Dragon

## Dragons

**Dragons** (or **wyrms**) were very powerful and magical creatures. There were several types of dragons, the most common of which were chromatic and metallic, which were evil and good respectively. They were an ancient race. Few species that still exist can claim longer lineage. 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. 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.

> *Dragons? Splendid things, Blackmottes have known them for days eld."*
>
> *Jago Blackmotte*

## Subraces

The draconic family was vast. It consisted of numerous types of dragons, as well as lesser creatures related to dragons or descended from them.

### True Dragon

The term "true dragon" referred to dragons that became more powerful as they aged.

## Biology

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 regard to their posture and movements, as well as being inherently warm-blooded and with 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.

### Diet

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. Metallic dragons, for instance, preferred to eat primarily inorganic fare. Although they were true apex predators, dragons were not above scavenging for food if necessary.

### Reproduction

The number of eggs a dragon laid each brood depended on its race, but was usually low, between one and ten. 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 seperate 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

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. Most of the time, when dragons of different types cross-bred, it resulted in no offspring. Whenever offspring did occur between different types, the offspring's biology would almost always favour one of the parent's "type" over the other and might display a characteristic that varied from its norm. In very rare instances of cross-breeding yielding offspring, the resulting child's biology might favour neither parent.

### Senses

As for their senses, which varied slightly depending on the species, dragons were superior in most ways to other creatures - like any predator, they had exceptionally acute senses, which only increased with age. Dragons had excellent depth perception and comparably good peripheral vision, able to see twice as well as a human in daylight; they had great night vision, and were able to see even when conditions had no light to offer, though not in color. Dragons could also pick up scents very well, utilizing both their sensitive nose and forked tongue, much like a snake. Their hearing was on par with human hearing, although their minds could filter what noise it hears. Dragon taste was also refined, although they did not respond well to sweet flavours, and most dragons didn't discuss why. They were able to eat almost everything, but each race had a preferred diet; some preferred flesh, other to eat precious metals or gems, and so forth. Of all its senses, a dragon's sense of touch is the only one to decrease with age, due mostly to the development of thick, hard scales.

Dragons were capable of blind sense, the sense in which eyes, ears, and other senses were used to detect invisible persons or objects.

## Abilities

Dragons became stronger as they grew older; they also became larger, more resistant to damages and magic, had a more dangerous breath, and a great deal of other enhanced aspects. Older dragons could cast draconic magic, such as spells with just a few words, and often times they didn't need long and complex ritual involving words, gestures and components like other wizards, and they radiated a mystical fear aura around themselves. After a millennium or two, a dragon reached his maximum development.

All dragons had some innate magical abilities, but they varied from race to race. Metallic dragons were often able to shape change into small animals or human forms, and used this ability to secretly help or watch over humans. Dragons also had some innate powers upon the element they are linked to. For example, a red dragon, who breathed fire, had some control over other flame.

## Society

### Hoards

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.

### Wyrm

The term "wyrm" was used to mean "dragon", but might also refer to a dragon within specific age criteria; see dragon aging. "Wyrm" was believed to have originated from the ancient language of the giants, The words "wyrm" and "worm" were pronounced similarly. Great care should be taken to avoid this, as "worm" was the most insulting thing that one could call a dragon.

## History

It was not clear exactly how dragons came to inhabit Iskander-Koth, 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 dragon kind known today, while others claim that the dragon race was born from falling meteors that were actually dragon eggs.

Regardless of their true origins, in the few centuries that followed their arrival to Iskander-Koth, the dragons generally kept aloof of the world's giants and ignored them maintaining a relative peace with their nation. Though they regularly preyed upon the herds of animals the giants founded and tended, such as elk. This led to many minor conflicts with the giants, as they felt slaying these poachers was not only desirable, but worthy of great honor 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.

## Trivia

While dragons knew how to whistle, the resulting sound was similar to nails or claws scratching a slate tablet.