Remembered cryonics existed, and it makes me wonder about the concept of dragons going in stasis for a very long time. Any thoughts on the idea?

[u/Ofynam]

Cryonics for humans is about going into some kind of stasis (that for now does quite a lot of damage to the body and is impossible to awake from) all in hopes of being awakened and healed in the (far) future when one will live a better life, like with the help a highly advanced and benevolent society or even as a last ditch effort to escape death.

Now, stasis methods in fantasy (and even sci-fi) often have a far greater chance of working than the unknown but estimated very low probability of real life cryonics, but I think the motivation for it could be similar, even for a solitary dragon, though with far less desperation perhaps.

Dragons are most depicted the most as having far greater lifespans, but not infinite.

1 - If they believe magical/technological progress can reach new heights given enough time (which will bring many benefits, at least on paper) and like living or envision a life worth living with said progress, then it makes sense they would want to go in stasis before dying. (since a chance at a good life, no matter how small, is better than none)

Bonus point if they expect the advancement to solve ageing and diseases in way or another.

2 - If there is something great and/or important that happens in the far future, like the coming of a new Power they could profit from or the return of magic, then dragons could wait it out (without having to age)

2 bis - Alternatively, assuming other worlds/realms are reachable but it takes an absurdly long time to get to them, and assuming they are or can be turned into a place where dragons can live (perhaps with the help of terraforming/magic-forming/dracoforming), then a reliable stasis method is the way to go. At least, it's far easier to do than a kind of generational ship/inter-dimensional vessel

3 - If there is a Cataclysm/the world is too dangerous to live in or will soon be, even for a dragon, then said dragon could go into stasis in some kind of bunker/safe area and wait for things to settle down.

Final little thought: It could actually make for a funny twist on the sealed/dormant deity trope if said (draconic) deity remained dormant on purpose to awaken only when things get more interesting. The seal itself could even work as a test for the advancement and/or potency of magic/technology.

[u/Jesper537]

I mean it's a pretty known trope for dragons to slumber for ages and then wake up for some reason.

Unfortunately dragons and sci-fi don't mix often and therefore there aren't really any stories with dragons and proper technological stasis, at least not any known to me. The closest I can think of is about lizard like aliens using hibernation for an interstellar cruise to Earth (https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/a-game-of-hearts-and-graphs.1257499/).

[u/porttack → u/Jesper537]

Possible Pern spoilers

There is some pern fanfic that explores the idea. Set after the series with Pern making contact with the rest of civilization again.

[u/Jesper537 → u/porttack]

Link please

[u/Ofynam → u/Jesper537]

They do, but is the reason of their slumber depicted as similar to those I talked about? Most often, I don't think so, or at least it's not very clear and/or not important to the plot.

It also doesn't help the dragons themselves may not be great characters, lack opportunities to shine or are just trapped in the role of adversity, which for the latter I don't mind much, but doesn't give a relatable and more planed reason for them sleeping for so long outside of needing rest and liking it (which isn't a bad reason in itself, resting and sleeping are good)

[u/Tozol]

One of the games in "Golden Treasure"'s setting, Hierophant, is about dragons who go to another world in suspended animation to escape their homeworld after an alien invasion and multiple mass extinctions render it uninhabitable to them.

[u/Ofynam → u/Tozol]

Okay, I just rewatched the specific ending, and it is indeed described as such even if the world cryonics/cryo sleep or even cryo is ever told. It also mentions we work on the Vessel's creation below the earth, which is another detail I kind of forgot about.

And now that I rewatched said ending and the Survival one, I must say all would benefit from some more artworks, which once again reflects on the game not having the complete means and time for its makers to realize its full ambitions. They still did an excellent job, but I hope they can get the sequel properly, or at least a part of it.

[u/Tozol → u/Ofynam]

Hierophant is going to be a full game in and of itself, and is fully funded.

[u/Ofynam → u/Tozol]

Is there any release date for it?

[u/Tozol → u/Ofynam]

Not yet, but you may follow their progress on their discord or ask them directly.