Dragon

Dragons [5] were very powerful and magical creatures.[3] There were several types of dragons,[2] the most common of which were chromatic and metallic, which were evil and good respectively.[1] They were an ancient race. Few species that still exist can claim longer lineage.[3] Dragons were the bane of the creator races of Toril; their line was so old, they had their own realm during the first recorded exploits of the elves.[6] In recent times, the dragons of Toril were nearly all recluses or at the very least deceptive to their true nature, living amongst other species in polymorphed form.

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.[32] 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.[32] 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.[32]

Biological Traits

Dragons can live for centuries making them one of the oldest creatures in exist in Middle Realms Lore. Many dragons vary in size children born with dragon blood, have a dragon birthmark on their forearm much like Half-sharks. Drakes were smaller than dragons

Genetics and Reproduction

The number of eggs a dragon laid each brood depended on its race, but was usually low, between one and ten.[38] Evil dragons of adult age often laid and abandoned clutches of eggs, leaving the wyrmlings to work together to raise themselves until they were old enough to go their separate ways. Good dragons of adult age, and some more intelligent evil dragons, would form families consisting of the mated pair and their offspring. The children generally left the family by the time they reached young adulthood. As dragon couples got older, they became increasingly likely to split apart as the desire for treasure began to outweigh interests in families. Older dragons would continue to mate, but would assign a single parent to the duty of raising the offspring.[35] Thanks to their shape-shifting, 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 humans and elves. Any combination was possible, however, even with devils or angels.[39] Most of the time when dragons of different types crossbred it resulted in no offspring. Whenever offspring did occur between different types, the offspring's biology would almost always favor one of the parent's "type" over the other and might display characteristics that varied from its norm. In very rare instances of crossbreeding yielding offspring, the resulting child's biology might favor neither parent. This might result in them being born as a new type or with albinism.[

Ecology and Habitats

Worldwide

Dietary Needs and Habits

Meat. Dragons can eat almost anything

Additional Information

Social Structure

All dragons were inherently territorial and covetous. They hoarded wealth—although "wealth" could mean different things to different dragons—and jealously protected their hoards. For most dragons, there was no such thing as enough treasure. They enjoyed collecting mountains of gold, gems, coins, and magic items. They found these treasures radiant and enticing, and would make nooks and beds for themselves in their money piles. The habit of sleeping on their wealth meant that most great wyrms had hundreds of coins and gems embedded in their hides.[35] Evil dragons are quick to attack anyone they perceive as a threat to their hoard, even other dragons. Good dragons are more likely to attempt diplomacy, but their desire to protect their hoard is no less intense.[35]

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Hides of dragons used for armor or capes. Skulls of dragons used for display much like modern deer heads

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Worldwide

Average Intelligence

Many dragons are capable of speech and have high intelligence

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Dragons have very good hearing making them almost impossible to sneak past if they were asleep or guarding something.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Varies

Courtship Ideals

Varies

Relationship Ideals

Varies

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.[44] Regardless of their true origins, in the few centuries that followed their arrival to Abeir-Toril,[45] the dragons generally kept aloof of the world's giants and ignored them,[46] maintaining a relative peace with their nation Ostoria.[47] Though they regularly preyed upon the herds of animals the giants founded and tended, such as elk and rothé.[46] This led to many minor conflicts with the giants,[45] as they felt slaying these poachers was not only desirable, but worthy of great honor[46] or "bragging rights." Though such conflicts were always personal, not tribal or regional. With most being settled by contests of might, skill, or wits rather than outright murder.[47]
Circa -26000 DR, tensions between the two reached their peak and would erupt into a war that would last over a thousand years.[6] It was uncertain exactly what finally set off the war between them,[47] but by most accounts it was when the dragon god Garyx sent an avatar to lead a flight of red dragons to attack Ostoria.[6][45] An assault that led to the burning and destruction of a cloud giant city.[45] According to giants, this occurred because Garyx had inflamed those dragons with thoughts of greed and envy over Ostoria's prosperity.[47]
Despite giantkind's best efforts during this war, dragonkind ultimately drove them out of the southern portion of Ostoria.[45] The war eventually concluded with a truce, though accounts of the event and its nature differed among the races.[5][45] According to the giants, this occurred because of a game of wah-ree between Garyx and the giant god Annam All-Father,[5][45] a game whose stalemate result granted the dragons continued ownership of the territories they had won in the war.[45]
However, according to the dwarves, the dragons ceased the war due to their own civil war developing between the chromatic and the metallic dragons,[5] known as the Dragonfall War, a conflict between the followers of Bahamut and Tiamat that continued unabated even in more recent times.[44]
Individual dragons and dragon clans came to rule large swaths of territory and battled with their rivals not only for dominion of those lands,[6] but also over matters of religious nature as the dragons of that ancient age were devout followers of their draconic gods.[44] This period of devastating warfare among the dragons led the race to near extinction.[48] 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.[44] They also created the xorvintaal to determine supremacy among them.[49]
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.[50] 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.[51]
After the last Rage of Dragons, in 1373 DR, the dragon population of Faerûn was greatly reduced in number.[52] 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.[52] 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.[52]
As dragons became free from the effects of the Dracorage mythal, Faerûn was threatened with the possibility of a new Time of Dragons.[52]

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Varies

Origin/Ancestry

Natural

Lifespan

Centuries

Average Height

Varies

Average Weight

Varies

Average Length

Varies

Average Physique

Four-footed muscular

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Varies depending on race some have shades of red, green, white, purple, and black