dragon
Dragons have long serpentine bodies, with proportionately long necks and tails. Their bodies have four limbs: two short back legs and two large wings as forelimbs, a body-plan similar to a bat. In later generations, after the dragons went extinct, physical descriptions of dragons became so confused in memory that artwork sometimes depicted them as having six limbs - two wings growing out of their backs in addition to four legs - but this is inaccurate, at least in Westerosian legend. The teeth and claws of adult dragons are as long and sharp as swords. Dragons are covered in scales, as well as spines that run down their backs from head to tail. Particularly large ridges of horns frame the edges of their faces, running along the back of the skull and along the jawline, which grow bigger as they mature. Adult dragons possess two sets of frills that run along the backs of their necks and spine, two along the sides of their necks and another two centered closer to the backbone, for a total of four frills. These are formed from webbing that grows between longer spines. When dragons are agitated (or simply excited), they raise and flare these frills - similar to how a furry animal like a cat will raise the hackles on its back when agitated (or a feathered animal such as a goose will puff up its feathers), in an attempt to appear bigger so as to intimidate its enemies.
Dragons are also shown to have a variety of calls, from shrieking roars to low growls or hisses. They can even squeal.Dragons are obligate carnivores, with diets consisting entirely of meat. Dragons need to roast their prey with their fire-breath before consuming it - the only animals apart from humans who prefer cooked meat. Dragons can eat almost any kind of meat, anything from sheep to fish. Historical dragons ridden as beasts of war were known to eat fallen horses and even men on the battlefield. Fully grown dragons could swallow a live horse whole.
It was believed by scholars from Candlekeep that all species of metallic dragons evolved from the proto-dragon species of the ferrodraco genus. Although there were many metallic dragon species, the following are the ones known by sages of Faerûn:
Gold dragons
Gold dragons are the most powerful and majestic of the classic metallic dragons. They are seen as wise, lawful good foes of evil and injustice. Gold dragons are very knowledgeable and reclusive. They preferred stone lairs and had a cone of fire as a breath weapon.
Silver dragons
Silver dragons were seen as regal, lawful good creatures who often took a humanoid form and lived among humans and elves. Their breath weapon was a cone of freezing cold, and they normally laired in mountains. They often show signs of great intellect and prefer to avoid fighting if necessary. This does not mean they are not deadly if encountered, however.
Bronze dragons
Bronze dragons were inquisitive dragons with a fierce appearance and a fascination for warfare. They would often seek to fight evil, and would join good-aligned armies in a humanoid form. They were lawful good, lived in coastal areas, and had an electrical breath weapon.
Copper dragons
Copper dragons were born pranksters, jokesters, and riddlers. They were chaotic good and lived in rocky mountains. Copper dragons had an acid breath weapon but preferred to avoid combat altogether, instead taunting and teasing foes until they left.
Brass dragons
Brass dragons were extremely talkative and loved the intense heat of deserts. They often engaged foes and friends alike in hours of long-winded conversation. They avoided combat if possible, but would use their breath weapon, a cone of sleeping gas, to subdue foes if threatened. They were the weakest of the classic metallic dragons, but still chaotic good.
Mercury dragons
Mercury dragons were whimsical, impulsive creatures. They delighted in unpredictability and were reputed to be mentally unstable as well.
Iron dragons
Iron dragons were powerful, dangerous predators. While most had a neutral alignment, some were actually evil.
Steel dragons
Steel dragons were sociable, clever, and curious, and they preferred the company of humanoids rather than dragons. They often clandestinely lived in humanoid cities, and spent much of their time in a humanoid form. They were either lawful neutral or lawful good, and breathed a cone of poison gas.
Platinum dragons
The rarest, largest, and most powerful of the metallic dragons, platinum dragons represented the epitome of the metallic dragons. Many believed that only one ever existed
Red dragons Red dragons were greedy, chaotic evil creatures, interested only in their own well-being, vanity, and the extension of their treasure hoards. They were supremely confident, being the largest and most powerful of the chromatic dragons. Typically found living in mountainous regions, they breathed a cone of fire.
Black dragons
Black dragons, or skull dragons, were the most vile-tempered and cruel of all chromatic dragons. Excellent swimmers who normally lived in swamps and marshes, they preferred ambush attacks. They had a corrosive acid breath weapon.
Blue dragons
Blue dragons, or storm dragons, were manipulative, lawful evil chromatics who were infamous for their skill at creating hallucinations, and their cruel use of such things. They preferred aerial combat, which allowed them to use their electrical breath weapon most efficiently. Blue dragons most often lived in arid wastelands and deserts.They were the second most powerful of the chromatic dragons.
Green dragons
Green dragons were highly territorial, deceptive, forest-dwelling creatures who loved secrets and intrigue. Although lawful evil, they were duplicitous and cunning foes who loved combat. They were the third most powerful of the chromatic dragons. Their breath weapon was a cone of poisonous green gas.
White dragons
White dragons, also called ice dragons or glacial wyrms, were the smallest and weakest of the classic chromatic dragons. However, they were by no means harmless. White dragons were extremely well-suited to their arctic habitat and had excellent memories. They were more feral than other dragons, though, and always chaotic evil. They breathed a cone of ice or frost.
Brown dragons
Brown dragons, also called great desert dragons,were wingless, neutral evil dragons who laired in deserts. They preferred ambushes to straightforward combat, burying themselves in the sand.
Purple dragons
Purple dragons, also called deep dragons, were slender, agile dragons who patiently stalked their prey. They lived in the Underdark and were rarely found on the surface. Purple dragons often allied with drow, and considered themselves rivals of cloakers and mind flayers. They were chaotic evil and had a psychic "breath weapon" that confused and disoriented the target.
Gray dragons
Gray dragons, also called fang dragons, were rapacious, violent dragons that were good at physical combat but poor at flying. Some gray dragons possessed an acid breath weapon.
Yellow dragons
A very rare species of chromatic dragons, only a few individuals of this species had been spotted throughout history. Yellow dragons were solitary predators and secretive creatures, even among dragons. They were reported to dwell in deserts.
Salt dragons
Also called yellow dragons, and as rare as the other species called such. They inhabited salt flats and marshes, and were largely solitary creatures
Types of True Dragons
Metallic dragons were a type of dragon distinguished typically by the color and composition of their scales, that was like that of various metals, hence the name. They were generally considered good, altruistic, and righteous creatures. Despite their relatively benign nature, metallic dragons were also aggressive when threatened or challenged. They usually worshiped Bahamut, whom they regarded as their king.It was believed by scholars from Candlekeep that all species of metallic dragons evolved from the proto-dragon species of the ferrodraco genus. Although there were many metallic dragon species, the following are the ones known by sages of Faerûn:
Gold dragons
Gold dragons are the most powerful and majestic of the classic metallic dragons. They are seen as wise, lawful good foes of evil and injustice. Gold dragons are very knowledgeable and reclusive. They preferred stone lairs and had a cone of fire as a breath weapon.
Silver dragons
Silver dragons were seen as regal, lawful good creatures who often took a humanoid form and lived among humans and elves. Their breath weapon was a cone of freezing cold, and they normally laired in mountains. They often show signs of great intellect and prefer to avoid fighting if necessary. This does not mean they are not deadly if encountered, however.
Bronze dragons
Bronze dragons were inquisitive dragons with a fierce appearance and a fascination for warfare. They would often seek to fight evil, and would join good-aligned armies in a humanoid form. They were lawful good, lived in coastal areas, and had an electrical breath weapon.
Copper dragons
Copper dragons were born pranksters, jokesters, and riddlers. They were chaotic good and lived in rocky mountains. Copper dragons had an acid breath weapon but preferred to avoid combat altogether, instead taunting and teasing foes until they left.
Brass dragons
Brass dragons were extremely talkative and loved the intense heat of deserts. They often engaged foes and friends alike in hours of long-winded conversation. They avoided combat if possible, but would use their breath weapon, a cone of sleeping gas, to subdue foes if threatened. They were the weakest of the classic metallic dragons, but still chaotic good.
Mercury dragons
Mercury dragons were whimsical, impulsive creatures. They delighted in unpredictability and were reputed to be mentally unstable as well.
Iron dragons
Iron dragons were powerful, dangerous predators. While most had a neutral alignment, some were actually evil.
Steel dragons
Steel dragons were sociable, clever, and curious, and they preferred the company of humanoids rather than dragons. They often clandestinely lived in humanoid cities, and spent much of their time in a humanoid form. They were either lawful neutral or lawful good, and breathed a cone of poison gas.
Platinum dragons
The rarest, largest, and most powerful of the metallic dragons, platinum dragons represented the epitome of the metallic dragons. Many believed that only one ever existed
Types of Chromatic Dragons
Chromatic dragons were a type of dragon distinguished typically by a solid, non-reflective coloring of their scales, hence the name. They were generally considered evil, greedy, and predatory, and usually worshiped Tiamat, whom they regarded as their queen. It was believed by scholars from Candlekeep that all species of chromatic dragons evolved from the proto-dragon species of the inficedraco genus.Red dragons Red dragons were greedy, chaotic evil creatures, interested only in their own well-being, vanity, and the extension of their treasure hoards. They were supremely confident, being the largest and most powerful of the chromatic dragons. Typically found living in mountainous regions, they breathed a cone of fire.
Black dragons
Black dragons, or skull dragons, were the most vile-tempered and cruel of all chromatic dragons. Excellent swimmers who normally lived in swamps and marshes, they preferred ambush attacks. They had a corrosive acid breath weapon.
Blue dragons
Blue dragons, or storm dragons, were manipulative, lawful evil chromatics who were infamous for their skill at creating hallucinations, and their cruel use of such things. They preferred aerial combat, which allowed them to use their electrical breath weapon most efficiently. Blue dragons most often lived in arid wastelands and deserts.They were the second most powerful of the chromatic dragons.
Green dragons
Green dragons were highly territorial, deceptive, forest-dwelling creatures who loved secrets and intrigue. Although lawful evil, they were duplicitous and cunning foes who loved combat. They were the third most powerful of the chromatic dragons. Their breath weapon was a cone of poisonous green gas.
White dragons
White dragons, also called ice dragons or glacial wyrms, were the smallest and weakest of the classic chromatic dragons. However, they were by no means harmless. White dragons were extremely well-suited to their arctic habitat and had excellent memories. They were more feral than other dragons, though, and always chaotic evil. They breathed a cone of ice or frost.
Brown dragons
Brown dragons, also called great desert dragons,were wingless, neutral evil dragons who laired in deserts. They preferred ambushes to straightforward combat, burying themselves in the sand.
Purple dragons
Purple dragons, also called deep dragons, were slender, agile dragons who patiently stalked their prey. They lived in the Underdark and were rarely found on the surface. Purple dragons often allied with drow, and considered themselves rivals of cloakers and mind flayers. They were chaotic evil and had a psychic "breath weapon" that confused and disoriented the target.
Gray dragons
Gray dragons, also called fang dragons, were rapacious, violent dragons that were good at physical combat but poor at flying. Some gray dragons possessed an acid breath weapon.
Yellow dragons
A very rare species of chromatic dragons, only a few individuals of this species had been spotted throughout history. Yellow dragons were solitary predators and secretive creatures, even among dragons. They were reported to dwell in deserts.
Salt dragons
Also called yellow dragons, and as rare as the other species called such. They inhabited salt flats and marshes, and were largely solitary creatures
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Like most reptiles, dragons lay clutches of eggs. Dragon eggs are roughly the size of a human child's head, and as heavy as stone, so they need to be carried with two hands. The outer shell is covered in scales, with vastly different color patterns between eggs, usually matching the color of the dragon inside. Dragon eggs are notoriously difficult to hatch, though they can maintain the spark of life inside of them for decades if not centuries. The secret key to hatching the eggs seems to involve some form of blood magic
Growth Rate & Stages
Newly hatched dragons are about the size of a small cat, but they grow very rapidly, reaching the size of a small dog in about one year, and the size of a small pony in only three or four years. The rate at which specific dragons can grow varies from one to the next, but in some cases dragons can grow big enough to ride after only a few years. It is unknown at what age dragons reach reproductive maturity. Dragons never stop growing as long as they live, and they can live for centuries, though many died in combat before reaching such an age. However, if dragons are chained or confined into an enclosed space for long periods of time it can hinder their growth and their overall size.
When dragons hatch, they do have horns around their faces and along their spines, but they are still quite small and relatively rounded. Their horns grow increasingly longer and sharper as they mature, quickly making the dragon appear more dangerous and menacing to prey or other dragons. The four lines of webbed frills along a dragon's spine only grow to a prominent size after they are about a year old. The bigger the dragon is, the bigger its appetite. When a dragon reaches adolescence, roughly when they are the size of a pony, they tend to be rebellious to a degree, much like how human teenagers are, even snarling at their imprinted parent. However, as they mature, this trait disappears. True dragons went through twelve stages of growth during their enormously long life cycle. While size depended on the subspecies of dragon, great wyrms were often more than 100 feet (30 meters) in length. Unlike humans, age did not seem to diminish their strength, intelligence, or power, and often had the opposite effect, and so the oldest wyrms were among the most formidable and impressive creatures in all of Faerûn. While there is no solid research on the full lifespan of a dragon, the oldest records state there being dragons who have reached the age of 1,200 plus years.
When dragons hatch, they do have horns around their faces and along their spines, but they are still quite small and relatively rounded. Their horns grow increasingly longer and sharper as they mature, quickly making the dragon appear more dangerous and menacing to prey or other dragons. The four lines of webbed frills along a dragon's spine only grow to a prominent size after they are about a year old. The bigger the dragon is, the bigger its appetite. When a dragon reaches adolescence, roughly when they are the size of a pony, they tend to be rebellious to a degree, much like how human teenagers are, even snarling at their imprinted parent. However, as they mature, this trait disappears. True dragons went through twelve stages of growth during their enormously long life cycle. While size depended on the subspecies of dragon, great wyrms were often more than 100 feet (30 meters) in length. Unlike humans, age did not seem to diminish their strength, intelligence, or power, and often had the opposite effect, and so the oldest wyrms were among the most formidable and impressive creatures in all of Faerûn. While there is no solid research on the full lifespan of a dragon, the oldest records state there being dragons who have reached the age of 1,200 plus years.
Behaviour
Dragons are very intelligent creatures - at times seeming to approach human levels of intelligence and emotion - but they never specifically display it: Dragons can't physically talk, and although they can understand voice commands from humans, this is no more than what a dog or a horse can do. Rather, dragons appear to have some sort of higher, unnatural level of intelligence; they seem to be more in tune with the workings of the universe (i.e. "magic" or "fate" or "nature") than humans are, and possess a sense of mental awareness that humans do not.
Genetic Descendants
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