The dragon came from a popular book series, I believe. Something Potter.
Any beast that was once a man and had fallen into madness. They are common where I am from due to a plague. I have learned here that they are comparable to "werewolves" in your vernacular, but they are not the same thing. From what I understand, werewolves turn back and forth. Our beasts lose their mind and that is that; they are beasts until they are stayed by my blade.