#varanids

[tashgoose]

Got an exciting commission by an anonymous client to design a dragon based on varanids (the group including komodo dragons and monitor lizards.)

These are some concept sketches to explore the design.

The first one is based more on the arboreal species, the blue, black and emerald tree monitors. I'd imagine it gliding through thick forests looking for insects and perhaps small mammals. It has those little parietal eyes to sense sudden changes in light to give it an early warning of a bigger predator above it. With long claws to clamber up trees and I just had to include that long spiraling tail the tree monitors have!

The second is based on water monitors, with more aquatic adaptations. This one doesn't really have wings, it's based on those kind of wing/fin like structures on medieval dragon art combined with exaggerated skin folds. It also has webbed toes and more webbing on its tail.

The third is a big apex predator, largely based on komodo dragons but with a spiny tail inspired by ackie monitors, and some spines on his neck to complete the look. It has the typical dragon body plan with four legs and a pair of wings, though depending on how fantastical this project is I don't think it would be able to fly. Instead it might use them to aid in sunning and intimidating rivals.

Pencil with digital edits

[knuppitalism-with-ue]

And so it finally happened, the next part of my redesign/refinement of Dragons Of The World is out.

Eurovenator is was an important influence for European dragon mythology and until late medieval times was still present in Europe itself. because it is such an important species in research and culture I put a little bit more effort into explaining it's anatomy.

And yet, this is a very brief description, many topics I don't even touch on and the anatomy remains surface level. Future entries will hopefully enlighten you more about the anatomical, behavioral and physiological oddities of this clade.

[always-amity]

Did a big ref study the other day of 30 different Varanus heads, and it inspired me to take a stab at giving my two favourite Big Guys more Varanid-based designs.

[ningauinerd]

Finally a sand goanna lazy enough to not run instantly and let me take some mediocre pics

I found their hiding spot they cannot run from me

[yeenybeanies]

Dude. Comodo dragon hybrid! Claws, long forked tongue, tough skin, venomous (bacteria ridden) saliva!

1️⃣: excellent concept! komodos (& other monitors) would make for excellent hybrid options.

🅱️: komodos (& other monitors) are actually venomous! it's not just bacteria, but legitimate venom! they got venom glands & everything 💖

[theradioghost]

important update: i still love komodo dragons very much

[iamthekaijuking]

Weird little varanid I drew at work

[pantestudines]

I think every single thing I’ve read that uses “platynota” has a different definition of it

[purpleweredragon]

[Photo of a Komodo dragon walking, with its tongue flicked out, in a misty, green landscape.

End ID]

[kiabugboy]

St George's monitor lizard

It sports large scales on its neck resembling small horns, a threat display with its bright orange tongue, and vestigial wing-like skin extension that its juvenile form used for gliding. It also spits a venomous concoction onto the wounds of its prey, causing a painful burning sensation

The strange varanid and its record in oral traditions later perished in the ensuing conflicts of history. Thus the original source of the fire breathing legend is forever gone, engulfed in flames.

[tashgoose]

Final design and illustration drawing for the varanid dragon commission. This will be painted in watercolour soon! It's based on arboreal monitor lizard species, blue, black and emerald tree monitors.

Digital - Clip Studio

[knuppitalism-with-ue]

What?! Another dragon already? Well yes, I thought after such a long hiatus you could get some more ;) This time of of the small species.

As with Eurovenator I put in a few more details than usual. More information about the species but also dragons overall. In this case the already teased air-sac system used to reduce air resistance.

[always-amity]

Innocence, Arrogance and Patience

[cadere-art]

Working on the philogeny of Uanlikri's fauna. I've mostly got dinosauria down - this makes me realise I need to give more love to herbivores, and also that I should look into what's going on with birds. Hopefully next up is the rest of terrestrial animals: mammals, varanids, crocodilians... and also a better quality version of this thing.

[ostracartderms]

Progura campestris, a pleistocene megapode bird calls to intimidate a varanid who is approaching where she has just buried her eggs

[spookygibberish]

Hiii! I REALLY love your Thrones and I'd like to ask if I could make one as a oc?

I'm not sure if I've shared enough information about their cultural context publicly for people to do this well, but I have helped my friends workshop Throne OCs before.

Some important stuff to know:

There are two broad classes that most Thrones fall into, private and imperial. Thrones which are private citizens can technically be found all over the empire, on account of the fact they're wealthy enough to go and live wherever the hell they want, but you're going to find the greatest number of them in Godtomb and other densely urbanized areas of the Imperial core. All thrones belong to the aristocracy by nature, as they're directly a product of wealth and privilege. If a Throne is not currently wealthy, they are inevitably descended from wealth. They were also a huge huge fad before the creation of new thrones was clamped down on, and nearly every old money merchant empire is a Throne family. Godtomb (the imperial capital) has the highest number of Thrones which are not associated with the government, as it was the birthplace of the literary movement which first spawned them (longish story). It is tempting to say that private citizen thrones are more diverse than governmental ones, but it's more accurate to say they are more diverse than thrones belonging to the tricolor court, which has fairly strict expectations for the appearances of Headless (quadrupedal; preferences for lions, lizards (varanid), oxen, eagles; a set color palette (gold, azure, white); the inevitable 'mantle' of 'petals', etc....)

Imperial Thrones can be divided along the lines of whether or not they are associated with the Tricolor court, A government body made up of regional power centers (Greathouses) which communicate directly with and contribute to the government in Godtomb. Each Tricolor Greathouse has houses under it which may or may not be aesthetically aligned with the tricolor court, if not directly members, depending on how culturally similar they are to the Hegemony. The further you get from the Bitano, the more likely these Provincial Houses are to differ and be more influenced by non-hegemonic local culture.

By necessity, all Thrones, governmental or not, are inexorably associated with the Empire and their existence functions first and foremost to legitimize its authority. Even in the cases of provinces like Lujnola and Sevab, which are each heavily tied to indigenous cultures (and therefor divergent from Tricolor Court aesthetics), they belong to ruling houses modeled on the Hegemonic standard, and are all vassals of the emperor in Godtomb.

Slightly finer categories:

There are Throne Houses which are not themselves Imperial houses, but are in the employ of Imperial houses. Many of the Thrones produced by these families are more or less born and bred for the military. Prominent members of such Houses (need to come up with a name for these...) often marry into Ruling Houses, although rarely TRICOLOR Houses, since they lack the clout to be competitive in that marriage arena.

There are Sansin Thrones. Sansin are an all-male order of magnyd (essentially the same type of being as Unbodied) that staff the Bibat Temples (of the Jacantese State Religion, they make and manage other sorts of Dangyds.) I will elaborate on Sansin later this post has gotten long but theyre just monks. Its an all-male social caste of monks that grow new members in little jars and sometimes they make their own versions of Headless and assemble their own version of Thrones. These Thrones are smaller, usually bipedal, and always sexless.

Other things to know:

Due to the biological reality of thrones there are headless which are born outside of major Houses. The vast majority of Throne-children are Unbodied (the sort which more or less exactly resemble ordinary humans), and those Unbodied inevitably leak out into the general populous. All Unbodied are capable of parenting a child which is Headless (the lower half of the throne). Headless born outside of major Houses will inevitably be snapped up when discovered. Even prior to the existence of Thrones, Houses can be propagated just as well by apprenticeship.

Not all imperial Thrones are lazy figureheads! Just the majority of them. Some Thrones belong to a guild which is basically Throne Interpol, going around and keeping despotism in check. What happens when one of those guys is corrupt? Don't be silly that doesn't happen and isn't a problem (it is.)

It's more common for Thrones to be generals when in military positions. Thrones tend to be high ranking wherever in whatever employ, not really because they're uniquely qualified, simply because they're Thrones. Many of them have fairly insufferable personalities on account of being treated like they shit gold their entire lives. They're not inherently *bad people*, but they're almost exclusively coddled, spoiled, deeply entitled, and profoundly disconnected people. This is isn't true for every single throne, just like, a solid 99% of them.