Difference between revisions of "Regal Copper"

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[[Image:Regal copper.JPG|thumb|300px|Regal Copper, by Anderzswe94]]
 
[[Image:Regal copper.JPG|thumb|300px|Regal Copper, by Anderzswe94]]
 
{{DragonBreeds|name=Regal Copper|loyalty=Britain|physical=Very large; red to yellow coloring|
 
{{DragonBreeds|name=Regal Copper|loyalty=Britain|physical=Very large; red to yellow coloring|
(per Edward Howe)|abilities=|members=[[Maximus]]
+
(per Edward Howe)|abilities=|members=[[Maximus]], [[Laetificat]], [[Requiescat]]}}
[[Laetificat]]  
 
[[Requiescat]]}}
 
  
 
== Species Notes ==
 
== Species Notes ==

Revision as of 18:54, 20 August 2010

Male Regal Copper flying by Garnet-Star
Regal Copper, by Mooir
Regal Copper, by Anderzswe94

Dragon Breed Data

Breed Name: Regal Copper
National Loyalty: Britain
Physical Characteristics: Very large; red to yellow coloring
Special Abilities:
Known Members: Maximus, Laetificat, Requiescat


Species Notes

According to Sir Edward Howe, Regal Coppers were descended from the Spanish Cauchador Real mixed with the smaller British breed known as Bright Coppers. It was a successful breeding experiment, as Regal Coppers were both larger than their ancestors and better able to sustain flight over distance. They are not prolific, with only four or five Regal Coppers born in a generation.

Mature Regal Coppers weighed as much as 50 tons and were as long as 120 feet; the British believed them to be the largest breed of dragon. Their colouring was dramatic, shading from red to yellow, with variety between individual dragons. Female Regal Coppers tended to be slightly larger than males. Mature males developed forehead horns, and both sexes had a spiny column along the back, which made matters difficult for enemy boarding parties. All Regal Coppers are badly farsighted, so they must be rather far away from an object in order to see it clearly.

Regal Coppers were among Britain's most valuable dragons at the start of the 19th Century. When Temeraire's egg was captured from the French, the Imperial and Celestial, both rare Chinese breeds, were known only to European scholars and no previous determination of their worth had been made. In terms of prize money Temeraire's egg was valued as equal to a Regal Copper (55000 pounds), a mark of the importance of both breeds.

It was considered dangerous to keep two male Regal Coppers together, or they would fight. Dragons are generally reluctant to fight smaller dragons. Since Regal Coppers were both rare and very large, a male Regal Copper would rarely have the chance to meet another dragon his own size and therefore worth picking a fight with.