A Treatice on the Draconic Inhabitants of Sindara

Written and Published by Alctios Firestand, Archmage of the Royal Mystic University in Argendale

Physically, the planet Sindara bears many similarities with own. We orbit the same sun, both have two moons, most of the planet is covered in watery oceans, similar atmospheres, etc. etc. This volume is not about the planet itself (although if you are more intrested in the geology and natural history of the two worlds, the book of my colleague, Wester Kynes, is an... adequate text), but its people.

Exploration and research of Sindara are extremely difficult due to the planet's magical nature which prevents any spellcaster who is not of Dragonblood from using magic there. This naturally includes portal spells which are required to be cast in two different locations at the same time. As such, only the most powerful wizards, those of Dragonblood, can even hope to create a portal to Sindara, and portal spells are already very difficult.

Because of this, the information in this book, although the most complete compilation of research on Sindara to date, is still to be considered incomplete as I have had little opportunity to explore the planet myself. However, in the case of even theoretical travel to the other world, this volume should be considered an indispensable aid.

Back when portals occurred naturally, dragons and humans were able to pass freely, on occasion, between the two planets. At some point, somebody cast a fertility spell, and humans and dragons interbred, creating a race of half-dragons. In humans today, this manifests only as the Dragonblood, a bloodline of the most powerful sorcerers. On Sindara, half-dragons make up almost the entire population, with true dragons on the verge of extinction (though being biologically immortal and powerful beyond measure, they aren't expected to ever completely go extinct).

Humans first interbred with different species of dragon creating four different races: drakes, elemental dragons with which humans are generally most familiar with; lungs, by far the longest-lived and most magically adept of the races; coatls, feathered serpents who claim divine lineage; and sea-serpent, said to be the most powerful military force on the planet owing to their vast oceanic population. Of all the true dragons of Sindara, two species never had any recorded sexual relations with humans, zmey and hydras. Both are extremely aggressive, even compared to drakes which have attacked our world multiple times (that said, during my travels I did hear of a rumor that a multi-headed half-dragon inhabits the most remote regions of mountainous wilderness. Barring some magically infused mutant, it's possible that this individual, if he or she exists, could be the child of a human and one of the aforementioned species). Other lesser dragonkin, like wyrms and wyverns, are also quite abundant on Sindara, but they are dumb beasts with whom humans have never copulated.

Sindaran half-dragons vary greatly in appearance, from nearly indistinguishable from a human save for patches of scaly skin and pointed ears, to hulking titans nearly indistinguishable from true dragons save their human faces. But these are extremes, most contain a mixture of human and dragon traits. Drakes in particular are even more diverse as each one is associated with an element (or rarely a mineral) from which they draw power.

You may be shocked to learn (like I was admittedly) that very few Sindarans have wings. Even fewer possess a breath weapon. This is because Sindaran women can reproduce asexually, a process called parthenogenesis. However, there are two caveats to this process, the first of which is that all offspring of this method are female. The second caveat is that certain traits, such as wings and breath weapons can only be passed down by a male parent. This means that females greatly outnumber males, but the power which dragons are known for is rare throughout the general population. Of the four half-dragon races, lungs never have wings anyway. Male-born bloodlines among lungs manifest as a connection to the weather, the rivers, and the seasons.

Since all dragonkin are long lived and have slow reproductive cycles, they are less common on Sindara than we humans are on our own world. Furthermore, depending on the time you visit, you may find that the entire population is women. This is because the males' metabolisms require them to hibernate for long periods, up to 25 years at a time. When they awake, they compete with one another (usually but not always in direct combat) for dominance and the right to a harem of women with whom they are allowed to procreate. Harems can be large, but the number of openings is limited, so only the most desirable women are chosen. This means that between mating cycles, Sindaran women are all competing with one another for a place in a harem. Some take ups artistry, music, or crafting and work to produce a single, legendary piece in their lifetime. Others enhance their innate magical talents to become the most powerful sorceress. One of school of training is known as the "lovers' arts," where women hone their sexual skills to utmost perfection. Some still partake in dangerous, arduous quests to complete great feats or unearth vast treasures to make a name for themselves and earn the attention, and therefore breeding rights, of a male.

As with human sorcerers and sorceresses, the saturation of magic in Sindaran blood means they are all considered extremely beautiful or handsome by human standards...

A portal storm, a phenomenon which hasn't been seen on Sindara, or any world for that matter, for hundreds of years. All over the planet, portals are opening to the human homeworld Cadionia, and possibly others.

Wherever you might have been, whoever you are, you were swept up by a portal and deposited on Sindara. It is a dangerous world where dragons and half-dragons exist in place of your people, and most of the wildlife in fact. Huge reptilian predators hunt the skies, waterways, and lands of this world in search of easy prey. Vicious, but beautiful bandits will threaten to waylay you on the road and will harm you if they can. All the male dragons are deep in hibernation, but that might change soon.

For now, the population is made up almost entirely of women. However you handle your situation will determine whether they see you as an enemy, a friend, or if your lucky, perhaps even a lover. Now go on, there's a planet to explore, but first...