Dragon, Ferrous, Cobalt

Cobalt Dragon The most cunning of the ferrous dragons, cobalt dragons are clever tyrants and manipulators that rival even green dragons in terms of intellect. However, cobalts tend to have less ambition and patience than the greens, which means that they don't plot and scheme in the same way that their green cousins do. Their cunning comes out in the form of clever traps and manipulation of the battlefield rather than insidious schemes that take years to come to fruition.
A cobalt dragon has midnight blue scales with small patches of brighter color intermixed, almost like a starry night sky. Its shoulders are broad and its front legs are notably larger and stronger than its hind legs. The dragon's canines are large for latching onto flesh, and two horns jut back from its cold, dark eyes. As the dragon ages, its eyes brighten until they shine bright white, like stars against the backdrop of night.
Jungle Dwellers. Cobalt dragons prefer to settle in deep, dark forests or thick jungles. They are relatively thin, when compared to other dragons, which helps them to slip through the trees and undergrowth within their domain. Their preference for this kind of terrain frequently brings them into conflict with green dragons.
These confrontations rarely result in combat, instead turning into an intellectual war of attrition that can last years. The cobalt dragon always loses patience first and attempts to confront the green in combat, but if the green proves elusive, the cobalt might simply leave the area. If the feud comes to blows and the dragons are the same age, the battle could hypothetically go either way, as they are similarly matched in physical power. However, greens are conniving and manipulative, and are usually able to sway the battle in their favor through cunning tactics or by forcing the cobalt to lose focus by taking advantage of its short temper. Cobalts aren't witty or silver-tongued in the slightest, so it isn't hard for the green to force the cobalt's passion to take over.
Cunning Illusionists and Trapsmiths. In their free time (which dragons have plenty of), cobalts refine their intelligence and engage in activities that are both practical and mentally engaging. Many engage in the crafting of traps, which it uses to hunt and defend its lair. A few favorites are falling trees, rock slides, and pits. Despite their large forms, cobalt dragons have remarkable manual dexterity and are able to work efficiently with rope and other materials, but they can't effectively use small tools. If they have minions or servants, the dragon might direct the construction of larger and more complicated traps that it lacks the nimbleness to create itself.
Most learn how to create illusions, spending their time practicing the arcane verbage and gesticulations to create such effects in the rare case that they don't learn the magic innately. Their illusions are used to great effect when disguising carefully laid traps.
Dominating and Diabolical. In encounters with any creature, cobalt dragons are extremely dominating. In conversation they are forceful and demanding, engaging in intimidation and relying on their fearsome presence and reputation to get what they want. Their cunning, apparently, only applies to their inventive and critical thinking skills, as they seem to have the wit and social skill of an owlbear. They quickly get frustrated when creatures refuse to acknowledge their obviously superior power and pedigree, falling upon such imbeciles with every weapon at their disposal. A dragon roused to such fury can't be satiated without blood.
Some speculate that this behavior stems from the fall of the ferrous dragons and the exile of Gruaghlothor. Cobalt dragons seem to act like they have something to prove: that they are powerful, and that all other creatures will regret forgetting them or bringing about their downfall.
The behavior of a cobalt dragon is so abrasive that all other ferrous dragons avoid them, including other cobalts. Two cobalts only ever meet in order to mate and raise children. However, despite their domineering and hostile personalities, cobalt dragons make exceptional parents and forge strong family units. At least, for the time that the family lives together, which only lasts 25 years or so, after which time the young dragons are forced out of the nest to fend for themselves.
Collectors of Curiosities. When it comes to treasure, cobalt dragons aren't picky, but they especially prefer complex objects with multiple parts that are obviously the product of many hours of work. If the object is practical, it becomes even more valuable to the dragon.
Each cobalt dragon tends to have its own specific fascination. One might favor elaborately crafted weapons and armor, another might like beautiful art objects, another might like masterfully crafted boats or ship prows, and yet another might take a liking to clockwork baubles.
Some dragons are so obsessed with this sort of thing that they capture or hire artificers and tinkerers to craft original objects for the dragon's entertainment and study. Some also manage to integrate their fascination into their traps, utilizing specially crafted objects or complicated contraptions.
A Cobalt Dragon's Lair
Cobalt dragons like to lair deep in jungles and forests, where thick vegetation disguises their presence. Such locations also lend themselves well to traps, since they are harder to detect amid the dense foliage, but these dragons have been known to make homes for themselves in virtually any temperate climate. Most often, the dragon tries to find some sort of cave or underground dwelling, but in places where caves are rare or nonexistent (such as bogs), they instead build a lair out of trees and compacted foliage. These lairs are well camouflaged, and creatures may pass the lair's entrance without even realizing it.
The lair of a cobalt dragon is a dangerous place, even in the absence of the dragon. The dragon sets its traps and illusions in places that it knows will be most frequented, and even if creatures manage to avoid them somehow, the dragon uses its magnetic breath in tandem with other spell-like abilities to throw or bait the creatures into the traps.
A cobalt dragon spends just about as much time outside of its lair as within, checking the traps it set throughout its territory and searching for other creatures to assert dominion over.
Regional Effects
The region containing a legendary cobalt dragon's lair is warped by the dragon's magic, which creates one or more of the following effects.
* Within 6 miles of the lair, the dragon sets nonmagical traps that it uses for hunting. The DM decides the trigger and effect of each trap, but the most common types of traps are pit traps, falling trees or rocks, and landslides. Refer to page 121 of the 5th Edition Dungeon Master's Guide for more information and guidelines on traps. * Ferrous metals within 1 mile of the lair become noticeably magnetic. This effect causes no detriment. * The dragon can modify the appearance of its lair (including its entrances) at will, as if with a mirage arcane spell.
If the dragon dies, the illusion over its lair ends and any traps remain as they are, but other effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.
Preferred Spells
Cobalt dragons tend to prefer the following spells: minor illusion, entangle, plant growth, snare, major image, water walk, greater invisibility, hallucinatory terrain, programmed illusion, and mirage arcane. They prefer virtually any spell from the school of illusion.
Ferrous Dragons
Few know that the ferrous dragons exist, let along their tragic origins. The chromium, cobalt, nickel, steel, and tungsten dragons are each members of this mostly forgotten category of true dragons. Each is vain and greedy, as dragons are wont to be, and each type sees the circumstance of their species in a different light. All, however, no matter their viewpoints, want only to regain their race's former glory, and depose the metallics from their throne of nobility.
Gruaghlothor's Rebellion. The title of "ferrous" often confuses those who first learn about the dragon type; or at least, those that know anything about ferrous metals. Few of the dragons within this category take after ferrous metals, so why call them ferrous dragons at all? The reasoning is linked to their original place, which was as metallic dragons under the watchful and good-natured deity Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon.
Gruaghlothor the Supreme Dragon was a powerful demigod and one of Bahamut's most powerful and trusted advisors. He chafed under the rulership of the Platinum Dragon, despite having gained his power as a result of Bahamut's trust, and planned to overthrow him and take his place as the sovereign lord of metallic dragons. He sowed the seeds of rebellion in the minds of all metallic dragons, but those seeds only took root in the chromium, cobalt, nickel, steel, and tungsten dragons. The others proved too resolute in their reverence of their deity. He told them the power they would gain with him at their head, tempted them with promises of godhood and lordship that weren't his to give.
Eventually, after many centuries of preparation, Gruaghlothor launched his assault with his army. Bahamut and his faithful dragons retaliated in kind, but the Platinum Dragon attempted to approach his beloved advisor with diplomacy. Gruaghlothor refused all attempts at a peaceful resolution, insisting that Bahamut must be destroyed, and so Bahamut ordered the eradication of those who dared rebel against him. He wounded Gruaghlothor, but the rebellious demigod escaped. His army was destroyed and the survivors fled into the dark corners of the world.
Thusly, the title "ferrous" comes from the metaphorical rusting of the honor and beliefs of the once-metallic dragons, and represents their fall from nobility and honor into bitterness and betrayal. Those that survive insist that Gruaghlothor, the new lord of the fallen ferrous dragons, lives on, waiting for the imaginary moment in which he can exact his revenge.
Creatures of Law. Gruaghlothor's arguements appealed to the dragons that have a strong sense of law. Their plots are well thought-out and methodical, and they rarely act impulsively. Most have lost their good nature as a result of their fall, becoming neutral or evil. Over the millenia and eons since their great defeat, each type has come to hate the other ferrous dragons out of spite, blaming their fall on anyone but themselves. Despite their loathing, they never attack each other because of a decree supposedly from Gruaghlothor himself, stating that they are to preserve their numbers. Infighting is not tolerated. As dragons of law, they obey, albeit begrudgingly.
Within their society, the ferrous dragons follow the vague outline of a hierarchy. Though they hate one another, they respect the hierarchy set forth by Gruaghlothor. Several dragons of the same type and in the same region are organized into clans. Each clan is led by its most powerful member, and each clan leader answers to a sovereign great wyrm. Each species of ferrous dragon is led in this way, and the sovereigns of each type are said to be able to commune with Gruaghlothor himself. No one species has any measure of authority over another, but ferrous dragons always defer to a dragon that is older or of higher rank.
Bitter and Resentful. Each ferrous dragon harbors bitterness within; bitterness toward Bahamut, toward Gruaghlothor, toward the other ferrous dragons, toward the metallic dragons who defeated them, and most importantly toward their own species. Despite this bitterness, some ferrous dragons look forward with hope, determined to regain their place at Bahamut's side through a show of good nature and penitence. Others look forward with violence, desiring to destroy those who saw fit to destroy them.
Relations with Other Dragons. To chromatic dragons, ferrous dragons are still metallic dragons, and the two do not tolerate each other. In general, ferrous dragons get along with (or at least tolerate) gem dragons, but especially with amethyst and emerald dragons.
When it comes to metallic dragons, the ferrous dragon's attitude depends on its type. Tungsten dragons, for example, are noble, and recognize the fault of their ancestors in following Gruaghlothor. They view metallic dragons with the highest respect, but with an air of jealousy, admiring their devotion while wishing that their ancestors had it as well. Steel dragons regard them as metallic only in name, but otherwise ignore them unless confronted with them. Chromium dragons look upon metallic dragons with spite, believing that the ferrous dragons are the true rulers of dragonkind and that the metallics stole that privilege away from them.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Dragon, Ferrous