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.

Care for a Baby Bearded Dragon Lizard

By Michael Torresi

The bearded dragon lizard, a native of Australia, is one of the most popular choices when choosing a reptile as a house pet. Mainly due to its docile and friendly disposition, this sociable reptile has been gracing pet stores and houses at an increasing rate.

Adopting the bearded dragon lizard as part of the family requires planning and care. Below are some guidelines that can be used in caring for the baby bearded dragon that will become the newest member of your family.

1. Baby bearded dragons require a lot o food to support their rapid growth rate. Between the first 3-6 weeks, feed your baby dragon about 2-3 times a day. Cricket, veggies, and greens can be used while watering can be done once or twice daily. It is rule of thumb that the food you will feed them must be about half the size as the distance between his eyes. This is to ensure that your dragon will not suffer from terminal indigestion.

2. Check for parasites regularly. Although they are parasite-free upon purchase, being bred in captivity, there is always the danger of parasite infestation once your baby dragon has been exposed to the elements, especially to the bugs, worms, and crickets he will be fed with.

3. Provide ample space for your dragon to grow in. The recommended size is a 10 gallon aquarium for a newly hatched dragon, while a 20 gallon tank is needed in the next six months due to your baby dragon's speedy growth. When your bearded dragon reaches adulthood, the size should be changed to a 50 gallon tank to provide enough space for basking, exercise and growth.

4. Clean the baby dragon's house regularly. Since bearded dragons are messy creatures, their homes must be cleaned twice a day. It is a danger for a baby dragon's health if their surroundings are not kept clean because their young age makes them more susceptible to fleas and diseases. The highest mortality rate of bearded dragons take place during their first month.

5. Provide temperature control in your baby dragon's tank. This can be done by using a temperature gradient. There should a spot warm enough for the baby dragon to bask and lie in and there should be a spot humid enough to answer to the dragon's need for water. Baby bearded dragons need water both as a drink and in the air to aid their growth in the first months of their life. Lack of humidity in the air can actually cause your baby dragon to shed.

6. Provide UV light. The light should imitate the one given off by the sun as this helps in your baby dragon's digestion. Working in a way much like photosynthesis, UV light encourages healthy digestion in your dragon. This is especially important for baby dragons as they are always in danger of indigestion due to your young age and reduced capacity to absorb food in large sizes.

7. It is recommended to use paper towels as your baby dragon's substrate. Its is clean, easy to replace when dirty, and inedible.

8. Handle your dragon daily. This will develop their trust towards humans and build their bond with you. Just make sure that you are gentle in handling them and that you never pick them up them up with their tail. They dislike this and will make them thrash about, which is harmful for your baby dragon. You may choose to scoop them up with your cupped hands.

Michael Torresi is a freelancer and lizard expert. For more tips on raising Bearded Dragons Lizards and having them live 3 times longer, go to http://www.beardeddragonsecrets.com/tips.html ---------------------------------------------------- For more information on Dragons, 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.

Dragon Warrior Or Final Fantasy?

By Jessica L Parker

Two of the most influential series' are Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest in Japan) and Final Fantasy. Both series' were started on the NES and became two of the most well known RPGs of all time. This article will focus on the American versions of the games as there are quite a few differences between the Japanese version and the American version. Also, America has quite different fads than Japan.

DW doesn't quite have as many games in the overall series as Final Fantasy does. However, games such as DW 3, DW 4, and Dragon Quest 7 will forever remain in the hearts of its obsessed fans. The openness of Dragon Warrior 3 in selecting your party was a revolution for its time. Other games like Ultima had a similar party selecting system, but were so much more difficult that Dragon Warrior was able to simplify the rpg gaming experience. It was so much easier to play Dragon Warrior than other rpgs that required knowledge of the D&D system such as Wizardry.

FF is sometimes considered a copy of DW as DW came out first. However, such themes as the Wind Fiend, Fire Fiend, Water Fiend, and the Air Fiend were brand new concepts. In addition, Final Fantasy brought in the concept of time travel. The spell level system was also something new that Dragon Warrior never really competed with. FF even has better replay value than DW as Final Fantasy can be "soloed" to try and make the game more and more difficult. For instance, you can solo white mage the game by killing off the rest of your party members so that they get 0 experience points throughout the entire game.

Considering that the two games are so much different in story, yet so much similar in game play, it isn't too much of a challenge to compare the two. There will always be DW fans and there will always be FF fans. Try playing the two games and you'll immediately form your own opinion.

Jessica Parker is an experienced gamer. She prefers RPGs and Classic Games. Her fabulous website is http://www.maidofhonorspeecheshelp.com. She really thought this article was cool too - things to do as a bridesmaid.

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For more on Dragon Fantasy, see the Best Dragon Guide site at 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.

Dragons - A Symbol of Protection

By Jeff Bronson

The dragon is a powerful, mythical creature of legend and lore that you can find in pretty much every culture. While the strength of a dragon is a constant in different societies, the appearance and significance is not. Today, many of us adorn our homes and bodies with dragons for their qualities of good luck, well-being, and protection.

In the West, dragons were thought to bring hardships and destruction and often were the guardians of treasure and representations of greed. Societies such as the Norse used the symbol of the dragon as their figurehead, carving dragons into the heads of their ships and placing them on crests and shields. When Christianity was introduced, dragons' reputations became even worse and they came to be known as satanic beasts.

However, in the East and even in some Western societies, including Celtic, Gnostic, Alchemy, and Draconic Wicca, dragons symbolize a supreme being. This divine creature is believed to represent the spirit of nature and the ability to transform. It offers hope, courage, and good fortune. Legend often presents dragons as the guardians of the "flaming pearl," a gem symbolizing spiritual perfection. You will often see this pearl in dragon figurines and collectibles. You will sometimes see Celtic dragons in a circular position, tail to mouth. As in paganism, the circle is perfection, the circle of life, transformation, and eternity.

In our modern literature and movies, dragons are portrayed as terrifying, fire-breathing creatures that create obstacles in our personal journeys and that threaten to eat our women and children. Dragons worn with the more Western beliefs symbolize power and freedom and independence, but not usually an intention of evil. Most of the time, when we see a dragon, it isn't a symbol to fear, but one of protection.

Dragon images are one of the most requested tattoo designs. The inked image represents goodness and honor, power, and wisdom. It may also symbolize magic and a spiritual or personal quest. The actual form and meaning of the image depends on the culture it is from, whether it is Chinese, Japanese, Celtic, Western, Tribal, etc. Once the dragon becomes a permanent part of a person's body, the power of the dragon becomes a part of that person's existence. The tattoo also comes to represent that person or a part of that person's life.

Dragon images make powerful amulets. Worn close to our body, the talisman radiates protection, drives away negative forces, and attracts good fortune. You can wear your amulet all the time, or you can wear it when you feel you need it. You may also carry your amulet or sleep with it under your pillow-it depends on what you are seeking.

Dragon décor is a popular and stylish way to surround yourself with the power of dragons. From collectible figurines, statues, incense holders, chess sets, plaques, goblets, and even a roof cresting, there is a dragon for every part of your home.

Feng Shui has become popular in our Western culture and at the heart of this practice is the dragon. There are specific guidelines in this ideology when placing dragons around your space, including how many dragons you should have in the room, so if you are practicing Feng Shui, go easy on the dragon décor.

To sum it up, dragons are believed to be the protector of treasure, spiritual or material, is also a powerful protector and bringer of fortune in the human realm. There are many ways we can bring dragons into our daily lives and a plethora of benefits we can reap from doing so.

Jeff Bronson is the owner of Obscuria.com, a darkly unique Gothic shop.
Obscuria not only offers a quality selection of dragon figurines and dragon collectibles, but many custom made, exclusive in the U.S items.

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For more on Dragon Pictures, 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.