In the world of Lycos, Solbraxis the eternal, Sun of the world, is often depicted as a flaming Dragon. His creations therefore, are said to resemble himself. While True dragons are the rarest among all beasts, their lesser cousins, the drakes, are much more commonplace. Drakes are a key part of Lycan commerce and agriculture, being commonly used as beasts of burden to pull farm plows, trading wagons, or as land mounts. there are many different types of drakes across the world, and different species have unique uses that Lycans have learned to wield for themselves. A few examples of Drake species are:
Forest and Stone drakes: Essentially the same species, but with different colored scales. These drakes are the most common type. They are slow but strong, with thick, muscled limbs, a short and wide tail, and a large, broad skull filled with squared teeth that they use to eat vegetation. They have a mild temperament and are easily tamed and taught to do tasks.
Silver drakes: Silver drakes, so named for their shiny, silvery scales, are the second most common form of drake. These drakes are lean, with tall legs and a stabilizing tail. Not suited for pulling carts or plows, They are instead the most common form of land transportation for the middle class or lower nobility. A bit too expensive for the average farmer to own, These drakes are much faster than a Stone or forest drake, and have excellent endurance, being able to run for several leagues without resting. They are also the most common Calvary mount used in warfare, favored by knights for their ability to fight alongside them while being ridden, using their long serrated teeth to rip apart the enemy riders or footmen, armor and all. They have a leery temperament and require strict training by their masters.
Ebondrakes: The rarest of all drakes, and arguably more terrifying to encounter than a dragon, The ebondrake is an apex predator. It's midnight black scales blend seamlessly into any shadows, and are the hardest mortal material known to Lycan-kind. Their scales can deflect nearly 100% of kinetic energy, making them invulnerable to physical attacks, with their eyes and open mouth being their only weak spots. They are long, serpentine and slender, with a body up to 50 feet long. Their skull flows with the contours of their body, making it seem like one unbroken curve. their tail is long and taper's to a whiplike point, which they use with devastating effect alongside their foot-long claws against opponents or prey. Whenever the slayer's guild does put a bounty on one, the reward is usually no less than one thousand gold pieces, enough to buy a castle, village, and noble title.
Runt Drakes: Also referred to as rat drakes, runt drakes are the smallest of all drake species, coming in at a mere 8 inches in length. They are the only drake species to possess the ability to breathe fire like the True-Dragons, which they use to cook insects that they prey upon, or to defend themselves against potential predators. They have a build eerily similar to a wingless true-dragon, with long legs, well proportioned tail, tall chest, long neck, and a draconic skull, complete with two tiny horns. Mainly found in thick, vegetated forests or the gutters of large cities, Runt drakes are considered by and large as pests, As their insect hunting escapades have burned down many buildings over the centuries. Some however keep them as pets, or keep them as a firestarter for use in the more humid jungles of the central continent.
Swamp Drake: A large, semi-aquatic and Carnivorous drake native to the wetlands of southern Aken and the nations of the central continent. They ambush unsuspecting passers-by and drag them to the depths to swallow whole. Second only to the ebondrake in size, they can be up to 30 feet long.