Another paired creature (like the H'rost and H'nagg)

The Dragles were the original creations of Attensie. They were wise and noble. Giants even to the Ashtains (who stand between 8 and 10 feet high). They came in a variety of colors; the most common being earth tones (greens, browns, blues) the rare being "rainbow" colors (purple, red, yellow) and the most rare being white, silver and gold.
They lived mainly during the times of the Ashtains and helped them in the war against the Zaracks and can grow to be as large as a small town (approx. 150 ft. long and 200-250 ft. wide -- yes, I know that's huge)
For a time they lived in the mountains in both North and South Ashta, but when the Days of Darkness came they left Ashta and flew north. Above the Zarack/Izang and dwelt among the mountains of Hokotanama.
They could be compared to a griffin. They have a bird's head (an eagle) with a lion-like body and legs. It's wings sit right behind and slightly above the shoulder. It has a lizard's tail. The entire creature is covered with razor-sharp feathers. Metal in look (making the shiny!) and able to cut someone.

Their beak makes it hard for them to talk, but they do speak the language of the Ashtains (with horrible grammar and accents).


The Craegons are very similar to the Dragles (much like the H'rost and H'nagg). But the Craegon are able to speak.
Craegon can only be black (tough at times a white one is born). the white Craegon are respected/revered by the rest and normally become leaders.



Both races keep to themselves most of the time. The only time they were use in battle was in the final battle between the Zarack and Ashtains. they wren't ridden into battle (their feathers caused that). But the creatures engaged in aerial attacks.
After the battle, the Dragle stayed in the mountains of North and south Ashta for a time, but soon migrated up to the Hokotanama. The Craegons were mostly wiped-out, but those that remained were kept in secret by the Zarack/Izang in the Land of Zara. To be used later in history.


I like both comments and questions!

Here are two of my favorite features:

I like how detailed the descriptions of your creatures are.

These are some pretty awesome--and big--sounding creatures. I wouldn't want to tangle with one of these. How can they be killed if they're so huge and their feathers are so hard?

eruheran

As of right now, they can only kill each other

I'm pretty sure neither the Zarack or Ashtains would have any counter weapon to them, since neither side knew the other was going to use them. The Dragles and Craegon were busy in the sky throughout most of the battle and only a few were ever able to dive into the fray.

These creatures sound really fascinating! Maybe they could have a weak spot on their body which is the only place you can hit them. (but the weak spot should be hard to get to.)

I like the idea of them having sharp feathers, but maybe not on their underside, that could be their weak spot.

Cannons? Or maybe your world doesn't have gunpowder yet, hmmm. Giant crossbows maybe? Like 50 ft. wide and shooting like 25 ft. quarrels. You would need some thick string though. Is there a difference in the two races other than coloring and speech? Even if they don't speak, do they still communicate?

I love both of these races. The only trouble in my mind is how in the world do they get airborn? What about their legs? are they like a lion's too, or lizards, or how?

Kk, here's everything I've got so far (including some previous information). I'll work on the Craegon later...


Genus: Durglenti
Species: Dragle
Size: Up to 100 ft. in length (not including the tail). Wingspan can reach up to 300 ft. depending on the length of the body (not including the tail). Their tail length cannot exceed the length of their body.

Physical Description: Bird's head (normally eagle) with a short neck and hooked beak. Long, non-retractable, clawed front feet like a lion's. Back legs like a lion's, larger and more muscled hips like a horse's. Lizard tail with rudder-like feathers at the end. Body like a lizard with thick ribs and strong shoulders. Extremely large wings located just over the shoulder. The outer (primaries) fold together in flight when the Dragle brings its wings forward.
Entire body is covered by sharp, metallic-like feathers that are sharp enough to cut someone. The feathers are varied in length; some small enough to be considered scales, some large enough to be used as sails for a ship.
The beak slowly grows a pattern as a Dragle gets older. This design is normally black unless they have a black beak. If the beak is black the design is in cream.

Colors: They came in a variety of colors; the most common being earth tones (greens, browns, blues) the rare being rainbow colors (purple, red, pink) and the most rare being white, silver and gold. Dragles cannot be black.
Most Dragles' eyes match the color of their body. Except for gold. Gold eyes signify that a Dragle is blind.
Dual-Colored: There have been a few, rare, multi-colored Dragles. One of significance was Intonix, son of Teztunsi. Intonix was gold and purple. He has purple eyes and the longer (flight) feathers are purple. The rudder feathers on his tail are also purple. The rest of him is gold.

Specific Features: Even though their feathers are sharp and like metal, they are not metal. They are the same weight and have the same features as normal feathers. They are not impenetrable. An arrow can still pierce them if shot at a close enough range.

Cultural Information: The Dragles name their children based on the design on their beak at hatch. As the design changes as they grow, the child's name changes as well.
The heir to their "king/ruler" is determined by these marks. Rulership is not passed down from father-to-son, but passed from one "mark" to the next. A ruler bears the special mark/design on their beak from birth. This design is also on their egg. Once the egg of the next ruler hatches custom holds that the current ruler will only live until the child comes of age (roughly 40-50 years or 480-600 yurga).
The Dragles speak both Varentil (the language of the Ashtains) and their native language (no name). When they speak Varentil it is with an extreme accent in which sounds involving the lips (p, b, f, ect.) are literally unspeakable.

Flight: A Dragle must either launch from a cliff or mountain side or take a running jump from land.
Cliff Take-Off: To take off from a cliff or mountain side, a Dragle first opens it's wings. It then launches off with it's hind legs away and little upwards from the edge. As soon as it begins to drop, the Dragle begins using it's wings to continue flight.
Land Take-Off: To take off from land is a lot harder because there is less air between the Dragle and the ground after it is air born (obviously). A Dragle (yet again) first opens its wings. They jump forward once, then spring from that landing and push down with their wings at the same time. The second flap is extremely important and if they don't time it right a Dragle will fall to the ground. This is why most Dragles attempt to only land on high(er) places.
Flight: While in flight a Dragle must maintain an almost consistent flapping. Once a Dragle reaches a certain height they can take "breaks" but when they do this they will slowly drop from the sky. This is also why when they first take off a Dragle will rise and drop consistently until they achieve this height. This (along with their sharp feathers) is why Dragles are unridable.