Dragons

From Editable Codex

Dragon
Dragon, from Ultima VII manual.
First appearance:	Ultima III
Last appearance:	Ultima IX

Dragons are huge, flying, fire-breathing reptiles with a strong mind and fearsome magical abilities like the ability to summon Daemons and becoming invisible. Only a fool or the strongest warriors would challenge a Dragon to a fight. But such perils are usually rewarded with the treasure the Dragon kept. Dragons can come in quite a number of variety. The Dragons of Britannia usually are either green or red in color, while the rare Ice Dragons of the Serpent Isle are blue in color. Ice Dragons mate for life and sing to each other during courting. Their blood can cure almost any disease.

Dragons can usually be found in dungeons, but they also roam the wilderness. The most well-known dwelling place of Dragons is the Dungeon Destard.

First seen in Ultima III, Dragons stayed a part of the series to the very end, with exception of the two Underworlds (for obvious reasons) and Ultima VIII. Due to the enormous difficulty that laid in defeating a Dragon, their power was reduced in Ultima VII, to give players a fair chance to defeat them. In Ultima IX, Dragons seemed to have lost all magical abilities.

[edit] Named dragons

• The Avatar meets Dracothraxus in the Test of Courage on the Isle of Fire in Ultima VII. She is one of the few Dragons that didn't attack the Avatar at once but instead talks first. Attempting to kill her is futile, since she is invincible. However, a won duel gives the Avatar possession of the Ether Gem, to forge the Black Sword, which in the end would be the key to destroying Dracothraxus.
• Riddle-loving dragon Draxinar, also known as "Stumpy" due to his tendency to stump people with his riddles, appears in Ultima VII Part Two: The Silver Seed, in Aram-Dol's Lair.