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In the //Dungeons & Dragons// universe, there are many different species of dragons. However, despite their variety, a number of traits are common to nearly all types of dragons. All species appear to be generally reptilian or serpentine in their natural form. Except for the youngest dragons, they tend to be quite large—usually at least as big as a horse, and often much larger. Most species depicted have wings and are able to fly, and nearly all are quadrupedal. Almost all species of dragon are highly intelligent (at least as intelligent as a human being) and are able to speak. Essentially all species of dragon are said to be magical in nature, and in most species this nature is expressed as an affinity for some type of elemental power; some dragon species are naturally able to cast magical spells, as well. Most dragons have the ability to breathe or expel one or more types of energy associated with their elemental affinity, as well as bearing some resistance to damage or injury from any other sources of such energy. Dragons are egg-layers, and most have sharp teeth, horns, and claws. A //D&D// dragon is protected by its scaly hide, the colour of which is determined by the dragon's species, and which also offers a visual clue to the specific elemental nature of each species of dragon. Each species of dragon has a particular temperament associated with it, as well as a deeply rooted moral outlook derived from that temperament; these factors underlie the personality and behaviour of each individual dragon. Typically, dragons do not vary widely in appearance or personality within a species, although exceptions are possible, especially in certain //D&D// settings, such as Eberron. Because //D&D// dragons are essentially monstrous creatures designed to antagonise player characters, the majority of dragons in //D&D// are evil by default. Some dragons (particularly metallic dragons) have two different kinds of breath, usually a lethal one (fire, ice, acid, electricity, etc.) and another that is typically non-lethal (paralysis, repulsion, confusion, etc.). In the second edition of //Advanced Dungeons & Dragons//, dragons were completely reworked from their first edition counterparts, and were much more powerful. For example, they had magic resistance, could no longer be subdued, and had physical attack forms besides just claws and bites.[4home] The third edition of //Dungeons & Dragons// classifies dragon as a type of creature, simply defined as "a reptilelike creature, usually winged, with magical or unusual abilities".[5home] The dragon type is broken down into several classifications. True dragons are dragons which increase in power by age categories (wyrmling to great wyrm). Lesser dragons do not improve in age categories and may lack all of the abilities of true dragons. Examples of lesser dragons include dragon turtles and wyverns. Other creatures with the dragon type include drakes, felldrakes, elemental drakes, landwyrms, linnorms and wurms. (An unrelated creature called a dragonne is named for its coincidental resemblance to a brass dragon.) //Dungeons & Dragons// 2nd and 3rd editions divided true dragons further into three main categories: //chromatic dragons//, such as green and black dragons, which are evil-aligned; //metallic dragons//, such as gold and silver dragons, which are good; and neutral-aligned //gem dragons//, rare creatures that possess psionic abilities. In addition, there were other sub-species of true dragons that did not fit into the three main categories. For example, mercury and steel dragons would seem to be metallic dragons, but in the //Dungeons & Dragons// world they are considered to be outside of the main family of metallic dragons because of various biological differences (though the book //Dragons of Faerûn// did list them as metallic dragons). The "lung dragons" or spirit-dragons of //Oriental Adventures// are also true dragons. However, with 4th edition, the classifications were changed: chromatic dragons became not strictly evil, and metallic dragons became not necessarily good. Also, there are several new categories (although the gem dragons have not yet returned): "planar dragons" which are defined as dragons that were warped by living on a plane of existence other than the Material Plane, "catastrophe dragons", which take on the aspects of natural disasters which are chaotic evil and cause chaos for its own sake, and "scourge dragons".[6home] Chromatic dragons are presented in the //Monster Manual// and //Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons//. Metallic dragons are presented in the //Monster Manual 2// and //Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons//. Catastrophe dragons are presented in //Monster Manual 3//. Planar dragons have been presented in both //Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons// and //Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons//. Detailed information about //D&D// dragonkind in second, third, or fourth editions may be found in their respective editions of the //Draconomicon//, a //D&D// supplement book designed especially for draconic information. No such book was published for the first edition, although the Basic game had a Bestiary of Dragons and Giants (coded AC10).[
 * || Ha'amonga 'a Maui ||



**Ha'amonga** One the most prominent sites on Tongatapu is the Ha'amonga 'a Maui (Maui’s Burden). The name of the site, Ha'amonga 'a Maui, comes from a Tongan legend. Prior to the arrival of missionaries, Tongans worshipped Polynesian Gods and spirits. Maui was a famous Polynesian God that was believed to have fished the Pacific Islands out of the sea. Maui was under great pressure in this task, with the weight of heaven and the sky, including the stars, Milky Way, moon and other planets on his shoulders. The weight and positioning of the stones at the site resembles a person with a heavy burden. As a result of this, the site was named after Maui’s burden in creating the Pacific Islands.

**Inside view of joint - Ha'amonga Trilithon**

The Ha'amonga 'a Maui consists of three coral slabs (believed to have come from ‘Uvea Island in French Territory – current day Wallis Island) weighing approximately 20 tonnes each. There are two slabs holding up the third cross piece and these two slabs evenly grooved on top as if the carpenters tools nine hundred years ago could easily cut and polish the slabs that are at least eight feet in width. The Ha'amonga 'a Maui is located on the eastern tip of Tongatapu Island near the villages of Niutoua and Afa. This is the area where the eleventh Tongan King (Tu’i Tonga Tu’itatui) had his seat of power. It is believed that Tu'i Tu’itatui built the structure in 1200 A.D. Legend relates to the physical strength of Tu’itatui who was reputed to have sat against a large stone slab, the 'Maka Faakinanga', which still stands near the Ha’amonga, and by striking out with a staff he kept his people at a safe distance for fear of assassination. Tu'i Tu'itatui translated is King Strike Knee. There have been many theories as to the meaning of the structure – from a gateway to the King’s Palace (Heketa) through to it being a symbol of brotherhood. For many years, where it came from and use of the Ha'amonga 'a Maui remained unknown and open to many theories. It was not until 1967 during the reign of the late King of Tonga; His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, that significant research was undertaken. The results of this research revealed that the creation and importance of the Ha'amonga 'a Maui is based on its relation to the sun (la’a). The sun is extremely significant in Tongan culture, in terms of seasonal periods, measured over years, months and days. The suns duration is measured from sunrise to sunset and seasonal months were divided between sowing, planting and reaping seeds, each dependent on the earth’s rotation. Everyday activities in Tonga are also dependent on the sun, including: fishing, canoe sailing, marriages and construction. The shortest day in Tonga occurs when the sun is exactly 23 ½ degrees (Tropic of Cancer). When the sun is on the equator, it is moving toward the southern hemisphere and conversely, the northern hemisphere is moving towards the winter. When the sun is on the Tropic of Capricorn, more light is shed in Tonga than darkness. All the three sun markers are indicative of the seasonal changes that occur in Tonga in accordance with the rising of the sun, which is exactly in line with the W etching found on the top slab of the Ha'amonga 'a Maui. The importance of the Latitude and Longitude of the Ha'amonga 'a Maui is that the coral slabs when constructed on land and are in a position that is high enough to observe the sea horizon when during sunrise. Investigations revealed that not only are the height of the coral slabs scientifically calculated towards the sea, but they are also true magnetic north. The Ha'amonga 'a Maui has been scientifically interpreted as an early style sundial clock that recorded different seasonal changes. The Ha'amonga 'a Maui fully acknowledges the sea position of Tongatapu and the exact observation of the morning sunrise on the shortest, midway and longest day. How our ancestors knew the science of the sun's positional sunrise along the Tropic of Cancer, Equator and Capricorn remains a mystery. As a result of the research, the success of the Tongan Maritime Empire has been directly related to the Ha'amonga 'a Maui. The trilithon enabled Tongan leaders to understand the astronomy of the sky, sun routes and was used as a seasonal calendar. In 1972, the late King, His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, declared the site 'Ha'amonga 'a Maui Historical Park'. Through this decision, the site will remain protected, researched and interpreted for future generations.

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