New fella in series of tiny dragons that I co-create with Peter Fane

as he writes and gives them roles in his fantasy world among his other characters of Davanor. I had sketch of him from this summer in pocket sketchbook but only now I got to finish painting.



Also check it on Artstation too it will help me a lot

...aaand if you are interested in small time lapse of making of this piece you can take a look here since few people asked and it took me just half a year to try recording screen









Species description bellow by Peter Fane







Wingless horn-skull (“Bully Wyrm;” also “Gatekeeper Dragon,” “Door Drake,” or “Thumper.”)

The wingless horn-skull – most famously known as the “Bully Wyrm” or “Thumper” – is one of Dávanor’s rare, wingless small breeds. They are born with small, vestigial wings, but in domestic settings these are always clipped by breeders. Thumpers can found in households throughout Dávanor, but they prefer warmer climates. They make ideal family pets and are second only to the tender-nosed shield-wing in their devotion and protectiveness. Thumpers are tenacious, fierce, and absolutely loyal. Because they are flightless, Thumpers are rarely trained into messenger service. They are much more often deployed as guardians or watch-dragons, tasks at which they excel. Thumpers are also often used in battle and can accompany infantry companies or shock troops as scouts or frontline fighters. Dávanor’s House Fel is famous for its well-trained Thumper corps.

As their scientific name suggest, these dragons are most well-known for the massive horns at the center of their foreheads. In the wild, the main use of this horn is posturing. Wild male Thumpers control small, but clearly defined, territories. Hoping to avoid confrontation, a Thumper will lower its horn and “thump” it loudly against a tree, rock, or root. The size of a Thumper’s horn is an indicator of its neck and shoulder strength; larger horns are thus more desirable. If intimidation does not forestall conflict, Thumpers will use their horns to defend themselves. Because Thumpers consistently rub and grate their horns on rough surfaces, their horns can be quite sharp. When combined with their speed and weight, a Thumper charge can be damaging. Thumpers also use their horns for digging in the soil for grubs, worms, and truffles. Female Thumpers use their horns to steer their young, guiding them until they are capable of navigating on their own. Males have been observed using their horns to move excrement into piles that demarcate territorial borders. There are reports from southern Dávanor of wild Thumpers using their horns to test the depth of mud holes before entering to cool down; if the mud is too deep, the Thumper will not risk the mud bath.

While it has been officially banned for centuries, Thumpers have been exploited for pit fighting since before the Founding. The breed’s loyalty and devotion, combined with its high pain-threshold and natural armament, make it an easy target for thugs, gangsters, or other miscreants. Fortunately, recent years have seen enforcement of the duchy-wide ban taken to new levels. In the western counties of Dávanor, especially those controlled by House Fel, for example, the punishment for illegally fighting Thumpers is death by disembowelment.

In their native environments, Thumpers nest in medium-sized broods. These will consist of three to four males, seven to ten females, and their associated young. Foaling always takes place in the early spring. Nests will almost always be found in short grasslands. Males and females share all nesting, foraging, and rearing responsibilities. Females give birth to one or two young each season. Thumpers are omnivores, subsisting mostly on a combination of grasses, roots, tubers, truffles, worms and grubs.

Typical colors: orange, gold, light and dark brown, copper, and tan. The chest and underbelly will always be two or three shades lighter than the body proper with very small scales.

Typical wingspan: N/A

Typical length: (f) 14-18 palms [ca. 105-135 cm]; (m) 18-22 palms [ca. 135-165 cm]

Typical lifespan: (f) 200-220 years; (m) 180-200 years

Horned? Most definitely, yes.

Crested? Yes.

Toothed? Yes.

Venomous? No.

This text was adapted from my field notes with some references made to Katherine II's "The Smaller Dragons of Davanor. A Preliminary Taxonomy" (F.Y. 190).



