Stone-dragon

Stone-dragons can be created with the Skill from memory stone. They are usually made by Skill-coteries. Memory stone absorbs one's memories and with the power added to a Skill-user from the River of Skill, can be carved into a shape. Stone-dragons' looks vary a lot. Examples are:

History

Originally, the stone dragons were considered living sculptures, an art form for Elderlings to complete when they were old. A group of old Elderlings would carve a large block of memory stone into the shape of a dragon, giving it life and their lives. This dragon was animated for a short time, flying and 'living', before settling down to sleep in the Stone Garden, a graveyard in the mountains. This carving took place indoor, away from the elements, before the ceiling of the carving chamber would open and the dragon would fly away. The result was treated as a celebration and real dragons tolerated this as a form of flattery.

The Elderlings created art here, in this chamber. They made living sculptures of my kind, from the memory stone. Old men would carve them in this chamber, safe from wind and weather. Then they would die into them and the sculptures would briefly take on their lives. The door would open, the simulacra would emerge into sunlight and fly over the city. They would live a brief time, and then their memories and false life would fade. There was a graveyard of them, back in the mountains. The Elderlings thought of it as art. We found it amusing to see ourselves copied in the stone. So we tolerated it.
– Robin Hobb, Mad Ship (1998)