Storm dragon

The Storm Dragon (Tonitrus tempestas) is a species of dragon closely associated with weather magic. Found inhabiting most mountainous regions in Rathnir, they are a highly migratory species that carry storms wherever they go due to their strong magic connections- more so than many other dragons.

Storm Dragon fossils and subfossil remains are known in not-insignificant number, and their origin as a species can be placed at roughly one million years ago. The earliest Storm Dragons are thought to have taken refuge in storms themselves, likely to avoid predation or competition with other dragons, and eventually gained the ability to create and manipulate storms themselves. Storm Dragons often utilize storms to ground other dragons and birds of prey, allowing them to hunt in stormy weather that other flying creatures cannot fly in.

This storm magic constitutes primitive tool use according to some zoologists, and this (alongside their other magical capabilities) is likely to explain their ability to transfigure themselves into humanoid form and integrate into sapient societies. As such, populations of dragon-human hybrids exist.

Half-Dragons
Half-dragons are a race of people who have Storm Dragon blood, whether from being direct descendants of Storm Dragons, or from having ancestors with Storm Dragon blood. Half-dragons tend to live much longer than their human counterparts; their life spans can reach around up to 10,000 years. Because of this, half-dragons are usually considered wise due to their longevity. Thanks to being part dragon, many half-dragons have more acute senses and higher muscle mass than typical sapients, and are alleged to have increased intuition in predicting weather.

Legends have it that half-dragons can become "fully" dragon through a magical ritual in which the half-dragon challenges their dragon ancestor to a duel; if the half-dragon wins, they take the dragon's heart and consume it, becoming a full-blooded Storm Dragon. This ritual allegedly doesn't kill the dragon, as according to the legends Storm Dragons can only die if their brains are destroyed. Zoologists and paleontologists claim otherwise, as there are several instances of Storm Dragon remains with intact skulls and no signs of brain damage.