Editing Aeginae

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Aeginae2.webp|Image 1

Aeginae.png|Image 2</gallery>|location=[[The High Wilderness]]|allegiance=[[Judgements]]<br>[[The Burrower Below]]|alias=Dragons<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Skies}} ''"This is one of the Aeginae. The star-dragons."''</ref><br>The Devourers of Days<ref name = "burrower">{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Airs_of_Terror#Touch|Touch|Sunless Skies}} ''"[...] the Burrower Below: [...] general-progenitrix of the Devourers of Days, who are called the Aeginae."''</ref>|notable_members=[[Storm]]<br>

[[The Silent Saint]]|image2=|caption2=|relationships=[[The Burrower Below]]<br>(progenitor)}}<blockquote>''"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."''<ref name = "the aeginae">{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae|The Aeginae|Sunless Skies}}</ref></blockquote>

'''Aeginae''', known colloquially as '''Dragons''', are enormous leviathans that act as mercenaries for the [[Judgements]].__FORCETOC__

<blockquote>''"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."''<ref name = "aeginae story description">{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Skies}}</ref></blockquote>

Aeginae are behemoths whose size dwarfs mountains. They travel the lower regions of the [[High Wilderness]] shrouded by clouds and mist, and can only be glimpsed by those nearby.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae|The Aeginae|Sunless Skies}} ''"The Aeginae: Leviathans that dwell in the belly of the heavens. [...] only glimpsed as sliding shapes – grand as mountain-ranges – in the fogs below."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Interactions|Try to escape its notice|Sunless Skies}} ''"The behemoth sinks back into the mists, returning to its lair in the deeps of the sky."''</ref> Given their enormity and power, the presence of an Aeginae alone can cause turbulence,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Interactions|Try to escape its notice|Sunless Skies}} ''"[...] the Aeginae's wake casts the sky into a tumult."''</ref> and their roars can "shake the heavens" themselves.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Attention:_the_Burrower_Below#Variable_Interaction_description|TransitC|Sunless Skies}} ''"[...] some celestial beast thunders amidst the roots of the sky. Its lamentable bellows shake the heavens."''</ref> Against these creatures, a locomotive is a mere ant.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Skies}} ''"This is one of the Aeginae. [...] Before it, you are only a fleck."''</ref>

[[File:Burrowerbelow.png|alt=An eye with many pupils and sclera.|150px|thumb|[[The Burrower Below]]]]

Aeginae have hump-backed bodies<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Skies}} ''"The great hump of its back looms over you like a hillside."''</ref> that are covered in a shell of grey, diamond-tough scales,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Under_the_Ice#Interactions|Recover Navaratine Gemstones|Sunless Skies}} ''"Through a rift in the Saint's shell, you can make out the iridescent glitter of gemstone."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Under_the_Ice#Interactions|Recover scales to mend your hull|Sunless Skies}} ''"[...] the Saint's dead flesh. [...] you carry away seven scales, the colour of slate and the consistency of diamond."''</ref> and yellow lidless eyes.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Skies}} ''"It is studded with lidless, yellow eyes."''</ref> They possess massive maws equipped with many sharp teeth,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Interactions|Sacrifice Unseasoned Hours to distract it|Sunless Skies}} ''"A maw opens, the size of an oceanic abyss. Its teeth are like suspended mountain-peaks."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Nook#The_Ruptured_Throat|The Ruptured Throat|Sunless Sea}} ''"Razor-sharp teeth the size of buildings jut from fatty, garnet-red flesh."''</ref> which lead to their complex digestive tracts with multiple stomachs.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Writhing_Gullet#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Sea}} ''"You swim through a foul labyrinth of passages and intestines. Your eyes sting [...] The water grows ever more bilious."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Under_the_Ice#Interactions|Recover Unseasoned Hours|Sunless Skies}} ''"The hours are located deep in one of its stomachs; half digested but intact. Your skysuit drips with bilious ichor."''</ref> Their preferred diet is time,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Depart_(10_FATE)|Depart (10 FATE)|Fallen London}} ''"Out there in the night: [...] the dragons which consume time [...]"''</ref> which they have been observed to consume in the form of solidified [[hours]].<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Interactions|Sacrifice Unseasoned Hours to distract it|Sunless Skies}} ''"Sacrifice Unseasoned Hours to distract it [...] It is said that they eat time. [...] The behemoth's course shifts, fractionally. A maw opens, the size of an oceanic abyss. Its teeth are like suspended mountain-peaks. The barrels pass between them, tiny as krill."''</ref> The progenitor of the Aeginae is the [[Burrower Below]],<ref name = "burrower"/> a continent-sized entity that chews at the "roots" of the sky, revered as one of the three [[Gods of the High Wilderness]].<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Airs_of_Terror#Dream|Dream (21)|Sunless Skies}} ''"A beast. [...] Almost a dragon; [...] almost a continent. It gnaws on the roots of heaven, [...]"''</ref> Aeginae make frequent use of the Burrower's pathways that span the heavens; if a traveler has incurred the Burrower's wrath, trips through these "wyrm-holes" can become very dangerous.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Airs_of_Terror#Touch|Touch|Sunless Skies}} ''"[...] the Burrower Below:  [...] She tunnelled the paths across the sky! Every transit is a trespass!"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Attention:_the_Burrower_Below#Variable_Interaction_description|Variable Interaction description|Sunless Skies}} ''"[...] the journey is [...] turbulent [...] Your locomotive heaves and tosses in the wake of some passing leviathan. The relays are not the only powers to make use of these ancient sky-tunnels."''</ref>

<blockquote>''"''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."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while|Watch the play for a little while|Fallen London}}</ref></blockquote>

[[File:Sun.png|alt=A star.|thumb|A [[Judgements|Judgement]].]]

The dragons of the [[High Wilderness]] play an important role in the starry kingdoms: they are contracted by the [[Judgements]] to act as enforcers for their laws.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae|The Aeginae|Sunless Skies}} ''"It is said that the suns have an ancient pact with them."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Aeginae#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Skies}} ''"The behemoth-mercenaries that the suns contract to enforce their laws."''</ref> Dragons are known to act as agents for the Judgements to ensure certain mandates are fulfilled,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Order_Ovate,_Glory|Order Ovate, Glory|Fallen London}} ''"DRAGON: Yes. I remain the servant of your master. As do you. He awaits you. [...] DRAGON: [...] You have a little longer. Should this place fail, two remain."''</ref> and if one encounters an entity it deems delinquent, it will work to destroy it with extreme prejudice.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Under_the_Ice#Interactions|Look into the Saint's Eye|Sunless Skies}} ''"A flower that seeks to become a hive. Amalgamy. The seventh letter. The Saint begins its tearing work."''</ref>

According to ''[[The Seventh Letter]]'', dragons work in groups of seven, and hold tribunals for captured prisoners. If a defendant is found guilty, the Dragons devour them; not even powerful beings like [[Messengers]] or Judgements themselves are spared from this fate. There are numerous crimes the dragons will punish, but there appears to be one they loathe more than any other: "Unlicensed Love."<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London}} ''"The Dragons [...] are seven in number. [...] 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."''</ref>

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