At the start of the book Tom kills a dragon for his cave. Demons at least have possessions, stuff that they bring back from Aslan or trade for in the courts of chaos. Don't dragons do the same thing. I'm not expecting smog-like piles of gold, but the cave had a previous occupant, where's it's swag? Or has Tom just not had time explore the whole cave?

That IS a wonder.

Could be justified though. The book says that dragons hates demons. It could have been living nearby and when Tom 'invaded' and enter that cave, the dragon went in after him.

There is also the possibility that the dragon is also looking for a cave to settle in. It was unmarked and the dragon went in...

Also the dragon could just wanted to fight and since Tom is a newbie decides to crush him.

The of course there was that discussion that the dragon lived in that cave but apparently the cave haven't been lived in. It has no marks of being occupied by anyone. That also begs the question, why there aren't demons living there and around it? Sounds suspicious.

Tell me.

I thought Dragons hated humans(possibly humanoid beings) in general. If a dragon can tolerate a human it can also tolerate a demon. The question of which it will feel more threatened by could shape its reactions. Just remember the dragon riding orcs. Two questions, since dragons are demons can they not also shape shift. If they can some might pose as a humanoid demon or a mortal species as Dragons are intelligent. I don't know how different their original species are from humans, but the concept of spies, camouflage, and scouts should be common. Dragons raise less alarm bells than demons so they could likely be more extensive throughout Astlan.

Few humans can tell one dragon apart from another dragon and they can access more places do to a lack of a need to eat, breathe, and can move freely in three dimensions. Not all dragons would be large as smaller dragons might be seen as drakes, wyrms, or wyverns. They would have a hierachy with weaker dragons as weaker species, and larger dragons being more rare. Not sure what they've done, but as an intelligent species they have likely formed some type of community and possibly a society that those on Astlan might not recognize.

Also the slow regenerative nature of dragons is less blatant than that of demons and might make them appear more natural as it takes time for them to recover.

Any more thoughts on dragons would be nice. I can think of more later.

I'm in the story and I find it incredibly funny. Which is why I have been sticking around despite the Rodlings threatening me with permanent death.

I am also laughing internally at Maou's talk of shape changing dragons...if only he knew what was going on in Gizzor Del. He hit a real nail on the head there...but then that's another story...

Again, not sure what the relation between Abyss dragons and Astlan dragons is...I sort of think it might be like humans and demons...not sure though...evidence, (orcs on dragons) is very very contradictory.

However, I should also note that in theory, only a "Paladin" can kill a dragon. That's the mythology at least. All others get roasted by the flames etc. That's who also likes to kill demons.

However, I should note, that this chap we have in the cave here, keeps getting really pissed when I call him a paladin. He says he's a "Knight Rampant" not a "Paladin"...no idea what the difference is...I don't actually note what a Knight Rampant is....if you ask me it sounds like a very lusty knight...but that's probably just me.

Hmm, well this Knight Rampant certainly seems to act like a berserker! The guy tried to kill me permanently!

I consider that to be quite rude and irrational.

I am sure there are some damsels in distress out there somewhere at various points in time, but I am equally sure there are also dudes in distress who need to be rescued by female paladins...or damsels rescued by female paladins and dudes rescued by guy paladins....

Certainly, peasants are often in distress frequently.

However, I am not sure paladins (being noble and all) can even see peasants let alone make a determination of distress.

As for dragons...one might think so...however not sure what they would shape change to since they weren't human in the first place.

I really don't know how you'd tell.

There are dragons in Astlan that don't eat non-dragons on site. However most do...

I find it safer to assume that any dragon any where is prepared to have you for lunch.

Pretty certain more powerful dragons cast spells, a bit iffy on the weaker ones. But for shape shifting familiar shapes are easier. As former humans the best shape would be themselves or somebody they new well, pretty certain Tom was imitating somebody he used to know as opposed to an imagined human. Imitation is easier than creation, so ideally you would imitate a cat you knew well. Also forms closer to the demon are easiest. A large demon does not do as well imitating things that are to small. A cat is more compressed than a human and more foreign to the demon. So demon cat form will hurt a lot, but Bess could likely do it if she was inclined to try it. It would be easier for her than other demons with her cat motif and everything.

Dragons are very confusing to me. I only know of the ones in the Abyss, personally. I hear stories about the ones and Astlan and they seem quite different. I don't know anyone in the Abyss who's talked to a dragon, but apparently people talk to the dragons in Astlan, or at least some dragons, sometimes, in some circumstances.

However, in both cases, the most common things is for the dragon to try and eat you.

I suppose if they ate enough humans they'd become familiar enough with them to shape change into them.

But the thing is, I am sure that if dragons can shapeshift, they aren't telling anyone, for the same reasons demons don't tell humans things like that.

That sort of knowledge causes widespread panic.

We really don't want people making more mirrors like Tarlius had...that would be very inconvenient.

Yes, this is true...the second part of your post though, about Tom.

Dragons are horrible evil vile creature and spawn of alien darkness and all things horrible.

So there's a big difference between them and demons.

Plus we don't always eat humans, in fact we don't do it that much. Sometimes we play with them, like a baby plays with spaghetti...actually the aftermath looks about the same....

Yes, that's a big difference. You can usually reason with a demon. Dragons are very unreasonable.