Dragons

Colors that Vernazza recognizes: gold, bronze, brown, garnet, blue, green, and white dragons, the six basic colors found in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern novels, with whites being unhealthy, sterile genetic aberrations, rather than a commonly appearing color (they are even rarer than Golds). Garnets are, obviously, an addition to canon. There are also a few rare color mutations (for more information, see the post below this one). Golds, garnets, and greens are female, while bronzes, blues, and browns are male. Dragons here Impress their riders according to loose canon guidelines:


Golds, often referred to as ‘Queens’, are the largest and rarest Dragons (barring Whites on rarity). Less than 1% of all Dragons are Gold. A Gold egg is always easy to pick out, generally being larger than the others and the shell is always slightly gold and shiny itself. They are the egg layers, the only ones that can lay a clutch, and no Dragon would ever disobey a direct order from a Gold. Golds are incapable of chewing firestone to produce flame, but all Pernese believe that chewing firestone makes a female sterile and so they are not even allowed to try. Their riders instead use flamethrowers at low altitudes to catch Thread that gets through the rest of the ranks. The Weyrleader is determined by whatever dragon (almost always a Bronze) catches the senior Gold. Whenever a Gold rises, Bronzes are unable to leave her, so if any Bronzerider would rather avoid his dragon catching a certain Gold he needs to leave the Weyr before she wakes and begins to blood.

Color Range: From a light, creamy sort of off-white to a deep, burnished, almost red-gold, always with a metallic shine.
Agility Range: Normally 1-4, with a rare maximum of 5.
Speed Range: Normally 1-6, with a rare maximum of 7 or 8.
Endurance Range: Normally 5-8, with an uncommon maximum of 9.
Normal Size Range: 75-85 feet
Impresses To: Heterosexual Females, Uncommonly to Bisexual Females, rarely Homosexual Females.
Possible Rider Positions: Senior Weyrwoman, Junior Weyrwoman, Retired Weyrwoman, Wingleader (Queen’s Wing), Wingsecond (Queen’s Wing), Wingrider (Queen’s Wing), Dragonhealer*
Rises: For the first time after 2 Turns, once every 5-10 Turns during an interval, once every 1-2 turns during a Pass, or once a pass at the beginning of a pass or dire situations.
Caught By: Bronzes, rarely Browns.
Clutches:
Gold x Bronze – maximum of 25 eggs with up to 1 (rare) or 2 (VERY rare) Golds, 4 Bronzes (1 or 2 more commonly), the rest Browns, Blues, and Greens.
Gold x Brown – maximum of 15 eggs with up to 2 Bronzes (rarely more than 1, if any), 2 or 3 Browns, the rest Blues and Greens.

*A rider of any color dragon can be a dragonhealer (and some rare nonriders as well), but many Goldriders become Dragonhealers since their Gold dragons can easily subdue an injured dragon and work with them in the healing process. Not all Goldriders become Dragonhealers of course.


Bronzes are the largest males and comprise roughly 5% of all Dragons. They are generally the ones to mate with Golds and are most often the leaders of the Weyrs and fighting wings. They have the most stamina and are able to last a full Threadfall easily. All dragons (except Golds) will obey a direct order from a Bronze.

Color Range: From a pale greenish-gold to a burnt, rusty orange and sometimes even a coppery-reddish, always with a metallic shine.
Agility Range: Normally 1-4, with a rare maximum of 5.
Speed Range: Normally 1-6, with a rare maximum of 7 or 8.
Endurance Range: Normally 4-8, with an uncommon maximum of 9.
Normal Size Range: 65-75 feet
Impresses To: Heterosexual Males and Bisexual Males, uncommonly Homosexual Males.
Possible Rider Positions: Weyrleader, Weyrsecond, Wingleader, Wingsecond, Wingrider
Chases: For the first time after 1 3/4 Turns.
Catches: Golds, sometimes Greens.

Browns are able to chase Golds even though it is very rare for them to actually catch one. Browns make up about 15% of the Dragon population. Most can last a full Threadfall and are generally a bit more maneuverable than Bronzes. Browns can lead Wings, but it is uncommon, and they are more often Wingseconds. Brownriders also have a small chance at becoming Weyrleader. Blues and Greens will always obey a direct order from a Brown.

Color Range: From a light tanish to a rich reddish mahogany to a dark chocolate.
Agility Range: Normally 1-4, uncommonly 5, with a rare maximum of 6.
Speed Range: Normally 1-6, with a rare maximum of 7 or 8.
Endurance Range: Normally 4-6, uncommonly 7 or 8, with a rare maximum of 9.
Normal Size Range: 55-65 feet
Impresses To: All Males, rarely Females (Females must Impress onsite).
Possible Rider Positions: Weyrleader, Weyrsecond, Wingleader, Wingsecond, Wingrider, Weyrlingmaster, Candidate Master
Chases: For the first time after 1 1/2 Turns.
Catches: mostly Greens, Golds very rarely.

Garnets are a recent addition and very little is known about the smallest of the metallic dragons. They are a phenomenal supplement to golds. Despite their smaller clutches, usually between 4 to 6 eggs, they can produce large and healthy eggs with a color spread almost as varied as a gold’s. Whether it is considered a boon or not is up to each individual, but Garnet's clutches have a higher rate of gender mutations as well. They also slot right into any leadership spot, depending on if they are flaming or not. Garnets are one of the most encompassing of colors, ranging anywhere from blue-purple to red-orange.

Color Range: Blue Purples to red-oranges. 
Agility Range: Normally 1-4, uncommonly 5, with a rare maximum of 6.
Speed Range: Normally 1-6, with a rare maximum of 7 or 8.
Endurance Range: Normally 5-6, uncommonly 7 or 8, with a rare maximum of 9.
Normal Size Range: 60-70 feet
Impresses To: Heterosexual Females and Bisexual Females, uncommonly Homosexual Females. Rarely to homosexual males.
Possible Rider Positions: Unknown at the moment, as the newness of the dragon. 
Rises: For the first time after 2 Turns, once every 5-10 Turns during an interval, once every 1-5 turns during a Pass. Unlike with Golds and Greens, they do not rise in a predictable pattern. While they always rise in the same month of the turn, they may rise and then not rise for another 4 turns, and then rise again only 2 turns later, depending on the needs of the Weyr.
Caught By: Bronzes, Browns, uncommonly blues.
Clutches:
Garnet x Bronze – 4-6 eggs (never lays golds, rarely another garnet or bronze, made of mostly, green, blue, and sometimes browns)
Garnet x Brown – 2-4 eggs (never golds, garnets, bronzes. Only greens and blues with occasional brown)
Garnet x Blue - 0-2, mostly duds

Blue Dragons are the smallest males and make up about 30% of the Dragon population. They are generally quite agile and some can last a full Threadfall, but those that can are exhausted afterward. They are only able to chase Greens, unable to last through a full Goldflight. Blues commonly make excellent Searchdragons and Blueriders often take up positions as werylingmasters or candidate masters. They can also rarely make Wingsecond, but the position is more likely to be given to a Bronze or a Brown.

Color Range: From a bright icy cyan to a soft indigo to a dark navy.
Agility Range: Normally 4-8, with a rare maximum of 9.
Speed Range: Normally 4-8, with an uncommon maximum of 9.
Endurance Range: Normally 1-4, uncommonly 5, with a rare maximum of 6.
Normal Size Range: 45-55 feet
Impresses To: All Males, uncommonly Females.
Possible Rider Positions: Wingsecond, Wingrider, Searchrider, Weyrlingmaster, Candidate Master, Assistant Weyrlingmaster
Chases: For the first time after 1 1/4 Turns.
Catches: Greens.

Greens are the most common color and make up about 50% of the Dragon population. Unlike Golds they are unable to clutch, but they can chew firestone and flame Thread. They are the fastest and most agile dragons but lack the endurance to last a full Threadfall and so a reserve force of Greens is kept handy for when the first set tires. Greens commonly make good Searchdragons and Greenriders often take up positions as assistant weyrlingmasters and candidate masters.

Color Range: From a pale wintry green to a bright lime to a rich grass to a dark foresty hunter green.
Agility Range: Normally 4-8, with an uncommon maximum of 9.
Speed Range: Normally 4-8, with an uncommon maximum of 9.
Endurance Range: Normally 1-2, uncommonly 3-4, with a rare maximum of 5.
Normal Size Range: 35-45 feet
Impresses To: All Females, Bisexual and Homosexual Males, rarely Heterosexual Males (only if player indicates 'green' as a desired color in their bio).
Possible Rider Positions: Wingrider, Searchrider, Assistant Weyrlingmaster, Candidate Master
Rises: For the first time after 1 Turn of age, twice a Turn during an interval, three or four times a Turn during a Pass.
Caught By: Blues, Browns, uncommonly Bronzes.
Clutches: Does not clutch.

Whites are even rarer than Golds with only 1 or 2 known in all of Pernese history. They have the ability to intuitively know where and when they are. Whites have much longer memories and are more intelligent than other colors. They are also exceptionally friendly with other dragons, humans besides their rider, firelizards, and even whers. Whites do not have the stamina to fly for long during Threadfall, but they can chew firestone and flame. Whites do not seem to have to obey any orders from any of the other colors, nor can they issue orders that are sure to be obeyed. They also grow much quicker, reaching their full size in half the time of their larger siblings.

Color Range: White with very light, pale patches of the other colors hinting through.
Agility Range: 5-9.
Speed Range: 5-9.
Endurance Range: 1.
Normal Size Range: 20 feet
Impresses To: Anyone.
Possible Rider Positions: Wingrider, Assistant Weyrlingmaster, Candidate Master
Rises/Chases: Whites have no gender and do not rise or chase.

Text/Images comes from Mavros Weyr/Zen