Dragons (ドラゴン, Doragon) are supernatural beings that exist in London. Only visible to residents of Reverse London, they are largely protected and controlled by the Western Branch of Soul Society, otherwise known as Wing Bind.[1] Dragons are the British counterparts to Japan's Hollows.[2]
Overview
Ninebrook Pastures, which harbors Dragons that produce grapes and other types of food.
Dragons have existed in London for centuries and are dangerous to ordinary citizens; in medieval times, they were responsible for 72% of the deaths in London, which led to the city's Coat of Arms bearing their image. However, they are largely regarded as a myth by the general populace, who cannot see them, and in modern times are protected and controlled by Wing Bind, made up of residents of Reverse London.[1] Wing Bind, and by extension Reverse London, domesticates many of them for the production of resources.[3] Some of the Dragons that produce food are kept in a farmland area known as Ninebrook Pastures (ナインブルック 放牧場, Nainburukku Hōbokujō).[4] Despite being unable to see them, ordinary London residents can still physically touch them[5] and affect their existence in indirect ways: for example, when London cleaned up its streets in the 1800s, the Disguiser population went down drastically due to having far fewer corpses to inhabit.[6] Shelby believes that if a Dragon consumes a Witch, it will become immortal.[7]
In 1609, the Dragon Contact Prohibition (ドラゴン接触禁止法, Doragon Sesshoku Kinshi-hō) was written into law, forbidding ordinary citizens of Reverse London from interacting with Dragons unless they become members of Wing Bind, with infractions punishable by a 100-year prison sentence or execution. When those without the necessary qualifications interact with a Dragon, a substance known as Dragotoxin (ドラゴトクシン, Doragotokushin) accumulates in their system and turns them into Dragonclad after reaching a certain threshold of concentration.[8]
Species
There are several different species of Dragon, and many of them have been domesticated by the residents of Reverse London to produce various goods and resources;[3] these species are collectively referred to as Light Dragons (ライトドラゴン, Raito Doragon).[9] The known species are as follows:
Wordsworth and Marshall, two Broombuggies, transport their riders.
- Broombuggy (ブルームバギー, Burūmubagī): Small, winged Dragons with two legs and smooth bodies that end in large tails,[3] Broombuggies are used for transport by members of Wing Bind[10] and can reach high speeds while flying.[11] They feed on grass.[12]
- Woolly Wally (ウーリー ウォーリー, Ūrī Wōrī): Large, shaggy, goat-like dragons with four chicken-like legs, drooping ears, and three visible ridges on their snouts. They produce textiles.[3]
- Hammerback (ハンマーバック, Hanmābakku): Large, alligator-like Dragons covered in jagged protrusions shaped like rock plateaus with a bone-like plate at the end of their snout that defines their nose. They produce minerals.[3]
- Conductor (コンダクター, Kondakutā): Medium-sized, furry, ball-like Dragons with multiple legs and two electric towers sticking out of their backs. They generate electricity.[3]
- Matchbox (マッチボックス, Matchibokksu): Small, dog-like Dragons that appear to be constantly on fire. They produce fuel.[3]
- Blue Appetite (ブルーアペタイト, Burūapetaito): Medium-sized Dragons composed of several eyes joined by membranes with anemone-like protrusions hanging off of them. They produce medicines.[3]
- Meatball (ミートボール, Mītobōru): Very small, round, pig-like Dragons with long and thin noses. They are harvested for meat.[3]
The differing Planty Potties.
- Planty Potty (プランティポッティ, Purantipotti): Small, light-colored Dragons that resemble ceramic vases and pots but differ in overall appearance between individuals aside from a tiny pair of bat-like wings. They are used for plant cultivation.[9]
- Chariot (チャリオット, Chariotto): Long, thin, light-colored Dragons with a pair of fan-like wings, a head shaped like the mouthpiece of a flute, four tiny legs, and a small ornament on the ends of their tails. They function as radio wave boosters when hooked up to a power cable.[9]
- Butter Case (バターケース, Batākēsu): Long, large, flat, and dark-colored Dragons with short finned tails, wide-set beady eyes, and a two-by-five grid on their backs. They are used to produce clean water through filtering.[9]
- Rept Liner (レプトライナー, Reputorainā): Rotund Dragons approximately the size of a bus with scaled backs, stubby legs, tired eyes, flat faces, and large bat-like wings, with window-sized openings in their sides and a hollow interior accessible through a ramp that folds down near their head. They are used for mass transit exclusively by Wing Bind employees.[9]
Noel Niihashi tends to a Bud Buck.
- Bud Buck (
蕾鹿竜 , Baddobakku; Japanese for "Bud Deer Dragon"): Medium-sized Dragons approximately as tall as the average Human. They have a pair of long, backward- and outward-curving, budded antlers with three tines each atop their heads and curved ears. A vertically symmetrical carapace piece covers the ridge of their snout from above their eyes to just above their nostrils and they have small, root-like protrusions on their chins. They have light-colored fur, a proportionally-sized pair of bat-like wings, and a long, thick tail ending in a small cluster of branch-like protrusions and leaves, resembling a male deer overall.[13] Bud Bucks can use magic that causes the buds on their antlers to blossom into flowers,[14] but they sell for a higher price when their flowers do not bloom.[15] A single one is considered to be an A-Rank Harvest (Ａ級収穫, Ē-kyū Shūkaku) and optimally requires two Pipers to handle.[16]
- Unnamed Species: Extremely large, camel-like Dragons with a large ridge on top of their heads that arches out to form their snout. According to Ninny Spangcole, their breath smells awful. These Dragons produce grapes, which are harvested from their nostrils.[17]
A member of the bat-like species.
- Unnamed Species: Massive, bat-headed Dragons with large ears patterned like leaves, a large spire of cartilage extending upward from their nose, and a long and proportionally thin tongue. They have a mane of leaf-shaped feathers around their necks, a pair of equally large bat-like wings in place of their arms, a long tail with a large protrusion on the end, and chicken-like legs. They are attracted to the flowers of the Bud Bucks.[18]
- Unnamed Species: Large, bright-blue Dragons whose narrow and jagged heads have an upward-curving snout ending in a point, with narrow eyes and two long horns jutting backward from the top of their heads, as well as four muscular legs ending in three front talons and a single back talon each, four wings shaped like Khyber knives, and long tails with multiple spikes leading up to the tip and facing in different directions. Rickenbacker, the personal mount of Bruno Bangnyfe, is a member of this species.[19]
A Dark Dragon after shedding its standard Dragon guise.
- Dark Dragon (ダークドラゴン, Dāku Doragon): Dark Dragons are created when normal Dragons come into contact with Humans and absorb their negative emotions. Large, black dragons with a light underbelly, four thick legs and two enormous wings, Dark Dragons vary in appearance past that point, with Osushi resembling a traditional Western dragon with sharp teeth and a snout.[20] Another Dark Dragon that attacked Reverse London in pursuit of Balgo Parks initially took the appearance of a Dragon with a large mouth with many small and sharp teeth on a flat, broad face with dilated and narrow eyes,[21] only for that to slide off to reveal the true face of the Dark Dragon, with several irregularly-shaped holes that its tongue could shoot out of and two bulging eyes with their pupils split down the middle.[22] They are aggressive toward Humans and will attempt to eat them on sight unless distracted.[23] They are also highly intelligent and can talk to Humans, though they will primarily parrot things that Humans they have spent time with have said.[24] However, they are not impossible to domesticate: when Balgo becomes a Dragonclad, Osushi, who had previously revealed himself to be a Dark Dragon in disguise, returned to his dog form and accompanies him to Reverse London.[25]
- Though Dark Dragons are designated solely for eradication by Wing Bind due to their active desire to harm and kill Humans,[26] Osushi was permitted to live after proving able to return to his dog form and is now known as a Dragon Dog (ドラゴン犬, Doragon Ken; Viz "Dragon Canine")[27] who is meant to be contained within Reverse London using a Fence Collar (
外出用防護襟 , Fensukarā; Japanese for "Escape-preventing Protective Collar").[28] The process of a Dark Dragon shifting into its true form is called Lights Out (黒化 , Raitsuauto; Japanese for "Blackening").[29]
- Though Dark Dragons are designated solely for eradication by Wing Bind due to their active desire to harm and kill Humans,[26] Osushi was permitted to live after proving able to return to his dog form and is now known as a Dragon Dog (ドラゴン犬, Doragon Ken; Viz "Dragon Canine")[27] who is meant to be contained within Reverse London using a Fence Collar (
Shelby, a Disguiser.
- Disguiser (
覆面竜 , Disugaizā; Japanese for "Disguise Dragon"): Dragons that possess and reanimate corpses, posing as the being they were in life. According to Ninny, they used to be prominent in London, but their numbers decreased after the streets were cleaned up and they are encountered very infrequently in modern times.[6] Both Osushi and Shelby are Disguisers, but Shelby is noted to be an unusual case, having lived peacefully among Humans for 10 years.[30] His Dragon form is dark and serpentine, with multiple small arms ending in white claws, two tattered wings, tentacles in place of legs, and a long neck ending in a screw-like head with two large eyes.[31] Shelby can unravel his head to attack and consume targets[32][33] as well as fire powerful energy blasts from his eyes.[34]
- Dragonclad (ドラゴン憑き, Doragon-Tsuki): After living with Shelby for 10 years and being bitten by him in his Dragon form, Balgo is classified as a Dragonclad by Wing Bind. It is unknown what exactly this entails, but Balgo can now see dragons[35] and is considered a member of their species, meaning he is now under the protection of Wing Bind.[25] Additionally, he is legally allowed to make contact with other Dragons, like Osushi, despite not being a member of Wing Bind.[28] However, Dragonclad face a significant risk through the nature of their affliction: because they are created by prolonged contact with Dragons, they tend to attract powerful and dangerous dragons simply by existing.[36] Additionally, they can be designated as Punitive Dragons (害竜, Gairyū; lit. "Harmful Dragons") should the Top of Horns determine that they pose a grave threat to Reverse London, resulting in them becoming a target for Wing Bind.[37]
The true form of Cinderella, a Märchen.
- Märchen (
童話 , Meruhyen; German and Japanese for "Fairy Tale"The plural of this species name is Märchens (童話竜 , Meruhyenzu; German for "Fairy Tale", Japanese for "Fairy Tale Dragon")): Ancient Dragons rumored to have existed even before the formation of Reverse London,[38] the Märchens are the progenitors of Dark Dragons and are permanently authorized for elimination due to being designated as Wicked Dragons (邪竜, Jaryū) and humanity's hypothetical enemy.[39] There are only seven in existence: Snow White, Red Dress, Golden Axe, Bubbles, Sugar House, Band of Animals, and Cinderella, all of whom are likened to and named after famous fairy tales.[40] They are identifiable by the six talons they have on each hand and their ability to use the incredibly rare Stealth Scale technique,[41] as well as additional, individual characteristics and abilities alluded to in the legends surrounding them.[42]
Trivia
- Ninny mentions their counterparts in Japan simply killing all of their "Dragons" to contrast how Wing Bind handles the Dragons of London.[2]
- The Märchens, in their names and certain other characteristics, are based on famous European folk tales:[40]
- Snow White is named after the fairy tale of the same name.
- Red Dress is derived from the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood.
- Golden Axe is derived from The Honest Woodcutter, one of Aesop's Fables.
- Bubbles is derived from the fairy tale The Little Mermaid.
- Sugar House is derived from the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.
- Band of Animals is derived from the fairy tale Town Musicians of Bremen.
- Cinderella is named after the fairy tale of the same name.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 BURN THE WITCH one-shot, pages 13-14
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 22
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 21
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 19
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, pages 46-47
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 36
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 41
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, pages 27-28 & 30-32
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 2, page 6
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 17
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 28
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 20
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, pages 10 & 17
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 11
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 21
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 15
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, pages 22-23
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, pages 13 & 15
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 3, pages 22
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 26
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 34
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 40
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 31
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 33
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 58
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, pages 48-49
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 23
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 32
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, page 42
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 43
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 40
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 38
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 46
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, pages 43-44
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH one-shot, page 47
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 1, pages 33-34
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 3, page 31
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 4, page 13
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 4, page 18
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 4, pages 13-14
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 4, page 11
- ↑ BURN THE WITCH manga; Chapter 4, pages 15-17
| Arkvine • Bruno Bangnyfe • Billy Banx Jr. • Roy B. Dipper • Cquntnire Milieve • Noel Niihashi • Saka Rynn • Harry Shayk • Wolfgang Slashhaut • Ninny Spangcole • Sullivan Squire • Tronbone Takkinen | |
| #4. Stunball • #28. Rainy Wheel • #31. Blue Spark • #44. Flash Bumper • #68. Supernal Jail • #75. Gatling Claw • Absolute Dragon Shatter • Cloth • Shield • Hunger Shadow • Greedy Curtain | |
| Macy Baljure • Band of Animals • Bubbles • Cinderella • Golden Axe • Marshall • Osushi • Balgo Parks • Red Dress • Rickenbacker • Shelby • Snow White • Sugar House • Wordsworth | |
| Reverse London • Soul Society West Branch | |
| Coin Gate • Dragons • Wing Bind • Top of Horns • Witches/Wizards | |
| BURN THE WITCH • BURN THE WITCH one-shot • BURN THE WITCH Serialization • BURN THE WITCH (film) | |