In Heilbronn, dragons are not mythical beasts of wonder but terrifying apex predators that shape politics, economics, and warfare through their mere existence.
Rarity and Reality: Only twenty-seven confirmed dragons exist in Heilbronn—each named, tracked, and feared
Intelligence Factor: Dragons possess intellect rivaling or exceeding human cunning, with centuries of accumulated knowledge
Magical Resonance: Dragon proximity disrupts magical energies, making spellcraft unpredictable in their territory
Territorial Imperative: Each dragon claims vast hunting grounds where its will functions as de facto law
Resource Drain: A dragon's territory becomes economically devastated within a decade of occupation
Calculated Predation: Dragons rarely attack randomly—each strike serves territorial, resource, or political purposes
Feeding Cycles: Adult dragons hunt approximately once per season, requiring entire herds or village populations
The Warning Signs: Specific environmental changes (bird migrations, livestock behavior) precede attacks
Attack Patterns: Dragons develop signature strike methods—knowledge that sells for small fortunes
Political Timing: Dragons demonstrate uncanny ability to attack during succession crises or political instability
The concept of "pet dragons" exists only among:
The Delusional: Fools who mistake temporary draconic tolerance for submission
The Doomed: Dragon handlers whose average life expectancy is measured in months
The Dragon Touched: Rare individuals bearing marks of dragon breath who form temporary pacts
The Dragon Cults: Fanatical worshippers who serve dragons as gods, sometimes receiving limited cooperation
Dragon Treaties: Some kingdoms maintain uneasy non-aggression pacts with dragons through regular tributes
Weaponization Attempts: Military efforts to direct dragon aggression toward enemies—with predictably catastrophic results
The Dragon Riders Myth: Persistent legends of ancient dragon-mounted warriors that no credible history supports
Dragon Slayer Reality: Of 156 recorded dragon slaying attempts in Heilbronn's history, three succeeded—all Pyrrhic victories
True domestication is impossible, but three relationships exist:
The Blood Bond: Rare magical connection between dragon hatchling and human, creating mental link
The Mutual Contract: Formal agreements with intelligent dragons for specific services with negotiated payment
The Chained Wyrm: Captured specimens broken through torture and magical binding—unstable and inevitably disastrous
The Dragon Tax: Regions near dragon territories maintain specialized treasuries for inevitable tribute demands
Dragon Diplomacy: Specialized envoys trained to negotiate with dragons during territorial disputes
The Scorched Inheritance: Noble houses sometimes position heirs' territories in dragon paths to eliminate competition
Dragon Market: Black market trade in dragon components for alchemy, fetching prices that destabilize economies
Remember: In Heilbronn, dragons are not companions but forces of nature with agendas beyond human comprehension. The wisest rulers don't try to control dragons but instead plan their reigns around draconic realities—incorporating inevitable attacks into political strategies rather than futilely trying to prevent them.