True dragons were ancient and powerful creatures, often revered or feared across the realms of Tolria and Osira. Sculpted by the Unknown during the tumultuous Second Age, known as the Twilight of Creation, dragons were created as protectors of the Worldstones and Riftways on the Prime Plane. Sculpted by Unknown himself, dragons were created in the primordial image of the Archon and imbued with the essence of the elemental Unknown deities - Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, and Aether.
Taught the ancient forms of elemental Rift Magic by their respective Archon, the True Dragon used their mastery over Rifting to assist in The Aeonic Struggle against the Elementari. These elemental masters were designed as living weapons, intended to combat the chaos and destruction wrought by the titans, effectively fighting fire with fire.
The core dragon species—Solar Drakes, Aether Drakes, Terran Drakes, and Dragon Turtles—were among the first of their kind, each tied to a specific element. These dragons were more than mere creatures; they were living embodiments of the elemental forces that shaped the world, created with the express purpose of aiding the Unknown deities in their eon-spanning war against the Elemental Titans. Each species of True Dragon became the first masters of the elemental Rift Magic they embodied, serving their gods with purpose and distinction.
- Solar Drake: These majestic creatures embodied the power of the sun, wielding immense fire and light abilities. They were the leaders of The Sun Realm, a place bathed in eternal light and heat, led by Ember, the primordial being and guardian of the Unknown. Ember was said to be born from the first light of creation and was tasked with harnessing the power of the sun to combat the forces of darkness and chaos.
- Aether Drake: Representing the ethereal and the sky, the Aether Drakes were creatures of the wind and storms. They ruled The Air Realm under the guidance of Zirael the Ancient (see: Goldbrand), a primordial dragon who was both a guardian and a sage, protecting the Etherstone. Zirael's wisdom was unparalleled, and his control over the winds and sky was essential in keeping the balance of the elements.
- Terran Drake: Creatures of earth and stone, the Terran Drakes were massive and formidable, embodying the strength and endurance of the earth itself. Their realm, the Terran Realm, was a vast expanse of mountains and deep caverns, guarded by Bjorn, a primordial being whose fiery breath could melt stone and who guarded the Earth Stone. Bjorn's fiery heart made him both a fierce protector and a formidable force in battle.
- Dragon Turtle: The rulers of the seas, these dragons were colossal creatures who embodied the power of the oceans. The Dragon Turtles ruled the aquatic depths of The Sea Realm, with Mythia as their primordial guardian. Mythia, a being of immense wisdom and power, protected the Seastone and ensured the balance of the seas and all life within them.
During the Twilight of Creation, the Pantheon of Primus faced a dire threat: the Elementari, ancient and chaotic beings of immense power who sought to unmake the world through their very chaotic nature as shattered Unknown remnants. To combat these titans, the elder gods sculpted the dragons, imbuing them with elemental powers that could match those of their enemies.
The war that ensued was one of the most destructive and cataclysmic events in the history of the realms. The dragons, led by their primordial guardians, waged a brutal and unrelenting war against the titans. It was a battle of cosmic proportions, with entire landscapes reshaped, mountains leveled, and oceans boiled in the conflict.
The dragons were ultimately victorious, but the cost was great. Many of the titans were destroyed, their essence scattered across the realms, giving rise to new elemental beings and creatures such as the giants. However, the dragons themselves were greatly diminished. The once-great Dragon Realms were left weakened, and many of the primordial guardians fell into deep slumber or retreated to hidden places to recover their strength. The demise of the True Dragon was worsened due to The Riftfire Rebellion, an uprising of Elf whom they had created from the elemental essence of their realms as stewards of their legacy.
The legacy of the dragons lived on, however, in the form of the various draconic species that still roam the world. Over time, the dragons of the current age have become reclusive, often hiding among other species in polymorphed forms or serving divine beings in eternal debt. Despite their diminished numbers, dragons remain one of the most powerful and feared creatures in existence, their origins as elemental weapons of the Primus deities still echoing through the ages.