Dragon Sage - Dragon (Character Kit)

:This was originally published in Dragon Magazine #207
==Dragon Sage==
Knowledge is power. This philosophy, above all else, defines the dragon sage. Dragons who pursue knowledge to the exclusion of everything else become drag on sages. To these dragons, the what, where, when, and why of a particular subject is as important as the how. However, dragon sages are not reptilian know-it-alls. Most know an awful lot about a few select subjects. It is the rare dragon sage who has access to many fields of expertise.
A dragon sage spends the time between hatching and reaching 1st level learning about his initial field of study, as well as learning the theories and techniques of wizardly and priestly magic. To the young dragon sage, the difference between wizardly and priestly magic is not as significant as the wizards and priests would have everyone believe. As a hatchling PC, a dragon sage receives instruction from a higher-level sage connected to the Council of Wyrms Aerie. During this time of apprenticeship, while a dragon sage gains the experience and treasure necessary to advance to 1st level, she is also learning a selection of spells and preparing a spell book. The spell book contains three spells to start: read magic, one additional firstlevel wizard spell selected randomly by the DM, and one first-level priest spell also selected by the DM. Until the sage reaches 1st level, he must rely on his natural drag on abilities to defend himself from the dangers of the island chain.
Because a dragon sage follows a scholarly approach to both types of magic, he loses the ability other dragons have to shape spells naturally. A dragon sage does not follow the spell progression listed for his dragon type on Table 5: Dragon Information by Age (in the COUNCIL OF WYRMS boxed set). Instead, the sage gains and uses wizard spells as a wizard does, and priest spells as a priest (though the sage's approach to these isn't faith but scholarly research into methods and techniques).
The spell progression table here lists how many spells a sage can cast at a given level. These spells can be drawn from the sage's collection of wizard or priest spells, but no more than the specified number of spells can be cast in a single day. Dragon sages are limited in their selection of spells, however. They may only learn wizard spells from the schools of lesser/greater divination and conjuration/summoning (see pages 238-239 of the Player's Handbook), and priest spells from the spheres of divination and summoning (see pages 240-241 of the PH).
Requirements: All dragon types with Intelligence scores of 14 or better and Wisdom scores of 13 or better can select this kit.
Role: Dragon sages are obsessive characters as far as knowledge is concerned. A dragon sage finds a particular subject that excites him and then researches it until every fact—from the consequential to the mundane—has been committed to memory. If someone needs to know about a given topic, then find a dragon sage. However, as each sage's area of expertise is different, the search may take a while.
Dragon sages are knowledge specialists who concentrate their efforts until they master a specific field, then they select another body of information to study. A sage travels far and wide to uncover every detail about his chosen specialty, or to share that knowledge with others. It is customary to trade treasure for the wisdom of a dragon sage. The standard exchange is treasure worth 100 gp multiplied by the sage's level for student-level knowledge on a subject. Double that for information only an expert could know, and triple it to receive knowledge only a master of the subject could know.
In an adventuring party, a dragon sage may go along to add to his own body of knowledge, or a sage may be assigned by the Council (or requested by the adventurers) to provide an expert on a particular subject. The dragon sage can be distracted by details, missing the big picture in his search for minutia. He is extremely curious and loves to engage in scholarly conversation. Still, the sage rarely gives up any knowledge for free. Pay in kind for what is given in kind, the sage always says. Sometimes treasure isn't the only form of payment a sage will accept. Knowledge in exchange for knowledge always is an acceptable alternative (if it is knowledge the sage is interested in adding to his collection).
Combat Proficiencies: A hatchling dragon sage starts with the claw attack as a bonus proficiency. It receives additional combat proficiencies as listed on Table 10: Dragon Proficiency Slots in the COUNCIL OF WYRMS boxed set. Dragon sages, however, can use combat slots to purchase noncombat proficiencies if they so desire.
Noncombat Proficiencies: The proficiencies suggested for the dragon sage are as follows:
* Bonus Proficiencies: Racial language, Racial bonus (see Book One, Chapter Two of the boxed set), two specific lore slots of the character's choice (received at 1st level).
* Required Proficiencies: Reading/writing (as of 1st level).
* Recommended Proficiencies (at hatching): Hunting, Languages (high draconic), Observation, Singing, Trick.
* Recommended Proficiencies (after 1st level): Ancient history, Astrology, Debate, Languages (ancient), Local history, Lore, Sagecraft.
Equipment: None. A dragon sage is restricted to items usable by creatures of great size and limited dexterity. What a sage places in his treasure hoard, however, is never restricted. At 1st level, a dragon sage receives a spell book containing three spells, as outlined above, as well as a collection of spell components.
Special Benefits: In addition to the bonus claw attack combat proficiency and the two bonus lore noncombat proficiencies (received upon achieving 1st level), a dragon sage starts with one item in its bonded hoard. This item, a gem or precious metal appropriate to the dragon's type, starts with a value of 1,000 gp multiplied by the hatchling's Hit Dice total. A portion of the item is consumed during incubation, so that when the hatchling emerges from its egg, the item is reduced in value. This reduction is equal to the total of the hatchling's Strength and Constitution scores multiplied by 100 gp. Other benefits are described below.
Spell use: After slotting the Sagecraft proficiency, a dragon sage can cast both wizard and priest spells according to the spell progression table. The sage is limited to spells from the lesser/greater divination and conjuration/summoning schools of wizardly magic, and the priestly spheres of divination and summoning.
Proficiency benefit: The dragon sage can use his combat proficiency slots to purchase noncombat proficiencies. Lore check bonus: After a dragon sage purchases the Sagecraft proficiency, he receives special bonuses to all lore checks he is required to make. Lore, a new proficiency described in the boxed set, reflects a character's scholarly knowledge on a given subject. When making lore checks, a sage (with Sagecraft) needs to roll Int -2 for student-level knowledge, Int -4 for expert knowledge, and Int -6 for master knowledge (instead of the normal -3, -6, and -9 respectively).
Special Hindrances: Dragon sages do not follow the normal dragon spell progression as outlined on Table 5: Dragon Information by Age (Specific) from the boxed set. Instead, they must follow the progression table provided with this kit description. Other hindrances are described below.
Spell failure: Any spell cast by a dragon sage has a chance to fail. The chance of spell failure is based on their Wisdom score, plus 15%. So, even a sage with a Wisdom score of 18 has a 15% chance of spell failure.
Combat penalty: Dragon sages do not get to add the combat bonus based on their level that other dragon characters can use, due to their more cerebral approach to life. Instead of the full combat bonus, a dragon sage receives one-half the combat bonus rounded down.
Wealth Options: A dragon sage starts play with one item in its bonded hoard (see above).
==New noncombat proficiency==
* Sagecraft
Category:Character Kit
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