ALL ABOUT DRAGONS Illus. by T. Lockwood
CHAPTER 1:
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A black dragon smells of rotting vegetation and foul water, with an acidic undertone. A black dragon flying overhead is marked by a distinctive profile. Its horns, with their characteristic forward curve, are clearly visible. The wing membranes are marked with blobby stripes, and the leading edges of the wings are fringed or scalloped near the tips. A black dragon also has exceptionally long alar thumbs. The trailing edges of the wing membranes join the body ahead of the back legs. On hatching, a black dragon’s scales are thin, small, and glossy. As the dragon ages, they become larger, thicker, and duller, helping it camouflage itself in swamps and marshes. Habits Black dragons dine primarily on fish, mollusks, and other aquatic creatures. They also hunt for red meat but like to “pickle” it by letting it lie in ponds within or near their lairs for days before being eaten. The rotting flesh helps make the area even more foul—just the way the dragon likes it. Black dragons are especially fond of coins. Older and craftier dragons sometimes capture and question humanoids about stockpiles of gold, silver, and platinum coins before killing them. Others move out into nearby rivers or lakes, where they menace boat traffic and demand that passing vessels pay tribute. In keeping with their reputation for ferocity, black dragons usually fight for their mates. The females do most of the fighting, flying far and wide to locate a desirable male and then impressing him with a victory over a rival. Eggs are usually laid near the male’s lair, and the male is left to guard the young. Black dragon parents are protective, but give their offspring little support beyond the occasional bit of advice. Eventually, the parent advises its offspring to leave the area before the older dragon decides to eat the youngster. Although capable of breathing underwater, black dragons do little actual swimming; instead, they wallow in the shallows, enjoying the feel of the mud or simply lying in wait for prey. Black dragons prefer to ambush their targets, using their surroundings as cover. When fighting in heavily forested swamps and marshes, they try to stay in the water or on the ground; trees and leafy canopies limit their
aerial maneuverability. When outmatched, a black dragon attempts to fly out of sight, so as not to leave tracks, and takes refuge in the deepest water it can find.
BLUE DRAGONS Blue dragons are vain and territorial. They favor hot, arid areas. They prefer sandy deserts, but can be found on dry steppes and in hot badlands. A blue dragon guards its territory against all potential competitors, including other monsters such as sphinxes, dragonnes, and especially brass dragons. Blue dragons detest brass dragons for their frivolous ways, chaotic alignment, and propensity to flee from battle. Blue dragons prefer vast underground caverns for lairs— the grander the cavern, the better. They often choose lairs at the bases of cliffs where windblown sand has accumulated. The dragon burrows through the sand to reach the caves below. Most blue dragons don’t bother to keep the entrances to their lairs free of sand; they simply burrow to get in or out. Many deliberately bury the entrances to their lairs before settling down to sleep or when leaving to patrol their territory. Dungeon-dwelling blue dragons prefer fairly warm and dry areas with sand or dirt floors. Blue Dragon Identifiers A blue dragon is conspicuous by its dramatic frilled ears and a single, massive horn atop its short, blunt head. The horn juts forward from a base that takes up most of the top of the head, and it usually has two points. The primary point is slightly curved and reaches well forward, with a smaller, secondary point behind. Rows of hornlets line the dragon’s brow ridges, and run back from the nostrils (which lie close to the eyesockets) along the entire length of the head. A blue dragon has a short snout with an underslung lower jaw. It has a cluster of bladelike scales under its chin, and hornlets on its cheeks. Most of the dragon’s teeth protrude when its mouth is closed. A blue dragon’s scales vary in color from an iridescent azure to a deep indigo, polished to a glossy finish by blowing desert sands. The size of its scales increases little as the dragon ages, although they do become thicker and harder. Its hide tends to hum and crackle faintly with built-up static
