Lore
Physique
An individual Fractal is small, fragile, and usually flightless/wingless, regardless of the breed it appears to look like. Generic, unspecialized Fractals are plain and pale, and are soft to the touch. As they mature, a Fractal will slowly begin to specialize, which determines later developments in their appearance, such as color and any potential growths.
Once initially specialized, a Fractal will typically stagnate in appearance and color. However, if a Fractal lives long enough and interacts enough with variants outside of its specialty, it can begin to develop into a Supreme Fractal. Supreme Fractals take on a more muddled brown color, and their physical traits are a combination of the variants they are a mix of.
A Supreme Fractal can only ever become an Ascended Fractal in the event that a nest goes long enough without one. This will be covered further down.
Behavior
What most see upon encountering a Fractal nest is an aggressive assault. Fractals learned long ago that dragons are a large threat to their existence, so most weaker members simply seek to kill what they know might kill them. However, those watching from afar will learn that Fractals in general act like most wildlife. They seek survival first and foremost, and while killing threats is a part of that survival instinct, they are also careful creatures. They don’t unnecessarily destroy their environment, and in fact seek to preserve what they can to prevent shortages of food. A nest will only expand if the resources available are not enough to sustain the nest.
Another common misconception is that the nest of Fractals shares a hivemind due to their innate connection to the Ascended member at the head of a nest. While the Ascended is much more prominent of an individual, it is very obvious that other Fractals are very much capable of independent thought and action. Single Fractals can make their own decisions and think for themselves, but are easily persuaded by the commands given by an Ascended. This means that even if unable to receive commands from an Ascended, rogue Fractals can still act on their own.
Variants
While all Fractals have the same generic physical traits, there are some distinctions that can be made between variants. While color alone can distinguish one variant from another, there are some physiological trends between them as well.
Supreme and Ascended Fractals are discussed further down.
Aggressors: Aggressors stand out for their prominent natural weapons. They can be seen sporting spikes, barbed tails, extended claws, and even multiple heads or extra limbs in more powerful members. The major attacking force in a nest, this variant is normally the first one seen in a Fractal assault.
Enforcers: Enforcers can go two directions in terms of physique when they don’t simply appear as a generic Fractal. They can either be big and bulky or smaller and well-armored. More powerful members are both, though a single Enforcer never gets any larger than a large Pearlcatcher. Often seen protecting other Fractals in an assault, but can serve as a ramming force to take down barricades.
Kinetics: Kinetics are the most fragile looking of Fractal variants. Thin and sleek, what they lack in bodily strength they make up in magic. This variant usually sports a larger head or eyes, as well as a pair of functioning wings. Magical energy can sometimes be seen floating around them as well. Stronger variants are known for a more ‘incorporeal’ form they can take on, appearing as fog or nigh-invisible.
Decayers: Decayers have a deceitful appearance. Most appear frail and sickly, often with skin taut over bones. Contrary to this, they are actually quite strong and are great ambush predators. The taut skin appearance is actually caused by them possessing extra bones meant to rest on the edge of the skin. Said bones can also be weaponized, catching opponents off-guard. Stronger members possess venom sacks and even ‘leak’ dangerous toxins and venoms.
Bestowers: Bestowers appear smooth and streamlined compared to their brethren. They usually possess a thin carapace for defense, though not as thick as those that Enforcers can develop. This variant is a fast attacker, but rarely shows the same speed in regular movement. Bestowers are also the most physically variable Fractals, able to take on traits of any other variant besides Decayers and Supreme Fractals, albeit on a less powerful scale. This leads to a lack of any noticeably strong members of this variant, as they prefer diversity over strength.
Abilities
All Fractals possess some form of natural weapon, normally in the form of a claw or barbed tail. Fractals also have access to a small pool of magic by default, though how a Fractal uses it depends on the variant. Any Fractal can possess any element of magic regardless of element, and a nest is never home to just a singular element. How elemental diversification occurs in nests is still unknown, however it is likely tied to the fact that Ascended Fractals have no elemental alignment to call their own.
However, the most important thing to remember when it comes to Fractal abilities is that individual Fractals can share their abilities with others that do not have them. While this applies to any individual variant to an extent, it’s much stronger when two or more variants are present. For example, a group of Enforcers can bolster their size and armor, but the amount is limited as they all share the same general pool of magic. If an Aggressor variant would be added to the group, not only would this boost increase due to the addition of new magic, but the Enforcers would receive the ability that the Aggressor possesses. The reverse is also true for the Aggressor involved.
With this in mind, it is important to choose targets wisely in a Fractal assault and to take down what is seen as the most ‘powerful’ link in an approaching swarm. Scouting groups may only possess a singular variant, but when a nest is expanding, groups contain two or more.
Aggressors: Aggressors are largely offensive and fast. With a primary focus on attacking, most will either coat their physical weapons with the element of magic they own, or announce their arrival with a volley of fast (albeit weak) elemental bolts. Bold Aggressors may forgo self-preservation and coat themselves entirely in their element, sacrificing themselves to take out a foe or knock down a barricade. Beware of more powerful specimens, as they can survive such attacks.
Enforcers: Enforcers primarily focus on defensive magic. Anything they can use to increase their durability in the face of a physical or magical threat. This can be individual barriers to protect themselves, or larger barriers to shield other Fractals they might be protecting. Rarely, these Fractals may coat themselves in magic and aid Aggressors in knocking down blockages in the way. Stronger members are able to share their magic with other Fractals around them, making them formidable opponents simply through supporting other members they protect.
Kinetics: The most magically aggressive variant of Fractals. Kinetics are magical manipulators, able to not only attack with their own magic, but deflect, morph, and even nullify magic that comes their way. They can even coat themselves with magic in a way to make them immune to the effects of magic used against them. Despite the potential danger they hold, only stronger Kinetics are capable of such feats, while weaker ones are only able to partially perform these acts.
Decayers: Masters of disease and degradation, Decayers seek any way to slowly eat away at a foe with their magic. Only the youngest of this variant do not possess any form of venom or poison, and the older the Fractal, the more potent their toxins. The strongest members can kill with a single strike, their poisons doing the rest of the work for them. Their abilities don’t stop there however, as they can also spit acid, drain life from others, and in the strongest members, raise themselves, and by extension, others (when sharing abilities), from death.
Bestowers: As a jack of all trades, Bestowers use their magic in a number of ways. They can follow the trends of any variant outside Decayers and Supreme Fractals. The trend that they follow is normally mimicked in their appearance however, and any Bestower may use magic to increase their speed. For example, a Bestower that takes on physical traits similar to an Aggressor variant likely will also mimic their use in magic. Older members of this variant are capable of using magic in a number of ways beyond what their appearance may suggest, so care must be taken when confronting a Bestower.
Nests
Fractal nests are subterranean, consisting of a maze of tunnels and caverns for Fractals to move through. Main tunnels always remain large enough for the Ascended Fractal in charge of a nest to move around in should escape be required. The central cavern housing the respective Ascended often has many tunnels leading into the area, but there are almost always two exceptions. The first is a cavern that leads directly to the surface as the fastest escape route for the Ascended. The second is a tunnel that leads to the egg chamber that houses all unhatched Fractals.
Young and Unspecialized Fractals are kept deeper in the nest to prevent harm from coming to them as they mature. There are at least five chambers for housing young Fractals, one for each variant, as the Fractals that care for younger members is directly responsible for the variant that will develop.
Once mature enough, a Fractal is moved into the regular chambers used to house Fractals. Unlike the purposely separated chambers from before, variants are more mixed throughout. While small pockets may be exclusively one variant, any others around it will house a different variant. This aids in protecting a nest, as it allows for easy sharing of abilities.
The innermost chambers house Elite Fractals which in turn protect the Ascended. While Elites may be seen outside the nest when expansion events occur or while protecting against an attack, most that develop remain here most of their lives. The Elite chambers encircle the main chamber, and are all connected to allow for fluid movement from one to another.
From the outside, a Fractal nest is both obvious and well hidden. Outskirts of a nest have a few tunnels that scouting groups emerge from and return to. Smaller dragons may find themselves accidentally tumbling into these well-hidden tunnels, while larger ones may trip or even partially collapse one while treading across it. As one gets closer to the heart of a nest, more and more holes appear, and with it, less and less vegetation and natural wildlife. The actual heart may be barren except for small shrubs and grasses, the ground teeming with Fractal life and pocketed with countless holes.
Supreme Fractals
Supreme Fractals are split into two groups: Elite Fractals and Ascended Fractals.
Elite Fractals are sometimes called Duo Fractals, a nickname thanks to how they form. When a Fractal has lived long enough and has interacted enough with another variant other than its own, it begins to develop into an Elite Fractal. These Fractals will take on a shade of brown and begin to develop features of both variants involved. For example, an Enforcer/Decay Elite may develop bony plating and a larger size while keeping the venomous secretions. It’s magic use will be similarly affected. Elite Fractals have not been seen to have more than three variant traits at a time.
Ascended Fractals are the founders of a nest. Many times larger than regular Fractals, Ascended take on a number of appearances. However, a few traits remain the same. Firstly, Ascended Fractals have no elemental affinity in their normal attacks. They can give their attacks an element by pulling from the territory or by calling upon the magic of other Fractals. Secondly, all Ascended Fractals possess an incredibly thick and durable exoskeleton around them. Even the strongest of physical and magical attacks have a hard time breaking through this natural armor. Third, all Ascended Fractals are capable of laying eggs, regardless of the gender they may appear as. It is important to note that this does not mean that all Ascended Fractals are female.
Outside of these traits, Ascended members have no solid consistent appearance. Their appearance is more determined by the environment they find themselves in, and as such, they can take on any number of adaptations. For example, one found in the Windswept Plateau may have developed massive wings to enable quick getaways through flights on wind currents. One occurrence in the Southern Icefield possessed a thick wooly coat to aid against the cold temperatures!
A nest is normally in possession of a single Ascended Fractal. On rare occasions two may be present with one being in charge of activity outside of the nest and the other in charge of the inside. In the case that a nest loses the guiding Ascended Fractal, a nest normally goes berserk. Fractals lose their sense of self-preservation, and attack and destroy everything in sight. These “legions” of uncontrolled Fractals are highly dangerous to everything around them, and are usually destroyed as quickly as possible.
However, if left alone long enough and with an Elite Fractal present, a new Ascended may evolve. The process is still largely unknown due to how rare such an occurrence is, but through interactions with the remainder of the nest, an Elite is able to take up the mantle as an Ascended Fractal. Elites that have undergone this process have always been a mix of an Enforcer, Bestower, and/or Kinetic.
Fractal Taming
To better understand how Fractals behave and function, clans have taken to “taming” individual Fractals. This is done by capturing the Fractal of their choosing, and then finding a way to sever the mental connection to the Ascended in charge of the nest they came from. The easiest way to do this is to take the captive Fractal and move it out of range of the connection for at least two weeks. The issue with this method is that a nest’s signal can extend an entire flight’s territory. A more common, if more difficult, method is to sever the connection using magic. The most difficult part of this process is that each nest has a unique connection so the method varies from nest to nest. On top of this variance, each Fractal member has a slightly different connection due to how each develops individually.
Once severed, it can take one to three days for a Fractal to calm from the initial shock of losing the natural pull from the Ascended they are used to having. A severed connection is also permanent, which brings forth a set of positives and negatives. The most obvious positive is that once calm, the Fractal is able to develop on its own. Individualization is rather quick, and they are easily integrated into clans. This comes with a massive negative though, as once a connection is severed, a Fractal loses its ability to physically develop and evolve, and it can no longer share its abilities with other Fractals.
Despite being unable to study the physical and magical aspects of Fractals through “taming”, there has been a lot learned about their behaviors as individuals from this process. Fractals have proven to be innately curious once they get past the natural fear or aggression they have towards the dragons that “tamed” them. They are eager to learn, and while they can pick up on a task quickly, they only ever stick with one. Once a Fractal chooses what they want to be in a clan, there is no persuading them out of it. A second common behavior is that “tamed” Fractals are docile and submissive. Only “tamed” Aggressors will ever consider any sort of leadership role due to their nature as fighters, and all others would much rather follow orders than give them.
