Things to discuss:

Religion
Magic
Culture
Politics
Technology

Religion: They worship the goddess Tiamat, and the god Ryujin who they consider to the be the first Dragons and the parents to their leader, the Empress-Matriarch.

Magic: Like all being they do have an innate magic

Culture and Politics: Officially all dragons are part of the Holy Thuban Empire, but the Empire itself has very little land, where any dragon makes his/her horde is considered Imperial territory. Their leader is the Empress-Matriarch, the Mother of All Dragons, Toyotama-hime, a creature far older than even the Sisters. While all dragons (apart from Spike) are loyal to her, she rarely gets involved in events and for the most part there is no real central government.

Culturally the Dragons are rich. They have a long and rich oral and written history and are considered the record keepers of the world. They are slower to truly anger and to anyone who has earned it they will be their friend for life. They remain on good terms with Equestria and the Griffins.

Technology: A part for being superb smiths, the Dragons are not as advance as any of the major races.

Each dragon is born from an egg that will hatch under certain circumstances, such as exposure to high levels of energy. This would be accomplished by the mother dragon keeping the egg warm by blowing fire on it constantly. While a young dragon will grow on it's own, in a situation where there is an absence of older dragons, and thus an abundance in unclaimed objects, a defense mechanism will activate, triggering an uncontrollable hoarding impulse in their subconscious. This is to protect dragon influence in the area against encroachment from other species. While this form of accelerated aging is uncommon, it is still very dangerous, as a young dragon who undergoes a quick enough transformation will not have full control of his faculties. This impulse will manifest during the normal maturation process as well, just not as strongly. The average dragin will reach full maturity in little under seventy years, will continue to grow as long as it has room, or until it dies.
Dragons are loners by nature, preferring to keep to themselves rather than interact with others. Multiple dragons can live cohesively in an enclosed area however, and will occasionally form groups. Every generation they all migrate to the oldest active volcano in Equestria, why it is still mystery. Legend says it is where their species first crawled from the magma.
Dragons consume gems to strengthen their scales, and the more gems a dragon consumes, the tougher its scales will get.
A dragon's strength and power is determined by his size, the size of his horde, how ferocious he is.
Dragon's recognize no power that cannot fight them, and have no organized government to speak of. An individual dragon may chose to recognize the legitimacy of a nearby town, and my enter into a nonaggression pact, but for the most parts, pony-dragon relations are nonexistent. Buffalos revere dragons as benevolent beings, most likely due to an ancient agreement of nonaggression between the two peoples.

532965 Alright Denim you win

532996
I know.

Not really, I borrowed her name from Japanese mythology along with that of her father (both are dragons) but Tiamat is one of the primordial Babylonian goddesses who literally became the earth and sky. And Thuban is Arabic, and is the name for the alpha star in the constellation Draco. Culturally they may be a mix-match of what I can find, though I may draw more from the East since they do more with non-evil dragons.

Thanks for the compliment we do know that dragons are a long lived race, it makes sense. As for idea o them being around longer than the Sisters, I am one who doesn't think of them as immortals or even full fledged goddesess, they are mortal demigodesses who are only 1500 years old. The era they grew up in was... Chaotic to say the least. But is more interesting is, what was the world like before Toyotama-hime lived? Some say she is the only living being to have seen They-Who-Came-Before, the ancient race that walked the land before the others and only to vanish in a great cataclysm left the continent scared.

Politics, religion, magic... All these are very interesting topics for world-building, but let's try something closer to home:

WHY DOESN'T SPIKE HAVE WINGS!!!

My only theory is that maybe he is a breed of subterranean dragon and therefore has no need for them. (or they just haven't come in yet...)

534077
He too young, simple as that.

534086
I suppose. After all, he is constantly referred to as a "baby dragon", despite his intelligence and personality.

534124
Pretty much, and I guess we can add he gains his wings through natural growth and not the greed growth

534132
I prefer that Spike is an entirely different species of dragon and the others (wingless dragons) like him are still sleeping somewhere like deep in the earth in caves warmed up by the volcanic magma coursing through the rock. They are in fact the oldest of the dragon types.

What wingless dragons lack in the ability to fly they more than make up in their sheer size, power and thick scales. When they hoard something, they HOARD. Like, a whole kingdom's worth of stuff to themselves. As Spike has shown, the perceived value of what they take into their hoard can also affect a dragon's growth, though whether that expands to winged dragons as well needs to be seen (translation: I 'unno.)

542994
To each their own.

543001
Yep yep.

532152

Dragons should be easy...

Dragon
Eudraco igniferus

Origin: Dragons are closely related to hydras and sea serpents, but unlike them, they underwent a heavy process of change similar to that which gave the ponies their unique talents. In the dragons' case, they evolved wings for flight, helped along by the same magic that grants pegasi their powers. Unusually, dragons also developed volcanic-based abilities, including the ability to breathe fire, melt down gems in their stomachs, resist extreme heat, and produce ash and smoke from their nostrils. They also acquired longevity and the ability to eat virtually anything to fuel themselves, meaning that they could easily take a lazy approach to life. Their taste for gems is largely to keep their flame stoked, but they were originally predators of big game like hydras and whales, and still keep many of their adaptations for fights among themselves.

Religion/Philosophy/Worldview: Dragons aren't usually an inquisitive species and are comfortable following basic intuitions about the world. While they do have a sense of right and wrong, they also have an insatiable greed, and their worldview is one of complacency and self-entitlement. Despite this, they tend to take a longer view of things than most species, and enjoy coming up with all kinds of intellectual conundrums and speculations to pass the time with. A dragon who is persuaded or so inclined can make a fairly decent partner in philosophical discussions, so long as no one tries to tamper with the hoard.

Magic: It's possible that dragons are one of the most magical species on the planet, rivalled only by alicorns and some of the more advanced unicorn ponies. Unfortunately, they're also among the laziest. Surprisingly, they rarely invoke their own magic for anything more strenuous than a bath in a pool of lava, and it's the opinion of all other species that their extraordinary talents are going to waste.

Culture: Adult dragons are naturally solitary, gathering only to find mates. As a result, most of the cultural mores are expressed by the younger, more adventurous dragons who devote their energies either to showing off for potential partners or for bonding amongst themselves in gangs. Gangs vary from fairly cooperative to highly aggressive, from open to outsiders to hostile, and from relaxed to uncompromising, and while dragons as a rule tend towards hoarding and physical activities, they can also show surprising knowledge of the cultural mores of others.

Politics: Dragons aren't used to bowing down to others. They will only back off if they perceive the other as being a forceful personality, and despite their occasional hostilities, they will warm up pretty quickly to a parent figure. Beyond the gangs of dragon migrations, however, dragons have no political system and are almost entirely autonomous.

Technology/Science: Dragons can certainly use technology, but they prefer to rely on their own talents, and certainly don't care about inventing anything.

Feeding: Dragons can eat almost anything, though gems are a staple to keep their fires burning hot. They do show a preference for meat, however, and if sufficiently angered, will not hesitate in devouring the irritator.

Life Cycle: Dragons are born from eggs that require powerful draconic magic to open. When hatched, a baby dragon will be looked after by its mother for decades before it either grows naturally or receives a spurt from its natural hoarding instincts. Before then, it's in its most receptive mood, capable of learning cultures and adopting practices from its neighbouring species. Once grown, however, it will spend more time by itself and essentially become a hermit, though it won't forget absolutely everything, and may reintegrate into society if willing enough to exercise some self-control. Dragons rarely take this option, however, and usually end their lives by falling into long naps that never stop, eventually becoming as hard as stone.

Would dragons placing value on honor and keeping their word sound about right? Or would that be more the purview of gryphons?

Considering the "Spike at Your Service" episode, it's canon, although flexible.

What are some good Dragon sounding names? I wish I could name a dragon Smaug but of course that name is taken.

797878 Leather Head, Draco, Steel Claw, Devestation, Driftwing, or maybe even Skull Cracker or Skull basher. Hope that helps you out.

798740
Those... don't sound very draconic to my mind.

My headcanon for dragons is similar to what they have in Warcraft, with names like Alexstrasza, Neltharion, Nozdormu or similar. Possible caste system ranks indicated by the suffixes.

Drakkenridge: The Divided Country of Origin

Overview:
Drakkenridge is an ancient, diverse, mountainous country divided in two by a conflict that has raged on since the creation of the world. With a dangerous, unpredictable climate and even more dangerous and unpredictable natives, only the strongest (or luckiest) survive to see the many wonders carved into the icy peaks.

History:
The dragons were the first race ever created by Harmony and Discord, and it is for this reason the Draconic word for dragon literally translates to 'firstborn'. The very first of the firstborn was a mighty creature named Io, and it was he that all other dragons are based off of. Io was the greatest servant to both Harmony and Discord, and he was given the power to aid the two of them in their tasks wherever he could. All dragons to this day still swear in his name.

Harmony and Discord worked together to create the basic physiology of the species based off of Io, (five senses, four legs, wings, scales, claws, light bones, prehensile tail, warm-blooded, breath weapon, intelligence, magical ability) but after that, they decided to split the overall race in half so as to have an equal representation of each their interests. The dragons Harmony influenced were the Metallics, and Discords were the Chromatics. Each race was then divided into five sub-races.

Metallics: Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Topaz
Chromatics: Emerald, Onyx, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire

The initial task of the two species was to watch over the races that came after them, and act as the intermediaries between the two outsiders and their creations. (Essentially performing various civil servant duties.) All races would report to Io, who in turn would report to Harmony and Discord. Each sub-race was to be put in charge of the species that reflected their environment, and while they were to be originally spread out all over the world, they all lived in Drakkenridge until the rest of the planet was formed, and all the races were created.

Unfortunately, the order to 'disperse' never came, as Harmony and Discord then began to fight, and then Harmony was locked away in the planet. Io was appalled at this act, but when he went to try and reason with Discord, he found that he had already fallen to madness. Io tried to escape and try and warn his kin of their maker's act, but Discord caught him. In a devious scheme, he then kidnapped several Metallic and Chromatic Dragons, murdered them all, including Io, then made the scene look like a battle had taken place. He planted evidence with both races to make like the other was the perpetrator, and sat back and watched as events unfolded.

The Metallics now thought that the Chromatics had gone insane and had murdered Io, and the Chromatics thought the same of the Metallics. With their shared leader slain, the two races broke off all relations, became separate governments with separate leaders, and open war broke out. The Metallics were led by Bahamut, Lord of the North Wind, and the Chromatics by Tiamat, Lady of the South Wind.

This conflict later came to be known as the Blood War. It lasted the entirety of the Era of Discord, and only came to an end due to the intervention of Celestia and Luna, who revealed the murderer of Io to be Discord. By that point, the original duty of spreading out among the world had been long forgotten, and even if it hadn't, who would the dragons report to? Neither the Metallics nor the Chromatics wished to leave Drakkenridge anymore, and neither side trusted the other to spread out into the world and leave themselves vulnerable to attack. Negotiations were made, territorial boundaries were established, and the capital of Shearwind was built in the name of this tentative peace. It was thereafter named as a sanctuary to those who enter it, and while this truce has never stopped being tenuous, it has lasted for several thousand years.

Sagittarius the Learned:
Sagittarius was a Drakkenridge-born pegasus born in Lyora shortly before it's destruction by Kyneatoralqu the Fierce. He was taken to Equestria to be raised in an orphanage, but after hearing how he lost his parents and hometown, he swore vengeance and devoted his life to learning everything he could about dragons. His knowledge and experience ultimately led him to slaying Kyneatoralqu, but the ease of his victory drove him into a blood rage, and he used his knowledge to desecrate Kyneatoralqu's corpse in the most deprived, grievous way he could. Bahamut learned of his act and summoned him to face his crime, but due to the extraneous circumstances surrounding the situation, Sagittarius' sentence was light. He was told to join the Equestrian Military for at least one term of service, and was banished from Drakkenridge until he had done so.

Sagittarius returned to Drakkenridge five years later after the War of the Sun and Moon. Now a Zodiac Knight and an advocate for peace, his purpose was to secure aid from the dragons to help rebuild Canterlot. Not only did he succeed in this, but he did it with such enthusiasm that Celestia then named him chief ambassador and speaker for Equestria in Drakkenridge political affairs. Sagittarius went on to accomplish many things in his career, including the abolishment of Griffin slavery, the opening of trade routes to Tarandus, Equestria, Gildesdale, Dromardia and Antelese, the resolution of over a dozen Chromatic-Metallic border disputes with no bloodshed, and most impressive of all, the creation of the Concordant Council. Sagittarius held a great deal of respect in Drakkenridge for his efforts in promoting the interests of the country, even with the Chromatics, and due to the long lifespans and excellent memories of the dragons, there are quite a few still around that remember him. He was originally going to be buried in Shearwind, but upon request by Princess Celestia, his body was taken and buried in the Royal Crypts beneath Old Canterlot, instead. However, a memorial was erected in his honor that still stands in Shearwind to this very day.

Geography:
Everything. Swamps, Lakes, Volcanoes, Plains, Mountains, Deserts, Tundras, Oceans, Wastelands, Forests. This place was where Harmony and Discord placed the dragons until they were ready to be dispersed all around the world, and as such, it has every environment needed to sustain the ten sub-races.

Locations:
(There are also a great many griffin eyries, towns, and lesser lairs scattered across Drakkenridge.)
Shearwind- Capitol of Drakkenridge and neutral territory for Metallic and Chromatic Dragons.
Stormtop Peak- The mountain Shearwind is on.
Edgewaste- Last civilized town in Metallic territory. Heavily guarded.
Lasthaven- Second largest Griffin eyrie in Drakkenridge and farthest northern settlement on the planet. (First is Shearwind) Hometown of Gilda.
Uchelwyd- Griffin eyrie in Chromatic territory. Many slaves are transported here.
Lyora- Sagittarius' birthplace. Razed by Kyneatoralqu. Survivors went on to found New Lyora.
New Lyora- Established trade settlement on the Tarandus-Drakkenridge border.
Jaggedtooth: Multi-racial settlement on the Drakkenridge-Gildsedale border.
Sky Mirror Lake: Where Io was slain by Discord. Dragon holy site.
Valley of Slaves: A frigid tundra where races of all kinds are taken from all around the world by Chromatic Dragon agents and made to mine in the nearby mountains for precious minerals. Overseen by Ertrasziveux the Ruthless.
Bahamut's Lair: Lair of Bahamut.
Tiamat's Lair: Lair of Tiamat.

Total Populations:
While dragons are outnumbered in comparison to the Griffins, their long life spans and incredible powers make them easily in charge of the country.
Metallic Dragons: 18%
Chromatic Dragons: 17%
Griffins: 60%
Other races: (Ponies, Tarandians, Dromardians, Antelese, Hippogriffs) 5%

Government:
The highest Drakkenridge authority is the Concordant Council, a gathering of thirteen members that only convene once every twenty-five years to discuss matters of state. The Council consists of twelve dragons (one from each race plus Bahamut and Tiamat) and the High Thane of the Griffins. This may seem unbalanced at first glance, but in truth, the High Thane is in a unique position of power because Chromatics and Metallics are opposed in almost every matter of state, and the decision almost always is left to the High Thane's swing vote. Thus, both sides endeavor almost constantly to be in the good favor of the High Thane, and he/she can in turn use this to promote the best interests of the Griffin Race.

Elections for new members of the Draconic portion of the Concordant Council are held once every one-hundred years. Bahamut and Tiamat are always elected, and the rest of the positions almost always change hands. A representative may run for election as many times as they wish. The High Thane is always elected on the council, and elections for that position run every ten years.

Bahamut and Tiamat: Bahamut and Tiamat are the only two living survivors of the time before the Blood War. Both former servants of Io and ancient in their own right, the two of them have feuded ever since Io's death. They are polar opposites in almost every way possible, but they have one thing in common: They're both extremely intelligent, charismatic leaders.

Drakkenridge Government is comprised of three leaders: The Metallic Lord, The Chromatic Lady, and the High Thane. Each leader is primarily concerned about matters concerning their own race, and very rarely do the three of them convene at any time to discuss the matters of the country as a whole.

Leaders of Government:
Metallic Lord: Bahamut of the North Wind
Chromatic Lady: Tiamat, She Who Has Many Faces
High Thane: Dershak Quick-Wit

Titles and Secondary Names:
One Draconic custom that has been picked up by all other Drakkens is that of a secondary name. The secondary name is a formal, customary title, and gaining it is considered a rite of passage and maturity. (Akin to getting a cutie mark). The secondary name is magical in nature, and is declared by the individual after demonstrating a talent or ability that the individual excels at. This secondary title stays with them for life.

International Relations:
International relations changed drastically during the time of Sagittarius the Learned. Trade routes have since opened up in both Metallic and Chromatic territory, and both races import food and items of material wealth for their hordes. However, in addition to this, Chromatics also import slaves from all over the world to help them mine the riches out of the mountains. This practice is relatively recent (three hundred years) and is abhorred by the Metallics. They've been working to break it, but have been unable to make an open move due to Drakkenrdige law, and the Chromatic slavers are extremely slippery. Open war would break out if the Metallics did something openly, but if an outside force were to cause an event which led the slaves to escape, the Metallics could then provide assistance and amnesty to the captives.

Aside from this, International Relations are a mixed bag. The Metallics have been long allies of Equestria, Tarandus and Antelese, though they have little to do with Gildesdale and the Zhevra Flatlands. They despise the Dromardians and Equintorial Islands for their participation in the slave trade, and have nothing to do with the Changelings. The Chromatics are almost the exact opposite. They despise Tarandus and Antelese, and technically Equestria as well, but they'll never admit it as it wouldn't be wise to anger Theskafar.

Tourism:
There is a great deal of incoming and outgoing traffic in Drakkenridge, but very little of it is that of tourists. The country is beautiful, but unpredictable, dangerous, and the customs are so foreign that most stay away. The lands are uneven and treacherous, and while there are many paths that weave among the mountains, very few non-winged species come to Drakkenridge. There's also the stigma of slavery by the Chromatics.

Physical Description of the Dragon Races:
Dragons: The Dragons here are based off of D&D 3.5 dragons. Four legs, five senses, two wings, prehensile tail, strong scales, breath weapon, frightful presence, blindsense, darkvision, lay eggs,
warm-blooded. Subtle differences come in that of the sub-races.

Sizes: Dragons technically never stop growing, but most die long before their size becomes any kind of hinderence. This chart is merely an average over time. (Largest to Smallest)

Metallics:
Amethyst (Colossal+)
Gold (Colossal)
Silver (Colossal)
Topaz (Gargantuan)
Diamond (Gargantuan)

Chromatics:
Ruby (Colossal)
Onyx (Colossal)
Sapphire (Gargantuan)
Emerald (Gargantuan)
Pearl (Gargantuan)

Overall:
Amethyst
Gold
Ruby
Silver
Onyx
Sapphire
Emerald
Topaz
Diamond
Pearl

Amethyst- Largest of the dragon races, but this is only because of their peaceful natures which allow them to live longer lives. Intelligent and sociable. Have a natural affinity for magic. Bodies are sinewy and long. Wings are a deep violet with dark edges, and have a very faint iridescent effect when in sunlight. Can join their magical fonts with another magical creature for various benefits. Prefer to live in cities and other populated areas until they become too large, wherein they leave to start their hordes. Hordes are almost always libraries and magical items. Smell like weathered parchment and ink. Parents often leave an egg of their clutch with an accomplished Mage to serve as a familiar. Breathes fire, but said fire can be enchanted with various kinds of spells. Distinct, rounded spines that start soft, but become harder and sharper as they age. Dextrous claws.

Diamond- Also known as 'Deep Dragons'. Smallest of the Metallics and most reclusive. Loves to dig, Often times make tunnels for other creatures to traverse. Like to craft things out of precious minerals. Hordes are almost entirely comprised of items they've made themselves. Anti-social, but not hostile. Very loyal when befriended. Reflective eyes that shine in darkness. Angular face with chin horns. Smell like freshly upturned earth and moss. Breathes acid that can eat through rock.

Gold- Long, manta-ray like wings and jaw 'tendrils'. Pointed tongue, not forked. Well-spoken and elegant, but not as bookish or magically inclined as Amethysts. Prefer to live in high places. Likes to observe, but rarely acts. Very diplomatic and likes to negotiate. Smells like saffron and incense. Breathes fire.

Silver- Outspoken, brash, and strong-willed. Silvers prefer action over talk, and are the most active in guarding the Chromatic-Metallic border. Friendly, but dutiful. Hates injustice and cruelty. Loves to fight, especially against Rubies. Also known as Shield Dragons due to the large, reflective plates on their heads. Have a long neck frill with black-tipped spines that extends all the way down to their tail. Smell like rain. Breathes ice and frost. Likes to live in high mountains and snowy peaks.

Topaz- Talkative. Blade-like skull plates that protrude from their heads. Likes to live on beaches or other sandy areas. Loves to burrow and dig. Often make their lairs underground. Often take up service to other dragons or serve as messengers. Humble. Breathes fire. Short, ray-like wings similar to a Gold's, but not as long or extravagant. Smell like sand and warm metal.

Emerald- Belligerent. Masters of politics. Honey-tongued, smooth, and sophisticated. Like to live in forests. Short wings with a dappled pattern on them. Legs and neck are proportionately longer than the rest of its body. Breathes acid. Smell like chlorine. Often keep their hostilities to wordplay instead of physical violence. Like to trick travelers into games that have no way of them winning, and then taking them as slaves or killing them outright. Extremely territorial. Not picky about treasure.

Onyx- Cunning and crafty, but notoriously lazy. Known as ‘Skull Dragons’ due to their sunken in faces, deeply socketed eyes and distinctive noses. Long, curved horns. Smell like a swamp with an acidic undertone. Like to live in damp caves, bogs, and swamps. Loves to swim. Breathes acid. Wings have distinctive striped markings and fringed membranes. Hordes are mostly made up of coins. Can breathe underwater. Like to trap passerby going through the northern swamps of Gildesdale.

Pearl- Smallest, least intelligent, and most feral of dragons. Breathes ice and frost. Scales glisten like mirrors. Like to live in icy caves in frozen tundras. Only eats food that’s been frozen. Most often the perpetrators of border conflicts on the Chromatic-Metallic border. Known for their ferocity and straightforward attitude. Has little interest in politics, but are kept in line by the other Chromatics. Pinkish-blue blush on the trail of the wings. Hordes are often times the frozen corpses of powerful enemies the dragon has overcome.

Ruby- Prime representatives of Chromatic interests in government. Extremely greedy, vengeful and vain. Smell like smoke and ash. Wings are bluish-purple at the ends. Breathes fire. Most notorious slavers and most active against the Metallics behind the scenes. Longest wingspan of all dragons. Fiercely territorial and attacks all strangers on sight. Anger is legendary.

Sapphire- Massive horn jutting out of their heads. Smell like ozone. Breathes lightning. Loves to dig. Lives primarily in dry, rocky areas, and have the most relations with Dromardians. Sapphires are clever and use illusions and hallucinations to capture slaves, although they are also notoriously cowardly. They will immediately flee if they think they’re going to lose a fight, usually by burrowing into the ground if they can and flying away if they can’t.

Diet:
Dragons are omnivorous, but the killing of a sentient herbivore is considered an act of murder, and is punishable as such. This law is heavily enforced by the Concordant Council, and as such, acts of consuming other sentient races are kept to a minimum, even among the Chromatics. Food is plentiful in Drakkenridge, and while dragons and griffins primarily eat fish to acquire their protein, they also keep small farms of non-sentient herbivores to provide other parts of diet. Dragons also are able eat gemstones and other minerals, though this habit almost exclusive to Amethysts, Sapphires, and Topazes.

Religion:
Dragons have no organized religion to speak of, although they treat Bahamut and Tiamat with reverence. There is a smattering of practices to give honor and respect to a pair of Creators, but most modern day dragons assume this refers to Bahamut and Tiamat. Bahamut and Tiamat obviously know better, but they see no reason in correcting it. All Dragons swear in Io’s name.

Threats:
The main threat in Drakkenridge comes from the Chromatic dragons. They are extremely territorial, and attack anyone who crosses their borders without permission.

Language:
The primary language of Drakkenridge is Leferyd, the language of the Griffins, (based off of Welsh) but most foreigners usually think it's Draconic due to the presence of the dragons. All dragons do speak Draconic as their first language, but very few others actually speak it well enough to pass scrutiny. It is better to speak Leferyd or Equestrian in front of a dragon than Draconic, as those who don’t speak it properly are mocked at best and openly attacked at worst.