| Claws of Imperium | Freebooters |
The Claws of Imperium! The finest hunters our kingdom has ever known, guaranteeing clean, safe dragon energy for the rest of all time. Fighting for the Imperian way of life is the very definition of heroism.
The Claws of Imperium were an Imperian faction of dragon hunters previously led by Rapton and Lord Ras. They serve under the command of Empress Beatrix to capture all dragon-kind and exploit their power as a resource for their civilization. Following the escape of all the Imperium's dragons except for one, Ras was incarcerated for his failures. After the Liberation of Imperium, Rapton rebranded the Claws of Imperium as the Freebooters and they became mercenaries to continue dragon hunting.
History
Background
When Ras arrived in Imperium to aid Beatrix in taking control of the kingdom,[1] the Claws of Imperium were formed as the most skilled dragon hunters in the land, tasked with capturing all the dragons in the realm to provide power to their kingdom under Beatrix's orders. Ras and Rapton were selected as the leaders of the dragon hunters. Since the Merge has brought Imperium together with the other realms, the Claws have been assigned the responsibility of capturing all the dragons in the combined lands, particularly the seven Source Dragons.[2] Control over the Source Dragons would grant them absolute domination over the Merged Realms.[3] To do so, Ras devised a plan that involved Riyu, an infant dragon with special energy.[4][5]
Dragons Rising, Season 1
Despite the Claws' success in capturing Riyu, the ninja thwarted Ras' plan and allowed the baby dragon to escape, prompting Riyu's herd to relocate for safety; in doing so however Ras had successfully drawn out the ninja to Imperium's gaze and revealed their secret connection to the Source Dragons' powers.[3] Beatrix's desire to utilize the Photac for dragon hunting led Ras to enlist Dorama's repair services, though Sora's activation of the copied Photacs was necessary. Nevertheless, the Claws of Imperium persisted in their pursuit of dragons throughout the Merged Realms.[2]
During a dragon hunt, the Claws were successful in capturing Jiro thanks to the original Photac used by Rapton.[6] The ninja traveled to Imperium to destroy the device. Unfortunately, Sora was caught by Rapton and the Claw Hunters, and Ras forced her to activate the copied Photacs.[2] The Claws of Imperium used the Photacs to stop the dragon breakout led by Lloyd and Wyldfyre.[4] Although the Claws initially appeared victorious, Arin and Sora were able to free Riyu after their battle with Ras and dismantle the Photacs. In the following days, Ras planned to launch more dragon hunts, but Beatrix disagreed and wanted the ninja gone instead, thus going against Ras' plan as they agreed. Ras was arrested for his failure, and Rapton gained his position as the leader of the Claws of Imperium.[7]
As part of her vow to defeat the ninja, Beatrix spread a false speech to Imperium, claiming the dragons were recaptured.[8] When Rapton informed her about the Dragon Cores and questioned the Claws' mission to capture dragons due to the energy crisis, Beatrix remained resolute. She made it clear that the Claws of Imperium would not be hunting dragons until she acquired the Dragon Cores and eliminated the ninja, thereby replacing the Claws with search parties to find the Dragon Cores.[9] When the ninja infiltrated Imperium with the help of the Imperium Teen Resistance Force, Beatrix reassembled the Claw Hunters to apprehend them. After overpowering Jiro and Zanth, the Claw Hunters took them captive. However, the Imperians discovered Beatrix's true colors, leading to a riot and forcing the Claw Hunters to flee.[10] Following the end of the MergeQuake Storm, the Claws of Imperium disbanded, with the remaining members joining Percival Tartigrade in a council to initiate a new beginning in New Imperium.[11]
Known members
- Lord Ras (formerly)
- Rapton
- Claw Hunters
- Claw General
- Blorko
- Hunter No. 29 (non-canon)
Creatures
Known captured dragons
- Source Dragon of Energy (formerly)
- Zanth (formerly)
- Heatwave (formerly)
- Fire Dragon (formerly)
- Earth Dragon (formerly)
- Ice Dragons (formerly)
- Jiro (formerly)
- Mountain Dragons (formerly)
Vehicles
Trivia
- They're the second villainous faction to hunt dragons, the first being the Dragon Hunters from the Realm of Oni and Dragons.
- Unlike the Dragon Hunters, who hunt dragons for their Elemental Powers, the Claws of Imperium hunt dragons for their energy.
- They are the sixth villainous faction to consist mainly of humans, following the Anacondrai Cultists, the Sky Pirates, the Sons of Garmadon, the henchmen, and the Kryptarium inmates.
Gallery
Minifigures
Members
Promotional media
Translations
References
- ↑ Metal Mayhem!
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Mindless Beasts"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Merge: Part 2"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The Calm Inside"
- ↑ File:Who is in Dragons Rising description.jpeg
- ↑ "Return to Imperium"
- ↑ "The Battle of the Second Monastery"
- ↑ "The Temple of the Dragon Cores"
- ↑ "Gangs of the Sea"
- ↑ "We Are All Dragons"
- ↑ "The Power Within"
