Dragon

Dragons (known as nelghor in orcish ) are immense, powerful, winged reptilian creatures, created from proto-dragons by the titans and keepers to safeguard the world of Azeroth millennia ago. They are divided into several types called dragonflights. Since the fall of Deathwing, they have lost their titan-given powers as well as the ability to reproduce. They still remain powerful sorcerers, however.

Name
Dragon is the name for these beings in the Common language. It's not confirmed what they call themselves in Draconic.

In Orcish, dragons are called nelghor, meaning "loyal beasts". The Dragonmaw clan originally used this word to refer to their rylak mounts on Draenor. After arriving on Azeroth, they applied the term to dragons as well. All orcs eventually came to refer to dragons as nelghor.

A female dragon is sometimes called a dragoness.

History
The proto-dragons were the ancestors of dragons before they evolved into the sapient, beautiful majestic creatures that they are known as today. Brann Bronzebeard recently uncovered evidence, corroborated by reports from adventurers in Deepholm, that proto-dragons and dragons may have originated from elemental drakes (i.e, stone dragons and storm dragons). Dragons share a common ancestry with both gryphons and wyverns, but it is unknown how far back they diverged.

Galakrond, a massive proto-dragon, is known as the "progenitor of dragonkind." It is said that it is from Galakrond the titans created the Aspects, but this is a rumor the Aspects actively encouraged so as to keep the truth about Galakrond a secret from the dragonflights.

At one time, their numbers were uncountable, but in present-day Azeroth there are very few left. Originally, there were many different dragonflights, with many different colors to be seen. The five most influential, however, were the reds, the greens, the bronze, the blacks, and the blues, and eventually most (if not all) of the other flights disappeared.

Chosen by the titans, each of the five dragonflights was given domain over a certain aspect of the world, ranging from the earth to time itself. During the War of the Ancients, the dragonflights sought to fulfill their duty and strike against the invading Burning Legion. Over time, the dragons have endured much hardship and only a handful still remain, hostile to all that may tamper with the titans' creations.



Second War
Dragons first appeared as a unit of the Old Horde in Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. They were described as such:

''Dragons are native to the untamed northlands of Azeroth. Reclusive by nature, Dragons have had little contact with their earthbound neighbors over the centuries. Rend and Maim, the Chieftains of The Black Tooth Grin clan, masterminded the capture of the Dragon Queen Alexstraza [sic] by the Dragonmaw clan. With their Queen held captive, these majestic creatures have been forced into subservience by the Horde - her progeny being raised by the Dragonmaw clan to slaughter the enemies of the Horde.''

''By combining their incredible destructive powers with a keen intellect, the Dragons represent the single most powerful force within the Horde. The devastating flame that issues forth from the mouths of older serpents can level any number of enemy troops, while their powerful wings allow them to tirelessly soar through the skies.''

Despite being depicted with green sprites, the dragons of Warcraft II were enslaved members of the red dragonflight as later lore developed.

In Beyond the Dark Portal the dragons of the Horde were being described as once having been enslaved but now continuing to feed upon humans, roosting at Blackrock Spire and being led by Deathwing. Later lore changed them to being willing members of the black dragonflight.

Third War
On some melee maps dragon roosts were available to buy dragons. The colors of the dragons varied depending on the tileset of the maps.

Dragonflights
{| width="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="table-layout:fixed;"
 * - valign="top"

Lesser

 * Nightmare dragonflight
 * }
 * Nightmare dragonflight
 * }
 * Nightmare dragonflight
 * }
 * }
 * }

Biology and culture
Although each dragonflight has its own unique characteristics, there are a number of traits shared by all dragons.

Physique
The older a dragon gets, the larger they grow. They have enough sexual dimorphism that it's possible to determine if they're male or female based on their appearance. Specifically, males have larger crests.

Dragons have keen senses far surpassing even those of high elves, including exceptional hearing, eyesight, night vision, and smell. They are able to recognize the scents of individual mortals, and some mortals even say that they can, within limitations, smell magic.

Dragons are covered in scales, but they're vulnerable at the back of the skull and can be killed if struck there. Dragon scale is an extremely strong and durable material, and very small amounts of it can go a long way in crafting. One of the few things capable of ripping through their scales are the beings' own claws. When a dragon shakes their body, their scales clatter rhythmically. They generally lose scales in the same way that other creatures lose fur. The exposed area eventually hardens and becomes new scales, but until then, the soft flesh is vulnerable to weapons and poison. Holding a scale or other part of a dragon supposedly grants a hold of their power, as expressed in a saying once heard by Rhonin: "To bear some bit of the greatest of leviathans is to have a hold on their power". Korialstrasz internally remarked that a gem he had magically fashioned from one of his scales bore properties that would've astounded any mage if they'd known how to cast "dragon magic", which few do.

Dragon blood is scarlet in color. Most animals can't tolerate ingesting dragon blood, with the notable exception of crocolisks, whose stomachs are protected like plate armor.

While the blue dragonflight are the ones most attuned to it, all dragons are "creatures of magic". As a result, draining the magic from them is even more lethal than plunging a sword through their throat. Dragons always keep various natural magical defenses about themselves.

Dragons are born to the sky. Despite their size, they can leap into the air with less effort than many other flying creatures, fly much faster than hippogryphs and most other creatures, and cover several miles in a matter of minutes. They can fly at least as high as Azeroth's, thousands of feet above the ground. Racing has always been a popular competition among dragons, and they play games where they maneuver through mountain ranges from the moment they can fly.

They are also skilled swimmers. Some are more born to the water than others, but even members of the red dragonflight—who are primarily creatures of the sky—can swim very well, and Korialstrasz had the ability to hold his breath for more than an hour.

Dragons do not need as much sleep as most races. They can slumber for minutes, days, or weeks at a time, depending on the circumstances. During some periods, the black dragon Sinestra went for more than a century without sleeping, though this is not normal for most of her kind.

At least some dragons can survive being submerged in lava, but only for a short time before burning to death. If gravely injured, red and black dragons can dive into lava and use its heat to revive themselves, but this is more the way of the black flight and is a very unpleasant experience for reds.

Behavior
Dragon minds are far more complex and advanced than those of the short-lived races. They think on a larger scale and can cope with sensory impressions that humans would find overwhelming, such as a spell to expand one's view in all directions.

Every dragon has a unique name; among them, "a name is granted to one and one alone". Most of the dragonflights have unique naming patterns, such as the suffix "-gos"/"-gosa" for blue dragons and "-strasz"/"-strasza" for reds.

A common draconic show of affection is to gently nuzzle each other. They can also hug each other by folding their wings around the other's body. They express respect or obeisance by bowing their heads (which can also be done as a polite greeting) and gratitude by sliding their tails back and forth. They prick up their ears when attentive and flatten them against their skulls when angered. Dragon cheers are described as sounding thrumming and musical, and their laughter is oddly sweet and bell-like. When fighting, they snap, hiss, and display their teeth and claws to each other. Despite being covered in scales, dragons visibly blush when they feel embarrassed.

Objects called oathstones are important to dragons as bonds of agreement.

Life cycle
Dragon is both the name for the race as a whole and the short title for the mature-aged dragon (aka "mature dragon"). Once a dragon has come of age, it is acceptable for them to choose a different gender identity than the one they were born with if they wish.
 * Whelp (whelpling)
 * Drake
 * Dragon (mature)
 * Wyrm

Reproduction
Since the fall of Deathwing during the Cataclysm, the main dragonflights have all lost the ability to lay eggs.

According to Sinestra, it was possible for dragons from different flights to interbreed, but the flights tended to keep strictly to their own kind due to tradition and prejudice.

When dragons could still reproduce, only half of all eggs ever hatched, and only half of those who hatched survived to adulthood—a harsh beginning to a life of wonder and glory. Dragon eggs can range from being the size of an elf's fist to being almost as large as one whole elf. Newly-laid eggs are smooth and nearly round. As they get closer to hatching, they take on an oval shape, and their shells become rough and scaly. At this point, they shine with a pulsing glow from within and have veins running through their thick shells. Dragons are already conscious while in their unhatched eggs.

Dragons from the same clutch of eggs refer to each other as "clutch brother"/"clutch sister" and are considered the closest of siblings. Dragons also use the term "my blood" for individuals they have close ties with; not just comrades or members of the same flight, but closer yet, such as clutch siblings or parents and offspring.

Death and afterlife
When dragons near the end of their lives, they fly to the Dragon Wastes in the center of the Dragonblight in Northrend to die and enrich the land with their passing. As a result, the Dragon Wastes are a place of powerful magical energies left by the spirits of the dead dragons, and some of their bones still hold this power. The taunka believe that this magic can be wielded by those that the dragons' spirits deem worthy. The reason they fly specifically to the Dragonblight is possibly because it is the site of Wyrmrest Temple and the Chamber of Aspects, where the Dragon Aspects were allegedly empowered by the Pantheon. Many choose to set their bodies close to the resting place of Galakrond, since he is (incorrectly) believed to have been the progenitor of dragons.

Kalecgos has variously thought of his own soul as "what passed for a dragon's soul" and "any soul one of his kind might have", implying that their souls are different in some way from short-lived races. Members of the blue dragonflight often stay near the Dragonblight to commune with the spirits of long-dead dragons.

As they are creatures of the sky, the Wild God Aviana considers dragons to be under her protection. Prior to the War of the Ancients, the souls of dragons who died were brought to Aviana's realm, the great tree G'Hanir in the Emerald Dream, to spend the afterlife alongside birds and other winged creatures. It's unclear if this is still the case; G'Hanir died alongside Aviana during the War of the Ancients, but she set out to restore the tree after her resurrection during the Cataclysm. Some dragons believe that the spirits of their dead kin "ascend" to the Chamber of Aspects. Zeryxia claimed that she could hear the voice of the deceased Sintharia whispering to her from "the Dark Beyond". After Ysera died, her soul was sent to the Shadowlands realm of Ardenweald to recover in a wildseed, while Sapphiron was summoned by Kel'Thuzad in the form of an undead dragon in Maldraxxus. Maldraxxus is also home to other undead dragons such as Xantuth the Blighted and the Rotwing Construct, but their origin is not stated.

Shapeshifting


Dragons have the innate ability to shapeshift into many different forms, primarily the various humanoid races. As evidenced by Alurmi, Wrathion, and some of Chronormu's appearances, they have this ability even when they are as young as whelps.

They shapeshift for a variety of reasons, the main one being that it is easier to communicate, work with, and live among mortals while wearing a mortal guise. When the Aspects first realized that dragons were destined to share Azeroth with the younger races, the timeways told them that they had to learn to live alongside them. As such, each of them took on a form to allow them to see the world as the young races do. The dragonflights keep disguised spies placed among each of the younger races, who (in the dragons' view) have a tendency to cause disasters when left to their own devices. Even when the mortals they interact with know their true nature, some dragons choose to use their humanoid form to appear less threatening as a show of courtesy. Other reasons include moving unnoticed through areas where a being as large as a dragon would be easily spotted, fitting in smaller spaces, or even for enjoyment: one of the great pleasures of humanoid forms is that soft skin is more sensitive to receiving a loving touch than scales. According to Desharin, dragons generally do not use their disguises to take positions of power among the short-lived races, with some exceptions: black dragons often use humanoid disguises to manipulate mortal affairs (with Deathwing and Onyxia both famously infiltrating human kingdoms) and Korialstrasz became a member of the Council of Six under the name Krasus.

All dragons are individuals and prefer different shapes for different reasons. When a dragon comes of age, they undergo a ceremony known as Visage Day and cast a special incantation that defines their main mortal form ("visage"). The choice of visage is deeply personal and says much about the dragon's personality, as it is not only about how they wish for others to perceive them, but also about how they see themselves and how they experience the world alongside others. The guises of the former Aspects are elaborate and formal, as they command the respect of both dragons and mortals, and many dragons follow their example with their own visages. Others like Kalecgos intentionally choose humbler forms as a contrast to this, since they want to walk among mortals as friends and equals. Yet others, like Onyxia, view shapeshifting solely as a tool to manipulate mortals and take what they want, which was reflected in Onyxia's choice of a form that appealed to human vanity. Tyrygosa refuses to take the form of a human, since she finds elves to be more aesthetically pleasing. While all dragons decide for themselves what form they want to use, each of the main dragonflights tend to gravitate to appearing as certain races. Greens prefer the forms of night elves due to their relationship with Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage. Reds prefer blood elves, blues prefer humans, and bronzes (though their task necessitates a variety of disguises) seem to enjoy appearing as gnomes.

Even after choosing a visage, dragons are not limited to a single disguise and can assume any form they wish, as shown by Deathwing, Korialstrasz, Acridostrasz, Kairozdormu, and Vaelastrasz all appearing as different races on different occasions. However, if they use a form different from one they're used to, this may be evident by unnatural-looking movements.

They are not limited to appearing as humanoids—for example, they can also take on the appearance of proto-dragons or disguise themselves as part of a tree —nor even to lifeforms that actually exist. A red dragon assigned to spy on Cenarius prior to the War of the Ancients used a form whose face resembled a strange mix of reptile and elf. During his long madness, Malygos wore the form of a strange, insect-like humanoid creature, and on one occasion, Nozdormu used an elf-like shape with the face of an owl. Dragons also do not need to transform the entirety of their body all at once, and can instead choose to alter only certain parts of it.

Transforming is normally a quick process that takes place in the space of a heartbeat or the blink of an eye, with the dragon's body changing faster than the eye can follow. Sometimes, the transformation is accompanied by a swirl of magic that envelops the dragon as they shift, such as a cloud of golden magic for Nozdormu and Chronormu, swirls of arcane magic for Kalecgos, and a cloud of ash for Onyxia. However, rapidly shifting back and forth can be very painful and exhausting.

Dragons are more vulnerable in mortal form, such as being more sensitive to poison, but they can still survive wounds and injuries that would kill or incapacitate humans and other mortal races. Their senses—including sight, smell, and night vision—remain much more acute than those of the beings they disguise themselves as, though their night vision is implied to be weaker than when they're in their true shape. When in mortal form, they also require far less food than when they are in their dragon form.

Many dragons have nicknames they use when in the company of mortals, since dragon names can sound "a bit formal" for the younger races. The clothes they wear in their humanoid forms are not true clothes but rather a false image conjured by the dragon. This also means that they are much more durable than true garments. If such clothes do get damaged, the disguised dragon can make them whole again with a simple wave of their hand. When they resume their dragon form, any clothes they're wearing either fade to nothing or get shredded, fly into the air, and settle on their body to become scales. If a dragon carries an injury in their true form, this will be reflected in their mortal guise as well (such as with Sinestra's various scars and burns). If they die while shapeshifted, they remain in their shapeshifted form.

Various factors can cause dragons to become trapped in their mortal guise. During the Cataclysm, Ysondre appeared exclusively as a night elf since she was too weak to assume her true form. Dar'Khan Drathir used an enchanted collar to keep Kalecgos trapped in his mortal form. Years later, the Twilight's Hammer did the same to Kirygosa using a magical chain.

The Dragon Aspects
The titans chose a member of each of the five dragonflights to watch over Azeroth in their absence. However with the death of Neltharion, these roles are irrelevant; the aspects however still maintain great power and leadership:

Consorts
The Aspects are aided in their tasks by their consorts, who are their companions, partners, and lovers. Typically, the consorts are chosen by traditional draconic courtship rituals; though a consort may be smarter or more powerful than the average dragon, only those loved by the Aspect will rise to the position. The consorts at any given time are led by the Prime Consort, the one who has held the position longest or is else the most capable. Typically, an Aspect would have three or four consorts at any time.

Nozdormu

 * Soridormi, Prime Consort: Most sensitive to changes in the timestream apart from Nozdormu himself. Participated heavily in the War of the Ancients.
 * Three other unnamed consorts.

Alexstrasza

 * Tyranastrasz, known as the Scholarly One: Older than his queen and served as her Prime Consort for tens of thousands of years. Killed by Deathwing at the Battle of Grim Batol.
 * Korialstrasz, Alexstrasza's fourth consort: "First in loyalty and love." Until recently, Alexstrasza's Prime Consort. Sacrificed self to prevent the use of the Wyrmrest Sanctums as a staging ground for the chromatic dragonflight.
 * Two other unnamed consorts who both perished during the Second War. At least two Ruby Consorts.

Ysera

 * Eranikus: Taken by The Nightmare. Later freed, and returned to fight along Ysera's side before sacrificing himself to defeat Lethon.
 * Number and names of other mates unknown. At least two Emerald Consorts.

Malygos

 * Sindragosa, Prime Consort: Perished after Deathwing's betrayal during the War of the Ancients. Raised by the Lich King to lead the Frostbrood into war.
 * Haleh, Matron Protectorate of Mazthoril.
 * Saragosa, guardian of Coldarra: Killed by Keristrasza as revenge for her imprisonment.
 * Keristrasza: Taken captive by Malygos, and forced to be his new consort as revenge for Saragosa's death.
 * Number and names of other mates unknown. At least two Azure Consorts.

Neltharion (Deathwing)

 * Sintharia, Prime Consort: Only consort to have survived mating with Deathwing. Mother of Nefarian and Onyxia. Later known as Sinestra. Experimented with twilight dragons, which ultimately led to her death by her own creation, Dargonax. Later resurrected by the Old Gods in the Bastion of Twilight to continue breeding twilight dragons.
 * Number and names of other mates unknown; all perished after mating with Deathwing. At least two Obsidian Consorts.

Other draconic species

 * Chimaera
 * Dragon golem
 * Faerie dragons
 * Fel dragons
 * Proto-dragons
 * Storm drakes
 * Dragonspawn
 * Drakonid
 * Drakeadon
 * Dragonman
 * Cloud serpents are frequently referred to as dragons, but are not directly related to the dragonflights.
 * Cloud serpents are frequently referred to as dragons, but are not directly related to the dragonflights.

In the RPG
A dragon is a reptilian creature, usually winged, with magical or unusual abilities.

The dragons of Azeroth are far more intelligent even than the humans who hunt them and struggle to reconcile their metaphysical nature with the reality of the savage world they inhabit. While each dragon is a powerful entity, dragons also represent the origins of the world and were given care over various parts of Azeroth's creation since time immemorial. Today, the dragons still remember their original natures and attempt to use their powers to continue their original purposes: for some, to shape stone and raise mountains; for others, to protect the forests or expand the realm of magic.

The dragons of Azeroth reach maturity after a mere hundred years have passed. They are very cunning and magical, using spells to complement their powerful physical capacity. Because each creature has an intimate connection with the world around it, the death of a dragon is never a simple thing; it is a metaphysical event, driven by the creature's natural connection to the spirit of the world. A dragon's death can cause massive upheaval in the natural surroundings — earthquakes, surface lava explosions, a new lake flooding forth from a sudden crack in the earth‘s crust, and so on. Even young dragons, those who have not established as close a bond to the spiritual world, still make ripples in the fabric of reality when they die. Although these ripples are not always seen or felt by other races, a young dragon's death nonetheless garners the attention of other dragons in the area — and creatures particularly attuned to the natural state of being that surrounds them.

Tactics
Dragons have a number of reasons for fighting; they are territorial, and numerous factions hunt them for a variety of different reasons. With the exception of black dragons, most dragons do not attack random groups of mortals on sight; although like mortals, each dragon has a different personality and some are more aggressive than others.

Each of the dragonflights fights slightly differently, but their overall tactics are relatively similar. Fearsome alone, groups of dragons are nearly impossible to combat; all five dragonflights are intelligent, and they use everything they can think of to their advantage. When possible, the dragonflights use dragonspawn troops to open the way into combat, allowing these ground-based troops to draw their enemies' attention while they strike from above or a distance. Even when bereft of dragonspawn support, dragons prefer to fight from the skies, resorting to melee only when necessary or when enraged. Dragons are highly intelligent and, due to their long lives, possess vast experience. Thus, they are excellent judges of when to call a tactical retreat. Yet if dragons decide that the cause is worthy, they will fight to the death for it, however hopeless the battle might be.

Blue dragons open combat with magic to disrupt their enemies, such as creating illusions or walls of force. Red and black dragons focus on offensive magic and breath attacks, using spells like chain lightning and blazing column to eliminate waves of weaker enemies. Green and bronze dragons use spells to allow them to maneuver around their opponents, or directly incapacitate their enemies; greater invisibility and charm monster are popular.

When facing a large group of enemies, dragons attempt to affect as large a group as they can with an individual spell or attack. In the battles against the qiraji a thousand years ago, dragons focused their efforts on taking down wave after wave of lesser qiraji with their breath weapons; the mortals had the responsibility of dealing with enemy commanders. This does not mean that if the opportunity presents itself a dragon won't take a bite out of an enemy commander; however, they are more likely to wreak as much havoc as they can than spend their time hunting a specific opponent.

When fighting against a single target, dragons use spells to complement each other; one dragon might serve as a healer or cast enhancement spells like brilliance aura, while another decreases their target's defenses with bestow curse and detrimental magic, while the third attacks directly. In this respect, dragons work together in ways similar to a mortal adventuring party, but due to their inherent abilities they can switch roles and last longer in an extended battle.

Notes and trivia

 * It is said among dragons that the ornate shoulder armor worn by the mortal races started as an attempt to emulate their wings.
 * Some legends say that dragons were born in the dawn of the world when it was created by the titans from the primal plane.
 * In the canceled Warcraft Adventures, dragon teeth necklaces were common enough in the ranks of the Old Horde that Zul'jin could trade five of them weekly at his shop.