Do dragons in general (not specific individuals) follow any one religious view (Pantheon, Eli or whatever else) or are they aloof in their religious views?
Personally, I myself would have assumed the latter. There may have been a few who worshipped other religions and others who may have followed Pantheon or Eli. Maybe some who headed their own cults in parts of the world.
"You know what they say, Terence. It is not only bad luck to wake a sleeping dragon, but it is also a very bad idea."
One of the important Lothanas elders is Agernil who is a dragon, so I've always been under the assumption that they were Lothanasi in their own way. They express their spiritual side in different ways, more subtle than humans and other races would do.
Of course, there's at least one dragon now who is an ardent Follower.
Dominus tecum
And as mentioned in IRC last night, as with other race (species, national, etc.) groups, there may be individuals who follow the negative (evil) side of those beliefs.
What would be in it for the dragons? For a species as innately powerful as the dragons it would make no sense to entangle themselves with entities as petty and dangerous as the Pantheon and co.
Unless it would provide them with some tangible benefit. A benefit like power, wealth or protection.
As stated in the entry on the Dragon war http://mkworld.wikidot.com/events:dragon-war there was a time when dragons sided either Aedra and Daedra and got decimated in the process. It would make sense that some would prefer not get caught up in those affairs again.
Even with some of their elders being part of the pantheon might infer some respect to "younger" dragons but wouldn't necessarily make them part of that too unless they want something. Also I don't think dragons have the family structure required to enforce belief in their hatchlings. Unlike humans where children are dependant, for a relatively long time, on their parents and thus get taught their beliefs. Dragons will protect their eggs but pretty much kick out their off-spring as soon as they can hunt for themselves.
Unless dragons have genetic memory and pass the tradition down that way.
I can see dragons getting tricked into it or requiring assistance and getting roped into servitude that way.
But overall being part of a religion requires a dragon swearing allegiance to an entity, in my opinion most would likely be too proud to do that. As for how they would practise their choice of faith. Like most people: As best as they are able, if at all.
I think I demonstrated that there is some familial attachment even among Dragons (Pharcellus and his mother for instance). It is expressed in a different way, and I definitely see dragons having a great deal of respect for the elders of their kind (Pharcellus's references to the Elder Wyrms).
Dominus tecum
It's nice that you explored that but that's not entirely what I was aiming for. I'm quite sure Dragons know their family. In fact having a long list of glorious ancestors and titles inherited from them is quite important to them. What I was saying is that in order for children to be induced in a religion they need to be taught from as young as possible. To keep repeating the tenets, the songs, the rituals till they know them by heart. To have the answers ready for the questions that come and stick to those answers.
I know humans keep their young with them for a long time and this allows for such practices. I'm not sure dragons keep their young with them for a relatively similarly long time.
As dragons might share similarities in any universe that has them, they also have differences that might set them apart from common knowledge. I was merely inquiring which standards we are using for our dragons. Like: What is a natural life-cycle for a dragon in the MK-universe?
As for my point towards respect. If younger dragons respect an elder of theirs. Does that mean they will emulate their practices? And why would they? For example are they simply trying to not anger him? Seek to become like him? Revere him as a deity?
Point. I respect you a great deal Charles, but in no way does that respect translate in me converting to christianity to be more like you.
However, I am not a dragon. I can only speculate from my perspective. I'm largely ignorant when it comes to dragon culture but that doesn't stop me from putting my 2 cents in.
In retrospect, "Respect" was not the right word. Reverence was more what I was aiming for.
As for lifecycle, Pharcellus is in his mid-70s and is the equivalent of a teenager. He does missions for Metamor from time to time, but also spends a good bit of time with the dragons of the mountains where his Mother lives, and presumably his father though we never heard of him.
Dominus tecum
Other than Dragons associated with Metamor, what would the general consensus be among natural dragons regarding Keeper (cursed human) dragons? Would they see an unnatural fake that they want nothing to do with or would they welcome them as newcomers to the race?
Again, this would vary from individual to individual, and the latter view would presumably apply in the case of Metamor-associated dragons.
I would think Cerulean would be opening and welcoming to the new dragons.
But one thought is I'm sure that natural dragons would recognize a Keeper dragon right away.
I would agree with Misha especially the Keepers being know as transformed not natural dragons. I'm sure there would be a certain level of caution at least as they first appeared but general acceptance. I would also think that the greater acceptance would be for those new dragons who lived more closely to the ways of natural dragons. By this I mean living in the mountains and staying mostly removed from human contact.
Sure the Keepers would be recognized by natural dragons as transformed/unnatural. But I don't think how or where they live would have anything to do with whether they're accepted as dragons, I'd think it would be more of an issue of prejudice or acceptance toward those who didn't start out life as a dragon. Remember, Pharcellus, Heraclitus and Cerulean spend a lot of time with humans/Keepers. Do others accept them any less?
I think they would be seen as not truly dragons until they've lived a good long time and had to let go of their once human attachments. Although I'm never going to get to write it, one of the things I had intended for Lindsey who is now fully a dragon through unnatural means (Calephas's potions), is that over time he will have to spend less and less time around other humans and more and more time around other dragons so that he can grasp the reality that human lives are fleeting compared to a dragon and what it means to have friends for a time, but only a time. This is one reason I have always imagined that it is the younger dragons like Pharcellus who offer their services to Metamor and Whales, and other friendly places; they are still young and have not fully absorbed this reality. It is a reality that naturally makes them aloof to prevent them from being hurt.
An old dragon proverb: "Dalliances with humans end in tragedies for dragons."
So I suspect the Keeper dragons will for a generation or two be viewed as having the maturity of a young dragon at best even if they appear much older. After a few generations and they've started to grasp the consequence of a dragon's life, those that turn to the dragons for guidance will be welcomed and taught. Some may hold out longer, but I imagine that all of them eventually will end up living as do other dragons once all that they knew and loved as humans has passed.
Dominus tecum
In some, but not all ways, I would agree. I think all of the longer lived races that interact with Metamor and other human places realize that whatever relationship they build will be fleeting. The relationship would be comparable to ours with pets. We know we will outlive them but still we enter into those relationship. I would tend to think that it would depend on the temperament of each dragon as to how and how many such relationships they might have.
I agree with what you said for the most part about elder dragons. True, from birth dragons I think would have less desire to enter into this type of relationship while younger ones would do so more freely until they had experienced the loss of some they became close to. Still I think a few would continue to enter into the relationship either out of desire for a diversion from their normal lives or out of desire to comfort/care for a weaker creature.
The question of relationship and friendship will be something I hope to develop with Tychichus as I put some more depth into his character. For that matter it will also have to enter into Rorlyn's character as well due to gryphons having a longer life span than human, though shorter than dragons.
This is something that certainly can lend itself to some great development and interplay within the MK universe.