Fathom dragons are far-flung travelers, known for spending entire generational cycles following ocean currents to circumnavigate the continent. Love for exploration and low-speed adventures drives these gentle giants to chart the depths of Sornieth. During the events of Unfathomable Odyssey, some Fathoms returned home for the first time in decades. Distressed to learn of the Tidelord's disappearance, they joined the seers of the Water flight to search for any clues that could provide insight into what happened to their missing deity.
Physical Attributes[]
In terms of sheer size, Fathoms are gargantuan, rivaling many of the largest known denizens of the ocean. Despite their bulk, their webbed talons and the ridged fins they sport along each limb grant them incredible maneuverability when at sea. More fins fan out from the tip of the Fathom's tail, acting as both a rudder and occasional source of momentum (best over short distances). The gills along a Fathom's sides are amphibious, easily able to support both flight and ocean journeys.
Their wings are broad and flexible, able to be folded in tight and then unfurled to make the most of water resistance. This allows them to propel forward at remarkable speeds, or can be used for broad strokes to help conserve energy during long travel. To transition from water to air, Fathoms breach through the surface at explosive speeds, launching themselves into the sky and casting out an impressive spray of water droplets.
Their eyesight is weak when compared to most dragons'. With frequent journeys down to the depths, these giants are best at picking up flashes of light and motion rather than seeing fine details. Instead, they have heightened senses of scent and hearing. In still tides, a Fathom can hear the vocalizations of their pod at a distance of several miles.
Social[]
While Fathoms' incredible size may make them seem intimidating, these voyagers have a reputation for easygoing, good-natured conversations (if slow-paced by other dragons' standards!). Social at heart, it is rare to find a Fathom alone—they almost always travel in large pods composed of several families. It is common for different pods to meet up along large ocean currents or in the places where gyres pass closest to one another, using these spots to share news, update their charts and maps, catch up, swap stories, and generally mingle with the greater Fathom population. Even if passing pods are unable to interact face-to-face, Fathom dragons use sonorous vocalizations much like those of whales to communicate over great distances.
Given their placid natures, change is gradual in Fathom society (sometimes excruciatingly so). Despite this, the culture is not known as a rigid one—most individuals value compassion and affirming acceptance too much to prioritize tradition over contentment. It may just take a while for a pod to adjust to new ideas or any alterations to their way of life.
The most well-known Fathom tradition is that of naming a wayfinder. While this role does not carry all the usual authority of leadership, it remains deeply respected. Given their near-constant state of travel, a wayfinder is vital to their pod's well-being. These skilled navigators do far more than just review maps and charts—they also keep a careful eye on factors such as weather, season, food scarcity, and the pod's overall health to determine the best route for any given circumstance.
Lairs[]
When it comes to settling in a lair, Fathoms are an anomaly—they don't! The breed has spent its entire history journeying across Sornieth, exploring the globe and all of its oceans. While this might ordinarily make for a lack of material possessions, Fathom dragons often take delight in adorning themselves with curiosities and keepsakes they find throughout their travels. The nature of the trinket doesn't matter—coral, treasure, pearls, seaweed, fish scales, and shells are just a few of the things that have been spotted on a Fathom while underway. A few elder dragons have even been known to serve as a home for entire ecosystems of algae, coral, and seaweed! Some Fathoms prefer shiny accessories, as these can help with visibility and sometimes may draw smaller ocean predators (a good indicator for locating schools of fish).
Anything that cannot easily be carried with them may be left as a keepsake along commonly-traveled currents. Some items are left to drift as they will, but important mementos will be secured to the ocean floor so that they may be enjoyed during future circuits. These more permanent memories are often used to mark major life events. A hatchling's birth, a personal triumph, a terrible storm, the loss of a loved one, a new love, and more can prompt a Fathom to leave a token behind. Generally, Fathoms will mark the passage of time via encountering these remembrances during future circuits more than following the traditional Sornieth calendar.
Following the events of Unfathomable Odyssey, some pods of Fathom dragons elected to cease their travels for a time to aid with the search for the Tidelord. This has proven to be a challenge for a breed so accustomed to slow-but-unceasing movement. Aguar the Shallowseer has stepped up to serve as an ambassador and help the Fathoms determine how best to settle into a lair, and new habits, expectations, and traditions are still being established. For the sake of their own comfort, many pods have chosen to settle in various pockets of water where they can drift in (much) smaller circles than they are accustomed to.
Tactics[]
Despite their incredible size and underwater agility, Fathoms almost never engage in violence. They have spent much of their existence separate from interflight conflicts and are far more interested in the marvels of exploration than any kind of combat. These amiable dragons only devolve into violence as an absolute last resort. When attacked, they tend to use their superior numbers, size, and strength to restrain an aggressor. With a foe temporarily neutralized, they will attempt to talk through any issues by making appeals for calmer, friendlier heads to prevail.
On the rare occasion that a Fathom is forced into a fight, most enemies find themselves outmatched—if nothing else, one cannot expect to exchange blows with a Fathom without their entire social group responding to the threat. Even without the rest of their pod around them, it would be nearly impossible to overpower a Fathom dragon in the water. Fighting in the sky may still be daunting, but these giants are far less maneuverable in the air, granting agile opponents at least one advantage. The best option is to engage a Fathom on the ground, where their webbed talons and sheer bulk make it awkward for them to cover any distance on a battlefield.
Coliseum Info[]
Starting stats for Fathoms at level 1 are:
| STR | VIT | AGI | INT | QCK | DEF | MND |
| 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
Their starting attacks are Scratch and Shred, but can be altered using Battle Stones.
Skins & Accents[]
A list of available Fathom skins and accents can be found on the wiki. Remember that these do not include every single skin/accent on site, only the official ones that can be found during holidays, drop in the Coliseum, or are for sale in the Marketplace.
- Fathom Skins
- Fathom Accents
Notable Fathom Dragons[]
- Wayfinder Merrigan is a nonbinary Water Fathom. He was the navigator for the Fathoms' latest circuit around the globe, and upon returning became the main dragon featured in the Unfathomable Odyssey anniversary event, interacting with the player directly through dialogue. During such, she leads expeditions around the Sea of a Thousand Currents as they help the seers of the Water Flight investigate the disappearance of the Tidelord. They are stated to use they/he/she pronouns.[1]
History[]
- The breed was released to players on June 14th, 2024, via the Voyager's Map (Clanbound), Voyager's Chart (Clanbound), and Fathom breed change scrolls.[2]
Trivia[]
- Teasers for the Fathom dragons was released in the Unfathomable Odyssey event after each dive:
- When initially released, a Fathom's profile would not display their starting attacks, instead appearing empty. However, if viewed in the Coliseum, the dragon would have both Scratch and Shred equipped. This was shortly fixed.
External Links[]
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| Dragon Breeds | |
|---|---|
| Plentiful | Fae • Guardian • Mirror • Tundra |
| Common | Pearlcatcher • Ridgeback • Snapper • Spiral |
| Uncommon | Bogsneak • Obelisk • Skydancer • Fathom |
| Limited | Imperial • Nocturne |
| Rare | Coatl • Wildclaw |
| Ancient Breeds | Aberration • Aether • Auraboa • Banescale • Dusthide • Gaoler • Sandsurge • Undertide • Veilspun |
| Non-Ownable Dragons | Courier Dragons • Emperors • Swiftwings |