For a highly common cryptid race, surprisingly little is known about the Homo draconem, colloquially known as the "dragon princess." Indeed, for centuries, we were unaware that dragon princesses were anything other than human maidens with the misfortune to have been abducted by dragons. This led to many "rescues" by the Covenant of St. George, who would slaughter one cryptid and then ride away, triumphant, with another.
The scientific classification of the dragon princess is entirely based on guesswork, as a specimen has never been acquired for study, and no amount of bribery or pleading has resulted in our being able to perform a necropsy on a deceased specimen. Indeed, it is the only thing the dragon princesses have ever been known to refuse payment for.
The dragon princess is best described in relation to her two great passions: gold, and the nest. A dragon princess will work even the most menial of tasks to amass wealth, which she will then convert into gold and carry back to the nest she shares with others of her species. Whether this is for health reasons or purely psychological is currently unknown.
BIOLOGY
Biologically, the dragon princess is defined more by what we don't know than she is by what we do know. They appear mammalian, and this assumption is at the base of most studies about the race. They have a lifespan roughly equal to the human norm, assuming the Covenant of St. George doesn't find them first—in the absence of dragons to slay, the Covenant has been known to take their anger out on the relatively defenseless dragon princesses.
The most notable biological quirk of the dragon princess is her apparent immunity to fire and heat. Dragon princesses have been observed swimming in boiling water with no signs of discomfort, and will occasionally intentionally set themselves aflame to provide an extra layer of defense when cornered. They are incapable of generating their own flame, and must make use of lighters and matches, which they carry at all times.
No dragon princes have ever been seen; the species is presumed entirely female. Their exact method of reproduction remains unknown.
DESCRIPTION
The dragon princess is physically indistinguishable from a human female of her approximate age. They seem to have little physical variation; while there have been rumors of dragon princesses originating in China or Africa, all confirmed sightings have been of the European strain, who are uniformly blonde, blue- or green-eyed, and apparently of Caucasian descent.
Interestingly, dragon princesses seem to have maintained this same uniformity of appearance since they were first identified as a race. They were once viewed as tall and willowy, averaging 5'5" to 5'7" and a US size 8 to 12. They have since become average, if attractive, all without apparently changing their appearance. This may demonstrate a very low rate of genetic drift, although without more information on their reproduction, it isn't clear exactly why this would be the case.
SOCIETY
The life of a dragon princess is largely spent in the pursuit of one thing: wealth. They are vicious traders, and notoriously reluctant to give money up once it has come into their possession. They were once described by Alexander Healy as "the most beautiful women you'll ever meet still wearing their granny's underwear." While crude, this is generally accurate.
Dragon princesses group themselves into units called "nests," which may contain anywhere from three to thirty individuals, depending on the size of the city. Once assumed to be a mechanism for saving money without taking human roommates, these nests have since been discovered to be genuine communities, with each dragon princess supporting the others as best she can. They raise their children (all female) collectively, and do not let them exit the nest until they are old enough to deal with humans.
Perhaps understandably, given the extinction of the dragons, the dragon princesses are very wary of anything connected to the Covenant of St. George. Because of this, they remain reluctant to accept help when it is offered, and must be approached with care.
Artwork by Kory Bing.