Wyrms of Wrath

In my last post I mentioned the "Wyrms of Wrath" - which I'm sure you guessed, are the titular dragons of Dungeons & Dragons.

Reigning as King of All Monsters in the D&D universe, Dragons should be more than the sum of their stats. In every edition of the game, they have received special attention - devastating attacks, multiple unique rules, and loot that far exceeds their HD. In Moldvay/Cook or Basic D&D (more on that later), Dragons are not the behemoths of 2nd Edition and beyond. If used incorrectly, Dragons are quite fragile and anti-climatic. DM's should take care to employ tactics which preserve the mystique of these iconic creatures.

Terra Incognita preserves many of the assumptions underlying Basic D&D's implied setting. Orcs are Orcs, Elves are Elves etc. In that vein, I plan to employ Dragons as they are presented for the most part. That does not preclude me from making them memorable within the campaign context.

From the previous post, we can conclude that Dragons are a creature apart - they are the offspring of the Titaness' Galia's suffering at the hands of her traitorous children. They are not beholden to the Gods in the manner of other creatures, and in fact are pre-disposed to oppose them. They are specifically noted for their proclivity to "bedevil" mortal men. I think this sets them up nicely as uncontrollable and ancient enemies of mortal kind. Cool.

Basic D&D presents the standard five varieties of Dragon plus the Gold Dragon (another post.) They possess all of the abilities you'd expect. Deadly breath weapon 3 times daily. Powerful bite attack. Wings which allow flight (possibly their most important ability.) Interestingly, the rules state that a certain percentage of dragons will be encountered sleeping - perhaps Dragons are similar to Tolkien's Balrog - slumbering demons from another age who are best left in forgotten places. I think I like that. Keeps them truly monstrous and mysterious.

Keeping all that in mind, I decided to throw some paint on these beasts of legend and see what sticks. Here's what I've come up with:

Fire Drakes: The largest of dragon kind and the most intelligent and aggressive. Fire Drakes are solitary creatures (big ego), and prefer to roost in isolated places - high on mountain peaks, in caverns deep underground, or among the ruins of fallen civilizations. Fire Drakes value gold above all else, and amass enormous hordes. They spend their time cataloging or admiring their wealth, and are rarely roused. Confident in their power, Fire Drakes are mostly amused with intruders - unless they believe their horde is threatened. Theft will not be tolerated, and the rage of an offended Fire Drake can topple whole kingdoms.

Storm Dragons: Storm Dragons are the most active of dragon kind, and love to hunt. Storm Dragons dwell mostly in deserts or wastes, though more than a few live beneath the waves. Like their larger cousins, Storm Dragons are too competitive to keep company. Storm Dragons hunt - the bigger and tougher the better, though shiny and exotic prey are likewise valued. The sportsmen of Dragons, Storm Dragons will toy with prey; harrying them for days before striking. It is possible to bargain with these Dragons, but only if you can point them toward a more tantalizing hunt. Storm Dragons do keep hordes, but only as trophies of past hunts.


Venomous Dragons: The cruelest and most manipulative of Dragons, Venomous Dragons dwell deep in primeval forests or jungles. Venomous Dragons often dwell with others of their ilk, or amass legions of dull-witted followers. They have three chief loves - sowing discord, increasing their reputation, and eating the flesh of elves. Kingdoms or settlements near their lairs, will be required to pay tribute and provide sacrifices or face invasion by the Dragon's humanoid servants. When truly threatened, these Dragons will flee rather than fight, but they never forget a slight and will exact vengeance on entire lineages.  


Swamp Dragons: Unrelentingly evil, Swamp Dragons delight in entropy and corruption. They dwell in swamps, lakes, and caves - places that are malignant and rotten. Swamp Dragons forsake gold in favor of magic or secrets, and use these things to tempt the desperate or unscrupulous, taking great delight in the others descent into hell. Swamp Dragons are calculating creatures who take only measured risks, and never act on fits of emotion. If necessary, they will patiently maintain their schemes for decades or even centuries.


Cold Drakes: The ultimate personification of dull and brutish evil, Cold Drakes dwell in the far north in glacial rifts, icebergs, or frozen mountains. The weakest of Dragons, Cold Drakes hunt in packs. They are jealous and spiteful creatures, despising the warmth of civilization. Many outposts and settlements have seemingly disappeared overnight after drawing the ire of these Dragons. Luckily, the lands they inhabit are filled with other dangerous monsters such as Frost Giants, who hunt and enslave Cold Drakes. If a Cold Drake possesses any treasure, it once belonged to something they ate and is regarded as rubbish.