The creation process:

 
So, I started by loading up my usual mandala formulae and playing around with the parameters... There were many pretty potentials but I didn't want anything too similar to previous mandalas. Here are a few examples...:

Eventually I found this! (image on the left). Those claw like structures immediately put a dragon in mind... I already had a title, in fact... Dragonshrine ... But then, I had the bright idea of adding an orb into the mix, using MB3D's decombinate mode (otherwise the orb would have been divided up into the mandala spikes too):

Next came the colouring process... As I mentioned, it was difficult. I used one of my favourite images for a the diffuse colour map...:

... and then had to combine setup after setup of colours in layers in Photoshop until eventually I was happy with it.

Finally, I added some reflection to the orb, as well as the same image above but with 'wrap2' mode (which pastes the actual image as a texture instead of using it as a colour map):

I'm quite excited because in the midst of all this, I found another pattern in the fractal with which I could probably make an awesome dragon's egg. Watch this space! =)