Dragons are an ancient, winged reptilian race. They are known and feared for their size, physical prowess, and magical abilities. The oldest dragons are among the most powerful creatures in the world. Most dragons are identified by the color of their scales. There are many known subspecies of dragons, several of which fall into three broad categories: chromatic, gem, and metallic dragons. Chromatic dragons include black, blue, green, red, and white dragons; all are extremely evil and feared by most. The metallic dragons are the brass, bronze, copper, gold, and silver dragons; these are noble and good, highly respected by wise people. The gem dragons are the amethyst, crystal, emerald, sapphire, and topaz dragons; they are neutral with respect to good and evil, and are very charismatic and suave, masters of persuasion who delight in riddles. Though generally smaller and slower than other dragons, gem dragons are often wiser and more intelligent, and have other powers to compensate, like psionics. In addition to the dragons in these three classifications, there are other dragons that may at first seem to be members of those categories. For instance, the steel dragon seems to be a metallic dragon, but has only one breath weapon; while each "true" metallic dragon has two. Likewise, the brown dragon seems to be a typical, evil, chromatic dragon; but has no wings, so is not a "true" chromatic dragon. Although all subspecies of dragon are believed to have come from the same roots tens of thousands of years ago, the present subspecies keep to themselves, working together only under extreme circumstances, such as a powerful mutual threat. Good dragons never work with evil dragons, however, though a few neutral dragon specimens have been known to associate with evil or good dragons. Gold dragons occasionally associate freely with silver dragons, and emerald dragons are sometimes found with sapphire dragons. When evil dragons of different species encounter each other, they usually fight to protect their territories. While good dragons of different subspecies are far more tolerant of each other, they are also very territorial. They usually try to work out differences in a peaceful manner. Gem dragons often settle inter-species disputes with riddling contests. All subspecies of dragons have twelve age categories, (From the youngest the Hatchling, the Very Young, the Young, the Juvenile, the Young Adult, the Adult, the Mature Adult, the Old, the Very Old, the Venerable, the Wyrm, and the oldest the Great Wyrm), and gain more abilities and greater power as they age. Dragons range is size from several feet upon hatching to more than a hundred feet, after they have attained the status of great wyrm. The exact size varies according to age and subspecies. A dragon's wingspan is about equal to its body length; almost a quarter of a dragon's body length is neck. Dragons are fearsome predators, but scavenge when necessary and can eat almost anything if they are hungry enough. A dragon's metabolism operates like a highly efficient furnace, making use of practically all of the food the dragon eats. A dragon can metabolize inorganic material, and some dragons have developed a taste for such fare. Although dragons' goals and ideals vary among subspecies, all dragons are covetous, they like to hoard wealth, collecting mounds at,and they bask in the radiance of magical items. For a dragon, there is never enough treasure. Those with large hoards are loath to leave them for long, venturing out of their lairs only to patrol the immediate areas or to get food. Dragons like to make beds of their treasure, shaping nooks and mounds to fit their scaly bulk. By the time they mature to the great wyrm stage, hundreds of gems and coins are imbedded in their hides.
Impulsive and nervous, black dragons tend to act first and think later. There are fewer black dragon scholars and artists than any other subspecies of dragon. Black dragons are extremely independent and ally with other races only if it serves their puposes; hence, they are seldom used by evil forces in times of war. Black dragons move silently and strike quickly, usually using their deadly acid breath weapon to devastate their foes. Their favorite spell is darkness,which is used to cover their movements during attacks.
Although blue dragons live in caves, they perfer to dwell in deserts and arid lands. More gregarious than many of their cousins, blue dragons serve as line quality troops in times of warfare. Blue dragons believe they are the gods' favorites. Blue dragons are wise enough to see the importance of cooperation, and thus are valued allies in times of warfare. Most dragonriders are mounted on blue dragons. The loyalty felt among the members of a blue dragon squad can be so profound that loss of a companion can plunge the survivors into deep depressions, sometimes to the point of hindering their effectiveness on the battlefield. Though highly adept spellcasters and skilled fighters with their teeth and claws, the blue dragons' favorite attack is their lighting breath.
Green dragons are notorious even among evil dragons for their cruel natures and vicious tempers. Green dragons have few concerns beyond their own immediate desires. Unabashed hedonists, they relish treasure, rich foods and sensual pleasures. They are clever and subtle combatants. Green dragons obey orders only from leaders whom they respect. A leader who lose the respect of a green dragon may soon find himself between the dragon's jaw. Green dragons prefer to use trickery and magic on an enemy instead of an all-out assualt, but they engage in bloody melee when necessary. Imploying their deadly chlorine gas breath weapon. Green dragons are rarely used in major offensives, but are often used for assassinations and other sinister assignments.
Red dragons are the strongest and most fearsome of all the evil dragons. They are like the dragons of legends, huge and scaly, with a fiery breath able to destroy whole battalions of would-be-heroes. Their intelligence exceeds that of the blue dragons. They cooperate with other dragons as necessary, but they refuse to obey orders with which they disagree. Red dragons see no grand design to the multiverse; to them, existence is a random mix of chaos and disorder in which only the strongest can survive. Red dragons enjoy nothing more than setting cities ablaze, and then rummaging through the rubble for loot. Though leery of most leaders, they are loyal to their dark goddess, Takhisis. Red dragons work well together. Unless it is in their best interest to take prisoners, red dragons hunt down and destroy their enemies to the last.
White dragons are the least able of all the evil dragons. They have little or no interest in art, and only a peripheral interest in the grand shemes for their evil cousins. In most cases, white dragons pefer to be left alone. In times of war, white dragons are used as scouts or are assigned to defend regions of the least strategic importance. Though slow to react, white dragons can be effective fighters, relying heavily on their ice-like breath weapon (which can freeze nearly any substance) to weaken opponents before closing to attack with their teeth and claw.
Amethyst dragons are wise and regal, with a detached air, ignoring what they consider to be petty squables between good and evil, law and chaos. When hatched, amethyst have lavender skin with small scales of a light, translucent purple. As they grow older, the scales gradually darken. Adults are a sparkling lavender in color. An amethyst dragon's breath weapon is a faceted, violet lozenge, which it can spit into the midst of enemies, up to seventy-five feet. The lozenge explodes with concussive force, causing all the creatures within sixty feet of the impact to be stunned or even paralyzed for an indeffinent amount of time. Amethyst dragons live on the shores of isolated mountain lakes and pools, some in caves beneath the water. They are good parents, but believe their young should fend for themselves as soon as they become young adults. Amethyst dragons dislike red and white dragons, and consider silver and copper dragons to be foolish. Amethyst dragons prefer to eat fish and a large gems. They are not inherently enemies with any life form.
Crystal dragons are the friendliest of the gem dragons, always curious about the world. Though they seldom seek out company, they willingly converse with visitors who do not try to steal from them. At birth, crystal dragons have glossy white scales. As the dragons age, their scales become translucent. Moonlight and starlight cause their scales to luminesce, while bright sunlight lends them a dazzling brilliance which makes crystal dragons almost unbearable to look at. Crystal dragons perfer conversation to combat, and often cast a spell of charm early in a conversation. They do not initially hide, but if visitors become hostile, a crystal dragon will retreat immediately to observe its enemies with its special abilities, and plan an attack. Often it uses its breath weapon first, which is a cone of glowing shards; the cone is sixty feet long, five feet wide at the dragon's mouth, and twenty five feet wide at the base. If hit by the shards a creature without good armor, or magical protection would be shredded to bits. If the creature is lucky enough to escape the glowing shards, they suffer the chance of being blinded by the crystals. Crystal dragons prefer cold, open areas with clear skies, and they enjoy stargazing. They have been known to build snow forts, create beautiful snow sculptures, and throw snow balls at various targets. They are fun-loving and mischeivous. Crystal dragons are reasonably good parents, if somewhat irresponsible. Crystal dragons are hunted by some white dragons. However, a rare crystal dragon will adopt a young white dragon, to teach it to be friendly. Though generally friendly to, they bear great enmity towards all giants, who sometimes try to enslave them. Crystal dragons prefer gem and metal ores to all other foods.
Emerald dragonsare very curious, particularly about local history and customs, but perfer to only observe. They are the most paranoid of the gem dragons, and do not like people to close to their treasure. Emeralde dragons have translucent green scales at birth. As they age, the scales harden and take on many shades of green. They scintillate in the light, and the dragon's hide sems to be in constant motion. Emerald dragons usually set up traps and alarms around their lairs to warn them of visitors. They often hide from intruders, using special abilities to observe, and seldom come out to speak. If intruders attack or approach the dragon's treasure, the dragon burrows underneath to surprise its victims, then use breath weapon and claws, seeking to quickly disable as many as it can. If faced with superior forces, the dragon retreats, and will wait years for revenge if necessary. An emerald dragon's breath weapon is a loud, keening wail which sets up a sonic vibration affecting all creatures within one hunderd and twenty feet of the dragon's mouth. Emerald dragons are reclusive, making lairs in the cones of extinct or seldom active volcaonoes. These dragons are protective parents and their young to stay in their lairs as long as possible for mutual protection. Emerald dragons sometimes live near sapphire dragons, and they fear the voracious greed of red dragons. Emerald dragons will eat anything, but perfer lizards and giants. They are actively hostile towards fire giants.
While not actively hostile, sapphire dragons are militantly teritorial and initially distrustful of anyone who approaches. These beautiful dragons range from light to dark blue, and sparkle in the light, even at birth. Sapphire dragons are often mistaken for blue dragons, unless someone recalls the latter's perfered enviroment. Sapphire dragons generally observe intruders before deciding what to do with them, unless known enemies such as drow or dwarves are present. If others are not actively hostile the dragon attempts conversation and spell use to determine their intentions and convince them to leave. If the dragon or its treasure is threatened, it attacks immediately with breath weapon, spells, and physical attacks. it uses psionics or other special abilities to escape if its life is in jeopardy. This dragon's breath weapon is a cone of high-pitched, almost inaudible sound, seventy five feet long, five feet wide at the dragon's mouth, and twenty five feet wide at the base. Sapphire dragons live deep underground and often place their treasure in caverns accesible only through magic or psionics. They sometimes share territory with emerald dragons. Sapphire dragons treat their young well, but force them to leave and find their own territory as soon as they are young adults. Sapphire dragons consider giant spiders a great delicacy and often hunt them. Deep dragons, drow, dwarves, mind flayers, and aboleth are great enemies of sapphire dragons.
Topaz dragons are unfriednly and selfish. Though not malevolent, but they are seldom pleasant to deal with because of their errectic behavior. Topaz dragons neither seek company nor welcome it. At hatching, topaz dragons are a dull yewllow-orange in color. As they age and their scales harden, the scales become translucent and faceted. Adult topaz dragons sparkle in full sunlight. Topaz dragons dislike intruders, but avoid combat, often conversing to hide psionics or magic use. If intruders are hostile, or the dragon tires of them, it attacks, psionically first, if possible, using spells as needed. They enjoy using teeth and claws, and usually save their breath weapon until wounded. The dragon may pretend to surreneder to buy time, retreats if greatly threatened. It usually makes one or more false retreats, attempting to come abck and attack with surprise. The topaz dragons breath weapon is a cone of dehydration, seventy fee tlong, five feet wide at the dragon's mouth, and twenty five feet wide at the base. When directed against liquids, one cubic foot of water dries up. Topaz dragons live by the sea, often building or claiming caves below the waterline; they keep their caves completely dry. These dragons enjoy sunning on rocky outcroppings, enjoying the wind and spray. They like water little and swim only to hunt or atack. They are indifferent parents at best, and abandon young to protect themselves. They dislike bronze dragons and attack them on sight. Topaz dragons prefer to eat fish and other aquatic creatures, ecspecially giant squid.
Brass dragons believe that life is a series of tests and struggles, designed to weed out the weak from the strong. Though benevolent and understanding of creatures they consider to be inferior, brass dragons believe that ultimately the superior should be allowed to flourish. Generally considered to be the least sophisticated of all the metallic dragons, brass dragonshave little interest in art or culture, instead devoting themselves to developing strategies for dealing with the unavoidable hardships of existence. They are good fighters, prefering to attack with claws and teeth, reserving their breath weapons and spells for emergencies. Their breath weapons are quite formidable, one is a cloud of sleeping gas the other is a blistering blast of desert heat.
Bronze dragons are fond of war and fighting. Bronze dragons are also extremely interested in the affairs of man-kind. In ancient times, bronze dragons were believed to take the forms of domestic animals simply to study the cultures of men. Though not particularly deep thinkers, bronze dragons believe that concepts such as good and evil can be understood intuitively. Logic can actually impair understanding, since the universe is not a logical place. Their devastating breath weapons are a stroke of lightning and a cloud of repulsion gas.
Copper dragons adhere to no particular philosophy and are easily influenced by the opinions of others. They are extremely fond of wealth, almost always demanding to know how cooperating with others will benefit them. They seldom make decisions of consequence without first consulting other dragons. In spite of their selfishness, copper dragons are basically kind-hearted. They are loyal to their friends, but distrustful of strangers. In combat, they freely attack with both breath weapons, a cloud of slow gas or a spurt of acid.
Because of their devotion to the intellect, gold dragons have produced many fine scholars, particularly in the fields of mathematics and philosophy. Though gold dragons respect all intelligent creatures regardless of their species, they rarely associate with other races - the arrogant gold dragons consider such associations to be demeaning. Gold dragons are extremely skilled in magic and prefer to attack with their spells. Though when backed into a corner a gold dragon will unleash either a blast of potent chlorine gas or a cone of fire. At birth, gold dragons have water breathing ability, can speak with animals freely, and are immune to fire and gas. They can also polymorph self three times a day.
Silver dragons believe that the purpose of life is devotion to the standards of good. They believe in the sancity of life and that all creatures are equal in the eyes of the gods. They go to war only reluctantly, but they are fully prepared to give their lives for a cause in which they believe. Silver dragons are the dragons most beloved by the races. They can polymorph into human or elven form and sometimes seem to prefer these forms to their own. They enjoy the company of humans and help them whenever they can. A silver dragon has two breath weapons: a cone of cold or a cloud of paralyzation gas.
Brown dragons, also known as great desert dragons, are ferocious beasts; while they are intelligent, they view human beings as food, and believe it peculiar to talk with one's meal. They lack wings and can not fly. Brown dragons have a coloration similar to that of desert sands, ranging from dim brown at hatchling stage to almost white at great wyrm stage. They have small, webbed claws that are well developed for digging, and very large, long mouths. Their scales are leathery and not as hard as other dragon armors. Brown dragons prefer to dig deep trenches in the sand and wait for prey to appear so they may ambush them. When brown dragons grab their prey, they hold it in their jaws, taking it to their lairs to be eaten when it is most convenient. The brown dragon's breath weapon is a powerful acid, which it spews in a five-foot wide spray that extends in a straight ling form the dragon's head up to sixty feet. Brown dragons use the spray against large numbers, but not against mounted foes, since they know that horses are good eating and don't put up as much a fight as humans. Brown dragons are found in deserts, often close to settled areas. They typically dwell in deep burrows nearly one thousand feet beneath the sand, where they carve out vast chambers. The brown dragon mates and raises a family for only a short period of time; all parents encountered are in the mature adult stage of development. Many browns do not mate. Man is the main enemy of brown dragons. Humans hunt them for their hides and treasure. Blue dragons also attack brown dragons. Battles between the brown and blue dragons are legendary for their ferocity. The people of the desert have a curious respect for the brown dragon, so tales often make the blue dragon more evil than the brown. Brown dragons are able to digest sand and other mineral materials to sustain themselves over long periods of time. However, meat is the prefered diet, with horseflesh being a particular favorite.
Cloud dragons are reclusive creatures that dislike intrusions. They rarely converse, but if persuaded to do so they tend to be taciturn and allof. They have no respect whatsoever for creatures that can not fly without assistance from spells or devices. At birth, cloud dragons have silver-white sclaes tinged with red at the edges. As they grow, the red spreads and lightens to sunset orange. At the mature adult stage and above, the red-orange color deepens to red gold and almost entirely replaces the silver. Cloud dragon are likely to avoid combat (by assuming cloud form) as they are to attack. When attacking, they use their breath wepaon to scatter foes, then cast solid fog and use their weather manipulation abilities to blind and disorient their foes. When very angry, they conjure storms with control weather spells, then they call lightning. They like to use stinking cloud and control winds spells against flying opponents. A cloud dragon's breath weapon is an icy blast of air that is one hundred and fourty feet long, thrity feet high, and thirty feet wide. Creatures caught in the blast suffer damage from cold and flying ice crystals. Cloud dragons are immune to cold. They can assume (or leave) a cohesive, cloud-like form at will, several times a day. Cloud dragons can use their spells and innate abilities while in cloud form, but they can not attack physically or use their breath weapon. Cloud dragons lair in magical cloud islands where there is at least a small, solid floor for laying eggs and storing treasure. Very rarely, they occupy cloud-shrouded mountain peaks. Like all dragons, cloud dragons can eat just about anything. They seem to subsist primarily on rain water, hailstones, and the occasional bit of silver. Because they inhabit in similar territories, cloud dragons come into conflict with silver dragons. Despite their higher intelligence, cloud dragons usually lose such confrontations because of the silver dragons secondary breath weapon and ability to muster allies.
Deep dragons are little known on the surface world. They are the hunter of the Underdark. Cunning and patient, they place their survival, followed by their joy of hunting, above all else. Deep dragons carefully amass and hide treasures in various caches, gaurded with traps and magic. Deep dragons are an iridescent maroon when they hatch, soft-scaled, and unable to change form. They keep to their birth-lair until they have mastered both of their forms - a giant winged worm or snake and a human (drow) form. Deep dragons burrow and fight with powerful, stone-rending claws. They love to fight and hunt prey through the lightless caverns of the Underdark, employing their various forms. In humanoid form armor can be worn, but it is always destroyed in any transformation of shape. A deep dragon can alter its features to resemble any humanoid of roughly human size. it is likely to copy a specific being well enough to be mistaken for the actual creature. A deep dragon's breath weapon is a cone of flesh-corrosive gas fifty feet long, forty feet wide, and thirty feet high. Cloth, metal, and wood are not affected. Leather is treated as dry, exposed skin. Deep dragons are born with infravision, true seeing, and unerring detect magic abilities, and immunities to charm, sleep, and hold magic. Deep dragons are immune to extremes of heat and cold. Deep dragons roam the Underdark and are great explorers. Most often deep dragons are found in well-defended lairs in the Underdark. They often use their powers to reach caverns inaccessible to most creatures. Deep dragons often work with drow. Deep dragons have been known to eat almost anything, but they particularly prize the flesh of clams, fish, and other aquatic creatures. Deep dragons avoid confrontations with other dragons and never fight or steal from others of their own kind.
Mercury dragons are fast, highly-maneuverable cratures with relatively small bodies and long tails. Although naturally good creatures, they are very whimsical, making and changing decisions frequently. At birth, a mercury dragon's scales are dull silver. As it ages, the scales become brighter, until at adult age they gain a brillliant mirror finish. Sunlight or other sources of light reflecting off the scales and wings of a mercury dragon can be blinding.Mercuries speak the language of good dragons, but at high speed, so there's only a seventy five percent chance of understanding a mercury dragon. Mercury dragons are as unpredictable when it comes to combat, as they are in any other situation. They may parley, they might attack instantly, or, perhaps, they may avoid combat entirely. They never attack good-aligned creatures unless sorely provoked. Mercury dragons always use spells in combat, if possible. They are very creative, and can always figure out some innovative way of using virtually any spell to advantage in combat. In addition to the breath weapon and the attack modes shared by all dragons, mercury dragons can curve the mirror-bright membranes of their wings to reflect and concentrate available light (as dim as full moonlight) into a beam of dazzling brightness. They can posotion this beam in a sweeping arc, which blinds foes for a numbers of hours. If not using this technique as a weapon, they can use the beam much like a search-light. A mercury dragon's breath weapon is a beam of brilliant, yellow light. The beam is five feet wide and extends sixty feet from the creature's mouth. Any creature caught in the beam receives damage from severe heat. The heat of the beam is intense enough to ignite flammable objects. At birth, mercury dragons are immune to fire and all magical forms of blindness. Mercury dragons are loners by nature. Their mating behavior is free-wheeling, fun loving, and generally irresponsible. If a female becomes impregnated, however, the male's protective instincts take over. Mercuries are very protective of their offspring, and will give their lives to save them. Offspring usually stay with their parents until they reach the juvenile age category. Because of their unpredictable, sometimes almost irrational nature, mercuries very rarely have close relationships with other creatures in the area. For this reason, mercuries have to depend on magical and mechanical traps and guards to protect their lairs when they are away. Mercury dragons eat anything, but they prefer to feed on metal ores. Although they have no venom attacks, the flesh of mercury dragons is highly poisonous.
Mist dragons are solitary and philosophical. Their favorite activity is sitting quietly and thinking. They hate being disturbed and dislike conversation. At birth, a mist dragon’s scales are shiny blue-white. As the dragon ages, the scales darken, becoming blue-gray with metallic silver flecks that sparkle in sunlight. Mist dragons speak their own tongue and a tongue common to all neutral dragons. Also, some mist dragons possess the ability to speak with any intelligent creature, as most dragons can. Mist dragons seek to avoid combat by assuming mist form. In combat, they quickly use their breath weapons, then assume mist form and hide in the vapor - where they launch a spell assault. A mist dragon’s breath weapon is a cloud of scalding vapor that is ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and thirty feet high. In addition, mist dragons are immune to fire and heat. Mist dragons can assume (and leave) a cohesive, mist-like form at will. In this form, they are quite unlikely to be distinguished from normal mist. They can use their spells and innate abilities while in mist form, but they cannot attack physically or use their breath weapon. Mist dragons live near waterfalls, rapids, coastlines, or where rainfall is frequent and heavy. Their lairs are usually large natural caverns or grottoes that are mist-filled and damp. Forest-dwelling mist dragons occasionally come into conflict with green dragons. Mist dragons greatly resent the green dragons’ attempts to intimidate or dominate them; they usually spend several months vainly trying to avoid a green dragon’s advances before losing all patience and launching an all-out campaign to destroy or drive away the aggressor. Likewise, coastal mist dragons might have bronze dragons for neighbors. This, however, seldom leads to conflict, as both dragons are content to leave the others alone. Mist dragons are loners, and most, if not all are encountered are individuals. Group encounters are with parents and offspring. Mist dragons can eat almost anything, including woody plants and even mud. However, they draw most of their sustenance directly from natural mist or spray. They often lie in misty or foggy places, thinking and basking in the moisture.
Shadow dragons are sly and devious. They are instinctively cunning and are not prone to taking risks. At all ages, a shadow dragon's scales and body are translucent, so that when viewed from a distance it appears to be a mass of shadows. Shadow dragons speak their own tongue and a tongue common to all evil dragons. Shadow dragons prefer to attack from hiding, usually employing invisibility or hiding in shadows. They use illusion/phantasm spells to confuse and misdirect foes. Older dragons are especially fond of their non-detection ability. A shadow dragon's breath weapon is a cloud of blackness that is forty feet long, thirty feet wide, and twenty feet high. Creatures caught in the cloud are blinded for only a few minutes, but the result is a loss of their life force. The life energy loss persists for a variable number of hours. Negative plane protection spells prevent this life energy loss. Once all of an individual’s life energy is stolen, they lapse into a coma for the duration of the black cloud. Shadow dragons are born immune to energy draining and with the ability to hide in shadows with a great amount of success. Shadow dragons hate both bright light and total darkness, preferring variegated lighting with patches of diffuse light and deep, inky shadows. On the Prime Material plane, their lairs are always places that provide shadowy light for most of the day. They prefer ancient ruins, where they can hide underground when the sun is bright and still find shadows above ground during dawn and twilight. In the plane of Shadow, they live in dense thickets of trees and brambles, fortified castles, or labyrinthine caves. In either plane, they prefer to locate their lairs near colonies of other creatures that can alert them to potential foes or victims. The dragons seldom actually cooperate with these allies, however, though the dragons commonly prey on them. Shadow dragons love dark-colored, opaque gems, and especially prize black stones. They also collect magical items that produce shadows or darkness. They use these items to turn areas filled with total darkness or light into masses of shadows. Shadow dragons eat almost anything. Their favorite food is rotting carrion, though they often kill for sport. Slain victims are left to decay until they become suitably foul. These dragons are equally fond of frost-killed, waterlogged, or salt-poisoned plants.
Steel dragons love to have human and demihuman companions, and they prefer to live amid the hustle and bustle of great cities. They often pose as sages, scholars, mages, or other intellectuals. At birth, a steel dragon's scales are deep blue-gray with steely highlights. As the dragon approaches adulthood, its color slowly lightens to that of lustrous burnished steel. When these dragons take on human form, they always have one steel-gray feature-hair, eyes, nails, or sometimes a ring or other ornament. Steel dragons speak their own tongue and a tongue common to all neutral dragons. Steel dragons favor repartee over combat. If pressed, they usually begin with a spell assault and avoid melee. If seriously harmed or threatened, they resume dragon form and use their breath weapons. They breathe on any foe they plan to engage in melee, and they seek to keep their foes within the cloud until the gas loses its potency. A steel dragon's breath weapon is a cube of toxic gas. The dragon can monitor the amount of gas released so closely that it can make the cube as small or as large as it desires. Creatures caught in the gas have a severe chance of dying instantly. The gas is quickly absorbed through the skin and is just as lethal if inhaled. Coating all exposed skin with lard or grease offers some protection. Steel dragons are immune to all poisons. A steel dragon can polymorph self five times a day. Each change in form lasts until the dragon chooses a different form. Reverting to the dragon's normal form does not count as a change. Steel dragons prefer human lodgings that are well equipped with strong rooms or vaults to protect their treasures. Steel dragons prefer human form to their own, and they always have mortal companions. They are endlessly curious about human and demihuman art, culture, history, and politics. They always keep their true nature secret, but they are able to recognize each other. Steel dragons prefer human food. Unlike other form shifting dragons, they cannot live on such fare indefinitely, as they must eat enough to maintain their true bulk. Once or twice a month, they leave their adopted cities and go into the wilderness to hunt for food. They explain their absences in a way consistent with their human identities. Steel dragons hate chaotic creatures that seek to disrupt life in cities or despoil their hunting grounds. In the city the dragons never hesitate to report troublemakers or to use their special abilities to hunt down criminals. In the wilderness, they prefer swifter forms of justice.
Although the existence of yellow dragons bas long been predicted by sages (based on theories of primary colors), the first specimen was spotted only five or so years ago. The creatures are solitary and secretive, preferring to lay in wait for prey to stumble into carefully prepared traps instead of hunting actively. At birth, yellows have soft, tan scales. As they grow older, the scales harden and become lighter in color, eventually reaching the grayish yellow of desert sands Their scales always have a dusty texture to them, giving them a finish that does not reflect light well. Even their teeth and claws have a similar finish. No part of the yellow dragon will glint in the sunlight, thereby giving away its position. Yellow dragons speak their own tongue, which is quite different than that spoken by other evil dragons. Yellows have no interest in speaking with other races, and so they learn no other languages. Although preferring guile to combat and ambush to attack, yellows are fierce and cunning fighters. Even if forced into a situation where direct combat is inevitable, they'll still use their spells and innate abilities so as to mislead, misdirect, and distract their opponents. A favorite hunting tactic for a yellow is to dig a steep-walled, cone-shaped depression in the sand, and then bury itself at the bottom of this crater with just its eyes and nostrils showing. When a creature stumbles into the depression, the dragon moves its wings in the sand, causing the steep walls of the cone to collapse and drawing the prey straight to the dragon's mouth. A yellow dragon's breath weapon is a high velocity blast of scorching air mixed with sand. This affects an area fifty feet long, forty feet wide, and twenty feet high. There is also a chance that the abrasive sand will damage a victim’s eyes, sometimes temporarily, sometimes not. Yellow dragons are immune to fire and heat and can cast ten-foot radius silence at will. Yellow dragons love deserts, preferring areas of sandy, windswept desolation. They are most comfortable in daytime temperatures of one hundred and five degrees and up, although they can easily survive subfreezing temperatures at night. They share much the same territory as brasses; thus the species occasionally come into conflict. Yellows are solitary, selfish creatures that form no close bonds with any other creature, including other yellows. They are highly territorial: the only time they’ll let another yellow into their territory is to mate, which is actually quite rare. Immediately afterward, the dragons separate. The mother raises the offspring, but won't go out of her way to protect them from attackers. The young dragons usually leave home before they reach the juvenile age. The main enemies of yellow dragons are brasses, which actively hunt the smaller creatures. Although able to eat anything, yellows favor fresh meat. (Demi)humans are considered a delicacy, as are the unhatched eggs of brass dragons (Yellows rarely get to enjoy this latter feast.)
If you have come upon any other dragons, please send me their statistics, your help will be greatly appreciated.
