Aeginae
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"The Aeginae: Leviathans that dwell in the belly of the heavens. Usually, they are only glimpsed as sliding shapes – grand as mountain-ranges – in the fogs below. It is said that the suns have an ancient pact with them. That they are watchful. That they eat time."[1]
Aeginae, known colloquially as Dragons, are a race of enormous leviathans that serve as mercenaries for the Judgements.
Gargantuan
"This is one of the Aeginae. The star-dragons. The behemoth-mercenaries that the suns contract to enforce their laws. Before it, you are only a fleck."[2]
Aeginae are massive behemoths who dwarf even mountain ranges. These beings travel the lower regions of the High Wilderness, shrouded in cloud and mist, only glimpsed by nearby observors.[1] Due to their enormity and power, the presence of an Aeginae can cause severe turbulence in the surrounding area,[3] and their roars are louder than thunder.[4] Compared to one of these creatures, even a locomotive is merely a fleck.[2]
Aeginae are known for their immense and curved, almost humped bodies,[2] covered in grey scales that are tougher than diamond.[5] They possess extremely large maws equipped with many sharp teeth and that extend deep into their bodies,[6][7] leading directly to their large stomachs.[8] The Aeginae's preferred diet is, in fact, time, which they have been observed to consume in the form of solidified hours.[6] Aeginae also possess a number of yellowish eyes that dot their bodies,[2] each containing multiple irises.[1]
The progenitor of the Aeginae is the Burrower Below,[9] a continent-sized entity that chews at the "roots" of the sky, revered by skyfarers as one of the three Gods of the High Wilderness.[10] To expedite their journeys, the Aeginae make frequent use of the Burrower's ancient pathways that span throughout the heavens, which can make trips through these ways dangerous if a traveler has incurred the Burrower's wrath.[11]
The Enforcers
"The Seventh Letter has long been banned by the Ministry of Public Decency. The last scene - with the Dragons - is not the only reason; but it's probably the biggest. There is a brief hiatus before that scene, to allow squeamish audience members to leave, and to darken the lights."[12]
The Dragons of the High Wilderness are more than just roaming leviathans, they have a pact with the Judgements to act as enforcers for their laws.[1][2] They sometimes work as agents for the Judgements to directly enforce certain mandates,[13] and in the event that a Dragon encounters an entity it deems delinquent, it will work to destroy it with extreme prejudice.[14]
According to the Seventh Letter, Dragons are capable of rending even spacetime itself when at the height of their fury. They seem to work in groups of seven, and hold tribunals for captured prisoners. If the defendant is found guilty, the seven Dragons devour them; not even powerful beings like Messengers or even Judgements are spared from this punishment. The crimes the Dragons despise are numerous, but there appears to be one crime they hate more than any other: "Unlicensed Love".[15]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Aeginae, Sunless Skies
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Story description, Sunless Skies
- ↑ Try to escape its notice, Sunless Skies
- ↑ TransitC, Sunless Skies
- ↑ Recover scales to mend your hull, Sunless Skies
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sacrifice Unseasoned Hours to distract it, Sunless Skies
- ↑ The Ruptured Throat, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Story description, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Touch (81), Sunless Skies
- ↑ Dream (21), Sunless Skies
- ↑ Variable Interaction description, Sunless Skies
- ↑ Watch the play for a little while, Fallen London
- ↑ Order Ovate, Glory, Fallen London
- ↑ Look into the Saint's Eye, Sunless Skies
- ↑ Watch the play for a little while 4, Fallen London "The Dragons [...] are seven in number. [...] Two more each are daubed with red - 'The Blood of the World,' [...] The [...] Dragon recites the crimes of the Sun and the Messenger - [...] Conspiracy in Darkness, and Unlicensed Love. [...] When the Dragon says the words 'Unlicensed Love', its fellows [...] rage [...] the Dragons [...] lunge forwards, to feed on their prisoners."
