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An Essay on Dragonhawks

Hello, everyone! I’ve recently gotten a little bit into Warcraft again, and as such I’ve been thinking about other aspects of the canon that could use a bit of expanding. This time I’ve come up with some headcanons about dragonhawks – those pretty things up there in that picture.

Again, I’ve only just gotten back into the fandom, so there’s the chance I’ve missed a few bits of newly-released canonical information on these guys; if I have, feel free to let me know so I can rearrange things a bit!

Buckle in, everybody! ________ Range and Adaptability (or, Fragility or Hypersensitivity?) To start with, with as many dragonhawks as there are around Quel’Thalas, and taking into account their diet – which includes fruit as well as meat – I think it’s most likely that at least some breeds of wild dragonhawk are considered pests on the same level as the common crow. They might even replace crows in some areas of Quel’Thalas; there seems to be an overabundance of them in the Eversong Woods, while the only ones I ever encountered in the Ghostlands were the air travel mounts and my own hunter’s pet. As I remain firmly convinced that there is little if any magic used to keep the weather consistently sunny and warm in the untainted areas of Quel’Thalas, I believe this seeming dichotomy points to one of two possibilities.

The first possibility is that dragonhawks as a rule are fragile creatures, unable to adapt to new environments quickly enough to survive. In this scenario, a dragonhawk faced with so immediate and drastic a change as what occurred in the Ghostlands would be forced to vacate the area or risk dying to the new environment. As a comparison, lynxes inhabit both the Eversong Woods and the Ghostlands, and in roughly the same numbers. While it is true that those lynxes living in the Ghostlands are by now heavily diseased or otherwise deranged, the fact that they are alive at all indicates that they are much hardier than dragonhawks, and so were not immediately forced to leave when the Ghostlands were first tainted.

If the first scenario is accurate, it would create something of a quandary: How is it that a dragonhawk could not survive the Ghostlands, but a hunter (or, really, anybody with a dragonhawk companion) is still able to drag one quite literally all over the rest of Azeroth – and into the Ghostlands themselves – with no noticeably adverse effects?

(There is also the issue of the descriptions dragonhawks receive in both Lands of Conflict and the Alliance Player’s Guide as ferocious, swift predators. While my initial instinct is to say that such a creature could not possibly possess an inability to adapt quickly and efficiently to a new environment, I find myself instead forced to admit that there are many real-world predators (sharks come most immediately to mind) that seem equally as hardy but in fact possess similar inabilities to adapt to certain, sudden changes in their surroundings.

As I see it, the inability of a saltwater shark to survive in fresh water is equally as “fragile” as the hypothetical inability of a dragonhawk to survive in dead, diseased lands such as those immediately south of the Eversong Woods, if not more so. However, this is still brought into contention with the simple fact that dragonhawks can be ridden through, brought into, and found in a variety of different environments, which in the end outweighs for me the possibility that dragonhawks are incapable of swift adaptation.)

This leads me to the second possibility, which I find a bit more plausible: Dragonhawks are not incapable of adapting at need, but rather prefer to avoid certain climates and environments. I would even go so far as to say that, in this scenario, dragonhawks are very sensitive to different kinds of magic; this is backed by the difference in eye color between the dragonhawks found in Quel’Thalas and those found in areas of Outland, which seem to mimic the eye color differences between high elves (who refused to fall back on fel magic after the Sunwell was lost) and blood elves (who chose to become dependent upon fel magic.)

If this is the case, it would mean that dragonhawks have largely vacated the Ghostlands out of simple stubbornness more than the need to survive. According to what lore we have, they are creatures capable of rending hide and crushing bone with their beaks, and can grow large and strong enough to carry off a grown man if they so chose; I pity the undead or tainted creature that tries to tangle with one. It’s most likely that they are keenly aware of the Scourge magic investing the Ghostlands, and chose to avoid any accidental poisoning altogether by leaving to what areas of the kingdom were left untouched (or else swiftly reclaimed and purified.)

Breed Diversity There are three types of dragonhawk that can be purchased as vanity pets (from the vendor in Quel’Thalas, at least): the golden, red, and silver dragonhawk hatchlings. In my mind, these three are likely the original breeds of dragonhawk, from which all other varieties were formed by evolution and the meddling of their handlers.

According to what canonical lore exists, we know the following to be true:

– The golden dragonhawk was “[o]nce prized by dragonhawk breeders in Silvermoon,” and “[s]tands out at night to predators, making it necessary to gain awareness at an early age.”

– Red dragonhawks are “[m]ortal enemies with silver dragonhawks;” however, they are “on pretty good terms with golden dragonhawks.”

– The silver dragonhawk is a “[f]erocious species of dragonhawk, often seen diving down on prey from high in the sky.”

Going by these, I have formed theories as to the behavior, diet, and biology of each of the three original dragonhawk breeds. To begin with, let’s take a look at the golden dragonhawk.

In order to have been prized by Silvermoon’s breeders, this breed would have once had to have been either rare or nonexistent in the wild. This is backed by the fact that this is the only breed of the three that is specifically indicated to stand out to predators, at night or otherwise; if the golden dragonhawk evolved in the wild, it is unlikely that it would have developed such ostentatious coloration. Additionally, the golden dragonhawk just so happens to be scarlet and gold – the same colors as the banner of Quel’Thalas. Quite a curious coincidence, if those colors were not intentionally bred.

If the golden dragonhawk was initially a breed found only in captivity, that raises the question of how it came to be found in the wild. I doubt the quel’dorei would have ever dreamed of releasing an unwanted pet into the wild, the way people sometimes do with “overgrown” pet pythons; they would have known the consequences that could have on the ecosystem, and furthermore would realize releasing an animal into the wild after a lifetime of captivity would most likely be a death sentence to the unlucky creature. In my mind, the golden dragonhawk most likely spread into the wild following the Scourge invasion of Quel’Thalas, when the majority of Silvermoon City – where these creatures are explicitly mentioned to have been bred – was razed in Arthas’s march to the Sunwell.

This would have seen many homes and stores destroyed, allowing any captive dragonhawks within the chance to fly away from the carnage and seek refuge in the surrounding wilds. After that, the goldens would have gone the way of many other invasive species, barreling their way into the food chain, breeding amongst themselves and other dragonhawk breeds, and carving their own place into the ecosystem to the detriment or benefit of their neighbors. This theory is backed if we return to the present day, as this is the only breed found in the Eversong Woods in-game. I believe this can be taken to represent the sense that the golden dragonhawk has become the most plentiful wild breed in Quel’Thalas.

As for the roles golden dragonhawks play in the wild and in captivity: I believe wild goldens are the dragonhawks that have evolved to behave like crows. As a breed that was once entirely domesticated, these are likely the smallest of the three original breeds, which would indicate that the goldens have the greatest difficulty competing with their larger cousins and other predators for meat. It is most likely, then, that golden dragonhawks prefer to scavenge their meat, and otherwise survive mostly on fruit.

Additionally, they are specifically mentioned as standing out to predators at night, indicating one of two things: Either golden dragonhawks nest on or near the ground, or they are active at night. I believe the latter is more accurate, simply because dragonhawks do not seem at all equipped to remaining on the ground more than is absolutely necessary. This means that wild golden dragonhawks likely do most of their fruit and carcass scavenging during the night, when other creatures who might take offense are generally asleep; however, they are likely also active during dawn and dusk, when the sunlight would turn the landscape colors into which a golden dragonhawk could easily blend. Any hunting or breeding activity likely takes place during these times.

As domesticated creatures, golden dragonhawks appear to be the most common choice for air travel mounts and as companions of the Farstriders. Ignoring that they are the most plentiful breed, I believe this is due to a number of factors: Firstly, as a breed born of elven meddling, the golden dragonhawk should still be the most docile (a term I use only in comparison to the other breeds; I believe goldens are still rather temperamental) and therefore most easily-trained breed, making it ideal as an air taxi for elves and non-elves alike.

Secondly, the golden dragonhawk is mentioned to gain awareness at an early age – in other words, this breed likely becomes entirely self-reliant within weeks if not days of hatching, making a golden dragonhawk an ideal companion for a ranger, who would likely seek a pet that was cunning and quick to learn new commands, concepts, and tricks. Lastly, as a scavenging breed, the golden is likely the most mischievous of the three original breeds, something I think most rangers would find rather charming in an animal companion.

Next, let’s look at the red dragonhawk, which I believe was the original breed, as it has the red coloration of a golden as well as the gray coloration of the silver. This would indicate to me that it possesses genes that were exploited in the creation of the golden dragonhawk and tweaked naturally during the evolution of the silver dragonhawk.

I believe the red dragonhawk is something of a middle ground between the small, scavenger golden and the larger, meaner silver, and likely survives on a diet of fruit and hunted meat. It is probably the species’ average in most if not all areas, especially size and ease of training. The red is likely the most intelligent of the original breeds, able to easily memorize flight paths, commands, and scents, making it most ideal as a winged messenger (or, as with certain types of hawkstrider, as a vanity mount.)

In the wild, the red dragonhawk most likely lives in small family groups (thus allowing for greater success in its hunts in a land where wildly dangerous hawkstriders and foul-tempered lynxes are its greatest competition for prey) and avoids silvers whenever it can, being somewhat smaller and less ferocious; however, there are likely certain instances wherein a family group – or several together – will mob an encroaching silver dragonhawk in much the same way that smaller birds will mob a hawk or eagle. In these cases, the reds are most likely defending their nests or simply chasing the silver away from their hunting grounds, though the behavior may also be a way of displaying how physically fit (and therefore difficult to catch and kill) the reds are.

Finally, the silver dragonhawk is likely the largest of the three breeds, and this in combination with its canonical distinction as a ferocious breed (of an already ferocious species) that frequently divebombs its prey would seem to indicate that the silver is the most difficult to tame and likely the only wild species one might encounter in the Ghostlands, where its plumage would provide ample camouflage and its foul temper would help it compete on equal ground with the other creatures there for food and territory.

The silver dragonhawk probably exists almost entirely on meat, resorting to fruit only in incredibly lean seasons. It’s also quite likely – given its status as a mortal enemy of the red dragonhawk – that the silver is cannibalistic, and will prey upon the hatchlings, at least, of other dragonhawk breeds. It may also display the tendency of some real-world predators to kill rival predators and leave the bodies to rot, which is again incentive for the reds to harry silvers whenever the opportunity arises. If this is the case, it would indicate that the silver dragonhawk is intelligent enough at least to target and destroy its competition; however, it would also indicate that silver dragonhawks live alone when they are not seeking a mate, as having to share territory or resources with too many other silvers likely would not end well for any involved party.

Taking all of this into account, silver dragonhawks are likely only tamed for the express purpose of serving as winged battle mounts; those who ride them into battle likely do so only as the result of years if not decades of specialized training, and it may even be that a silver battle mount may only be truly tamed by one person – namely, whoever raises it once it hatches. This represents a massive investment on the part of its future rider, but allows for a powerful bond and a devastatingly formidable partnership as a result. Because of this, it is most likely that silver dragonhawk riders are nearly always ranger-lords, who would ostensibly have the greatest experience in the training and rearing of animals and thus the greatest chance of successfully raising a silver into a loyal battle mount.

Breeding Dragonhawks are not monogamous creatures, meaning that they do not mate for life. Additionally, while a female dragonhawk will only choose one mate each breeding season, a single male dragonhawk may attempt to woo as many as five or six females, a behavior which frequently leads to violent disputes over mates. These disputes are rarely fatal, but the injuries sustained can leave victor and loser alike seriously injured all the same.

Dragonhawks take after some species of snake in their mating behaviors; for example, the breeding season is preceded by a cooling or brumation period, which begins in mid- to late winter and lasts roughly sixty to ninety days. Following this, the dragonhawks will begin seeking mates, with the males engaging in a variety of aerial displays in order to attract as many females as they can. Once a female chooses a mate and they have successfully bred, she (and, in the case of the red and silver dragonhawks, her mate) will seek out and, if necessary, fight for a suitable nesting place.

Generally speaking, it will take another four to six months for the female to lay her eggs, which number between ten and twenty per clutch. These then take around four to six more weeks to incubate; during this time, the different breeds will begin exhibiting different parenting behaviors. In the case of golden dragonhawks, the female will guard her nest the entire time, leaving it only for brief periods to scavenge for food at night. Red pairs will remain near the nest, trading care of it between each other so that both remain well-fed; silvers will stay together only long enough to locate, fill, and hide their nest, at which point the female will chase her mate away to reduce the chance of losing her eggs to him. As with goldens, a silver dragonhawk female will guard her nest with her life, surviving only off of the meat of any creature stupid enough to stray too close.

Once the eggs have hatched, the fate of the hatchlings depends upon their breed: Golden hatchlings are abandoned within days of hatching, forcing them to become self-reliant before they starve or are killed. This also makes them relatively easy to locate and capture as pets.

Red hatchlings are protected by their parents for the first two months after they hatch, at which point they generally become self-reliant. They typically remain near their parents for the remainder of the year after this, but there may be exceptions to this rule.

Silver hatchlings are abandoned the moment they begin to hatch, and must immediately learn to hunt, fly, and fight with no help beyond what their nestmates can offer. Due to this, silver dragonhawk clutches tend to run small, with only around two or three hatchlings in ten surviving their first week of life.

#dragonhawk #dragonhawks #quel'dorei #sin'dorei #high elf #blood elf #wow #warcraft #world of warcraft #creature lore #headcanon #my writing

Infinite Azeroths: the Soulflayer

Infinite Azeroths: The Soulflayer #Warcraft

Timeline: Azeroth-47 Character: Vol’jin, Avatar of Hakkar

The view from the top of the pyramid was breathtaking. Quite literally, in fact, as countless lives have been taken and countless souls have been sacrificed to the Blood God. Vol’jin sat comfortably on the richly adorned throne at the very top, as the priests brought yet another human sacrifice before his altar. The human stopped wrestling…

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#Alliance #Arathi Highlands #Azeroth #Blood elves #Dragonhawks #Gurubashi #Hakkar #Jorad Mace #Kael&039;thas #Raptors #RP #Stranglethorn Vale #Trolls #Vol&039;jin #Warcraft #Wind serpents #World of Warcraft #WoW