Talon City Civic Services Draconic Aid Homepage

(info added 2.23.26)

With the large influx of offworld dragons, and subsequently the scattered presence of dragons all over the area, it was clear that pockets of their activities would need to be monitored or regulated. Because some of the first such dragons were bonded to police and emergency service members, however, the dragons have almost always been on board with this idea.

They tend to enjoy having places to congregate where they can stretch out, lounge in the warm SoCal sun, or cruise in the skies without threat of being shot at or hit by airplanes. Yes, this was a problem - Mandragora and her beautiful gold Qutteth had such an accident early on, and from that point safety measures had to be maintained.

With the 2015ish creation of the main Talon City Services building, integrating both local accommodations for riders and dragons alike, as well as all the bells and whistles of a busy city's administrative center, everyone knew that it also needed to host draconic 'Air Traffic Control' since many officially-employed dragons would roost there daily. Today the skies are filled with all manner of flighted dragons, as well as the presence of helicopters, small and large prop planes, alien starships, and jet liners alike.

Thus, at the tops of each of the spires on the southern side of the structure, as well as the broad central north area with dragon based housing, there are terminals and control rooms where this control is centered for the entire city. Warnings automatically broadcast to new arrivals, both telepathic and electronic, and any newly licensed fliers must be fitted with their distinct ID and communication devices. These are in the form of a small electronic tag matching rider to their dragon(s) inserted usually in the ear or under the skin somewhere on both, and while they're free and hardly even noticable, they are mandatory. Any local folks that find themselves in a position to become a dragon rider or companion are encouraged to attend the health and safety regulations classes, and must pass a licencing process (which is based on both dragon health, and potential employment or duties). Like driving a vehicle, particularly an airborn one, these requirements are for the safety of all, not the inconvenience of one.

While there are certainly ways to get around this (your dragon doesn't have wings, but still flies? that's a licence. It burrows? You gotta go to the underground department head!) there are hefty fines if a dragon or rider is involved with an incident - just like an unlicensed driver would in a car. Since most flighted dragons dread or hate the idea of being grounded for any amount of time, the number of repeat offenders is close to zero.

Also since most of the involved parties are dragons, they tend to want this safety coverage anyway. Nudging their riders or caretakers to go the distance. It doesn't cost anything but an afternoon of testing, right?

With the structure of the Civic Services finally built and being inhabited over the course of a year or so by those who had been rag-tagging in back yards or even grabbing hosting at Alabaster's tower in the meantime, now there can be no doubt that this is where everyone who's anyone with a badge or facility patch is going to be hosted.

Those who had first bonded or brought back dragons from offworld sites got the first choices of locations for their dragons, and even their own apartments. The medical emergency crews and exotic response teams are the more permanent residents, at this time, but many others with larger dragons keep a dorm or even just a shared crash room if their dragon doesn't have a place yet. That said, their dragon can always drop them off at home and head up here!

From the exteriors of the towers, since all four Spires have housing in them, the arrivals and departure areas are maintained with utmost care. Ledges and 'garage doors' as well as expansive balconies can be seen, but only the residents (and sometimes those flagged for automatic entry) can open the interiors. Like a cat-food dispenser that only opens for one cat, the biometric chip in official residents will green-light their arrival with proximity. Notably larger dragons must actually land before entering, but smaller ones might have their door chips available to fly directly into. All flights must be cleared first, though obviously in emergencies this is waived.

But in addition to the air traffic needs, there are also a host of other services that dragons and their caretakers may provide. Any city service worker that bonds or has a dragon companion can bring them in to the medical center above the main hospital, for checkups, biological registry if they are wanting to have fertility alerts, and solo dragons may opt for both housing and employment offers using these systems. Since the hospital is run by and for those with the expertise, any dragon can be assured of correct aid, and even get help with incompatible mating issues here. Non-city employees and their dragons are welcome but they don't get all of it 'free'.

This all may seem to cost a bundle, and it definitely does. However the state's budget has included much of the same things for all of the citizens of SoCal for decades already, the added bonus of 'and people love dragons, so when there's need for a funding drive they usually get it within hours'. Even non-employee dragon 'go fund its' tend to get filled very quickly.

Legal representitives also work here with special attention paid to dragons that want to make their own way without a bond, having employment seminars and meet and greets for those companies or interested individuals that have wages available. That ID and chip implant will also allow a dragon to shop, get fast food, enter or have large event plans, and basically anything that a humanoid's credit chip can do! Though some, rarely, absolutely love rolling around in a hoard, we have a bounce house type thing for you don't worry, don't worry...

Sometimes legal representation is also required for the invariable occurrance of property damage. For the most part, if an emergency-services dragon does manage to smack a light post or ruin a house's hedge in the process of an official action, the city will immediately make sure that it's all covered and fixed promptly. Non-City employed dragons, however, will definitely want to make sure that they have at least contacted the city works for insurance. It's cheaper than trying to figure out how to rebuild a fence and replace all the dishes and plumbing that broke when they fell onto a kitchen...

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