Dragon, Chromatic, Black
Black Dragon
Also called "skull dragons" for the shape of their heads, black dragons are the most malicious chromatic dragons. They revel in causing pain and will hunt, not just for food, but because they thoroughly enjoy causing pain. Ironically, they are also the most cowardly, and will quickly run from a fight when things start to turn sour.
Their favorite things to feed on are sentient beings, but they have a specific taste for fae creatures, which they relish as delicacy. They also feast on various swamp creatures such as small mammals and alligators, but many Black Dragons have rancid pools of water somewhere in their lair where they allow fresh meat to "pickle" for days at a time before eating it. They prefer the texture and flavor of such putrefied meat.
When they can, Black Dragons always choose to fight in the water or on the wing; never will they fight on the ground by choice.
Tactics
A black dragon always makes its lair near water, and its favorite hunting strategy is to lie in wait beneath murky water for unsuspecting passersby. From the water (or if forced into the air), it will blast foes with its acid breath and then retreat back into the water (or the sky) to wait for it to recharge. If engaged in melee, it may attempt to grapple a single target and drag them down into the water where it can finish the creature off with ease.
Terrain and Habitat
Black Dragons prefer swamps with thick trees and vegetation, and deep murky water; if the swamp is too shallow, Black Dragons will likely not live there because deeper water suits their needs for combat and building lairs. If a Black Dragon cannot find a deep swamp, it may settle for anyplace water comes into contact with land in great quantities, such as jungles, rainforests, or occasionally even lakes in nearly any terrain (aside from cold). That said, they never make homes in places with salt water, as salt water irrritates their flesh like a bad rash.
Lairs
A Black Dragon usually chooses a network of caves or a hollow with multiple chambers. Some of the caverns are submerged and the lair nearly always has its main entrance hidden underwater in the bog, secured with a layer of strategically placed vegetation or a wall of mud. The Lair also has an above-ground exit that the dragon keeps equally wellhidden.
Favored Treasure
Black Dragons value coins above all other treasure. This is because coins can withstand the wear of time, especially while submerged in the Black Dragon's lair. It is unclear why they do not prefer gems, which would last even longer, but scholars speculate that it is because coins are refined, and therefore are intrinsically of more value than gems.
They especially covet coins or other artifacts from ancient civilizations or empires that they have outlasted.
Eggs and Life Cycle
An egg, once laid, takes about one year to incubate. Black Dragon eggs are laid in clutches of five to ten, and roughly half of them hatch under good conditions. A Black Dragon normally does not live past 2200 years.
Environmental Diffusion
When a dead Black Dragon experiences Environmental Diffusion, the magical energies that were a part of its living body disperse into the environment. The result is abnormal humidity and foul soil. Few plants grow there, and those that do are poisonous. If water pools over the grave of the dragon, it becomes acidic and hurts to touch. This water loses that property when taken.
Physical Traits
A Black Dragons horns actually serve no offensive purpose; they are purely defensive, to protect the dragon's head. Its eyes are sunken, furthering the skull-like appearance, but underwater the dragon's eyes bulge almost comically, allowing it improved depth perception and awareness in even the murkiest of bogs. Its phalanges are webbed, but the webbing is more prominent on the back paws than on the front. They can absorb water through their skin like some other amphibians, but they must surface to breathe air for a few hours at least once or twice a week. They have a strong, acidic scent.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Comments