Lost Dragon of Waterdeep

The Lost Dragon of Waterdeep was a legend bandied around the city about a dragon trapped in a painting or some other piece of furniture. The particulars varied widely: some said it was a white dragon, some said it was blue, and a few stories posited that it was some other rare and unusual breed. The vessel that contained the creature was even more speculative&mdash;examples included a painting, a brazier, a chair, and a chamber pot. Nearly all versions of the tale agreed that the dragon could see, hear, and speak out of one or more surfaces of its prison. The legend stated that if someone touched the item a word would appear somewhere on its surface. Speaking this word supposedly compelled the dragon to truthfully answer one question from the seeker.

The creature spoke the truth, but did not always give a complete or satisfying answer. It also asked petitioners to bring various items to its prison and touch them to the surface. Items rumored to have been requested included feathers, locks of hair, leaves, flowers, smooth pebbles, and glass eyes. Petitioners that asked for the location of riches were sometimes rewarded, but some reportedly perished in the pursuit. Success or failure was also attributed to whether the dragon liked the petitioner or not.

Part of the fascination of the legend was speculation about why the dragon desired items be physically touched to its prison. Myriad guesses included loneliness, desire to feel anything at all, escape, evil schemes galore, and the destruction of the city. Some speculated that the painting was unfinished and the prisoner inveigled seekers to finish the work so it could be released or any of the other imagined (usually catastrophic) events to occur.

History
painting owned by Lord Narrovan Eagleshield of Waterdeep. The painting was tied to the Legend of the Lost Dragon which claimed a blue or white dragon was trapped in some object inside the city.

Description
The painting was a lifelike depiction of four young humans in a wooded garden gazing at a statue of a dragon.

During a noble revel at Lord Eagleshield's mansion in 1479 DR, several nobles reported the painting spoke to them. The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors was alerted to the phenomenon and investigated but claimed the painting could not be the Lost Dragon because the real Lost Dragon hung in a chamber in Piergieron's Palace.