Mirage Dragons

Mirage dragons, or Mira, are a species of small, desert dwelling Wyverns. Their most unique quality is their impressive use of illusion magic, with which they can make themselves vanish entirely.

Mira are peaceful creatures. They rely solely on their illusion magic to keep them safe. They possess sharp teeth and claws, but their size and demeanor render them mostly harmless.

Appearance

Mira are known to be flawlessly beautiful, and are often described as living jewels. Healthy individuals will never allow for their scales to become dirty or dull.

They come in a wide variety of blues and teals, and sometimes (very rarely) with some purple. Outside of their ceremonial markings, Mira can be born with subtle patterns and gradients on their hides. Any thin membranes (like wings and frills) are translucent and glass-like.

When under the sun, they reflect light in dazzling patterns. The illusion magic they wield naturally makes it look like light passes straight through them.

Outside of color, Mira are incredibly diverse. They adhere to a few basic anatomical rules, but their appearance can vary a lot.

• They all have Wyvern anatomy (back legs + wings, no forelegs).
• They tend to veer more towards dainty builds.
• They all have dexterous claws/fingers of some type on their wings and a long prehensile tail.
• Their scales can be small and glittery, or thick and plate-like.
• They can’t have hair or feathers, but individuals with uniquely layered frills and scales have been spotted that mimic the look of them.
• They stand around 2 to 4 feet tall at the shoulders.

Population Decline

Mira populations were once plentiful across the desert regions of Nophra, but they have been hunted near extinction. Only one clan remains, and they have become very secretive and skeptical of outsiders.

Mira are known to have a strong affinity for shiny and pretty things, which has gotten them into trouble with nearby Crystali settlements. They often can’t help their urges to hoard trinkets, and have gained a reputation for stealing random things left unattended at markets, balconies, and unfortunately, the palace in Sashai. Their mischievous behaviour landed them a bad reputation as pests, which marked the beginning of the end for them.

Their hides are among the most beautiful of materials, and they’re highly sought after by wealthy individuals. The garments produced by these look like glass, and flow like silk. Since most considered them pests, they were hunted relentlessly to near extinction.

In present day, they are rarely ever seen. Many Crystali even believe they aren't real, having never seen them or any of the garments produced with their hides.

There is only one clan left with a somewhat stable population. They are secretive and heavily guarded by Hoshi. Nobody attempts to get near it, since it is well known that he aggressively guards the territory and will not warn before attacking.

Ceremonial Markings

One of the most striking things about Mira are their bold red markings. These are painted on during ceremonial rituals and are very important to them. They are a symbol of love (romantic, platonic or familial) and the patterns hold emotional significance to individuals. These markings tend to take a beating from the windy and sandy desert, so they’re washed off and redone regularly and are an integral part of grooming and hygiene.

These markings are not affected by their illusion magic, so when they vanish, the red markings remain. The paint is made from a type of cactus that only blooms in the very heart of the desert. Their flowers produce a pigment that can be harvested and stored for a number of years. The pigment is known to stain anything porous, but it can be washed out using the sap of the same plant species.

Diet

Mira mostly eat plants, and will eat fish and insects if the opportunity presents. They love juicy cacti, palm leaves and any flowers they can get a hold of. While they don’t explicitly farm their own food by planting it directly, they do maintain cactus colonies to make sure they are not over-consumed.

More interestingly, it seems they can absorb a lot of energy from the sun. They can often be found in groups relaxing with their wings out like solar panels.

Communication and Vocalization

Mira are capable of complex communication, much like human speech. They speak telepathically in abstract concepts, meaning language is never a barrier. This is believed to be a part of their illusion magic.

They are silent for the most part, but they can chirp, hiss and shriek.