Since the other was received so well, decided to continue the project. Part two of the lore dossiers, resuming with the gilded dragon species. Only two more planned for them before moving onto the other races and wildlife.
Now I'm curious about some flight physics - total wing area, wing loading, glide ratio, climb rate, etc...
Just judging from the flight silhouette there, my guess would be your dragons are excellent and highly agile gliders, which would also help getting that massive form of the ground without too much effort.
There is a price to pay for that, no wing design is a true jack of all trades. Dragons built like that could soar for hours, maybe days and effortlessly travel thousands of miles, making use of thermals and updrafts where available combining agility with endurance. The downside would be vulnerability in very strong winds (don't fly through the thick of a thunderstorm), limited top speed (would not out-fly a falcon - or an airplane) - and a nasty crash or midair impact could lead to a broken finger or arm, or a tear in the wing membrane grounding the dragon until they are healed. There wouldn't be many creatures out there able to injure a dragon like that - except for another dragon or some sort of heavy flying construct. But I think such a dragon would also struggle to take off from the ground with a heavy load. Pick up a deer or other small (in comparison) critter - sure, but that's just an appetizer - A horse or buffalo would be likely already be too heavy to get into the air with, unless there's special circumstances (like a conveniently placed cliff to throw the horse down and then pick up enough speed for sufficient lift - but even then only for short distances)
That would explain why dragons evolved their fire breath. A dragon that landed to feast needs the fire to defend his/her kill against predators, scavengers and other threads.
But its hard to judge from just one picture, so I'd be very happy if you could elaborate on their flight ability.
Is there anything special about gilded dragon health? Any innate quick regeneration ability?
Now I'm curious about some flight physics - total wing area, wing loading, glide ratio, climb rate,
Nah, designed them to be fast and agile predators for their size. They are not cumbersome in the air. Their ratios are to account for flight at that scale but still shaped for maneuverability and self powered alongside matching musculature to handle the load.
Like all aspects of the design they have 1 overall purpose, agile, not a brute. A blend of majestic but savage. They have a fair carry weight and adaptability but much like on the ground, they are built to adjust as needed. May glide thermally for long hours scouting along, but can easily go full powered flight and show a deceptive grace.
I do agree though no wing is a jack of all trades, but a wing can be of multiple niches. Theirs is maneuverability and the power and structure to keep going comfortably. Their speed while decent is carried mostly from momentum and brief powered bursts, they can briefly hover for a pass of fire if needed for precision but this is a struggle and very demanding and cant do any special maneuvers with it. And while agile, they have the airborn risk of being large, making aerial hunting limited by environment pretty heavily. And lastly they cant give long term powered flight bursts. They fly like a predatory bird, quick and agile but in bursts of soaring and waiting. They arent turning on a dime and twitch reflexing at all like other structures that is for sure. But they are far from slow or only gliders.
They arent for show, they rule the sky for a reason, it is where they are at their strongest. Part of that surface area is to aid in having excess for damage, more arm musculature for self launch takeoff, similar to pterosaurs, and each digit is more flexible than it seems. With the digits shaped in ways to help the overall wing flow with their needs on the fly.
Overall consider their final niche around above average to good with flight, some are indeed better with speed, benefits of smaller scale forms without the risks they had to evolve for. But for their scale they are deceptive in their ability to control themselves. They are from a highly dangerous ecosystem and they are nowhere near the top of it. As such their method is often fly by, quickly snatch prey on the wing, and take it somewhere safe such as a large enough tree or cliff etc. same on the ground, they are quick and capable for their scale, and while not brittle, they arent gonna be trying to tank attacks from anything on purpose as they arent built for that.that their uniting theme, agile and adaptive which applies to almost every trait of them. But with an asterisk of "agile, fast, and tight turning, for its size, which wont compare to a smaller flyer." They arent gonna keep up with the super tight movements of a songbird. but if one isnt paying attention they are gonna snatch one with a good swoop if it tries to run instead of take a side turn.
It is a generalist wing at a large scale as much as it could without sacrificing too much. A species their size with a speed wing wont have their maneuverability, while a evolved at the same scale for only endurance.and gliding wont have their speed and control. And while smaller speedier flyers could keep up and harass one, thats not a good idea woth their range of motion. Or if you shoot at one with a balista, as long as it is paying attention can react or dodge given enough distance, they arent forced to commit to a simple flightpath reliant on outside forces and can maneuver as needed. But ofcourse within reason for the size.
Their balance is always in that agility and adaptability, albeit with the ups and downs to come of it, and the unsaid demands in metabolism so they wind up eating a lot to keep everything going after a event of highly active flight or just being absolutely exhausted if pushed and need to rest and recover. They are only mortal and natural afterall they have their limits xD
Nah, designed them to be fast and agile predators for their size. They are not cumbersome in the air
