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[CanadienneBacon]

Originally Posted by Ambrus

Keep in mind that any 1st level dragon is a mere hatchling, not terribly long out of the egg. Even though a hatchling dragon is intelligent, possesses inborn racial knowledge (including language) and is supernaturally precocious, they're still infants with a lot to learn about the world. I don't know if anyone would entrust one with significant diplomatic responsibilities.

"Entrust" could also be interpreted to mean "send away on a dangerous mission in order to remove a potential foe and/or take care of other cryptic ill-understood dragon plot."

Regarding why the group might (emphasis "might") be inclined to divide on certain issues along gender lines...gender is, at times, a natural dividing line when it comes to circumstantial opinion regarding a given situation. So is political alliance, religious affiliation, hair color, sword type, fighting style, any any number of random "dividing lines." My point here is that a mixed gender party is a good thing and that we may end up getting some nice roleplaying on all sides out of the deal.

Ambrus

Do you have any preference as to the dragon's subrace? Does any particular draconic color or archetype suggest itself to you for this adventure? Bronzes are the most likely to settle in a temperate coastal region though silvers are the most gregarious and most likely to remain with humanoids for extended periods of time. Silvers gain the ability to adopt humanoid form as early as 2nd level. If you'd rather skip the hat of disguise idea then I suppose you could choose to fudge a bit and have a silver start with the ability to assume a single humanoid form at 1st level. On the other hand, playing a young chromatic dragon, such as a red or blue who, having been hatched amongst humanoids, is growing up to be unusually kindhearted and sociable could make for an interesting characterization. Imagine a naive young red dragon who doesn't understand why everyone he meets expects him to be a rampaging monster.

I would prefer not to deal with a red dragon (or any other coloured dragon) as a player character for the simple reason of not having to marshal NPC reactions to a red on a recurring basis. Your choice of metallic dragon would work, though. If you'd prefer a bronze dragon with the 1st-level ability to morph into humanoid form in exchange for a racial skill/feat/ability of your choice, I'd consider that a fair trade. You have well-informed judgement about what might constitute a fair swap, so I don't feel I need to tell you out of hand how to handle the swap (though a brief consult with me once you've selected something for the swap would be appreciated).

The simplest reasoning is that the dragon has come to watch the ceremony same as every other curious local. He could be observing while remaining disguised as a decorative gargoyle.

Works for me.

The simplest motivation for a young dragon to remain in the company of an adventuring party is treasure. Even righteous dragons have an inborn desire to build a hoard and adventurers seem to have a knack for finding loot. Easy peasy.

...nice and cheesy (continuing the saying, as it were). Works for me if it works for you.

All of my suggestions were based upon the notion that the dragon's existence was to be kept a secret from Sandpoint's population at large. Have you reconsidered that stipulation?

Nope. I'd still prefer the dragon to remain largely secret from the general public, at least for now. My response to your ideas was more a "feeling you out" for where you were headed with your ideas.

Possibly, but another idea that occurred to me was based on the sorcerer's proposed backstory in which the mother was struck by lightning. A bronze or blue dragon's lightning breath might have been the inadvertent source of power that engendered the unborn offspring with sorcerous might.

I don't think Shayuri wants to go with the "born of breath lightening" concept--"storm-born" was the key to his character. If you and Shayuri desire to create a blood tie between yourselves, that's wonderful and I encourage you (or anyone else) to do so, but I'll largely stay out of the conversation. As long as I spot no potential trouble with the adventure's plot in anyone's backstory, I prefer that players work out their backgrounds.