Of Dragons and Dracology: Cain – Vol. I

In my travels across various worlds, I have noticed a few common trends: dragons, magic and humans. The three groups always seem precariously balanced. Take my own world of Altreak, for example: humans and magic are prominent. Dragons, however, were waning, and I believe they would have become extinct had they continued to listen to their misguided, nostalgic leader.

On other planets, however, the balance may be skewed in a different direction. I came across such a place in my routine scan of studying magical advancements across the universe. I found what I considered to be an anomaly. While it is true that some planets and places lack magic entirely, this planet was not devoid of Mana. Magic itself was just…sorely underdeveloped. At least, that was what I thought at first. Human culture had advanced far enough to utilize steel, but developed technology was severely limited, and most humans lived in remote villages, far away from one another. They had yet to organize themselves into a civilization! How strange!

Still, I sensed errant magic in the atmosphere: despite how limited its presence was, it was there, and someone was using it. So I left the struggling humans behind and ventured into the untamed wilderness. In the verdant forests sprawling across the continent, I found the sources of the spells being cast: dragons! Dragons of varying degree of green scales! Some bore scales of a deep emerald, while others displayed colors of a brilliant lime. It seemed that these ‘forest dragons’ were the only practitioners of magic on the planet, and it also seemed that they were at war with the humans. Not wanting to take sides or affect events on a planet other than my own, I vaunted my neutrality and impartiality in their skirmishes with mankind. I only wished to learn what they knew, and make certain that they wouldn’t bring ruin to their world, as I had almost brought to mine.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I stumbled across yet another anomaly. Another landmass existed on this planet and yet, magic was almost entirely absent from it! Why was it beginning to take hold on one continent, but struggling to even exist on another? My curiosity, my dear readers, got the better of me, and unfortunately, it would cost me greatly.

I made the necessary preparations to teleport. I found, in my scrying, a creature – a familiar creature! A dragon! Unlike any of my previous encounters with them on this world, this dragon was brown in appearance, its scales the color of a dark, earthy clay. Given how I had already held conversations with other dragons on this planet, I assumed this new dragon would be willing to talk. I cast my spell, and blinked out of existence, only to reappear close to this newly discovered dragon. I began to introduce myself, but before I could even finish, I felt an agonizing pain in my abdomen. Much to my surprise, the dragon had skewered me with its claws, and with dexterity unbefitting of the creature’s great bulk, I was torn asunder, rent in two. My vision blurred, and finally darkened.

Yes, my readers, I died that day. Rather, I should have died, were I not so skilled a mage. I won’t give away all of my secrets, but I will tell you all that I was returned to my lab, my body and memories intact and whole. I had a full recollection of the event of my sudden demise. I was…more surprised than upset. The bulky, craggy dragon had acted with more speed than I had anticipated. I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice, however. I took a moment to cast twelve a few defensive spells upon myself, and I returned to the place of my death.

The dragon was surprised at my return, but rather than try to destroy me once more, it spoke to me, and asked me what I wanted. I learned the dragon was male, and he had a name for himself. Cain. He definitely had an air of superiority about him, and it was clear that Cain fathomed himself the apex lifeform. I wasn’t there to debate, but to study. Despite how arrogant the great brown dragon was, though, he agreed to let me study him and to answer some questions that I had. Though, let me tell you, my readers, Cain had quite the temper. He was quick to anger, a trait I soon learned was prevalent in his species of dragon. All dragons like Cain, dubbed earth dragons, were extraordinarily prone to sheer, unadulterated rage. But while this violent fury consumed and overpowered the minds of his brethren, a great and vast intelligence could be seen lurking behind the glowing eyes of this particular earthy behemoth.

Cain was easily larger than the forest dragons I had encountered earlier, by more than a few feet. I later learned that this was a characteristic common among all earth dragons, which made sense, given how Cain was prone to wander, rather than lurk amidst the trees of a vast woodland. Not only was Cain taller, he was bulkier. Thick and heavy, the dragon seemed akin to a walking mound of rocks. His scales were sturdy, powerful, protective. They weren’t very flexible, and afforded Cain bulwark from all but the most devasting attacks. I suspected that only another earth dragon could harm the great brown.

Cain’s teeth suggested that he was omnivorous, and the dragon threatened to devour me whole more than once in response to some of my more probing questions. Though he would initially tell me he only ate “food,” I finally got him to admit that he would eat any other creature or plant, alive or dead. His digestive system, no doubt, is brutal and efficient, and well prepared to process fresh or spoiled meals. Given his occupancy of an arid, rocky desert, he likely has little choice in the matter of when and what he consumes.

I was fortunate enough to learn a little about Cain himself. He had an intense hatred of magic, which is why he initially attacked me when I first showed up. This is only a guess, but I am assuming that this hatred stems from the fact that his scales can’t protect him from magical harm as well as they do from physical harm. Regardless, I was sure to explain what spells I was using in his presence, and how they wouldn’t affect him. I wanted to make sure that I avoided any further…accidents.

Cain has a sister, another earth dragon. But they seem to be feuding with one another. He growled and sneered at me when I tried to ask about her further, so I made sure to promptly drop the discussion and move onto another topic. His eyes were of particular interest to me, and I was rather fascinated with how they seemed to possess an after-glow… A brief, trail of light could be seen emanating from the crimson eyes when the dragon moved his head. Thick lenses protected the pupil, no doubt to assist with the pressures of flying in the skies above the earth. Despite being an earth dragon, Cain did possess wings – wings capable of flight, despite his heavy form! Still, the dragon preferred walking to flying, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a trait common among all earth dragons.

Fortunate enough to still have my life, I thanked Cain for allowing me to study him. This will likely be my only written article on Cain and earth dragons, as he forced me I promised to not interfere with his planet’s affairs or the development of its magic. Given everything I’ve observed, however, it is my sole recommendation that you, my dear readers, should avoid any and all contact with Cain. Or with any other earth dragon, for that matter. Dangerous and powerful, they certainly are apex predators, dragons deserving of respect and fear. If you should happen to find yourself in the presence of an earth dragon, short of a miracle, death is assuredly your only option.


An amazing and bewildering gift from  Danathius Aers of the hulking brown, done by one of my all-time favorite artists  Rhos. If you haven't checked her gallery out, you're doing yourself a great disservice. As always, she did amazing work and took great care with the design of Cain and I can't say nearly enough good things about her and this piece. The reference reminds me of something out of some arcane bestiary, and I figured who better to pen such an entry than the annoying mage Danathius Aers himself, who I am grateful was generous enough to both snag me this awesome piece and be willing to write us a look into Danathuis's scholarly findings. Be certain to check his page out as well, his own blurbs on his countless commissions having inspired me to do the same.