This is another worldbuilding document I wrote on Draconis. I wanted to flesh out the ideas of the continents and nations a little bit more. I touched on some of the geographies of Draconis but ultimately turned into touching on legends within Draconis and the social structure ideas for some of the nations and lands.

It's not as interesting as the stories, but it's written from the perspective of a scientific mind observing the state of the world. Wink.

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Draconis Continents and World Structure


Dragis:

One of Draconis’ larger continents, Dragis is the easternmost continent, much like Earth’s Asia and Europe. Similar to Earth’s ring of fire in and around the Pacific ocean, Dragis contain the largest amount of volcanoes, forming the volcanic hub and border for the Fire dragon nation.

The Fire dragon nation is by far the largest and most well-fortified, due to the natural terrain. With only a comparatively small band of land on both the top and bottom of the continent, The Fire dragon nation has the largest area of effect on Draconis. However, much of this land is hostile and of poor soil. The Fire dragons often live around the volcanoes and oceans due to the abundance of fertile soil and access to water.

The northern side of the continent houses a vast and dry desert. While the northern location leads one to believe it would be colder, the active volcanic activity has released many greenhouse gases in the area, increasing the temperature. However, the nights can become so bitterly cold that non-fire dragons could freeze almost instantly. It is rumored that an extinct race of dragons inhabited this land during one of Draconis’ long-lost ice ages. Some archeologists believe that Ice dragons once roamed the frigid desert of Kholodnya (Russian cold and desert). Small structures and ruins have been found in the dunes.

Recovered and deciphered texts have led some researchers to believe that the ancient feral dragon of Ice may still be alive, waiting to give birth to a new generation of Ice dragons, but no proof as to the validity of these claims has yet to be published beyond conspiratorial circles.

The southern end of the continent is nearly the opposite of the north, acting as home to a humid savannah prone to constant storms from the east and rivers of magma flowing from the continent’s many volcanoes segmenting the southern region of Dragis into small, divided clusters of life. While being more hospitable for life, the distance from any meaningful outposts or cities has made colonizing these areas difficult. Few dragons have dared to depart their homes and build what some would consider as a new nation of opportunity, other than the Plant dragon outposts, primarily within the Terragon continent.

The western side of the continent houses a massive gulf that leads into a vast and flourishing archipelago. These aquatic wonders are home to the Water dragons, though their racial disputes have left their borders clouded and tensions high. Both live fruitfully one way or another. The western side of the archipelago is dominated by the winged Water dragons, acting as the primary trading hub between the eastern and western hemispheres on the eastern continent. Due to the high traffic, many boats and crude flying machines are seen peppering the horizon in nearly every direction. The eastern side remains dominated by the older wingless species of Water dragons. It is also home to the feral dragon of Water which also remains flightless. Many of these islands are connected by underwater caverns giving the older species strong communication between the islands. Due to their intra-social lifestyle, many Water dragons focus on philosophical ideas and many arts. Often seen as the classical hub of the world, these islands have a preserved history and are dedicated to maintaining knowledge of that history for eons to come.

Lastly, the central ring of fire that Dragis is most well known for. The low mountainous terrain and active volcanic activity have acted as a barrier for outsiders to struggle for entry. Over time as the eastern and western hemispheres have come together, dragons of all kinds can now live within the borders, some more common than others.

Within the large ring, a spiraling formation of volcanoes forms 5 arms of the nation. Each arm runs along with one of the primary magma rivers that flow from the central supervolcano, the Maguma, Pozhar, Pele, Ogan, and Vulkan rivers. Small rivers of water stretch from the cooler regions from the north, and a large lake near the center account for the water supply in such a harsh environment. The extreme heat has lent the Fire dragon nation the status as the mechanical industrial center of the world. While there are mines and specially adapted mines for the liquid metals, most of the region uses mechanical knowledge to aid survival and comfort to the thriving lives of the Fire dragons.


Terragon:

Draconis’ second largest continent. It holds another two of the dragon species found in this dangerous world. Terragon is a largely rocky continent with soil that is difficult to tend. Terragon is home to the widest variety of land creatures. Outposts of city-states on the eastern coast of the continent act as the scientific hub of the world, learning about and studying Draconis’ unique fauna. Many lakes pepper the continent, alongside sinkholes which often house Ground dragon settlements and mines.

In ancient times, Wind and Ground dragons lived in tribal communities, traveling about the continent, to both map and explore their world. It is rumored that the two species were once friendly towards one another, but evidence of this harmony is yet unpublished and unrecorded. Several small ruins of long-lasting settlements have been discovered somewhat recently, but a full-scale exploration of these ruins and tombs has yet to be conducted.

The western region of the continent is home to a vast and towering mountain range known as the Vienca (mixture of wind and stone in Spanish) Mountains. The mountain range is difficult to traverse, making it an ideal fortress and home to the Wind dragons. Their advanced flight allows traversal towards and within these mountains easy. Wind dragons, like Fire dragons, are industrious and enjoy engineering. Wind dragons have the single largest variety of architectural styles compared to any other nation. Depending on the environment, settlements have been made of wooden structures, stone and clay, carved stone, and even woven hides of the indigenous creatures.

Many of Draconis’ creatures bear thick skin, but the mountain creatures especially so. The heavy winds that sweep through the valleys produce such harsh windchills that lightweight creatures would be thrown from the mountainside immediately. Most of these creatures are large with special claws designed for anchoring into stone during the region’s occasional windstorms, times of extreme wind speeds during otherwise pleasant weather. When occurring in combination with other storms, traversal becomes impossible, forcing ANYTHING to hunker down and wait out the combined storm.
The Vienca Mountains house dormant volcanoes as well as one of Draconis’ supervolcanoes. These mountains are also home to the tallest peaks in the world. To this day, expeditions to summit some of these peaks have never even been attempted. The extreme altitude is too far beyond the current capabilities of the Dragon species of the present time. Perhaps someday.

Meanwhile, the expansive, yet covered in hills, eastern ecosystems bear torment to dust storms in the deserts, extreme thunderstorms in the prairies, and horrific tornadoes throughout. The forests suffer from wildfires every year. Life struggles to survive on this continent. However, the highly specialized creatures found in the harshest of these environments have given way to many highly successful industries, such as textiles, ranching, and the aforementioned sciences [particularly the biological sciences].

Though life is difficult to sustain on the surface, the mountains and the underground of Terragon are rich in minerals, gems, and other precious materials. The continent as a whole is rich in this regard. The recent history of the continent shows the existence of boom towns and ghost towns, reminiscent of the American west of Earth. Alongside this, modern myths and legends have been born from horrific historical events and traumatic tales from survivors of the aggressive weather patterns.

The modern myth is not where it ends however, there are rumors that a subspecies of Ground dragon lives deep in the mountains, a cousin of sorts between Fire dragons and Ground dragons. Some theorize that halfbreeds between the two species could be similar to this fabled subspecies of dragon.

Like the Water dragons, Ground dragons have blurry borders, however, they remain much more stable compared to the aquatic species. Most Ground dragons' settlements are underground or close to a well-used mine. As such, the surface world is often ripe for colonization and immigration. Plant dragons have taken it upon themselves to work the surface and turn the continent of Terragon into a haven of life, suitable for all species of dragons. They even work with Ground dragons that have taken to ranching or just prefer to survive on the surface rather than underground. These relations have yielded a recent boom of architecture between the Plant and Ground dragons. The two get along very well.

It is believed that the Plant dragons are growing a new nation on Terragon. Perhaps this new nation will bring about peaceful relations around the globe, but that remains wishful thinking at best.

Beyond the relations of Ground and Plant dragons, Ground dragons remain versatile and often work as laborers in some businesses. More specialized work of the Ground dragons often leans into animal work, taming, slaughtering, butchering, and all aspects of the use of animal life and work, including clothing and leatherwork. Perhaps further integration with other species like the Water dragons could bring about a renaissance of artistic potential in Draconis.
Beyond social cultures, the southern edge of the continent bears home to many biomes of unexplored land. With further advancement of all sciences, full-scale exploration of the Draconis planet will be possible.


Wyver:

The northernmost continent of Draconis. This continent acts as the homeland for both the Electric and Plant dragon species. The land itself is prone to frequent rainstorms and bitterly cold and brutal winter snowstorms. As such, the soil is EXTREMELY fertile, and home to the largest and most breathtaking flora on the Draconis planet.

As the smallest and most well-explored continent on Draconis, much is already documented. Plant dragons have advanced many lifestyle fields, such as language and the written word. Plant dragons once had a highly nomadic lifestyle, which allowed them to gather knowledge from across the world. Like plants, they find ways to survive even the harshest conditions of Draconis. Although they struggle with the raw heat and fire of the Fire dragon nation most. The Plant dragons furthered the idea of communication and developed a library system and possibly sparked the Wind dragon’s fascination with communication and subsequent obsession with the highly efficient mail system implemented across the planet.

Plant dragons were the first of the dragon species to settle beyond their home continent and developed the earliest forms of traversal on the planet. However, unlike the social Plant dragons, the Electric dragons remained somewhat closed off until that traversal became introduced to the culture. They quickly took to the idea but revolutionized the idea of highwaymen and pirates for Draconis, called fight bandits and brigands respectively. The current lack of meaningful law enforcement on the continent and international water has only helped the growth of this practice.

Aside from farming, Wyver’s more seasonal economic cycle, lead to ice, both as a commodity and scientific study becoming the other primary industry of the area. Architecturally, insulated buildings like greenhouses and ice boxes have been developed for a more year-round version of both of these industries.

The land itself is largely unremarkable but rich in nourishment, both from the northern glaciers feeding the many small rivers and superfood plants. There is little to say in the way of legend for this continent as there is little to go off of. The ever-changing nature of the continent and its peoples has all but obliterated any evidence or story of an ancient version of the two nations that inhabit Wyver. Instead, Wyver acts as the hub of knowledge and information for the world and the source of most of the legends already mentioned in this document, thanks to the Plant dragons’ amazing and detailed documentation of subjects.


Hydros:

The last of the continents of Draconis. This one is uninhabited, at least to the current knowledge of the world. Much like the southern region of Terragon, Hydros is largely unexplored, causing myth of legendary cities and riches. However, most of the continent is centered around the southern pole of the planet with one large peninsula shape pointing towards Terragon. This is the other main suspected home for a potential Ice dragon. Despite being uninhabited, the world itself seems to want travelers and explorers in Hydros. Many of the ocean currents pull towards this southern pole. Even major wind flows have a typically southern direction to them.

Alongside this, the edge of Hydros is supposedly the most haunted region of Draconis, perhaps a ghostly dragon species could rise! The scientific likelihood of such a species is extremely low. Some myths of the world suggest that the planet is hollow with a reverse side of the world and wholly different species of dragons in a more abstract version of what lives on our side.


Conclusion:

Perhaps a future document detailing some of the myths discussed in this loose observatory paper on the lands of Draconis? Maybe one per continent or even by type of myth? Regardless, let this document of Draconis be a guide to whoever reads it and allows them to further understand this strange world of Draconis.