The Dragons And Their Religions
These are the names of the known dragons on Draconica. Each of them has their own religion or cult that follows them, as detailed below.
Jeova
The Father of All and creator of the Afterworld and the Necroworld. Said to be the most powerful of all dragons, he was loved by both mortal and dragon alike. Put himself in a perpetual sleep to keep his wife trapped in the Necroworld after The Black Hurricane.
As a religious icon, Jeova is widely accepted as the Lord of all creation and worshipped across the land. His follows account for nearly a third of all religions on the planet, making it the most recognised of practices. The most common places he is worshipped is in the southern lands (Brittana and Celtland), some parts of Baalaria, the Hikari clan of Shadoria, some parts of the eastern lands, and in the Republic of Garmany – mostly Itana.
The basis of the followers of Jeova are The Seven Teachings of Jeova – seven virtues that the followers must work towards. They are as follows:
Humility – Be not boastful, but gracious to your fellow mortal.
Protection – Guard your fellow mortal, for they are as much the children of Jeova as you are.
Trust – Always speak with an honest heart.
Charity – Do not turn away from those in need. Help others as you would like to be helped.
Clemency – Never kill in cold blood. Forgive your enemies, for only through forgiveness can evil be quelled.
Devotion – Love your family, never betray them. Love and kindness will always prevail.
Piety – Above all, love your Lord – for He watches over you and repays your love with greater love.
Essentially, the religion focuses on love and kindness. Followers of Jeova are required to pray to Jeova at the end of the week and attend church (although prayer in their own home is also accepted). Additionally, on holy days, the consumption of meat and alcohol is strictly forbidden, with some religious orders doing this every day. The basic idea is to do good everyday and you will be rewarded with a place in the Afterworld.
Though created with good intentions, some have misused it for darker deeds. Itana is arguably the worst offender in this sense as they have, in the past, imposed strict laws regarding their religion. Some parts of the country follow the Seven Teachings to the absolute letter and any that even slightly fall from this are considered heretics. For example, whereas divorce is frowned upon by many Jeovians, in Itana the punishment could be death! Some have even perverted the name of Jeova and started wars in his name. One example is the infamous Holy Crusades between Itana and Ira-Kai, in which Itana invaded the country purely for the fact they considered eastern people heretics. Jeovians believe any that mistreat the religion in this way are an insult to the religion and they are quick to distance themselves from them.
Dronor
The son of Jeova and Abadon and creator of the Dragonkin. Believed in a world of peace and was the idol of Daniar Dragonkin. Was the last dragon who died – his death marking the New Era. His fire power was passed onto Daniar Dragonkin. Is the patron dragon of Brittana and also worshipped with as much reverence as Jeova.
Followers of Dronor follow his teachings the same as Jeova, with an added emphasis in protecting mortals, given that was what Dronor was known for.
Abadon
Wife of Jeova and known as The Destroyer. Destroyed most of the planet five thousand years ago and was locked away in the Necroworld. Tortures the souls that come to the Necroworld for entertainment. Generally despised by the people of Draconica, but some cults and followers of dark magic accept her as their ruler. However any that are caught are usually executed. One such followers of Abadon are believed to be the Skage clan of Shadoria.
The Magistrate
He Who Judges The Passed. A dragon that guards the entrance to the afterlife and decides who goes where when they die. He does this through the use of the Sword of Truth and the Axe of Blood, the former representing the good deeds done by people and the axe repenting all the evils they have committed.
When facing the Magistrate, he will question souls on various actions they have committed, causing the sword to glow and the axe to become stained with blood. Should the sword glow brighter, they will be considered a good soul and given entry to the Afterworld. However, if the axe becomes bloodier, they will be considered full of sin and cast into the Necroworld. The Magistrate is unbiased and cannot be bribed, fooled or reasoned with once he has decided their fate. However, he is by no means a cruel dragon and is willing to offer a chance for them to justify themselves. For example, one mortal might have murdered and stole from people, but if they are truly repentant then the Magistrate may allow them redemption. Similarly, a person might not have committed crimes, but were vain, boastful and repugnant – the Magistrate may send them to the Necroworld to teach them a lesson. The Magistrate has the final say in the souls journey.
Although acknowledged by the people of Draconica, he has no known religion.
Arkana
The Forest Wyvern. A kind-hearted dragon that was responsible for creating much of the forests and plantlife on Draconica. Took her own life when Venomac destroyed her most beautiful forest. Her powers of healing and empathy with nature was passed to Erowin Dragonkin.
She is the patron dragon of Celtland. Her teachings used to be the main religion in early Celtland history – but whilst she is still worshipped in some form or another by some parts of Celtland today, it is a lesser number. The followers of the Dorida clan also follow her ways. Arkana’s worshippers believe that you should love nature and never hurt it. This includes animals and plants. For this reason, Arkana worshippers are mostly vegetarians and never hunt for food – nor will they willingly cut down trees for firewood.
Additionally, Arkana’s worshippers refuse to wear anything made from animal hides – such as fur and leather. In some extreme cases, they refuse to wear any clothing at all for fear it might contain animals. However this is a rare case scenario.
Frostella
The Ice Dragon. Created the frozen land of Naedor when she blew her icy breath across it. Her powers of ice were passed to Zarracka Dragonkin.
Is the patron dragon of Naedor, but she has no known religion. However the minatons of Naedor believe they are her personal servants, seeing as they survived her initial attack.
Karana
The Storm Drake. Legends say that his rage was like the coming of a storm and that his breath could create hurricanes. His powers of wind and storm were passed to Rana Dragonkin. He has no known religions.
Baala
The Four-Horned Warlord. Founded the Baalarian Empire. Brother to Leoni, he was originally a noble warrior that acted as a war ambassador for the people of Draconica. No country could go to war without his say so. Was challenged by his brother, which then started The War of the Brothers. Eventually, he and his brother died fighting each other in a four month long rampage – causing much damage to Baalaria. Unsurprisingly, he is the patron dragon of the Baalarian Empire – with the Emperor considered to be equal to power of Baala.
Baala’s teachings involve honour and discipline on the field of battle. Baalarians fight with strict regimental training, using defensive lines to hold assault rather than offensive tactics. It is said that Baala despises those that kill in cold blood and will be punished in the afterlife. He also praises those that fight with honour and grace, battling to defend their lands from their enemies. However, depending on the Emperor at the time, some Baalarian armies may forgo this in favour of brutal assaults. Some Baalarian armies are even known to use slaves in battle, even though Baala’s teachings strictly forbid this.
Leoni
The Bloodthirsty Lion. Founded the Leonidan Kingdom. Brother to Baala, he challenged him for supremacy, starting The War of the Brothers. Unlike his brother, he believed that strength prevailed and honour was for the weak. Eventually, he and his brother died fighting each other in a four month long rampage – causing much damage to Baalaria.
Leoni’s teachings were followed by the Leonidans, but as the Kingdom is now extinct, it’s unlikely that there are still any followers left – save for maybe a few Leonidan mercenaries. Leoni’s teachings are almost the anthesis of Baala’s. Whereas Baala teaches about honour and discipline, Leoni favoured strength above all. Brutality and savagery were not only allowed, but encouraged. In Leonida, everyone had to train to be a warrior and die on the field of battle – there was no other way of life. Honour, mercy and cowardice were punishable offences, and many had their hands removed if they used these.
It was also said that a man and a woman could not fall in love – they had to fight for a mate. In this sense, man or woman had to battle each other to dominate the other. If they succeeded, then they could marry. Many other cultures across the world consider this abhorrent practice “Violation Culture” and decry it as an act of sexual assault. Thankfully, no other cultures seem to practice this.
Isiah
The One Who Loves. Believed that everyone should have a mate and her breath had the power to make people fall in love. Was the wife of Baala and she died during The War of the Brothers whilst appealing for calm, driving Baala into a rage. Whilst not a patron as such, Celtland worships her as much as Arkana and has a festival dedicated to her teachings. She is however fully worshipped by the Shadorian Bufana Noji clan.
There are actually many schools of thought about Isiah. The most accepted belief is that Isiah is about love – both yourself and others. Everyone should find a mate and their bond should be sacred. But there are some that believe that Isiah embraced sexual desire. The aforementioned Bufana Noji clan believe in the pursuit of pleasure and perfection in all it’s forms – embracing every single fetish possible. They also believe that beauty should be above all and that anything less is disgusting.
Some also argue that her teachings are not just about sexual indulgence, but the act of love itself. There is a belief that Isiah takes pleasure from those who create something beautiful, or something that moves others (such as a song, a poem or a piece of art), or parents seeing their child born and feeling love. Just the act of loving your family can make Isiah happy, or reading your favourite book or seeing your favourite play. Like most religions, this depends on your point of view, but the one thing most can agree on is that if you are happy, Isiah is happy.
Kerrigal
Discovered magic and taught it to the people of Draconica. Became a rival of Dronor when he tried to teach them about science. Eventually died when a spell went awry and he was sucked into a maelstrom – which would become The Vortex.
Not a patron for any countries, but followers of magic recognise him for his contribution. However, as magic is a forbidden practice, he is considered as bad as Abadon in some circles. Some followers of other religions even state he was a servant of Abadon – although this is only a half-truth.
Venomac
A deformed dragon known for his ugliness. Created the Venomac Swamp in Brittana by breathing his poisonous breath across Arkana's most beautiful forests – an act that would cause her to take her own life. No known worshippers.
Tah
The Dragon of the Sun. Second in power only to Jeova. His body burned so brightly that it turned the very lands into dust and sand - thus creating the eastern lands. As such he is worshipped as the main dragon in the eastern lands even before Jeova. Controversially, some texts even suggest that he and Jeova are one and the same, although this is heavily refuted on both sides.
There seems to exist a small cult known as The Holy Fire. From what little we know of this, this is a religion that was given to the other parts of the world from the east. Apparently, this involves worship of a fire that some believe is Tah. And that if you take the fire into your body, you become an engine of Tah’s wrath. Some speculate that this could just be a twisted form of magic, given that those that often attempt this are burned alive – although the followers pass this off as not being worthy of the power.
Nar-Gar
The Serpent of the Sea. Originally Draconica was one big continent, but he was often prone to fits of temper and would attack the lands – splitting them apart. Was eventually killed by his own kind when they realised how dangerous he was. No known worshippers, but certain seafaring folk can pray to him for protection on long journeys.
Dahli
The Muse of Art. A foppish dragon that is the patron of the Republic of Garmany. Met with the six founders of the Republic and was partially responsible for the creation of the Republic. He is not worshipped as such, but creative or artistic people can pray to him for inspiration.
Jeova
The Father of All and creator of the Afterworld and the Necroworld. Said to be the most powerful of all dragons, he was loved by both mortal and dragon alike. Put himself in a perpetual sleep to keep his wife trapped in the Necroworld after The Black Hurricane.
As a religious icon, Jeova is widely accepted as the Lord of all creation and worshipped across the land. His follows account for nearly a third of all religions on the planet, making it the most recognised of practices. The most common places he is worshipped is in the southern lands (Brittana and Celtland), some parts of Baalaria, the Hikari clan of Shadoria, some parts of the eastern lands, and in the Republic of Garmany – mostly Itana.
The basis of the followers of Jeova are The Seven Teachings of Jeova – seven virtues that the followers must work towards. They are as follows:
Humility – Be not boastful, but gracious to your fellow mortal.
Protection – Guard your fellow mortal, for they are as much the children of Jeova as you are.
Trust – Always speak with an honest heart.
Charity – Do not turn away from those in need. Help others as you would like to be helped.
Clemency – Never kill in cold blood. Forgive your enemies, for only through forgiveness can evil be quelled.
Devotion – Love your family, never betray them. Love and kindness will always prevail.
Piety – Above all, love your Lord – for He watches over you and repays your love with greater love.
Essentially, the religion focuses on love and kindness. Followers of Jeova are required to pray to Jeova at the end of the week and attend church (although prayer in their own home is also accepted). Additionally, on holy days, the consumption of meat and alcohol is strictly forbidden, with some religious orders doing this every day. The basic idea is to do good everyday and you will be rewarded with a place in the Afterworld.
Though created with good intentions, some have misused it for darker deeds. Itana is arguably the worst offender in this sense as they have, in the past, imposed strict laws regarding their religion. Some parts of the country follow the Seven Teachings to the absolute letter and any that even slightly fall from this are considered heretics. For example, whereas divorce is frowned upon by many Jeovians, in Itana the punishment could be death! Some have even perverted the name of Jeova and started wars in his name. One example is the infamous Holy Crusades between Itana and Ira-Kai, in which Itana invaded the country purely for the fact they considered eastern people heretics. Jeovians believe any that mistreat the religion in this way are an insult to the religion and they are quick to distance themselves from them.
Dronor
The son of Jeova and Abadon and creator of the Dragonkin. Believed in a world of peace and was the idol of Daniar Dragonkin. Was the last dragon who died – his death marking the New Era. His fire power was passed onto Daniar Dragonkin. Is the patron dragon of Brittana and also worshipped with as much reverence as Jeova.
Followers of Dronor follow his teachings the same as Jeova, with an added emphasis in protecting mortals, given that was what Dronor was known for.
Abadon
Wife of Jeova and known as The Destroyer. Destroyed most of the planet five thousand years ago and was locked away in the Necroworld. Tortures the souls that come to the Necroworld for entertainment. Generally despised by the people of Draconica, but some cults and followers of dark magic accept her as their ruler. However any that are caught are usually executed. One such followers of Abadon are believed to be the Skage clan of Shadoria.
The Magistrate
He Who Judges The Passed. A dragon that guards the entrance to the afterlife and decides who goes where when they die. He does this through the use of the Sword of Truth and the Axe of Blood, the former representing the good deeds done by people and the axe repenting all the evils they have committed.
When facing the Magistrate, he will question souls on various actions they have committed, causing the sword to glow and the axe to become stained with blood. Should the sword glow brighter, they will be considered a good soul and given entry to the Afterworld. However, if the axe becomes bloodier, they will be considered full of sin and cast into the Necroworld. The Magistrate is unbiased and cannot be bribed, fooled or reasoned with once he has decided their fate. However, he is by no means a cruel dragon and is willing to offer a chance for them to justify themselves. For example, one mortal might have murdered and stole from people, but if they are truly repentant then the Magistrate may allow them redemption. Similarly, a person might not have committed crimes, but were vain, boastful and repugnant – the Magistrate may send them to the Necroworld to teach them a lesson. The Magistrate has the final say in the souls journey.
Although acknowledged by the people of Draconica, he has no known religion.
Arkana
The Forest Wyvern. A kind-hearted dragon that was responsible for creating much of the forests and plantlife on Draconica. Took her own life when Venomac destroyed her most beautiful forest. Her powers of healing and empathy with nature was passed to Erowin Dragonkin.
She is the patron dragon of Celtland. Her teachings used to be the main religion in early Celtland history – but whilst she is still worshipped in some form or another by some parts of Celtland today, it is a lesser number. The followers of the Dorida clan also follow her ways. Arkana’s worshippers believe that you should love nature and never hurt it. This includes animals and plants. For this reason, Arkana worshippers are mostly vegetarians and never hunt for food – nor will they willingly cut down trees for firewood.
Additionally, Arkana’s worshippers refuse to wear anything made from animal hides – such as fur and leather. In some extreme cases, they refuse to wear any clothing at all for fear it might contain animals. However this is a rare case scenario.
Frostella
The Ice Dragon. Created the frozen land of Naedor when she blew her icy breath across it. Her powers of ice were passed to Zarracka Dragonkin.
Is the patron dragon of Naedor, but she has no known religion. However the minatons of Naedor believe they are her personal servants, seeing as they survived her initial attack.
Karana
The Storm Drake. Legends say that his rage was like the coming of a storm and that his breath could create hurricanes. His powers of wind and storm were passed to Rana Dragonkin. He has no known religions.
Baala
The Four-Horned Warlord. Founded the Baalarian Empire. Brother to Leoni, he was originally a noble warrior that acted as a war ambassador for the people of Draconica. No country could go to war without his say so. Was challenged by his brother, which then started The War of the Brothers. Eventually, he and his brother died fighting each other in a four month long rampage – causing much damage to Baalaria. Unsurprisingly, he is the patron dragon of the Baalarian Empire – with the Emperor considered to be equal to power of Baala.
Baala’s teachings involve honour and discipline on the field of battle. Baalarians fight with strict regimental training, using defensive lines to hold assault rather than offensive tactics. It is said that Baala despises those that kill in cold blood and will be punished in the afterlife. He also praises those that fight with honour and grace, battling to defend their lands from their enemies. However, depending on the Emperor at the time, some Baalarian armies may forgo this in favour of brutal assaults. Some Baalarian armies are even known to use slaves in battle, even though Baala’s teachings strictly forbid this.
Leoni
The Bloodthirsty Lion. Founded the Leonidan Kingdom. Brother to Baala, he challenged him for supremacy, starting The War of the Brothers. Unlike his brother, he believed that strength prevailed and honour was for the weak. Eventually, he and his brother died fighting each other in a four month long rampage – causing much damage to Baalaria.
Leoni’s teachings were followed by the Leonidans, but as the Kingdom is now extinct, it’s unlikely that there are still any followers left – save for maybe a few Leonidan mercenaries. Leoni’s teachings are almost the anthesis of Baala’s. Whereas Baala teaches about honour and discipline, Leoni favoured strength above all. Brutality and savagery were not only allowed, but encouraged. In Leonida, everyone had to train to be a warrior and die on the field of battle – there was no other way of life. Honour, mercy and cowardice were punishable offences, and many had their hands removed if they used these.
It was also said that a man and a woman could not fall in love – they had to fight for a mate. In this sense, man or woman had to battle each other to dominate the other. If they succeeded, then they could marry. Many other cultures across the world consider this abhorrent practice “Violation Culture” and decry it as an act of sexual assault. Thankfully, no other cultures seem to practice this.
Isiah
The One Who Loves. Believed that everyone should have a mate and her breath had the power to make people fall in love. Was the wife of Baala and she died during The War of the Brothers whilst appealing for calm, driving Baala into a rage. Whilst not a patron as such, Celtland worships her as much as Arkana and has a festival dedicated to her teachings. She is however fully worshipped by the Shadorian Bufana Noji clan.
There are actually many schools of thought about Isiah. The most accepted belief is that Isiah is about love – both yourself and others. Everyone should find a mate and their bond should be sacred. But there are some that believe that Isiah embraced sexual desire. The aforementioned Bufana Noji clan believe in the pursuit of pleasure and perfection in all it’s forms – embracing every single fetish possible. They also believe that beauty should be above all and that anything less is disgusting.
Some also argue that her teachings are not just about sexual indulgence, but the act of love itself. There is a belief that Isiah takes pleasure from those who create something beautiful, or something that moves others (such as a song, a poem or a piece of art), or parents seeing their child born and feeling love. Just the act of loving your family can make Isiah happy, or reading your favourite book or seeing your favourite play. Like most religions, this depends on your point of view, but the one thing most can agree on is that if you are happy, Isiah is happy.
Kerrigal
Discovered magic and taught it to the people of Draconica. Became a rival of Dronor when he tried to teach them about science. Eventually died when a spell went awry and he was sucked into a maelstrom – which would become The Vortex.
Not a patron for any countries, but followers of magic recognise him for his contribution. However, as magic is a forbidden practice, he is considered as bad as Abadon in some circles. Some followers of other religions even state he was a servant of Abadon – although this is only a half-truth.
Venomac
A deformed dragon known for his ugliness. Created the Venomac Swamp in Brittana by breathing his poisonous breath across Arkana's most beautiful forests – an act that would cause her to take her own life. No known worshippers.
Tah
The Dragon of the Sun. Second in power only to Jeova. His body burned so brightly that it turned the very lands into dust and sand - thus creating the eastern lands. As such he is worshipped as the main dragon in the eastern lands even before Jeova. Controversially, some texts even suggest that he and Jeova are one and the same, although this is heavily refuted on both sides.
There seems to exist a small cult known as The Holy Fire. From what little we know of this, this is a religion that was given to the other parts of the world from the east. Apparently, this involves worship of a fire that some believe is Tah. And that if you take the fire into your body, you become an engine of Tah’s wrath. Some speculate that this could just be a twisted form of magic, given that those that often attempt this are burned alive – although the followers pass this off as not being worthy of the power.
Nar-Gar
The Serpent of the Sea. Originally Draconica was one big continent, but he was often prone to fits of temper and would attack the lands – splitting them apart. Was eventually killed by his own kind when they realised how dangerous he was. No known worshippers, but certain seafaring folk can pray to him for protection on long journeys.
Dahli
The Muse of Art. A foppish dragon that is the patron of the Republic of Garmany. Met with the six founders of the Republic and was partially responsible for the creation of the Republic. He is not worshipped as such, but creative or artistic people can pray to him for inspiration.