Black dragon

Black dragons, also known as skull dragons, were far and away the most vile tempered and cruel of all chromatic dragons. They were solitary creatures that lived in the swamps and marshlands all around Toril, from the Flooded Forest in Sembia to the jungles of Chult.

Appearance
Black dragons appeared abnormally slender in comparison to other chromatic dragons—wiry, but not gaunt. Physically, they were most distinguished by their horns, which protruded from the sides of their heads and wrapped around, projecting forward. A large frill adorned the upper part of the neck. They smelled like rotting vegetation and foul water. A black dragon grew up to a maximum size of 16' (4.9 m) tall, 85' (25.9 m) long, with a wingspan of 80' (24.4 m). They weighed up to 160,000 lbs (72.6 mt).

Personality
Solitary and extremely territorial in their nature, black dragons would seldom form clans, opting to do so only when they lived in the most hazardous of environments or when faced with a danger that could wipe out large swaths of their population. Black dragons were the most hateful, petty, and sadistic of all dragons. They were cruel bullies at heart, and there were few things they enjoyed more than inflicting pain, suffering, humiliation, and terror on others. As the second-weakest of the Chromatic dragons, they shared a similar inferiority complex as white dragons, but without sharing the white's lack of imagination. As a result, they were far more aware of the chip on their shoulder, and were far more invested in taking it out those weaker than themselves. A black dragon would take any opportunity to hurt and degrade others as long as it didn't directly endanger it's own life, reveling in it's own superiority.

Their favorite form of treasure was antique gold coins from old, fallen kingdoms and empires, particularly ones that the dragon had lived through. Gold since it was able to resist corrosion from the dragon's acidic breath weapon; antique coins because black dragons loved the idea of hoarding symbols of wealth from prosperous, mighty empires that they themselves have outlasted and outlived, as it made them feel superior.

Combat
Black dragons preferred ambushes to straightforward fighting. They were vicious and ruthless adversaries, and their acidic bile dissolved through the heaviest armor with ease. Their only disadvantage was that their heavily wooded habitats typically prevented them from flying very high in combat.

Breath Weapon
Black dragons expelled a jet of highly corrosive acid, delighting in the agony it caused their dying victims.

Lair
Black dragons lived in swamps, jungles and fetid marshlands. They were cunning creatures who lived to inspire fear and rule by intimidation. The black, glossy scales of black dragons added to their camouflage within swamp lands. They preferred to ambush their targets, using darkness or water as their cover. They were excellent swimmers and often made their lairs in submerged caves or underground chambers near swamps or murky ponds. Their lairs always had two entrances: one underwater through the adjacent swamp or pond, and one above-ground, disguised amidst the undergrowth.

Parenting & Development
Female dragons took the lead when it came to breeding, choosing their mate largely based on the size of the hoard of prospective males. Because of this, male black dragons would often brag about their accumulated wealth to communicative creatures or others of their own kind, in the hopes that rumors of their hoard would spread to any females in the area that were looking to mate. When two or more females selected the same male as their partner, they would fight for dominance high in the air above the lair of the male, allowing him to gaze upon his future mate's victory in admiration.

Black dragons were not noted as good parents, relying more upon disguise and hiding to protect their eggs than upon guarding them personally. Black dragon eggs must be submerged in strong acid while growing, which helped protect the dragon as well. Black dragons would only protect their young so long as that responsibility didn't threaten their own life. If they had to choose between saving their own life or those of their clutch or spawn, they would most certainly choose the former; though they would assuredly seek revenge afterwards.

Their wyrmlings were noted for their exceptional cruelty and their utterly insatiable appetites. They ate almost anything organic they could kill, even plants. As a black dragon matured, its scales gradually grew lighter. The most ancient black dragons appeared almost purple in color.



Diet
A black dragon's diet consisted of fish, mollusks, aquatic critters and some red meat from terrestrial animals.

Sociology
Black dragons were generally antipathetic towards other chromatic and silver dragons, but were outright hateful of most metallic dragons.

Regions
The skies over the southwestern Bay of Chessenta and southern Chondalwood have been the source of multiple sightings of black dragons. Reports from the jungles of Chult of dense, multi-layered tropical forest complete with its own ecosystem, were highlighted with tales of black dragons living within the canopy.

Cultural Significance
The iconography of the Purple Dragon Knights of Cormyr stemmed from the legend of the great black dragon Thauglor, who once dominated the area upon which the kingdom was built.

Black dragons sometimes served the dark Chultan demigod Eshowdow, and were seen as good omens by his followers.

Notable Black Dragons

 * Alglaudyx, a former black dragon that achieved lichdom before being destroyed.
 * Amnemis, who allied herself with the Cult of the Dragon and dwelled within the Well of Dragons.
 * Arlauthra, known as "Manytalons".
 * Arngalor, the black wyrm lived in a cave near Arkhen Falls.
 * Boglarmanthor, known as "Acridtooth", this adult dragon lived in the Marsh of Deception.
 * Casarial, the mother of Kreston.
 * Daurgothoth, a male black dragon known as “The Creeping Doom”, embraced undeath and hunted the world as a dracolich.
 * Insithryllax an ally of the red wizard Marek Rymüt
 * Kreston, whose mother was Casarial.
 * Maelestor Rex, the ancient male dragon of the High Moor.
 * Mergandevinasander, the black wyrm who lived on the Chultan peninsula.
 * Nizidramanii'yt
 * Ralas, lived in the swamp of Karatorn.
 * Shift, of the Farsea Marshes in Cormyr.
 * Skurge, who dominated much of the tunlands.
 * Thauglorimorgorus, ruler of the old area known as the Forest Country.
 * Thoss Fyurnen, the "Sun Swallower" of the Lizard March outside Daggerford, and self-proclaimed Chosen of Talona.
 * Ueurwen, who lived in the swamp of Karatorn with her mate Ralas.
 * Urshula, a Dracolich.
 * Voaraghamanthar, the elder black dragon known as “The Black Death” has learned something of sorcery. He laired in the Mere of Dead Men, a saltwater swamp in the Sword Coast North.
 * Waervaerendor, twin sibling of Voaraghamanthar.
 * Wyrvrex
 * Zarlandris was a great black wyrm who died in 1373 DR when he attacked Highmoon.

Appearances

 * Adventures:
 * Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus


 * Hellgate Keep (adventure)


 * Video Games:
 * Curse of the Azure Bonds • Neverwinter Nights


 * Board Games:
 * Temple of Elemental Evil Board Game

Connections
Schwarze Drachen