The Horror Of It!!

[jasper]

so you basically say that dragons are Mr. Wilson and adventurers are Dennis?

 

[CRG]

First, check the CR on dragons.

An adult of many species is merely a 10.

10.

That means they are a really tough encounter for a bunch of 5th and 6th level folks. Dead dragon.

Something magical happens though at or around adulthood. The dragon's sorecerous capabilities have started to really kick in. Then, the dragons CR is only a few more than their sorcerer levels.

Ok, some of the problems.

(1) No locked doors. They may be arrogant, but they should not be stupid
(2) Rarely much protection. The local lord at least has a bunch of war1 guards.
(3) No implied protection or social pressures to keep them alive. If you kill someone in town, the peasants won't like you. You'll have endless tons of problems. Maybe the dragon, as evil as he is, exacts a protection fee from the local surroundings. Maybe, even the evil green bastard that he is, ACTUALLY PROVIDES SOME PROTECTION. Sure, he demands some tribute and he really still eats elves on sight but more than once he's come through and saved the city/state by destroying a threat to the local townspeople.

Local Lord: "What? You're going to go slay Grindillak? Sure we have to ship him horses and some gold but I don't have to keep such a large army. By the gods, the last time the orc horde descended to destroy us, he ate them all. Well worth the price."

Adventurers: "Oh but he is evil. We must smite evil. We are only out for greater good (and all of his treasure)."

Local Lord: "Oh yeah, I was born yesterday. Captain, arrest them".

 

[alsih2o]

yeah, the poor, innocent dragon, sitting on his treasure pile and...wait a minute, he doesn't mine anything, and i haven't ever heard of one being a gem-cutter, so he must be a theiving turd of an uber-reptile if he has all that treasure....and if he took it, i guess there is nothing wrong in taking it from him.

go get the mage and the peck, time to kick some dragon tail!!!

 

[I'm A Banana]

Itriguing. BADD would take sweaty scale-boy passion to you.

I'd say, as a Dragon, I wouldn't be solitary. I'd get my friends together and start beating the crap out of people...'specially if I was good, or Lawful, 'cuz I'd get more friends most likely. I'd get cultists, I'd get towns to pay me tribute...not nessecarily threatening them, but perhaps protecting them from other threats.

Make a deal with Them. You'll protect Them from the other Thems out there trying to get Them, and in exchange, They will not steal from you, and will give you gifts.

This also explains why most dragons are secret, solitary, and stealthy lil' buggers. They usually don't *want* people to know they're around, and they're likely to try to pin the recent forest fire on goblins, to divert the attention.

IMC, there are no intelligent dragons yet...just dinosaurs with breath weapons and immunities....but just wait a bit...

 

[Balsamic Dragon]

Hmmm, you forgot the bit about being judged by the color of your scales (ahem) skin! After all, these are super intelligent creatures. Why would all red dragons be evil and all silver dragons be good? There's no cosmic influence on them, i.e., they aren't outsiders, so why should they be bound to a certain alignment?

Orcs, after all, have been known to break free of their cultural alignment. Even the damned Drow have done so! And dragons wouldn't be as influenced by native culture, being as solitary as they are.

I think dragons are portrayed as too predictable in most settings, both in their abilities and their alignment. I think I'll sic an evil silver dragon who breaths lightning on my players next time!

Balsamic Dragon

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

yeah, the poor, innocent dragon, sitting on his treasure pile and...wait a minute, he doesn't mine anything, and i haven't ever heard of one being a gem-cutter, so he must be a theiving turd of an uber-reptile if he has all that treasure....and if he took it, i guess there is nothing wrong in taking it from him.

ROFLMAO!


BTW, Great post Edena!

 

[alsih2o]

we seem to have 2 views of dragons here, theives and extortionist. and in both cases they are bullies. i say "sword-fodder, all of 'em"

 

[trix]

Ok, all of you out there, imagine this ...

You're an American Citizen living in your home (or, maybe, you're a British, or Canadian, or Australian, or French, or Belgian, or Japanize, or a Citizen from another Country.)

You're living in your home, minding your own business, not bothering anyone - just living a normal life.

In this theoretical and abstract scenario, the Government either no longer exists as far as you're concerned, or they cannot (or will not) aid you in any way.

Now ...

They are coming to get you.
I do stress the They, and They have an agenda on their minds.

Their Agenda, is to kill you. Killing you is very important to them.
So important that they will probably do whatever it takes to succeed.

They will come for you, and They are stronger than you are.
They will break into your home by force, and They intend to attack you, and kill you where you stand.

If you fight, They have more weapons and firepower than you.
If you run out of the house, they will pursue you to the death.
If you hide in the house, They will search through the house, overturning every piece of furniture and firing into every floor, wall, and ceiling, to find you, and kill you.
If you get in your car to drive away, They will get in their cars, and give chase, and will never stop until They catch you and bring you down.

If you have family in your home, They will kill your family, in the process of trying to kill you.
If you have anything of value in your home (you probably do) then They will take it.
What They cannot take, they will destroy, or leave a guard over until They find a way to take it.

And remember, you cannot call on the authorities, or on friends, or on neighbors, for none of these will willingly aid you against Them.

If you somehow overcome Them, then Their allies will come to avenge Them against you.
There is no end to the resources They can call upon, whereas you have only your own strength.

Does this sound like an unpleasant situation for you?

Let me guess, thats set in Zimbabwe? And you happen to be a farmer?

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Flexor does not try to reason or understand dragons. He just understands killing them and looting thier hoard. Good, Bad, Neutral? Who cares? Flexor wants thier heads and thier hoard. So Speaks the Mighty Flexor, Dragonslayer!

 

[Sigma]

IMC, dragons are heavily involved in human politics for this reason. In my thief campaign, the head of the guild is an ancient black dragon, and the assassins are his direct descendents. There are other dragons in and around the city, including a silver dragon who supports a powerful noble family, a green that is involved with a coven of druids, and a red dragon on the run from the githyanki's lich queen. Because of the damage they inflicted after their last battle, the dragons have an agreement not to battle each other directly. Instead, they spar through proxies and politics. Considering their intelligence, lifespans, and hunger for power, I can't see not having them involved in this way.