limit as to which and how many feathers can be lost before the dragon is grounded.
One can tell if a Kitewing has recently been in a fight, and the severity and nature of the fight, by observing which and how many feathers are missing. For example, if most of the frill, a few of the tail and even one or two of the wing feathers were missing, one could say that the Kitewing had been in a severe fight because most expendable frill feathers were gone, some more accurate but more important tail feathers were gone, and even some invaluable wing feathers were gone, the latter of which were likely shot backwards at a pursuer.
Condensed, the flight feathers take on metallic properties and appearance. This is usually used for defense against projectiles and low-heat fire attacks, similarly to viking shields. Due to the shape and location of the flight feathers, Kitewings can roll into a ball and condense their feathers for a near-perfect defense form. However, the Kitewing cannot see, hear, or move, except to unfurl itself, during which time it is vulnerable. Young Kitewings can't execute this maneuver, but older, more experienced Kitewings may have so mastered this ability that they can briefly perform it in midair, and still easily catch themselves afterward.
The feathers' metallic form can be a speed boost during flight, though it's dangerous. Kitewings' regular feathers act like those of owls, silencing their wings in flight. When metallized, the dragons' wings make a distinctive whistling sound during flight. However, metallized flight feathers are extremely aerodynamic and drag-less. When Kitewings metallize their flight feathers, they gain an immediate, jolting speed-boost. But they cannot change direction until their feathers de-metallize, which is painful due to the immediate drag produced - especially when done quickly. Thus, this ability is only used in the open skies to escape aerial predators.
These dragons' wings are uniquely jointed, similarly to that of the Monstrous Nightmare, and can fold downwards into forelegs for added ground speed. The wing feathers can fully collapse against the wing limbs to facilitate this transition, which takes between 1 and 2 seconds. When running with four limbs, Kitewings move like cheetahs, except their back legs land between their front legs. Younger Kitewings who haven't yet mastered their enormous wings often prefer this method of transportation. Kitewings who grounded themselves by expending too many feathers are confined to running until the feathers grow back.
Finally, so as to grow back feathers as quickly as possible, Kitewings heal quickly.
TL;DR: Read the Abilities and Drawbacks section.
Typical Behavior:
Kitewings are pack dragons, traveling in groups of 8-10 of their own kind or, more commonly, in mixed packs with 2-4 other Kitewings. Kitewings and Deadly Nadders are commonly found traveling in groups together due to their similar behavior but different food sources. Kitewings are very social and require packs in order to survive, because they are easy targets when alone. When in mixed packs, Kitewings usually keep a semi-separate hierarchy from the other dragons and will listen to their Kitewing alpha the same as they listen to the pack's alpha. Kitewings are quite curious and inquisitive when they feel secure in their pack, and have even been known to approach humans. As a sharp class dragon, flattery does have some effect on Kitewings, but the effect is only temporary and not strong enough to form a lasting bond with the creatures. Kitewings are very protective of their pack mates and are very aggressive when threatened by a non-predator. When startled, Kitewings automatically fan out their feathers to make themselves look larger and scarier, and if touched without warning, they may metallize nearby feathers and slash at their "attacker." When threatened by a predator, Kitewings withdraw to the safety of their pack.
Kitewings hunt alone or in pairs of two, unless going after larger prey such as reindeer. They are excellent problem-solvers and team-players. Since Kitewings take a long time to mature and master their own abilities, their elders continue to teach and raise them for many years.
Kitewings' predators include Skrills and, more rarely, Scauldrons. Skrills and Kitewings have a similar predator/prey relationship to that of sharks and schools of fish.
Abilities: [see Physical Description for details]
•Semi-silent flight with regular feathers
•Good camouflage in foggy climates
•Metallize flight feathers
---Defense against projectiles and cooler fire types
---Metal Ball (only experienced Adults)
---Feather ejection
---In-flight speed boost
•Wings fold into forelegs for faster running
•Fire doesn't have a definitive shape: each shot gets ~3 cubic meters of fire that can be short-ranged and wide-spread or narrowed and longer-range
SUMMARY: Foggy Kitewings are excellent melee fighters.
Shot Limit: 5, unless the Kitewing is overheating. Since these dragons can't sweat, they get rid of body heat through their fire, which sometimes causes them to "drool" fire (which is just as dangerous as it sounds)
Drawbacks:
•Skin is not thick and only covered in down
•Low shot limit
•Easy targets without a pack
•WATER:
1. Wet flight feathers can't metallize effectively, leaving Kitewings' thinner skin defenseless
2. Wet down and feathers make takeoff impossible from a standstill
3. Kitewings' fire depends upon their body heat to heat flammable gases. When wet, the Kitewing can't create potent fire.
•Can't shoot many feathers without being grounded
•When feathers are metallized during flight, the Kitewing can't turn or slow down except to pitch up or down slightly
Blind spot: Directly below/behind
Training Methods: Kitewings are quite trainable once you've earned their trust. This is feasible by slowly integrating yourself into the Kitewing's pack. Once the dragon views you as pack, and you establish yourself higher in the pack hierarchy (warning: not for the faint of heart), you can become the dragon's "pack." From then on, the Kitewing will trust and cooperate with you to an uncommon degree - especially for wild dragons.
Habitat: Uncommon in the Far North, Kitewings reside in the foggiest climates of many northern coastal habitats, such as the British Isles and the American Northwest and Northeast. Some also live in mountainous areas where constant cloud cover provides good camouflage.
Diet: Kitewings only eat small land mammals, such as rabbits, foxes, squirrels, and occasionally deer. Their hooked beaks and long teeth (see image) help them catch their prey. They avoid all seafood due to the danger that water poses to them.
Created by: Sohza
Class: Sharp
Images:
Physical Description:
Foggy Kitewings got their name from their coloring, which ranges from light to dark grey to help them blend in with foggy climates, and their shape when gliding, in which all feathers are fully fanned out to provide maximum lift, giving them a triangular shape, similar to that of most eagles. When not gliding, their wing-feathers and tail-feathers collapse slightly to allow for more aerial agility. (See the above diagram for a visual.) Kitewings most resemble a combination of real-world velociraptors and harpy eagles.
Body size: about 75% of Deadly Nadders', but wingspan is much larger due to actual body mass
Height: 5-6 feet tall not including 1.5-foot head frill
Wingspan: 25-30 feet in total
Length: 12-17 feet w/o tail, 15-20 feet w/ tail
Kitewings have two legs, a tail, and two wings. Their feet have five claws: three midsized frontal claws, one large frontal claw, and one large talon claw. They're aerodynamically shaped, with a triangular beak and head and a large chest with large lungs that tapers down towards the tail. Their bodies are covered in light down for warmth. They have fine muscles at the base of each flight feather, which make up the frill, wings, and tail. These muscles give two functions to the flight feathers: first, feathers can fan out, collapse, and condense to form a strong, inflexible, metallic surface; second, the feathers can be ejected, similarly to the spines of Deadly Nadders or Razorwhips. However, since the ejectable feathers are flight feathers, there's a serious limit as to which and how many feathers can be lost before the dragon is grounded.
One can tell if a Kitewing has recently been in a fight, and the severity and nature of the fight, by observing which and how many feathers are missing. For example, if most of the frill, a few of the tail and even one or two of the wing feathers were missing, one could say that the Kitewing had been in a severe fight because most expendable frill feathers were gone, some more accurate but more important tail feathers were gone, and even some invaluable wing feathers were gone, the latter of which were likely shot backwards at a pursuer.
Condensed, the flight feathers take on metallic properties and appearance. This is usually used for defense against projectiles and low-heat fire attacks, similarly to viking shields. Due to the shape and location of the flight feathers, Kitewings can roll into a ball and condense their feathers for a near-perfect defense form. However, the Kitewing cannot see, hear, or move, except to unfurl itself, during which time it is vulnerable. Young Kitewings can't execute this maneuver, but older, more experienced Kitewings may have so mastered this ability that they can briefly perform it in midair, and still easily catch themselves afterward.
The feathers' metallic form can be a speed boost during flight, though it's dangerous. Kitewings' regular feathers act like those of owls, silencing their wings in flight. When metallized, the dragons' wings make a distinctive whistling sound during flight. However, metallized flight feathers are extremely aerodynamic and drag-less. When Kitewings metallize their flight feathers, they gain an immediate, jolting speed-boost. But they cannot change direction until their feathers de-metallize, which is painful due to the immediate drag produced - especially when done quickly. Thus, this ability is only used in the open skies to escape aerial predators.
These dragons' wings are uniquely jointed, similarly to that of the Monstrous Nightmare, and can fold downwards into forelegs for added ground speed. The wing feathers can fully collapse against the wing limbs to facilitate this transition, which takes between 1 and 2 seconds. When running with four limbs, Kitewings move like cheetahs, except their back legs land between their front legs. Younger Kitewings who haven't yet mastered their enormous wings often prefer this method of transportation. Kitewings who grounded themselves by expending too many feathers are confined to running until the feathers grow back.
Finally, so as to grow back feathers as quickly as possible, Kitewings heal quickly.
TL;DR: Read the Abilities and Drawbacks section.
Typical Behavior:
Kitewings are pack dragons, traveling in groups of 8-10 of their own kind or, more commonly, in mixed packs with 2-4 other Kitewings. Kitewings and Deadly Nadders are commonly found traveling in groups together due to their similar behavior but different food sources. Kitewings are very social and require packs in order to survive, because they are easy targets when alone. When in mixed packs, Kitewings usually keep a semi-separate hierarchy from the other dragons and will listen to their Kitewing alpha the same as they listen to the pack's alpha. Kitewings are quite curious and inquisitive when they feel secure in their pack, and have even been known to approach humans. As a sharp class dragon, flattery does have some effect on Kitewings, but the effect is only temporary and not strong enough to form a lasting bond with the creatures. Kitewings are very protective of their pack mates and are very aggressive when threatened by a non-predator. When startled, Kitewings automatically fan out their feathers to make themselves look larger and scarier, and if touched without warning, they may metallize nearby feathers and slash at their "attacker." When threatened by a predator, Kitewings withdraw to the safety of their pack.
Kitewings hunt alone or in pairs of two, unless going after larger prey such as reindeer. They are excellent problem-solvers and team-players. Since Kitewings take a long time to mature and master their own abilities, their elders continue to teach and raise them for many years.
Kitewings' predators include Skrills and, more rarely, Scauldrons. Skrills and Kitewings have a similar predator/prey relationship to that of sharks and schools of fish.
Abilities: [see Physical Description for details]
•Semi-silent flight with regular feathers
•Good camouflage in foggy climates
•Metallize flight feathers
---Defense against projectiles and cooler fire types
---Metal Ball (only experienced Adults)
---Feather ejection
---In-flight speed boost
•Wings fold into forelegs for faster running
•Fire doesn't have a definitive shape: each shot gets ~3 cubic meters of fire that can be short-ranged and wide-spread or narrowed and longer-range
SUMMARY: Foggy Kitewings are excellent melee fighters.
Shot Limit: 5, unless the Kitewing is overheating. Since these dragons can't sweat, they get rid of body heat through their fire, which sometimes causes them to "drool" fire (which is just as dangerous as it sounds)
Drawbacks:
•Skin is not thick and only covered in down
•Low shot limit
•Easy targets without a pack
•WATER:
1. Wet flight feathers can't metallize effectively, leaving Kitewings' thinner skin defenseless
2. Wet down and feathers make takeoff impossible from a standstill
3. Kitewings' fire depends upon their body heat to heat flammable gases. When wet, the Kitewing can't create potent fire.
•Can't shoot many feathers without being grounded
•When feathers are metallized during flight, the Kitewing can't turn or slow down except to pitch up or down slightly
Blind spot: Directly below/behind
Training Methods: Kitewings are quite trainable once you've earned their trust. This is feasible by slowly integrating yourself into the Kitewing's pack. Once the dragon views you as pack, and you establish yourself higher in the pack hierarchy (warning: not for the faint of heart), you can become the dragon's "pack." From then on, the Kitewing will trust and cooperate with you to an uncommon degree - especially for wild dragons.
Habitat: Uncommon in the Far North, Kitewings reside in the foggiest climates of many northern coastal habitats, such as the British Isles and the American Northwest and Northeast. Some also live in mountainous areas where constant cloud cover provides good camouflage.
Diet: Kitewings only eat small land mammals, such as rabbits, foxes, squirrels, and occasionally deer. Their hooked beaks and long teeth (see image) help them catch their prey. They avoid all seafood due to the danger that water poses to them.
Created by: Sohza
