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Biology and Culture of Draco Mini
By: Phineas P. Drachenfurt, Head Professor of Dragon Sciences and Cultures at Skysgrave University
Draco Mini, Mouse Dragons, Kitten Drakes, Feathered Kobolds, Bird Drakes, Pocket Dragons, House Elves, House Goblins, Goblin Drakes, Elven Drakes, Wren Geckos, Sparrow Geckos, Fairy Drakes, or "Little Bastards that stole my sandwich" (as Dr. Firestrike once referred to them after a lunchtime discovery) are small dragons referred to by various common names depending on what region of the world you reside in. They were once thought to be an offshoot of kobolds due to similar rodent like features but DNA testing has proven that they're true dragons like most Skysgrave residents.
They are mini but mighty and capable of lifting 20 times their own weight. D. Mini is also venomous, with bites causing notable swelling around the wound, fever and, in rare cases due to allergies, death. D. Mini can also fly and use elemental breaths (depending on alignment) like other members of the genus Draco. They are also omnivorous like larger dragons.
D. Mini comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns like larger dragons. Members of D. Mini that don't live in the cities of larger creatures but instead out in the wilderness will tend to have more camouflaging coloration than their urban counterparts due to increased predation.
The intelligence of D. Mini was once debated due to difficulties with communication as it is hard for larger creatures to copy the birdsong used by D. Mini and vice versa for the lower tones of larger creatures (as a member of Draco Grandis I can attest to the struggle of trying to communicate without blowing my smaller friend away). Communication will normally occur through writing or typed text. We here at Skysgrave University are trying to develop computers and keyboards small enough for our resident D. Minis to speed communication along. It is unknown how cultures predating the "War of the Ends" interacted with or perceived D. Mini as most records of interspecies relations and cultural ties were destroyed in the fighting.
I must regretfully state that it was once a common notion amongst the societies of larger creatures to consider D. Mini as intelligent and expendable as house mice, causing them to experience a "silent" genocide in which they were either poisoned, kidnapped to be kept as pets, or cooked and eaten. Small catapults, ballistas and the research of Dr. Frostliner have thankfully changed perceptions towards our little friends in most areas of the globe. D. Mini groups that live in the wilderness are normally shy to larger creatures but will fight back viciously if provoked so it is recommended that campers, hunters, and explorers check rocks, trees, logs, and stumps throughly for signs of tiny civilizations before moving, cutting, or cooking with them lest they be impaled by thousands of tiny arrows.
The exact language, cultural values, and religion of D. Mini groups will vary depending on location like other dragons, but generally speaking they tend to lean towards collectivism and will be more willing to ignore differences and work together to overcome various problems. It is common for D. Mini to create large communal food and resource storage for members both in and outside of a group to take from as needed to prevent losses due to starvation or the weather. D. Mini societies are considered to be some of the most peaceful in the world due to these practices and traits.
Flight dancing is also a common sight in D. Mini groups as it's often performed for weddings, funerals, or religious gatherings and celebrations of all sorts. Harvest festivals are also common.
D. Mini in friendly larger creature societies will often act as pest control and house cleaning, removing cockroaches, mice, bedbugs, and other unwanted problems nearly overnight. They don't believe in currency and will instead take bits of food, fabric scraps, thread, small bits of metal, buttons or other small items they'll find useful as payment. If you need an object back, simply ask for it and it will be returned without incident.
Most D. Mini friendly areas will often leave food out in special locations for the small dragons and some restaurants in the western section of Skysgrave operate on the idea of leaving what you don't eat/want on the floor beneath your table for resident D. Minis to choose from, afterwards waitstaff will remove plates and cups for cleaning.