The Thunderdrum is a large Tidal Class dragon in the DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon franchise.
Background[]
This dragon relies mostly on its two sets of wings, one primary and one smaller set to the rear, using them to get around and move through the water like a tornado. The Thunder Drum has legs (If you look closely in the book of dragons, you can see the legs.) Even though they are smaller and thinner than even a Terrible Terror's legs, they can suprisingly hold the dragons weight.
According to the Dragon Manual, a Thunder Drum is roughly the same size as an adult Viking; and is reclusive in nature, living in sea caves and dark tide pools. The Thunder Drum is classified into the Tidal Class, along with the Scauldron.
The name comes from its main mode of attack/defense. Instead of breathing fire, the Thunder Drum produces a strong concussive sound that can kill a human at close range. The blast is so powerful that the creature is said to "get its power from Thor himself." Like nearly all dragons in the Manual, they are classified "extremely dangerous, kill on sight." It is also said that when a Thunder Drum hatches from its egg, it makes a sound so loud it rattles the sky.
Physical Appearance[]
These dragons have stubby legs and long, skinny tails. When they open their enormous mouths, they show a series of teeth inside. Their wings are large triangles. It has a horn on the tip of its nose. It also has a series of backwards facing spikes sticking out of its back. The Thunder Drum, because of all that, is closely related to the Whispering Death, except the Thunder Drum has limbs, bigger, triangular wings, it's eyes are lifeful, the Thunder Drum's torso expands with it's mouth, and the Thunder Drum has the ability to close its mouth.The thunderdrums body resembles a basking shark in the water
Appearances[]
Book of Dragons[]
The Thunder Drum appears in this exclusive short. It is classified into the Tidal Class in the book. Bork the Bold once found the egg of a Thunder Drum. But he didn't know that Thunder Drum eggs hatch with an explosive sound that rattles the sky, and he found this out the hard way.
Dragons: Riders of Berk[]
Stoick with his thunderdrum, Thornado.
In Riders of Berk, Thornado is first mentioned as a rogue dragon wreaking havoc on the Hairy Hooligan's fishing ships. Stoick and Hiccup, on Toothless' back, find it while it's battling Mulch and Bucket and blowing their ship to pieces with sonic blasts. Stoick challenges the dragon, and drives it into the water. However, Thornado's tail grabs Stoick, pulling it down with him. Stoick is able to grab the dragon, and Hiccup, Toothless, Mulch, and Bucket watches them wrestle.
Admiring the Thunder Drum's powerful fighting spirit and spunk, Stoick traps Thornado in a net and declares he wants him trained as his own dragon. The next day, Thornado's mouth is muzzled, and Hiccup instructs Stoick to make sure the dragon can trust him. However, Thornado won't let Stoick touch him, and Stoick gets frustrated and wrestles the dragon once again. Stoick tries to ride him, and they tumble away from Berk. Thornado manages to throw Stoick off his back and escapes to an island. Hiccup and Stoick gathers the gang, and they try to find Thornado.
Hiccup and Stoick finds Thornado, and they find out he had been protecting and feeding his friend (why he was stealing their fish), a violet thunder drum with an injured wing hidden in a small cave. Stoick tells Hiccup to get the gang to help him, while he confronts the dragon. After Hiccup and Toothless leave, Stoick tries to reassure Thornado, but a group of hungry wild boars arrive to prey on the injured dragon. Stoick, later with help from Thornado, fights the boars. After they take out the first wave of boars together, Stoick and Thornado come together to protect the injured Thunder Drum and bond at last. The second wave of boars charge, but Stoick removes the muzzle, allowing Thornado to blast the boars with sonic power. Hiccup and help arrive, and they rescue the injured dragon, bring it home, while Gobber treats its injuries. Thornado then goes on to assist Stoick in his chiefing duties.
In Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Young Man, Stoick rides Thornado while searching for Hiccup. Thornado's only appearances are waiting for Stoick and Gobber on the beach, and standing by the other dragons while the kids try to save Hiccup.
In Dragon Flower, Thornado appears more in this episode as Stoick rides him to the Shivering Shores while revealing his name. It is also shown that while Stoick has earned his trust, Thornado is very stubborn as he tries to buck Stoick off him, much like Snotlout and Hookfang, but Stoick has the strength and tenacity to stay on and command Thornado. When Stoick and Thornado return, the Thunderdrum goes ill by the Blue Oleanders that Mildew planted. Stoick immediately rushes to Thornado's aid by comforting him, putting a pillow under his head, and gets an anti-venom from the Scauldron. Thornado is cured after the ordeal blows over.
Thornado has made brief appearences in What Flies Beneath, Defiant One, Breakneck Bog, Gem of a Different Color, and We Are Family Part I. In We Are Family Part II, he and Academy dragons work together to save Hiccup and Toothless from the Outcasts.
Gallery[]
