

However, what they do not excel at is physical confrontations. Nocturnes excel at subterfuge they may falsify nearly-perfect battle orders, and are able to mimic the voices of their opponents. It is nearly impossible to visit a nocturne lair uninvited.

These are dwellings on the inside, but artful masterpieces indistinguishable from the environment on the outside. If given the chance to design their clan's lair, a nocturne will feel most secure by creating a hidden structure, constructed to camouflage with its surroundings. Nocturnes who remain among their own kind frequently generate feedback loops, in which their personalities and behaviors are passed from one individual to the next in a lengthy, communal game of copycat. Most individuals of this curious species loathe solitude. It is theorized that this behavior was once a tactic to ingratiate themselves among foreign clans, but over time has become an instinctive urge that delights and annoys those who come into contact with the species. This mimicry does not extend exclusively to species characteristics, but to the individual personalities of their clanmates. Nocturnes are a species that adapts and mimics dragons they are in close proximity with a Nocturne who accompanies a Guardian may adopt a temporary Charge of their own, while a Nocturne pestered by a Spiral may become energetic and easily distracted. Females average at a 5.07 meter length, 6.18 meter wingspan, and a weight of 575 kilograms. Male Nocturnes average at a 4.65 meter length, 5.97 meter wingspan, and a weight of 567.74 kilograms. The average size of a Nocturne dragon varies a bit between males and females, with females being larger on average. Although it is possible for nocturne dragons to be active year-round in clans where they feel comfortable, the majority of unbound colonies remain staunchly hidden away and only surface to breed during the weeks following the Winter Solstice. They are equipped with spines and horns that act as armor against the sharp thorns that cover plantlife in the Shadowbinder's domain. These bat-like dragons are stout and make use of an impressive wingspan to wrap themselves during the day, incubating their bodies.
