False Scale

Tenacious Parasites of Dragonkind

Few things are capable of unnerving a dragon as much as a False Scale, parasitic organisms that prey on their mightier draconic cousins for survival. Starting as tiny skittering mites, False Scales latch on to dragons while still in their adolescence, growing in size alongside their host at its expense. As they continue to feed and reproduce, their host becomes covered in white splotches as more and more False Scales replace their actual scales in spots that the dragon cannot reach. Without help, the host dragon inevitably falls as their constitution withers, leaving the parasites to wander to find another unfortunate dragon that may suffer the same fate. 

Clingy Brood. The lifecycle of a False Scale begins with attachment to a young dragon, burrowing under a protective scale on the dragon’s back. Over time, it grows with its host, gaining some of their traits alongside necessary sustenance, eventually outgrowing and shedding the original scale for their pale imitation. Once the host dragon reaches adulthood, it is only a matter of time until its body becomes a mottled display of white patches as the False Scale lays its young to perpetuate its life cycle. 

Dragonic Scourge. There are few things capable of bringing down a fully grown dragon, but False Scales find themselves in a unique position of preying on the mightiest inhabitants of the food chain. Eventually, the host finds themselves drained and withered due to their unwelcome guests, perishing without the strength to free themselves from torment. Only those capable of swallowing their pride to ask for aid in ridding themselves of their parasitic guests will survive, while those too stubborn to do so die weak and alone. 

Regional Terror. When their host falls dead one way or another, False Scales abandon the body in search of new prey, leaving waiting eggs amongst its enticing horde, and spreading outwards from their dragon’s lair. Along the way, they become menaces for small provinces and villages that are unprepared for the sudden wave of invaders consuming anything in their path as they seek out a new host. Those caught in the fallout of the dragon’s demise find themselves evicted from their homes as a swarm of False Scales descend upon them to ravage all manner of flora and fauna en route to the next unfortunate dragon to suffer the False Scale’s lifecycle. 

The great dragon collapses, life leaving its ancient and withered body. Quiet hangs in the air as the magnitude of what has been lost weighs upon you all. But before you can gather your thoughts, a skittering begins to echo off the walls of the lair. With each passing second the noise builds in intensity and frequency, and soon you recognize the source. A wave of pale and insectoid creatures come crawling over the dragon’s corpse, having little respect for their former host when fresh meat is standing just before them.