Extra Matters 08 - What are nether dragons
Below is the text on the scroll Desmond is reading, it doesn't answer all questions regarding nether dragons so if anyone has any please ask them here.
Also big thanks to KiDra for helping me refine this text, it was very hard to write in a non-rambly way. If you're interested in more about nether dragons and venkats please follow A Story Never Told here, it goes into a lot about the importance of their relationship: https://www.sofurry.com/view/793750
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My dearest Chani,
I have written this scroll as guide to questions you might be asked about nether dragons. Refer to it before you hold a bonding ceremony until you feel comfortable, and if you ever feel put on the spot, take a deep breath and ask Ailill for advice. Most importantly remember I am proud of you and the path you have chosen. You will make a fine Druid.
The Nether Dragons
Nether dragons are faithful spirits that protect us in life and death. They preserve our memories from one life to another and keep our soul from harm in the Otherworld. They become a part of us, living in our bodies, sharing thoughts and emotions.
Venkats are born with a nether dragon or bind with one later in life. Those that are not born with them either are new souls or never bonded with one in a past life. Traditionally bonding takes place at the age of 14 during a what is called a 'Bonding Ceremony'. This is performed by a druid. Usually at the age of 14 a venkat's body is strong enough to support a nether dragon’s physical appearance. Having a nether dragon in the flesh allows a venkat to accept the new relationship more easily. It is not unheard of for a nether dragon and venkat to bond outside a proper ceremony, but it is uncommon. When a nether dragon is bound to a venkat it's physical body is supported by the host and can last as long as the Venkat lives. Their bodies can also be recreated if destroyed.
Nether dragons naturally exist in Otherworld and enter our own through conduits, primarily our holy trees. They are bound to this tree for only a short period of time, fading back to the Otherworld after a few hours. During this time they can create temporary bodies and interact with the world around them, but they have very little understanding of it and are instead driven by a strong sense of curiosity. Nether dragons who are bound to a venkat that is dead (their soul is in Otherworld) cannot enter the world through holy trees, but instead enter it when the soul is reincarnated.
A venkat born with a nether dragon will be aware of its presence on some level, but needs to learn to communicate with the nether dragon, much like learning to speak. Mostly they communicate with emotions and images, but once venkat and nether dragon are skilled enough, they can talk.
While a nether dragon resides inside its host you do not hear their voice physically, but sense them more like foreign thoughts. Be aware, that when a venkat is troubled by strong emotions it becomes hard to impossible to distinguish the words of a nether dragon inside you from your own emotions and wishes. It is the most fragile form of communication.
A nether dragon's appearance and gender is generally a subconscious decision by the venkat, when their first body is created, but it is not necessarily the final appearance of the nether dragon. For example when their personality and understanding of the world develops they may associate with the opposite gender more and change. Nether dragons that are freshly bonded might show inappropriate behavior, not knowing about concepts like shame, privacy, property and their like. They learn quickly, though and never mean harm. After two weeks they should know enough to no longer make their host uncomfortable.
That is all you need to know for a start and I am sure you will have no trouble gaining more knowledge about them yourself.
Your loving eldest,
Aldreda
Also big thanks to KiDra for helping me refine this text, it was very hard to write in a non-rambly way. If you're interested in more about nether dragons and venkats please follow A Story Never Told here, it goes into a lot about the importance of their relationship: https://www.sofurry.com/view/793750
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My dearest Chani,
I have written this scroll as guide to questions you might be asked about nether dragons. Refer to it before you hold a bonding ceremony until you feel comfortable, and if you ever feel put on the spot, take a deep breath and ask Ailill for advice. Most importantly remember I am proud of you and the path you have chosen. You will make a fine Druid.
The Nether Dragons
Nether dragons are faithful spirits that protect us in life and death. They preserve our memories from one life to another and keep our soul from harm in the Otherworld. They become a part of us, living in our bodies, sharing thoughts and emotions.
Venkats are born with a nether dragon or bind with one later in life. Those that are not born with them either are new souls or never bonded with one in a past life. Traditionally bonding takes place at the age of 14 during a what is called a 'Bonding Ceremony'. This is performed by a druid. Usually at the age of 14 a venkat's body is strong enough to support a nether dragon’s physical appearance. Having a nether dragon in the flesh allows a venkat to accept the new relationship more easily. It is not unheard of for a nether dragon and venkat to bond outside a proper ceremony, but it is uncommon. When a nether dragon is bound to a venkat it's physical body is supported by the host and can last as long as the Venkat lives. Their bodies can also be recreated if destroyed.
Nether dragons naturally exist in Otherworld and enter our own through conduits, primarily our holy trees. They are bound to this tree for only a short period of time, fading back to the Otherworld after a few hours. During this time they can create temporary bodies and interact with the world around them, but they have very little understanding of it and are instead driven by a strong sense of curiosity. Nether dragons who are bound to a venkat that is dead (their soul is in Otherworld) cannot enter the world through holy trees, but instead enter it when the soul is reincarnated.
A venkat born with a nether dragon will be aware of its presence on some level, but needs to learn to communicate with the nether dragon, much like learning to speak. Mostly they communicate with emotions and images, but once venkat and nether dragon are skilled enough, they can talk.
While a nether dragon resides inside its host you do not hear their voice physically, but sense them more like foreign thoughts. Be aware, that when a venkat is troubled by strong emotions it becomes hard to impossible to distinguish the words of a nether dragon inside you from your own emotions and wishes. It is the most fragile form of communication.
A nether dragon's appearance and gender is generally a subconscious decision by the venkat, when their first body is created, but it is not necessarily the final appearance of the nether dragon. For example when their personality and understanding of the world develops they may associate with the opposite gender more and change. Nether dragons that are freshly bonded might show inappropriate behavior, not knowing about concepts like shame, privacy, property and their like. They learn quickly, though and never mean harm. After two weeks they should know enough to no longer make their host uncomfortable.
That is all you need to know for a start and I am sure you will have no trouble gaining more knowledge about them yourself.
Your loving eldest,
Aldreda
10 years ago
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One thing I've noticed in your comics with dialogue is it can be a bit difficult to determine whos speaking. I know you give them the colored border but you might also consider giving the text area a light shade of the same color to further help distinguish. Took me reading it three times to realize there was a third critter speaking in this one XP
That story is absolutely on my "To read" list, but in the meantime... If the Nether Dragons form their body by drawing from the host, can they alter their outwards appearance at all? The Nether Dragons look suspiciously like miniature venkats... does that mean they take a miniature shape of their owner? and if all the ND's look like that, can they only bond to Venkats? If a ND bonded to Desmond, would it look dragony? Does Desmong have plans to bond to a ND, if he isn't already? Would the two nether dragons then fall in love? am I getting annoying with all these questions in one massive text wall?
Nether dragons appearance is a subconsious thing based on their host to begin with (colours and some minor features like horns, wing shape, general size and body length), but they do keep a lot of the general shape. For example Bastina, Sebastians nether dragon is larger than a Venkats dragon and takes some of her colours from Seb (https://www.sofurry.com/view/545515)
Once they have a solid body then the can't change it without destroying the body, the can return to their vapour form at will, but it is limited how many times they do this in a certain timeframe without wearing their host out. Ailill, Chani's nether dragon spends a lot of time as vapour inside her body.
The venkats and nether dragons do have a connected history, which is why they look quite similar. That will be explained in A Story Never Told (I don't want to ruin it =P).
Any species can have a nether dragon.
The next extra matters will be about Desmond bonding with a nether dragon, and it mainly took colouring from him but its body is a bit longer in the mid section.
And yes, Desmond and Chani's nether dragons do fall in love.
Let me know if ya have any other questions, or if that didn't answer them clearly.