Drake

Drake

(Creature)

Common

Dragon

Level

Varies

Adjective

Drake

Images of drakes

Source: Monster Core, pg(s). 128–133

Type

Dragon
(Varies)

CR

Varies

Environment

Varies

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Adjective

Drake

Images of drakes

Source: The Hill Giant's Pledge, pg(s). 70ff.

Drakes are bestial relatives of primal dragons. Drakes share many traits with primal dragons, such as sturdy leathery wings, reptilian forms, dangerous breath, and the ability to speak, but they lack forearms and primal dragons' greater intelligence. A pack of drakes is called a rampage.

Ecology

A jungle drake.

Compared to dragons, drakes are smaller, physically weaker, and slower. They reach reproductive maturity earlier than dragons and are consequently more common. Drakes breed every five years, laying clutches of eggs that must be incubated for three to six weeks under specific conditions particular to each drake species. Drake hatchlings imprint on the first creature they see and reach maturity in two years.

Drake eggs have little significant variance in coloration by species, requiring a trained eye to discern their differences. Drake egg incubation is often related to their natural habitat; for example, desert drakes require storage in warm temperatures to hatch, river drakes must be submerged in running water, and drakes of flame and frost must be stored in conditions of their corresponding extremes.

Habitat and society

Drakes are intelligent beings, though typically less reasonable than their draconic forebears. While capable of making deals with other beings, they lack the patience, diplomacy, and long-term planning of their greater relatives, which makes them more prone to violence. This often leads to the formation of the raiding parties colloquially known as rampages.

Drakes very rarely form strong bonds with other intelligent beings with whom they become companions. Such drakes typically refer to their partners as their "charges", as they refuse to name any other being as their master. These bonds typically form after years spent by the other party winning the drake's trust. Due to both the time necessary to forge this bond and the rarity of drakes capable or willing to become another being's companion, these drakes are typically viewed as irreplaceable by their charges. By comparison, drakes often simply eat more careless prospective trainers or riders.

Drakes lair and collect hoards much like dragons do, but their hoards' contents are often less valuable due to drakes' relatively immature taste.

Species of drake

A sea drake.

See also: Category:Drake

Many species of drakes have adapted to live in many environments.

Associated creatures

Wyverns are often considered to be a type of drake. Although they exhibit a number of differences from most drake types, they also show a noticeable degree of deference and collegial behavior towards one another.

While pseudodragons are often called house drakes, they are not considered part of the drake family. Some dragons, such as brine dragons and crystal dragons, are sometimes referred to as drakes, perhaps due to their elemental nature rather than being adapted dragons.

On Golarion

Thanks to the many adaptations and species of drakes, few parts of Golarion are devoid of their presence. Drakes are often viewed by humanoid cultures as pests—though especially dangerous ones—across parts of Golarion, with some governments issuing bounties to reduce their populations. Others make contact and cut deals with individual drakes to defend property in exchange for treasure or ally with them to bolster a city's defenses.

Talented spellcasters have been known to take shadow drakes as familiars, though they might also independently align themselves with someone attuned to their mischievous nature. One of the legendary Orbs of Dragonkin is capable of dominating drakes, and certain magic items can make certain types of drakes easier to summon. Beyond these exceptions, however, many attempts to domesticate drakes end in catastrophe.

Drake eggs are valued primarily by prospective tamers but are also eaten as food by some cultures, and sometimes used as spell components. However, due to drakes' status as both sapient and dangerous beings, most societies criminalize the drake-egg trade. Drake hides, however, are only as valuable as those of other mundane creatures of the same or similar size.

In the Inner Sea region

Near the Winged Wood, a growing number of drakes were corrupted by demonic forces when the Worldwound was opened and became half-fiends.

Giants across the Inner Sea region breed and keep frost drakes and pets, minions, and mounts for their allies.

Colonists of Xin-Shalast from Riddleport hunt frost drakes for food near the rediscovered city.

The draconic monument known as the Sleeper, located deep in the Mindspin Mountains, draws drakes who lair in its chambers and the mountain beneath. Flame drakes favor the crest of Droskar's Crag as a nesting perch.

In Tian Xia

Goka hosts drake races that are popular with nobles and feature lavish purses for the victors. The richest Gokans travel by drake-drawn sky chariots. As of 4721 AR, Drakespeaker Mina Helian had replaced Drakemaster Palo in Goka's parliament after Palo's term expired, becoming the parliament's first Drakespeaker and advocate for the working drake.

Notable drakes

• Kjef-kadeq, a desert drake in the Parched Dunes.

On distant worlds

Frost drakes are plentiful in the namesake Drakelands of Triaxus, where they serve in armies under and alongside dragonkin.

References

Paizo published a major article about drakes, titled "Ecology of the Drake", in The Hill Giant's Pledge.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.