#har fang

[knight-elkwarden]

"True Dragons" in Har Fang are defined as hexapods who's middle pair of limbs evolved into wings. While the sapient Anorri and Imarri are the most well known, there exist a few species of "wild" dragons.

The Fin-Head Fisher is a small dragon with a diet consisting mostly of fish and insects. They are believed to be roughly as intelligent as a crow, and have been befriended by both human and Imarri on multiple occasions.

Toaraki are an arboreal dragon found mostly in dry forests. They have a generalist diet consisting of fruits and small animals, among other things. Despite their strong resemblance to Imarri Dragons, the two are only distantly related.

Narraki are mostly aquatic, otter-like dragons that inhabit most water ways in Har Fang, although they're not very commonly seen. They feed on fish, shellfish, amphibians and small water drakes. The Narraki are incredibly intelligent and social, living in groups comprising of around a dozen individuals. They are known to use tools and have been seen crafting accessories for themselves out of shells, shiny rocks and pearls.

[knight-elkwarden]

A Sunwing Amphitere's mating display

[knight-elkwarden]

Prehistoric Anorri are believed to have been either a sister species to, or a subspecies of Imarri. Unfortunately, due to the Anorri's ancestral homelands currently being under miles of ice, evidence for or against this theory is virtually non existent.

Modern Anorri are one of three species with recognized personhood in Har Fang, and are often considered the most powerful of the three. Despite their vast morphological differences, all of the Anorri tribes are considered members of the same species. Due to their bodies naturally being saturated with shapeshifting magic, they can vary greatly on an individual level and shifting one's form is culturally considered a form of self expression. Body plans remain fairly constant within a single tribe, although coloration, ornaments and antler shapes are incredibly varied, even among closely related individuals.

The five tribes pictured here are the ones that interact the most with human nations, and thus the ones we have the most knowledge of. Others exist, but due to sparse information, and them refusing contact with us, they are omitted from this document.

(More lore, as well as individual images under the cut!)

According the both the Glacierwardens and the mythology of other tribes, Anorri used to have a prosperous kingdom in the north divided in twelve provinces, each home to a tribe. It's crash brought about the end of the first age, triggered by the ice wall rapidly advancing.

It is said that nine of the ancient tribes fled the kingdom then. Two fled east, two west, none of them were ever seen or heard from again. Five fled south, three of them weren't fast enough, and got caught under the ice wall, including what would today become the Glacierwardens. The remaining two made it to Har Fang, where the ice wall wouldn't reach them. All current Anorri tribes (except the Glacierwardens) are descended from these two ancient tribes.

While much of this story cannot be directly proven, what is known is that the ice wall has been slowly retreating back north since at least the third age. There are both historical records and geological evidence that it used to reach to the northern border of Edorae, and the petrified Glacierwarden tribe was indeed found around the Sheer Sea, which would have been under the ice wall before it retreated to its current location.

The Birchtenders are a rather isolationist tribe living in the mountain range that divides the east and west of Harfang. Their current matriarch is Kenerros.

They are most known by us humans for their historic aggression on the kingdom of Edorae, back when the Birchtenders frequented the plains at the base of the mountains. Thankfully relations have improved since Kenerros became matriarch, and the two groups currently have a truce. As long as Edorae stays off the mountains and Birchtenders stay off the plains.

Cliffrunners are some of the smallest Anorri, but also the most agile in the air. They make their homes in the Floating Jungle and often frequent the Musoneese rainforest below. They are currently ruled by matriarch Vanah.

They live above one of the few stable sources of flow crystals in Har Fang, and are fiercely possessive of it. Thankfully for us, they have a trade pact with Musonee, giving us nearly unlimited number of flow crystals.

They are curious by nature, and have a deep appreciation of art. They maintain our exclusive flow crystal agreement as long as we provide them with art, craftsman goods and articles on a wide range of topics.

No dragon species so far encountered has scales. The Firescale tribe are the only known exception, and it is from this unusual quality that they get their name. They live in the arid, volcanic and semi-desert region of Nyr. Their current matriarch is Malikehvrah.

There is not a lot of information about the Firescales. What is known is that they maintain vast cave networks under Nyr where they mine and process gemstones and metals for trade with other Anorri tribes and occasionally us humans.

They are generally friendly to humans, and a few individuals are known to accompany travelers and caravans that pass through Nyr. When prompted about it, these individuals claim that they simply enjoy the company and perspectives of outsiders.

Tidecallers are known for their close association with the Silver Isles's residents, as well as their stunning colors and features. More than other Anorri, Tidecallers treat shapeshifting like an art, and as such are some of the most varied when it comes to a single tribe. Alimeruu is their current matriarch.

They are close allies to the Silver Islanders, and some islands even have populations of both humans and Anorri living together, but most Tidecallers live underwater in coral reef caves. They readily trade with the islanders to receive land resources in exchange for underwater resources humans can't easily get to.

Glacierwardens are technically the oldest tribe, though they were frozen in a form of petrification stasis for a long time. Their "revival" by the Northernese people marks the start of the fourth age and for this, the Glacierwardens have vowed to help and protect the kingdom of the Northernese. Their matriarch is Sheer.

These Anorri are large and imposing, but seem to emit an air of sadness about them. Their petrification was rushed and imperfect, resulting in losing most of their memories of the past. According to them, they mourn the loss of their culture, the loss of family and friends that they cannot even remember the faces of.

Quite a few of them have taken to selectively breeding and altering herds of wildlife, trading the resulting domesticated creatures between themselves and occasionally to humans and other tribes.

[knight-elkwarden]

Carpet Drakes are a group of mostly aquatic ambush hunting hexapods found throughout the rivers and lakes of Har Fang. They are believed to be physiologically very similar to the first hexapods of millions of years ago.

While more common and diverse to the west of the continent, some species are still found in modest numbers to the east.

Giant Carpet Drake

Giant Carpet Drakes are found exclusively in the Musonese river basin, where the wide, murky, slow moving water offers them the best environment for their ambush hunting lifestyle. Despite their size and rather clumsy looking body, these giants are capable of surprising bursts of speed and have been known to capsize boats.

They readily see humans as prey, though they tend to back off if they realize their cover has been blown. Sometimes hunted by dragons.

Stubby Carpet Drake

A relatively small species. These drakes live in fast flowing rivers and streams, where they can easily anchor themselves to the riverbed with their long hooked claws. They are most often seen at higher elevations and in colder water, though they are very hardy and can survive a wide range of temperatures.

Not particularly dangerous to humans, but they will bite and scratch if they feel threatened.

Common Carpet Drake

The most widespread of the carpet drake species, hence the name. It is believed that it has either multiple subspecies or is multiple closely related species. These animals are found in almost any freshwater habitat and are extremely hardy creatures.

Not domesticated, but certain riverside communities have managed to tame some individuals. Caution should still be exercised when handling them since their bite is strong enough to sever fingers.

Musonese Carpet Drake

Despite the name, these creatures can be found outside of the Musonese river basin, though they are most common within it. They have a narrower body to help them navigate their often flooded and dense with foliage homes. They live only in warm and wet habitats on the western side of the continent.

Naturally skittish, but can be tamed pretty easily with enough patience.

Nyrian Carpet Drake

These carpet drakes inhabit the dry savannas and deserts of Har Fang, particularly Nyr, but neighboring regions also have populations of these creatures. The only known carpet drake species to aestivate, cocooning themselves in clay and water to stave off desiccation until the rains return and fill the watering holes.

Aggressive and will attack careless humans.

Kelp Stalker

Found wherever kelp forests exist. These derived drakes are the only known carpet drakes that lives exclusively in salt water. These ambush predators hide in the kelp to catch passing fish and other small prey. Closely related to the River Stalker and other free swimming carpet drakes.

Curious about humans and will follow them around sometimes, but tends to avoid dragons.

River Stalker

Fast swimming drakes native to the eastern side of the continent. Only known carpet drake that isn't an ambush predator. Highly social creatures, they are known to hunt in bands consisting of a dozen individuals. They can tolerate brackish waters, but are most comfortable in fresh waters.

Tends to avoid humans and dragons whenever possible.

Dwarf Carpet Drake

Found almost anywhere with fresh water. Thought of as something of a pest in cities, where they infest wells and crawl along roads during heavy rains. In the wild they feed mostly on small fish, insects, insect larvae and generally anything else they can fit in their mouths.

City dwelling dwarf carpet drakes are somewhat bold and will bite if provoked, but in the wild they are extremely skittish. Sometimes harvested by humans and dragons for their magical properties and general abundance.

Jewel Drake

Small tree dwelling carpet drakes from the Musonese river basin. A large number of jewel drake species are known, but they all have a few things in common: Vividly colored and highly poisonous. Their toxins come from their diet, and so people have figured out how to keep them as pets without the high risk of poisoning.

The species pictured here is known as the Ultramarine Jewel Drake. All species posses a sharp claw on their front two pairs of limbs, which can easily puncture skin and cause the poison on their skin to seep into the body. Caution is heavily advised when handling these creatures.

Root Serpent

Originally thought to be a serpent due to it's elongated body, it was eventually figured out that it was instead a carpet drake, though the name stuck. These creatures are found mostly in Musonee, where they hide among the mangroves, looking like roots to fool their prey.

A relatively popular pet and familiar in Musonee due to their elongated shape and gentle temperament.

[knight-elkwarden]

Compared to hexapods, tetrapods did not evolve magic use early in their history. As such, animals such as birds, reptiles and mammals do not have magic use as an ancestral trait and had to evolve it separately. This makes tetrapod magic users proportionally rarer than hexapod magic users.

Cetaceans, specifically toothed whales, are one of the few mammal clades evolved to use magic. Their melon, evolved for echolocation, coincidentally is the perfect shape and structure to focus magic.

The so called "Ice Whales" are the cetaceans with the most advanced magical capabilities.

The White Whale is a small-ish species of whale known to congregate in large pods. While they may look unimpressive to some, they are capable of casting a wide range of incredibly complex spells. This is believed to be due to their deformable melon. Despite this, they are often hunted by orcas and ice bears.

The Spear Whale is best known for the long spiraling tusk present on both sexes. Males tend to have a longer tusk on average. The tusk has a magic filled core and is used in spells during hunting and defense. While a sacred animal to the Northernese, other cultures hunt them for their tusks, which are extremely potent alchemical substances.

[knight-elkwarden]

An Anorri dragon belonging to a jungle tribe relaxes with their amphithere companion.

Thought i could use some of these prompts to flesh out Har Fang a bit more.

Prompt list by Matt of Cryptic Galapagos

[knight-elkwarden]

A sea serpent hunts within the reef

Prompt list by Matt of Cryptic Galapagos

[knight-elkwarden]

Last Matriarch of the ancient Tidal dragons.

Currently unnamed, her and the rest of her kin will eventually receive a full lore write up eventually.

Prompt list by Matt of Cryptic Galapagos