Dragon
Dragons are legendary winged reptiles of unmatched power. While they vary greatly in shape, size, and personality, they all share the insatiable desire for wealth. Dragons achieve this desire through theft, warfare, or even political endeavors. No matter what a dragon chooses, it will likely excell above all.
Dragons go back in legend equally as tyrants and heroes. Their extraordinarily long lifespans allow them to achieve either ultimate wisdom, cynicism, or madness. The powerful magic that courses through their veins makes them even stronger with age. Dragons rarely die unless they are killed. Some dragons, after living over a thousand years, choose death as the next adventure.
After death, a dragon's soul flies to the Plane that best suits its deeds. Dragons that committed acts of great evil find themselves drawn to Tiamat's kingdom of Tarithal, while those who served valiantly for the cause of good take their final flight to the mountain of Luqia.
It is believed that the more good a dragon does, the more their scales gleam, while the more evil it does, the more its scales are tarnished. This could explain the misconception that all metallic dragons are good and all chromatic dragons are evil.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Different dragon species vary significantly in appearance, but all dragons share the same basic body shape. They have thick scales covering their entire body, four powerful legs, two bat-like wings, a long tail and neck, and often possess horns, frills, or spikes. Their faces are often arrow-shaped, with huge unblinking eyes and razor sharp teeth.
Genetics and Reproduction
The majority of dragons mate rarely, often only once in a lifetime. They often do not consider a mate until they are at least several hundred years old. Some dragons spend years searching for the perfect partner, while others simply meet with whatever dragon is closest and never see them--or their offspring--again. This is hardly the rule, though, and dragons' opinions on romantic and sexual relationships vary greatly. Some dragons prefer the solitary lifestyle, while others enjoy polymorphing as humanoids and enjoying themselves amongst the mortal populace (often resulting in uniquely powerful half-dragon offspring).
Growth Rate & Stages
Pureblooded dragons hatch from eggs. The gestation period varies on the type of dragon, but takes somewhere between 2 months to an entire year. The eggs need little to no attention, and can survive just about anything short of being crushed or eaten.
Dragon wyrmlings are quite independant as soon as they hatch, though they have a tendency to imprint on the first creature they see. This can result in a baby dragon following around a goose, a wolf, a deer, or even an intelligent humanoid! Its loyalty to whatever it imprinted on gradually wavers as it ages, however, and eventually it will abandon its "parents" to go seek treasure and adventure on its own.
Ecology and Habitats
Each type of dragon has its own preferred habitat. As they are primarily solitary creatures, dragons that share territories are often at odds with each other.
The presence of a dragon's magic has a unique effect on the land the longer it is in residence there. Depending on the dragon and its values, this effect could be beneficial or detrimental to the surrounding inhabitants.
| Dragon | Preferred Habitat | Regional Effects |
|---|---|---|
| White | Arctic | Increased fog, more frequent blizzards |
| Green | Forest | Maze-like thickets, lack of large prey animals |
| Blue | Desert | More frequent thunderstorms and dust devils, hidden sinkholes |
| Black | Swamp/marsh | Thicker plant growth, increased fog |
| Red | Mountains, preferably volcanoes | Increased earthquakes, fissures to the Elemental Plane of Fire appear |
| Gold | Plains, foothills | Illusory mists, gems and pearls sparkle more brightly |
| Silver | Forest | Strange weather and wind patterns, unique stone structures |
| Bronze | Tropical | Underwater plants grow thicker and appear brighter, strange weather patterns, auditory illusions |
| Copper | Swamp/marsh | Strange carvings in stone, tiny creatures are able to speak and understand Draconic, intelligent creatures are prone to fits of giggling |
| Brass | Desert | Mirages of monsters, strange tracks appearing with no source |
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Dragons are known to be quite perceptive. There is not much that can hide from their unblinking eyes. As the dragon ages, this watchfulness only increases. Their magical power allows the most ancient of dragons to unlock Truesight, enabling them to see through even the most clever of disguises.