GreyKnight-FR

Here is Gallus my mining material gathering master of digging (and whistling). He doesn’t say much, but you know that he is working nearby if you can hear his jolly tune. Gallus works with Nimbus as his apprentice Mineral Expert. Both of them have a great interest in what Arlo has to offer and have frequently traveled to excavation sites all over Sornieth to bring back useful tools and materials for building, crafting, and very rarely, collecting (*cough*hoarding*cough*).

My headcanon is that many modern-day Snapper dragons are born with smaller and smaller vestigial wings and occasionally (like Gallus) none at all. No horrific maiming, no accidental loss of limb, Gallus was simply not born with typical dragon wings. The Gaolers have another bulky, flightless breed to empathize with given they ever come in direct contact with these friendly down-to-earth creatures.

This is a big ‘ol WIP that I just picked up after 3 months away. I tried a few layering/smudging techniques as I navigate where I want my style and skill to go. Currently doing a lot of learning and experimenting. I personally prefer the darker version, but the lighter version is more true to the FR dragon’s colors. :’Y Any suggestions? 

I intend to redraw Gallus with (most of) his apparel because this big guy is one of my favorite sweet, soft grey dragons. We’ll see what I get around to after I complete some overdue commissions and catch up with April Dragon-A-Day (if that’s even possible at this point). 

5. What do your lair members do for entertainment, at both a personal & societal level?

Overseer Order Gaolers are above ‘child’s play’. These dragons are content to read volume after volume of literature brought to them by the few Exalted dragons sanctioned to descend to their level of silent confinement. Each Overseer keeps a small cell of their own where they take rest between long shifts of vigilance.

Among the brotherhood of the Keeper Order, sparring matches are held to entertain off-duty Wardens during their rest period. These often develop into highly structured elimination matches with a single victor by the end of the night. Bragging rights and occasionally food prizes are wagered to peak the interest of fellow Brothers. This healthy competition boosts morale and allows Keepers to hone their martial skills between watches. Meal Time is another scheduled social occasion to see Wardens from other parts of the labyrinthine prison, or perform courtship.

The Sentry Order Gaolers may occasionally organize races or practice combat during rest periods much like the sparring matches held by Wardens of the Keeper Order. Some Sentry Order Gaolers prefer to hunt for their own food outside of rations prepared and delivered by the IceFallen Exalted. Sentry Gaolers run in pairs or small packs, making them much more socialized than those who serve inside the Fortress. Sentry Order Gaolers are much more guarded and loyal to one another since their bond is life-long. Their dusk and dawn shift changes give them the freedom to convene with other Sentries of their Watch, visit with the Exalted or even go so far as to socialize with other dragons in nearby territories.

The Seeker Order Gaolers have the most freedom of movement, often considered to have the most 'fun' of any other Gaoler Order. Regular gatherings occur in the wild under the Full Moon with food, drink, and games. They appreciate life for how precious it is, and take great enjoyment from a variety of competitions between other packs. These lunar celebrations are a time for socialization, catching up with nest-mates from childhood, courtship, and swapping allegiances between packs. Occasionally, Seekers and traveling dragons from other Clans join the festivities.

Here are my head-canons for how the skulls of these three dragon breeds might look! I was inspired by a post that I saw recently (that I sadly cannot find at the moment) about how Gaolers, Tundras, and Obelisks look very similar. This was a quick drawing exercise between drawings that I am currently working on! Gaolers - Omnivores. Their antlers are large and shed seasonally (Canon Lore). Their jaws are built for a more powerful bite, and their skulls are built to facilitate keen hearing, sight, and an above average olfactory system to locate prey making them perfect Hunters (Head-canon fluff). Referenced Bear, Lion, and Wolf skulls to support the idea with some realism.

Tundras - Herbivores. Their horns are pronged, but do not shed at all, growing for their entire lifespan. Their canines are sharp for purely combat purposes. They have an excellent olfactory system to forage for their preferred foods (Canon Lore). Tundras have been known to eat fish and occasionally other meats alongside their preferred vegetation during harsh seasons that no vegetation may be found. This is especially true the closer to the Fortress of Ends they may choose to live. Tundras are distantly related to Gaolers, possibly the result of deserters and outcast Gaolers who chose a different lifestyle since creation and bred themselves into what is now considered their softer, smaller cousins (Head-canon). Referenced a cat skull.

I have a couple of them, but this ask inspired me to really start thinking about them more! Their lore will be tied to my aquatic Gaolers Aegir and Sigra!

This big ol friend may be the cause of this 'Little Mermaid' situation with my Gaoler. He is a helpful friendly magical guy who saves drowning dragons by changing them to make them into more amphibious/aquatic creatures. He 'makes' friends for himself. haha!

Lyr | Kaith | Nivis | Snikt | Jhudora | Sigra All of these dragons have full-length lore & completed bios!! 

These four are a special project that I’d love to make full art for some time. For now, here are some doodles for how I imagine they might look. 

Lyr is the mother of three monstrous boys; Erebus (little bird), Noxxis(No eyes), and Gorshade (six legs). It has been such a long time since I wrote their original lore that I’m currently in the process of re-writing it. 

In essence, Lyr has been an outcast her entire life as a Gaoler born just across the sea from the Motherland in the territory of the IceWarden’s greatest rival, the Flamecaller. Her mother was a Seeker Order Gaoler who failed to cross the sea before she gave birth. Lyr was the only one that survived the ordeal, but her mother’s pack abandoned her for dead, believing that she would not make the trip across the ocean. She was picked up by a sympathetic traveler that found her on the volcanic beach. She was nursed to health and raised among modern breeds of dragons.

Lyr is a powerful spellcaster with the ability to wreath herself in flames so cold that they blacken everything that they touch. This ability is affected by her mood. She grew to become a very open-minded Gaoler who lived a full life outside of her own kind for most of her youth. The first time that she encountered her own kind was a Seeker pack on the Hunt. She was swept away by them.

Her sons are the product of what she strongly believes was a dream. a dark, roguish dragon in the shape of a Gaoler visited her, and when she awoke the dream was gone. She felt drawn to the Scarred Wasteland, but as she searched for the dragon from her dreams she fell ill. Her pack left her behind to continue the Hunt.

Lyr suffered for days before giving birth to four healthy cubs, one of them, the female, went missing the same night. It took months to recover with three little ones clinging to her, but she returned to IceFallen with them. She demanded that they were treated as true Gaolers and urged them to choose an Order. Goreshade was the first Gaoler to be denied entry into the Fortress of Ends due to paranoia deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of the Wardens since the infiltration of the Dark One. The brothers were given the choice of Sentry or Seeker Order. If they did not choose one, they were to be driven out of the territory as outcasts.