#Arkelm

[theblackdragon-studios]

Dragons of My Project (1)

Paintings of some of the main characters for a project I’m working on. Plus some basic information on them.

Meg/Pendara (Blackdragon), Tundra Dragon(?), Spirit Dragon, Hero of the New World

Princess Megaera: Chromatic Dragon, Heir to the Throne, Former Great Terror of the Old World

Azure: Python dragon, best friend of Frjord and Megaera (then Pendara)

Frjord: Unusual Frost dragon, best friend of Megaera and Azure (and eventually Pendara)

Calixthzan: Volcanic Dragon, future friend and ally to Pendara and friends

Arkelm: Sun dragon, Arkelm the Golden; Hope and Hero of the Old World

Maziah: Great Horned Owl Dragon, Alchemist and Healer of the Hidden City of Gold

King Aegeus: Chromatic Dragon, current King of the Dragons

Nox

[theblackdragon-studios]

(To everyone)

Which of you is most likely to want revenge if someone plays a prank on him ?

This isn’t entirely conclusive…but in general this is their stances.

[theblackdragon-studios]

your dragon's opinion on Oran?

(The cobra dragon would hate him probably by default depending how they met. Spectre might as well…but they fall under the “I don’t even know who you are” category with most of the others.)

(Note: Please do not start sending in Asks like this. Oran is one of my best friends and I have RP’d with him for many years. I don’t want to make a habit of making these charts, though.)

[theblackdragon-studios]

everyone but as pokemon 👀

I like this concept more than I probably should. X’D Get ready for a long post…

The Main Cast

We first have the protagonist herself. She appears to be a Shiny Zoroark…or a Shiny Hisuian Zoroark. This isn’t even her true form either…but she walks all three worlds by disguising herself as a human or a normal, living Zoroark. She can also “shapeshift” into other Pokémon and people too.

I chose Zoroark for Pendara because of the shape shifting (illusion trick), and because Hisuian Zoroark is a Ghost type which fits the Spirit dragon thing.

Megaera the Shiny Haxorus. Of the dragons, I think Haxorus fits her best, especially the Shiny.

Calixthzan the Charizard, but a descendent of the clone Charizard from the first Pokémon movie. Because of this he feels this need to prove he is a real Pokémon and just as strong as any other. He’s that kind of edgelord, yes.

Went with Charizard because I love Charizard, and the Fire lizard fit best. It was between this and Groudon, but I wasn’t making anyone a Legendary here.

Frjord the Alolan Ninetails, because he’s an Ice dragon but likes warm, sandy climates, and Alola is Hawaii.

Azure was difficult because there weren’t any blue snakes that look like him…so I went with Inteleon. I know Inteleon is meant to be a cool spy like a James Bond character…but he just looks sleepy to me. lol And Azure, like actual pythons, doesn’t do much. He’s seen as lazy, but he’s just not much for high energy activity.

The Mentors and Leader

Arkelm would be a Shiny Gyrados. One that has the ability to Mega Evolve. The reason for this, he used to live among humans and acted as a protector and provider for them (this is in the actual story too). Because of this, his desire to protect those that cannot protect themselves lead to the gift of access to this stone and power.

Went with Shiny Gyrados…because it’s a red noodle dragon. So is he.

Maziah the Noctowl, still an alchemist. I chose Noctowl because she’s an Owl dragon in the story now. I think I based her on the Great Horned Owl…or a similar one.

King Blackthorn is a Shiny Haxorus like his daughter, but I wasn’t going to draw another normal Haxorus. Blackthorn also has a Mega Stone, and this is what he looks like when using it. (Credit for the design goes to lordmacguffin on DeviantArt)

When Megaera takes his place, she will be given the Mega Stone. When this happens, she will put it on her wrist cuff.

Villain

I still don’t have an official name for this guy…but he’d be an Arbok because he’s a Cobra dragon in the story.

Nox

Last but not least, Nox. He would be a Shiny Garchomp (which is slightly closer to his usual color…) Why? Because he’s a semi-aquatic dragon in the story and has shark teeth. As in multiple rows of teeth. Also Garchomp is a pseudo-Legendary, so that fits him too.

[theblackdragon-studios]

Taking a look at the animal crossing pic to see a list of characters, which you did well on, may I hear more about Pendara, BD, Megaera, and Azure please?

Alright:

Pendara/BD (They’re the same dragon)

She is the protagonist of the story. She started out seemingly a normal human but the events that lead to her transformation to the white and black dragon form change her whole understanding of reality. She eventually is found by a dragon from the Hidden Kingdom and they travel there together where she meets her friends (the ones in the asks so far).

Over time while there she learns to be a dragon and starts to think she finally understands who and what she is…only to be shown again this is wrong when she meets Nox, a mysterious but charming semi-aquatic dragon who teaches her the secrets of her true nature as a Spirit Dragon. This leads to her developing her nickname, Black Dragon or BD, which she uses when assuming this form. (And yes, other dragons find it amusing in the making fun of it way…but she mainly goes by BD for it in Spirit form)

Personality-wise, Pendara is shy and introverted, but when she feels comfortable around someone she is more talkative and full of questions or information. However she can also be too analytical and overthink things, and when betrayed she has a hard time giving that person another chance.

Megaera

Megaera is older than she looks. She is an ancient dragon and one of those that gave dragons the reputation they have as gold-hoarding, kingdom conquering monsters that were popular when I was young.

Megaera actually was once the most infamous dragon in the world, but her arrogance cost her in an encounter with a powerful witch. This resulted in Megaera being captured and imprisoned by the witch, bound by metal cuffs and chains that blocked her power. However, eventually Arkelm the Golden rescued her and they escaped together. However, Megaera still had one cuff on her left foreleg and she was set on revenge against the witch.

Arkelm warned her against it, but she ignored him and attacked the fortress. She destroyed it and killed the witch inside, but was unable to find a way to remove the cuff around her wrist. She didn’t let it stop her and tried to continue to grow her reputation as the most feared and respected (through fear and awe) creature on the planet.

Eventually she meets her match again, though, as she learns the cuff blocking her power also hurts her when she goes past the invisible line. Arkelm rescued her again, then nursed her back to health. Afterward, he gave her an offer he had given before…this time she took it. They traveled together for many years after that until they came to the Hidden Kingdom. There Megaera was united with her father who went by the title and name of King Blackthorn.

Now Megaera is acknowledged as the heir to the throne, but after her history she feels she is unworthy of it and hopes her father remains king for centuries more.

Personality-wise Megaera is boastful and outspoken, but not unkind in the present. In the past she was cruel and unpleasant, but now her old ways come out mostly in her temper and when she loses patience with her friends (Calixthzan especially). In other words she is prickly but past her shell she is loyal and cares for her friends. She also holds a deep respect for Arkelm after their years together as traveling companions. When Pendara arrived, Megaera was one of those less trusting of her as well.

Design information: Megaera and Blackthorn have a unique quality to their scales. The parts that are colored are only that way in light. The stronger or brighter the light source, the more vivid the colors. In darkness the body is completely black, save for the gold claws and teeth.

Azure

Azure…I haven’t developed much. He’s a Snake dragon in the Python family, which means he has snake-like tendencies such as sun bathing and swallowing his meals whole. He spends a lot of his time laying around soaking up sun, possibly because like most snakes he cannot regulate his own body temperature and needs to sun bathe to digest. If this is true or not, I haven’t decided.

Personality-wise, Azure is laid back and doesn’t care for conflict much. He seems to be closest to Frjord of the main group as well, since they tend to hang out a lot due to Frjord’s unusual liking for heat and sun despite being a colder climate dragon.

[theblackdragon-studios]

(Some) Headworld Dragons

Some of the dragons of my Headworld (loose term), which is basically my fursona, BD’s in-character story.

I was listening to some Two Steps from Hell music (they’re a dramatic trailer and movie music-sounding I think group) and it got me feeling nostalgic for this “project” you could call it. Which is BD’s story, basically. The official, not brought into any other source story (and instead her husband Aara/vos has been written into it, but more on him under the cut with the rest.)

Story Summary: Meg had just graduated college when it happened. She was getting her future figured out and had been preparing to go about acquiring a position at a place of work she had been aiming for. She was getting ready to move out of her parents house completely as well, and start “adulting”

…until that summer something happens that changes not only her life, but her entire identity in one day.

Below is a bit of a briefing of the characters (right to left, top to bottom):

Meg/Pendara: The protagonist/hero of course, Meg starts out as a college student-to-graduate who isn’t happy with the degree she went for. She was going to try a different college to get a different degree, or another class that would help narrow her job choices...but during the summer she was dragged into going on a camping trip (or something. I haven’t worked out the details) with some classmates she considers friends. 

This is where her plans are thrown out the window, as the night progresses with some dramatic event happening (again...details under construction) where she transforms for the first time (to her knowledge or memory) and she has to run for it. She ends up in a reasonably-sized cave where she falls asleep from the stress exhausting her. The next morning being woken by ANOTHER dragon! And long story turned short...he teaches her how to function in her new body and they journey together to the nearest place he knows where dragons live safely away from humans...and so her story really begins there.

Megaera: By official title, she is the princess of the hidden kingdom Meg (renamed Pendara eventually) is brought to, and therefore heir to the throne. By actual character...as of now she is the Big Sister character type, as in she starts tough, but will be there for her friends and warms up to Meg soon enough. 

Her past is much less friendly, however. Megaera was once the infamous stereotypical dragons they write stories about. Arrogant, selfish, and tyrannical, she terrorized a specific spot of Europe until Arkelm the Golden arrived and used her arrogance against her to beat her in a fight she initiated. Later saving her life when she was finally taken down and about to be killed by the humans she once oppressed. He gave her a second chance, and she took it, traveling with him as his student and traveling companion for many years...but more on her later.

Arkelm: Not much is known about his early years, but over his centuries of life he was given the title of “Arkelm the Golden” by several, which spread around the world. He is one of the most famous dragons on the planet, known for his good deeds and heroic feats while remaining humble and kind. Megaera respects him deeply, as do many others, but they have a special connection (not romantic or parental, but their relationship is unique to them.) 

He also has an interesting relationship with Maziah (coming next) and is one of the first to give Meg a chance when she comes to the city. 

Maziah: Grumpy by default, Maziah would rather be in her study all day fiddling with her potions and pet projects relating to mixing concoctions and things. She is not a very sociable dragon at all, but is the city’s best alchemist. Arkelm is perhaps the only one you will see talking with her like they are close friends, and that is probably because they are. Anyone else is either treated to a long, hard look...or threatened with being force-fed poison. 

She is one of the coldest to Meg when she arrives, but that isn’t out of character with Maziah. Deep down she is very loyal to her city, though, and her king. 

Azure: At least for now, Azure is the dragon that found and brought Meg to the hidden city. He is a race of Serpens dragons (snake dragons) resembling and expressing mannerisms of pythons...and as of now I don’t have a lot to say on him. If I ever publish this story, he will have a different placement in it in Meg’s friend group.

King Aegeus: The king of the dragons, who rules and protects the dragons of the hidden city. When Meg arrives, he is wary of her, but allows her refuge in the city as he does all dragons that come here. He is a mysterious figure like Arkelm...but just and good deep down. He is also Megaera’s father, but they were separated when she was still a child, resulting in her eventual rise to power in the opposite way she should have. 

Island Pit Viper dragon (unnamed): I...don’t have much to say on this one. I think it will be male, and he is heavily influenced by the Island Pit Viper, a snake of these colors and with this plated look to it. Very pretty snake. As the name says, he is of the Viper race of Serpens dragons. 

Varsolus: One of the king’s most loyal and powerful soldiers, shown through the scars he has received in battle (though not all are from his service to the king.) Varsolus is very loyal to the crown...and to defending his city. (I don’t have a lot more to say on him. He isn’t a major part of the story I don’t think...)

Yandor: Varsolus’ younger brother and not near as brave or skilled in battle. He’ll probably end up being a traitor...because he doesn’t like how things are being run here. 

King Cobra dragon (unnamed): I don’t have a name for this guy either...he is also a soldier, and one of the Cobra dragons in the Serpens group. That’s all I have on him, though.

False Water Cobra dragon (unnamed): Originally this was going to be the King Cobra’s sister, who when they were younger thought she was a King Cobra as well but grew out of it...but I’m leaning more toward her being the other character’s mate instead. She still was raised by true Cobra dragons, but by the time of meeting her husband, had been set straight on her adopted status (it isn’t tragic or depressing either. They loved her as they did any of their other children.)

Aara/vos: For a disclaimer, he is a placeholder character. If I end up publishing this story, he will be replaced with a different dragon of mine which I have shared on here before... I’m still not sure what his story is yet, but he is one of the oldest dragons alive, a member of the most ancient race which Pendara (on purpose) has some features of. As for his status...I don’t know if he will be a criminal, or just a mysterious character that she meets and is taught more about her identity from...as well as other things. Also the love interest, of course, because my headworld, my rules. (He will also be redesigned a bit, but not by much.)

This is only some of the characters in the story. There are others I couldn’t fit...like the central villains...but here are some of them. If you read through all this, thank you. I hope you enjoyed hearing about them. 

[theblackdragon-studios]

Some sketches of the other dragons in my personal headworld (which unlike fandom-worlds is the modern world with dragons existing in secret), who also appear as Shardians in my project "White Fire". The wolf-looking creature on here is a Shardian, in fact. The main character.

As far as the dragons go, however, there's Maziah, Arkelm, a nameless dragons based on the White-Lipped Island Viper (beautiful blue snake) King Blackthorn, and a demon that likes to go by Spectre.

If interested in learning about any of them, keep reading. If not, hope you enjoy the art.

Maziah: She came from a dream, and I haven't been able to let her go since. When colored, she is a rich chocolate brown-auburn color with violet purple eyes. She also has a scar on her muzzle, but I don't know where it's from. Her specialty is alchemy and the potion brewing side of witchcraft. Personality-wise she is strict and to the point. Not a very emotionally driven female, but she isn't unkind.

Arkelm: My favorite of the characters I've created that aren't the main one. His key role is in mentoring the protagonist, but he also has quite a reputation about him. Giving him the title Arkelm the Golden, for being such a noble, honorable dragon. As well as (coincidentally) the fact he has metallic golden fins, horns, whiskers, and wings. His scales and fur down his neck and along his chin is red, the scales blood red, the fur darker red. His personality is that archetype of the wise old mentor. Strict, stern, but not too cold. He and Maziah are rather similar in this way, except where she will speak her mind openly with anyone (but not in that brash, childish way teenage protagonists can), he is more tactful in his own words.

I don't know what I'm doing with snake-boi dragon here...but he's there. In the background...

King Blackthorn: Not actually a king by a monarchy...well, not anymore. With the world changing, so has the ways of governing. His title is merely a reminder of the past, but he still holds the position of the leader of the remaining dragon population within their hidden city (which looks kind of like a dragon-modified version of El Dorado from "Road to El Dorado", again thought of from a dream.), but in reality the way it works is more like a democracy... He's technically the president, but that doesn't sound near as regal. So they just say 'king' and his 'council'. Personality-wise right now he's just the 'good king' archetype. He wants to do what's right, but doesn't always. Like everyone, even he makes mistakes. But he isn't unable to own up to them.

Spectre: This guy...he's not exactly an antagonist in the normal sense here. In fact he isn't even real. He's in BlackDragon's (my sona's) head, as a part of herself. One of her 'inner demons' as they say. His specialty being in reminding her of things she did she regrets or is embarrassed by. Letting it fester and grow until it turns to self-hate. He is powerful...but at the same time incredibly weak. With the support she has, BlackDragon has been able to win their battles more easily lately. But not always. Spectre is called the demon of memory for his role in BlackDragon's psyche.

[theblackdragon-studios]

I’ve been seeing a lot of Spidersonas recently thanks to “Into the Spider-verse”. It’s a great movie, my only complaint is they didn’t do much with the alternate universe characters. Aside from Gwen and of course Peter Parker...but so much emphasis was put on Spider-Ham by the fans, so I was a bit disappointed. Aside from that, really fun movie. I loved Miles and his interaction with Peter was really fun. Plus the art style! You don’t see it on the trailers that well, but I love the little detail of everything having comic book dots inside the lines. Like it’s a moving comic book, which is the feel. (Oh And let’s not forget the Stan Lee cameo they threw in like any Marvel movie should have. Well, had.)

Anyway, Spidersonas. I love all the ones I’ve seen and I had been thinking of doing my own. It’s not at all known, but I actually have a Marvel version of my sona already. This is the “if she was bitten by a radioactive spider” version.

About Dragon Spider:

The name was going to be Black Spider, since her normal hero name is Black Dragon, but that would just sound either offensive or confusing. Plus I think a Black Spider character already exists in canon...and I mean literally the name of this character is Black Spider. Not called that for the suit or skin color.

So Dragon Spider was the chosen name. It throws people off, and unless you see why she’s called that, you don’t know what it means. Because it’s exactly what it means. She’s a dragon...with Spidey Powers. Yep.

In her normal Marvel counterpart story, Meg was a normal girl that gets abducted by generic evil scientists like several Marvel characters...and they attempt to make her into a weapon. Again, not uncommon in that universe. I have this as one of her backstories in my normal headworld, but in Marvel the difference is her bones are mutated with the form change. Infused with Vibranium. This isn’t impossible, since true dragons are naturally born with metal bones of some kind. Vibranium may or may not have been one but they would be extinct by now.

Arkelm, a gold bone dragon, rescues her before she’s been there for too long and before the experiment is even proven a success. She later discovers it was, and is trained by Arkelm in the ways of the dragons. Dragons in that world being treasure hunters. The reason they take and horde artifacts and treasures isn’t because of greed, but to protect the world from those items. Kind of like Warehouse 13 but with dragons.

Eventually Meg begins to disagree with their way of only going after treasures, never actually helping the people hurt by them or by others using them. So she decides to do it herself. Yes, I know Doctor Strange and his story cover the ethereal and magical side of that universe, but who says they have to be the only ones? We have Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Avengers dealing with aliens and mutants and evil people in the normal plane after all. So, Black Dragon began life as a super hero.

Enough on the general story of her normal Marvel self though, this is on Dragon Spider. The suit is the same as her normal counterpart’s, but I added webbing to the gloves and an insignia on the chest like all Spider-people. Hers is her dragon form’s head with spider legs surrounding it. This doesn’t mean she has those legs in her dragon form. It’s just to help the Spider theme.

As for the arms, I was going to have her wear open-fingered gloves because I love those, and have exposed shoulders. Then I thought ‘nah...I want to stick to the point of Spider-Man’s philosophy: “Anyone can wear the mask”. This is shown especially well by how his whole body is covered. You don’t even see his skin tone. Not that it should be drawn that much attention to...but that is a good way of showing anyone can be the hero. Adding to the ambiguity of his design as Spider-Man.

She also has a hood...I know a lot of Spidersonas also have one (which is awesome), and of course Gwen does too, but so what? I wear hoodies all the time, so I incorporated that into the design. Dragon Spider and Black Dragon both have it. She also wears boots because I don’t like the idea of not having protective shoes. Even with a healing factor.

Her web is also black. If Venom is a known character in this universe, that has nothing to do with her. Except in the Venom arc if there is one...and if I recall, I don’t remember if Venom has black web either... Point being she just has black webs because I felt like it.

I may do a rough idea of her dragon form. In normal Marvel, it’s just BlackDragon but with a more fit build. Since after a while of doing this hero thing, she loses some weight. Not a lot, but it becomes mostly lean muscle from her crime fighting. Never loses the bit of paunch she has though. lol As Dragon Spider, I think she’ll be scaly instead of furry...actually no. Spiders are hairy... I’ll think of something to make different. Aside from maybe being smaller and without wings. Or wings for only gliding. Adding to the Spider element by having to climb walls in both forms.