The Seven-Cities Kingdom proved to be the most capable of the kingdoms, and also in the position most apt for advancement. As they pressed southward they came upon the Halls of Iorin, which had been abandoned as the dragons fled from men, whom they now feared greatly. Iorin had disappeared from even among the dragons; few had any idea of his whereabouts.
The men razed the Halls of Iorin, and on their ruins they built the first of the Seven Cities, Okthin. (Actually, there is another story that the halls are hidden in the forests to the West, and that Okthin was founded far away, thus the halls were not razed at all). As more settlers arrived they founded Tomfie. Wizards began to differentiate themselves from the rest of society more distinctly, and seeking a place of quiet to practice their craft, the founded their own city of Thyron, which attracted wizards from far and wide, though many remained in the provinces. Furth was founded on the southern shores of the continent, a harbor city that sent settlers out onto the few islands outlying. One city was founded west of Okthin (name unknown).

The southern kingdom's close proximity to the dragon and vaeance remnants did precipitate wars. The dragons established their capital in the beautiful valley of Keya-Nol, founding Keya-Nol Churt. (Churt is the word for city, and a Keya-Nol, coming from the words for ten and flower, is a ten-petalled flower which grew in that valley). Men's borders continued to press on the flying beasts.

Eventually they could stand no further encroachment. The dragons and vaeances struck out hoping to move the borders of their empire away from their capital. However, men again proved stronger and pushed back the dragons initial onslaught, capturing the valley of Keya-Nol. An armistice was made in which the men kept their conquests. Thus ended the Second Dragon War.

Only a few more years passed before the dragons sought to regain their capital, but the war proved to be a war of attrition with neither side gaining ground and both losing lives. Peace was made, and thus ended the Third Dragon War.

After this, Aerykun returned from hiding in the Shadow Realm. He struck fastest at the North Kingdom, subduing it quickly by his awesome power and his armies. The men of the North became vassals and supported his garrison.

Kion, by now leader of the dragons and loyal vaeances, was rapidly losing support among the flying beasts. Many dragons and vaeances were fleeing to the mountains and wild lands, forsaking all bonds of government and brotherhood. He sought one last time to rejoin his fractured nation by war, and started the Fourth Dragon War. Again it appeared a stalemate, a result the dragons could not afford. Kion at last resorted to the use of his tongue over his breath, and arranged a treaty with the king of the Seven Cities.

So what are the dragons like as a race? Are they physically more like humans as well as clearly being sentient? What is a vaeance? I think it's neat that the winged creatures naturally relate to each other. Good history.

They were all sentient at one time, but over time their race has degenerated and their population shrunk immensely. Their civilization predates the arrival of men in the Red World by a few centuries, and they had a culture unique to themselves. So, except for their bodies, they were once fully human. But corruption led them into a sub-human, animal-like state for the most part. The first few generations of dragons had no genetic limitations on lifespan, so there is one second and one third generation dragon still alive to be contemporary with my novel.
Vaeances are a concept that may be on the outs in my world. I just wrote them out of my novel. They are like dragons, but smaller, an extra set of wings, a double tail, and forepaws. They were created to be a menace to all dragons, but some ultimately turned for the better. I am seriously considering scrapping them.

So are the older dragons still sentient or did they lose that too?

*loves this forum *

Older dragons that are still alive (i.e., both of them) can still speak, and are highly sentient. They can still use the magic-like abilities of dragons, and have a great many other benefits on the side. I am still working on what the population of dragons, speaking and non-speaking, is in the Red World, since I only have a few with highly important historical roles. I am sure the species exists, just not what the populations are like at contemporary time with my novel.

And Airi, is that to say you like RB, or the RW known as the Red World?