SandWing tribe sheet!
Here's tribe #2! i find myself liking sandwings more the more i think about them :) they'e definitely one of my less changed tribes, i like joy ang's design for them so i just referenced some desert lizards to give them a little more uniqueness and mostly left it otherwise. hope yall enjoy!
Edit: I ended up changing the blood color a little to be more interesting :)
Physical Appearance + Traits:
-SandWings, in stark contrast to MudWings, are the smallest of Pyrrhian dragons. They are very light, and barely more than half the height of some taller tribes.
-Their appearance is most comparable to other desert reptiles, particularly the horned lizard, with spines, ridges and darker markings across their sides.
-SandWing coloration usually lands on the spectrum between gold and white. Sometimes a more yellowy color might be seen, and rarely, a darker brownish tint. Their colors reflect desert sand, and allow them to bury into it unseen, whether for shelter from enemies or the blazing sun. Despite lighter SandWings performing better under desert conditions, those with darker coloration are often seen as more attractive, and dark tattoo patterns are popular.
-Darker scales near their eyes absorb light, allowing SandWings to see despite the sometimes oppressive glare of the desert sun. They also have an extra eyelid to protect from sand and dust.
-At the end of their tail is a barb that can inject lethal venom at its most potent; SandWings themselves have some level of resistance to the venom.
-They have stiff, upright fans, or ridges, along their backs, which help with temperature regulation; when hot, the veins within fill with the body’s warm blood, and the high surface area allows it to cool off quickly. The same process can also be done with the wing membranes, though a bit less effectively due to the thick scales on the outside of the wing.
-SandWings have thick, dark skin lining their mouths, which protects them both from sun damage and the spikes and thorns often found in desert food (cacti, spiny lizards, etc). They also have a high tolerance to some toxins, and to alcohol resulting from fermenting fruit. (This is true of RainWings as well.)
-They eat little and drink less, like all animals surviving under desert conditions. One good meal a week is all SandWings really need, and usually they get enough water from the food they eat that they don’t need to go in search for more.
-SandWing fire is not as suited for combat as that of other tribes. They can’t produce very much of it at once and it’s more akin to natural fire than typical dragon fire. It certainly can be used to fight, but they prefer to fight with tails and claws; their fire is better used for food and light.
-SandWings are good fliers, and can glide long distances without needing to land and while using minimal energy, but more notably, they’re also the best runners out of any tribe. Their stamina and ability to walk or sprint over vast stretches of desert is unmatched, and some prefer it over flying.
Life Cycle:
-SandWings lay between one and three eggs; usually it’s just one or two, and three is somewhat uncommon. They incubate for a short period of time, usually just three months, and hatch small but able to fend for themselves. SandWing dragonets lack a ridge along their backs, which makes it easier to bury themselves in the sand to stay safe, and their venom, while less outright deadly, acts much faster and usually induces sharp pain, nausea and even minor paralysis. It’s effective at keeping them safe from predators.
-SandWing parents - mothers in particular - are usually present and able to look after dragonets, so these defense mechanisms are only in place as a last resort.
-Dragonets have distinct “young”, “adolescent” and “adult” phases of growth, and usually reach adult size at around seven years. Like all dragons, they do continue to grow, but very minimally in their case.
-SandWings do not generally partner for life, and exclusive monogamous coupling is not the societal expectation. Some do it, but it’s more common to jump between short relationships based largely on physical attraction. Fathers aren’t usually expected to help raise dragonets.
Society and Culture:
-At a time, SandWings were one of the most organized and well-educated tribe, but later they became divided into two very distinct groups: Palace SandWings and Scorpion Den SandWings. These titles aren’t literal; not all “high-class” SandWings live in the palace, and not all street-dwelling SandWings live in the Scorpion Den, but these places are fairly representative of their group. In the palace and nearby areas, SandWings keep up with news and are typically well-trained in combat, in service of the queen. The Scorpion Den, meanwhile, is an infamously criminal town where dragons aim to survive and scrounge for anything they can get. Run largely by assassins and hired theives, this town is to thank for the ‘shifty and untrustworthy’ stereotypes often pointed toward SandWings.
-SandWings in general, in later parts of history, are more focused toward physical training than education, but the Den, as well as other scrappy and chaotic outskirt towns, has changed general perception of them in a somewhat negative light.
-They are known for heavy slang and “colorful” language, including those in the palace, and when paired with regional accents of some of the outskirt towns, some other tribes find SandWings difficult to understand if they speak too quickly.
-SandWings eat rarely, and as a result they sometimes reserve eating for specific occasions. To celebrate, they conduct tribe-wide parades and festivals, and these are often the main time for treats and feasts. At these times, they indulge in (usually roasted) foods - insects, lizards, birds - seasoned with a variety of spices, and elaborate fruit dishes that often include rainforest delicacies brought by RainWings.
-The events inspiring such celebrations usually revolve around celestial movement. Solstices, moon cycles, eclipses, etc. are all celebrated to different degrees. SandWings worship day and night equally, and the sun and moons have equal cultural significance to them. The unity of the two keeping the desert in balance is what they care about.
-SandWings, in fact, are so intrinsically connected to time and movement that this is thought to be the reason behind their musical inclination and sense of rhythm. Music and dance are another major part of these parades, and SandWings have a great love for engaging and complex rhythmic music. Those watching from the sides will often swish sand and rattle their scales in time with performances. (RainWings are commonly invited, to bring their food and dance with the SandWings, as SandWings greatly respect their skill.) SandWings also have a particularly hard time coping if they are removed from the day cycle; it can be extremely disorienting and unpleasant.
-Jewelry, gold especially, is extremely popular and can be worn to excess. It’s also common to tattoo or bejewel scales to the preference of the individual.
Diet: Omnivorous. Will eat almost anything available: insects, reptiles, mammals and birds; cactus fruit, cactus itself, coconut, nuts; and a wide variety of spices, many of which are outright poisonous to other tribes.
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