It had started as an accident. Pure and simple. The ellipitical orbit of the meteor had lasted in excess of four months, during which time thousands of tonnes of debris had spewed out across more than four fifths of the world. The impending impact would spell the end of the dinosaurs. But thanks to the magical properties of the laminium ore secreted throughout the meteor, a complete fluke would give rise to the race of beings that would go on to rule the planet.

As with everything, it started slowly. The effect of the laminium on the particular strands of DNA in some of the prehistoric monsters left roaming the Earth took generations to take hold. And generations more to start mutating into something remotely recognisable as a dragon. Immunity to heat and fire was the very first change initiated by the magical metal, and just in time. For everywhere around them the extinction of the dinosaurs carried on because of the raging temperatures, the molten lava (something the dragons would come to love) and the rampaging forest fires throughout the lands everywhere.

Not long after that, other strands of DNA were altered. Strength, understanding, desire and a fighting instinct all asserted themselves in less than a century. This was the final nail in the dinosaurs’ coffin. Already fighting the changing elements of the planet, they now became prey to not only a terrifyingly ferocious predator, but one whose intellect was beginning to show. Slowly the dragons took over the skies, and then in turn the ground. Individuals roamed everywhere except the Poles, and soon learned to work together, well…………nearly. The most powerful, dominant individuals used their cunning and guile well. Under the threat of violence, they coerced other dragons into working for them. Then in gangs, they would reign terror everywhere they went. This became pretty much the norm for many centuries, long before intelligent man roamed the earth. The period itself became known as the ‘Age of Barbarism’ and has long been consigned to the forgotten realms of dragon history. But it was at the very start of this period that the, by modern standards, primitive dragons discovered their telepathic abilities, although at the time they didn’t exactly recognise the skill. Of course, they just used it as a weapon, some using it to control other dragons, others using it in battle, some dragons using it to extract precious information, and some using it just because they could. It was a brutal and devastating time in dragon history. Many a dragon had been driven insane by other dragons invading their mind, mentally raping them if you like. Another long forgotten aspect of this was the belief at the time that by consuming another dragon, you gained his mental strength, adding it to your own. This has never been conclusively proven, and is something that few dragons even know, but was common throughout this age.