Meet the Creatures of Dragon Age Origins - Awakening

Meet the blood curdling Creatures of Dragon Age Origins - Awakenings, and embark on the most addictive RPG adventure experience for years to come.

Ogre - These gargantuan creatures of sheer strength is one of the most feared of all darkspawn. Appearing only when blight is looming just one massive ogre can destroy an entire squad of enemy soldiers.

Arcane Horror - When a mage's corpse is taken over by a pride demon the result is an abomination known as the Arcane Horror. This Dragon Age creature possesses the insanity of the undead able to wield the powerful magic of the mage.

Hurlock - The only darkspawns, known to be capable of human speech, have considerable constitution and strength and can conjur magic. A single berserker hurlock are a fearsome match for several opponents at once.

Devoring Corpse - A devouring corpse is a dead body possessed by a demon. The demon is driven man in the lifeless corpse and will feed on any living thing it finds, drainning the opponents life force.

High Dragon - The winged beast once worshiped by the Tevinter Imperium are High Dragons. Once thought extinct, the Dragon Age is named for the High Dragons, who's rampage begins unexpectedly when a new clutch of eggs are laid.

Abomination - The unholy union of a demon and a mage is an Abomination. The creature amplifies the mage's innate magical abilities, turning even a novice into a devastating force of destruction.

Desire Demon - Desire demons take pleasure in corruption through the lust of power, wealth, beauty, or whatever an opponent desires. Beyond raw magical power this Awakening creature has incredible speed and strength.

Brood Mother - No one knows exactly what the brood mother is for certain. But, come face to face with the creature deep within the earth, and it will haunt your days for the rest of your life.

You can also find DragonAge Origins Cheats for PC at the Cheats WebsiteCheat Genius. ------------------------------------------------- For more info on Dragon Creatures, see www.bestdragonguide.com.

Dragon Antique Walking Canes

In both the East and West, dragons are a symbol of power. A wizard who can control a dragon or a warrior who can conquer this great creature will command the power of his world. It is sometimes the evil power, other times a protector's. Hence it is a really popular theme for men's canes. With an antique dragon walking cane, you can hold that power in your hand, and it is very suitable as a gentleman's fashion accessory.

Although many dragon legends are found all over Europe, several of the most famous ones are from the British Isles, and some cane-makers created beautiful cane handles after these dragons. Here are some of the most famous "named" dragons that are currently available as canes:

St. George's Dragon

One of the most popular dragons is St. George's. It appears in many art forms, including the walking canes. There are several different versions of St. George's dragon stories, but the most famous one is of the dragon attacking the city of Selene in Libya. This dragon demanded a child each day for its meal, and one day the king's daughter was chosen for the sacrifice. Just as the dragon was about to eat her up, a European knight came to rescue her. After a long fierce fight, the knight finally killed the dragon, and freed the city. People were so grateful that they converted to Christianity under St. George.

In the old English legend of St. George, the dragon named Dadianus is an evil sorcerer who can change himself into a serpent. St. George trapped the evil spirit of Dadianus in the walking cane he carries for eternity to commemorate the victory of good over evil.

There are a few different artistic representations of St. George's dragon, but the dragon wrapping around the cane is most popular.

Lambton Dragon

Another famous dragon in England is Lambton dragon from the legend of the Lambton Worm and Penshaw Hill. It was during the time of the Crusades that John Lambton caught a hideous, black, worm-like creature while fishing. He did not know what to do with it, so he threw it into an ancient well and forgot about it. The years passed, and he was gone on the Crusades for a long time. When he returned home, he found his village devastated by the worm, which had now grown into a monstrous dragon. With the help of a wise woman, he managed to kill the dragon, but his house was cursed and for nine generations no lord of Lambton would die in his bed.

Although a currently available reproduction cane with Lambton dragon looks like an Asian dragon, many older illustrations show that Lambton dragon is more like a sea serpent monster without legs or scales.

Henham Dragon

The Henham dragon was first sighted in 1668 in the British village of Henham, Essex. It was described as being nine feet long with small wings. The eyes were surrounded by strange feathers. Numerous sightings of the dragon were reported over the next year. Some just caught a glimpse of it in the distance, while others said it flew overhead. In 1669, a pamphlet called "The Flying Serpent or Strange News Out of Essex" was published and a copy of the pamphlet still exists at Saffron Walden library. This dragon was actually a hoax known as the "Henham Dragon Hoax of 1668." Still, it stimulated the imaginations of many artists and craftsmen, who designed some very nice walking canes.

Brinsop Dragon

This dragon lived in a well in Duck's Pool Meadow in Brinsop. It was killed by a local knight, but some insist that this knight was St. George. Yes, he was a busy guy! Most illustrations found for this dragon show large wings which is typical for modern-day images. The dragon sculpture on the current reproduction cane is actually quite nice looking, although probably hard to carry around.

Asian Dragon

Although they are not British, it is worth mentioning Asian dragons. Unlike in the Western equivalent, in Eastern-world legends dragons are usually in pairs, one good and one evil. If a good dragon wins, the village will prosper. If the evil one wins, the village will perish. They are a sort of symbol of the yin-yang relationship. One of most famous dragon tales from China is of a black and a white dragon. A famous wood carpenter was traveling with his son to a distant city. They passed one side of an ominous lake, with an island in the middle covered by a dark cloud. The son was thirsty and drank water from the lake when, suddenly, a black dragon appeared from the cloud, snatched the son, and disappeared. The father ran to the nearby village for help but no one could do anything. Half-crazed, he started carving a dragon from white wood laying around the side of the lake. He carved and carved without food, without sleep. When he removed the last chip from the dragon's eye, suddenly the wooden dragon came alive, flew to the black cloud, and started fighting with the black dragon. After many hours of fighting, both dragons disappeared under water, the black cloud cleared from the island, and the carpenter found his son sitting on the island.

The Asian dragons have no wings, but always have four legs, a pair of long whiskers and often a beard. It is quite easy to distinguish one from the European dragons.

Dragon Claws
A dragon-claw cane is a more recent creation from fantasy novels and films. A dragon claw holding a crystal or silver ball is quite popular. According to stories, the hand of a dragon was a talisman for many wizards. The sphere held in the dragon's claw represents the world, and he who owns this talisman will conquer the world. You can find several reproductions in this category. These canes are very popular among women interested in goth and/or vampire fashion than men and may not be as suitable as a gentleman's fashion accessory.

Although many original dragon walking canes from the 19th century or earlier were made of wood, bone, and ivory, the currently available dragon canes are usually made of pewter, and often made in Italy. Some no-name cheaper dragon canes are made in China and India. (Don't discount Indian craftsmanship, however. They make really nice canes at a reasonable price.) None of these canes are for orthopedic use. They are meant only as a gentleman's fashion accessory, and cheaper ones are for home decorations.

Kaoru Sanjo is a freelance writer who often contributes articles related to Antique Walking Cane. You can find more information about dragon antique walking canes described in this article at Dragon Antique Walking Cane site. ------------------------------------------------------ For more on Dragons and Dragon Collectibles, see www.bestdragonguide.com.

Dragons in Dreams

By Jeff Bronson

I had a dream... it was about a dragon. It wasn't terrifying, but it wasn't pleasant. The creature certainly wasn't Puff, the Magic Dragon. But what did it all mean?

Throughout history, dragons have symbolized power and depending on the culture, good or bad. Eastern culture has traditionally seen dragons as wise and beneficial, good fortune, and a sign of a spiritual or personal quest. Western culture, on the other hand, has presented dragons as bringers of hardships and destruction, guardians of treasure, and representations of greed. So does the regional symbolism apply to dreams?

What about Biblical symbolism? In Revelations 12, we are told of a dream in which Satan takes on the form of a red dragon. So are dragons diabolical?

In most explanations, across traditions of belief, dragons almost always symbolize a conflict; a significant problem in your life that you will have to deal with. Being chased by a dragon is an anxiety dream, similar to those in which you are standing in front of the classroom in your underwear. Maybe you even find yourself being chased by a dragon in your underwear if something is really weighing on your mind.

Winged dragons are often said to represent some sort of transcendence, insight. For example, if you are dreaming of riding a dragon, you might be in for some type of spiritual change.

Perhaps your dream dragon is standing in front of a cave, guarding its entrance. Numerous sources decipher that the cave is your subconscious and inside that cave is treasure, which in turn is your true self. In this interpretation, fighting the dragon represents fighting your own fear regarding reaching and understanding your true self.

Dragons in dreams are also associated with power, fire, and passion. Some people believe that these creatures are representations of your sexual and emotional domains. However, it is also cautioned that these dreams are there to remind you to use self control, which when not utilized, can lead to all sorts of destruction.

Still another explanation comes from Freud and Jung, who, as you may have guessed, attribute dragon dreams to a person's "devouring" aspects of his or her mother or if you are male, your inability out of fear or misunderstanding to incorporate your feminine side into your personality.

So the next time you wake up startled from a dream about a dragon, don't turn on all the lights and hide under the covers. Instead, take a close look at the things that are going on in your life-the conflicts and fears. Most of the times these are harder to face than fire-breathing creatures. That said, just remember that your dream is sending you a message and that is that you can do it-you can face and slay your dragon.

Jeff Bronson is the owner of Obscuria.com, a darkly unique Gothic shop. Obscuria only offers a quality selection of dragon figurines and dragon collectibles,and many custom made, exclusive in the U.S items. -------------------------------------------------------- For more info on Dragons, see www.bestdragonguide.com.

Lambdon's Dragon

By Ann Wamack

In the olden days of dragons, a young boy lived in the Northumberland region of Northern England. This lazy lad enjoyed fishing in the river. One day, he had caught several fine fish for his supper and one very unpleasant looking worm. On his way home in the afternoon, Lambdon was admiring his catch and tossed the inedible serpent creature down the village well. He continued on home and thought no more about it.

The years passed, as they always do. The serpent-dragon grew in the bottom of the village well. Lambdon grew, too, and to everyone's delight, he grew out of his indolent ways. Lambdon grew into a fine young man and, as all fine young men did in those days, he went to fight in the Crusades. All the while, the monster continued to grow in the bottom of the well.

One day, the fiend emerged from the well and slithered back to the river. There it grew larger and larger and became the terror of the countryside, feasting on any luckless creatures that crossed its path. The dragon ravaged through the village and finally made its way to Lambdon Hall. With the instructions from the chief steward, the household was prepared. The largest feed trough was set in the castle yard and filled to the brim with milk. The dragon drank every drop of the milk and slithered away satisfied, only to return the next day. The trough was filled every day and, if the serpent was not satiated with enough milk, the creature would tear trees from the ground and go rampaging through the region, devouring any living being it encountered, creating mayhem and spreading fear among the residents.

In this way, the castle was visited daily by the dragon and the countryside continued to suffer for many years until Lambdon returned from the Crusades. Horrified, he recognized immediately that the devastation throughout the countryside was caused by the ugly worm he had caught in the river many years before. Courageously, Lambdon vowed that he would rid the castle of this ghastly guest and restore peace to his homeland.

But Lambdon had a plan. He went straight away to the armorer and arranged for a new suit of armor. This new suit of armor was studded all about with blades and spikes sticking out like a hedgehog's coat. And it was in this new suit of armor that Lambdon strode out to face the dragon, his sword gleaming in the early morning sun.

The dragon was furious that there was no milk and turned his full wrath upon the knight who confronted him in the castle yard. Lambdon struck at the monster's head with his sword, but the wily and wicked worm wound his tail around the knight's legs, then around his chest, and intent on squeezing the life out of the valiant warrior.

The serpent dragon squeezed and squeezed, wrapping its long coils tighter and tighter around the knight. But the harder the dragon constricted around Lambdon, the more the spikes began to tear into the monster's flesh. The spikes sank deeper and deeper and the blood gushed forth. In pain and anger, the dragon bellowed its rage and coiled tighter around Lambdon until ultimately it had torn itself to pieces on the blades and spikes in the armor.

As the dying dragon's grasp weakened, Lambdon chopped off the creature's head with one strong blow from his sword. All the servants in the castle ran out into the yard and began snatching up the pieces of the dreaded dragon that had terrorized them for so many years. With Lambdon leading the way, the bits and pieces of the dragon's flesh were carried down to the rushing river and tossed into the strongest part of the current, where they were swept away forever.

Ann Wamack is a freelance writer for The Folklore Store ( http://www.folklorestore.com ), a gift shop on the edge of a land of myth and imagination. Please visit The Folklore Store for gifts and decor about fierce dragons, delicate fairies, winsome unicorns, mysterious wizards and mythical creatures.

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For more information on Dragons, see www.bestdragonguide.com.

Bearded Dragon Lizards Are Now the Most Popular Exotic Pet

By Mark F Hargreaves

Bearded Dragon Lizards turn out ideal pets for first time owners and children alike. As you may well have guessed the bearded dragon lizard takes its name from its look. Additionally, Bearded Dragon Lizards are calm to handle and will not cause any difficulty even if they are moved from place to place. The Bearded Dragon lizard is capable of living a healthy and dynamic life in captivity. Captive dragons tend to be healthier than the wild-caught bearded dragon lizards and are often free of pesticides. If you mean to keep a lizard in your house, you at least have to know its diet and the methods of feeding them.

Bearded dragon lizards are very much a daytime creature and become sedentary very quickly as soon as the sun goes down. They are well-liked exotic pets, most commonly Pogona Vitticeps, the Inland or Central Bearded Dragon who bask most of the day, absorbing the warmth they need to digest their food.

These beautiful lizards are well known for their beard display and other fascinating behaviour. They have a fantastic temperament, will happily climb on you voluntary if you want. Beardies are independant lizards that fend for themselves but do not mind being handled. When you are handling them ensure all of its body is being supported.

Bearded dragons are found all over Australia; they are hardy creatures and can stay alive as well in the desert as they can in the bush; and they are just as contented in urban or populated areas. When the bearded dragon lizard sits upright and cocks its head towards the heavens, Australian Aborigines know that rain will fall the next day. Lovingly called 'beardiess' by their fans, these lizards are not just tame around humans, but many also seem to get pleasure from the contact.

Many lizards have native habitats that are dry and lightly vegetated, so food may often be hard to obtain in the wild. As a consequence, Beardies are omnivorous, capable of subsisting on a widespread variety of food sources. Fireflies and all other animals with bioluminescence chemicals are fatal to Bearded lizards. They are hardy hunters and you will have to provide them with sufficient food so that they can remain satiated.

Beardies adore grasshoppers, meal worms, and other bugs. Dark green and leafy vegetables are also ideal for bearded dragon lizards. Feeding supplies, enclosures and accessories are obtainable to purchase from specialist pet and lizard supply stores.

The vital thing to remember when using sand as substrate is to sift it to start with to get any gravel out to keep your dragon from impacting, clean it on a daily basis to keep a fresh and hygienic ecosystem for the lizard. Thought should certainly be taken to emulate their natural setting to reduce stress to the creature.

The estimated life span of a bearded dragon is probably about 10 years when cared for correctly, although longer life spans have been reported. When provided with the proper environment, temperatures, and UVB lighting, juvenile they are capable of growing up to an inch or more per week. The nearer the lizard is to the light source, the better. In keeping a bearded dragon lizard, it is imperative that you employ a temperature gradient inside their housing. Kitchen paper towels make excellent substrates for baby lizards. Optional habitat accessories can be placed inside your lizard's habitat to imitate their natural ecosystem.

I advise that you read at least one book on the care of bearded dragons and that you talk to someone who has experience caring for this special species. Beardies are becoming the most fashionable exotic pet to own in the 21st century. Exotic pets might not be everyone's cup of tea but if you knew anything concerning the bearded dragon lizard then you might change your mind.

I can't get enough of my Bearded Dragon Cedric! Caring for your Bearded Dragon is easy when you know how. More care tips, articles and pictures on Bearded Dragon Lizards are available here -------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Bearded Dragons, see www.bestdragonguide.com.