Dragon

Fan art of the Chroma Conclave, by Linda Lithén.

### **Notable members**

**Dragons** are very powerful magical creatures. The most prominent varieties are chromatic dragons, who are typically evil, and metallic dragons, who are typically good.

## **Subraces**

### **True dragons**

True dragons are of ancient lineage and fearsome power. They are known and feared for their predatory cunning and greed, with the oldest dragons accounted as some of the most powerful creatures in the world. Dragons are also magical creatures whose innate power fuels their dreaded breath weapons and other preternatural abilities.

* **Chromatic dragons:** selfish, evil, and feared dragons.
	+ Red dragons
	+ Black dragons
	+ Blue dragons
	+ Green dragons
	+ White dragons

* **Metallic dragons:** noble, good, and highly respected dragons.
	+ Gold dragons
	+ Silver dragons
	+ Bronze dragons
	+ Brass dragons
	+ Copper dragons

* **Gem dragons:** neutral and mysterious dragons.
	+ Amethyst dragons
	+ Emerald dragons
	+ Sapphire dragons
	+ Crystal dragons
	+ Topaz dragons

### **Other dragons**

These beings are draconic in nature, become more powerful with age and/or have mighty breath weapons, although they aren't considered true dragons:

* Dragon turtles: massive, dangerous creatures that live in the oceans.
* Jabberwocks: mighty, terrifying hunters that can be found in the Fey Realm.

### **Lesser dragons**

Lesser dragons are creatures with draconic blood but not as powerful as true dragons, although they can still be very dangerous regardless.

* Wyverns: large, winged lizards with two legs and a barbed, venomous tail.
* Faerie dragons: mischievous, cat-sized dragons with butterfly wings, scales that change color and a list of innate spells that grows as they age.
* Pseudodragons: tiny, playful creatures with poisonous stingers on their tails.
* Fire drakes: dangerous hunters that live in the Elemental Plane of Fire.

## **Undead dragons**

* Dracolich: a lich created from a dragon.

## **Shadow dragons**

Shadow dragons are true dragons who have been transformed by the Shadowfell, either having been born there or spent several years there. They cannot become dracoliches.

## **History**

The first dragons in Exandria were the metallic dragons, also known as the First Protectors, divinely created by Bahamut during The Founding as guardians of the mortal, more fragile races. These dragons pledged themselves to defend the weak against tyrants, and revered the Platinum Dragon as the first of their kind.

The chromatic dragons, on the other hand, were a creation of Tiamat, and when she took position favoring chaos and destruction, these dragons, among with the creations of the other Betrayer Gods, were changed for that intent. The chromatic dragons saw Tiamat as their goddess and queen, sometimes admired and feared, and sometimes oppressive, specially for the most ambitious of their kind.

At some point after the Schism some dragons, either through magical boons or by involving themselves with mortals using shapeshifting magic, created different bloodlines of sorcerers, some of which would survive the beginning of the Calamity. During the Age of Arcanum, draconic spellcasters were among those who experimented with different forms of magic; one of them, a black dragon named Guuthal, used necromancy to become a dracolich that terrorized the world.

Before and after the Divergence dragons of different types fought each other. A particularly notorious battle happened in Marquet at some point between 511 and 561 PD: Thordak, a red dragon, gathered an army of scaly followers and attacked Ank'Harel, the city and domain of the brass dragon Devo'ssa; after two weeks of conflict the former was defeated, barely surviving, and hiding for centuries. Around the same period of time, other dragons served as allies and servants for more powerful beings: between 512 and 527 PD, during the Icelost Years, the white dragon Skysunder (a scion of Vorugal the Frigid Doom) acted as the scout of Errevon the Rimelord, having helped the ice titan reach the Material Plane and serving in his army until they were defeated; the dragon was imprisoned, escaping and being killed by adventurers in 809 PD.

The most famous and catastrophic event involving dragons in Exandria's recent history was the Chroma Crisis, between 810 and 811 PD: the Chroma Conclave, formed by five chromatic dragons led by Thordak himself (and unofficially by the scheming green dragon Raishan), made militar and political moves to control vast territories (mainly in Tal'Dorei, although with interests in Wildemount after the deliberate destruction of Draconia). The Conclave's activity caused numerous casualties, but an adventuring party, Vox Machina, with the help of the Vestiges of Divergence and other allies, managed to defeat the dragons, allowing the continent to recover from the damage dealt to its population; due to previous destruction it underwent political changes that led to the official alliance of multiple states under the banner of the Republic of Tal'Dorei.

Taking the aforementioned events into account, as centuries have passed, dragons of both kinds have been viewed as brave defenders or dreadful foes of mortal races, but, with time, exceptions started to appear in each group: some metallic dragons grew selfish and disillusioned about protecting the smaller races, and some chromatic dragons started recoiling in disgust knowing the terrible acts of other chromatic dragons (such as the Cinder King's cruelties). By 836 PD, the chromatic dragons are the most common type of dragon in Exandria, while most of the metallic dragons that remain are usually hidden, shapeshifting to live among humanoids. It is for this reason (combined with the fact that many years have passed since the horrors of the Chroma Crisis) that many adventurers who have never directly dealt with actual dragons feel overconfident and wish to prove themselves by defeating young chromatic dragons and claiming their treasures.

## **Known dragons**

### **Chromatic dragons**

* Brimscythe: Blue dragon and member of the Chroma Conclave
* Chloroxodon: Young green dragon of the Ashen Gorge
* Gelidon: Ancient white dragon who lairs in Mythburrow
* Guuthal: Ancient black dracolich from the Age of Arcanum
* Obatalá: White dragon companion of Arkhan
* Oracs: Ancient black dracolich who lairs in Ghor Veles
* Raishan: Ancient green dragon and member of the Chroma Conclave
* Rimefang: Adult white dragon who laired in the Vesper Timberland
* Skysunder: White dragon and herald of Errevon
* Snagglefang: Young green dragon of the Ashen Gorge
* Tatterwing: Green dragon who lairs in the Kirmont Valley
* Thardraxxus: Black dragon who lairs in the Rootgarden Marsh
* Thelashas: Young blue dragon who guarded an exit from the Folding Halls of Halas
* Thordak: Ancient red dragon and member of the Chroma Conclave who conquored Emon
* Toxoshuul: Young green dragon of the Ashen Gorge
* Umbrasyl: Ancient black dragon and member of the Chroma Conclave who conquered Westruun
* Vorugal: Ancient white dragon and member of the Chroma Conclave who conquered Draconia

### **Metallic dragons**

* Devo'ssa: Ancient brass dragon and secret ruler of Ank'Harel
* Karkethzerethzerus: Ancient silver shadow dragon who lairs in Strathfell
* Saldarthoryn: Silver dragon whose mind was healed by the Wonderworker
* Satyana Vorvexis: Adult copper dragon and protector of New Haxon
* Walarkus: Adult bronze dragon corrupted by the magic of Blightshore

### **Other dragons**

* Dieter: Dragon turtle who lairs near the Inkclaw Reef
* Idok: Dragon turtle and ally of The Revelry
* Lockheed: Pseudodragon companion of Tiberius Stormwind
* Sha'korzhan: A gem dragon connected to Avalir

### **Unidentified type**

* Kragstower: Ancient dragon who terrorized Wildemount
* Shonmuren: Ancient dragon slain in the Smouldercrown Mountains of Marquet

## **Half-dragons**

Half-dragons are hybrids, a combination of a creature and a true dragon, presenting a combination of features from both parents. While some can be born from the biological union of the two parents (usually through magical means), others can become dragonborn before their birth or during their life due to draconic magic or experiments; an example of this are the half-black dragons inhabiting the tunnels beneath the Gatshadow Mountain, formed by the mix of the acid and the magical blood of Umbrasyl, the Hope Devourer.

Half-dragons, as well as their blood descendants (if they are able to reproduce), can manifest draconic sorcerous powers, such as those of Calianna Mordsson.

## **Trivia**

* White dragons are the most common variety encountered on stream. They are tied in number with the known green dragons, although only one of them has appeared on stream.
* There are certain characters of Critical Role that are believed to be dragons, either by the fans or by part of the cast.
	+ Bolo, a supposed would-be reporter for Aeor who survived the destruction of Avalir, is believed to be either a gold, brass or red Greatwyrm, and Brennan Lee Mulligan himself states this theory as a plausible identity for her.
	+ Yussa Errenis, a powerful elven arcanist who lives in Nicodranas, is believed by some fans to be a gold dragon in disguise, given his distrust of magic that forces someone to show their true appearance, the fact that he owns a scroll of *Plane Shift* written in Draconic, and also his color scheme, eye color, and love for formal magical training.
* Traditionally only the metallic dragons were famous for their shapeshifting abilities, but Matthew Mercer has always used this power as something any true dragon in Exandria could potentially access; a proof of this is the Chroma Conclave, with several of its members being shapeshifting chromatic dragons. Although the *Monster Manual* already offered the variant rule of turning dragons into spellcasters (potentially giving them spells like *Polymorph*), *Fizban's Treasury of Dragons* supported Matt's ruling, presenting the Change Shape ability as something any mature dragon can access.
* In *The Legend of Vox Machina* the five members of the Chroma Conclave had their own redesigns, having original looks different from the traditional appearances of the different chromatic dragons from Dungeons and Dragons. However, it is unclear if the redesigns are meant to represent each type of dragon in the animated series or if only those five individual dragons look like that.
* Although dragons are sentient creatures (some are even more intelligent that most mortals), even they can become victims of slavery or poaching: in Tal'Dorei, before the Chroma Crisis, a wyrmling had been captured and there was documentary evidence about someone selling it; and at some point before 835 PD fire giants had managed to turn an adult red dragon into the forced guardian of a vault full of treasures under Kravaraad.

## **References**

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The first time the draconic spirit was summoned, its spirit granted Nydas resistance to necrotic damage. *Summon Draconic Spirit* allows the summoning of gem dragons, and topaz dragons have necrotic resistance. The second time the spirit was summoned, Sha'korzhan dealt psychic damage with his breath weapon, consistent with an emerald dragon.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 See *D&D: Monster Manual*, 5th ed., p. 86.
3. ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Calamity Interview with Brennan Lee Mulligan" at 0:16:43.
4. ↑ Wizards of the Coast, *Fizban's Treasury of Dragons*, p. 37.
5. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 157.
6. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 243.
7. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 110.
8. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 158.
9. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 58.
10. ↑ See *D&D: Monster Manual*, 5th ed., p. 133.
11. ↑ See *D&D: Monster Manual*, 5th ed., p. 254.
12. ↑ See "Axiom Shaken" (3x43) at 4:07:32.
13. ↑ See *D&D: Monster Manual*, 5th ed., p. 83.
14. ↑ See *D&D: Monster Manual*, 5th ed., p. 84.
15. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 11.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 13.
17. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 21.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 218.
19. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 37.
20. ↑ See "Fire and Ruin" (E3x04) at 5:38:55.
21. ↑ See "Curious Tides" (1x89) from 3:12:44 through 3:13:22.
22. ↑ J'mon Sa Ord says that Thordak attacked Ank'Harel when the city was about 100 or 150 years old.  See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) from 0:16:20 through 0:16:41.
23. ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 0:21:00.
24. ↑ See "Desperate Measures" (1x40) from 2:36:18 through 2:42:03.
25. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, p. 8. The start dates were estimated via counting backwards from the approximate year of the founding of Tal'Dorei; the start time is given as 'not two years into Sovereign Zan's Reign.'
26. ↑ See *Vox Machina Origins Series III*, Issue #3.
27. ↑ See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18) from 0:39:44 through 0:40:11.
28. ↑ See "Talks Machina Fireside Special: Q&A with the *Critical Role* Cast" (Sx33) at 1:40:45.  Matthew Mercer explains each member's motivation and the reason for the loose alliance.
29. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, p. 13.
30. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 218.
31. ↑ See "Blood and Shadow" (E3x03) at 0:23:05.  The wealth of the Golden Scythe was founded on Sha'korzhan's hoard.
32. ↑ See "The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 2" (LVM1x02) at 8:51.  The runes in the book Gilmore reads tell a fragment of Kragstower's history. See this Reddit post for more information.
33. ↑ See "The Terror of Tal'Dorei - Part 2" (LVM1x02) at 8:51.  The runes in the book Gilmore reads tell a fragment of Shonmuren's history. See this Reddit post for more information.
34. ↑ See *D&D: Monster Manual*, 5th ed., p. 180.
35. ↑ Wizards of the Coast, *Fizban's Treasury of Dragons*, p. 39.
36. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 95.
37. ↑ See *D&D: Player's Handbook*, 5th ed., p. 102.
38. ↑ See "Stalker in the Swamp" (2x21).
39. ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Calamity Interview with Brennan Lee Mulligan" at 0:16:43.
40. ↑ See "Exandria Unlimited: Calamity Wrap Up" (Sx70) at 1:46:50.
41. ↑ See "Titles and Tattoos" (2x84) at 0:32:27.  "There are means within the Hall to disable such glamours [...] best not to cause a stir."
42. ↑ See "Cat and Mouse" (2x128) at 3:09:41.
43. ↑ See *D&D: Monster Manual*, 5th ed., p. 94.
44. ↑ Wizards of the Coast, *Fizban's Treasury of Dragons*, p. 34 and 44.
45. ↑ See "Critical Role Extra – The Return of Liam!" (Sx15) at 1:01:46.
46. ↑ See *Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*, p. 114.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of the Chroma Conclave, by Linda Lithén (source). Used with permission.
2. ↑ Official art of the creation of the dragons, by Ameera (source). Used with permission.