Dragon Training 101: The Changewing

Dragon Training 101

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THE CHANGEWING

Class: Mystery

Length: 52 feet (average) 

Weight: 950 lbs (average)

Wingspan: 30 feet

Diet: Fish, Fireweed, Boars, and Smaller Dragons

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If you are alone in a densly grown wood, then you might run

into these territorial, and impossible to see dragons. Finding

them is as difficult a task as training them, so only the most

cunning and brass vikings are up for the challenge. However,

with a bit of skill, taming a Changewing shouldn't be too much

of a hassle. My name is Jyharri and I will explain the basis of

dragon training, the Changewing.

The Changewing is one of the most aggressive dragons ever

known to vikings, and are mainly feared because they are one

of the very few that are able to produce acid internally to spew

at unwary foes. This means that if even a drop lands on you at

close range, you're in a bind as deadly as the Scourge of Odin.

I have taken quite some time in studying these dragons in

order to provide this information, and many of you will come

back from this hunt alive if you follow these instructions to the

letter.

Disclaimer: A majority, but not all information on the Changewing can

be summed up from my experience with Changewings (raising them,

training, etc), so take these words with a grain of salt.

Step 1: Location

These dragons are able to camouflage themselves within the

blink of an eye, making them nearly impossible to find.

However, there are temperate forests within Berk's Archipelago

that house a few prides of male and female Changewings.

Whether you want to go for the male or female is up to you,

but I will provide critical information to carefully training one

alone.

Step 2: Survival Tactics

When approaching either a male or a female Changewing,

make sure you aren't near any female's nests or by a pack of

territorial males (this will make the taming process much

harder). For the male, I'd recommend waiting a few days for

the dragon to get used to your presence in its turf - since males

are much more skittish than females. When the dragon shows

itself, make sure to hold out some fireweed or dragon nip in

order to subdue the dragon. If you succeed, then watch out for

the male to get aggressive because the calming smell of both

plants will ware off quicker than with a Nadder or Nightmare.

Dodge the acid blasts and slowly walk up to the male, holding

your hand out again to "do the hand thing." However, a female

Changewing will outright try to kill you for wandering into its

territory, so you must lure her out of it temporarily in order to

use the methods I've mentioned earlier. If both sexes cloak,

stand completely still and listen of the rustling of trees, then

dodge at the last second. A few days of this and you'll slowly be

able to bond with your Changewing.

Step 3: Training Blind

In order the strengthen your bond with your Changewing (be it

male or female), you must train with it constantly to lower its

wild state. Although you can never take the wild out of the

dragon, you can take the dragon out of the wild - and this is

the best option for maintaining both. With the male, make use

of its camouflage ability more because they are much more

stealthy and able to sneak up on opponents without warning.

Hone your dragon's skill to the max, and watch out for reactive

acid blasts. For the female, make much more use out of her

brute strength than her cloak because she will be able to

pummel most foes her size or slightly larger. Despite their

softer skin, both sexes can dish out and take a surprising

amount of damage - even from their own kind. I've learned the

hard way for training a female Changewing over its limit, so

watch out for that change in mood.

Step 4: Flying for Fun

Like all dragons, most Changewings want some time off of

training in order to rest - these dragons in particular. This step

applies equally to both sexes, so take your Changewing out

every once in a while to fly and reveal its true colors. Even

though both sexes are skittish when flying, they make for

excellent patrol dragons and flying partners. However, if you're

flying near a wild pride's island, steer your dragon clear of it

unless it is drawn toward the pride.

Step 5: No Dragons For You, Sir/Ma'am

Unlike most dragons in the Archipelago, Changewings have big

appetites and will most likely go for your trained Terrible

Terrors, Smothering Smokebreaths and Night Terrors. If this

happens, pile the floor full of your drgaon's preffered meal. This

will distract it from your dragons and will aid in keeping them at

a safe distance. I'd wager the only time you would want those

particular dragons side by side is on the battlefield. However,

and above all, make sure your new dragon doesn't make a meal

out of your other dragons.

Extras: Titan Changewings

When any dragon becomes a titan, it does becomes twice as

strong and aggressive than its broad wing stage. The

changewing is no acception to that rule and is capable of

harnessing an ability that will be able to hypnotise foes - even

from a distance (this means you too). Once your dragon grows

to the last stage of its life, it is best to let it roam a month, then

find it again. For the male, watch for hypnotised dragons in the

area, then follow the trail of footprints and overshed skin.

These hypnotised dragons will not attack you under any

circumstance, and you could aid them if you wish. For the

female, watch for attacking dragons that may include broad

wing Changewings - they are most likely been hypnotised to

attack anything in sight.