The Stink Dragon is a Bog Dragon first described in A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons. The Stink Dragon is notable for its similarity to a skunk. In fact one could call it the skunk of the dragon world.
In the How to Train Your Dragon novella The Day of the Dreader, the Dreader sea dragon turned out to be a colossal type of Stink Dragon, though clearly not the same as the Stink Dragon mentioned here. Perhaps they are related.
Physical Appearance[]
The Stink Dragon is a small beautiful, bright orange dragon with big black stripes. This coloration serves as a warning that says to potential predators 'I am here and I am extremely formidable' or 'Remember what I look like because you never want to mess with me.' In this way it is similar to poisonous animals that are brightly colored.
It is possible Stink Dragons also come in a white and black variety, as mentioned in How to Break a Dragon's Heart.
“ | Every now and then, they came across the startled black-and-white face of a stink dragon. | ” |
— How to Break a Dragon's Heart |
Abilities[]
Anyone who encounters this small dragon would be wise to avoid it. Its greatest weapon is a stench so loathsome that makes anyone who smells it keel over in a faint or feel really nauseous. If it is disturbed or if it feels threatened it will open its mouth and spray a mist/liquid with pin-point accuracy that drenches its victim. This leaves the victim smelling bad enough for nobody to come near them for a week, and for 48 hours the smell is so awful and loathsome it is almost impossible to come near them. Stink Dragons are not very big, or strong, or all that fast, but that is because they do not need to be. Their stench is unpleasant enough to ensure that most animal (including humans) will not approach them if they know about the defense, if they don't it usually takes only one encounter to show them what a bad idea it was to get too close. Nobody fears death at the claws of this dragon, but everyone fears this animal's stink defense. They see them coming and they run for cover.
Behavior[]
In keeping with their stinky defenses, Stink Dragons lay and incubate their eggs in fresh steaming dragon poo. This dragon typically lives in bogs and swamps like other bog dragons. Young Stink Dragons sometimes feel sad since no one wants to be friends with them. But much of their behavior is a mystery since most Vikings never want to go near them.
Training[]
These dragons might be trainable, but due to their smell, Stink Dragons are not trained.
A Stink Dragon's stinky goo can be carefully extracted from a hibernating individual. Hiccup does so in How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel for use as part of a disguise.
Stink Dragons remained un-involved in the Dragon Rebellion.
Appearances[]
A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons[]
Though Stink Dragons do not figure directly into the story, they do appear on an informational page in this book.
How to Break a Dragon's Heart[]
As Hiccup and his Windwalker search for Fishlegs in the forests of Berserk, they see some wild Stink Dragons.
How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel[]
In order to disguise himself and sneak into the prison at the Amber Slavelands, Hiccup extracts some 'stink' from the glands of a hibernating Stink Dragon.
The Incomplete Book of Dragons[]
The Stink Dragon is mentioned in this Reference Book and also appears in the 'Dragon Key' at the back of the book.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Stink Dragons in the Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons on the Official How to Train Your Dragon Books Website. NB: http://www.hiccuptheviking.com is no longer available.