This page is donated by Sha'uri T.W.A. Adaron, resident Guardian and school teacher for Ravensheart Academy. Any questions may be directed towards her.
Dragon Species: Soul Dragons
Treasures: Varied.
Locations: Anywhere and in any Plane or even in between.
Alignment: Any. Temporarily Lawful Neutral when acting as Guardian to escort a soul to their afterlife.
Encountered: Extremely rare, even mythological
Soul Dragons are a unique and versatile species. They are unlike any other dragon breed, yet they can potentially have attributes from any dragon in existence. They can breed with any sentient species but will always retain their dragon self, which is a reflection of their own spirit.
Forms: Soul dragons don't have any one particular dragon form as a race. Some may simply look like one species of dragon, or perhaps another. Others might look like various combinations. It all depends on the individual personality and perhaps even their spirit.
It is unknown if there is a limit to how many dragon types a Soul Dragon will contain as themselves. It is speculated that there is a limit of some sort. The most recorded are four dragon types.
Reproduction: They are usually born as the species type represented by the mother.... i.e. humanoid types = babies, draconic types = hatchlings, feline = litter of kitties, etc... It's all up to the mother and which form she is in during birth.
The offspring remain as this form until puberty when the dragon self develops to come full bloom and their true selves are realized, if it is realized and developed at all. So one born as a black dragon could later develop into a cross between a black, gold and opal. Each one is unique.
Soul dragons rarely have more then one or two pregnancies on average. The more offspring they have in one pregnancy, the less likely they are to have another pregnancy. This, and the fact that very few Soul dragons develop to be their Soul dragon forms, would lead to their extreme rarity. Many worlds are unaware of their presence or deem them merely a myth.
Development: Once a Soul Dragon has discovered their individual dragon form, if they discover it at all, it is not something that changes. It becomes part of their DNA. Example: a Soul dragon born as a half elf will have traces of draconic DNA but the specifics are inconclusive. When their Soul dragon side develops to take on, for example: the red, platinum and black dragon attributes, then the DNA of Red, Platinum and black dragons become apparent and a permanent part of them.
The same thing applies for breath weapons... Soul dragons take on attributes of their dragon form. So for one that is a mix of red, platinum and black ... breath weapons would be any and/or all of Fire, Ice, Electricity and Acid.
Developing a Soul Dragon has been linked to a spiritual awareness, a self analysis and acceptance to be dragon, which triggers its growth. Sometimes dire situations of self preservation can also trigger it, though it has never been known in children.
Still, some Soul dragons don't know they are one until they are pushed in a situation that forces their draconic natures to spring forth. These situations are of an extreme nature. Most Soul Dragon adults never learn, never know, or refuse to harness their draconic abilities, though they do pass it along to their offspring.
The Soul dragon self never diminishes its presence because of any breeding with non Soul Dragons. So twenty generations later, a lineage can simply spring forth with a Soul Dragon as a result of breeding that occurred twenty generations ago.
It is theorized that a soul dragon had something to do with the evolution of dragons, perhaps even the creation. Maybe they were the first.. Perhaps all dragons were like them at one time. Some have speculated that Soul Dragons were an influence in the evolution of Dragons in general based on the fact that Soul dragons take on other dragon aspects and that all dragons can shape shift in some way, which is far more prevalent in a Soul Dragons then in any other type. Perhaps it is why they can be like any kind of dragon. Perhaps it is other dragons who have developed into the Soul Dragon, creating the Soul Dragon as a new race. Evidence to any of this is inconclusive.
Shape Shifting: Soul Dragons can shape shift to anything that is comparably the same size or up to 95% bigger or smaller then themselves at the time they shift. They shift on the molecular level, which means their DNA shifts to reflect the change. The Exception is the shifting into an inanimate object.
Example: A Soul Dragon who is born a half elf will have DNA of a Half Elf or any other species in their lineage, plus some traces of Draconic qualities. When their dragon self develops, their DNA reflects this, shifting DNA to include their dragon self (example: it will contain specifics of a red, black, platinum if that is what their form is).
The DNA then shifts whenever they shape shift, reflecting respectively the dominant form. Example: When in half elf form, the DNA for a half elf will show more predominantly, while the draconic side remains diminished. When in dragon form the opposite occurs, showing the draconic side to be dominant species and the half elven side to diminish.
Shifting to non living matter is possible although it first requires training. It also causes a serious drain to them and most can't hold this for more then a few hours, though some tales say a day. It is something they must spend time to develop with serious efforts. They must then rest for twice as long as they held it... example: rest for two after holding the form for an hour.
They can naturally walk through walls by becoming part of the wall or object to pass, sifting their molecules through the wall to reform on the other side. This must also be learned and studied before attempting.
Magical Aspects: Soul Dragons can harness soul magics with little effort. They see magic and can weave it in ways most study for years to accomplish. They are sorcerers in that once they are able to cast a spell, they never have to study it again, yet they are with the abilities of Wizards in the variety, power and versatility of their spells and often can create new spells or variations of other spells.
They can also avoid some magics by sifting between the weave of magic itself and/or shifting themselves to other planes of existence or even in between them. However they must have time to concentrate on it and they must practice to develop meticulous use in a swift manner. This means they are able to navigate not only themselves but can learn to bring others through the Nexus while most are at the mercy and whim of it.
Other Abilities: They can breath in anything.. water, poison gases, lava, vacuum of space, the Abyss, etc... much like the magical Necklace of Adaptation does for others. This is an automatic adaptation once the individual realizes and accepts they are what they are, a Soul Dragon.
Some are chosen or choose to be Guides or Guardians for the very recently departed souls of others, helping them navigate in between the planes and up the Great Stairs to their final resting destinations wether that be Heavens or Hells. They are bound to make sure the departed are brought to their proper resting places if the departed are bound to these places. Not every spirit goes willingly. In this role, they are always lawful neutral in the task so that if a soul is contracted to a deity, the soul is then delivered accordingly.
Soul Dragons can also call back the departed if they are able to heal the body whole by whatever means. This can only be done if the soul is not under contract with another Deity and the soul wishes to come back. They do not need the help of a deity to call back the dead, although they do need to know something about the one they call back, like a name, a place of birth or death, or simply have any portion of the body that contains their DNA.
Because Soul Dragons can shape shift, they can effectively mimic others with practice, though they can't change their eye colors from their own natural ones by shifting. They can use spells to do this.
They also have an innate ability to heal others, temporarily taking on the others wounds to themselves in a trade of sorts, leaving the subject healed while the dragon swiftly heals themselves of the wounds that were once the subjects. This is exceptionally draining and can sometimes be dangerous for the dragon. Sometimes other means are best used first or else only a partial healing should be done and rest in between before attempting to heal again anyone who needed more healing energy then the dragon had to give. Ignoring this rule will bring death to the dragon.
Immunities: Sleep, charm, mind control effects, most poisons. Atmospheric pressure fluxuations, Example: planet side vs extremely deep water vs void of space. They adapt. Plus special immunities granted by the individual dragon forms embraced.
((Note, should anyone be interested in playing a Soul Dragon, please contact me prior to this. I don't want just anyone playing one. It's not an open type of Species/Race. Thanks for your understanding and respect.))
