Spark-dragons

From Tolkien Gateway
Angus McBride - Light-drake

Spark-dragons were a breed of dragons of whom all that is known is from the nomenclature by the Eldar.[1] No story tells of their appearance in the history of Arda, but one can assume that somehow they radiated light (and therefore perhaps were related to, or were another name for, the great glow-worms).

Names and Etymology[edit | edit source]

In Quenya, the name of the creature is fealóke, consisting of fea ("spark"; from root PHAY-, "radiate, send out rays of light") and lóke ("dragon"; from root LOK-, "great serpent, dragon").[1]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Light-drakes (Quenya Kalalóki) are rare, wingless Dragons. They prefer to fight with their tails, which hold an electrically charged fluid that delivers "a 'sting' analogous to the impact of a lightning bolt".[2]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

"Light-drake" is a Creature of the Drake-kind, able to inflict two strikes.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 370 (entry for LOK-); cf. entry PHAY-, p. 381
  2. Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012)
Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow