SkyWings, also known as mountain dragons, sky dragons, or fire dragons to humans, are a Pyrrhian dragon tribe living in the mountains on the "wing" of Pyrrhia. They are currently ruled by Queen Ruby.
The SkyWings were originally allied with Burn and later on, the MudWings during the War of SandWing Succession. This alliance was upheld by both Ex-Queen Scarlet and Queen Ruby.[1]
Description
SkyWings are based on traditional Western dragons.[event 1] They have red, crimson, orange, or yellow scales. SkyWings typically have yellow, orange, or amber eyes, though Peril and Sky are exceptions, due to their conditions. SkyWing scales are "jewel-hard."[2] They also have the largest wings of any tribe, and long, curved horns on their heads. Most SkyWing snouts are thin and long, with a nose-spike, and an extra horn on their jaw. SkyWing eggs are pale red, orange, or red-gold.
Most known SkyWings have stereotypically been portrayed as short-tempered, militaristic, grumpy, mean, and fond of violence. Clay noted that "the SkyWing soldiers looked underfed and they needed rest,"[3] and an unnamed MudWing in the Talons of Peace made a joke about how all SkyWings were either red and grumpy or orange and grumpy.[4]
Diet
SkyWings are shown to eat scavengers, mountain goats, chicken, foxes, deer, bobcats, cows, pigs, sheep, birds, and rodents.[5] They have been shown to eat roasted seagulls.[6] SkyWings also grow their own crops.[7]
Abilities
SkyWings are the fastest fliers of any dragon tribe due to their enormous wings and endurance,[8] and they are built for flying longer distances because of their stamina.[9] SkyWing dragonets also learn to fly at a fairly young age.[10] They are capable of breathing fire and are considered powerful fighters.[11] They can see farther[12] and have better cold resistance than most tribes, excluding IceWings.[event 2]
According to Morrowseer, SkyWings, like other fire-breathing tribes, can hold their fire until it is at maximum temperature.[13]
A SkyWing dragonet in a twin egg may develop a condition known as firescales, like of what Peril has. This is when a dragon has "too much fire," causing their scales to be incredibly hot to the touch, and burn almost instantly. Firescales are much hotter than the average dragon's fire,[14] and cannot be harmed by IceWing frostbreath.[15] In addition, any rain that comes into contact with a firescales dragon will immediately evaporate into steam.[16] Firescales may occur when one twin "sucks the fire" out of the other, leaving the non-firescales twin fireless and much sicklier.[17][18] Due to the dangerous nature of this condition, SkyWings traditionally kill dragonets hatched with firescales by dropping them off of tall mountains.[17]
Firescales dragons are immune to frostbreath and are often difficult to injure due to weapons melting or burning before or on contact.[19] Frostbreath causes temporary numbness to firescales dragons when they are hit.[15] Hope states that she had not seen a firescales dragon in a long time,[20] implying that there might have been a dragon with firescales in her time.
Peril using her firescales to protect Kestrel in The Dragonet Prophecy (graphic novel)
Animus magic
SkyWings had animus magic during or prior to Darkstalker, and would kill animus dragonets by dropping them off a cliff due to possessing this dangerous power, the same way they kill firescales dragonets.[21] They have not had an animus dragon in centuries.[22]
Society
SkyWings are regarded as grumpy and aggressive by other tribes; under Scarlet's rule, many citizens appeared thin and grumpy.[3] They seem to value entertainment a great deal, as they enjoyed gladiatorial combat in the SkyWing Arena during the war. SkyWings have orchestras who perform music during celebrations.[23] SkyWings dance, sing, and clap wings at parties.[24]
Even in times of general peace, SkyWings still had minor skirmishes with IceWings and SandWings.[25]
They do not tolerate dangerous differences in the kingdom.[26] As such, they killed their animus dragons[26] and firescales dragonets as soon as they are discovered.[27] SkyWings also kill dragons for having too little fire as well.[17]
Most SkyWing dragonets are raised in a Wingery. The Wingery is a place for young dragonets to grow and play.[28] As SkyWings learn flight early in their lives, the Wingery contains a place for dragonets to practice.[29]
SkyWings have a traditional, ceremonial burial system, which consists of wrapping a deceased dragon's body in white cloth and offering it to the sky for seven days before being burned. This allows the dragon's spirit to fly free, reincarnating into a SkyWing instead of a dragon from any other tribe.[30] The ceremony may have been stopped during the war,[31] but it carried on in Ruby's rule.[30] A cave near the peak of Jade Mountain is a notable location where SkyWings have held this ceremony.[32]
Arena
The SkyWing Arena was a gladiatorial arena where war prisoners would fight to the death for Queen Scarlet's entertainment. SkyWings, MudWings, and SandWings all attended these events as an audience and would throw gemstones to the fighters.[33][34] The prisoners were chained to tall pillars, forming a ring around the arena, with their wings clamped and wires connecting them to one another.[35]
If a dragon reached a certain number of victories, they would be set free. No prisoners were actually released in accordance with this clause, as they would be sent to fight Peril, Ex-Queen Scarlet's "Champion" before reaching the necessary amount.[36]
After her ascension to the throne, Queen Ruby turned the arena into a hospital for all the dragons wounded in the War of the SandWing Succession.[37]
Names
SkyWings can be named after mountain-dwelling creatures or birds (such as Kestrel, Osprey and Hawk), features of the landscape (such as Cliff and Sunset), gemstones or minerals (such as Ruby and Garnet), actions during flight (such as Soar), shades of red and orange (such as Vermilion and Scarlet), and generic fire-related words (such as Flame).
Click here for a list of known SkyWings.
Students at Jade Mountain
Trivia
- A SkyWing's hearing is said to be sharper when they are flying.[38]
- SkyWings were described as "the friendly tribe" in the era of Darkstalker.[39]
- SkyWings make a particular hissing noise before breathing fire. This same hissing noise can be used as a threat of anger, as shown with Kestrel, or of a respectful noise as shown by the spectators at Queen Scarlet's arena.[40]
- Winter, when wearing the Pyrite mask, described SkyWings as "freer than any other tribe, more loyal to one another, and more independent."[41]
- SkyWings prefer to live high among the peaks in their kingdom, instead of down lower.[42]
Gallery
References
- ↑ The Brightest Night, page 241
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 3
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Lost Heir, page 108
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 63
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 218
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 126
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 118
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 77
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 141
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 215
- ↑ Dragon guides
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 159
- ↑ The Dark Secret, page 186
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 181
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Escaping Peril, page 124
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 232
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 The Dragonet Prophecy, page 138
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 55
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 78
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 127
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 67
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 160
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 249
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 248
- ↑ The Winglets Quartet: Deserter, page 103
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Darkstalker, page 68
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 112
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 172
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 173
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Escaping Peril, page 14
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 121
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 15
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 126
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 222
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 119–121
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 124
- ↑ Escaping Peril, page 184
- ↑ Dragonslayer, page 454
- ↑ Darkstalker, page 56
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 127
- ↑ Winter Turning, page 219
- ↑ The Dragonet Prophecy, page 15
| SkyWings | |
|---|---|
| Queens | |
| Royalty |
Present: Cliff • Hawk • Tourmaline • Vermilion |
| Jade Mountain | |
| Other Dragons |
Avalanche • Cardinal • Eagle (WT) • Eagle (L1) • Harrier • Kestrel • Osprey • Pyrite • Soar • Sky |
| Kingdom |
Claws of the Clouds Mountains • Diamond Spray Delta • Diamond Spray River • Great Five-Tail River • Possibility • SkyWing palace |
