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Rondstat

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DRAGONKIN LANGUAGE

The language of the Dragonkin is as blunt as they are. From what I can gather, the sentence structure is direct and simple. I believe it follows a structure like this:-

Subject - Adjective if required - Action modifier - Action - Object.

Much of what we know about Kin language comes from the Dragonkin Primer. Sentences are brief, punctuated by hard velar consonants, and appear to lack articles, prepositions, or subordinate clauses.

The Kin also, notably, created a writing system, which can be seen at Daemonheim Castle and in the QBD lair. While they appear to have ideographic meaning (the symbol for 'abandoned' appearing in both places), they also seem to be imbued with some sort of magical power, sealing off doorways where they appear. The Dactyl scrawled magical research notes onto the walls of their major draconic laboratories, which only appear for other reptilians (5). It is possible that the Kin are such an inherently magical race, even their written language is naturally imbued with magic. Notably, some Kin writing in Rimmington can also permanently enhance the reader's fortitude (36).

Another writing system, 'Mahjarrat script,' appears on the Ritual Marker, in the cellar of Ormod's home, Zamorak's BoL camp, and in ritual circles throughout the game, while the characters that appear on Daemonheim's Occult floors appear like they might fit into either writing system. Freneskae likely hosted one of the Kin's longest stays before Gielinor, and written artefacts were almost certainly included among the dragon metal discards later found by the *ahjarrat. Early Mahjarrat may have incorporated these symbols into their own writing system, simplifying its appearance with the passing generations, though its similarity could just as easily be coincidence.

10-Mar-2015 00:35:01 - Last edited on 08-Apr-2015 00:58:35 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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ICONOGRAPHY

Dragonkin symbol:

A half compass rose on one side, the likeness of the Stone of Jas on the other. Seen in Rimmington, NE Wilderness. Signifies the Kin's enslavement to the Catalyst and Jas. Likely meant to remind and spur on Dactyl to break this curse.

Compass Rose:

An eight point compass, the sign of the uncorrupted Kin. Seen in a Tale of Two Cats. May predate the Dragonkin's involvement with Jas. While its significance is unknown, the Kin are somehow linked to the east as a cardinal direction, always appearing from the east, even on other planes. Possibly also linked to Fairy Dragons.

Art:

While beyond the abilities of Necrosy*tes, elaborate depictions of the Dragonkin form are a hallmark of Dactyl architecture. In addition to large, ostentatious sculptures and bas-reliefs, Kin likenesses are incorporated into fountains, buttresses, mouldings, etc. This may reflect the Dactyl appreciation for uncorrupted Kin as the perfect form, and disregard for others forms of life.

10-Mar-2015 00:35:06 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 01:37:23 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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DRAGONKIN SETTLEMENTS

Rimmington:

Built by Kerapac, early/pre 1st Age as a subterranean laboratory, expanded in later 1st Age with a flooded lower chamber to store large wyrm/QBD.

Brimhaven (Sketherin Arakken):

Built by Dactyl, 1st Age, in order to serve as main base/breeding centre for research into dragons.

These are the earliest known Kin settlements, and display the advanced technology of the race. Rimmington is built with a complex series of aqueducts and culverts channeling seawater to and from the QBD's cooling chamber, while the multilevel dungeon is filled with magical seals and hidden 'genetic' laboratories used for Kerapac's earliest experiments. Brimhaven utilizes the natural heat of the volcano, channeling lava into large amphitheatres used to incubate eggs, and also features a cooling drainage system.

First Age settlements were underground, and located far east of any Guthixian/Serenist development. They appeared to avoid the lower races, and move further east as time went on and society spread.

Dragontooth Isle:

Resource dungeon built by Kerapac, likely 1st Age, in order to store a particular group of failed creations, the Celestial Dragons.

Wilderness Cavern (Ullergrax Arakken):

Possibly pre-existing cave, used by at least one Dactyl for experiments on green dragons, likely 1st Age.

Built and utilized within the same 100 year period that saw the rise of Brimhaven, these are likely just a few of many temporary satellite research centres spread throughout the uninhabited east, in order to study, develop, and experiment on new varieties of dragon.

10-Mar-2015 00:35:15 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 01:42:01 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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Kethsi:

2nd Age. The primary fortress from which the Necrosy*tes launched their attacks on Keth*i, this was likely the ruin of a pre-existing castle, possibly even the Mage Conclave at Mount Firewake.

Northeast Wilderness (Gres Ullergrax):

Adjacent to, or possibly a component of, the Zarosian settlement of Annakarl in the 2nd Age. Existing on a small peninsula, uses brick and mortar construction unlike any other Kin settlements, and residents regularly move between this fortress and the dragon forge.

Ancient Cavern:

Built by Necrosy*tes, 2nd Age, below Baxtorian Falls, as a home to the dragon forge and stable to the Dactyl's most dangerous creations.

Necrosy*tes establishments appear far more primitive than the Dactyl bases that precede them, likely due to their diminished capacity for reason. Odd architectural practices, like clay bricks and wood lintels, may even suggest construction by new allies, rather than the Kin.

It is unknown who controlled Kandarin in the 2nd Age, but Zarosian forces at least led a campaign through the area, and the NE Wilderness settlement is of remarkable proximity to Annakarl. When considered with Movario's Dragonkin key linking the two bases' Necrosy*tes weapon distribution (18), this suggests that dragon equipment was regularly moved from one base to the other, and possibly traded to Zarosians.

The presence of dragons in the Ancient Caverns suggests the Necrosy*tes might have began breeding these creatures, or at least using them as guard dogs. Alternatively, they may have simply expanded onto a discarded Dactyl holding pen to create the forge.

10-Mar-2015 00:35:23 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 01:45:58 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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Daemonheim:

Built by Kerapac and other Dactyl as their chief laboratory, 3rd(?) Age, on peninsula east of Forinth*y. Consists of castle and series of discarded basement labs, built around a subterranean energy rift and focused on isolating particular Kin powers.

Eastern Castle:

Gothic castle with architecture resembling Kethsi, built on an island in the far east, 3rd/4th Age. Inhabited by Necrosy*tes and used as primary base to launch attacks on Gielinor in first century of 4th Age. Necrosy*tes later magically imprisoned here by Robert the Strong, lasts from year 100, 4th Age to year 169, 5th Age.

Resource Dungeons:

Hidden dungeons across Gielinor, housing beasts and resources. While many were built by Bilrach as treasure and resource caches, at least a few (NE Wilderness, Dragontooth, Brimhaven, Prifddinas) were definitively built by the Kin, most likely as highly temporary, single purpose Dactyl labs or holding pens.

Fossil Island:

Just east of Morytania, the objective of a proposed Varrock Museum expedition. The island is littered with the remains of giant lizards, likely wyrms and dragons. Osborne has confirmed the existence of at least one Dragonkin there. Possibly the same as the eastern/Tale of Two Cats castle.

Morytania:

The most tenuous of possible Kin settlements. It's possible that some contingent of Dragonkin may have resided here in the early/pre 1st Age, but the rationale for thinking this comes entirely from a reference to 'dragon poop' in a past Postbag(33). Considered non-canon.

10-Mar-2015 00:57:19 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 01:49:06 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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THE CURSE OF JAS: INCREMENTAL OR INTERMITTENT?

The Curse of Jas magically and inextricably binds the Dragonkin to the Catalyst/Stone. Whenever a False User (any entity other than Jas) abuses the Stone (which can be as simple as brushing up against it), the Kin are imbued with pain, rage, and Elder power from the Stone of Jas. Their link allows them to teleport directly to the stone, and the 'itch' can only be soothed through wanton destruction.

It is unknown just how this curse works, however. Do the Kin become permanently more powerful each time the Stone is used? Are they only empowered when the Stone is in direct use? Is their empowerment always proportional to how much the Stone is abused? And how quickly does it fade?

We can examine the legacy of False Users' actions and the the responses of the Kin to make more sense of this. We know of four main types of SoJ abuse:

Stone touching:

Making contact with the SoJ with no attempt to use its power

Indirect use:

Probing the SoJ's link to anima and Elder power

Direct use:

Drawing directly on the SoJ's magical reservoir

Draining:

Short, highly intensive use of the SoJ for massive, magical actions

10-Mar-2015 00:57:24 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 01:53:47 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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Guthix (1st Age): Extensive

indirect use

over centuries
Kin: Extreme rage (7), no documented attacks

V- (2nd Age):

Stone touching

, possibly very brief

direct use

Kin: No known action

Kethsians (2nd Age): Extensive

direct use

followed by a final

drain

(12)
Kin: Rage and considerable empowerment. Mass destruction followed by a burst of power sufficient to obliterate an entire realm

Saradomin (3rd Age): Intermittent

direct use

over 3k-4k years
Kin: Several small but highly effective attacks throughout age, leaving no survivors (11). No documented attacks of extensive scope

Zamorak (Late 3rd Age): Possible

direct use

followed by massive

drain

Kin: Significant empowerment and mass destruction across Gielinor, with powers waning considerably after 100 years

Lucien (5th Age):

Direct use

and

drain

in a short period
Kin: Empowerment, rage, and modest destruction across Gielinor. Empowered enough to destroy world's most powerful mortal. Planned attacks are of a global scope

Adventurer (5th Age): Two incidents of

stone touching

Kin: Minor rage, but little direct violence

Sliske (6th Age):

Indirect

and

direct use

over a short period
Kin: Blinding, incoherent rage and some empowerment, enough to threaten the well-being of a low tier god

10-Mar-2015 00:57:29 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 01:59:05 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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From this we can draw a few conclusions

1:

Brief, significant drains on the SoJ empower the Kin far more than prolonged direct use. While they might never attain the ability to kill a False User who's conservative in his SoJ use, anyone attempting to draw on its full power turns the Kin into an unstoppable force of destruction.

2:

This power fades fairly quickly, with even the heaviest SoJ use leaving the Kin in their neutral state after a few decades. Even while they may feel overwhelming rage, the power to tear a planet in half quickly becomes the weakness to be defeated by a mortal, if the Stone is not in use.

3:

Indirect use of the SoJ barely empowers the Kin, but provokes them to greatest rage. Necrosy*tes of the 1st Age were rendered bestial, with little utility other than as test subjects, while Strisath went from sinister yet erudite to a raging mess in the 6th Age.

4:

Stone touching has by far the least consequence, and will always be lowest priority among a Kin's targets. If their rage is more composed, they may even ignore their impulse to violence against these sorts of False Users.

10-Mar-2015 00:57:34 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 02:09:54 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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DRAGONKIN ARTEFACTS

Dragon Equipment:

Smithed from a rare and magical metal that only Dragonkin and dwarves have mastered, great underground caches of these weapons have been found on planes throughout the multiverse (29).

Draconic Visage:

Bearing the likeness of a dragon, this is an item capable of storing and dispelling magical draconic fire. The Kin may have developed this as a smithing aid, or merely as one of many failed attempts to isolate an aspect of their power to better understand the Curse.

Dragonkin Key:

A 2nd Age key composed of dragon metal and discovered by Movario, it was used by Necrosy*tes to access the dragon forge as they traveled between Baxtorian Falls and northeast Forinthry.

Ancient Effigy:

Developed by Dactyl, this object draws on the user's power while simultaneously empowering them. Drawing on its power creates a 'burning malevolence,' something like rage, in the user's mind. It is likely this was an attempt to replicate the Curse of Jas on lesser lifeforms, either to better understand it, or to attempt to displace it onto another species. It bears the form of a Dragonkin embracing the Stone of Jas, and exhausting it reveals a Dragonkin lamp.

10-Mar-2015 00:57:38 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 02:13:20 by Rondstat

Rondstat

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Ring of Kinship:

Bearing a Dragonkin character, this ring is strongly linked to Daemonheim, teleporting wearers to the castle, and enhancing their combat abilities and preserving their life while within its dungeons.

Ferocious Ring:

Similarly to the Ring of Kinship, it teleports users to a Dragonkin dungeon, enhances their combat abilities within, and preserves their life when on the brink of death. This suggests both rings were created with similar purpose, possibly to test combatants against the experiments created within, or as a convenience mechanism for traveling Kin.

Royal Crossbow:

Possibly a Dactyl weapon, though it may simply be internal tissue from the Queen Black Dragon grafted onto a crossbow of sirenic origin.

Fairy Dragon Token:

Dropped by a black dragon, this compass-shaped token is used to summon the Fairy Dragon K'klik. While its connection to the Kin is tenuous, the token's similarity to the compass rose symbol of u*corrupted Dragonkin suggests at least a similar lineage.

Remains:

Dragonkin skeletons are found throughout the Wilderness and in the Kalphite Hive. These suggest past battles waged by Necrosy*tes, and mark the few instances when they lost.

10-Mar-2015 00:57:42 - Last edited on 10-Mar-2015 02:15:35 by Rondstat

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