Lore
Old parables tell of the first Harbingers, born to unknowing nests, being abandoned by fearful parents as omens of ill-will for their strange markings. It would seem that the superstitions were true, as anywhere the new dragons went would collapse into pandemonium not long after their arrival. For many ages, a Harbinger on your doorstep signified calamity to come, but it was never quite so simple.
Harbingers are dragons touched by the memory of disaster left on the area they were born in. These memories imprint on the hatchling as they develop and leave an innate knowledge of disaster and tragedy on them in the process. These dragons hatch more often in the aftermath of war and natural disasters due to the fresh imprint on the magic imbued within the region of birth. However, Harbingers hail from only three flights in greater numbers: Arcane, Ice, and Shadow.
The breeds affected by the magic that creates Harbingers are, unsurprisingly, the most magically sensitive breeds. Fae and Skydancers are the most frequently affected, followed by Pearlcatchers, and--rarely--Coatls.
Element
Arcane territory is thought to be the original birthplace of Harbingers due to the sheer amount of magic coursing through the area. The amount of magic makes physical influence over the dragons that live there an inevitable consequence of the landscape. Harbingers are formed here in greater numbers simply because the imprint of disasters and wars are both initially stronger and last longer than they do in other flights. Arcane commonly produces Butterfly variant Harbingers.
Shadow flight, with its focus on secrets and secret knowledge, creates an atmosphere in which the magic of the land remembers events that never happened on it. The secrets shadow dragons keep mold the magic into something sinister, replicating the effect that the lingering memory of disaster has when producing Harbingers. The Harbingers of Shadow flight often have less positive intentions than their siblings from Arcane and Ice. Shadow produces Reflection variants most frequently, to the point where it's rare to see a Shadow Harbinger that isn't a Reflection variant.
Ice flight is known for its need to document and record, and the magic of the land replicates that nature perfectly. As a result, the imprint of disasters on the magic of the Southern Icefield remain almost indefinitely, never weakening in memory. Harbingers from Ice are known for their intricate knowledge of the disasters they're chasing. Ice usually produces the Wave variant.
Variants
Butterfly Variant - These dragons are the most innocuous Harbingers, rarely following immediate disaster. They sense the smallest actions that might set a disaster in motion--a trade deal, an agreement between hatchlings--things that don't matter to the naked eye. The arrival of a Butterfly variant Harbinger often signals a catastrophe avoided, as these dragons will frequently attempt to find and correct a disaster many years in the making as soon as it begins.
Reflection Variant - Bad omens, mainly. These dragons sense the secrets and terrible potential in others and are drawn to those dragons who might cause the most damage eventually. Depending on the nature and intentions of the Harbinger, the partnership of a Reflection could spell disaster for anyone involved with the dragon they've attached themselves to.
Wave Variant - These dragons follow the kind of disasters that created influenced them most and can be sorted into two subcategories: War and Natural Disaster. These dragons will often take up the mantle of a healer to help wherever they can when they finally reach their destination. Oftentimes, these dragons have to come to terms that they can do little to stop what's coming and simply settle for helping in the aftermath.
