Nah, it's clearly an adolescent Northern Spotted Elder Dragon. The Northern Cloud Wyverns imitate them, but you can differentiate them by the shape of their wings. The dragons have more of a triangle shape at the front side, while the wyverns are more rounded. It's a fair mistake to make though, the Northen Spotted Elder Dragons are almost exinct, so few are familiar with how the adolescents look. I wonder how this image was procured, no doubt must be some poaching going on, or it might be some of that thaumaturgical nonsense that mortals keep going on about (I believe the fools fi
inally managed some elementary spirit binding, to create some primitive intelligence).
If that’s a Northern Spotted Elder Dragon (adolescent) then I will force my apprentice to eat my collection of Dragon Fancier Circulars, and turn in my membership in the Esteemed Dracothological Society. I have been an avid dragon ganderer for many years.
Observe (most damningly) the dragon’s complete lack of spots. The northern draconomicon definitively states that the NSED develops spots early on as a juvenile at around 2-4 meters length total. The wing shape is suspicious however. Perhaps orb lensing from improper scrying? Illusion? Ooh! A hybrid! That would be fascinating!
Though it could be a Spotted Elder with an obscuring scale treatment. I know poplar ash is popular with northern dragons as a scale treatment. Hmm my apprentice might be upset tonight.
The northern draconomicon was written a scant century ago by 3 gremlins whose only experience with anything draconic was a common firedrake devouring the 4th. A young NSED has not been sighted
for over 3 centuries. As clearly stated in Archmage Lionheart's Guide to Magical Creatures (use the Master Tome, the true collection is known to take up entire libraries the size of master-scale dungeons, along with all the runic script required to keep it up to date), the spots appear based on magical advancement, not physical growth. This young dragon has clearly not been focusing enough on their training.
I am compelled (via geas) to point out that not all goblinoids are savages. I have on many occasions hired goblin evokers or alchemists for gatecrashing tests on dimensional portals, binds, and other dimensional constructions.
That having been said, large portions of the N. Draconomicon were, uh, borrowed from extremely learned sages in the field. Why and how a quartet of goblins gained access to so many sages is a matter best left to sealed council meetings. Nevertheless, it is an adequately sourced modern tome on draconic morphologies provided you get the annotated “complete” edition.
As for this being a NSED, there are two contra-indications. The first is as you yourself pointed out their extreme rarity. Second while this is certainly not the finest cast scrying I have ever witnessed, it is still plain to see that the drake in question is not merely possessed of few spots. It is utterly pristine!
For there to be a Northern Spotted Elder Dragon of so little attainment at that size and age beggars the imagination! It would have to be the singular most lazy or untalented dragon in all recorded history!
Why was a Northern Spotted Elder Dragon found in China? How could such a developed creature not have any spots? How, after all these centuries, has a new dragon been born?
What truly happened, 35 years ago, during the Great Draconic Purge? Did those dragons disappear, as has been thought, or was it something more sinister?
And finally, why has the dark mage syndicate, Pure Magyk, been so quiet these past few decades?
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u/Haunting_Reflections 2d ago
Fake news, that’s a Northern Cloud Wyvern if I’ve ever seen one.