Dracthyr – WoW Dragonflight

The dracthyr are an ancient race of humanoid dragonkin. They have the ability to wield the magic of all five primary dragonflights as evokers, and, like true dragons, shapeshift between a draconic form and a humanoid visage. The dracthyr were created in the ancient past by the black Dragon Aspect Neltharion, who combined the essence of dragons with the adaptability of the mortal races to create a race of ideal soldiers. Neltharion fashioned the Forbidden Reach off the coast of the Dragon Isles to serve as the dracthyr soldiers’ training ground, but after a terrible battle, the island laid dormant and abandoned for ages. Recently, however, the return of an ancient enemy caused the dracthyr to stir, and they now seek to forge their own path in Azeroth by joining both the Alliance and the Horde.

The dracthyr are divided into armies known as weyrns, each led by a Scalecommander. Scalecommander Azurathel and the Obsidian Warders join the Alliance, while Scalecommander Cindrethresh and the Dark Talons join the Horde. Scalecommander Viridia and the Healing Wings travel to the Dragon Isles, while Scalecommander Sarkareth and the Ebon Scales defect from the dracthyr army after feeling abandoned by Neltharion and rename themselves the Sundered Flame. Scalecommander Emberthal’s weyrn was wiped out by the Primalists, and she remains in the Forbidden Reach to search for answers.

History

The dracthyr were created by Neltharion the Earth-Warder, Dragon Aspect of the black dragonflight. While other dragonkin were sturdy and loyal, they lacked the cleverness and adaptability needed to fight the war that Neltharion felt was sure to come against those who defy the reign of the Aspects. They would embody the might of all five dragonflights, instilled with the potential of the mortal races that had begun to spread across the world. They were to be ultimate soldiers. Neltharion fashioned the Forbidden Reach as secret training grounds for the dracthyr, but in the aftermath of a terrible battle, the island lay dormant and abandoned for ages.

The dracthyr were ordered to the creches beneath the Forbidden Reach by Neltharion where they were sealed away by Malygos in magical stasis and watched over by his blue dragonflight. They remained there, abandoned and forgotten for nearly 20,000 years, awakened from their long slumber only when the Primalists returned to break Raszageth free, as an ancient, magical surge rippled through the Forbidden Reach, the dracthyr awoke, but from their long stasis their memories became a blur.

As a powerful storm was unleashed by Raszageth the dracthyr evacuated the Forbidden Reach, the only home they ever knew. After Raszageth’s attack, Obsidian Warders dracthyr journeyed with Wrathion to Stormwind were they joined the Alliance, and the Dark Talons dracthyr journeyed with Ebyssian to Orgrimmar were they joined the Horde. While there these dracthyr learned about visage forms from Ebyssian and Wrathion and were able to adopt mortal visages in order to better commune with other races.

Culture

Weyrns

The dracthyr army is divided into factions called weyrns, with each dracthyr assigned to a weyrn that best matches their skills. Each weyrn is led by a Scalecommander, a dracthyr chosen and groomed for the position by the Earth-Warder himself. Members of a weyrn are as close as clutch-mates; it is a bond that shall never be broken, forged of duty and honor in service to dragonkind.

• Obsidian Warders: This weyrn is charged with defending the allies of the black dragonflight and protecting its strongholds. Whether it is deployed to reinforce draconic legions or guard the skies alongside dragons, this weyrn is the embodiment of the Earth-Warder’s aegis. Currently under the authority of the Scalecommander Azurathel, the Warders trained to be the bulwark that enemy forces will break upon. After Raszageth’s attack, this weyrn joined the Alliance.
• Dark Talons: Where the enemies of the Earth-Warder tread, the Dark Talons shall harrow their skies, crush their will, and topple their leaders, denying the blacks’ enemies solace in walls and borders. For every talon in their ranks, they strike down ten of their foes from behind. This weyrn, currently under the authority of the Scalecommander Cindrethresh, trained to be the elite force that shall be feared by all enemies of the black dragonflight. After Raszageth’s attack, this weyrn joined the Horde.
• Healing Wings: This weyrn shall be the face and symbol for hope among all those who would call the Aspects their allies, this weyrn are charged with mastering the arts of Preservation and healing. Wield the powers of time and the Emerald Dream to return those who are wounded to their full might. Where there are injured, the Healing Wings will be there to tend them. Led by Scalecommander Viridia, the Healing Wings shall embody the resilience and fortitude of the Earth-Warder. After Raszageth’s attack, this weyrn traveled to the Dragon Isles.
• Ebon Scales: A weyrn led by Scalecommander Sarkareth. After the dracthyr starting zone this weyrn defect from the dracthyr army and renamed themselves the Sundered Flame.
• The Adamant Vigil: A weyrn led by Scalecommander Emberthal that functions as the eyes and ears of the black dragonflight. Where the black’s enemies tread, the Adamant Vigil finds them. Where the black’s armies fly, it is their guidance that directs their talons. They learn the weaknesses of their foes and amplify the strength of their allies. Only the most bold, most cunning, and most gifted commanders join the ranks of the Adamant Vigil, and it has unprecedented authority to act on its own initiatives. This weyrn was destroyed by the Primalists during the events of the dracthyr starting zone.

Evokers

Every dracthyr is an expert soldier. Whatever weyrn they serve, they use their talents to defend dragonkind in obedience to the Earth-Warder. Yet even among such illustrious ranks, there are a select few who transcend the skills of their kin. Who are able to master the specialties of all weyrns and shift between roles at will. These are the evokers. The best of the best, finest of the finest.

These elite forces possess the rare potential to focus their essences into an instrument of preservation or a weapon of devastation. The journey to such mastery is long, and few dracthyr can see this path through. But those who learn to harness their full potential shall be honored with the title of evoker.

Notable

Notes and trivia

• In The Art of World of Warcraft, there is concept art that looks very similar to dracthyr from Dragonflight.
• Dracthyr visage forms are based on the human female and blood elf male models.
• While dracthyr can be a wide variety of colors and are not limited to the five main dragonflights, the Scalecommanders match the colors of the flights. Cindrethresh is red, Azurathel is blue, Viridia is green, Sarkareth is bronze, and Emberthal is black.
  • Cindrethresh and Azurathel’s colors also match the factions they join, with the Horde being red and Alliance being blue.