Jade Sounding — Jade River Dragons Character Sheet

The story of Jade Sounding

A fictional story inspired by the artwork.

The dragons of Jade Sounding know where the river has shifted before the ferry crew can see it from the landing. They travel upstream in the morning and lower small copper weights beside the old crossing posts. If the weight touches gravel too soon, the ferry waits while one of the dragons checks the route along the opposite bank.

A tall dragon wears several weights on a braided harness. The smaller guide needs only one, hung where it will stay clear of the forelegs. Another carries a blue lamp in a rope cradle, which keeps the glass from knocking against the scales. When the fog lifts, the lantern bearer moves to the outer bend so the crew can see the marker from farther away.

Not every crossing needs a full survey. The narrow branches can be watched from the shore, where thin reeds show which way the shallows are moving. The dragons with the lighter harnesses travel those routes. They carry word back to the ferry and stay close until the last cargo reaches the landing.

Green scales, pale antlers, long whiskers, and mint fins give the six figures a shared river silhouette. Their bodies range from heavy and square to slender with high curled tails. Blue lanterns, wave patterned cloth, and copper weights suggest different duties along the same stretch of water.

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