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This article is about the race as a whole. For other uses and individual dragonkin, see Dragonkin (disambiguation).
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Sithaph
Sithaph chathead

The dragonkin are a race of powerful and intelligent dragon-like creatures that originated from the previous cycle of the universe. Zaros suspects their home plane was destroyed shortly after the Elder Gods left Freneskae. A few survived the revision of the universe by hiding in the Abyss. The surviving dragonkin sought out Jas for mercy or retribution, only to end up being bound to her Catalyst.[1] The dragonkin were powerful and malevolent creatures that spread destruction wherever they went; however, heroes such as Robert the Strong eventually drove them back to their stronghold, where they currently plot their return, ending the Dragonkin Conflicts of the Fourth Age.[2] Nevertheless, there are currently about a dozen active dragonkin. Three of them are protecting the Stone of Jas, with another being known to reside on Fossil Island. In battle, the dragonkin have been seen to use melee, magic and exceptionally powerful dragonbreath.

At some point, they were enslaved by Jas and given the task of guarding the Stone of Jas, as referenced by the post-quest While Guthix Sleeps journal. The Balance Elemental, one of the primary guardians of the Stone, was killed during While Guthix Sleeps. In Postbag from the Hedge issue 10, the King Black Dragon said, "Balance must have a counter balance, lest he forgot." Movario believes that the dragonkin are "Creatures brought here by gods to support them during the god wars." As revealed in the Ritual of the Mahjarrat, the dragonkin not only guard the Stone but also derive their power from it. When the Stone of Jas is touched by a "False User" (i.e.: anyone besides Jas[3]) the dragonkin feel pain and, eventually, become enraged, causing them to seek out and destroy the individuals that used it, as Lucien and the Kethsians learned, to their sorrow. Their purpose is to defend the Stone of Jas and for that reason they hate it. However, they can't act without it, and for that reason, they love it. The power given to them is what makes them strong; they are nothing without it.[4] Furthermore, the dragonkin get more powerful each time the Stone is abused by false users [3].

The dragonkin are separated into two factions: The most well known of which are the Necrosyrtes, which consists of the more aggressive dragonkin who kill false-users and created dragon equipment. However, the other more obscure faction is known as the Dactyl, who wish to rid themselves of the pain of the false user. In order to do this, they attempted to create beings of the same lineage as themselves, yet not born of them directly. In doing this, they created the Dragon race (Forcae's Journal confirms that they could, at least at one point, reproduce naturally, as he describes the hatching of his own child, Lasthes; however, such children are also afflicted by the curse). Necrosyrtes embrace the dragonkin curse, whereas the Dactyl fight against it.[5]

Abilities[]

Not much of dragonkin combat has been seen, but what has been witnessed is evidence of tremendous power. During a battle against Robert, a dragonkin used powerful magic, almost killing him, after having defeated his loyal sidekick Odysseus. However, Robert managed to retaliate and slay the dragonkin. The sole reason the player survived an attack from Sakirth was that the dragonkin was somewhat wounded at the time.

Burnt Edgeville

Lucien's former house in Edgeville; burnt.

Strisath, Sakirth and Sithaph, three dragonkin active in modern times, have been shown to be even more powerful. After the primary guardian of the Stone was defeated, Jas's curse released the three from their prison. Lucien, an evil Mahjarrat with aspirations to become a god, stole the Stone and abused it. This angered the three kin. They released some of their rage by burning parts of Mos Le'Harmless, a pirate town, but they still desired to destroy the False User. Lucien used the Stone yet again after the eighteenth ritual, and the dragonkin arrived at the scene, immediately incinerating Idria in a display of power. They then demanded that Lucien give in, but he refused and attacked them. He easily knocked down two dragonkin, but Sakirth snuck up from behind, first hitting then impaling Lucien with the staff of Armadyl, killing him. Later, they were seen completely ravaging Edgeville with their dragonfire, which is considerably more potent than regular dragonfire. Humans are turned to ash upon contact with it. Players are also shown a vision of the dragonkin decimating Draynor Village after the completion of Ritual of the Mahjarrat. The three are still planning to wreak havoc. In "Runescape 3: The Story So Far", a video uploaded on the RuneScape Youtube Channel, Mod Osborne reads that after Guthix's death, they are awaiting the gods to use the Stone of Jas so they can kill them.

The dragonkin were created with the ability to travel through planes without the aid of forces such as the Fairy Rings. They and the white dragons do this by opening a rift in space to the abyss; which they then use to travel to other worlds, although they must know where they are going first or risk ending up in the empty void. When the Stone of Jas is abused on another world, even if the dragonkin didn't know about the world prior, the abuse of the stone will alert them to its current location.[5]

Language[]

The dragonkin have a language, of which little is known, as they speak in the common tongue most of the time. The only humans known to understand the language are the Kethsians and Robert the Strong, who wrote a book on the subject, an excerpt of which can be found below.

The language of the Dragonkin is as blunt as they are. From what I can gather, the sentence structure is direct and simple. I believe it follows a structure like this:-

Subject - Adjective if required - Action modifier - Action - Object.

So sentences like 'Odysseus went for a brisk walk in the park' would become 'Odysseus brisk walk in park'.

It seems that they really don’t like to mince words, which may explain why much of their written language is only a handful of short excerpts.

Additionally I have encountered a few references to dragons that seem to have almost been given titles. The format for these appears to be Colour-Dragon-Title/Descriptor.

 

Words[]

Translated[]

  • Arakken = Dungeon
  • Castil = Combine
  • Chen = Razed/Destroyed
  • Crasortius = Surrender[5]
  • Dosk = In
  • Draekeun = Dragon
  • Drakkerkin = Dragonkin
  • Fia = Safe/Protected from
  • Galvek - Fate
  • Gres = East
  • Hok = Was/Is
  • Hesente = Intruder[5]
  • Kath = Failure/Weakling/Runt
  • Kalist = Catalyst, sometimes The Catalyst, or Stone of Jas
  • Kel = With
  • Kletter = Green
  • Kreath = Dark/Shadow/Black
  • Kren = Fortress
  • Lith = Superior
  • Lokur = Steel
  • Ortha = First
  • Tho = South
  • Traken = Queen
  • Vek = Failure/Failed
  • Verak = King/Emperor?
  • Vor = Pathetic
  • Vosk = False User

Additionally, "Skethzzzzz" is the dragonkin equivalent of laughter or a snigger.

Place names[]

Untranslated[]

  • Askanth
  • Carratas
  • Deskar
  • Falkar
  • Kal (Roake Kal achievement)
  • Kalgat
  • Kos
  • Kuln
  • Lac
  • Pthen
  • Reageth
  • Rak
  • Rath
  • Roake
  • Roakin
  • Skekkin
  • Sokun
  • Takla
  • Tescan
  • Tesska
  • Ven
  • Volat
  • Vertentis

Phrases[]

Source Phrase Partial translation
Dragonkin PrimerDragonkin Primer Kletter Draekeun dosk Arraken Ullergrax. Green Dragon in Dungeon Forinthry.
Dragonkin PrimerForinthry Dungeon Kletter Draekeun tescan Kath. Draekeun castil Lokur kel Draekeun. Drakkerkin dosk Tho Arakken Sketherin. Green Dragon tescan Runt. Dragon combine Steel with Dragon. Dragonkin in South Dungeon Brimhaven.
Dragonkin PrimerBrimhaven Dungeon Ortha Draekeun Hok Kreath Draekeun Traken. Kreath Draekeun Traken Ortha lith Kerapac reageth Carratas. Drakkergin dosk Ven Arraken. First Dragon Was Black Dragon Queen. Black Dragon Queen First superior Kerapac reageth carratas. Dragonkin in Ven Dungeon.
Mysterious statue chatheadMysterious statue Drakkerkin Kren Volat Roake Falkar Dragonkin Fortress Volat Roake Falkar
Strisath chatheadStrisath N/A Sokun-Kerapac! Release me now!
Kerapac chatheadKerapac N/A The curse that my kind suffers is like a chain that connects us to the Stone of Jas and also to the Vosk...Sorry. The 'False Users'.
Kerapac chatheadKerapac summoning Protoplasmic wisps Drakkerkin Roake Pthen Tesska Askanth Kuln Dragonkin Roake Pthen Tesska Askanth Kuln
King Black Dragon during One of a Kind Arraken Kos Roake Pthen Deskar Dungeon Kos Roake Pthen Deskar
Dragonkin PrimerAdamant dragon dungeon Draekeun Castil Lokur. Vek. Kerapac Vertentis Draekeun Lokur. Vek. Forcae Kalist. Forcae Lith Kalist. Forcae Lith Verak! Dragon combine steel. Failure. Kerapac Vertentis Dragon Steel. Failure. Forcae catalyst. Forcae superior catalyst. Forcae supreme Emperor!
Dragonkin PrimerMount Firewake Drakkerkin Kethsi Chen. Kethsi Vek. Kalist Fia Necrosyrtes. Lith Roake Pthen Kethsi. Askanth Kuln Kethsi. Kalist Lith. Dragonkin Destroyed Kethsi. Kethsi failed. Catalyst safe from Necrosyrtes. Superior Roake Pthen Kethsi. Askanth Kuln Kethsi. Catalyst superior.
Ulthven Kreath Mural Kranon Cras Roake Pthen. Kranon Cras Roake Pthen.
Ulthven Kreath Mural Kreath lac Roakin... Drakkerkin Skek... Dark lac Roakin... Dragonkin Skek...
Ulthven Kreath Mural Skekkin Kath Rath! Kranon Roakin Rak Skekkin Weakling Rath! Kranon Roakin Rak
Ulthven Kreath Mural Vek... Skek... Chen... Ulthven... Fia... Failure... Skek... Destroyed... Ulthven... Safe...

Dragon equipment[]

Audio options icon
The Dragonkin theme
The theme music of the Dragonkin

The Necrosyrtes[6] are the original creators of dragon equipment, known by them as Orikalkum. Mr. Mordaut in a Postbag from the Hedge states, "As for dragon, I'm afraid that my knowledge of this unique metal is limited – the Dragonkin never divulged the secret of how it is made..."[7]. Movario also believes that the Dragonkin created dragon metal, in his notes writing:

The demon birds, evil bird spirits of the east: dragonkin, or something else? I have so far deciphered that these strange phenomena are mentioned only cryptically, written down by adventurers who have become their hapless victims. The dragonkin's arrival seems to pre-date most things. In short, the arrival of these creatures - whatever they are - seems to signal the absolute destruction of any local area they Fare visiting. I suspect that they are creatures brought here by gods to support them during the god wars. Also, I suspect that they are responsible for the metallic 'dragon' items. Where this material comes from is still a mystery.
 
Movario

It's also suggested that the dragonkin are connected to dragon items in some other unknown way. For example, a green dragon says, "If you have trouble with us lowly dragons, you have BIG trouble with Kin. They return soon; we feel power growing, calling to us, calling to them... The very weapons that make you strong bring Kin's return ever closer."[8] Additionally a dragon impling claims: "Dragon stuff? We found it in secret places. Many different worlds, many different places. All hidden. Deep down, in the darkness. Huge piles of things. Left for a long time, though their masters begin to stir."[9]

Dragonkin castle

A view of the Dragonkin castle from A Tail of Two Cats.

Robert vs the Dragonkin

Robert the Strong killing a Dragonkin in their castle

Dragonkin Castle[]

In A Tail of Two Cats, Robert the Strong is shown fighting a Dragonkin in an unidentified castle. If you stand in the north-western corner of the first plunder room in the Pyramid Plunder mini-game and activate your Orb of Oculus, you can actually see the castle and what looks like the same floor as in the cutscene. An imp stated in a Postbag from the Hedge, "Regardin’ Morytania, we steer away from it. Dat place whiffs of dragon poop...which is weird-like, since there ain't been a dragon down dat way for a millemelum."[9]. Movario's notes obtained in While Guthix Sleeps mention Morytania, the Fist of Guthix arena and the Lunar Isles as having similar energies to each other, implying that the Stone of Jas once resided in all three locations. Given that the Dragonkin were tasked with protecting it, this supports the idea of them having lived in Morytania at some time.

The Ancient Cavern[]

DragonForge3

The Dragon Forge

The dragonkin are known to have created the Ancient Cavern underneath Baxtorian Falls. Movario's research strongly supports this notion: "Underground ruins of peculiar origin, reported to exist near the Baxtorian Falls. Upon researching the area, I was immediately struck by the precision of some elements within the caverns. [...] I returned and after only twelve days I found interesting, almost invisible arcane symbols - type 12, Possibly of the Second Age. Also, interesting markings near to rough-looking steps, the constructions within that cavern must be of Dragonkin origin." In addition, the key required to unlock the mithril door is called the Dragonkin key. As the Ancient Cavern contains a forge used to smith a dragon platebody, this further supports the idea that the dragonkin created dragon equipment.

Dragonkin compass

The compass rose symbol, which is the right half of the symbol to the right.

The Dragonkin's Symbol[]

Dragonkin symbol

The full dragonkin symbol.

The Dragonkin are associated with a symbol with visual similarities to the Stone of Jas. It consists of a circle with a compass rose in the right half, and on the left half, a pattern identical to the one found on the Stone of Jas. There is also another Dragonkin symbol, which is only the compass rose without the Stone. This is because the Dragonkin symbol is actually a full compass rose, the half-stone-half-rose symbolises the Dragonkin's bonding to the curse of Jas. The symbol is seen on the floor in the cut-scene from While Guthix Sleeps, where three Dragonkin are shown congregating. The compass symbols are shown around the main symbol. The compass symbol is also seen on the floor of their castle from A Tail of Two Cats.

The symbol can also be found in the Spirit Realm, on the other side of the weak portal found in the ruins by the coast in level 47 Wilderness, where the symbol can be seen on the walls of the Spirit Realm's version of the ruins. It's unknown how the symbol came to be in the Spirit Realm, but it's possible that the symbols once existed in the real world, but were torn down and thus appeared in the Spirit Realm, similar to the Cursed magic tree's interaction with its real-world counterpart.

Multiple dragonkin symbols are seen during Song from the Depths, and also feature in the Grotworm Lair which is unlocked after the quest's completion.

Other affiliations[]

Experience[]

The Dragonkin seem to have a relation to experience and skill, since Ancient Effigies (which appear to be an ornament of the Dragonkin holding the Stone of Jas) give experience, and the Dragonkin cutscene in While Guthix Sleeps can only be unlocked after unleashing the remaining residual energy from the Stone of Jas by putting experience into a skill. Also, several dismantled Ancient Effigies can be seen in Kerapac's quarters in Daemonheim.

While Guthix Sleeps[]

Sakirth and fellow Dragonkin

Dragonkin making plans.

While Guthix Sleeps contains a teaser indicating that the Dragonkin will soon become more involved in the affairs of RuneScape. The cut-scene at the very end of the quest shows three Dragonkin meeting in an unknown location, plotting to "Bring terror and pain to the small races". Another more hidden connection is in the quest journal for While Guthix Sleeps. The entry added after the Stone of Jas is first touched reads "I've seen a vision by touching the strange orb. It has communicated to me that it is the 'Stone of Jas', owned by Jas, and protected by the creatures he has enslaved for the purpose - the Dragonkin."

Dragonkin skeleton

The bones in Wilderness Volcano.

Dragonkin-statue

The statue at Daemonheim.

Wilderness Volcano[]

The possible bones of a Dragonkin can be seen in the south-central area of the Wilderness Volcano, which say "Could this have been one of the ancient Dragonkin?" upon examination. However, their skull and neck bones look unlike that of Dragonkin. A skeleton with the same appearance can be found in the soldier room of the kalphite hive. It has no examine info.

Relation to Daemonheim[]

The Dungeoneering skill includes the Chronicles of Bilrach, which strongly suggest that Daemonheim was previously inhabited by the Dragonkin, whom Bilrach calls "Protectors of the artefact, enders of the Great Wars". Additionally, the skill makes strong use of an item known as the Ring of kinship. There is also a statue of a Dragonkin outside of Daemonheim, on the first floor of the ruined castle. Combined with previous references to the 'Kin', there is solid evidence that the Dragonkin were involved in the creation of the castle above Daemonheim, but for mysterious reasons had abandoned it by the year 1241 of the Fourth Age, perhaps due to their retreat from Robert the Strong or possibly because of The Rift that lies underneath their castle. During One of a Kind, you are brought to Kerapac's laboratory, similar to a resource dungeon, which appears to be of a similar design to warped floors. Kerapac assures the player that, despite the recent incursion by Bilrach and the Fremennik, the castle remains an inhabited Dragonkin stronghold.

Destruction of Kethsi[]

At an unspecified time, a noted mage brought the Stone of Jas to Kethsi where it was used to bring prosperity to the plane. However, due to the continued use of the Stone by those deemed "false users", the Dragonkin experienced a buildup of rage that would only be reduced by violence. The Dragonkin repeatedly attacked the plane of Kethsi, gradually destroying the entire plane of existence.

The citizens of Kethsi did eventually find a means to harm and kill some of the Dragonkin with Bane-metal weapons tuned to the Dragonkin. Unfortunately, there was a limited supply of the metal and the citizens were eventually over-run. All that is left of their plane are the remains of a structure, several artefacts, and a diary detailing their eventual fall.

Queen Black Dragon[]

The Queen Black Dragon was an attempt by Kerapac to break the dragonkin free of Jas' curse. He had difficulty in manipulating her due to her colossal size but created vessels in an attempt to control her. Other dragonkin seemed to have taken note of Kerapac's project, and one had created the King Black Dragon, who was released into the wild after having failed breeding with the Queen Black Dragon. Kerapac decided to store the Queen Black Dragon deep underground, to be restrained and protected by several artefacts. He abandoned the dragon, leaving her in the cave where she currently resides.

Gallery[]

Known Dragonkin[]

Currently, the names of sixteen Dragonkin are known. Three of them can be seen at the end of While Guthix Sleeps and near the start/end of Ritual of the Mahjarrat. The fourth can be read about in the First dragonkin journal and encountered during One of a Kind. The fifth can be learned from Mr. Mordaut, while the sixth and seventh are found from Forcae's journal pages, dropped by adamant and rune dragons. There are "probably about a dozen hanging around... RuneScape, or near to RuneScape," with more characters going to be introduced to players "in the short or medium term".[4]

Trivia[]

  • Before their graphical update on 14 September 2011, they were very similar in appearance to the Skeksis from the 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal. They were also similar in that both fear the Prospect of Death. It was confirmed by Mod Mark during the London RuneFest get-together (28 January 2011) that the Dragonkin were actually based on Skeksis, due to his love of the movie The Dark Crystal.
  • According to the fifth RuneScape's livestream the Dragonkin were created by Jas to protect her stone from being used for other purposes than Jas'.
  • Movario, in his notes, recalls the Dragonkin-made symbols in Dragonkin-made Ancient Cavern may be of the Second Age.
  • In the 5th postbag, to the King Black Dragon, he states "New challenges only bring them [the humans] closer to the end, to the precipice of the unknown, to the Kin, and they will show no mercy".[10]
  • The Dragonkin are level 200 according to Top Trumps.

References[]

  1. ^ Zaros, "Fate of the Gods", RuneScape. "I believe the surviving dragonkin sought out Jas for mercy, or retribution, only to end up bound to her Catalyst."
  2. ^ Varrock Museum timeline exhibit, display number 20
  3. ^ a b Mod Osborne. "Campfire - Answers." 27 June 2013. RuneScape General Forums.
  4. ^ a b Jagex. Official lore livestream with Mods Mark and Osborne Official lore livestream, 4 November 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d Mod Slayer. "One of a Kind FAQ." 13 March 2014. Recent Game Updates Forums.
  6. ^ Jagex. Official lore livestream with Mod Osborne Official lore livestream, 21 August 2013.
  7. ^ Jagex. Postbag 25 - "Transcript:The trouble with trolls", Letter 2, by Mr. Mordaut. RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge.
  8. ^ Jagex. Postbag 19 - "Transcript:The vampyres explain themselves", Letter 5, by Green dragon. RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge.
  9. ^ a b Jagex. Postbag 23 - "Transcript:Wise old musings and demonic drills", Letter 6, by Dragon impling. RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge.
  10. ^ Jagex. Postbag 5 - "Transcript:Chaotic chat, family trouble and secrets revealed!", Letter 5, by King Black Dragon. RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge.
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