Black dragon

A **Black Dragon** or '***Animalia Chordata Xenosauria Squamadraco Occidentidae Tetrapa Draconis Umbra***' is the second largest and but also the most invulnerable among its species. They live mainly in swamps and wetlands, basking the entire day in the mud. They can spit streams of acid capable of destroying any armor and causes similar wounds to mustard gas.

The Witchers of the Griffin School specialized in hunting them during a certain period until they were not a threat.

## Physiology

* Physical:
	+ Head
		- A Black's skull and head are the defining features. First of all, the large segmented horns that come off the sides of their heads and point forward are the most evident markings. These horns have incredible durability, so don't count on cutting through them. Their faces are unique in that their eyes are sunken in and continue to appear so with age. Their noses are nothing but 2 sunken in nostrils upwards, pointing at the end of their snout. With age, the skin on their head and face gets thinner and thinner, sometimes exposing bone. This appearance gives them their apt nickname of 'Skull Dragons'.
	+ Aesthetics
		- Black Dragons are similar in frame to other dragons. Long serpentine necks and reptilian heads, with tall cat-like bodies and long tails, make them intimidating already. Like other dragons, they can become immense and seemingly never stop growing. They differ in many ways from other dragons, especially considering they're entirely amphibious. Black dragons' feet are webbed both in front and back. They have a tall frill, extending from their spines, from the skull to the end of their tail. They can breathe air or water and seem to enjoy just laying in the muck waiting for prey.
	+ Scales
		- A Black dragon's scales are always black, but where they can differ is accents in color. Typically the wing, frill membrane, and horns will share the same hue. Typically, it is a muddy grey color, but more exotic specimens have been observed with yellow and greens for accent colors. These colors usually match up with the murky swamp waters they inhabit. More exotic marshes that have green or yellow waters give these black dragons their unique colors.
	+ Smell
		- They smell like rotting vegetation and foul water, or like the powerful acid, they can breathe.

## Habitat

A **black dragon** typically lairs in complicated networks of chambers in the mud and dirt of any swamp, lake, or flooded forest. There are typically at least 5 chambers in every Lair,

1. Bedding area: Where the dragon sleeps.
2. Visiting or Entertainment chamber: Where the dragon entertains guests or itself.
3. Treasure chamber: Where the dragon stores its hoard this chamber is higher than the others to avoid damage from water and acid
4. Feeding Chamber: Where the dragon will return to and eat its meals.
5. Observatory (typically into the feeding chamber): A platform on the ceiling to watch intruders from which helps the dragon blend in.

Dragons like to make their lairs complex for weaker creatures to navigate. For instance, they usually drop down into a chamber from an angled slope somewhere on the ceiling. They typically will not do this for the visiting hall as they like the surprise to outsiders to be complete. They usually tunnel down under the water and allow the air to keep the water at bay, or not, merely allowing it to spill. They will always keep their treasure room up higher to avoid water damage to any precious goods they may have or soon obtain. Their lairs and the areas around them are usually "spoiled" with fetid water and rotting smells. Their lairs always have two entrances: one above-ground, disguised amidst the undergrowth which they typically fly out of for escape, and one underwater through an adjacent swamp/pond as a secret exit.

## Abilities

* **Dragon Physiology**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** have the physiology and abilities of one.
	+ **Draconic Breath**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess the ability to generate from within oneself draconic energy/elements and release them from the mouth.
		- **Acid Breath**: **Black Dragons** primarily have the ability to generate from within oneself acid and release them from the mouth.
	+ **Dermal Armor**: Of the known dragon species, **Black Dragons** possess the highest defensive capabilities because of their incredibly tough scales.
		- **Acid Immunity**: The body of the **Black Dragon** (and furthermore its scales) is unharmed by and immune to any acids, being completely invulnerable to direct and indirect attacks.
	+ **Natural Weaponry**: As a dragon and a highly advanced predatory species dragons including the **Black Dragon** species have the power to utilize weapons that are a natural part of one's own body.
		- **Claw Retraction**: As a dragon, **Black Dragon**s possess sharp claws/talons on their legs.
		- **Powerful Bite**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess an incredibly powerful bite.
			* **Fang Retraction**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess razor-sharp fangs.
		- **Prehensile Tongue**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess the ability to use their tongue to grasp and manipulate objects, though they rarely use it.
		- **Tail Manifestation**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess a tail.
			* **Prehensile Tail**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** are able to use their tail as a prehensile additional limb.
		- **Vertical Pupils**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** have vertical pupils in their eyes.
			* **Enhanced Vision**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess a sense of sight beyond that of a human.
				+ **Night Vision**: As a dragon and thanks to their vertical pupils, **Black Dragons** possess excellent night vision, the ability to see in low light conditions or even total darkness.
	+ **Wing Manifestation**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess a pair of leather wings.
		- **Flight**: As a dragon, **Black Dragons** possess wings that allow them to fly.

## Behaviors

* Black dragons are not noted as good parents, relying more upon disguise and hiding to protect their eggs than upon guarding them. Black dragon eggs must be submerged in strong acid while incubating.
* Black dragons are probably the most patient hunters. They prefer to wait in the mud for a hapless victim to get close enough and then snap much as a crocodile would. If the initial attack doesn't work, they either finish off prey with their teeth and claws or on rarer occasions when prey is larger or tougher to kill will use the horrible breath weapon to end the fight.

### Combat

* In combat, **black dragons** prefer ambushes to straightforward fighting. They are vicious and ruthless adversaries, and their acidic bile can easily work its way under the heaviest armor. Their sometimes heavily wooded habitats prevent them from flying very high in combat, however.

## Harvestable Parts

### Dragon Blood

The teeth of a True Dragon, such as a Black Dragon, are an alchemical ingredient of the Rebis family as such can be used for potions and processing into the alchemical substance known as Pure Rebis.

### Dragon's Tears

The tears of a True Dragon, such as a Black Dragon, are an alchemical ingredient of the Sol family as such can be used for potions and processing into the alchemical substance known as Pure Sol.

### Dragon Teeth

The teeth of a True Dragon, such as a Black Dragon, are an alchemical ingredient of the Fulgur family as such can be used for potions and processing into the alchemical substance known as Pure Fulgur.

### Dragon Tail

The tail of a True Dragon, such as a Black Dragon, are an alchemical ingredient of the Hydragenum family as such can be used for potions and processing into the alchemical substance known as Pure Hydragenum.

## Notable black dragons

### Elder (100,000 years or older)

* Casarak (Father of Landis)
* Landis (Son of Casrak)
* Bil
* Eskaris
* Anzavix
* Galhad
* Talaedra
* Triandal
* Dior
* Zarlan
* Iryen
* Galway
* Kurje

## Trivia

* The area of Velen, during the colonization of the Northern Kingdoms, was full of black dragons.
* The obsidian dragon is a reference to the *Ender dragon* of *Minecraft*.
* The way they are described in *Oko Yrrhedesa* and *Wiedźmin: Gra Wyobraźni*, black dragons seem to be inspired by their D&D counterpart.