Steel dragons, sometimes known as Waterdeep dragons,[5] were metallic dragons[6] who were rarely seen in their natural form, instead living clandestine lives in human cities, observing art, culture, history, and politics.[3]
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Description[edit | edit source]
Steel dragons in their natural forms were especially feline in their movements and stature. They had scales that shone like burnished steel as adults and usually smelled like wet metal.[3] Younger dragons' scales were a darker blue-gray and less lustrous.[7] Their wings consisted of overlapping blades that looked like feathers, and the scales on their chests resemble shields.[8]
Their faces were particularly expressive, sometimes giving the illusion of a human-like face. They had many long spines surrounding their faces, which gave the appearance of hair.[3]
In humanoid forms, steel dragons usually kept their true identities secret; however, they always had at least one visual indication of their true nature in the form of steel-gray hair, eyes, tattoos, or another feature.[7]
Abilities[edit | edit source]
Steel dragons were immune to acid and resistant to poison and especially magic. They had innate abilities to enchant and charm individuals.[7]
Personality[edit | edit source]
Steel dragons, as a rule, were amiable, curious, and witty. They would rather spend their time among human cultures than in their own true forms.[3]
However, they had difficulty when dealing with all kinds of absolute authority, even authority that was used for good. This put steel dragons at odds with other kinds of metallic dragons that used their power and experience to justify their actions, specially bronze dragons and gold dragons; this also made them bitter enemies of chromatic dragons. For those same reasons, steel dragons usually worked within their chosen communities to promote freedom and undermine authoritarian forces.[8]
Steel dragons liked the company of humans, elves, half-elves and dwarves, and they usually supported adventurers that opposed tyrants.[8]
Favored treasure[edit | edit source]
They preferred to invest in property and business unlike other dragons, who preferred to hoard monetary treasures. Some steel dragons did hoard items, but they preferred to hoard works of art, antiquities, books, finery, magic items or servants.[8]
Combat[edit | edit source]
Similar to brass dragons, most steel dragons would rather talk than fight, yet like all dragons, they could be formidable opponents. In combat, they avoided melee and instead relied on their magical spells.[7] A steel dragon could cast the spells of clerics as arcane magic and also could use the spells usually considered a part of the knowledge and trickery domains. If truly losing a battle, a steel dragon was likely to teleport away.[5]
A steel dragon could breathe both a line of acid and a cloud of poisonous gas.[5]
Society[edit | edit source]
Unlike most other dragons, steel dragons did not live in caves, preferring castles, towers, palaces, mansions, and the like.[7]
While they preferred to eat in their human forms, doing so would not provide them enough nourishment to survive, so they would have to make excuses to go hunting secretly in their dragon forms every three tendays or so.[7]
According to Elminster steel dragons were also called "Greyhawk dragons", and according to Mordenkainen, that was the proper name of the species.[9]
Notable Steel Dragons[edit | edit source]
The city of Waterdeep was known to be home to at least three steel dragons:[5]
Other known steel dragons were
In addition, a female steel dragon named Razylymingeir lived in Darmshall, and one named Zundaerazylym dwelt in Neverwinter.[5] A male steel dragon in disguise of a windsoul genasi lived in Akanûl.[11]
A consortium of half-steel dragons called the Confluence was based out of Waterdeep.[12]
Appendix[edit | edit source]
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- Jay Knioum (1998). “Ecology of the Steel Dragon”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon Annual #3 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 74–80.
- "Wizards RPG team" (November 2009). Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 39, 172. ISBN 978-0786952489.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 273–274. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
- ↑ "Wizards RPG team" (November 2009). Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 172. ISBN 978-0786952489.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 140. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. (TSR, Inc), pp. 69–70. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 138. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Wizards RPG team" (November 2009). Draconomicon: Metallic Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39. ISBN 978-0786952489.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 1998). “Wyrms of the North: Jalanvanloss”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #243 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 56–60.
- ↑ Paul Culotta (May/June 1995). “Steelheart”. In Wolfgang Baur ed. Dungeon #53 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 54–71.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (June 7th, 2011). The Spectral Blaze. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786957980.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
Connections[edit | edit source]
Chromatic dragons: Red • Black • Blue • Green • White • Brown • Gray • Purple • Yellow
Gem dragons: Amber • Amethyst • Emerald • Sapphire • Topaz • Crystal • Obsidian
Lung dragons: Chiang lung • Li lung • Lung wang • Pan lung • Shen lung • T'ien lung • Tun mi lung • Yu lung
Planar dragons: Astral • Battle • Chaos • Ethereal • Faerie • Howling • Mirage • Oceanus • Pyroclastic • Radiant • Rust • Shadow • Styx • Tarterian
Miscellaneous dragons: Air • Ascendant • Brainstealer • Dzalmus • Force • Mist • Prismatic • Radiant • Rattelyr • Song • Vishap
Drakes: Guard • Portal • Smoke • Vulture
Dragonbloods: Draconic creature • Dragonborn of Bahamut • Dragonspawn • Dragonwrought kobold
Drow-dragon (shadow) • Drow-dragon (deep) • Half-dragon • Kobold • Urd • Zar'ithra • Zekyl
Undead dragons: Dracolich • Vampiric
