Earth Dragoness(dragon tribes series).18+. Challenge 16/30

another 2 days intense drawing result, and still not quite ready, I think. Perhaps it will get an update, to refine some parts. I think I need to tone down my work intensity a bit. They eyes are getting sore and can't really recover after a sleep.. Going to upload something else today, but something easy, a doodle or a WIP perhaps..

http://kodar.org/patreon/content/100/EarthDragoness.png

Earth Dragons are the world's most famous artificers - smiths, mechanics, jewelers. And the only tribe who has mastered the art or machinery, electricity, masonry and steam power. While some other dragons may craft things of metal or even have the encyclopedic knowledge, only the Earth Dragons can make mechanisms and automatons which seem to look alive, like magic. The only downside to that is that the Earth Tribe are not quite hospitable to other dragons - surely they do trade and take jobs some times, but demand for that is much higher than supply, and no strangers are ever allowed to inner circle of the Earth tribe's life and business. They are nothing like the Fairy, Sea or Steppes Dragons, who have their home, where the tail rests, befriend any tribe dragon instantly and basically have no secrets - Earth Dragons always return to their home, because each of them has got a personal workshop and apartments to store the tools, books and materials - precious and guarded well.

Earth dragons also live in not quite welcoming place either. They cut and dig through the rock of the Rift's endless slopes. Naturally, the Rift itself is a spooky place any dragon would want to avoid(and for a good reason!), but the Earth Tribe has found it most useful as the Rift has sliced the planet's crust and opened its riches far and wide. Huge halls, countless workshops and long passageways brightly lit with electricity, spread deep on the northern side of the Rift, where the towering mountain ridge used to be, and where the Sky dragons lived a long time ago, now, torn asunder, it has become the home for the Earth Tribe and the Sky dragons live above on their floating islands. Southern side of the Rift has got some mines there but no living apartments, a colossal bridge made of the floating island material, connects the sides. Only the abundance of rare minerals at the southern side attracts the earth dragons there, for it is a perilous place to hang around, even by the Rift's standards - three nasty things happen there, the undead, the earthquakes and the wild magic which can animate rock golems and cause other trouble. The undead aren't a big threat, despite scary stories other folks tell each other, they are nothing but golems too, animated by the same magic that makes rock ones, but rotten flesh and brittle bones can barely move yet harm anyone. Also the undead are always smaller creatures, no undead dragon has ever been spotted. Still, it's a gutwrenching and most disgusting thing a dragon can observe, the zombies can also pose a threat to a wounded dragon and can spoil supplies. Rock golems are slow and easily avoided and destroyed quickly with some help of machinery, but the biggest threat are earthquakes, that may collapse even the strongest steel reinforced mine shaft. Dragons who work at the southern mines are experienced and tough folk, armed to the teeth with best automation and weapons.

Earth dragons personality is being calm and confident, a little fatalistic and to value simple pleasures, good food, trusted friends and plenty of booze to have a rest after a day of hard work makes them happy.  They make the finest ale and rum in the north and have got a strong stomach - don't ever try to play a drinking game with an earth dragon!  Usually the earth dragons are muscular and outer sides of the body are covered in thick scales, males are more armored than females. The hide is colored in all shades of smooth brown from nearly black to creamy beige. One interesting anatomical detail is that the earth dragons have got five fingers, rather than four fingers like most other dragons. On the mating dance, they are passionate and ingenious lovers, spending a lot of time with their chosen pair when in the right mood, they've also made many special toys designed for that purpose, some of them are indeed a work of art, envied by other tribes and told in whispers among the longing and lonely.

There are rumors of some special elite force squad exists, which explores the farthest depths of the Rift. Nobody knows what kind of threat they face and deal with there. But their equipment and physique would put even the southern miners to shame.