Some of the characters you will meet in Companion Dragons
Tales…
THE DRAGONS
OVERVIEW: Companion dragons are generally ‘dragonettes’;
friendly, helpful, miniature forms of the full size, sour legged, flying kind
you find in other tales chasing knights and eating princesses. No
self-respecting dragon familiar would do something like that of course; as
knights tend to get angry when they’re chased, and princesses are too big to
eat and hard to digest anyway. These little dragons also hatch from eggs and live
a long time, and once you know their true name, they are bonded to you. Male companion
dragons have horns on their heads; the females usually have foldable frills
behind their ears. Many dragons have some sort of dorsal ridge of plates or
spikes. All companion dragons have scales and some sort of claws and teeth,
unless they are very old. Most dragon familiars have the ability to rotate
lenses within the eye to view things differently and that gives them night
vision, magic sight, underwater vision, etc. They all have a favorite food,
some sort of ‘egg’ song they hum or purr in their throat, a special talent or
three, and a pet name for their human companion. While many of them can read,
no companion dragons ever write, and they refuse to tell us why.
Lazlo: A small, shining blue dragon with bright green
undersides, Lazlo is the affectionate and loyal companion of the witch Nancy Bittergreen, his
‘Mama Tap Tap’. He is about the size of the average cat, with sharp little
horns on his head and a knifelike dorsal ridge that runs down to the spikes on
his tail. Lazlo has large paws and he’s very dexterous with the front set. He
loves to dance, even while flying. He’s also very intelligent, but he has
trouble with big words and his phrasing is often awkward. Lazlo breathes fire,
and sometimes sneezes fireballs, because (unfortunately) he’s somewhat allergic
to magic. He tends to hoard shiny things, and has all sorts of collections of
coins, broken jewelry, paperclips, and bits of hardware. He has the gift of being
able to perfectly imitate just about any sound he’s ever heard, and his eyes
will swirl in colors at times, revealing his emotional state. His favorite food
is pepperoni. His egg song sounds a lot like Take Me Out To The Ballgame.
Waxy: A female rainbow dragon, Waxy has a white
background covered with brilliant rainbow stripes. She is the reluctant
unofficial companion of the haphazard mage Roger ‘Rusty’ Rustman, who she
usually refers to as ‘Bubblehead’. She has a low sort of a dorsal ridge with rounded,
diamond shaped plates and a diamond tip on her tail. She has teeth and will
bite if mishandled, and her claws are long and sharp. One little claw in the
front works like a lock pick. Waxy is very bright but is mostly untamed, and
sometimes hard to handle. She is brave enough to fight monsters and evil
wizards, or travel in a portal by herself. She does not have flaming ability
(yet) but can breathe out heat that will blister skin. Certain magic makes her
nose fizzle and tickle, and she’s very good with using her eye lenses to see in
all situations. She has the gift of being able to understand any language or
talk to any creature—even computers! She can also pick any lock ever invented.
Her egg song sounds like an annoying, never-ending version of It’s A Small World. Her absolute
favorite food is dark chocolate, which she will pig out on uncontrollably until
her tummy is bloated, which is why she is now banned from entering Bulgosia.
Copper: Copper is a small and slender female dragon
who is an attractive dull copper color on top, and swirly blue green verdigris
with copper flecks below. She has small frills and a low dorsal ridge of evenly
sized and spaced triangular spikes, with a long neck and tail. Her wings are
long and pointed, and she’s a strong and fast flier for short distances. Copper
was trained as a thief by a nasty wizard who mistreated her, and then passed on
to a con man who neglected her, so she has street smarts and trust issues. She
is now the companion of the kind wizard and adventure writer, Nigel Gillette,
who she calls ‘Sticks’. Her special skills are slipping into places unnoticed
and being able to memorize patterns like cards and maps. She is very good at
advising you on games of chance. Copper does have some ability to flame and she
can boil water or light cigars and pipes, which she will tell you are stinky,
unhealthy things. Her favorite food is baloney, and her egg song sounds
something like an up-tempo version of Home
On The Range.
Kiri: A ruby red and refined dragon, Kiri is a bit
bigger than most of the others, though she tends to be slender and elegant,
with large frills and long and broad wings. Her neck and tail are also lengthy,
as are her forepaw ‘fingers’. Kiri spits fire gel, and she can time it so that
it goes off later. She can be very sarcastic, and has refined tastes and a
superior attitude that just won’t quit. We have no idea at this point what her
background is, because her memory has somehow been wiped, but she is now the
companion of the mundane writer and editor, Lee Clarke. Someone left her for
him to find, and Kiri is very unhappy with her tiny abode and humble partner,
who she calls ‘Simpleton’, though she has learned to make the best of it. Kiri
is extremely intelligent and understands court politics and protocol, so we
suspect she was once involved with a royal household. She has the gift of being
able to solve puzzles and riddles, and can easily spot forgeries in money,
gemstones, artwork, etc. Kiri has very expensive tastes, so her favorite food
is Beluga caviar. Her egg song sounds suspiciously like Blue Danube Waltz by
Johann Strauss.
Ambrose: Snowy white and sparkling, Ambrose is a rare
frost dragon who can huff freezing mist. He tends to be standoffish and aloof,
but otherwise polite and well-behaved. He is the well-trained familiar of The
Countess Von Stuart, whom he calls ‘Madame’, though he will work with and for
anyone she asks him to assist. Ambrose is one of the larger companion dragons,
about the size of a cocker spaniel. His wings are broad and long, and he has
long, forked horns on his head with a low dorsal ridge spine of triangular
plates. His mouth and the insides of his tiny ear holes tend to be blue when
he’s comfortable and rested; hot pink when he’s tired or overheated. He
definitely prefers cold climates and air conditioning! His voice is rather deep
and his diction is perfect. Ambrose has the gift of long sight, which means he
can see at great distances; and he is a tireless flier who is often used to
deliver important messages. His favorite food is French Vanilla ice cream from all
organic ingredients. His egg song reminds everyone of a rousing version of Wagner’s Ride Of The Valkyries.
Master Shen Chao: Technically he is not a Companion
Dragon, but Shen Chao is sometimes found in their stories. He is a very
ancient, wise, and soft spoken, and he has great knowledge. Shen Chao is a long
bodied Oriental dragon with a patterned soft blue and green upper side, and
plated white beneath. He has gold horns, prominent oval ears with white hair
inside, long white whiskers, and a fuzzy white beard. His legs are short, and
he has a backward facing row of golden dorsal spikes with a rusty brown tail
tuft. He also has some rusty brown, longer hair on top of his feet, so that he
looks like he’s wearing furry slippers. He has no wings. Shen Chao was once
full size but has miniaturized himself to fit inside Nancy Bittergreen’s
Curious Cabinet, where he guards it and attends to the beings, creatures, and
artifacts stored there. In the witch’s dimension, all of this is very small,
but on the other side of that world, it is a large prison and storage facility
for things too dangerous to be left laying around or walking freely. On that
far side of the Curious Cabinet, Shen Chao is massive, and can fill a room with
his great length. His special gift is that he can actually do quite complex
magic and he knows the answers to most of the questions the other little
dragons ask him. Because he does not fly, Shen Chao can ‘cloud walk’ which
means he can simply step up into the sky and keep walking to wherever he needs
to be. He can also become invisible, except for his round eyes and whiskers. He
eats very little these days, preferring simple food like steamed rice and fresh
fruit, and will listen to anything played on a bamboo flute. Sometimes he
closes his eyes and snores, but he always remembers what he heard.
These are just a few of the Companion Dragons we have
stories for now. There will be many more to come!
THE HUMANS
Nancy Bittergreen: Both witch and author, this plump,
middle aged, empty-nest matron is as adventurous as she is capable. She is the
human companion of Lazlo Dragon, who calls her ‘Mama Tap Tap’, supposedly
because she types a lot.
Roger ‘Rusty’ Rustman: A woodworker by trade; but
tale spinner, otherworld traveler, and bohemian wizard in his spare time, he is
a man of at least three different personas, and many different outfits. About
the only thing consistent about Rusty is his above average height, beard, and
slight heftiness. He is the human companion of Waxy Dragon, who always refers
to him as “Bubblehead’, for reasons that make her snort with laughter.
Tiberius Leeward Clarke, AKA ‘Lee’: A struggling
writer and editor, Lee has no ability to use magic, though for some reason he
can spot and fix typos in it, so he sometimes works as a ‘spellchecker’. Lee is
middle aged, medium height, and husky with sort of a forlorn expression, but
he’s actually quite brilliant, if a bit slow thinking (he says he's just being careful). He is eventually
associated with Kiri dragon, who refers to him as, ‘That simpleton I’m stuck
with’, but mainly, just calls him, ‘Simpleton’. Supposedly that’s because Lee always
insists he’s a simple man of simple tastes. Believe me—there’s nothing simple
about Kiri or her tastes!
Nigel Gillette: Suave and sophisticated, yet friendly
and down to earth, Nigel is a very wealthy, well-known, and respected writer of
high adventure tales as well as a quite accomplished wizard. Tall, gray haired,
and handsome, he’s always ready for a new experience. A long time bachelor,
he’s courted by many ladies, but never won over by any. He always carries a
wand up one sleeve. Nigel is the human companion of Copper Dragon, who refers
to him as ‘Sticks’ because of the wand, and his long legs. At least that’s what
she claims...
The Countess: Countess Gina Jardinière-Duval
von Stuart is a middle aged, wealthy and titled widow who has built a media
empire for herself out of numerous how-to books and programming. She is an
uber-competent writer, skilled enchantress, and high ranking member of both the
Witches and Wizards Council along with the Wordsmith’s Guild. There is nothing
the Countess cannot do better than anyone else, and she’ll be the first to
oh-so subtly remind you. She has impeccable taste and that extends to her
familiar companion, the white frost dragon Ambrose, who refers to her as
‘Madame’. (Of course he does, because Ambrose is perfectly trained.)
Willow Silverbowe: The Countess’ reliable secretary,
confidante, and gal Friday, she is tall, pale blonde woman, and an accomplished
sorceress. She keeps the wheels of the various businesses greased and running
smoothly, makes a great cappuccino, can handle most weapons, and drives a mean
getaway car—all without breaking a nail. The stiletto heels she’s fond of
wearing are registered on several worlds as deadly weapons.
Geordie Aberdeen: Handyman, livestock handler, tracker, and
security guard on various estates owned by the Countess. Geordie is a well
muscled Scot with long, dark hair and a hooked nose, and he speaks with a distinct
burr. He has a bit of a mysterious background, and a penchant for edged
weapons. He’s a master of several mundane martial arts, and some otherworld variations
that are rather dangerous. Geordie is not magical per se, but he does
understand how to use portals for quick travel. There are rumors he’s immortal,
but we doubt that; even though he doesn’t ever seem to age and he speaks of
people like Napoleon and Julius Caesar as if he knew them personally.
Granny Witch: No one knows her by any other name, and we
have no idea just how old she is. A crusty senior lady with a strong streak of
mischief and plenty of magic left in her, Granny Witch is Nancy Bittergreen’s
mentor. She’s a short, thin, outspoken old lady with silver hair in a bun and a
fierce glare that can curdle milk still in the cow. She rides a motorcycle with
a side car that often has Aunt Dotsie in it, and has an ongoing battle with the
squirrels that raid her birdfeeders. Granny Witch is the one to go to when you
have a magical puzzle you just can’t solve. She’s seen it all, and her memory
is as sharp as her tongue. Make sure you dress neatly and remember to say
‘please’ and ‘thank you’ or she will make you go stand in the corner until you
learn some manners.
Aunt Dotzie: A medium tall, heavy set elderly woman with blue tinted hair and a vacant smile, Aunt Dotzie is supposed to be living with
Granny Witch as a caretaker. Unfortunately, she’s already two cards short of a
tarot deck, so the situation is really quite the opposite. Aunt Dotzie used to
be a fairly competent witch, but her memory is bad and so her spells often go
awry. Still she can be quite distracting in her innocent blundering, but since
she bakes the best chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever tasted, we’ll forgive her
for the sea serpent in the goldfish pond, or the roses with noses (they smell
nice) in the garden. Children and animals love her, which is why everywhere she
goes, she’s surrounded by them.
Isaac Stonewall
Philibustor: This guy can
talk the hind legs off a unicorn. A rather tall and stocky man who favors frock
coats and periwigs, Isaac is the Master Scribe of the Wordsmith’s Guild. He’s
also the most self important person you will ever meet, and the most boring lecturer
you will have the misfortune to listen to. Isaac might be a blowhard, but he is
a good man at heart. He has a very stuck up Persian cat named Chauncey. Isaac’s
only magic is with words, and he uses a lot of them—the more syllables, the
better. No one has ever stayed awake long enough to finish reading one of his
books.
Jaycen
Bittergreen: A Weather Conjuror
in training, Jaycen is the oldest son of Nancy Bittergreen. He’s currently
abroad in the Otherworlds, finishing his Master’s Degree program. He tends to
disturb the weather wherever he goes, and rain clouds follow him around. He’s a
friend to all creatures. Jaycen is in his late 20s, medium height, has long,
dark brown and wavy hair, and a little beard that keeps curling up into a
point. He usually dresses in casual clothing like his mom, but dons green robes
on formal occasions. He also wears glasses, and his eyes behind them tend to
have a faraway look. Jaycen can ride on the wind or clouds for short distances,
as long as he doesn’t get distracted by anything. His mother sometimes has him
come over to water the garden.
Bryan Bittergreen: A Computer Wizard, Bryan has the ability to
blend electronic technology and magic in ways that create useful items that
don’t explode. (BTW, don’t try that at home...) He is Nancy Bittergreen’s
younger son, and designed his mother’s laptop portal in her office study as
well as the security system on the Curious Cabinet. There is nothing involving
circuits and magical forces he can’t cobble together. Bryan is medium height
and build, with long, light brown, straight hair that he keeps tied back. He
sometimes has a little beard, sometimes doesn’t. He often wishes his mother
would text him on her Razzberrie, rather than calling so much, and nags her to
upgrade her Jinni GPS to a less sassy model.
There are many more people involved in the stories than
there are dragons, because Companion Dragons are not passed out to every person
who wants one! Along the way, we will be adding more characters to the list, so
this is just a sampling to get you started. It doesn’t even include the evil
people that keep showing up (We evil-proof the stories, but somehow they get in
there anyway) or more than a few guest stars. I will let you know whenever this
page gets updated.
We will also have a list of the Otherworlds, and the kinds
of mystical, magical creatures, beings, and organizations that inhabit them. So
make sure you check back here regularly!
And don't forget, you can start reading all about them now, because the first book is out!
