Originally posted to Squidoo. The Amazon link and image are gone.

Why settle for an average, mundane jewellery box when you could have a Celtic designed jewel box with a dragon guarding your hoard. Of course, there is the slight problem of the dragon not wanting to let you into the box either. But, you know they will be well guarded. Isn't that worth a few scorch marks?

Before you bring home your dragon check for likely places to set one down in your home. Dragons take up space, but they also love to be featured where they can preen and make sure everyone sees them in their best light, on their best side. A dragon jewellery box will be set off nicely on a tall dresser - not too near a window lest the dragon get ideas and fly off with your hoard of jewels.

Also, keep your dragon box free of clutter. They do tend to eat the oddest things and they never give anything back once they get a good grip on it.

It is very trusting of you to let a dragon guard your jewels, actually. Not just the whole sharp teeth, claws and fire breath thing... but you do know they will think they look better in your jewels than you do yourself?

Overall though, a dragon jewellery box is a pretty fancy thing. Not many people will own one. (For all kinds of reasons).

If you are thinking of a great gift for a Pagan, fantasy gamer or other such person - a jewellery box with a dragon decorating it is a good choice. It is a gift which is both attractive, practical and unique. Unless someone just doesn't like dragons, it is nearly the perfect gift.

More than one dragon in your home?

Handy if your hoard expands and you need a few more dragons. Although, wasn't one dragon in your home enough? They do tend to take up quite a lot of room, eat a lot of chocolate and expect they can light up and smoke whenever or wherever they choose.

If it is possible that the Loch Ness Monster may have been one of the last remaining members of an extinct species then the same could be true for the dragon. How else could one explain the remarkable similarity between ancient depictions of dragons and some long-extinct dinosaurs? Well actually, the widely recognized medieval image of the dragon may have evolved from the original serpentine dragon after dinosaur remains were accidentally uncovered in classical Mesopotamia. In ancient Greece, Rome and the Celtic world dragon iconography was much more like that of China. Europe did not convert to the modern, metric dragon until much later on.

But does this alteration of dragon iconography help us determine the origin of the myth? Not really. The dragon, albeit in a more serpentine form, features in the folklore of almost every culture around the world and is synonymous with power, strength, wisdom and often brutality. The ancient civilizations of Central America even worshiped flying serpent gods, going so far as to make blood sacrifices in their honour. The serpent cults of Eastern Europe and Central Asia may once have done the same for their own dragon icons too. Clearly this reptilian obsession is as old as mankind itself.

But does this mean that dragons are nothing more than a distant memory from our primordial past? The people of medieval Europe and Asia clearly thought otherwise. To them dragons were everywhere, hiding in the cave down the road, burning down churches and eating their children. It was believed that the far off lands of the East were abound with the fire breathing brutes.

Are we to take these stories literally? Many scholars believe that dragons are nothing but a metaphor for evil and pagan ritual, but while this may be true of some Christian folklore there is much evidence to suggest that the monsters these people were so afraid of were not merely ideological in nature.

In the Far East, of course, dragons have entirely different connotations. There they are considered to be creatures of great wisdom and spirituality. They are associated with the elements of water and air, rather than fire. The gods are said to have descended from the sky inside the belly of a dragon. Legend has it that Emperor Huang Ti also ascended to the stars aboard a dragon drawn chariot. This, says UFOlogist Hartwig Hausdorf, is evidence that dragons were not living creatures at all, rather some kind of alien spacecraft.

Originally posted by Mark Ball - 5 Mythical Creatures That Could Exist - Weird Worm

I have a real connection to dragons, more than enjoying dragons in fiction and role playing games... I AM a dragon. I was born in the year of the dragon. I don't especially care to mention which year at the moment, however. By the Chinese zodiac, every 12 years there is another year of the dragon. Dragons are the only sign in Chinese astrology which are not a "real" animal. If you think about it, most of them are farm animals, the dragon is the only magical creature in the group.

Dragons are mystical, mythical, magical, monsters... or are they? How do you play a dragon in a role play game (RPG)? Is your dragon a great gamer or on the sidelines? Have you ever designed your own dragon?

(Mostly) Free Games for Dragons to Play Online

There are web-based games with a lot of players. Dragon Fable and Dungeons & Dragons being two I know and have played. Dragon Fable comes from the Adventure Quest series of games. If you are on Steam, you can find the new Adventure Quest 3D, dragons included.

I have not played Istaria, but the game is active and updates about servers are posted to their Twitter account (which you can find on the main page of the site).

Legend of the Green Dragon is quiet but not gone.

If you want something simple and text-based try Dragon Hearts.

I'm listing these smaller (less well known) games in hopes they will be found and gain new players. Free games need fresh players to keep them active and actively in development with new features and better gameplay. Without players they tend to wind down and fade away.

Things to consider if you want to be a dragon in a role playing game:

• Colour, patterns or textures
• Scales or other armour
• Age and wisdom
• Hatchling or elder
• Hoard of something: gold, books, etc.
• Curiosity
• Love of conversation and riddles
• Seeker of knowledge
• Tend to be loners
• Magic
• Wings/ Flight
• Fire breathing or some other type of substance/ energy
• Element: Fire, Water, Air, Earth
• Shapeshifting or were-dragon or dragon/ human hybrid
• good or evil or something in between

Making a Dragon Character

Dragon Looks

Look at patterns on other scaled animals like lizards and snakes. See which colours and designs your dragon could (or should) have. Keep in mind the type of climate your dragon lives in and how much time they spend outdoors versus inside a cave or house. An outdoor dragon is going to look far more rugged and weathered than a dragon living softer, gentler life.

You might want a pretty dragon, based on fantasy more than a realistic looking dragon. Scales can be a rainbow of colours or patterns. Some dragons have horns and some don't. Some dragons have extremely long tails and huge wing-spans, some are more compact.

Dragon Abilities

Dragon characters must have both strength and weaknesses. No dragon should be all powerful. The weaknesses make the character more interesting in game play.

Consider the sort of armour your dragon has. Maybe your dragon even wears extra armour created by a blacksmith or wizard. A dragon may have thick scales which mean it will be heavier and less able to fly high or for long distances. Or, a dragon who flies far and well is likely to have thinner scales and huge wings which will not be so great for hand to hand combat situations.

Dragon Size

Dragons can be so many sizes, mammoth, larger than life Godzillas or teensy little dainty butterflies, or even smaller. When you create a dragon as a character keep in mind the practical aspects of the game. You don't want a character that will be too big or too small for the other gamers. If your character is exploring caves your dragon will be pretty bored sitting outside, alone, waiting.

A huge dragon will be mighty and intimidating. A smaller dragon will interact better with the other characters in the role play game. For one thing, they won't have to tone their voice down from a massive boom to a gentle whisper. A teeny dragon who lives in flowers may be too timid to speak to anyone at all but they could be excellent at dodging when in combat, if they have to fight.

Reposting information from Joanne Walmsley about the Dragon in Chinese astrology. Joanne also wrote on HubPages when I was there.

Years:
1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000.

Hour:
7am to 9am (07:00 to 08:59)

Unlucky for:

• financial decisions
• making commitments

Keywords:

out-going, helpful, vitality, occult powers, intuitive abilities, influential, self-confidence, insecurities, energy, temper, hidden passion, trust, stamina, creative energy, concentration, original, resourceful, brave, direct, enthusiastic, adaptable, creative.

Negative:

arrogant, tactless, critical, quick-tempered, unpredictable and unreliable.

Loves:
Rats and Monkeys

Dislikes:
Dogs

The Dragon is a helpful creature, blessed with occult powers and vitality. The Dragon marks auspicious events, from births to deaths.

People born under the sign of the Dragon have an intuitive ability to understand any situation, and this puts them in a position to influence events. More often than not though, their in influences are not wanted nor warranted.

Dragons often have their heads in the clouds.

Dragons are full of over-self-confidence, and most often they believe they are infallible.

Dragons start relationships and projects with youthful, boundless energy, only to abandon them halfway through when something else captures their attention.

Dragon's superficial show of bravado often disguises an insecurity, which the Dragon will go to great lengths to cover it with a wide smile or flashy material items.

Dragons have so much energy that much of their focus in life goes to trying to channel it constructively. They often feel frustrated when things don't go their way, and have a volcanic temper to show their displeasure.

Relationships:

Dragons need love and affection and they find these attributes in the Rooster and Snake. The Tiger and a fellow Dragon also make suitable partners. Horses are too quick and sly for the Dragon, whilst the Dog clashes in quick time.

Joanne Walmsley via Chinese Astrology - Dragon.

A post I made for the (un) Death-Match.

Source: Free for all Pitch: Dragons | (un) Death-Match Presents: Free For All

Free for all Pitch: Dragons

How can werewolves battle dragons? Werewolves are very, highly flammable. They can't fly. They may have claws and teeth but they don't have a great, long tail to flick their foes out of their way. We dragons have long been held in esteem and for good reason. Dragons are magical, mystical and wise. Dragons are also covered in body armour.

Those werewolf teeth and claws can't penetrate dragon scales which are prized by wizards and warriors! Our dragon scales are excellent protection, tempered by our own fire, as armour it is undefeatable. Fire, so warm, so bright, so very dangerous to fur bearing animals. They cringe away from fire, even just a lit match makes them nervous. What hope do werewolves have against a dragon who can breathe fire? A quick blast of flame and the werewolves will be running for their very lives.  In battle, the smell of burnt dog is not appealing. Dragons are very clean (the rumours about sulfur are not true) creatures. Being clean is important for aerodynamics. Before the werewolves can regroup for an attack dragons will be gone, flying high above them. No matter how high a werewolf manages to jump it can't catch a dragon in flight. The battle would be over before it really began. Dragons can easily fly above the pack of werewolves just shooting fire down upon them. What hope do the poor furries have?

Even on the ground the dragon still has the surprise element, a tail that isn't just for wagging around, stirring up dust motes. A quick flick of the dragon's tail and the werewolves will be scattered, wounded and lost. Just think of how much damage a dragon's tail can really do to those bodies armoured in mere fur. Dragon wisdom is well known. While werewolves are out hunting for small forest creatures dragons are building hoards of treasure, including books of great knowledge. Yes, dragons hunt too. But, dragons don't settle for small animals which are only small meals. A dragon picks up something to make a real meal, like a werewolf, for instance. Saves time for more reading rather than all that time hunting for silly little rabbits, mice and such.

Dragons can be all sizes, massively Godzilla-like or cosy and petite, perfect for perching on shoulders and whispering advice into all the right ears. We do have a lot of knowledge. Unlike werewolves we spend our immortal time in the quest for knowledge, to gain intelligence and inspiration for ourselves and others. Dragons are very helpful, or at least as helpful as we want to be at any given time.

Don't think dragons are too egotistical. Dragons are proud but reasonable and well mannered too. Don't assume the werewolf thing has not been researched. The werewolves in Kelley Armstrong's books have done a lot to make them look good, clever even. Rachel Vincent's werecats have been a popular choice. Likely because dragons have more in common with cats than dogs. Dogs just aren't as clever, nimble and mysterious as dragons and cats.

Do werewolves have anything like DragonCon? A convention for dragon lovers/ fans. Dragons like reading the Dragon Septs series by Katie MacAlister.  Gena Showalter has the Atlantis series featuring dragon warriors. There are the Black Dragon Brotherhood books by J.R. Ward, though only one of the men turns into a dragon, during battle. Still, the books are an example of the impact dragons have on human culture, the admiration and esteem given to dragons.  It's one thing to be feared throughout history but quite another to be feared and admired! Don't forget the favourite of many, the Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, not new but worth finding. Other notables include Tanith Lee, Mercedes Lackey,  Patricia C. Wrede, Robin McKinley and Stephanie Rowe (her Immortally Sexy series which sadly seems to be at an end).

Then there are paranormal writers (Michelle Rowen, Lynsay Sands and Kerrelyn Sparks) who should be writing about dragons, but have not yet. Why not?

Before I end this Undeath Match post I must admit I am biased to the side of the dragons. I was born in the Year of the Dragon. So many great and wonderful people were. Dragons are the only mystical animal in the Chinese zodiac. I think they gives us something extra to live up to!

-- Laura

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