Gentius

Character Profile

Name:	Gentius
Date of Birth:	c. 1575-1580?
Breed:	Longwing
Captain:	[Unknown woman, deceased]
National Loyalty:	Britain
Appearance:	Blue with black/white/orange wing tips
Special Abilities:	Acid spitter
Status:	Breeding

Biography

Gentius (Latin for 'deadly') was a Longwing who had fought a great many battles in his day. As recently as 1776, he had been vigourous enough to fight alongside Laetificat in the American colonies. However, by the time Temeraire met him in the Pen Y Fan Breeding Grounds in 1807, old age had set in. Gentius could no long fly very far, he had developed cataracts and could barely see, and his few remaining teeth were wobbly, making it difficult for him to chew the raw meat that was the only food available.

However, Gentius could still spray acid, and the other dragons respected his experience, so when the unharnessed regiment left Pen Y Fan, Armatius carried Gentius aboard his back.

Gentius had sired at least three other dragons, the third of whom was Excidium (born c. 1725). He also had at least three captains, probably more like four or five if he saw 200 years of active service. He was most attached to his first captain, who had fed him his first meal after hatching, when his head was no bigger than her hand. He kept a portrait of her in a gold frame and told Temeraire that "one never really gets over the first."

Gentius' first companion was also the first woman to be awarded the rank of captain. Previously, Longwings' female companions were addressed only as Miss and, at least in theory, did not hold command. Instead, a male captain was assigned to each Longwing along with the dragon's female companion.