Magnadraca niantalis|Nian Grand Drake
The Nian Grand Drake, or also called Temple Drakes or Thorn Tails, are a mid sized drake of the Magnadraca genus. No where near the size of its close, now extinct, cousins the Emperor Dragon and the Greater Dragon, smaller than the Winged Drake, but definitely bigger than its closest relative, the Three Tailed Drake. About 12 meters in length from the head to the base of the tail, with a tail very close to the same length. What separates the Thorn Tail from the Great Dragons is namely size and the fact that all Thorn Tails lack an ability to communicate with humans through spoken language.
Thorn Tails are known as Temple Drakes due to the fact that the Nian temples monasteries outside of cities often have Thorn Tails living on the grounds, with the monks/priests/priestesses caring for these drakes. Despite their fierce appearance, Thorn Tails are some of the most peaceful drakes of all, especially considering these Temple Drakes are still considered wild animals, and that they've just formed a symbiotic relationship with their caretakers. It has been documented, however, that due to their lack of vocal communication, one of these drakes may form a deep connection to their caretaker(s), and the two somehow communicate otherwise. Scientists argue that these drakes are just highly intelligent, and are picking up on emotional or chemical cues. The caretakers argue that it is a sacred and spiritual gift from the gods to both the drake and the human caretaker, and a spiritual and unbreakable bond is formed between the two. To those who know the truth about this kind of bond, they believe it is a replacement for the power and connection to dragons that the legendary(typically believed to be mythical by the general population) dragonlords held, and these drakes formed the connection themselves in order to remain after the disappearance of the dragonlords, when their cousins Great Dragons left/died out.
Thorn Tails are omnivores, though prefer fish and meat. Thorn Tails have been living with humans so long that true wild hunting techniques are unknown, and their original diet obscured, but it is commonly accepted that they were once strictly fish eating dragons. The purpose of the spiked, semi-whip like tail, is believed to have been for, obviously, defense/fighting, but also possibly as a way to quickly skewer fish.
The tail is also seen to have another use, however. Thorn Tails will use their powerful, and even deadly, tails in a bonding ritutual, where two drakes will gently intertwine their tails. It's a sign of strong friendship between two drakes, and is apparently comforting to them, more or less their way of telling each other that everything is gonna be alright. Temple Drakes will do a similar ritual with a human caretaker, by even more so gently and carefully wrapping their tail around the human's hand.
Thorn Tails are known as Temple Drakes due to the fact that the Nian temples monasteries outside of cities often have Thorn Tails living on the grounds, with the monks/priests/priestesses caring for these drakes. Despite their fierce appearance, Thorn Tails are some of the most peaceful drakes of all, especially considering these Temple Drakes are still considered wild animals, and that they've just formed a symbiotic relationship with their caretakers. It has been documented, however, that due to their lack of vocal communication, one of these drakes may form a deep connection to their caretaker(s), and the two somehow communicate otherwise. Scientists argue that these drakes are just highly intelligent, and are picking up on emotional or chemical cues. The caretakers argue that it is a sacred and spiritual gift from the gods to both the drake and the human caretaker, and a spiritual and unbreakable bond is formed between the two. To those who know the truth about this kind of bond, they believe it is a replacement for the power and connection to dragons that the legendary(typically believed to be mythical by the general population) dragonlords held, and these drakes formed the connection themselves in order to remain after the disappearance of the dragonlords, when their cousins Great Dragons left/died out.
Thorn Tails are omnivores, though prefer fish and meat. Thorn Tails have been living with humans so long that true wild hunting techniques are unknown, and their original diet obscured, but it is commonly accepted that they were once strictly fish eating dragons. The purpose of the spiked, semi-whip like tail, is believed to have been for, obviously, defense/fighting, but also possibly as a way to quickly skewer fish.
The tail is also seen to have another use, however. Thorn Tails will use their powerful, and even deadly, tails in a bonding ritutual, where two drakes will gently intertwine their tails. It's a sign of strong friendship between two drakes, and is apparently comforting to them, more or less their way of telling each other that everything is gonna be alright. Temple Drakes will do a similar ritual with a human caretaker, by even more so gently and carefully wrapping their tail around the human's hand.