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Jafira's Otherkin Guide
For Newly Awakened Dragons


In the Spring of 2011 I spent about a week consuming dangerous amounts of caffeine and sugar in order to spew out what I call an otherkin guide.
 
I wrote it in order to share my personal experiences and advice with newly awakened kin. It exists in a roughly forty page long pdf format and covers an immense variety of topics in five Sections.
 
Section one being the spirituality of otherkin.
Section two being the social implications of otherkin / draconity.
Section three being the psychology of otherkin.
Section four being useful advice and quotes.
Section five being an addendum consisting of past opinions and advice.

The topics of each category are listed within a contents section at the start of the guide.
 
Due to the fact that I have been a lurker for several years and do not speak with many other dragons outside of those few who have stumbled upon me in the past, criticism and critique of this guide is highly encouraged!

I would rather be told that I have been wrong or opinionated on some subjects then to risk leading newly awakened kin astray from their natural paths.

 

So, for viewing by those who may have use for it and for critique by those who may wish to help, I present

                                                         Otherkin Guide
 

 


I hope this guide may be of some use, it is a work in progress and is subjective, take everything with a grain of salt and work to find your own path.

 

Names of Dragons
AFD's Names of Dragons


 

The following are as many languages as we could find for the word DRAGON.
Thanks to all the dragons on Alt.Fan.Dragons, and various people around the world,
and books like
"Things That Never Were" for their input!
Note: some of these are Phonetic and not actual spellings.



African: nrgwenya


Afrikaans: Draak


Arabic: ah-teen (pl. tah-neen), (Al)Tineen, Plural: (Al)Tananeen


Athebascin (Alasken): Manchu


Austrian: Drach`n, Lindwurm


Bulgarian: drakon (phonetic), äðàêîí (Actual spelling)


Catalan (N/E Spain): drac


Chinese: lung/long, Liung (Hakka dialect)


Chinese: old & new:


Croatian/Serbian: zmaj (pronounced "zmai" means Dragon), azdaja (pronounced

"azhdaya" means Hydra)


Czech: Drak, Dráèek (Draaachek)


Danish: drage


Dansk: drage


Draconian: Khoth, (pl. Khothu)


Driigaran (music language): C4 G4 C5 D5 B5 C5


Double-Dutch: dridi-gag-dridi-gen


Dutch: draak


Elven/Drow: Tagnik'zur


Egg-Latin: Dreggageggon


English: dragon


English (Middle): dragun, dragoun


English (Old): draca


Enochian: Vovin (Voh-een)


Esperanto: drako, dragono


Estonian: draakon, lohe, lohemadu or tuuleuss (Wind Snake), lendav madu


Euskera (dialect of the Basque Country): Erensuge


Faeroese: eitt dreki, eitt flogdreki, ein fraenarormur


Finnish: lohikäärme, draakki, dragoni


Fire Witch tongue: Katash wei' vorki (kah-TASH whey VOR-key)


Flambian: kazyeeqen (comes from kazyee-aqen, fire lizard)


Flemmish: Draeke


French: dragon,dragun, dargon


Gealic: Arach


German: drache (pl. Drachen), Lindwurm, drake (pl. draken)


Greek: drakon, drako. Male: drakos (or thrakos), Female: drakena (or thrakena)


Greek (ancient): Male: drakkon (or thrakon), Female: drakkina (or thrakena)


Hawaiian: Kelekona, (plural) Na Kelekona


Hebrew: drakon (plural) drakonim, Tanniym


Hungarian: sarkany


Icelandic: dreki


Indonesian: Naga


Iranian: Ejdeha


Islamic: th'uban, tinnin


Italian: drago, dragone, volante, dragonessa


Japanese: ryu, tatsu


Jibberish: gidadraggidaen (pronunced "gid-a-drag-gid-ah-en")


Klingon: lung'a' puv (pronounced loong-AH poov) "Flying Great Lizard"


Korean: yong


Latin: draco, dracon, draco, dragon, dragoon, serpent,serpens


Luxembourgian: Draach


Middle earth Ency.: Angulóce: generic, Ramalóce: winged dragon, Urulóce: fire breath dragon


Malay: Naga


Milanese (Italy): Dragh, Draguun,Dragoon


New Zeland (Maori): tarakona


Norse: ormr


Norsk: drake, dragonet, liten drake


Norwegian: drage


Oppish: dropagoponop (pronounced drop-ag-op-an-op)


Ourainic Barb: Duxobum


Philippines: male: dragon short o, female: Dragona with a short o and a


Pig-Latin: Agon-dray


Polish: smok


Portuguese: dragão


Quenya (elven): Loke, winged: Ramaloke, sea: Lingwiloke, fire: Uruloke


Reinitian (of Reinita): Dralaghajh


Roman: draco


Romanian: Dragon, (pl. Dragoni), Zmeu (pl. Zmei), dracul, drakul


Russian: drakon


Sanskrit: naga (type of snake-human-dragon)


Slovenia: Zmaj = Dragon, Hidra = Hydra.


Spanish: dragón, El Draque, Brujah


Swedish: drake, lindorm


Swedish (Ancient): flugdrake, floghdraki


Swiss German: Drachä


Tagalog: drakón


Thai: mung-korn


Tibetan: Brug (this is pronounced in several ways depending on dialect, DROOK, being the most common. Only in Ladakh is it ever pronounced BRUG)


Turkish: ejderha


Ukraine: drakon


Vietnamese: Rong (poetic), rng (regular)


Welsh: Ddraig


Yugoslav: Zmaj, Azdaja


Zulu: uzekamanzi

 

~http://www.dragonfire.org (Alt Fan Dragons / AFD), yr. 2000)

 

Dragon Basics
Basic Dragon Information and Mythology

Welcome to the dragon information section, for indepth studies please refer to wikipedia or other sources, here in this page I simply attempt to formulate an introduction to the basic types of dragons- Western dragons, Eastern dragons, Seadragons, Wurms, Wyverns, etc. While providing brief descriptions and information on each type of dragon alongside some information on  their roles in history.

I then transition to briefly discussing a few dragons from mythology in a section featuring a small collection of dragon legends and myths. Most came from the book - Dragons a natural history by Karl Shucker, others came from online resources.

From there I conclude in a brief section containing a couple theories and thoughts on dragons. (mostly thoughts..)

This section is designed to supplement this sites Dracopedia in giving a small glimpse of the role dragons have played in human culture around the world.  Enjoy!

 

About Dragons:
 
This will most likely be the hardest or easiest section to make depending on my mood. There are so many different types of dragons to list that this page will always be a growing project, I expect this whole section will someday have many pages and I hope it does as you read about dragons here I too will be learning from this- I still can not believe I know so little about the creatures I love so much.
 
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What is a Dragon:
 

A dragon... What is a dragon? Having researched the history of dragons I have found that they can have many different appearances depending on your location in the world. But for the most part the two most popular forms are the Western Dragon and the Eastern Dragon.
 

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Western Dragons:
 
The Western dragon was the basic winged dragon that was often sighted in England it was often described as a large reptile with the head of a crocodile wings of a bat and tail of a snake this dragon walked on four legs and was said to breath fire. They were often side to be evil and were hunted by knights.
 
  • Western dragons had four legs and a set of wings they were said to breath fire.
  • Western dragons were said to be evil and were supposedly hunted as a result.
  • Western dragons were sometimes used as crests for royalty.
  • Western dragons were historically known for thousands of years.

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Eastern Dragons:
 
The eastern dragon was often depicted as a flying serpent it had no wings and was said to be able to float through the air by use of two magic extrusions on there head. These dragons were the opposite of the western dragons these dragons were often depicted as wise creatures with power over the elements.
 
  • Eastern dragons had serpent like bodies and were capable of flight without the aid of wings.
  • Eastern dragons were said to be wise powerful creatures with power over the elements.
  • Eastern dragon designs were also used on royal garment.
  • Eastern dragons were often mentioned in Eastern mythology and their history
  • The Asians also had medical uses for the dragons body parts
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Information from mythology and legends:

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Asian Dragons:

In China there were many dragons but there are four major dragons.
 
Tien Lung - The T'ien lung is the celestial dragon and protector of the heavens and guardian of the gods heavenly abodes.
 
Shen lung - was of equal importance and was the spiritual dragon the azure scaled master of storms and skyborn bringer of rain.
 
Ti lung - was the dragon of land, stream and river, which spends springtime in heaven and autumn in the sea.
 
Fu-ts'ang lung - was the dragon of treasure keeper of secret hoards and priceless jewels and metals within the deepest vaults of the earth.

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Dragons of Japan:

The dragons of Japan where more associated more with the sea then with rain.
 
The dragon of Koshi - Was a eight headed dragon which had come to devour a maiden but Susan-no-wo brother of japans sun goddess gave each head a vase of sak'e and got the dragon drunk then slayed it.
 
Hai Riyo - This dragon was portrayed with the feathered wings body and tail of a bird but still had unmistakable dragon characteristics.

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The Wyvern:
 
The wyvern is another type of dragon which usually appeared smaller then western dragons and they did not have front legs, they were apparently structured much like a bird or pterodactyl.
 
  • The Wyvern was a smaller version of the dragon
  • It had no forelegs and was similar to pterodactyls.
  • The Wyvern represented non transmuted metal in Alchemy.
  • The Wyvern often appeared as an emblem of envy or an insignia of war.
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Wurms Orms and Serpentine dragons:
 
These dragons were limbless dragons they were like giant snakes but were noticeable by the draconic appearance of there heads.
Wurms had no limbs nor wings they where like giant snakes aside from much thicker scales and a horned dragon head.

Lindorms and orms where similar to wurms except that they often had one pair of legs.
 
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Sea Dragons:
 
Similar to wurms these are limbless dragons that lived in seas and lakes.
  • Sea serpents can be up to hundreds of feet long.
  • Lake serpents where usually smaller but are still pretty large.
  • The loch ness monster is probably a sea dragon if not a living dinosaur.
  • The Ogopogo a lake monster of Canada is also most likely a sea dragon.
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Other Dragon Types:


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Basklisk                    Cockatric                   Hydra's                                           Etc.


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The basilisks where small lizards (2 foot) which were somehow related to dragons, they had three horns on their head similar to a crown, it could cause great damage with a mere glance of it's eyes. It's breath and Saliva were also venomous the basilisk could only be defeated by three things, a weasel, a rooster or a plant called Rue.
  • The Basilisk was a small lizard with three horns similar to a crown and was very venomous.
  • The Basilisks sweat was poisonous, Probably had venomous skin similar to poison frogs.
  • The word Basilisk meant "little King" in the Greek Language.
  • The Basilisk would destroy all the land that it pasted by.

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Cockatrice:
 
The Cockatrice was a small dragon-like monster about the same size as a basilisk, It had birdlike legs and the coiling tail of a serpent, Although it had a reptilian body it's head and wings were feathered and it had the head of a rooster.
  • Much like the Basilisk this creatures gaze was deadly.
  • The gaze of a cockatrice can kill others of it's kind.
  • A Cockatrice can be killed by it's own reflection.

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The Hydra:
 
The Hydra was a dragon with nine or more heads, in Greek mythology Hercules was forced to battle one as one of his trials, for each head he killed another replaced it.
 
A Hydra is a multi headed dragon usually portrayed without wings and with a serpentine body,
 
  • In Japan the Dragon of Koshi had eight heads and may have also been a hydra,
  • In revelations the devil is represented as a seven headed serpent or dragon
 
 
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 Dragon's In Mythology!


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The Lambton Wurm
 
Type: Wurm
Location: Great Britain
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Serpentine
Myth/Legend:
 
The Lambton wurm was caught by a fishermen named John Lambton he threw the monster into a well. He then changed his life around and went on a pilgrimage he was gone for many years and the wurm continued to survive in the well eventually it had grown up and was terrorizing the nearby town, many people would try to slay it but every time they cut it, it's halves would rejoin.
 
John Lambton returned from his pilgrimage and found that the wurm he had caught so many years ago was causing much havoc, he sought the help of an old witch who told him to make a special armor of blades and fight in the river where he had caught the wurm. John obtained an armor of blades and fought the wurm in the river so that each segment of the wurm would float away.
 
But there was also a curse along with the wurm, after he defeated it he was told to kill the first person he saw which was his father, Instead he killed his pet dog which did not dispel the curse and every heir of the Lambton family met an early death for the next nine generations.


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Jormungander the Midgard Serpent
 
Type: Sea Dragon
Location: Scandinavia
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: A Giant Sea Serpent
Myth/Legend:
 
Jormungander the midgard serpent was a dragon of limitless power, spawned by Loki the god if evil, it's coils spanned across the earth and as far as the eye could see. Then Odin the god wisdom cast it far out into the deepest oceans.
 
Yet the serpent Jormungander still continued to grow beneath the waves deep within it's watery domain, beyond the realm of gods and men it grew even larger until it's mighty coils could encircle the earth.
 
Biting it's tail like a giant ouroboros it was destined to stay in it's dark watery domain until the final day of Ragnorak where it would be free to roam the earth and have one last final battle with Thor the god of Thunder.
 
Also in Norse Mythology: Norse mythology speaks about a dragon circling the tree of life (or the north star).
 

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Cetus the dragon of Poseidon
 
Type: Sea Dragon
Location: Greece
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Limbless serpent
Myth/Legend:
 
In Ancient Greece Queen Cassiopeia boasted she was more beautiful then the sea nymphs, this angered the sea god Poseidon and he sent his sea dragon Cetus to wreak havoc upon their kingdom.
 
The kingdoms monarchs desperately questioned an oracle who claimed the seadragon could only be placated by the sacrifice of the queens daughter Andromeda. Andromeda was chained to a cliff overlooking the ocean and the Serpent Cetus came for her, but miraculously Persues was returning from slaying the gorgon medusa he saw the princess and her upcoming fate.
 
He used his sword and sliced into an unprotected area of it's skin and into it's heart after three strikes the mighty sea dragon Cetus fell dead.
 

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Leviathan
 
Type: Sea Dragon
Location: None - Biblical reference
Alignment: Neutral?
Appearance: Giant Sea Serpent
Myth/Legend:
 
On the fifth day of creation god shaped and breathed life into all the creatures of the sea, at which time he also created Leviathan to serve as ruler of the seas. No mortal weapon could penetrate the leviathan's shimmering scales and no living thing on earth could ever hope to oppose it's might.
 
Nothing could cause a flicker of fear in the leviathan's heart. Initially god created a pair of these fantastic beasts but then it became clear that their power was so much that the entire world would be threatened by a race of them.
 
So god destroyed one of them, but as compensation for the loss of it's partner he granted the surviving leviathan immortality. And so the great leviathan would live forever beneath the oceans of earth until the day of judgment when it would be slain by the archangel Gabriel.
 
(Doesn't this story seem a bit similar to Jormangander? Probably a cross cultural myth maybe.)
 
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The Lindorm King
 
Type: Lindorm
Location: Central Europe
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Serpentine two legged and wingless.
Myth/Legend
 
A queen unable to have children consulted a soothsayer who promised she would have children in less then a year provided she eat two onions the queen so excited by this quickly left without allowing the soothsayer to finish. She returned home and in her excitement ate the first onion without even peeling the skin the second whoever she did peel.
 
As prophesized she did give birth the first born was a hideous monster a scaled wingless serpent - which in disgust she threw out the window the second born was a healthy young boy.
 
Years later the young prince met his brother the lindorm out in the woods, the lindorm threatened that the prince would never find true love unless he was presented a willing girl. Many woman were sacrificed to the lindorm.
 
Finally one knowing she would be next consulted the soothsayer who told her a secret. She entered the lindorms lair clad in many garments and asked that for each dress she shed he would shed a layer of skin, he agreed and after the last layer he transformed into a prince. Then the soothsayer finally was able to mention what the queen had not heard those many years ago, Be sure to peal the onion first.

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Siegfried and Fafnir
 
Type: Lindorm?
Location: Scandinavia
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Four legged but wingless
Myth/Legend:
 
Fafnir the son of a dwarf king murdered his father for his wealth which he coveted, after gaining his fathers wealth he retreated with it to Gnitahead and jealously guarded it. But the treasure was tainted by his dyeing fathers curse, and it's evil influence enhanced by his own hatred caused him to transform into a dragon which always guarded the treasure.
 
Fafnir and his treasure remained this way for centuries while his brother Regin plotted to gain it, he used a warrior named Siegfried as a pawn- he had Siegfried hide in a hole beneath the path to a lake, then when Fafnir came to drink he would stab the vulnerable area of it's belly.
 
Afterwards Regan asked him to cook the dragons heart and he did, when handing the cooked heart to Regin he burnt his finger and licked it he could then understand the language of birds and overheard them talking of Regin's plan to kill him, Siegfried then beheaded Regin near the carcass of his brother, He then went to claim the treasure and the curse which accompanied it.
 

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The Mordiford Wyvern
 
Type: Wyvern
Location: Great Britain
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Hind legs and has wings
Myth/Legend:
 
There once was a young girl named Maud who discovered a baby wyvern in the woods her parents demanded she return it, but instead she hid it and brought it milk each day, and in time the two bonded but as the two aged together the wyvern grew larger eating first wild animals, it eventually gained a taste for human flesh, a danger to everyone but Maud, the people soon decided it had to die. Maud's wyvern was soon killed by a wandering knight named Garsten.
 
Maud still stayed along side her dying wyvern mourning it's death, as Garsten triumphantly rode back to town leaving behind a dead monster and it's only friend a girl named Maud.

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St George and the dragon
 
Type: Western Dragon
Location: Great Britain
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Winged four legs
Myth/Legend:
 

A beastly dragon had come in from the swamps of Silene! In a desperate attempt to get rid of this dragon the local farmers fed the dragon two sheep a day, this strategy worked until they ran out of sheep and the dragon went on a rampage, soon the evil king agreed to allow the sacrifice of children, but day's and weeks went by and it soon came time for the kings own daughter to be the next sacrifice.

A knight named George had come into that town at the moment of her sacrifice and he untied her. The dragon soon arrived and he prepared to lance it, as he neared he was suddenly stopped by giant frills of circles like eyes, he continued forward and pierced the dragons neck with his spear, the king was so pleased he allowed George to convert the entire city to Christianity.
 
This story was Christian propaganda against Dragons, the dragon and the king both represent the evils of paganism, while St George represents the righteousness of the missionaries.
 

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The Piasa
 
Type: Western Dragon?
Location: U.S.A
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Four legs, scaled body, Feathered wings
Myth/Legend:
 
Long ago a native American tribe called the Illini tribe lived in harmony with the Piasa which ate mostly deer and other large animals, it had no interest in humans until one day when a warring tribe attacked the Illini tribe, during that battle many men from both sides lost there lives and although the Illini won the battle the worst was yet to come.
 
The Piasa witnessed the battles and being a carnivores creature the bodies where a tempting snack for it, and it soon discovered that it liked it's new found meat. It soon became the mortal enemy of the Illini tribe and a great meeting was held, after hours of debating plans to kill the Piasa one risky plan was decided upon, they decided to lure it to the ground where twenty of there greatest warriors would slay it.
 
A brave named Massatoga volunteered to act as bait to lure it down. He headed towards it's lair singing a tribal chant and when the Piasa spotted him he ran to an area with a lot of trees, when the Piasa landed and folded it's wings the warriors pummeled it with arrows and hacked at it until the dragon was no more.


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Quetzalcoatl / Kulkulkan
 
Type: Amphiptere
Location: South America
Alignment: Good
Appearance: Serpentine feathered wings
Myth/Legend:
 
The Serpent God of Mexico.
 
Quozalcoatl  was the god of the Mayans and the Aztecs it has many similarities to the eastern dragon. It was said to be a feathered serpent that could fly it also had a human form which it used to guide the people. I am still researching this and will include more later.

  • Was a feathered serpent similar to the eastern dragon.
  • Was A god of both the Aztecs and the Mayan's.

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The Hydra
 
Type: Hydra
Location: Greece
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Wingless, Multiple heads
Myth/Legend:

The hydra was a dragon in Greek mythology. Hercules was said to have fought it. It was a multi headed dragon and for each head cut off a new one took it's place. Hercules defeated the hydra by burning each neck with a torch before a new head could grow.

. The Hydra was a mythological dragon that had several heads and was killed by Hercules.

. That myth is the only account of a hydra that I could find.

The hydra had nine heads and for each head which was removed two would take it's place this dragon was defeated by Hercules who melted the stub of each neck before new heads could form.

 

Side Note: It should also be added that Hercules' 11th task involved venturing into Athena's garden to get the golden apples. A dragon guarded those apples and it was killed so that Hercules could get the apples. Athena put the dragon's body into the sky and  created the Draco constellation.
 
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Type: Semi dragon?
Location: Middle East
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Two fore legs, serpentine body.
Myth/Legend:

Two elder gods Apsu and Tiamat became increasingly angry with new generations of gods apsu wanted to get rid of them Tiamat tried to calm his rage but reluctantly agreed to help him Apsu was later captured and killed after this Tiamat became enraged she created an army of fishtailed and scorpion tailed warriors she also gained the support of other gods, then she took on the form of a giant semi dragon.

The other gods unable to challenge such a task agreed to make Marduk the supreme god if he could vanquish her, he agreed and sought the help of  a hurricane, he caught Tiamat in a net and pummeled her with arrows, when Tiamat opened her enormous jaws to eat Marduk the hurricane flew into her and prevented her from closing her mouth.

Marduk shot an arrow down her throat and into her belly Losing no time he sliced apart her internal organs and split her heart in half he continued until Tiamat the embodiment of chaos was no more. Marduk was now the supreme power, he cut the corpse in half and used one half to make the heavens and one half to make the earth.

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Beowulf and the Dragon
 
Type: Western Dragon
Location: Scandinavia
Alignment: Evil
Appearance: Four legs, winged, serpentine body.
Myth/Legend:

Beowulf the famous Danish king fought a dragon, In Beowulf's later years now an old man he was asked to slay a dragon which was ravaging the country. A thief had stolen a cup from the dragons hoard the dragon enraged began it's rampage, Beowulf arrived and fought the dragon alone but was unable to defeat it.
 
Beowulf and the dragon where to evenly matched, Beowulf about to lose, was saved by his friend Wiglaf who stabbed the dragon allowing Beowulf time to finish it. Beowulf later died of his wounds and gave Wiglaf his kingdom.
 
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A Dragon's Body
(This first section is purely space filler, Jafira doesn't know what he's talking about.)


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The dragon's body.. A compilation of many species and animals combined into one ultimate creation, having never seen a living dragon and having only artwork and ancient descriptions to go by many have tried to explain the biology of a dragon. I know I'm no different, so here's my thoughts.

Going by accounts I have read in mythology an average western dragon would've been about twenty five feet long. and pretty tall too, I say that because I am unable to determine an appropriate height. It would have had a large wingspan and would've have been a glider much like the pterosaurs. Yes, I have a habit of comparing dragons to the ancient pterodactyls and pterosaurs.
 
It would be illogical for a creature of that immense size to flap it's wings like a birds, it would instead fly like a glider the wings could be flapped be not rapidly thus a dragon would most likely have hollow bones and a light body despite it's immense size. If the dragon was a glider it would probably live near mountains and cliffs of a large altitude so that departing for flight would be less struggle.

A dragon would be a carnivorous predator that would hunt much like a hawk circling from the skies, and upon finding suitable prey it would dive down and grip it in it's claws. If the prey were to large to lift the dragon would most likely deliver a deathblow by biting the neck. A dragon  would most likely hunt small prey which was light. An infant dragon would hunt small dogs or wolves, an older one would hunt goats and larger prey, an adult would most likely prey on cattle and large mammals.

Due to the fact that they are described as reptiles they would probably be cold blooded and remain dormant during the winter. In mythology dragons colors weren't as varied as they are in today's literature but in any case I'll point out that most reptiles evolve to their environments and dragons would be no different thus a dragon living in a forested area would have developed green scales while a dragon living in a mountainous region could have yellow, tan, or copper coloring.
 
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 Did / Do Dragon's Exist?


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I used to be very actively involved in reading about paranormal stuff, for example, Ghosts, UFO's, Atlantis, Ancient Technology, Magick, and out right Paranormal Phenomena, Most of the time I was hoping to find things which could be remotely related to dragons out of all those studies  the most interesting things I found where tales of living dinosaurs, sea monsters, and the one which interested me the most, living Pterosaurs (Possibly Dragons still in Existence?)

I used to be very actively involved in reading about paranormal stuff, for example, Ghosts, UFO's, Atlantis, Ancient Technology, Magick, and out right Paranormal Phenomena, Most of the time I was hoping to find things which could be remotely related to dragons out of all those studies  the most interesting things I found where tales of living dinosaurs, sea monsters, and the one which interested me the most, living Pterosaurs (Possibly Dragons still in Existence?)

 
Anyway, the main thing  that I wondered was, could dragon's still exist today, after reading numerous books on Cryptozology (study of legendary creatures)  all I'd found was info on half a dozen sea serpents some supposedly dinosaurs in Africa and the Amazon and one story about a winged reptile spotted in Arizona in the late 1800's.

But I did discover the before-said rumors of pterodactyl sighting's in Texas in the late 1970's and some rumors of flying reptiles in African jungles. Please note that due to numerous circumstances none of these stories were ever confirmed, but it's still pretty interesting. Pterodactyls are extinct so if these stories are true what were people sighting?

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Below is one story of a possible Dragon sighting in Arizona back in 1890:
 
(From the book- Mysteries & Miracles of Arizona by Jack Kutz. Ch. 14 Pg 239)

- On June 7, 1890 All of Tombstone was in an uproar when two cowboys rode into town with implements of skin from an enormous flying creature. The cowboys claimed to have won an epic battle against a giant flying lizard to back up their boast they displayed one of the monsters wingtips.

They claimed to have sighted the creature from a distance. There appeared to be something wrong with it for it would only fly a short distance then land panting. The two men on horseback pursued the monster for many miles with their Winchester rifles the creature then turned on them but owing to it's exhausted condition they were able to stay out of it's way and finish it off with a few good shots.
 
It had an elongated eel like body some 92 feet long It's two legs were attached to it's body in front of the wings. The 80 foot wings were of thick translucent membrane devoid of hair or feathers The head was about eight feet long with jaws thickly set with strong sharp teeth and giant protruding eyes the size of dinner plates.

Follow up investigation,

In 1997 a California based organization called the society for the investigation of the unexplained (SITU) took an interest in the eighty year old Tombstone Epitaph article. SITU wondered if there had been a follow up story, a check with several historical buffs revealed that there had indeed been a follow up article including a photograph.

The photo SITU investigators were told showed a bat like monster strung up against a barn with six men arms outstretched fingertip to fingertip to show it's size. The arm lengths of six men would be about 36 feet far short of the original 80 feet but still far larger then the wing span of any living thing that has flown since prehistoric times.
 
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Living Dinosaurs or Dragons?


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So, as I might of stated earlier, I'd came across a ton of tales about Sea serpents, The Ogopogo of British Columbia, The Lochness monster of Scotland, the Bunyip of Australia, Lakeworth serpent Texas, and a bunch more, although reading about all those was interesting, I seriously doubt they're dragons or even related to dragons, (yet you never know,)

So, as I might of stated earlier, I'd came across a ton of tales about Sea serpents, The Ogopogo of British Columbia, The Lochness monster of Scotland, the Bunyip of Australia, Lakeworth serpent Texas, and a bunch more, although reading about all those was interesting, I seriously doubt they're dragons or even related to dragons, (yet you never know,)

 
Furthermore came the tales of living dinosaurs which, I think is getting a bit closer.. Let's start with Mokelembembe which is said to be a giant reptile in the dense jungles of west central Africa, It has been said to be seen often by native tribes drinking near watering holes.

Recent and past investigations had found many tracks and strange tales but never any definite proof, it (Mokelembembe) has been described looking like a Brontosaurus, but sense very few witness's have seen it's full form some of which may have been exaggerated.

Who's to say that a small clan of surviving dinosaurs (or dragons...) is not still surviving, in the uncharted jungles and wilderness far from the constructions and chaos of man?

The next example of a possible living Dinosaur (or dragon) is the Sirrush, (active researchers of dragon's would recognize this one) Around 600 BC carved into the Babylonian Archeway of the Ishtar gate were Giant bas reliefs depicting three animal's in different sizes and actions.
 
The row's alternated some showing lion's others Rimi's (a type of Oxen now long extinct for at least a 1000 yrs.) And then images of Sirrushes  (meaning Dragon) Apparently the Sirrush was considered real to the people of that era as it was portrayed along side other animals of that region, what happened to it, and why no remains have been found remains a mystery, Yet, before you write it off as a made up monster, read this:

The Apocrypha's book of Bel and the dragon relates a story that in the temple of Bel Lord oft the world, Nebuchadnezzars favored god, the priests kept a "great dragon or serpent" which they (the Babylonians) worshiped.

The king challenged the Hebrew prophet Daniel, who had been sneering about nonliving gods of brass, to dispute this god, "who liveth, and eateth and drinketh, you canst not say that he is no living god, therefore worship him." To remove himself from this quandary, Daniel poisoned the animal. (murderer...) (Source: a Book called - Unexplained by Jerome Clark Page 275)

Anyway, did you notice how the Sirrush was portrayed on the Babylonian gate with living (although now partly extinct) animals? and how in the same region they worshiped a living reptilian serpent/dragon? If dragons don't exist what the heck were the worshipping, A crocodile maybe? I doubt they were common, in that region I believe. So then what?

 
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Other Dragon Thoughts:

 

My other thoughts would be Uneducated and Irrelevant, I know to little to formulate decent theories at this time aside from the beliefs expressed in my stories and the dragonrant's section, but then those do not concern dragons of this physical world and therefore they too would be irrelevant. In other words my theories should be expressed when I have obtained enough knowledge to make them.

More might be added later.

 

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

 

Below is a list of the books and sources which I used in the past to gather the information for the Dragon this page and the Dracopedia section.

 


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Books and Sources:

 

Flight of Dragons-By Peter Dickinson.

 

Dragons A Natural History - By Karl Shucker.

 

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, “A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash “LeopardDancer” DeKirk” New Page Books, 2007

 

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)

 


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 Online Dragon Resources

 

Please visit Dragon Valley's WebLinks Section for a wonderful list of sites with further information and resources regarding dragons in all their forms and deversity.

 

~Jafira Dragon

 

 

 

 

Dracopedia List A-Z
Dragons A - Z

This section contains brief descriptions of dragons from around the world.

 

Listed in alphabetical order, sources provided.

 

I will attempt to add more as I gain new resources and Info. Enjoy! ^,=,^

 

DRACOPEDIA DRAGONS A - Z


A



“A demon whose name derives from the mystical word Abrcadadabra. Abrasax carries a whip and is pictured as either a king with serpents for legs or a two-legged dragon with the head of a cock. The sum of the seven Greek letters which comprise his name is 365, making him the lord of the 365 virtues, one for every day of the year.”

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)



"A winged serpent from Gnostic lore said to bring good fortune. When equated with Aion, the god of time, it is shown with a lions head on a man"s body, and standing on a globe encircled by the signs of the zodiac."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A Lithuanian household spirit that resembles a cock while indoors, but outdoors appears as a dragon about two feet long, with a serpentine body and four legs. In some districts is has wings and flies through the air trailing fire. It may hatch from an egg of a 9- to 12 year old rooter, and if it dies it becomes a spark.

An Aitvaras will lodge itself in a house, refusing to leave. Its presence brings riches into the household, but the wealth is usually stolen from neighbors. An Aitvaras can be purchased from the Devil, but the price is the buyers soul. Once bought, it is nearly impossible to get rid of. If injured, it can be healed just by touching the ground."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



" A fantastic heraldic beast with a body similar to that of a wolf and the front legs and belly of a dragon. It also has long, pointed ears, a long, thin tongue and a knotted tail."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



" A bizarre heraldic variant of the cockatrice, depicted as a dragon-serpent with two heads, one in the usual place and the other at the end of its tail. It has birds" legs and feet and Dragon wings. Amphisaena is also a bronchial ailment caused by the ingestion of amphorae."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"Beautiful feathered-plumed or serpentine Dragons similar to the AzEtc Quetzalcoatl or the Egyptian Apep. Amphiteres were reputed to posses great wisdom and knowledge, as well as some form of associated power, such as the ability to hypnotize.

Many also guarded hordes of treasure, but, unlike typical treasure-hording dragons, they took on the task out of obligation rather then out of a liking of shiny things. It was said that armed men would grow from the teeth of an Amphitere planted in fertile ground, and would be absolutely loyal to the sower"

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A two-legged dragon of medieval Europe, depicted both with and without wings. Its bite causes instant death, and it is so poisonous that even touching its dead body is fatal. But it can be easily overcome by music, upon hearing which it jams its tail into one ear and press the other to the ground."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


B



"Born from the blood of Medusa"s eyes, the Basilisk is described as a monstrous serpent crowned with a dramatic frill, crestm or crown, for which it is called the "King of Serpents" It is so posionous that it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its wake, and its gaze is likewise leathal.

It posions streams, withers forestss, and causes birds to drop out of the sky. It"s enemy is the weasel and mongoose. In actuality the Basilisk derives from the Egyptian spitting cobra, which grows to seven feet long, and sprays lethal posion from its fangs with great accuracy into the eyes of its victims.

There are also small South American lizards called Basilisks, but they have none o the attributes of their legendary namesake."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


*In addition a serpentine Basilisk was portrayed in the Harry Potter Book / Movie: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.



"A giant eel or water-snake said to inhabit secluded waters of the Scottish Highlands. Witnesses report its length at 9 to 10 feet, and it has been seen moving over land. This may be a Conger Eel which is known to attain that size. Many eels can squirm through wet grass from one pool to another. Or, it could be a typical Lake Monster."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A lake monster reported since the 19th century in Lake Erie in Canada, " South Bay Bessie" has been described as a serpentine creature, more than forty feet long, with a diamond-shaped head and humps along its back. Its colors range from ark green to black. It is also said to have a pair of long "arms,"similar to a giant squid."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



" A serpentine monster in the folk-lore of southern Albania. It has four legs, small wings, and faceted silver eyes. When it wakes from its year-long hibernation on St. Georges day (April 23), it devours the first human it sees. After 12 years.

It metamorphoses into a horrific, fire-breathing flying dragon with nine tongues called Kulshedra. Sometimes described as an immense hairy woman with pendulous breasts. Kulshedra causes drought, requiring human sacrifice in propitiation."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


C



"In Aztec folklore of exico, this is the vast primordial Dragon from whose slain body the Earth was formed. It was depicted as a fish-like crocodile."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"Originating as the serpentine Basilisk, the North African cockatrice is depicted as a rooster with a Dragons tail and bat-like wings, and so poisonous that its very glance or breath kills. It can rot the fruit on a tree from a distance, and any water from which it drinks will be polluted for centuries. It is said to be born from a cock"s egg, hatched by a toad.

Similar to the Basilisk, its only foe is the weasel. Both cockatrice and Basilisk derive from the Egyptian Spitting Cobra, which sprays poison from its fangs with great accuracy into the eyes of its victims. A popular heraldic beat, its name was later applied to a venomous lizard of Armenia, and a huge brass cannon of Tudor times."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



" Dragons of the Sahara Desert, akin to the Ying-Lung of China. They are covered with shaggy fur have dog-like heads, muzzles with profuse beards, and bat-like wings. They prey upon goats and antelope."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


D


Draco

"Depicted in classical Greco-Roman art as a great, bat-winged serpent, it was later said to inhabit caves in India and Ethiopia, where it preyed upon elephants."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"In medieval European folklore, there are serpents with a womans head and breasts. The serpent in the Garden of Eden was often so Depicted."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"Predatory water monsters said to inhabit the depths of the Phone River in France, where they terrorized the town of Beaucaire by dragging victims from boats. Drac is the word for Dragon in Catalan and other languages."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Dragon

"A gigantic reptilian creature, frequently possessing bat-like wings and fiery breath. Some are capable of human speech. There are many varieties, living in all the Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Wingless, legless dragons are called Lindorms, Wurms, or Wyrms. Those with legs but no wings are called Drakes. A Dragon with two limbs and two wings is called Wyvern. Dragons with feathery rather than leathery wings are called Amphiteres.

Dragons exist in cultures the world over. Easter Dragons tend to be wise and benevolent creatures of clouds, rain, and bodies of water. Western Dragons tend to be crafty and evil, and many were slain by various heroes and knights. Some Dragons are based on known creatures, such as crocodiles, giant monitor lizards (such as the Komodo Dragon, Varanus komodoensis), the rib-winged flying lizards of Madagascar, (Draco volens), and the remains of dinosaurs.

And others – such as the MokeleMbebe of the Congo swamps, or the Loch Ness Monster and its kin—may still be lurking in unexplored regions and dwelling in deep lakes throughout the world."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Dragons of Ethiopia

"Great, serpentine Dragons up to 35 feet long, with one or two pairs of wings. They were said to prey on elephants. They may be derived from the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) or the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus), both of which may reach that size (but neither have wings!)."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"This creature of Chinese mythology resembles a horse, but has the head of a Dragon and scales instead of fur. Though some Dragon Horses can fly, none of them have wings; indeed, Dragon Horses are more often seen as water dwellers. Considered divine messengers these creatures fly between the Heavens and the Earth, revealing the meaning of the Yin/Yang symbol."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"The five immortal Dragon Kings dwell under the sea in elaborate crystal palaces. One is chief over all, and the others one of the four Cardinal Directions: North, South, East, and West. Their names are Ao Ch"in, Ao Jun, Ao Kuang, and Ao Shun.

They all answer to the Jade Emperor, who tells them where to distribute the rains. The Dragon Kings are said to be three to five miles long, with shaggy legs and tails and whiskered muzzles.

Their slinky, serpentine bodies are covered in golden scales. It is said that when the Dragon Kings rise to the surface, waterspouts and typhoons are created, and when they take to the air, massive hurricanes result. Only the exceptional are allowed to meet with these great ocean sovereigns."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"This female creature of Celtic myth enables childless couples to conceive, but requires a sacrifice in return. If she is refused, she lays a curse upon the family."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A heraldic beast with the body of a Dragon and the head of a tiger. The European take on the Asiatic Dragons."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Dragon-Wolf

"A heraldic beast with the body of a Dragon and the head of a wolf. Another creature remnnicent of the Asian Dragons."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Drake

"A wingless Dragon or Lindorm in Swedish folklore, this term may also apply to Elemental Dragons, such as Fire-Drakes, Sea-Drakes, Ice Drakes, etc. It is also used for male Dragons."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


E


F



“An evil giant who, with his equally foul brother Fasolt, murder their father to obtain his gold. However, there is no love lost between the brothers, for Fafner is quick to kill Fasolt to possess all of the gold. To make certain that no one ever wrests the treasure from him, the giant transforms himself into a dragon.

Enter Siegfried, who not only slays the beast, but by eating his heart or bathing in his blood (depending upon the legend) is enabled to understand the language of birds.

These characters of both Teutonic and Norse (where they are Fafnir and Sigurd) legend are featured in Richard Wagner"s immortal opera cycle “The Ring of Nibelungs.”

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)



"A giant lizard monster or Dragon in the Native American legends of the Ozark mountains, which it was reported to frequent in the 19th century. As described by V. Randolf in 1951, it was said to be at least 20 feet long with boar-like tusks."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"Great fire breathing, bat-winged Dragons inhabiting marshes in the British Isles and mountain caverns of northern Europe, where they guard hordes of treasure."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A monstrous serpent of medieval Christian legends, reported by travelers as being hatched from the egg of a Cockatrice in the desert of Ethiopia. The mpst venomous of all serpents, it could flu as well as crawl."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


G



"A fire-spitting cosmic dragon in Seneca Indian folklore of the northeastern United States. It dwells in lakes and rivers, but flies through the night sky as a blazing meteor."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A legendary great Dragon that lived in the marshes of the Seine River and ravaged the countryside around the town of Rouen in France. It was particularly noted for causing waterspouts and upsetting boats to drown and devour boaters and fishermen.

The monster was slain in the 7th century by St. Romain, then Bishop of Rouen. He tied two criminals to stakes to bait the Dragon, and when it appeared he transfixed it with his crucifix, then tired his bishop"s stole around its neck, and led it docilely into Rouen, where it was killed by the townsfolk.

From that time on, all monstrous building decorations, antefixes, and waterspouts have been called Gargoyles."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Gargoyle

"Grotesque carvings of humanoid and animal monster often found on the eaves of Gothic buildings and churches throughout Europe. Originally designed as ornamental water spouts to direct rainwater clear of a wall, in medieval times they acquired religious significance as protectors of humans and averters of evil."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"(also known as "fox serpent") A fresh water Lake monster dwelling in chile"s Andean ountains. In some districts it is described as a fox headed snake or a puma with the head of a fox. Its long tail terminates in a vicious claw, with which it seizes its victims.

As it swallows them whole, its mouth and belly extend like those of a snake. Elsewhere, it is said to be a gigantic fish or Dragon. And yet another version says it is flat and disc-shaped, similar to a ray, but with tentacles like those of an octopus and eyes around its perimeter. A marine animal that fits the latter description very well is the Japanese Pancake Devilfish."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"An enormous Sea Serpent reported dwelling in the North Sea. Black and scaly, with a long mane of hair, it is said to be 200 feet long and 20 feet thick. It inhabits coastal caves, and on summer nights it emerges onto the land to feast upon livestock."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A Spanish Dragon slain long ago, whose great green Dragon whose effigy is now paraded in the festivals of Corpus Christi in Catalona as a talisman against evil. It has a black face with rolling eyes and huge fangs in an open red mouth, from which fireworks issue to simulate its fiery breath."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A vicious French monster with the body of a snake and the horned head of a Dragon. Said to inhabit forests, pools, and swamps, it is depicted in French heraldry."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"The great black tortoise of Chinese mythology, sometimes called the Black warrior of the North. Representing the North and the season of winter, it is one of the four Ssu Ling, or "Spiritual Creatures," that stand at the four corners of the Earth.

The others are the Lung Wang (Dragon) in the East; theFeng Huang (Pheonix) in the South; and the Ki-Lin (Unicorn) in the West. The Black Tortoise is usually depicted as both a tortoise and a snake with the snake coiling around the tortoise."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


H



"A fabulous Japanese flying creature with the feathered wings and lower body of a bird and the head of a Dragon. They are related to the P"eng-Niao of China, and are similar to the Amphiteres of Europe and the plumed serpents of the America"s."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A vast, all devouring Sea Serpent in the mythology of the Hurrians of ancient Mesopotamia."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A seven headed serpent of Basque legend. Although wingless, it can fly. It lives underground and devours unattended livestock."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Hydra

"A hideous, many-headed Dragon that dwelt in the marshes of Lerna in Argolis, Greece. A monstrous child of Echidne and Typhon, her enormous canid body sprouted nine or more heads on serpentine necks. One head was immortal, but if an of the others were cut off, two more grew back in its place.

Heracles and his nephew Iolaus killed her as the second Labor, and Iolaus burned the stumps of each head that Heracles severed. The oldest images of this monster appear to depict a giant squid (Architeuthis).

Hydra is also the largest of the star constellations, and was among the 48 listed by Ptolemy. The name has been applied to microscopic tentacled water creatures."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



" A bizarre, three headed serpent described in the Physiologus as dwelling on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt. The mortal enemy of the cocodryllus or crocodile. It is said to slather itself with mud, slip down the cocodryllus"s throat, and rip open its stomach from inside."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


I



" A Patagonian monster with the body and prehensile tail of a serpent and the foreparts of a fox. It kills its victims by constriction with its tail."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


J



("Huge Earth-Monster," or Midgardsormen) The Midgard Serpent of iddle-Earth (Midgard), the world of humans, with its tail in its mouth. Jormangund is the second of three children of Loki and the Giantess Angrboda. The first is the Fenris Wolf, and the third is Hel, Goddess of the Underworld.

Seeing that the serpent is growing fast, and knowing it will someday cause great evil, Odin throws it into the ocean that surrounds the Earth where it eventually encircles the whole world. At the time of Ragnarök, Jormagand and Thor will destroy each other."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


K



“One of the most important of the Mayan gods. Pictured as a feathered serpent, Kukulcan was actually the chief god of many of the later Mayans.

Originally viewed as the god of life, Kukulcan was refined in subsequent thinking, coming to personify the wind. Despite these magnificent personae, the deity is best known for having invented the calendar and teaching people how to use it.”

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)



"The final state of metamorphosis of the Albanian Bolla. Usually appearing as a nine-tongued, fire breathing dragon, it can also appear to be a hairy old woman with pendulous breasts. It causes droughts, the cessation of which requires propitiary sacrifices."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A creature of South Korean folklore that resembles a cross between a chicken and a Dragon. (much like a Cockatrice). In a mountain by this name, there is a pool in which the female Kyeryong dwells. Women shamans bathe in this pool to obtain magickal powers. Alyeong, the first queen of Shilla, was said to be the child of a Kyeryong."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


L



"A Mongolian Dragon with a serpentine body and a leonine hed and forequarters, quite similar to the European Tatzelwurm"

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"(Swedish, "Dragon"); also Lindworm or Lindorm) Gigantic serpentine invertebrate from Germanic and Scandinavian legend, sometimes dipicted with small wings, but incapable of flight. Numerous witnesses over the centuries describe the creature as being 10 to 20 feet long, with an unwieldy, legless body as thick as a man"s thigh and black or green-gold in color, and a yellow-flamed belly.

It has a horselike head and mane, a mouth full of sharp white teeth, and large, glowing red eyes. Very aggressive and able to attain great speed, it can take down a man on a galloping horse. When killed by Marco Polo, who encountered these creatures crossing the steppes of Central Asia, they began appearing in Europe during the Middle Ages.

Although the Asian variety thrived on dry land, the European subspecies preferred marshes and streams. They haunted churchyards, and ancient burial mounds, guarding their treasures and living on decaying human remains, symbolizing war and pestilence, they devoured cattle and people."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Lung

"The chinese word for Dragons, especially the five toed Imperial Dragons, gaurdians of the Earth"s waters. They inhabit the rain clouds and breathe smoke and flames from their nostrils. Each holds a pearl of wisdom in it"s open mouth, and each has a particular area of responsibility. (denoted by the word that precedes Lung).

For example, Shen Lung, the Spiritual Dragon is the beautiful, multicolored five toed Imperial Dragon of China and the master of the wind-borne rains. Only the Emperor of China was allowed to wear his image – others were forbidden, under penalty of death.

Lung Wang, the Azure Dragon, is the Dragon king. Representing the East and the season of spring, he is one of the four Ssu Ling, or "Spiritual Creatures" that stand at the four corners of the Earth."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


M



"A large, dark, manlike creature with wings, first reported at the beginning of 1926, when it was seen hovering over one of the worlds largest dams, the Xiaon Te Dam in southeastern foothills of China. On January 19, 1926, the dam collapsed, spilling more then 40 billion gallons of water onto the farms and villages below and killing more then 15,000 people. Survivors came to believe that the Man-Dragon"s appearance had been intended as a warning."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


N



“The name of a snake which lives on the Malayan Peninsula, and of a dragon that swells in its lakes. According to ancient legends, the lakes were created by an old man--also named Nagaq—who drove his staff into the ground and created holes from which water rose.

Monsters living in the area were trapped by the flood, and inhabit the lakes still. People who have seen Nagaq the dragon say that it is slate-colored, has a long neck and a flat snakelike head, and stands as tall as a palm tree.”

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)



“In the legends of the lost continent of Mu, a seven-headed serpent. Also known as the Supreme Spirit, the Creator, and the Great Self-Existing Power, Narayana has a vast intellect which was used to create everything in the universe. Humans are a part of the tapestry woven b the serpent, although Narayana made them unique since they are the only entities endowed with the capacity to think”

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)


O



"An immense, winged white dragon of Japanese legend that dwells in the waters of Yamahiro. Every fifty years it metamorphoses into a golden bird with the haunting cry like the howl of a wolf. This periodic transformation and howling presages disasters, such as famine"

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"An enormous Dragon or Lake-Monster said to have gouged the channel of the Shannon River in Ireland. Generally benign, it became enraged upon learning that St. Patrick was coming to exorcise it, and swallowed a drunken piper, who continued to play inside the monster"s belly until the beast disgorged him in disgust."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"(Norse Ormr, "Dragon"; or Worm, Vurm, Wyrm) This is a general term for serpentine dragons, especially those that are wingless and legless. Since F.W. Holiday"s book, The Great Orm of Loch Ness (1968), it has come to be applied to lake monsters, especially those thought to be invertebrates."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



In Egyptian mythology, this is the vast serpent of eternity that, in an endless cycle of destruction and renewal continually consumes its own tail as it grows longer at the front end. It frequently appears in alchemical illustrations to symbolize cyclicality and primordial unity.

It is thought to have been inspired by the Milky Way, as some ancient texts refer to a serpent of light residing in the heavens."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


P


P"eng-Niao

"Bird dragons of Chinese myth. They either have the head of a Dragon and the wings and lower body of a bird, or a completely serpentine body, with feathered scales and birdlike wings, legs, and feet."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A creature of local legend dating back to 1673 when Father Jacques Marquette, in recording his famous journey down the Mississippi River with Lousis Joliet, described the Pisa as a grotesque monster painted high on the bluffs along the Mississippi River, where the city of Alton, Illinois, now stands.

According to Marquette"s diary, the Piasa "was as large as a calf with horns like a deer, red eyes, a beard like a tiger"s a face like a man, the body covered with green, red and black scales and a tail so long it passed around the body, over the head and between the legs"

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"This Chinese deity of rivers is part Dragon, part horse."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Python

The Greek dragon whose name now signifies a species of large constrictor. In mythology, Python is a huge female serpent sent by Hera to plague Leto as she is in labor with Apollo and Artemis—the children of Hera"s husband, Zeus.

After performing her task, Python slithers off to Mt. Parnassus where she makes her home in a cave. Years later, Apollo tracks down the creature and slays her for having caused his mother grief. Python is also an occult term signifying a spirit, or a person possessed by this spirit, which is able to foretell the future.”

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)


Q



"The great cosmic feathered serpent and culture hero of Mesoamerican legend. He is credited with creating and fertilizing the Earth, and introducing agriculture and civilization to people. His symbols are lightning, thunder, and thunderbolts (meteorites).

When a comet appeared, it was considered to be him. The myths often describe him as the divine ruler of the mythical Toltecs, who after his expulsion from Tullan, travel south or east to set up new cities and kingdoms. Many different Mesoamerican cultures -- Such as the aya, K"iche, Pipil, and Zapotec – claim to be the only true descendants of Quetzalcoatl and thus of the Toltecs."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


R


S



"A winged serpent with the head of a Dragon, from medieval bestiaries. She dwells high above the clouds and is rarely seen on Earth, as she spends all her time flying and never comes to rest.

As she soars on high, she lays her eggs, which hatch while they are falling. Only the shells reach the ground, and if part of a shell is eaten by an animal, the poor creature will go mad."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"Brilliant-colored lizards or small Dragons that can live in flames and molten lava, and so cold that they are able to extinguish fires. Fireproof asbestos fibers were said to be "salamander wool." Paracelsus (1493-1541) gave their name to Fire Elementals.

These myths are based on the European Fire Salamander, which hibernates in dead wood, often ending up in the fire place as it crawls out of the logs, awakened by the heat. When frightened, it exudes a harmless milky fluid that can actually extinguish weak flames.

The Salamandra sometimes appears as a symbol for fire insurance. It is also said to be poisonous, and it is true that many newts secrete potent tetrodotoxins through their skin as a defense against predators."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A serpentine winged Dragon with only two front legs, and multicolored scales so beautiful that animals and humans stop to admire it. -- whereupon the sluggish reptile strikes them down and devours them. Its poison is so fiery that anyone it bites is consumed in flames, It glows with such inner heat that even in a severe frist, it will come out of its den to shed its skin, T.H.White sugggests that is may be the "superbly marked" Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis), found in the forests of West and Central Africa."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Sea Dragon

"A heraldic beast with the foreparts of a dragon and a fish"s tail. The name has been given to the Leafy Sea Dragon. (Phycodurus eques) and the Weedy Sea Dragon (phyllopteryx taeniolatus), both of them charming little fishes related to the Seahorse. (Hippocampus), which are decorated with leafy projections to camouflage them among seaweed."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A terrible bird dragon of Icelandic legend. Sometimes described as a crowned and winged serpent, its stare is leathal to all, including its own species. When two Skoffins meet, they both die. They can only be killed by silver bullets into which a cross has been cut."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


T



"The Great Cosmic World Serpent of dragon of ancient Mesopotamian mythology, equated with salt water and the Milky Way. She has a vast, invincible body, with two forelegs, two great horns on her head, and an enormous tail.

In the Babylonian epic, the Enuma Elish, she and her consort Apsu/Abzu (personifying fresh water) create the heavens and the Earth and engender the gods, who rebel against them. Tiamet is slain by Marduk and her body dismembered to provide lands and stars. Her flowing blood becomes rivers."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A massive reptilian quadruped, or dragon, of Inuit legend. It has two leathery "feelers" and a colossal set of jaws, which it uses to ensnare it"s victims"

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A giant, fire breathing dragon of Greek myth, taller then a mountain, with serpentine arms and legs, bird wings, and 9, 50, or 100 snakelike heads whose eyes blaze fire. He was eventually overcome by Zeus in the Battle of the Titans and imprisoned in Tartarus, deep beneath t.

Aetna, where his convulsions are said to cause typhoons. On Echinda, he fathered such monsters as Cerberus, the Chimera, the Hydra, the Sphinx, the Nemean Lion, and the vulture/eagle that ate Prometheus" liver."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


U



"A giant, winged water-serpent of Tennesee and the Carolina"s. It bears a precious gem upon its horned head, but no one can take it, for the monsters very breath is deadly to all creatures."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A monstrous flying serpent of Japanese legend, sometimes portrayed with wings, sometimeswithout. It flew down and scooped up human victims in its enormous jaws, until it was slain by the hero Yegara-no-Heida."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


V



"A peculiarly French variation of the Wyvern, depicted as a dragon with the head and breasts of a beautiful woman. She sees by means of a ruby, garnet, or diamond, set between her blind eyes. This magickal gem is coveted by sorcerers, who attempt to steal it while she is sleeping or bathing.

The vouivre inhabits mountainous regions, lurking behind ruined castles or monasteries, where she guards hoards of treasure. She will only attack a clothed person, so the best defense is to strip naked, whereupon she will flee."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


W



"a serpentine water-monster in the traditions of the Algonquin and Maliseet-Passamaquoddy Indians of the eastern United States. It is variously described as a giant worm, a stag-antlered water-serpent, a great spiny sturgeon, or a crocodilian sea monster with huge horns.

It lurks in rushing waters, such as waterfalls, rapids, and whirlpools. Its horns contain all its power, conferring great courage and magick upon anyone who can manage to take scrapings of them."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"A common term for evil serpentine dragons in regions of the British Isles that were settled by Vikings a millennium ago. Worms inhabit foul, dank, places, such as boggy marshes, fetid lakes, and wells. They prefer hidden lairs near swamp lakes that connect with the sea at high tide, thus allowing these monsters to pass from one environment to the other. Their heads are like those of dragons or horses, with huge bulging eyes, great fangs, and often horns."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Wyvern

"A kind of flying serpentine dragon with bat wings, two avian hind legs, with eagle talons, and a long barbed tail. Basically, it resembles a Pterosaur, such as ramphohynchus. One variant is the Sea-Wyvern, which has the tail of a fish. Wyverns have been described as the largest form of dragon, able to prey on such huge creatures as elephants and rhinos.

In heraldry, the wyvern symbolizes war, pestilence, envy, and viciousness. The default coloration of a heraldic wyvern is green with a red chest, belly, and under-wings."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


X


Y



"Rather unique Chinese dragons with fur instead of scales, and usually with feathered wings as well. They are guardians of the waters of the Earth and the clouds of the heavens."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007



"In Chinese mythology, a dragon with the fins and tail of a fish. Originally a celestial carp, it is transformed after leaping the Dragons Gate waterfall and flying to heaven. It represents high aspirations and success in examinations."

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, "A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash "LeopardDancer" DeKirk" New Page Books, 2007


Z

 


Books and Sources:
Flight of Dragons-By Peter Dickinson.

 

Dragons A Natural History - By Karl Shucker.

 

~Source: Literature- Zell Ravenheart, Oberon, “A Wizards Bestiary/by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash “LeopardDancer” DeKirk” New Page Books, 2007

 

~Source: (Literature- Rovin, Jeff, “The Fantasy Almanac” E.P. Dutton Paperbacks / New York, 1979)