Creature:Lowland Draconian

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- Lowland Merchant

The Lowland Draconians are one of the three main branches of the Draconian species evolution line. These short and snakey lizards have grown accustomed to life on the shores and rivers of the Draconian continents. The Lowland Draconians have learned to utilize their influence of monetary systems and expertise in trade to overcome obstacles, as such has led to the development of a greedy and cunning nature for typical Lowlanders.

Physical Appearance
One of the most distinguished features of the Lowland Draconians is their long, snake-like body. Their long tails act as a rudder, and allows the Lowlanders to swiftly swim through bodies of water. Another feature of the Lowland Draconians is the three spikes, one located on each elbow, and one grown from the tips of their tails. These spikes help act as natural weapons should the Lowland Draconian become ambushed when unarmed.

The Lowland Draconian is not well protected, even less than a Highlander; they lack the armor-like plates that grow along the belly and back of Heartlanders and Highlanders, but are covered in very small, fine scales that offer some small form of protection. The Lowlander's webbed hands and feet, coupled with their long snake-like tail and slender body grants them superior movement in water, Lowlanders are fast enough in water that they could easily swim upstream through rapids.

Implanted on the Lowland Draconian’s forehead is a small cluster of hard crystals, this is the Draconian’s core. All Draconian species has a core cluster growing on their foreheads since hatching, these mysterious crystals provide strength and longevity natural for the Draconians as a whole; if damaged, the individual may grow weak, or even expire.

Home World
The Lowland Draconians are native sentients of Draconia, a hot arid world located in the Actok System, which is shared by the other subspecies of Draconians.

The planet itself is located at the center of the Draconian Militarized Zone, which composes of nearly every star system within the Ember Cluster star group. Rich in heavy metals, Draconia has served as the most productive planets within the Ember Cluster, however, the Draconian's high material consumption has led to a great need of interstellar colonization.

Telloiris
Draconia's sole moon, Telloiris, was formed billions of years ago after an immense meteor impacted the young molten planet, ejecting enough materials into orbit that eventually accreted into a small moon; the material that was not part of Telloiris' accretion became the Draconian ring system. Telloiris is the largest object within the Draconian ring system, roughly 6,000 km in diameter and has become tidally locked to Draconia early after it's formation.

By the year 10,527 D.E., resources on Draconia began to grow slim, and in an effort to circumnavigate this, the Draconians sought to tap the resources of the other nearby planets within the Actok System. Telloiris was the first attempt at terraforming by the Draconians, and has become a major star port for the Draconian Armed Forces.

Government
The Draconian society is led purely on military might, the armies do the talking for the Draconian race. The Draconians themselves are ruled by an emperor, one born of noble blood, or appointed to the strongest individual if there are no heirs to the previous lineage. The Emperor acts as a figure head for his people, and is also the highest authority in the Draconian army.

The Draconian Triad, symbol of the Draconian Empire, also reflects the governing race of the Empire. The triad composes of a hollowed triangle, with three spike-like appendages leading outward, and three gemstones filling the triangle's interior. The spiked arms of the triad represent the three powerful spikes that grow on the Draconians, and the gemstones represent the three Draconian species: red for Heartlanders, orange for Highlanders, and yellow for Lowlanders.

Due to the radial symmetry of the triad, when a new Emperor of a different species is crowned, it is tradition that the triad is rotated so that the ruling species gemstone is pointed up.

City Structure
Typical Draconian cities are very large, spanning up to a hundred miles or more. These cities face constant danger from the planet's harsh biosphere, and as such, every city has a massive wall constructed around their boarders, lined with stationary gunnery turrets.

Beyond these imposing walls lie the residential and business blocks, where non-military personnel make their living, working to better and strengthen the empire. Further beyond these areas like the production refineries and facilities, where raw materials are harvested and processed to serve use for the Draconian Armed Forces. Near the core of every city like the garrison and training blocks for military personnel. These military areas are heavily guarded against attack from land, sea, and air, ensuring the safety of their operations and their armed forces.

Lowland cities are usually built near the shores and riverbanks of the waterways of Draconia. Being a primarily economic species, Lowlanders usually construct many trade centers and markets within their cities to support the economic systems.

Military Doctrine
The Draconian military is generally composed of highly trained, professionally skilled warriors. Each division is categorized by level of training, military experience, specialization of skill, and by species. Lowland Draconians make the best infiltrators, silent, swift, and generally unsuspected of any form combat; a single squadron of specially trained Lowlanders is enough to catch any enemy off guard.

When a young male Draconian's horns are fully grown, they are considered mature enough to enlist in the Draconian Armed Forces (D.A.F.), and are encouraged to do so. From there, they are trained in many arts of armed and unarmed combat; a Draconian learns not only how to utilize manufactured weapons and munitions, but to also use their very body as a weapon. While Draconians appear to be brutal and mindless killing machines, they are trained to be honorable in combat. A Draconian usually stays in the military until they are too old to continue fighting, and are then discharged from the service.

Not all male Draconians enlist in the armed forces, those that don't are considered feeble of both mind and body by the populous; which is considered a major insult to the species.

Public Relations
Because of the Draconian's sizable empire, powerful weapons, and brutal efficiency of their armies, other species tend to avoid or fear the Draconian Empire. Most of this reputation was built on the savage takeover of the Ember Cluster by the Draconians in their desire to gather more resources to support their society.

It wasn't until the year 15,012 D.E. that the advances of the Draconian Empire were halted through diplomatic negotiations with the Slashatoras Empire. It was through this shaky peace settlement that led to interstellar trade for the Draconians. Due to the profitability of trade, the Draconians gradually softened their military conquests, and became more open to other species.