Cloud Dragons

By Eric Tolle (schaduw@silcom.com)

"Hey look, That one looks like a dragon!"
"Heheheh --- them's good eatins"
"That one over there looks like a big bird...maybe a peacock."
"A rocketship! I see a rocketship!"
"Umm....mine still looks like a dragon."
"I've got a camel, and a beagle..."
"My bird's a big ship now!"
"Ummm.....y'know..."
"Mine looks like a rock. Or a dead rat. Gee, why's it so cold?"
"That one looks like a witch with a big nose...hey, where'd this wind come from?"
"Y'know....mine still looks like a dragon...and it's heading this way..."

A Chimerical History by the noted Dr. Phineus E. Badger, Esq. DCB, BCA, MCP, MCE, AOE

Introduction: Vermis Vaporous Draconis

Possibly the largest extant chimera, little is still known about these magnificent and solitary beasts. This lack can be attributed to their aerial nature, and to their fiercely territorial and solitary natures. While much of interest could be learned of these beasts, such an undertaking would be fraught with danger.

Description And Habitat

Cloud Dragons are commonly found in areas already filled with mundane clouds. This has spawned the speculation -- casual at best and possibly wild (see article on the natural history of the Casual and Wild Speculation) that they may very well be Glamour-infested clouds; verification of that idea awaits further exploration.

There are three main types of cloud dragons known: the white, or Cumulo Draconis, the grey, or Strato draconis, and the black, or Nimbo draconis. Individuals vary enormously in appearence, though all have long snakelike bodies seemingly made up of fine mist-cloud given character and form, one might say. Upon reasonably close inspection wavelets of cloud define muscles and scales, while appendages such as wings and/or legs appear to be smaller clouds connected by thin streamers. Dragons tend to be surrounded by smaller clouds, and at times blend into larger masses of mundane clouds -- providing an excellent form of camouflage. In size they are huge; that is, immense, really stupendously, colossally - ahem. Sizes noted have ranged from a puny 200 meters, up to a gargantuan two kilometers long. They are, naturally, quite light for their size, though proper weighing must await further research.

Physiology and Behavior

The physiology of the Cloud dragons is uncertain at best -- due to their vaporous natures they are highly variable in shape. It is in fact, debatable whether they have any internal organs at all; though they have often been seen feeding on cloudlets and vapor. It appears that some of their attacks on changelings may be attempts to feed on them. Reports of the cloud dragons 'swallowing chimera whole' while unconfirmed should not be discounted.. Chimerical and most normal weapons pass straight through them -- with only swords of cold iron affecting them to any great extent. Their attacks -- when they choose to do so -- are equally nebulous; blinding cold fog, gusts of icy wind, and even storms of chimerical hail and sleet. These attacks should not be underestimated; even trolls, and most definitely my assistants have been knocked off their feet and injured by their attacks. Their reproduction is unknown, but they may be spawned in the vortices of massive storms. Likewise, they may die when they wander too far away from their supporting clouds -- leaving them to evaporate. Sadly, no Cloud dragon has been open to questions on their mating habits or life-cycle -- a true loss for Chimerilism.

The three main types differ not only in appearence, but in character. The white Cumulo Draconis tend to drift lazely about puffy cumulous clouds, grazing on choice cloudlets. Their bodies tend to be plumper than the others, and they appear to be of a more sanguine -- if not docile temperment. The grey Strato draconis apparently prefer the low lying stratus clouds that accompany cold fronts, and they can often be seen winding through cold and isolated mountain peaks and ridges, pursuing errant puffs of vapor like an eal after fish. Their color ranges from light to dark grey, and they are more narrow and streamlined, like a vast aerial snake. The dreaded black Nimbo draconis is the harbinger of storms and violent weather. They have been sighted sporting among squall lines, thunderstorms, and the largest of all can be seen as heralds to great winter blizzards, tornados, and hurricanes. They are by far the swiftest and fiercest of all the dragons, and seem to take wild delight in the chaos their habitats cause. Like the others, they are sinewy but they can often be seen to have shredded claws and ragged spines -- often with lightning playing among their mouths. For reasons unknown, my assistants have so far refused to do a detailed study on the Nimbo draconis.

Addendum: Human Dragon Relations

A most peculiar feature of the Cloud Dragons is that more mortals than usual can notice them. It is not uncommon for children and those of artistic sensibilities to see them -- and even staid businessmen have on occassion fancied seeing 'a dragon in the clouds'. I attribute this to the fact that even adults like to make out shapes seen in the clouds, giving vent to a small bit of fancy. Others have stated it is an effect of the Dragon's natural camouflage, leading to "mundanes pretending that dragons that are pretending to be clouds are clouds pretending to be dragons" -- a proposition I have never quite sorted out on my best days.

Even more odd is the dragon's tolerence for the aforementioned humans. Oddly enough, even the Nimbo draconis have never been reported to attack such humans, and there are even rumors that they have given 'fortunate' children -- or childers?' for rides. I personally give little creedence to these tales not only because of the difficulty of grasping a cloud, but also due to the improbability of anyone actually getting that close to a dragon on a friendly basis.

Conclusion

As has been shown, the pursuit of a cloud dragon is a matter fraught with danger, and is not for either the faint at heart or inexperienced. Still, I must admit that in spite of the danger, I would love to have the chance myself, and would more than eagerly lead an expedition to fill in all the missing gaps in our knowledge of these magnificent beasts, providing proper funding could be acquired...

Attributions and Bibliography

Eric Tolle, w2tolle@sisko.sbcc.cc.ca.us

The noted Chimerilist and explorer Dr. Phineus E. Badger Esq., is rumored to be the perverse result of a botch involving an Eshu, a Pooka, and a teleportation pod. Then again, you know rumors...