This has been sitting in my drafts for ages, so I guess I should probably post it
Opal parts on dragons look, feel and sound like solid gemstone, but move with ease just like any other part of the dragon. And they’re very warm
Opal is mostly a condition to be born with, but it can also be induced via magic or some rather questionable medical methods, both of which are quite expensive.
It grows at a rate varying between every dragon. Some only have a few patches still in their old age, others become almost or completely covered.
Opal hide doesn’t pierce, it shatters, and it’s fairly hard to shatter too
Upon death, the opal solidifies, never to be animated again, becoming actual gemstone. Depending on the clan’s culture and rituals around death, opalised body parts of loved ones may be kept as memorabilia, especially if said bodyparts are recognisably, well, body parts. Bits of dragon opal might also wind up inlaid in jewellery that become family heirlooms.
(There’s at least one society/clan of dragons where opal is a frequent occurance and where family and the ancestors are always carefully tracked and held in high regard, where there’s a separate, well-guarded cave chamber, the walls of which are decorated with a colourful, ever growing mosaic. It’s their cemetery.)
Ever seen a stunning dragon statue carved entirely of colourful, smooth crystal? Think again, bro
Contrary to popular belief, gembond and opal are not necessarily connected. While the inappropriate handling/removal of gembond may leave behind opalised scars, the two are separate conditions
Unless manipulated via magic, opal doesn’t change the body’s original shape/outline. However, when strong enough magic is present, it can get creative. Said magic can be intentional or simply from treading magically charged places, the effects range anywhere from change in the shape or size of horns/spikes, to entire extra limbs.
Trans individuals from breeds such as ridgebacks and pearlcatchers who already have opal may seek talented earth mages to add a second horn made of opal or elongate their noses (removing a horn/shortening the nose can usually also be done through careful filing).
Individuals who contracted opal later in life instead of being born with it may suffer from chronic pain where the gemstone sets into their body. Same with those experiencing especially rapid or abnormal opal growth, regardless of origin. It’s the worst on rainy days.
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