Changes: Dragon

Revision as of 20:17, 24 April 2019

“Dragons are not monsters. They are creatures of wonder and magic.”
— Gaius to Merlin^[src]

Dragons were creatures of magic that lived in the land of Albion. They were noble and powerful creatures, known to be near-invincible and humbled only by the Dragonlords.

The dragons were among those targeting during the Great Purge. They were near-extinct by its end.

History

Dragon attacking Merlin — Kilgharrah attacking Merlin.

According to Arthur, the dragons were responsible for bringing down the kingdom of Daobeth. This occurred hundreds of years before Uther's reign (The Darkest Hour).

Dragons had a special bond with the Dragonlords, men who possessed the ability to talk to, tame, and control them. According to Balinor, Dragonlords and dragons were spiritual brothers and shared a connection of the soul (The Last Dragonlord).

According to Gaius, dragons were once close allies with Trolls (Beauty and the Beast).

The dragons were hunted nearly to extinction during the Great Purge. When only Kilgharrah remained, Uther Pendragon convinced the Dragonlord Balinor to call him to Camelot so that he could make peace with him. The King betrayed them, however, and imprisoned Kilgharrah in a cavern beneath the castle. He then proceeded to round up and slaughter the Dragonlords, as he believed their abilities to be too close to magic (The Last Dragonlord).

Kilgharrah was imprisoned for at least twenty years before Balinor's son Merlin set him free. Seeking vengeance for what was done to himself and his kind, the dragon launched an attack on Camelot that lasted several days. He was eventually stopped by Merlin, who had inherited his father's Dragonlord abilities and used them to order Kilgharrah away from Camelot (The Last Dragonlord).

Aithus-0 — Aithusa, newly hatched from its egg.

Around three years later, Merlin recovered the last remaining dragon egg from the Tomb of Ashkanar, where it had been hidden for four hundred years. He used his Dragonlord abilities to summon the dragon from its egg and named the hatchling Aithusa (Aithusa).

Though Kilgharrah and Aithusa are the only remaining dragons in Albion, Wyverns (distant relatives of dragons) are still in existence. They differ from dragons in that they have red eyes and are only slightly larger than humans, and also appear to be more animalistic in nature. They are known to live in the Perilous Lands and on the Isle of the Blessed (The Eye of the Phoenix, The Darkest Hour).

Appearance

Merlin213 1635 — Dragons were known to be significantly larger than humans.

The Dragons in Merlin have many similarities to dragons in western mythology. They are reptilian in appearance with scales, four legs, long tails, and large wings.

Dragons came in many different colors. Kilgharrah, for example, had golden brown scales while Aithusa had white. White dragons were considered to be especially rare (Aithusa). Their eye colors could also differ, as Kilgharrah had golden eyes while Aithusa's were blue.

Newborn dragons appear to have thin bone structures, and their wing sails are near transparent membrane (Aithusa).

Abilities

“Do not imagine that your petty magic can harm me!”
— Kilgharrah to Merlin^[src]

Dragons were known to possess considerable knowledge and powerful magic. They were impervious to most weapons, including enchanted ones. Merlin's enchanted spear, for example, failed to so much as wound Kilgharrah (The Last Dragonlord).

As with most dragons of myth, the dragons of Merlin had the ability to breathe fire and fly. Despite their massive size, dragons were much faster and more graceful than they appeared, and were able to avoid numerous projectiles such as arrows even when they were fired at the same time (The Last Dragonlord).

They also possessed great strength, and could easily defeat an entire group of human Knights with minimal injuries. A single dragon was capable of ravaging a city in a matter of weeks (The Last Dragonlord, The Darkest Hour).

A strike to the heart was capable of killing a dragon. However, because few people were aware that their hearts were located on the right side of their chests rather than the left, this tactic rarely proved effective. Arthur, for example, attempted to thrust a spear into Kilgahrrah's heart, but because he aimed for the left side of the dragon's chest he only succeeded in wounding him (The Last Dragonlord).

I am a Dragonlord — Merlin commands Kilgharrah to help him.

Considering how difficult it is to kill a dragon, it is unknown how Uther managed to hunt them to near-extinction during the Great Purge. It's possible that he somehow forced or convinced the Dragonlords to help him, as dragons were powerless to resist their commands (The Last Dragonlord).

Judging by how easily Kilgharrah slaughtered a contingent of Knights and an entire party of armed mercenaries, it seems very unlikely that Uther could have managed to kill even a single dragon without the help of powerful magic (The Last Dragonlord, The Sword in the Stone).

In addition to being near-invincible, dragons also had the ability to perform magic. Kilgharrah, for example, was able to use enchantments to heal Merlin of a Serket sting and release him from Morgause's magical chains (The Tears of Uther Pendragon). They also had the ability to telepathically transmit spells into another person's mind (The Curse of Cornelius Sigan, The Crystal Cave).

Considering Kilgharrah's prodigious knowledge of the future, it's possible that some or all dragons had the ability to foresee the future. However, it's also possible that he gained his knowledge from another source.

Their fiery breath had the power to infuse weapons with magic and give them great power (Excalibur, The Diamond of the Day).

Morgana aithusa — Aithusa after healing Morgana.

A dragon's breath also had the power to heal someone from injury, including fatal ones. Aithusa, for example, was able to heal a dying Morgana in The Sword in the Stone. Kilgharrah also helped Merlin to heal Morgana of her fatal skull fracture in The Crystal Cave, though whether he used this ability to do so or merely transmitted a healing spell to Merlin is unknown.

Dragons are able to procreate by laying eggs that can remain viable for more than a thousand years. However, it is impossible for an egg to hatch unless a Dragonlord calls the unborn dragon into existence by going it a name. As such, even if there were thousands of dragon eggs in existence, without a Dragonlord none of them would ever hatch, and the species would likely die out (Aithusa).

List of Appearances

Series 1: The Dragon's Call; Valiant; The Mark of Nimueh; A Remedy to Cure All Ills; The Beginning of the End; Excalibur; To Kill the King; Le Morte d'Arthur
Series 2: The Curse of Cornelius Sigan; The Nightmare Begins; Beauty and the Beast: Part Two; Sweet Dreams; The Witch's Quickening; The Fires of Idirsholas; The Last Dragonlord
Series 3: The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part One; The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part Two; The Crystal Cave; The Eye of the Phoenix (Mentioned only); Love in the Time of Dragons (Mentioned only); The Sorcerer's Shadow; The Coming of Arthur: Part Two
Series 4: The Darkest Hour: Part One (Mentioned only) (Deleted scene only); The Darkest Hour: Part Two; Aithusa; The Sword in the Stone: Part Two
Series 5: Arthur's Bane part 1 and 2; The Kindness of Strangers; The Diamond of The Day

Legend

The Dragons in Merlin are very similar to those in western mythology, which are usually portrayed as massive, fire-breathing reptiles.

Much like in the series, European Dragons can live for hundreds or even thousands of years and come in a variety of different colors. They are often portrayed as monsters or villains and are usually depicted guarding castles or caverns filled with gold and other treasures.

Dragon is derived from the Greek word Drakon, which means "huge serpent".

Chinese Dragons, as opposed to western dragons, are revered as creatures of zen and goodness.

Trivia

Dragons' hearts are located on the right side of their chest rather than the left (The Last Dragonlord).
According to Kilgharrah, the birth of a white dragon was a very rare occurrence (Aithusa).

Gallery

Click "show" to view gallery.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 | sentience = Sentient
 | type = Reptile
-| skin = Dark scales
+| skin = Dark Scales
 | eyes = Yellow
 | affiliation =
+[[Dragonlords]]<br>
-The [[Old Religion]]
+[[Old Religion]]<br>
-[[Dragonlord]]
-[[Troll]]
+[[Troll|Trolls]] (formerly)
 | individuals = [[Kilgharrah]]<br>[[Aithusa (character)|Aithusa]]
+| status = Near-extinct}}
-| status = almost-extinct}}{{Quote|They must be left unshackled, free to roam the earth. Dragons are magical creatures, they belong to no man. They are for the benefit of all.|Merlin|Aithusa}}
+{{Quote|Dragons are not monsters. They are creatures of wonder and magic.|[[Gaius]] to [[Merlin]]|The Last Dragonlord}}
-'''Dragons''' were [[Creatures of Magic]] that lived in the land of [[Albion]]. They were noble and powerful creatures, and were near-invincible and humbled only by the [[Dragonlord]]s. The dragons were victims of the [[Great Purge]], becoming near-extinct by its climax.
+'''Dragons''' were [[creatures of magic]] that lived in the land of [[Albion]]. They were noble and powerful creatures, known to be near-invincible and humbled only by the [[Dragonlords]].
+The dragons were among those targeting during the [[Great Purge]]. They were near-extinct by its end.
 ==History==
-It is known that hundreds of years before [[Uther Pendragon|Uther's]] reign, dragons brought down a kingdom called "[[Daobeth]]" (''[[The Darkest Hour]]'').
+[[File:Dragon_attacking_Merlin.jpeg|thumb|220x220px|left|[[Kilgharrah]] attacking [[Merlin]].]]According to [[Arthur]], the dragons were responsible for bringing down the kingdom of [[Daobeth]]. This occurred hundreds of years before [[Uther|Uther's]] reign (''[[The Darkest Hour]]'').
-Dragons had a special bond with the [[Dragonlord]]s, who could talk to, tame, and kill a dragon. According to the [[Old Religion]], they are brothers to dragons, connected through their souls so that Dragons obey Dragonlords (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
+Dragons had a special bond with the [[Dragonlords]], men who possessed the ability to talk to, tame, and control them. According to [[Balinor]], Dragonlords and dragons were spiritual brothers and shared a connection of the soul (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
+According to [[Gaius]], dragons were once close allies with [[Troll|Trolls]] (''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'').
-Dragons proc[[File:Aithusa_in_egg.jpg|thumb|left|175px]]reate by laying eggs which can remain viable for more than thousand years, but their special bond with [[Dragonlords]] is such that dragon eggs cannot hatch without a Dragonlord. [[Dragonlords]] do this by calling the unborn dragons into existence by naming the egg's occupant to bring them into the world. Thus, even if there were plenty of dragon eggs in existence, if there were no more [[Dragonlords]] none of them would ever hatch (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]'').
+The dragons were hunted nearly to extinction during the [[Great Purge]]. When only [[Kilgharrah]] remained, [[Uther Pendragon]] convinced the Dragonlord Balinor to call him to [[Camelot]] so that he could make peace with him. The King betrayed them, however, and imprisoned Kilgharrah in a cavern beneath the castle. He then proceeded to round up and slaughter the Dragonlords, as he believed their abilities to be too close to [[magic]] (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
-While there was such a thing as white dragons, their birth was a very rare occurrence (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]'').
+Kilgharrah was imprisoned for at least twenty years before Balinor's son [[Merlin]] set him free. Seeking vengeance for what was done to himself and his kind, the dragon launched an attack on Camelot that lasted several days. He was eventually stopped by Merlin, who had inherited his father's Dragonlord abilities and used them to order Kilgharrah away from Camelot (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
-Dragons were old allies with [[Troll]]s (''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'').
+[[File:Aithus-0.jpg|thumb|220x220px|[[Aithusa]], newly hatched from its egg.]]
+Around three years later, Merlin recovered the last remaining dragon egg from the [[Tomb of Ashkanar]], where it had been hidden for four hundred years. He used his Dragonlord abilities to summon the dragon from its egg and named the hatchling [[Aithusa]] (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]'').
+Though Kilgharrah and Aithusa are the only remaining dragons in [[Albion]], [[Wyvern|Wyverns]] (distant relatives of dragons) are still in existence. They differ from dragons in that they have red eyes and are only slightly larger than humans, and also appear to be more animalistic in nature. They are known to live in the [[Perilous Lands]] and on the [[Isle of the Blessed]] (''[[The Eye of the Phoenix]]'', ''[[The Darkest Hour]]'').
-During the [[Great Purge]], King [[Uther Pendragon]] had all dragons killed except for [[Kilgharrah]]. He then tricked the [[Dragonlord]] [[Balinor]] by asking him to bring [[Kilgharrah]] to him so he could make peace. Instead, Uther imprisoned him beneath Camelot and then had all the Dragonlords rounded up and slaughtered (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
+== Appearance ==
-[[File:Dragon_attacking_Merlin.jpeg|thumb|236px]]Kilgharrah was imprisoned for at least twenty years before [[Balinor]]'s [[Merlin|son]] came to Camelot and set him free. Kilgharrah went on a rampage throughout Camelot to avenge what Uther did to him and his kind, but was stopped by [[Merlin]].
+[[File:Merlin213_1635.jpg|thumb|left|220x220px|Dragons were known to be significantly larger than humans.]]
+The Dragons in ''[[Merlin (TV Series)|Merlin]]'' have many similarities to dragons in western mythology. They are reptilian in appearance with scales, four legs, long tails, and large wings.
+Dragons came in many different colors. [[Kilgharrah]], for example, had golden brown scales while [[Aithusa]] had white. White dragons were considered to be especially rare (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]''). Their eye colors could also differ, as Kilgharrah had golden eyes while Aithusa's were blue.
-Although only Kilgharrah and the young [[Aithusa (character)|Aithusa]] remain, the dragons' distant cousins, the [[Wyvern]], live on. Unlike dragons, they have red eyes and are only slightly larger than Humans, they also appear to be more animal like (''[[The Eye of the Phoenix]]'').
-== Appearance ==
-[[File:Merlin213_1635.jpg|thumb|left|166px|The gigantic size of a Dragon compared to a Human.]]
-The dragons in Merlin have many similarities to dragons in myth. dragons are massive, scaly, four legged creatures, with long tails and large wings. They have golden eyes. However [[Aithusa]], being an exceptionally rare dragon, has blue eyes.
-New-born dragons have a thin bones structure and their wing sails is a near-transparent membrane (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]'').
+Newborn dragons appear to have thin bone structures, and their wing sails are near transparent membrane (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]'').
 == Abilities ==
+{{Quote|Do not imagine that your petty magic can harm me!|[[Kilgharrah]] to [[Merlin]]|The Last Dragonlord}}
-[[File:Kilgharrah-9.png|thumb|right|200px]]
-Dragons had great knowledge and power in [[Magic]]. They were impervious to almost any weapon, an enchanted spear hurled at a Dragon would just bounce off it's scales despite being filled with Magic (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
+[[File:Kilgharrah-6.jpg|thumb|left|220x220px|[[Kilgharrah]] in flight.]]Dragons were known to possess considerable knowledge and powerful [[magic]]. They were impervious to most weapons, including enchanted ones. [[Merlin|Merlin's]] enchanted spear, for example, failed to so much as wound [[Kilgharrah]] (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
-As with all Dragons in Myth, they had the ability to breathe fire and fly. Despite their massive size Dragons are far more graceful and much faster than they appeared, able to easily avoid numerous projectiles such as arrows even when they were fired at the same time. A Dragon could easily defeat a whole group of human knights (though not without the possibility of being injured) and they seemed to be undefeatable to anyone except the [[Dragonlord]]s. Dragons are a powerful and almost indestructible enemy in combat, a single Dragon being able to ravage a city within weeks.
+As with most dragons of myth, the dragons of ''[[Merlin (TV Series)|Merlin]]'' had the ability to breathe fire and fly. Despite their massive size, dragons were much faster and more graceful than they appeared, and were able to avoid numerous projectiles such as arrows even when they were fired at the same time (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
+They also possessed great strength, and could easily defeat an entire group of human [[Knight of Camelot|Knights]] with minimal injuries. A single dragon was capable of ravaging a city in a matter of weeks (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'', ''[[The Darkest Hour]]'').
-Although all attacks on Kilgharrah in his assault on Camelot failed to kill him, there were presumably non magical [[File:I_am_a_Dragonlord.png|thumb|200px]]ways to kill Dragons as Uther was able to have all the Dragons except for him killed. However, regarding the way Uther appeared to feel helplessly without Balinor while Kilgharrah attacked indicates that he likely had help from dragonlords, though how he convinced (or forced) them in do such thing is unknown (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]''). Judging by the way how Kilgharrah easily slaughtered an entire army of armed mercenaries, it's seems to be very unlikely that Uther managed to kill a single dragon without the help of powerful magic (''[[The Sword in the Stone]]'').
-[[File:Kilgharrah-6.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A Dragon in Flight.]]
+A strike to the heart was capable of killing a dragon. However, because few people were aware that their hearts were located on the right side of their chests rather than the left, this tactic rarely proved effective. [[Arthur]], for example, attempted to thrust a spear into Kilgahrrah's heart, but because he aimed for the left side of the dragon's chest he only succeeded in wounding him (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
-In addition to being virtually unbeatable, Dragons had the power to transmit spells from their thoughts into another persons mind (''[[The Curse of Cornelius Sigan]]'') and they could use their fire to fill weapons with magic giving it great power (''[[Excalibur (episode)|Excalibur]]''). Dragons also had [[Healing Spells|healing]] and [[Locking/unlocking spells|unlocking]] powers as Kilgharrah healed Merlin when he was stung by a [[Serket]] and broke open the chains which bound him (''[[The Tears of Uther Pendragon]]''). Due to Kilgharrah's prodigious knowledge of the future it's likely that Dragons could foresee the future, though he may have learned the future from another source.
-[[File:Morgana_aithusa.png|thumb|200px]].
+[[File:I_am_a_Dragonlord.png|thumb|220x220px|[[Merlin]] commands [[Kilgharrah]] to help him.]]
+Considering how difficult it is to kill a dragon, it is unknown how [[Uther]] managed to hunt them to near-extinction during the [[Great Purge]]. It's possible that he somehow forced or convinced the [[Dragonlords]] to help him, as dragons were powerless to resist their commands (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
+Judging by how easily Kilgharrah slaughtered a contingent of Knights and an entire party of armed mercenaries, it seems very unlikely that Uther could have managed to kill even a single dragon without the help of powerful magic (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'', ''[[The Sword in the Stone]]'').
-Furthermore, a dragon's breath has the ability to bring back to life a fallen person or someone who is in a near-death situation. [[Kilgharrah]] unwillingly used this power once in order to give [[Merlin]] the power to bring [[Morgana]] back to life (''[[The Crystal Cave]]''). [[Aithusa]] did the same thing for her to the [[series 4]] finale, after she was injured by a knight and Merlin's magic, although the reasons for doing that remain unclear (''[[The Sword in the Stone]]'').
+In addition to being near-invincible, dragons also had the ability to perform magic. Kilgharrah, for example, was able to use enchantments to heal Merlin of a [[Serket]] sting and release him from [[Morgause|Morgause's]] magical chains (''[[The Tears of Uther Pendragon]]''). They also had the ability to telepathically transmit [[spells]] into another person's mind (''[[The Curse of Cornelius Sigan]]'', ''[[The Crystal Cave]]'').
-==Appearances==
+Considering Kilgharrah's prodigious knowledge of the future, it's possible that some or all dragons had the ability to [[Seer|foresee]] the future. However, it's also possible that he gained his knowledge from another source.
+Their fiery breath had the power to infuse weapons with magic and give them great power (''[[Excalibur]]'', ''[[The Diamond of the Day]]'').
+[[File:Morgana_aithusa.png|thumb|200px|[[Aithusa]] after healing [[Morgana]].]]
+A dragon's breath also had the power to heal someone from injury, including fatal ones. [[Aithusa]], for example, was able to heal a dying [[Morgana]] in ''[[The Sword in the Stone]]''. Kilgharrah also helped Merlin to heal Morgana of her fatal skull fracture in ''[[The Crystal Cave]]'', though whether he used this ability to do so or merely transmitted a [[healing spells|healing spell]] to Merlin is unknown.
+Dragons are able to procreate by laying eggs that can remain viable for more than a thousand years. However, it is impossible for an egg to hatch unless a Dragonlord calls the unborn dragon into existence by going it a name. As such, even if there were thousands of dragon eggs in existence, without a Dragonlord none of them would ever hatch, and the species would likely die out (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]'').
+==List of Appearances==
 ;Series 1
 :[[The Dragon's Call]] {{First Appearance}}
@@ Line 83: / Line 96: @@
 ;Series 5
 :[[Arthur's Bane|Arthur's Bane part 1 and 2]]
+:[[The Kindness of Strangers]]
+:[[The Diamond of the Day|The Diamond of The Day ]]
+== Legend ==
+[[File:Mythical_dragon.jpg|thumb|203x203px|Dragons in legend]]
+The Dragons in ''[[Merlin (TV Series)|Merlin]]'' are very similar to those in western mythology, which are usually portrayed as massive, fire-breathing reptiles.
+Much like in the series, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_dragon European Dragons] can live for hundreds or even thousands of years and come in a variety of different colors. They are often portrayed as monsters or villains and are usually depicted guarding castles or caverns filled with gold and other treasures.
+''Dragon'' is derived from the Greek word ''Drakon'', which means "huge serpent".
+[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon Chinese Dragons], as opposed to western dragons, are revered as creatures of zen and goodness.
-==Legend==
-The Dragons in ''Merlin'' are very similar to those in the myth. [[File:Mythical_dragon.jpg|thumb|135px|Dragons in legend]] They are usually reffered to as massive flying fire-breathing reptiles. Like in ''Merlin ''dragons can live for hundreds or even thousands of years, and come in a variety of different colours. They have a bad reputation for being greedy and fiercely protecting its treasure in caves.
+== Trivia ==
-Dragon is derived from the greek word ''Drakon'' meaning huge serpent.
+* Dragons' hearts are located on the right side of their chest rather than the left (''[[The Last Dragonlord]]'').
+* According to [[Kilgharrah]], the birth of a white dragon was a very rare occurrence (''[[Aithusa (episode)|Aithusa]]'').
+== Gallery ==
-Chinese dragons, as opposed to the western dragons, are revered as creatures of zen and goodness.
+{{Hidden|Click "show" to view gallery.|<gallery position="center">
+File:Kilgharrah-10.jpg
+File:Dragon_attacking_Merlin.jpeg
+File:Kilgharrah-9.png
+File:Kilgharrah.png
+File:Kilgharrah-6.jpg
+File:Kilgharrah-15.png
+File:Merlin213_1635.jpg
+File:Kilgharrah-15.jpg
+File:Kilgharrah.jpg
+File:Kilgharrah-23.jpg
+File:Kilgharrah-26.jpg
+File:Kilgharrah-17.png
+File:Kilgharrah-18.png
+File:Aithusa%27_Egg.jpeg
+File:Aithusa3.jpg
+File:Aithusa_in_egg.jpg
+File:Aithusa_Hatches.jpg
+File:2011-12-26_011837.jpg
+File:Morgana_aithusa.png
+File:Aithusa_Arthur%27s_Bane_Part_Two.png
+File:509_Aithus.jpg
+File:Merlin_vs_Aithusa2.PNG
+</gallery>}}
 ==See also==
 *[[Dragonlord]]
+*[[Dragon Language]]
+*[[Creatures of Magic]]
 [[Category:Magical creatures]]
 [[Category:Winged creatures]]