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Pyralspite Dragons were released on September 20, 2014. There are three varieties, one for each biome, with each one having a different appearance, name and adult description.

Official descriptions[]

Egg[]

This egg feels like polished stone.

Hatchling[]

Aww... It’s a cute baby dragon. It likes garnets, but only certain kinds.

Mature hatchling[]

Aww... It’s a cute baby dragon. It likes garnets, but only certain kinds.

And look! It has grown wings! It must be close to maturing.

Adult[]

Almandine[]

Pyralspite dragons are small, swift dragons that can breathe an intensely hot flame. They get their name from their resemblance to and affinity for garnets of the pyralspite family—they hoard such gems, preferring garnets that match their variant, and can tell the type of garnet from how it tastes. The red-violet variant is referred to as Almandine. Almandine Pyralspites are more aggressive than others of the same breed, and are very witty and love to mock or insult their opponents. They inhabit mountainous areas.

Pyrope[]

Pyralspite dragons are small, swift dragons that can breathe an intensely hot flame. They get their name from their resemblance to and affinity for garnets of the pyralspite family—they hoard such gems, preferring garnets that match their variant, and can tell the type of garnet from how it tastes. The dark red variant is known as Pyrope. They tend to be fiercely loyal and noble, and have a stronger sense of justice than other Pyralspites. They live primarily in volcanic areas.

Spessartine[]

Pyralspite dragons are small, swift dragons that can breathe an intensely hot flame. They get their name from their resemblance to and affinity for garnets of the pyralspite family—they hoard such gems, preferring garnets that match their variant, and can tell the type of garnet from how it tastes. The orange variant is called Spessartine. These Pyralspites are more fun-loving and mellow than others, and are optimistic as a whole. Their preferred habitat is coastal areas.

Sprite artists[]

Sprites[]

Series Egg Hatchling Mature hatchling Adult
Almandine variant Pyralspite Almandine egg Pyralspite Almandine hatchling Pyralspite Almandine mature hatchling Pyralspite Almandine adult
Pyrope variant Pyralspite Pyrope egg Pyralspite Pyrope hatchling Pyralspite Pyrope mature hatchling Pyralspite Pyrope adult
Spessartine variant Pyralspite Spessartine egg Pyralspite Spessartine hatchling Pyralspite Spessartine mature hatchling Pyralspite Spessartine adult

Egg sequence[]

Stage 0 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Dead
Pyralspite Almandine egg Pyralspite Almandine crack 1 Pyralspite Almandine crack 2 Pyralspite Almandine crack 3 Pyralspite Almandine crack 4 Pyralspite Almandine crack 5 Pyralspite-Almandine dead egg
Stage 0 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Dead
Pyralspite Pyrope egg Pyralspite Pyrope crack 1 Pyralspite Pyrope crack 2 Pyralspite Pyrope crack 3 Pyralspite Pyrope crack 4 Pyralspite Pyrope crack 5 Pyralspite Pyrope dead egg
Stage 0 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Dead
Pyralspite Spessartine egg Pyralspite Spessartine crack 1 Pyralspite Spessartine crack 2 Pyralspite Spessartine crack 3 Pyralspite Spessartine crack 4 Pyralspite Spessartine crack 5 Pyralspite Spessartine dead egg

Retired sprites[]

Temporary event sprites
Series Egg Hatchling Mature hatchling Adult
Halloween 2015
Almandine
Pyralspite Almandine adult Halloween 2015
Halloween 2015
Pyrope
Pyralspite Pyrope adult Halloween 2015
Halloween 2015
Spessartine
Pyralspite Spessartine adult Halloween 2015
April Fools' Day 2018 Pyralspite adult AF 2018
April Fools' Day 2020
Almandine
Pyralspite Almandine adult AF 2020
April Fools' Day 2020
Pyrope
Pyralspite Pyrope adult AF 2020
April Fools' Day 2020
Spessartine
Pyralspite Spessartine adult AF 2020
April Fools' Day 2022
Almandine
Pyralspite Almandine adult AF 2022
April Fools' Day 2022
Pyrope
Pyralspite Pyrope adult AF 2022
April Fools' Day 2022
Spessartine
Pyralspite Spessartine adult AF 2022
Retired sprites
Series Egg Hatchling Mature hatchling Adult
Retired adult
Almandine
Pyralspite Almandine adult retired
Retired dead eggs Pyralspite Almandine dead egg retired Pyralspite Pyrope dead egg retired Pyralspite Spessartine dead egg retired

Encyclopedia entry[]

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Appearance/Basic Anatomy

  • Newly-hatched pyralspites have hard nubs under the skin where their wings will develop, and their horns have a velvety coating of skin.
  • The darker marking color is also the color of the dragon’s skin underneath the small, translucent scales, and they lighten in color as they age.
  • Their wings are large and sturdy, with almost imperceptibly fine scales coating most of the membranes.
  • Eyes are reflective with slit pupils, and range from violet through red to almost gold.
  • They breathe fire that is so intense they have to be careful not to burn themselves.
  • Pyrope pyralspites are much better at withstanding heat than the other varieties, and their markings tend to run together.
  • Almandine pyralspites are physically larger than the other varieties, and have diamondback-pattern markings.
  • Spessartine pyralspites are smaller, but with the longest wings, and have long, bold streak markings.

Hatchling Behavior

  • Young pyralspites will immediately eat anything that smells like food and will fit in their mouths.
  • They learn extremely quickly, and readily pick up the games of other hatchlings.
  • Pyralspite hatchlings become considerably calmer when they reach adolescence, and focus on learning to fly as soon as possible.
  • Pyralspites kept young through magic are still very quick learners, though they do tend to take on some mannerisms of mature pyralspites.

Adult Behavior

  • Pyralspites are not very social, and form few bonds throughout their lives- often, not even with their own offspring.
  • Male and female pyralspites can both have more dominant or less dominant tendencies.
  • They are rather non-confrontational in general, and will fly away rather than fight if they have the choice.
  • These dragons collect garnets en masse, and will trade with pyralspites that favor a different type of garnet.
  • They are very clingy and loyal once they do form a connection with another dragon, or even a member of another species.
  • Pyrope pyralspites usually care greatly for their own personal ideal of justice, whatever that may be.
  • Almandine pyralspites are the most likely to be aggressive towards others.
  • Spessartine pyralspites tend to take it easy.

Habitat

  • Pyralspites nest almost exclusively in shallow alcoves in the sides of cliffs.
  • These dragons slowly expand their home deeper into the rock, and if they find a nice cliff with no good nesting spot, may carve one out of the rock.
  • Pyrope pyralspites live primarily near volcanoes.
  • Almandine pyralspites mostly live in the mountains.
  • Spessartine pyralspites tend to live near water.

Diet

  • Pyralspites hunt alone, and divebomb prey from the sky talons-first.
  • These dragons are predatory, and will attack the largest animal they think they can eat at once.
  • While they mostly live off meat, they will eat ripe fruit if given the opportunity. Wild cherries and plums are a favored treat.
  • Spessartine pyralspites are notable in that they will scoop fish from near the surface of the water and swallow them whole.

Trivia[]

Additional information[]

Pyralspite dragons are on average 4 to 7 feet tall at the shoulder- Spessartines tend to the smaller end of the range, Almandines to the larger, Pyropes tend to the middle. Females tend to be smaller in height, but are more powerful and are usually dominant- though in this species, dominance is not sex-linked, and there are both dominant females and dominant males.

These dragons tend to form close bonds with a single mate, maybe a small harem, and maybe one or two other friends, and do NOT enjoy large 'packs'- they are not good at sharing. They attract mates with their long, patterned tails and displays of fire breathing.

At hatching, they have the solid color of what will be their marking color later in life, which fades as they age. The oldest Pyralspites are purely the lighter under-color, and very sharp, clear markings are desirable, as is more contrast between marking and under-color. Because Almandines and Pyropes have similarly-colored markings, it is difficult to tell their hatchlings apart.

Pyralspites usually live high on cliffs in shallow alcoves, with just enough space to keep their gems safe in the back. They are mostly carnivorous but will opportunistically take fruit, and Almandines and Pyropes usually divebomb large prey at high speed from a high altitude. Spessartines often consume large amounts of fish, which they scoop up from the water's surface, rather than striking large prey.

Their wings are extremely powerful, both long and broad, and Pyralspites are rather agile in the air. The spines on their backs and their exceptionally hot fire breath are mostly a deterrent for any larger dragons or creatures that might try to prey on them. They also will use the spade on their tail as a stabbing weapon in a fight. They are more likely to take their gems and move than fight over territory, but if provoked enough while being chased out, will attempt to get rid of the aggressor with lethal force.

Pyralspites are somewhat neglectful parents, known to shove their own gemlike eggs into their garnet hoards and forget about them, and their eggs are very hardy and the hatchlings already fairly independent as a result. Hatchlings are allowed to share their parent's alcove until they can hunt on their own, at which point they most often leave willingly.
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