Difference between revisions of "Dragon (cosmere)"

Dragons are fond of bargains; in some cases, this can take the form of magical interactions that involve the dragon granting the petitioner a boon of some sort.{{book ref|tress|52}}{{book ref|sa3|114}} They are likewise fond of collecting useful assets, which includes people, in form of slaves, followers or even corporate employees.{{book ref|tress|52}}{{wob ref|16187}}{{book ref|sa3|114}} They will frequently make themselves known throughout the [[cosmere]], so as to plant knowledge of themselves that they can use later.{{book ref|tress|51}}

Most dragons have at least two names -- a full, long name (such as [[Xisisrefliel]]) and then a nickname they are more commonly known asby (such as Foil).{{wob ref|16182}}

{{image|Koravellium Avast by Connor Chamberlain.jpg|side=right|width=250px300px|[[Koravellium Avast]], also known as the [[Shard]] [[Cultivation]]}}

Two dragons are known to have been involved in the Shattering of Adonalsium, with one being [[Koravellium Avast]], who would go on to take up a [[Shard]] -- the only dragon to have done so.{{wob ref|15149}} The other one, [[Frost]], would remain on [[Yolen]] after the Shattering, assuming a stance of non-intervention, although he would amass a significant knowledge of the wider cosmere through his relations with both the [[Seventeenth Shard]] and [[Hoid]].{{epigraph ref|sa1|26}}{{wob ref|2682}}{{wob ref|3679}}

The [[Cognitive Realm]]-located city of [[Silverlight]] was originally built as a collection of dragon palaces. Even in the present day, as the city grew to house worldhoppers of other racesspecies, dragons retain a substantial presence in the city, owning corporations, vast establishments and even entire skyscrapers.{{wob ref|16187}} However, even dragons who would consider Silverlight their home base occassionally depart for manya centuries,long time. One such asdragon is [[Xisisrefliel]], who for centuries has been living underneath the [[Crimson Sea]] on [[Lumar]] in order to research the breakdown of aethers and aether spores.{{book ref|tress|31}}{{book ref|tress|51}}

WhereWhen dragons do settle, they will often grant boons to humans;the locals. Xisis receives gifts of human slaves in exchange for various boons both material, such as advanced off-world technology, and more insubstantial, like information or medical treatment.{{book ref|tress|52}}{{book ref|tress|53}} Over on [[Roshar]], Koravellium Avast grants her own boons to various petitioners, though rather than taking anything in exchange, she grants a matching curse.{{book ref|sa3|114}} Whether this is her own choice or a compulsion is unclear.

=== Cultural InfluenceInfluences ===

Dragons frequently reveal themselves to developing human cultures, so as to plant the seeds for later use; the term "dragon" is known to nigh-on every cosmere culture.{{book ref|tress|51}} The effectiveness of this approach varies, however. On [[Roshar]], despite the world being home to the sole draconic Shard, dragons are virtually unknown in the present times, although ancient artwork depicting draconic creatures suggests this was not always the case.{{book ref|sa4|80}}{{file ref|Oathgate Locations.jpg|text=Oathgate Locations}} On [[Nalthis]], on the other hand, dragons are well-known mythological creatures, with the phrase "dragon's nest" referring to someplace highly dangerous.{{book ref|wb|17}}{{wob ref|1346}} Similarly, dragons are a familiar concept on [[Lumar]], though it's unclear how well-known they were before Xisis moved there.{{book ref|tress|51}}

The planet of [[Komashi]] appears to have beenbe particularly taken with dragons for a long time. They were knownpopular duringin the times of the [[Torio]] kingdom, with sculptures depicting them frequently used as decorations.{{book ref|yumi|40}} Centuries later, in [[Nagadan]], dragons remained a popular motif, with plush dragons being sold as childrens' toys, and one of the years of the Nagadan calendar being named the year of the dragon.{{book ref|yumi|28}}{{book ref|yumi|16}} Despite this, Komashi myths seem to paint dragons as antagonistic, withas they have stories of heroes dragon-slaying them being well-knownheroes.{{book ref|yumi|10}}