Dragons

Dragons are the oldest sentient being on Akna, and some of the most powerful. Though most dragons have left the material plane for the astral plane and rarely return, those powerful enough to travel between planes and those brave enough to search can find chromatic dragons almost anywhere in Akna. They are both revered, feared, and respected. In Nocturn, the greatest feat of a hero is to kill a dragon, but in indegiounous Mixcoatl, killing a dragon is seen as a grave sin.

All dragons born on the material plane are chromatic, and while chromatic dragons aren't inherently evil, most tend to lean that way, living on their own and exploiting those around them to build up their hoards.

Legends say that dragons were once all born the same color then as they explored the world their magic and experiences would determine their color and features, but these days most dragons have similar features and a dragon with two parents of the same color will almost always end up that color.

Color is still usually a good indicator of personality. All dragons are also inherently narcissistic to some extent, but some express it differently than others.

## Biology

### Development

The years of Aging are mostly the same as base d&d

#### Egg

No matter what plane of existance, all dragon eggs and hatchlings are completely identical. It is impossible to break without a powerful magical item of dragonbane or an incredibly powerful spell. They dont need to be incubated, and outside weather rarely effects them, however, the mother will usually stay to guard her nest, and raise her young. An egg can take up to 20 years to hatch.

#### Hatchling/Wyrmling

For the first years of a dragon's life, it is identical to nearly every other dragon it's age. Usually a grey translucent grey body with two legs and a small pair of wings. The dragon is very weak at this time and needs to be cared for by a mother. the breath weapon is determined by the environment they hatch in.

After the first year, the dragon begins to develop the color, almost always of their parents. Most will have 4 legs and begin to develop similar features as their forgotten realms counterparts, but it is possible for the features to vary. Some blue dragons have been seen with feathers and some green with fur depending on the personality they develop.

after age 6 most features are predetermined and the dragon will continue to develop as normal, but they can still change if the environment around them drastically changes.

#### Very Young/Young

The features of the dragon become more permanent as their personality begins to take hold. The features can still change, but much less than before, and much more slowly.

#### Adolesent+

The Dragon is settled in its form and will hardly change in any major ways and continue to grow more powerful. As dragon age, they get more powerful, and sometimes when they reach Wyrm stage they can choose to develop some new features based on their enviornment.

### Reproduction

Dragons usually only lay 1-8 eggs at a time. Due to their ability to have a humanoid form, they can reproduce with almost any humanoid, though this is incredibly rare.

## Types of Dragons

Dragons have traversed planes, and lived in almost any imaginable habitat. Though appearence varies widely, there are differences between certain dragons and where they inhabit.

### Dragons of the Material Plane

Dragons of the material plane are often ancient and very rare to find. Most dragons of the material plane have either been hunted to extinction or abandonded civilization for a life of solitude.

#### Chromatic Dragons

Most of these dragons, usually hostile to people, come in 5 main colors, and few have more than one color, each to represent different abilities and personalities often represented above.

* **Blue dragons** are oceanic dragons, though their lairs are rarely underwater. They tend to live on rocky islands uninhabitable to most and can fly out above the sea for days or even weeks at a time in search for prey and treasure. They can develop gills as well for swimming underwater, but often avoid it for fear of starting a fight with a sea dragon. Most breathe lightening and are known as storm dragons.
* **Red dragons** often live in the mountains or in canyons, anywhere where they can show off their agility. While blue dragons are can fly for the longest, red are the best at maneuvering themselves and often love to show it off. They tend to live on places where they can look over their entire territory and all they've conquered. Most breathe fire.
* **Green dragons** live in low forests and grasslands. Their caves are often low to the ground and they rarely fly. Most breathe poisonous gas.
* **White dragons** usually live with people, but those that live alone live in the uninhabitable arctic in igloo-like caves. Most breathe ice.
* **Black dragons** live in freshwater lakes and swamps, but if no other territory is available, they'll live in saltwater too. They hate visitors and you'll only see one if its attacking you. Most breathe acid.

#### Sea dragons

There are a few other dragons known, often called sea dragons. They usually dont have wings and can be described as long serpent like creatures. Little is known about them.

### Subraces/Descendents of Dragons

Many material dragons who stayed slowly changed from dragons into other species over time, and some draconic powers are still harnisable and can influence others. Some examples of these are as follows:

-Dragonborn: Dragonborn are extremely rare and are only ever seen when visiting from other planes, usually they have metallic scales but not always.

-Wyverns: Usually found in the north near Harstrom and in Nocturns mountains. Wyverns are dragons that lost sentience and over time became a fierce predator.

-Pseudodragons: Often valued among wizards. Banned in Vala.

-Dragon Turtle

-Hellfire Wyrms

### Extraplanar Dragons

Metallic Dragons

Thousands of years ago, Dragons were said to have ruled the world. Their wealth was unparalleled to anything imaginable. They conquered the whole world, creating unimaginable magic, conquering and ruling every race and animal imaginable. They thought themselves as gods, and lived like gods, in palaces plated with gold, silver, and all sorts of other metals.

After the fall of the Golden Tyrant, the gods punished the dragons for their hubris by fusing their precious metals to their scales and banishing them from the material world. These evil dragons are said to have made their home in the astral plane, and some say they're just biding their time for an opportunity to return and take whats theirs.

Seeing a metallic dragon is incredibly rare, its a once in a century event. Usually its a copper or brass dragon, often coming to scout out the land and sometimes help out or harm those in need.

Much like how chromatic dragons are not inherently evil, metallic dragons are VERY different than the typical forgotten realms version in that they're not even close to inherently good. In fact, some legends describe them as even more conniving and manipulative than their chromatic counterparts.