620_17668_DraconomiconA.qxd 9/5/03 4:38 PM Page 21
SWIMMING
The vanity of dragons is legendary. Indeed, they have much to boast about, including a fearsome array of natural weaponry and a host of more subtle abilities that make them all but invincible in combat.
BREATH WEAPONS
CHAPTER 1:
The most infamous weapon in a dragon’s formidable arsenal is its devastating breath. The chromatic dragons can produce blasts of elemental energy; the type of energy varies with the kind of dragon. The metallic dragons can produce elemental breath weapons, too, but they also produce a second type of breath that is nonlethal but potent in its own way. No matter what form its breath weapon takes, a dragon generates it from deep inside its lungs, using energy generated from an organ near its heart called the draconis fundamentum (page 8). Fortunately for dragon hunters, a dragon cannot produce breath weapon effects continuously. Each breath depletes the dragon’s inner reserves of energy, and it usually requires at least a few seconds to produce another breath.
ALL ABOUT DRAGONS
All true dragons can swim, though only a few kinds can be considered truly aquatic. Aquatic dragons have long, flat tails and webbing between their toes or in their shoulder joints. A swimming dragon usually moves like a big reptile. It folds its wings tightly against its body and throws its legs back, creating a streamlined shape. It moves its body left to right in a sinuous motion, and its tail lashes from side to side, providing propulsion. The truly aquatic dragons sometimes employ their wings as big fins in the manner of a ray or an aquatic bird. The frill along a dragon’s back helps it stay on course when swimming underwater, and also keeps the dragon from rolling over. A swimming dragon steers with its head, tail, and feet. A dragon swimming at the surface often holds its head and neck out of the water, which allows it to scan the surface while most of its body remains submerged. A dragon also occasionally swims with just the upper half of its head out of the water. This restricts the dragon’s field of vision somewhat, but makes it practically undetectable. Most dragons are obliged to hold their breath when submerged. However, the truly aquatic types can breathe underwater as easily as they take in water and extract oxygen from it. The dragon inhales water through its nose, and the water floods the lungs and is exhaled through the nose. The dragon handles the process as easily at it breathes air.
BURROWING Any dragon can gouge out holes in the ground with its claws, but some dragons can also worm their way through sand or loose earth, moving as quickly as a human can move at a brisk walk. Burrowing dragons tend to have shorter, thicker necks than other dragons, stubbier legs, and wedgeshaped heads. When burrowing, the dragon pushes with its head and uses its front feet to claw away material. The back legs kick the loosened material back past the dragon’s body. The tunnel the dragon makes when burrowing usually collapses behind it.
COMBAT ABILITIES “Battle is a dragon’s natural element; it is made for combat. It has teeth like spears, claws like scimitars, wings like hammers, and a tail like a battering ram. Lesser beings cower in its presence, and its breath fells armies.” — Munwithurix, red dragon
To use its breath weapon, the dragon first draws a very deep inhalation. If sufficient energy is available, the dragon immediately expels the weapon in a violent exhalation. If not, the dragon must wait until more energy builds up. The effect is not unlike a blacksmith fanning a fire that is slightly too small. A puff of air from the bellows produces intense heat, but burns up all the fire’s fuel, forcing the smith to add more fuel before fanning the flame again. A dragon seems to remain aware of the state of its inner energy and never tries to use its breath weapon too soon. Dragons, however, do not seem to have much control over how quickly their inner energy replenishes itself. A dragon can discharge its breath weapon with little or no forewarning. Some dragons are adept at convincing timorous foes that a breath could come at any moment.
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