Post by Zirin on Mar 29, 2012 17:07:58 GMT -4
Dragonet Growth and Training
[[WIP]]
The following is a brief overview of the growth and training of dragonets.
No one really knows why, but the dragons, depending on their rank, have different growth rates. As such, it is not uncommon to see lower ranked dragons actually outgrowing their larger siblings for short periods of time.
The graphs are a rough display of the normal maximum (left) and minimum (right) sizes of the dragonets. The human is six feet tall.
Note: The images are to be taken with a grain of salt: the template used is not stretched out straight and Zi is too lazy to make it more accurate.
When dragons hatch, they are, on average, about twenty percent of their full grown size. The first few months of life tend to revolve around eating, sleeping, bathing and oiling as the dragonets grow quickly. Food is chopped and prepared by their riders or by assistants.
By the time a dragonet is three months of age, sub-kings and up are roughly forty percent of their full size, while the smaller colours are just over half grown.
It is usually between three and six months of age that the dragonets begin to learn how to fly unburdened, as well as various hunting techniques. As they near six months of age, the dragonets become less and less dependent on their riders for food and most, if not all are able to carry their rider on their back for land travel.
Note: Any riders caught trying to fly with their dragonets are severely punished.
By six months, sub-kings and up are roughly sixty percent of their full size, while the smaller colours are about eighty percent.
It is around this time that the riders will be allowed in the air with their dragons. By now, the dragons are completely independent when it comes to getting food.
By nine months, the smaller colours are almost completely full grown.
Lessons now revolve around firestone and it is during this time that the dragons will begin learning to flame. Depending on the weyrlingmaster, dragonets may also learn to jump between.
Weyrlings also begin learning about flights and flight etiquette.
Between nine to twelve months of age, the weyrling pairs will begin moving out of the barracks and into private weyrs of their own.
At twelve months of age, the fighter ranks have reached their full size. Fighter females, and all males, reach sexual maturity at this point and may begin rising and chasing.
At this point, the sub-kings have also stopped growing.
All dragons have reached their full grown size. However, it is a minimum of two more months before sub-queens begin rising, and at least one Turn before queens do.
Unless circumstance demand delay, it is around this time that the weyrlings graduate and join the adult wings.
