Dragonkind (CWS)

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The dragons inhabiting the Io's Blood Isles include the metallic, gem, and chromatic dragons. Brief descriptions of these creatures as they exist in this far away, long ago place follow. 
==Gold Dragons==
The gold dragons of the Io's Blood Isles are wise, judicious, and benevolent. They consider themselves the self-appointed promoters of goodness, often taking on quests that they pursue with single-minded fanaticism. 
At birth, these dragons have scales of dark yellow dotted with golden metallic flecks. These flecks increase in size as a dragon ages, turning its scales completely gold by the time it reaches adult age. 
They embody the concept of lawful good, passionately hating injustice in all its forms. Gold dragons prefer to make their lairs out of solid stone, using either natural caves or specially constructed homes built by their demihuman vassals. Even those who inhabit the many natural caverns dotting the isles often have the interiors modified to suit their own tastes. 
Gold dragons can eat almost anything, but they look upon pearls and small gems as great delicacies. It is customary to bring these materials as gifts when visiting a gold dragon lord. 
While powerful, gold dragons are slow to anger and do their best to refrain from using violence. These honorable beings prefer to settle disputes and other problems through discussion and reason. However, in the cause of justice or when no other alternative presents itself, gold dragons become fierce warriors for what is right and just. 
For information on a gold dragon's special abilities, see Chapter 2: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat.
==Silver Dragons==
The silver dragons inhabit the subtropical islands in the southern portion of the Io's Blood chain. As a species, these dragons are kind and helpful. They cheerfully offer aid to good creatures in genuine need. 
A hatchling fresh from the egg has blue-gray scales with hints of silver highlights. As it matures, the color slowly changes to gleaming silver. Once it reaches adulthood, a silver dragon's scales have become so fine as to be almost invisible, giving it the appearance of being sculpted from pure metal. 
Of all dragonkind, the silver dragons have the closest relationship with their kindred and vassals. They eat the same food, they spend long periods of time in the same form, and often take demihuman mates. This explains the more prominent number of silver half-dragons than any other type. 
Silver dragons establish their lairs atop the mountain peaks of Io's Blood's southern isles, which touch the silver-lined clouds hanging perpetually above them. They share these aeries with their vassals, but constantly guard against incursions by their troublesome neighbors, the red dragons. 
The silver-scaled dragons are not a violent species. They prefer to avoid combat whenever possible, resorting to actual battle only when confronted by powerful evil or highly aggressive foes. Even so, they will attempt to subdue and repel before they raise claw or gather breath for the kill. 
For information on a silver dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Bronze Dragons==
The inquisitive bronze dragons of Io's Blood Isles live along the shores of the southern islands. The Bronze Cliffs house many lairs, with open portals high up the stone face that look out upon the churning sea, and entrances located deep below the surface of the water. 
No matter their age, bronze dragons tend to be the most cheerful and good-natured of dragonkind. They love the simple challenges of riddles and harmless contests, and often number master riddlers among their demihuman vassals. They are fascinated by warfare in all its forms, eagerly looking for just causes to champion with their armies of dragons and demihumans. 
Bronze hatchlings have yellow scales tinged with green. Only a hint of bronze shines upon these overlapping plates. This color deepens as the dragon ages, slowly turning to a rich bronze tone that darkens as the centuries pass. 
Like silver dragons, bronze dragons have a fondness for their demihuman vassals. While they often form friendships with these lesser creatures, they never take them into their homes with the same kind of unequivocal acceptance as their silver cousins. They have a deep and abiding love for the sea and its good creatures, while they enjoy feasting on aquatic plants and sharks. Vassals visiting the lair of a bronze dragon lord bring presents to show their loyalty and respect. Dragon lords especially appreciate gifts of pearls, which they consider to be delicacies. 
These massive creatures approach combat with a swashbuckling, devil-may-care attitude. They see battle as a game, and rarely take even a genuine threat seriously. Even with this good-humored attitude, they dislike killing under most circumstances, preferring to drive their foes away. However, they have no patience for those who would steal from them, and they actively seek out evil sea creatures to destroy them. 
For information on a bronze dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Copper Dragons==
The copper dragons of the Io's Blood Isles control the rocky hills and badlands of the southern islands. These incorrigible pranksters love to tell jokes and riddles. Proud and selfish to the point of being greedy, copper dragons hate to lose-no matter what contest they may be competing in. 
Hatchlings have ruddy brown scales with copper tints, which become more coppery as they get older. By young adulthood, the scales develop a soft, warm, coppery gloss. 
Copper dragons thoroughly enjoy a good hunt. To them, the sport is at least as important as the food it yields, and usually more so! The most influential and powerful copper clans can often be seen engaging in massive, organized hunts that range across the hills and into the rocky uplands. When hunting, they prefer large, poisonous prey such as giant scorpions, which they can eat without fear of harmful effects. Injected venoms, however, affect them as they do other creatures. 
Copper dragons construct twisting mazes within their lairs. These serve partially as defenses against intruders, though the aesthetic 
value of particularly puzzling mazes fits their personalities and tastes well. The mazes are open on top, allowing the dragons to fly into or out of them at will. For additional aerial protection, some portions of every maze can be covered to keep out unwanted flying visitors. 
Copper dragons appreciate wit, welcoming visitors who can tell them new jokes, humorous stories, or clever riddles. In contrast, they don't appreciate those who fail to laugh at their own jokes. They have no patience for creatures who don't have the good humor to accept their tricks and pranks with smiles. (Red dragons usually fall into this category.) If they must engage in combat, copper dragons enjoy taunting and annoying their opponents. They keep at it until their foes give up or become so angry as to act recklessly. 
For information on a copper dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Brass Dragons==
The deserts of the central islands are home to Io's Blood's brass dragons. These predominantly social dragons love to talk. A brass dragon can be counted on to have an opinion about everything, and is always more than happy to share that opinion freely. 
Hatchlings have dull, brassy, mottled brown scales that, with age, become warm and burnished in appearance. 
As social creatures, brass dragons get along with most of their neighbors. They especially love to engage visitors in conversation, preferably in a warm, sunny place. Brass dragon lords can often be found basking on a rock, deep in discussion with guests and high-ranking vassals. This passion for conversation is so strong that brass dragons become highly insulted if an intelligent creature passes through their territory without stopping to trade gossip, pass along news, or just talk. 
Though brass dragons can eat almost anything, they are not big eaters. Most prefer to get their nourishment from the morning dew, which is a rare delicacy in their arid terrain. If possible, brass dragons would rather talk than fight, though they do consider the blue dragon clans to be their worst enemies. 
For information on a brass dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Amethyst Dragons==
The most powerful of the neutral gem dragons, amethyst dragons are honorable, regal creatures. They inhabit the mountains of the northern islands, living on the shores of isolated lakes and pools. 
At birth, these dragons have lavender skin with fine, translucent-purple scales. These scales get darker as the creatures grow older, eventually reaching a sparkling lavender color. 
These creatures approach life with a detached air, ignoring the conflicts of good and evil, law and chaos. At best, they see these conflicts as petty squabbles over inconsequential  points of view, and not worthy of their time or consideration. These majestic dragons consider themselves to be the leaders of the gem dragons, and most of the lesser gem dragons acquiesce to this leadership—in everyday life and in the Council Aerie. 
While amethyst dragons consider their silver and copper cousins to be foolish and have an active dislike of red and white dragons, they don't consider any life form to be their inherent enemies. They prefer to reason out a settlement through discussion and negotiation rather than through combat, but they can and will fight if they must. Being honorable and noble, these dragons never hide or attempt to ambush foes. To them, even retreating is a dishonorable action, but they will flee if faced with certain death. 
Amethyst dragons eat large quantities of fish and gems. They keep vassals to attend to their needs, though they do not place as many restrictions or requirements on them as other dragon lords do. Most keep at least one hidden, underwater cave for seclusion and secrecy. 
For information on an amethyst dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Sapphire Dragons==
The sapphire dragons of the Io's Blood Isles control subterranean domains beneath two of the larger southern islands. While most of the territory above their realms belongs to emerald dragons, they keep a small portion of the surface area as their own as well as the extensive caverns beneath the tropical jungles. 
From birth, sapphire dragons are beautiful, with scales ranging from light to dark blue that sparkle in the light. Because of their coloration, they are sometimes mistaken for blue dragons. 
Of all dragonkind, the sapphire dragon clans are perhaps the most militaristic. They fervently protect their territory from outsiders, going so far as to distrust anyone who even gets close to their borders. They work to keep their vassals in peak fighting condition, maintaining some of the best-trained armies in the isles. As most of the territory that interests the sapphire clans is below ground, they rarely come into conflict with the other dragon clans unless they attempt to take caverns currently in use. Only the black dragons compete with them for the tropical underground, and even they are wary of going into direct conflict with the armies of the sapphire clans. 
Dwarves and gnomes make up the vast majority of the demihuman vassals serving the sapphire dragons. These races have no problems living and working beneath the ground. Besides, elves are too much like drow, whom these dragons consider to be one of their natural enemies. 
Dwarven vassals are treated little better than slaves, as the two species were once at war. Therefore, dwarves are almost never granted the kindred bond. This honor is usually reserved for gnomes only. 
A sapphire dragon's diet consists mostly of giant spiders, and great hunts are conducted through the subterranean tunnels to find these delicacies. When a dragon lord is feeling particularly lazy, it sends its dwarven vassals into the tunnels in search of the spiders. Of course, the dwarves must capture the spiders alive. 
While militaristic and warlike, the sapphire dragons are not quick to attack. They pref er to observe intruders (all visitors are intruders) so that they can plan how to deal with them. If drow or dwarves from another clan approach, they are immediately attacked. Often others can at least make some gesture of friendship or parlay before being told to leave. 
For information on a sapphire dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Emerald Dragons==
Emerald dragons live among the tropical islands in the Io's Blood chain's southern waters. They are a curious species, taken to keeping track of history, lore and customs. They tend to be very reclusive, suspicious that others covet their treasure hoards and territory. Hatchlings have translucent green scales, which harden and take on many shades of green as they age. These scales scintillate in the light, giving an emerald dragon's hide the appearance of being in constant motion. 
A desire for privacy runs through the emerald clans, going so far as to determine where the dragon lords and their spawn establish lairs. In the southern islands, emerald dragons build their domains around the inactive volcano range that stretches across the tropical isles. Only their most trusted vassals are permitted to serve them within the main lairs. Others tend to duties throughout the rest of the domain. 
The primary lairs are filled with traps and alarms designed to warn of visitors and other threats. Emerald dragons prefer to quietly observe intruders and rarely emerge from hiding. If parlay is called for, they send their kindred or chief vassals to handle such duties while they remain hidden, watching from cover. When forced into combat, emerald dragons prefer to attack by ambush, using stealth and surprise attacks to quickly disable their enemies. If a threat proves to be too great to handle, an emerald dragon will not hesitate to retreat. However, it will plan its revenge, and its patience can last for centuries if need be. 
Emerald dragons have no compunctions about what they eat. They do prefer lizards and giants, but they will eat anything in a pinch. Of all the other types of dragonkind, emerald dragons get along best with the sapphire dragons, often controlling parallel domains (emerald dragons taking the surface, sapphire dragons the subterranean areas below). They fear the red dragon clans because of the reds' well-known greed, and they are usually in open conflict with the fire giants from beyond the Burning Sea. 
For information on an emerald dragon's special abilities, see Chapter 2: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Topaz Dragons==
Topaz dragons inhabit the coastal regions of the temperate islands, building lairs below the waterline, though constructing them so that they remain dry. Clannish and self-seeking, these gem dragons usually want little to do with the other inhabitants of the isles. They keep vassals to fill their domains and make them appear as prosperous as their neighbors, and they participate in Council activities on occasion, but for the most part these dragons neither seek company nor welcome it. 
Out of the egg, a topaz dragon is a dull yellow-orange in color. With age, its scales harden and become translucent and faceted. When it reaches adulthood, a topaz dragon sparkles in the light of the sun. 
While topaz dragons enjoy the feel of sea wind and spray on their faceted-scale hides, they don't particularly like the water. They swim to hunt, attack, or reach their lairs, but not for enjoyment. They do love to eat fish and other sea creatures, especially the tasty giant squids that live in the Coral Sea. 
While not malicious, topaz dragons are not the best of company or particularly pleasant to deal with. Besides caring little for social graces, they display erratic behavior that is unsettling and very confusing. They dislike visitors, but tend to avoid combat if they can help it. If combat is unavoidable, they use tricks and promises to distract their foes before striking with teeth and claws (which they enjoy using). 
Unless something specifically interests or affects them, topaz dragons tend to be indifferent to the causes and concerns that occupy the rest of dragonkind. They dislike bronze dragons and usually oppose the interests of those clans. 
It takes time for a topaz dragon to accept an other dragon's friendship, but once it does it remains a friend for life. Once another dragon gets past its outer defences and gruff exterior, it finds a loyal companion and ready protector in the topaz dragon. 
For information on a topaz dragon's -special abilities, see Chapter 2: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Crystal Dragons==
The friendly crystal dragons of Io's Blood's northern isles spend much time trying to learn about the world around them. While solitary by nature, they welcome visitors who come to them with good intentions. 
Hatchlings have glossy white scales that become more and more translucent with age. By the time the dragons reach adulthood, these scales become luminescent in moonlight. In the full light of day they glow with a dazzling, almost unbearable brilliance. 
Fun-loving and mischievous, crystal dragons tend to be irresponsible rulers. For the daily running of their domains, these dragons rely on their vassals to keep things going. They establish domains in the cold, open northern reaches, building castles out of snow and ice. They leave these castles open to the sky, for they love to watch the stars on clear, cold nights. The white dragon clans consider crystal dragons to be nothing more than prey, so the two types are almost always in conflict. The crystal dragons also have little love for the tribes of giants that live beyond the Ice Sea and often come south to enslave the small, relatively weak gem dragons. 
Like other neutral dragons, the crystal dragons prefer to talk rather than fight. Even without special abilities, they can be charming and engaging to an extreme. Gems and metal ores are their foods of choice. 
For information on a crystal dragon's special abilities, see Chapter 2: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Red Dragons==
Greedy and covetous, the red dragon clans inhabit the tropical islands in the southern portion of Io's Blood's chain. To these gigantic beasts, increasing the size of their domains and adding to their hoards of treasure occupy most of their thoughts and deeds. Obsessed with their personal wealth and power, every red dragon can recite its inventory of possessions down to the smallest bit of copper and the youngest demihuman vassal. 
Red dragons emerge from their eggs covered with small, bright scarlet scales. Initially very glossy, these scales become smooth with a dull finish of deeper red as the dragons get older. With advancing age, these scales grow thicker and larger, becoming as hard as metal and as strong as armor. 
Red dragon lords build great lairs atop mountains or other high terrain so that they can always look out upon their domains. Though they consider even other red dragons to be competition, the lesser members of a clan acquiesce to the demands and dictates of the clan leader. 
Vassals are treated as slaves, ordered to labor for their dragon masters and serve as eyes and ears throughout the domain. Any betrayal, any act of treachery, leads to a vassal's quick and painful death. 
Of all dragonkind, red dragons hate their gold cousins with a terrible passion. They see gold dragons as their greatest competition and most dangerous threat, for they believe that the gold 
dragons come close to their own levels of power. They often compete with copper and silver dragons for the same territory, and they are quick to attack anyone who appears to be encroaching on their domains. 
Exceptionally vain and overly self-confident, red dragons consider themselves superior to other dragons and to all life in general. They bow to the wishes of the Council of Wyrms-barely. They follow the laws that the Ninefold Dragon set before the inhabitants of the isles, but they interpret these laws very liberally, stopping just short of all-out war to advance their own plans and desires. 
Red dragons are meat eaters by choice and nature. Their vassals regularly sacrifice innocents to them as part of the pack between the lords and the land. 
For information on a red dragon's special abilities, see Chapter 2: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Blue Dragons==
The arid deserts of Io's Blood's central islands are home to the blue dragon clans. These voracious and possessive creatures are consummate thinkers and planners. They spend long periods of time contemplating and preparing ambushes for prey, intruders, and other unwary travellers entering their territory. When not engaged in such activity, blue dragons reflect upon their prosperity and achievements. They can sit for days at a time watching their domains and admiring all they have accomplished. 
A blue dragon's scales change very little throughout its long life. The only noticeable alteration is that the scales thicken and harden. The color, which can range from an iridescent azure to a deep indigo, retains its glossy finish from hatching to death. 
The blue dragon considers everything within its domain its personal property. From the castle-like lair that rises above the windswept plains, to the vassals, to the burning land itself, all that the dragon sees belongs to it. These gigantic creatures are extremely territorial and very vigilant. They watch for trespassers, spies and thieves, eager to test their latest ambushes and strategies on those who dare invade their domains. 
Most combat tactics devised by blue dragons involve surprise and distance. They love to fly and use their powerful breath weapon, dropping out of the hot sky just far away enough to instil fear in their opponents before they strike. Tulk and retreat is for cowards, and blue dragons resort to such options only in extreme situations. They see themselves as cavaliers, ready to issue and accept challenges without hesitation. Though they are great thinkers, they recognize the moment when action is called for and they eagerly leap to all challenges. 
Blue dragons store their treasures underground, usually in protected caverns beneath their castles. Most of the items in a hoard will be gems, especially sapphires, which blue dragons have a particular fondness for. They will eat anything, but prefer herd animals (which they cook to perfection with their breath weapons before eating). They are usually in conflict with the neighboring brass dragon clans. 
For information on a blue dragon's special abilities, see Chapter 2: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Green Dragons==
The green dragon clans fill the forests of the temperate islands, where they enslave lesser creatures to do their evil bidding. These dragons are foul-tempered, mean, and exceedingly cruel. They hate goodness and good-aligned creatures, killing weaker creatures they cannot control or intimidate. They enjoy planning intrigues against other clans, seeking power and leverage in the Council and beyond through these plots and schemes. To green dragons, knowledge provides a measure of power, and they are not above gaining knowledge through whatever means present themselves. 
At birth, these dragons have thin, small scales that are such a deep shade of green that they appear nearly black. As they grow older, the scales expand and change to lighter shades of emerald, olive and forest green. The scales never become as thick as other dragons' scales, remaining flexible throughout their long lives. 
Green dragon lords create living lairs from the very trees of the forests they occupy, warping them to suit their needs through magic and other means. The closer one gets to a green dragon's lair, the darker the woods become. Evil hangs in the air, mingling with the forest scents to produce foul odours. 
Though the green dragons are cruel taskmasters, they are nonetheless extremely protective of their vassals and slaves. They are quick to punish and kill these servants, but also quick to protect them against threats from outside the domain. If a vassal displeases a green dragon, the dragon will probably eat the offender-especially if the vassal is an elf. Green dragons have a particular fondness for elf flesh, though they rarely get to dine on such treats. Sometimes they go after the v~ssals of other clans just to satisfy this craving. 
Members of this species of dragonkind love to intimidate and otherwise frighten lesser creatures. They initiate fights with little or no provocation, simply for the excitement it brings them. Of all dragonkind, green dragons love to play with their prey. They attempt to make a hunt or battle last for as long as possible, evoking as much terror and agony as they can in their prey. These dragons do have a measure of honor, though, and when they give their word they keep it. 
Besides enjoying an occasional elf to feast upon, green dragons can subsist on practically anything, including shrubs and small trees. They engage in occasional skirmishes with the hill giants who live in the remote regions of their isles. 
For information on a green dragon's special abilities, see Chapter 2: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==Black Dragons==
Black dragons control some of the swamps and jungles of the southern islands, adding their own dismal touches to the dismal terrain they pref er. They are abusive and quick to anger, with an instinctive cunning and malevolence that more than makes up for their lower intelligence. 
Hatchlings have thin, small scales with a highly glossy finish. As they age, the scales grow larger and thicker, dulling in the process. 
These chaotic evil creatures establish lairs in damp caves and subterranean caverns. They love to swim almost as much as they love to fly, taking to the skies at night to take advantage of the natural camouflage that darkness provides. They line their lairs with their treasure of choice: gold, silver, and platinum. 
Black dragons are extremely selfish and resent intrusions. While they will protect their vassals from most threats, they will also leave them to their own devices if the dragons themselves come into jeopardy. 
These creatures prefer ambush and surprise attacks to fair fighting. They have no qualms about using any and all advantages they can, including fleeing at the first sign of formidable strength. 
The black dragon's diet consists mainly of fish, molluscs and other aquatic creatures. When they procure meat from dry land, they like to let it soak in ponds in or near their lairs before consuming it. These specimens of dragonkind prefer the night, for in the darkness they feel more confident and powerful. 
For information on a black dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat. 
==White Dragons==
The cold northern islands of the Io's Blood chain are home to the white dragons. The smallest and weakest of the chromatic dragons, these creatures are slow-witted but efficient hunters who depend on their vassals and kindred to keep their domains running smoothly. 
Impulsive and vicious, white dragons tend to consider things pertaining to the here and now rather than planning for the future. Animalistic, they react to current needs and emotions with no regard to consequences and with no regrets. This does not interfere with their greedy or evil natures, however, and white dragons should not be underestimated because of their lack of foresight or intelligence. 
Hatchlings have mirrorlike scales of glistening whiteness. The sheen disappears with age, eventually being replaced by patches of pale blue and gray by the time they reach very old age. 
White dragons like the cold, enjoying their domains of ice and snow. They are lackadaisical rulers, showing little concern for the daily running of their domains. Only when danger appears imminent and in full view do these impulsive creatures take interest. Otherwise, it is up to their kindred to deal with such concerns as planning and the future. Their ice lairs are the only things they take any active interest in, working to make them as beautiful as possible. 
Gems, especially diamonds, hold a high place in their treasure hoards. While they can consume nearly anything to gain nutrition, white dragons prefer to eat food that has been frozen. 
Not being good thinkers, white dragons tend to attack with their most potent weapons first, regardless of what opponent they may be facing. They constantly battle the frost giants who live beyond the Ice Sea. 
For information on a white dragon's special abilities, see Chapter Two: Proficiencies and Abilities. For information on breath weapons and combat, see Chapter Four: Draconic Combat.