While I've had a fantastic time with the recent event and all the cool lore around it, I can't help but find the new Obelisk dragons somewhat....... generic. We see the god of the earth himself sculpt them from stone, name and individualize each with his own hands, and the end result just... doesn't really look like an 'earth' dragon.
I understand they're based off of stone guardian lions, which is a neat art direction, buuut the species just seems ill-fitting for their rocky homeland (and totally unrelated to Snappers). They mostly just resemble stout tundra/ manticore hybrids... so! Redesign time.
While the Obelisk's encyclopedia entry isn't out yet, I've tried to keep the design elements of the 'protector + harbinger' role they've been tasked with. They're large, stocky, and powerful, but also more suited to their environment & offering cover for their fellow dragons.
Their general posture is a mix of bear/ ankylosaur/ armadillo, with robust forelimbs + flat claws for digging. They have toughened hide plates running along their backs, with osteoderms lining their flanks. Their heads are flatter and wedge-shaped (though I've kept the under-bite, cute lil' ears, and bristly mane). Their tails are flattened into a spade- useful for defense, shoveling earth, or slamming into the ground to communicate. Lastly, their wings- they have 2 strong digits for tunneling, and the leathery membranes have been reinforced with fibers and scutes (this makes them pretty useless for flight, but perfect for defending smaller dragons).
Since they're a newborn species with no known culture/ behavior of their own yet, they're kinda... a blank slate rn (hopefully that lore article comes out soon). I see Obelisks as statuesque behemoths, watching over their tiny Snapper cousins as their clans travel across the steppes. Perhaps they use the pounding of their great weight to speak across vast distances, to warn other dragons whenever danger is near?
Well, even though I don't dislike the Obelisks' current design, I can only hope the next breed has a more... distinct concept. (If I have to wait 10 years for water to get 'tundra but with a tail fin'....... sigh.)












