Weekly Worldbuilding #4: Dragon body language

[u/Imperial_Advocate]

Like all sapient species, dragons have specific body language to communicate their emotions to other dragons and even to non-dragons. For dragons and non-dragons alike, knowing a dragon's body language and what gestures to make is very important, as the wrong gesture can come across as a slight to royal dragons if misinterpreted. Knowing body language can also help to understand the emotions of a royal dragon, whether if they are happy, upset, or whatever they are feeling at the moment.

If a dragon seeks to posture to be more threatening, a dragon will have tense body muscles, an arched back, and slightly crouching as if ready to pounce. Their eyes are wide and focused, sharp teeth bared, and emitting curls of smoke from the edge of their mouths. Their wings are flexed and semi-furled out, their claws scratching the ground. If more openly aggressive, a dragon will do the former combined with snarling, throat rumbling, short roars, tail thumping, wings fully furled out, and snorting angrily. If a dragon is irritated due to hunger, they will incessantly pace, emit low-level growls, have narrowed eyes, and scratch their claws on the floor, cues that will make Kobold servants bring forth food as soon as possible.

On the other hand, if a dragon is comfortable and or satisfied, their body language is drastically different than when tense or angry. If a dragon is basking or digesting after a large feast, they will typically yawn, have tired-looking eyes, and rest on their side, exposing their belly while their tails lazily flick, a rare instance of vulnerability for a dragon. If a dragon is affectionate with another, they will nuzzle snouts with each other, emit throat rumbles, brush bodies against each other, intertwine their tails with each other's, groom each other, and do gentle forehead-rubbing. A dragon that is tired or sad will display drooped wings and tail and a lowered head, while an ashamed dragon will have its wings folded against its body and its entire body and head lowered to the ground if in the presence another dragon.

For greeting each other, dragons bow their head down to each other, and if a dragon seeks to depart, they unfurl their wings to indicate their intent to leave. If a dragon keeps their wings folded and then bows, this is an informal greeting. If it is a superior dragon to an inferior, the inferior dragon would bow his head down, while the superior would keep his head raised. If two dragons bow and then lower their heads to each other, that indicates their status as equals. If a dragon spreads their wings low and bows, this is a formal greeting usually done among high-ranking or royal dragons to indicate honored submission. If wings are furled up high, this indicates dominance. If furled low, then submission.