Dragon

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dragons were inherently magical beings, and in no case should dragons be considered reptiles, despite obvious similarities such as a scaled epidermis and reproduction by laying eggs. In fact, they were more akin to feline creatures than reptiles, particularly in regards to their posture and movements, as well as being inherently warm-blooded and an eye composition similar to felines, although far more complex. A good example of this was the placement of the legs: dragons also tended to place their rear foot where their front foot was previously, much like most stalking feline predators.

Genetics and Reproduction

The number of eggs a dragon laid each brood depended on its race, but was usually low, between one and ten. Thanks to some dragons being able to shape-shift, dragons could also cross-breed with virtually any other creature, creating a half-dragon. The most commonly heard of were in the humanoid races, particularly with human and elves.

Growth Rate & Stages

Once hatched dragons begin rapidly growing, doubling and tripling their size over the first few months of life. At about a year they are then able to speak draconic although due to dragons being able to communicate with them while in the egg dragons are able to understand draconic at birth. Dragons then continue to grow very fast, not however ever reaching the speed of their first few months, at about four to five years of age dragons undeveloped wings begin to mature and flight becomes possible.

Dietary Needs and Habits

All dragons were omnivorous and could eat almost anything, thanks to their innate elemental nature that allowed them to consume and digest all sorts of food, including substances that wouldn't qualify as food to other living creatures. Most dragons preferred a carnivorous diet, but a few of them had developing unique dietary habits.

Additional Information

Domestication

While attempted numerous times humanoid races have never been able to domesticate dragons, even though at some stages of life they can be somewhat animalistic dragons seem to have an innate sense of individualism not allowing themselves to submit to servitude.

Average Intelligence

Once full maturity has been reached dragons can, depending on the subspecies, be extremely intelligent. Intelligence is not the only relevant measure however, dragons are not humanoids and can behave very differently often appearing somewhat animalistic to other races. Most dragons choose to live in solitude, find a mate and raise their young often living in out of the way places such as caves or in the mountains. In addition, the perception of them being animals by other races is helped by their generally poor communication skills with other races preferring not to intermingle with them. There are of course many exceptions where dragons fully integrate into society and have larger aspirations, this is not the norm however.

Civilization and Culture

History

It was not clear exactly how dragons came to inhabit Abeir-Toril, but many traditions believed their origin was related to the Tearfall. Some scholars believe this event precipitated a dramatic climatic change, which in turn sparked the rapid evolution of proto-dragons into the varied forms of dragonkind known today, while others claim that the dragon race was born from falling meteors that were actually dragon eggs. Regardless of their true origins, as soon as the race was established, they began a war with the giants that would last over a thousand years. This war concluded, according to the giants, when a stalemate occurred in a game of wah-ree between the dragon god Garyx and the giant god Annam All-Father. However, according to the dwarves, the dragons ceased the war due to their own civil war developing between the chromatic and the metallic dragons, known as the Dragonfall War, a conflict between the followers of Bahamut and Tiamat that continued unabated even in more recent times.
Individual dragons and dragon clans came to rule large swaths of territory and battled with their rivals not only for dominion of those lands, but also over matters of religious nature as the dragons of that ancient age were devout followers of their draconic gods. This period of devastating warfare among the dragons led the race to near extinction. Eventually, draconic philosophers came to the conclusion that all of the fighting was wasteful and that gods who allowed such behavior were not worthy of their worship. This started the dragon's apathy toward their gods, which lasted for thousands of years. They also created the xorvintaal to determine supremacy among them.
Draconic rule came to an end when the elves created the Dracorage mythal, a powerful magical effect that incited all dragons across Faerûn to madness and mindless destruction, turning against each other and even against their offspring. This event became known as the Rage of Dragons. Dragons were unable to take control of Faerûn again, their collective power waxing and waning over the following millennia. Although exceptions were recorded throughout history, the majority of Faerûn's dragons came to occupy the niche of top predator, not ruler. After the last Rage of Dragons, in 1373 DR, the dragon population of Faerûn was greatly reduced in number. That realization sparked the need of dragons to look for the help of their gods, marking the prophesied "turning of the Great Cycle", an ancient myth that foretold the return of draconic religious fervor. The dragon gods who survived the long years without worshipers received a great influx of power from their new draconic followers. In 1374 DR, a new "Tearfall" caused several new dragon eggs to fall from the sky.
As dragons became free from the effects of the Dracorage mythal, Faerûn was threatened with the possibility of a new Time of Dragons.

Common Myths and Legends

It is commonly believed that chromatic and metallic dragons are evil and good respectively, this is incorrect however this misconception has its roots in truth. Chromatic dragons have a tendinacy to be more aggressive and greedier while metallic dragons tend to cooperate with other races more and not be as destructive. This is however still a generalization as it is very often not true, especially in younger dragons. While not as widely thought many think that all dragons are able to transform into a humanoid form, again it is somewhat true as many can do this most cant. Those who can are either very lucky and develop it at a later age or do so through magic.

Lifespan

Unknown, Can live for thousands of years

Average Height

Dragons never truely stop growing, they can be the size of an anvil along with some being the size of a castle.