Fireweaver

The fireweaver dragon is the icon of the western world: it is where depictions of fire-breathing dragons originate from. Fireweavers have a unique organ called a tinder pouch, which secretes a special chemical similar in properties to ethanol or propane. When the dragon breathes fire, this chemical is pressurized into a flammable gaseous state and expelled through the throat and out of the mouth. As the gas meets oxygen, it ignites. The insides of the mouth and throat are coated in a film that protects the dragon from burning itself when it breathes fire.

The tinder pouch is in constant production of this flammable chemical, which can lead to large chemical deposits within the organ. This scenario creates a potential for involuntary pressurization, which may ultimately lead to a fatal, explosive combustion inside of the body. As a result, fireweavers tend to prefer colder climates, as freezing temperatures slow the process of chemical buildup inside the tinder pouch.

This distinction is of grave importance to a dragonslayer: a dormant fireweaver is a fireweaver whose tinder pouch has decreased activity, meaning the dragon will have a limited “fuel tank”. A fireweaver in a cold environment is bound to be dormant, but one can make certain by the color of its flame: a deep, cobalt blue. An active fireweaver, on the other hand, will be found in warmer settings and has virtually limitless access to its fire-breath. The active fireweaver will usually have red flames, but they can sometimes appear a bluish-white, as well, which may mislead the inexperienced dragonslayer.