I have received those magnificent pieces of art and composed them into a refsheet a long time ago, but somehow ended up being reluctant to post it. Yet finally, I have decided it's high time to introduce one of my canon characters, as well as some tidbits of dragon lore to go with the breathtaking artwork of Danero I am proud to present to you all.

Tharumiil Lornax Nareigos is a dragon whose story is one of turning away from secluded, peaceful life in primeval lands and a journey to willingly embrace civilized society welcoming enough to take him in. His size and lifespan, setting him quite far apart from regular dragons roaming the world in already scarce numbers, is a gift granted to him by his lineage - as expressed in his three-part Elderblood's name. Born on remote Talal-Uxi Islands to an Elderblood mother, fathered by a common dragon, Tharumiil found himself in an era when magic was almost gone, living mostly in history save for a few exceptional individuals. In spite of that, the heritage of the ancient Nareigos bloodline was strong in him, reflected in the regal, remarkably resilient plate-clad body, massive wings and numerous elegant frills. Even though he wasn’t a pureblood, he still retained an affinity to the vital Life-attuned energies that was a hallmark of his ancestry, as well as the powerful, yet composed mind.

The calm life on the islands that bore minimal traces of civilization was pleasant to Tharumiil in his youngling years, but as he grew and learned of the world’s history and ancient dragon memories from his mother, his curiosity and demand for intellectual stimulation could no longer be sated by the simplicity of life in the wilderness. The Elderblood part of his nature craved more than the thrill of the hunt, warmth of the summer sun and serenity of soaring over the seas. A routine lacking nuance simply bored him already in his eighties, an age that would be still considered young for his kind. Scattered residents of the islands got to know of the dragon and after initially being uneasy with his presence, learned about his rather docile (but by no means timid) nature. Some were inclined to idolize him as a primitive local deity of sorts, yet he scoffed at such a label, finding it born of ignorance. Youthful curiosity of Tharumiil brought the superstitious people of Talal-Uxi closer to the population of the few dragons scattered among inaccessible rocky monoliths rising from the sea, once seen by the locals as forbidden areas.

It was not an uncommon occurrence to see travellers and tradespeople on various voyages making a stop by the islands to rest or resupply. Those who have made the journey quite a few times knew from the fishermen and shepherds of the amicable dragons that lived there, often spotted in the skies. One of those times, a Falx courier (a sentient bird-like species) who possessed the basic knowledge of Draakin, the simplified and more universal version of many dialects of dragon speech, decided to approach one of the famed beasts, feeling adventurous. He came to a rocky perch, visibly modified to serve as a dragon’s overlook, trying his luck. He knew that the locals had claimed that a dragon living there sometimes healed minor ailments in exchange for offerings. By the evening, he was met by Tharumiil returning from his flight. Startled, yet maintaining his composure, the courier managed to entertain the dragon with the prospect of a conversation in a familiar language.
Thus, Tharumiil learned of the continent beyond, one that he had seen the shores of on his most distant flights. It was called Sorincar and, according to the Falx, dominated by a developed nation that held dragons in uniquely high esteem. The more the young semi-Elderblood heard about the society of the Kandhras-Aen, the more his interest was piqued. With a blessing from his mother, who was keen on seeing him make a name in the world for himself, Tharumiil decided to take the journey. He initially ended up staying in the Kandhaeris town of Veemera, learning of the local culture and customs. Six years since his arrival, a travelling scholar let him know that Linshtarei Kheliar Telrimaas, the Elderblood mistress of the grand city of Audrigamena, was his blood-kin, her mother Inciraxia also belonging to the Nareigos line. Excited to hear those news, Tharumiil went to meet his relative and learned a lot about her dedication to building a prosperous future for the Kandhras-Aen, who were their loyal hosts and followers of dragon teachings. Filled by his pursuit of purpose, he made his healing abilities bestowed by the affinity to Life magic be known, soon receiving an invitation to the Academy of Medical Arts in the major city of Dalgorius.

His understanding of anatomy and the nature of vital energy transmission in living bodies proved to be of immeasurable value, raising him to the status of one of academy’s mentors in just a few years. Given a role he was glad to fulfill, Tharumiil decided to settle down. His renown only grew as his unique abilities allowed him to save a few high-profile Kandhras-Aen who suffered injuries untreatable with contemporary medical knowledge, like spinal fractures. He used his gift in moderation, conscious of his limitations, even though numerous cases where he had to refuse help took a toll on his more cheerful demeanor as he aged, making his moods more toned down. Being a dragon, Tharumiil was certainly emotionally resilient, yet he refused to engage in deeper bonds with others. It wasn’t because of scorn he held for “lesser” species, to the contrary – he highly respected many he had the pleasure to maintain ties to. It was the awareness that he would almost certainly outlive his friends that made investing himself into any relation too taxing to attempt.

That’s it for the story part. It was simplified to a readable format to the best of my ability, trying to keep the amount of references to obviously unknown concepts in check. Tharumiil is a good example of how I imagine a dragon’s contact with civilization taking a positive turn. He does carry some of the Elderbloods’ powerful traits, but still remains quite humble in manifesting his draconic pride. Strong-willed, but not free of internal struggles, he definitely displays the more benevolent side of dragonkin. In my lore dragons are highly individualistic, so while they behave rather neutrally as a baseline, their unique personalities heavily affect the kind of interactions they have with other species.

This truly inspiring art was a fantastic display of talent by  Danero, especially given the time when it was created (May 2018). He did justice to what I imagine as a canon portrayal of a semi-Elderblood Dragon, with all the traits showing wisdom, regal beauty, physical toughness – all in all, a sight to behold. I just simply can’t praise it enough, looking forward to cooperating on more exceptional pieces like this one ^.=.^

Artwork belongs to the artist, Danero , while the character, Tharumiil, is owned by yours truly. I am also responsible for the composition of the refsheet itself. Added value, yay!