Drakes, The Skybound Mounts of Darastrix

Drakes are creatures with a wild past that are believed to be descended from dragons. As a prized possessions of the Daras people, domesticated drakes are friendly, invaluable allies, and are
thought to be distant cousins of the vasar.

An Industry:

Drake ownership is a common practice in Darastrix, and the need for drakes as mounts has increased tenfold in recent years. Drake breeding and domestication began with the zi’Snorap family, and to this day the zi’Snorap’s remain the oldest and most renowned drake-breeding family in the entire world. Their operation is currently ran by the head of the Snorap family, Yelsha zi’Snorap. Yelsha has raised the standard of drake breeding to new heights, rearing her drakes with advanced care, comprehensive training, and a rigorous owner selection process.

Breeding:

Mature drakes produce 5-10 eggs per year.  Drakes are typically mated within their breed in order to produce stronger drakes. While cross-bred drakes are viable, they generally yield less healthy young. Egg laying occurs on average 5 weeks after mating and the eggs will hatch after 4 months of incubation.  Eggs have about a 50% success rate of hatching, the success rate is dependent on factors such as environment, genetics, and disease.

Owning Your Own Drake:

Raised with care and discipline, domesticated drakes are intelligent and proud. When purchasing a drake, the vasar spend time alone with their potential companion in order to establish trust and respect. The goal of this process is to guarantee a happy and healthy relationship between the bonded pair for years to come. Non-vasar who plan to purchase a drake undergo a meticulous selection process meant to forge a genuine link between owner and beast, which can be difficult for non-vasar races to secure. Buying a drake will cost 3,000gp to 10,000gp each.

Care:

Drakes need to fly for long distances two times a week at minimum, but prefer to fly as often as possible. Their omnivorous diet is one of high protein composed of the meat of lesser animals, but some drakes prefer the taste of vegetation. Allowing drakes to have ample space outdoors along with a nest-like interior space will ensure that a drake remains content.  Large water sources are also a nice treat to have available for your flying friend.

Caution:

Drakes vary in demeanor and size. The most sturdy drakes are big enough to support a large vasar while the smaller drakes are the equivalent of a large dog.  There are also some breeds that are more aggressive while their counterparts are truly like a family pet. This being said, while the larger more aggressive breeds are dangerous, all drakes have sharp teeth and their own personality so until you know your drake well it should approached cautiously. ALWAYS use caution when near drakes in the wild.

Multi-drake Households:

While drakes typically get along with one another, Yelsha will not allow multiple of her drakes to go to one home until they have interacted with one another in her presence. She also screens the potential owner and ensures that they have plenty of space to house the drakes.  Some companies and/or homes have a need for several drakes. These owners are held to the same high standards as those with fewer drakes. Care for each beast must remain at a high level, and the drakes must be introduced to one another beforehand and have enough space to fly and hunt.  If the drakes are hostile when they interact,  they must be properly sectioned away from one another.

Beasts of Burden:

Drakes are often used to carry heavy or large items across sizable distances.  Due to their ability to fly, drakes are commonly used in cases where items need to be flown from place to place in lieu of using airships. Their abilities are not infinite, however, and traveling by drake may be slower than other modes of transportation due to the rest time required for the beasts.

Fighting:

The widespread domestication of drakes has changed vasar warfare. By riding drakes, vasar can fly without experiencing the fatigue that comes with flying on their own. Drakes that are trained for warfare are taught to fight fiercely with their sharp claws, teeth, and tails when being flown.  For protection,  there are armorsmiths that specifically craft armor for drakes that is lightweight and protects their vital areas much like vasar armor.

Wild and Legendary:

While the zi’Snoraps maintain a firm grasp on the domesticated drake market, there are some drake breeds that still elude the family. There is legend of a large green drake in the Jungles of Sinafey that the zi’Snoraps wish to tame. Yelsha herself has seen a large albino drake in the northern expanse of Glaycian, and there is said to be a pack of eldric drakes roaming in the Shardlands.

Undomesticated Danger:

Regardless of their breed, wild drakes are extremely dangerous. They are large and innately aggressive. Average citizens are generally uninformed of the dangers of wild drakes, incorrectly thinking they have all been tamed; this lack of education leads to several deaths annually.