Editing Drakes (section)

== Behavior and Culture ==
Stereotypically, Drakes are orderly people, readily obeying their own authorities, and sticking to their laws strictly. These laws are seemingly put in place, since Drakes tend to be very possessive and unwilling to share. Common personality traits include being immensely proud of their heritage (naming Dragons as their ancestors) and their culture. Naturally, not all Drakes follow such stereotypes, but a surprisingly large and vocal amount of them tries to enforce such traditions, making their overall culture somewhat unyielding and static.

If there was a ranking for "bad-tempered species", Drakes would probably be at the top of that list, competing for first place with [[Centaurs]] and [[Minotaurs]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/03/03/1-03-d/ Chapter 1.03 D]</ref> There are various sayings about Drakes, like "''one Drake’s trouble, two is a fight, three will burn your house down, and four means war''"<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/09/4-44-m/ Chapter 4.44 M]</ref> or "''if the world was destroyed and there was only dust left, Drakes would fight over who had the most dust''"<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/09/01/5-16-s/ Chapter 5.16 S]</ref>, which respectively describes the aggressive and greedy stereotypes of Drakes.

=== Environmental preferences ===
Drakes like dry climate, enjoy the sun, and open spaces.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/08/20/1-07/ Chapter 1.07]</ref> When it comes to choosing their home, however, Drakes prefer to settle behind safe and large walls, ideally enchanted.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/08/12/3-03/ Chapter 3.03]</ref>

=== Childhood ===
Very young Drakes like to bite everything they can fit their mouths around.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ Chapter 2.42]</ref> Later, they enter into a hoarding phase, when they can't share anything with others and even take other people's stuff (like the toys of fellow children). Even as adults, Drakes may retain that strong hoarding instinct.

=== Military and Adventurers ===
Commonly for Drake cities, Drake armies are efficient, well trained and possess great officers and generals. However, this makes it harder for individuals to stand out, resulting in fewer high-level individuals outside of War Leaders compared to the Human armies in the north, who use elite forces supported by militia. Everyone is a bit higher level, but fewer are highest level.

Similarly, their better funded and trained City Watch are called to deal with [[monsters]] as much as [[adventurers]] are, resulting in fewer adventurers in general and of a lower level on average, as they aren't as needed.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/02/07/8-05-i/ Chapter 8.05 I]</ref> Drake adventurers tend to be loyal to their city, and can be called upon akin to a militia. Adventurers from smaller cities may switch loyalties from their home to a bigger city that courts them.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/07/01/9-50/ Chapter 9.50]</ref>

Inter-city warfare is more civilized than against other species. In those battles, Drakes will usually surrender and be ransomed rather than fight to the death.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/07/04/9-51-z/ Chapter 9.51 Z]</ref>

Drake armies are famous for their spear charges. Drakes are one of the only civilizations able to create siege weapons, allowing them to field them. The only other armies capable of fielding siege weapons to the same degree are other manufacturers like the Minotaurs, or rich and powerful nations able to purchase and stockpile the weapons from them or the Minotaurs. They are also the only armies that can use Dragonbreath support with their Oldblood Drakes, though only the Walled Cities are able to field hundreds of them.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/11/22/9-66/ Chapter 9.66]</ref>

=== Customs ===
Drakes have many customs regarding their tails. They consider their tails to be private body parts, and it is considered erotic to touch a drake's tail.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/17/side-story-mating-rituals/ Side Story – Mating Rituals]</ref> Another Drake tradition revolving around tails, is in regards to their marriage customs: proposal among Drakes is done by placing a ring around the tail of the Drake they wish to marry.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/22/2-16/ Chapter 2.16]</ref>

=== Mourning and Wills ===
Drake cities throw military parades for their fallen soldiers. The cheering of the crowds is sometimes used to express grief, not just to celebrate the fallen as heroes. Drakes are often cremated, though richer and more important Drakes may be buried in a graveyard.

Soon after the funeral, wills of the deceased are read and their possessions are divided up. Almost everyone aged sixteen or older in Drake society has a will,<ref name=":1">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/06/07/9-01/ Chapter 9.01]</ref> and everyone over the age of thirty has one.<ref name=":0" /> They are necessary due to the possessiveness of Drakes, to prevent blood feuds over inheritance. It is also a way to show that they cared about the people they knew and leave them something to remember them by, or to tell someone they hated them one last time by leaving them nothing. Even distant relatives are expected to receive a trinket at least. Of all the laws in Drake society, wills are treated as the most ironclad. The only known exceptions are possessions lost in war, which are forfeit.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

This practice was inspired by the Dragons' custom of gifting a cherished piece from their hoard to mortals who had known them before their passing.<ref name=":1" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===

=== Language ===
Drakes speak the common language (Earth's modern English) but have a distinct written script that is different from the Latin alphabet that Humans use. Learning to read that script has been reported as rather easy. Drakes also speak with a slight sibilant rasp, elongating their s's and l's.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Most Drakes wear ancient-Greek style togas or robes. Some of them wear sarongs, though likely only female ones.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/10/16/1-21/ Chapter 1.21]</ref>

Some of the male Drakes wear rather little clothing, sometimes leaving their chests completely bare save for a light cloak. Female ones usually wear more garments.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/09/14/1-14/ Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
The traditionalist Drake society is somewhat sexist or at least paternalistic with regards to partner choices: Female Drakes, especially young ones, are regarded as not fit for marriage outside of their species and suggesting otherwise makes huge scandalous waves. Meanwhile male Drakes choosing a non-Drake partner are much more accepted.

As gender-intended symbols, Drakes use a straight tail for men and a curly tail for women.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2016/12/07/1-30/ Chapter 1.30]</ref>

A huge taboo among Drakes is homosexuality. The term ''"Turnscale"'' is a derogatory term for homosexuals among Drakes.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/09/04/5-18-s/ Chapter 5.18 S]</ref> There's implication this stems from the belief that such behavior goes against their place in the world given to them by the Ancestors.<ref name=":3">{{VERef|Saliss the Architect}}</ref> The Watch in most Drake cities and towns violently crack down on the private affairs of "Turnscales" and displays of same-gender affection are widely regarded as offensive to Drakedom itself.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/03/03/interlude-dancing-and-brawling/ Interlude - Dancing and Brawling]</ref> Even if those who say so are a vocal minority, they have forced queers - including transgender - into the criminal underworld.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/04/12/7-17-s/ Chapter 7.17 S]</ref>

=== LGBT Community ===
Despite the threats of persecution, queer individuals of all species in Drake cities still come together in secret places, such as hidden bars. They are very cautious about security and discovery.

Members of these gathering places are divided into Citizens, Guests, Architects, Sentries, and Masons. Citizens are the regular patrons, who come to relax and enjoy themselves. Guests are allies who are allowed into the establishment. Architects are people who create and organize those kinds of safe spaces for others like them, and sometimes travel to different cities to do so. Sentries are guardians that ensure the safety of the patrons within. Masons create covers in order to ward off suspicions about one's sexuality and maintain secrecy, such as acting as one's beard. Those latter three are who Citizens go to if they have a problem or are in danger.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/09/19/8-42/ Chapter 8.42]</ref>

There exists internal discrimination against bisexual people, due to their easier time hiding their sexuality, which is percieved as them stopping to be "Turnscales" when they feel like it. Thus, some don't consider bisexuals to be full members of the bars.<ref name=":3" />

These bars are said to have originated in the Walled Cities, though those in lesser cities believe it is now too difficult to set up new ones and too risky to maintain them. Those LGBT bars do still exist in the Walled Cities, though it was shown with various degrees of knowledge by the authorities so far. In times when persecution becomes worse, queer communities are known to leave the cities to join the Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":3" />

=== Justice System ===
The Drake Judicial System has provisions which allow the Watch Captain or Council or army to have a certain overruling presence.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/03/09/8-68/ Chapter 8.68]</ref>

Drake cities generally prefer punishing crimes with a model of high fines and low incarceration time. The idea is that the criminal pays for their mistakes in a literal sense.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/12/14/9-28/ Chapter 9.28]</ref>

=== Weddings ===
Traditional Drake weddings do not just have a best man, but also a Nemesis of My Hour. The Nemesis of My Hour is the groom's worst enemy, assuming their hatred isn't so deep as to attack on sight. When one accepts to be the Nemesis, they stand with the best man and are privy to the groom's finest hour. Thereafter, their grudge would be resolved. It is one of the highest honors one can be given. There may be months of negotiations leading up to the moment, to address their animosity and make sure both parties can cooperate.<ref name=":2" />

Old traditional attire for the groom resembles a robe of glittering metal with a triangular hat of Truegold-laced cloth, adorned with little charms hand-made by his closest friends and family. Wedding gifts are meant to be expensive, as a display of wealth, which sometimes cause fights. The bride and groom walk under swords held by the best man, the Nemesis, and the bridesmaids. They may hold daggers instead if they aren't trained warriors.<ref name=":2">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/12/21/9-30/ Chapter 9.30]</ref> Sometimes, a tail band will be used in place of a ring.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/11/19/9-65/ Chapter 9.65]</ref>