Common Draglet

An uncommon species of miniature dragon, draglets resemble and are often mistaken for their cousins, the Pseudodragon, however there are several notable physiological differences to mark them apart. The most obvious of these differences is that draglets lack the infamous stinger on the end of their tail, however they tend to have stockier bodies and be fractionally larger overall. Whilst pseudodragons display a vast array of colourful patterns, draglet hides tend to be less elaborate; their scales are typically monochromatic, though some individuals can display subtle variations of hue and vibrancy, whilst the skin on their bellies commonly sports a very subtle pattern of diamonds and/or stripes. By contrast to this, however, the skin of their wings and neck frills are often resplendent with intricate geometric or fractal patterns that can almost seem holographic or animated.

For most chromas of Draglet, mating happens around midwinter, leading to an average clutch of between two and five eggs being laid by early spring, and the expectant parents will dote on their own clutches, taking turns to incubate them, and defending them vigorously at all times. A highly social species that often inhabit large communal nests, it's common for different draglet partners to lay their clutches close to each other, and have been observed to show care for neighbouring clutches; especially if a clutches parents are unwell or have suffered a tragedy, making a hatching ground particularly hazardous for the unwary wanderer.

Incubation lasts approximately two months, with some minor variation due to chroma and climate, but gestation of the infant draglets lasts longer; late-winter clutches generally hatching around mid-summer. The young hatchlings have short tails and necks, and only vestigial wings, but they have sharp teeth and claws already, and are surprisingly strong, but completely scaleless. At first, their skin is almost universally a greenish pink colour, but will that begin to change after a couple of days, slowly shifting into their adult colours as their scales begin to develop and their wings grow out. Draglet chicks are notably voracious, and need a high protein diet of regurgitated bugs and other tiny creatures, the harvesting of which is a full time job for the parents, and can cause them to lose significant weight from malnutrition, though again, the draglet social structure would lead to other draglets, especially the relatives of a clutches parents, to assist with feeding if the parents are struggling to find enough food.

Around one month old, draglet chicks will have matured significantly, from little more than three inches long to nearly fully grown in just a few weeks, and whilst still flexible, they will have attained their adult coverage of scales. Most notably, at this point the skin of their wings will begin developing the beautiful patterns they are known for, and they will start to stretch and exercise them regularly. By mid autumn, the chicks will have reached their full adult growth, be flying short distances, and will start preparing for the approaching mating season by gorging on food and practicing their singing, ready to begin the cycle anew.

Draglets generally live for about 80 years in the wild, though they can live far longer if cared for properly. They will mate every year until their mid twenties, at which point they will begin mating less frequently until they stop at around 40 years. Draglets tend to form strong bonds of partnership, and it is rare for a draglet to mate with a different partner when a previous one is alive, but it's not unheard of. Prismatic draglets seem more predisposed to polyamorous partnerships, whilst metallic draglets seem least likely to have more than one partner, or to engage in partnerships between individuals of the same gender. Whilst it is believed they share a common ancestor, draglets and pseudodragons are not capable of interbreeding, instead seeming to show utter disdain for one another most of the time, but becoming especially aggressive towards each others clutches and hatchlings.

Some researches believe the number and thickness of a draglet's belly stripes relates to that individual's age, and can be used to 'date' them, as with the rings on a tree, however, solid evidence for this has yet to be provided by reliable sources.

The Different Chromas of Draglet.

There are three families of draglet; the chromatics, the metallics, and the prismatics (or gem draglets). Each of these families contains one chroma of draglet for each of the ten elements; Acid, Cold, Fire, Force, Lightning, Necrotic, Poison, Psychic, Radiant, and Thunder, for a total of 30 chromas of draglet, however, the exact hue of a draglet's scales will vary based on its parentage, and the colours of any belly or wing patterns can be distinct from those of its scales.

1. Chromatic Draglets.

Chromatics are easily the most common draglet, and there may well be as many chromatics as there are metallics and prismatics counted together. These draglets are known for their boundless energy and enthusiasm, but they are prone to being overwhelmed by their emotions. Whilst chromatics are more common than other draglets, encounters with them are the least common to be reported due to their ability to almost vanish when hiding, and they're renowned for being the stealthiest chroma.

Chroma.         Element.           Favoured Environment.                                                     
Black               Acid                  Shadows / darkness
Blue                 Lightning          Sea water / fresh water / saline / running water
Brown             Necrotic            Sewage / bogs / swamps / damp rotting matter
Green              Poison              Dense foliage / brambles / briars / thickets
Grey                 Thunder           Mist / fog / clouds / rain
Orange            Force                Pebbles / gravel / shale
Purple             Psychic             Coins / gemstones / buttons
Red                  Fire                    Fire / lava / burning coals
White              Cold                   Ice / snow / sleet / hale
Yellow             Radiant             Sand / loose dry earth

2. Metallic Draglets.

The second most common of the chromas are the metallics, but also the ones the general population will be most familiar with, as these magically dense draglets are the most likely to become familiars to arcanists. Indeed, they delight in being around magical phenomena of all kinds, and wild metallics are most easily found in proximity to known elementally attuned areas, especially areas that contain a portal or other direct connection to their matching Elemental Plane.

Chroma.         Element.           Favoured Spells.                                                                 
Bronze            Lightning          Absorb Elements & Sanctuary
Copper            Acid                  Grease & Tasha's Caustic Brew
Electrum        Psychic             Charm Person & Dissonant Whispers
Gold                Fire                    Charm Person & Hellish Rebuke
Iron                 Thunder            Absorb Elements & Thunderwave
Iridium            Radiant             Cure Wounds & Guiding Bolt
Mercury         Poison               Bane & Ray of Sickness
Osmium         Force                 Color Spray & Shield
Polonium       Necrotic            False Life & Inflict Wounds
Silver              Cold                   Armor of Agathys & Sleep

3. Prismatic Draglets.

The prismatics, also sometimes known as gem draglets, are easily the rarest chroma, despite being far more likely to be encountered than the chromatics. Indeed, reports of encounters with prismatics are as frequent, if not more so, than metallics, as they are by far the most curious and social of the chromas. They have a reputation for being lucky, as their innate affability and utter lack of wariness and caution can lead them to being unexpectedly helpful, especially if they see a problem they can fix.

Chroma.         Element.           Favoured Skills.                                                                  
Amber             Force                Strength (Athletics)
Amethyst         Psychic            Dexterity (Stealth)
Citrine              Necrotic          Wisdom (Medicine)
Diamond         Radiant            Wisdom (Survival)
Emerald           Acid                 Charisma (Persuasion)
Garnet              Poison             Charisma (Deception)
Obsidian          Thunder           Charisma (Performance)
Opal                  Cold                 Intelligence (Investigation)
Ruby                 Fire                   Charisma (Intimidation)
Sapphire          Lightning         Dexterity (Acrobatics)