Saginairs, the winged felines or "skycats"

Saginairs are great winged felines native to the high mountain ranges of Yanakhon, with related subspecies found in the southern ranges of Northern Naxoria and Kallihalissor. They were often referred to as the Lords of the Mountains Impassable, and were known to descend to the lowlands only to prey. Seldom few were ever able to see one close, with usual sights high in the sky, difficult to distinguish from birds.

Resembling lions in form but built for altitude, they are leaner, longer-limbed, and far more aerodynamic than any land-bound cat. Adults grow larger than the greatest horses, with wingspans reaching up to fifty feet. Their bodies are covered in thick, velvety fur suited to the cold, thin air of the high peaks, commonly in silvery tracery stripes running across their bodies like the grain of folded steel.

Despite their fearsome nature, saginairs are not wantonly aggressive. They are intelligent, proud, and intensely curious creatures. Encounters with humans are rare, and attacks rarer still, typically occurring only when provoked or challenged. where they were regarded as mythical, deitic creatures living high in the mountains, only descending to lowlands to prey.

In Yonian culture, saginairs have held deep symbolic significance since the dawn of time, where they were regarded as near-divine beings. For most of history they were revered and left undisturbed. During the Selerian Golden Age, they were hunted in earnest, however only Knight Taranthurm was known to have fallen one.

The Birth of Saginair Rangers

Many sought to reach or claim these creatures, but it was Gralon who first succeeded by taming an injured beast in the Silwoods. This was the first known bond with a saginair, and by earning the pride's trust, Gralon was able to tame more beasts for his warriors. Thus was born the Rangers of Yanakhon.

Wildbirds (Arn. Arnicraw)

Wildbirds were a group of gigantic birds akin to crow, eagle and other raptors. The wingspan could exceed 50 feet, and their feathers were commonly black, sometimes with gray, seldom with white details. Also known as Arnibirds, they were able to fly high and cover the entire Pelonnic continent.

They mostly lived in the vicinity of mountains and were present in every corner of Pelonnic continent, but were known to avoid the Grand Mountains due to the presence of their own beasts, vaskyrs and the grand dragons; and they were also an uncommon sight in Hellornia and the Draconic Mountains due to leathereans and their native dragons.

They were a part of the Arkadic high culture in Arnioric lands and Phanim, and the Arns that used to ride these beasts were called Arkhen Gliders. These glider guilds at their peak era used to equip and train the beasts by arming them with steel claws and beak pikes, making them highly capable in combat.

Only way to tame and bond with these beasts was to grow them from a hatchling.

Their eggs were exceedingly rare and valuable, and were considered the highest order of gift in the Arnioric cultures. The beasts avoided people and like many other high rise creatures, and only descended to lowlands to prey. While respected, they were also hated as they constantly taxed cattle, and although rare, they also preyed on humanoid races.

Howlerines (Huraks)

Howlerines, known as Huraks in Busdravic (Hurcuz), are apex predators native to the Wilds of the Norths in Pelonnia. They resembled a mix of wolf and a bear, and various species were known, ranging from the size of a lapdog to a big horse. Pelonnic tribes mastered taming these creatures, using them as effective fighting beasts.

In Silvon, the term hurak refers to the great howlerine beasts, but a simple hur is used for the small tamed dog breeds.

Beasts of Pelonnia

Beasts of the Northern Continent

Leathereans (qhuliqhul)

Leathereans or shadedrakes were described as a grotesque fusion of a lizard and a bat, a bit like pterodactyl, flying dinosaurs. they lived in the shadows, were able to move without sound, and did not discriminate their prey, eating humans and animals alike and were known to prefer eating brains of other creatures.

They had a plethora of vocabulary, from vicious shrieks and long-winded eerie howls to ominous clicking, rattling and snapping, hissing and growling. they had sharp teeth in the long beak, and strong hind legs and large, fluttering leather wings.

They were able to cling to surfaces like a spider. it had big, nocturnal black eyes. Leathereans were nocturnal creatures that were described as a mixture of a lizard and a bat. They were native to the Draconic peninsula, with several species ranging from small house bats to the most feared species, the qhuliqhul, or nightshade in Sparkor language.

Vaskyrs

Also known as stormbirds

Vaskyrs were ancient bird-like beings, with distinctive shrunken frontal limbs which they used to grab onto the rocky cliffs of the Grand Mountains, their native inhabitant. They had strong hind legs with large claws. They had large, smooth beaks which were robust enough so the creatures could pick and maul their prey. The creatures could clatter their beaks, making distinctive clacking, rattling sound that could be heard for miles. Other than that, they had wide vocabulary, ranging from long, high-pitch calls to soft cooing to a piercing screech.

They were covered in thick feathers usually in shades of blue, and their wingspan could reach 70 feet. Vaskyrs natively habited the fjords of the Grand Mountains, and were only seldom seen elsewhere. In the north, the arkhenbeasts tended to keep their own territory in watch, vaskyrs seldom crossing the Arnivangel pass and valley.

To the west, they sometimes habited the Murmannic Mountains and even as far south as Arkhanic Mountains. They natively also habited the Iron Mountains. Vaskyrs were raptors with wide appetite, but they were not known to prey on humans.

They were generally regarded non-aggressive, but they protected their nests and territories fiercely. Vaskites were able to tame the creatures for their own needs by seizing their eggs and growing the creatures from the hatchling.

Dragons

Hellornian Dragons

(Sil. Rasa-khul [Ras - fire; khul - demon] or Hell. Zpar'kon [Zparc - fire, ignition; kon - being])

Probably the most known race of Antoric dragons, the Far West's Hellornian dragons were the only species with fire-breathing ability. They lived in the Hellmoric and Drakomoric mountain ranges and volcanic plateaus, descending to lowlands to prey. Their wingspan routinely reached 100 feet or more.

The dragons consumed sulphur to induce the fire-breating capability, but they natively used this only in mating rituals. The dragons could exhibit any colors, but red, black, and yellow were the dominant colors.

To Hellornians, these dragons were for long a bane of their existence, with the beasts routinely descending to the lowlands to prey for them and their lifestock. Dragons were hunted and killed every chance they got, with very little success. Raids to their nesting sites up in the Mount Dom Nuriaz were carried out by the bravest.

It was after a failed dragonraid, which young Sparkoniz survived alone, he held to an egg, which hatched to him, and he was able to bond with the beast, and through it, face the rest of the herd and earn their respect. This turned the tide, with Sparkoniz conquering the entire realm. 

He formed the Hellornic Dragonrider Empire by introducing volunteers to the beasts, which either bonded or incinerated the candidates. For reasons unknown, the dragons seemed to favor left-handed warriors, which quickly gained cult status in Hellornia, giving rise to the name of the Dragonriders of Elite Argom.

With the newfound power, Hellornians sacked the Causuck Coast and Pelonvangel pass city, Faireanic lands, and the Balbour City, and also made several raids to Gui, Land of Raman, and Arnioric heartlands and as far as Shambor, Colossia and Phanim.

Grand Dragons, Sil. Storm-khul or Str. Störmrök

Grand Dragons or Stormic Dragons were the other major dragon species on Antoria. They were a secluded species native only to the Grand Mountains, and in there, primarily residing in the heart of Grand Glaciers. These dragons mostly fed on sealife, being able to dive deep into the depths of the Stormic fjords, catching everything from fish to whales. They seldom ever left the Grand Mountains.

While Grand Dragons did not breathe fire, they grew vastly larger than their Hellornian counterparts, having average wingspans of over 300 feet. The sheer size of these creatures made them virtually impervious to any other creatures on Antoria, and perhaps lack of any natural threats, they were considered rather tame and peaceful creatures. The scales could reach thickness of 4 inches. The creatures had been observed exhibiting shades of blue, white, with unique instances of other colors.

Vaskites demonstrated the capabilities of these creatures during their high era. While incapable of breathing fire, the creatures were simply large enough to stomp over most of their enemies, including the Hellornic dragons, which was the only force that was able to resist - and ended up being the downfall - of Sparkoniz's Dragonrider order.

The fire-breathers had little to no effect on these grand beasts, but meanwhile they could seize those smaller beasts and bite off their heads with a single bite, or simply crush them. In most instances, the mere introduction of a Stormic dragon was enough to make the enemies surrender, and the Vaskites used this to mostly peacefully enlarge their empire across the Colossian coasts, Ironland and the Continental lands, Phanim, Perillenia - and Yanakhon.

Rock dragons, Mora-khul or Mardauk

Also known as Burrowing Ballistic dragons of the Ballis Desert, they are wingless and live underground in both natural caves and tunnels they excel at burrowing.

Deep dragons, Haub-khul

This is the least known race of the dragon legend, and many believe them to be a mere myth. Living in the vast Antoric Ocean and the Windsea, they mostly stick to the depths.

Dragons are considered one of the major classes ancient creatures, amongst saginairs, vaskyrs, leathereans, and wildbirds. In the Yonian world, dragons were widely regarded as legends of the far reaches of Antoria, few believing they even exist, and being only part of the Tale of the Three Kings. In the Yonian States Revolutionary War, they were proven to be very much a real thing.