Already a qualifying Patreon member? Refresh to access this content.
25 thoughts on “Patreon Preview: Draconic Miscellany”
Are there gold dragons meddling with the many dream-based mystical workings of Sarlona?
You have floated a few ideas for what greatwyrms could be in previous comments sections of this website. Do you have any clearer picture of what greatwyrms could be now?
A very fantastic article!
My only question is, what kind of dragon is your favorite?
Fizban’s for 5e, and some other RPGs, like Pathfinder 2e, allow any dragon to obtain a shapechanging ability.
How does a dragon acquire such an ability in Eberron? Is this a hereditary trait? Is it a trained technique?
In 3.5 there was a feat that any dragon could take, so training seems likely.
Page 15 of Dragons of Eberron states “In Eberron, the ability to assume humanoid form is not limited to certain dragons; with proper training and dedication, any dragon can master this gift” and includes a few feats and a spell related to this.
The 4e Eberron Player’s Guide mentions “dragonborn city-states” in Argonnessen. Do you see these as making up a significant chunk of the population in Argonnessen?
Note that the EPG says that “Tales maintain that great dragonborn city-states exist in Argonnessen’s interior, warring with one another… at the behest of their dragon overlords.” It’s story, not absolute fact, and it’s not entirely accurate. There are certainly dragonborn cities in Argonnessen, just as there are goblin cities and cities of dwarves; and most of these are found in the Vast, where they are effectively toys for the dragons that dwell there. Dragons of Eberron notes “To a dominion lord, nondragons are an extension of his hoard” and “Some live in hedonistic splendor among nondragons who worship them. A few actually enjoy protecting lesser creatures; they take pleasure in defending their subjects from the depredations of cruel ravagers and rulers.” These civilizations last for as long as they serve a purpose; countless dragonborn cultures have been created only to be razed after a thousand years and then raised up again when they serve a purpose.
There are humanoid cultures beyond the Vast, but most are directly tied to dragons and either serve a concrete purpose or are some form of experiment, like Io’lokar. There are dragonborn armies in the Light of Siberys, and dragonborn could be integrated into some of the cultures of the Thousand. the key point is that these dragonborn cultures aren’t independent; one way or another, they are tied to the dragons, aand they rise and fall as their draconic patrons deem necessary.
I’d add that In My Eberron there are servant clans of dragonborn tied to particular cultures/families in the Thousand; these dragonborn are allowed a space where they can support themselves while not in active service to a master dragon. This would be what some interpret as “city-states”. They’re not independently governed, and are more like a ‘kennel’ or SPCA, excepting that the dragonborn are more than capable of taking care of themselves to draconic standards.
Oh no, the Passion’s Flame entry got lost! I feel like that one is a challenge to incorporate into the setting. Any ideas beyond for a dragon motivation passionate destruction/being a mad artist?
How do draconic cultists of the daelkyr work?
How do draconic cultists of the daelkyr work?
More or less like they work anywhere else. They can appear anywhere, and when they are exposed as a threat they will be eliminated. The Conclave isn’t omniscient; there could easily be a dominion lord in the Vast who’s been compromised by Belashyrra but no one’s figured it out. And it’s definitely an option for rogue dragons. I love the idea of a black or copper dragon devoted to Kyrzin who’s acidic breath is actually a living ooze…
What revelation, if any, do you think Zenobaal has actually unearthed? What plot hooks are possible here?
In my campaign, Zenobaal came to the conclusion that the Prophecy was false, a corruption by the lords of Xoriat, and that the true will of the Progenitors was reflected in the original reality that was destroyed/overwritten. So, in my game, he was trying to orchestrate the return of that reality, assisted by the gith and the gem dragons.
I’ve never personally used Zenobaal in a campaign, but I think this is a fun concept!
I kind of pictured chromatics that their lairs where just stronger and more potent than their metallic counterparts (and perhaps tied to planes). A red dragon can make a powerful fernian manifest zone as a lair.
This could lead into hubris and khyber as well I suppose.
Tho another ponder is if chromatics could find kinship with aberrants, having powers brining about destruction without intention would be a fear of both, The tinkerer could be a dragon, giving the tools for tarkanan to level sharn.
Tho another ponder is if chromatics could find kinship with aberrants, having powers brining about destruction without intention.
It’s an interesting comparison — and in both cases, they are perjoratively described as being connected to Khyber! It would be a fun direction to go with the Tinker.
How would you adjust the lore of the Library of Hidden Knowledge, from 3.5 Dragons of Eberron, in your Eberron? It does not seem to quite fit what we know of Chamber dragons.
So it might be a rogue’s initiative or legacy? It’s in the Dragons of Khorvaire section, after all, and the Chamber aren’t the only dragons on the continent.
I’ve never used the Library of Hidden Knowledge, and after reading the description in DoE I STILL don’t understand what it’s supposed to be. On the one hand, it seems to be a Chamber safehouse. On the other hand, it seems like the locals know about it and the encounter list includes Wayfinders and Sivis scribes. So with that in mind, I’d use it in one of the following ways…
1. As a Chamber safehouse, in which case I’d remove the encounters and the idea that anyone not in the Chamber is aware of its existence. Adventurers could stumble on it or be guided there by a Chamber agent, but it’s not open to the general public.
2. Suggest that it WAS a Chamber safehouse that was abandoned in the past and then found and maintained by the Librarian as a resource for the local community. The Librarian themself doesn’t actually know the origin of the Library; they just found it, abandoned.
Frankly, what *I* would probably do is scrap the idea that it has anything to do with dragons. I love the idea of a mysterious library that has exits into a number of different towns and in which you always seem to stumble upon a useful but disturbing piece of secret information, with a mysterious librarian… only to have the adventurers who use it eventually discover that the Library of the Court of Shadows and that the librarian is Hektula.
A fascinating twist you propose by the end. Thank you.
Fantastic details, kudos & thanks!
If you weren’t writing lore for the pre-existing dragons of D&D, how would you do dragons differently? Would you have different varieties of dragons, or would there be just one kind of dragon?
It would depend on the setting. Setting aside metallic/chromatic, Eberron was designed with the idea that dragons are numerous enough to have civilization—again, they play the role of the Vorlons in Babylon Five rather than Smaug in Middle Earth. How I’d design dragons elsewhere would depend on the stories I wanted to tell with them.
What do you personally think is the reason why dragons have avoided Sarlona, even before the Inspired came into power?
Unlock with Patreon
Are there gold dragons meddling with the many dream-based mystical workings of Sarlona?
You have floated a few ideas for what greatwyrms could be in previous comments sections of this website. Do you have any clearer picture of what greatwyrms could be now?
A very fantastic article!
My only question is, what kind of dragon is your favorite?
Fizban’s for 5e, and some other RPGs, like Pathfinder 2e, allow any dragon to obtain a shapechanging ability.
How does a dragon acquire such an ability in Eberron? Is this a hereditary trait? Is it a trained technique?
In 3.5 there was a feat that any dragon could take, so training seems likely.
Page 15 of Dragons of Eberron states “In Eberron, the ability to assume humanoid form is not limited to certain dragons; with proper training and dedication, any dragon can master this gift” and includes a few feats and a spell related to this.
The 4e Eberron Player’s Guide mentions “dragonborn city-states” in Argonnessen. Do you see these as making up a significant chunk of the population in Argonnessen?
Note that the EPG says that “Tales maintain that great dragonborn city-states exist in Argonnessen’s interior, warring with one another… at the behest of their dragon overlords.” It’s story, not absolute fact, and it’s not entirely accurate. There are certainly dragonborn cities in Argonnessen, just as there are goblin cities and cities of dwarves; and most of these are found in the Vast, where they are effectively toys for the dragons that dwell there. Dragons of Eberron notes “To a dominion lord, nondragons are an extension of his hoard” and “Some live in hedonistic splendor among nondragons who worship them. A few actually enjoy protecting lesser creatures; they take pleasure in defending their subjects from the depredations of cruel ravagers and rulers.” These civilizations last for as long as they serve a purpose; countless dragonborn cultures have been created only to be razed after a thousand years and then raised up again when they serve a purpose.
There are humanoid cultures beyond the Vast, but most are directly tied to dragons and either serve a concrete purpose or are some form of experiment, like Io’lokar. There are dragonborn armies in the Light of Siberys, and dragonborn could be integrated into some of the cultures of the Thousand. the key point is that these dragonborn cultures aren’t independent; one way or another, they are tied to the dragons, aand they rise and fall as their draconic patrons deem necessary.
I’d add that In My Eberron there are servant clans of dragonborn tied to particular cultures/families in the Thousand; these dragonborn are allowed a space where they can support themselves while not in active service to a master dragon. This would be what some interpret as “city-states”. They’re not independently governed, and are more like a ‘kennel’ or SPCA, excepting that the dragonborn are more than capable of taking care of themselves to draconic standards.
Oh no, the Passion’s Flame entry got lost! I feel like that one is a challenge to incorporate into the setting. Any ideas beyond for a dragon motivation passionate destruction/being a mad artist?
How do draconic cultists of the daelkyr work?
How do draconic cultists of the daelkyr work?
More or less like they work anywhere else. They can appear anywhere, and when they are exposed as a threat they will be eliminated. The Conclave isn’t omniscient; there could easily be a dominion lord in the Vast who’s been compromised by Belashyrra but no one’s figured it out. And it’s definitely an option for rogue dragons. I love the idea of a black or copper dragon devoted to Kyrzin who’s acidic breath is actually a living ooze…
What revelation, if any, do you think Zenobaal has actually unearthed? What plot hooks are possible here?
In my campaign, Zenobaal came to the conclusion that the Prophecy was false, a corruption by the lords of Xoriat, and that the true will of the Progenitors was reflected in the original reality that was destroyed/overwritten. So, in my game, he was trying to orchestrate the return of that reality, assisted by the gith and the gem dragons.
I’ve never personally used Zenobaal in a campaign, but I think this is a fun concept!
I kind of pictured chromatics that their lairs where just stronger and more potent than their metallic counterparts (and perhaps tied to planes). A red dragon can make a powerful fernian manifest zone as a lair.
This could lead into hubris and khyber as well I suppose.
Tho another ponder is if chromatics could find kinship with aberrants, having powers brining about destruction without intention would be a fear of both, The tinkerer could be a dragon, giving the tools for tarkanan to level sharn.
Tho another ponder is if chromatics could find kinship with aberrants, having powers brining about destruction without intention.
It’s an interesting comparison — and in both cases, they are perjoratively described as being connected to Khyber! It would be a fun direction to go with the Tinker.
How would you adjust the lore of the Library of Hidden Knowledge, from 3.5 Dragons of Eberron, in your Eberron? It does not seem to quite fit what we know of Chamber dragons.
So it might be a rogue’s initiative or legacy? It’s in the Dragons of Khorvaire section, after all, and the Chamber aren’t the only dragons on the continent.
I’ve never used the Library of Hidden Knowledge, and after reading the description in DoE I STILL don’t understand what it’s supposed to be. On the one hand, it seems to be a Chamber safehouse. On the other hand, it seems like the locals know about it and the encounter list includes Wayfinders and Sivis scribes. So with that in mind, I’d use it in one of the following ways…
1. As a Chamber safehouse, in which case I’d remove the encounters and the idea that anyone not in the Chamber is aware of its existence. Adventurers could stumble on it or be guided there by a Chamber agent, but it’s not open to the general public.
2. Suggest that it WAS a Chamber safehouse that was abandoned in the past and then found and maintained by the Librarian as a resource for the local community. The Librarian themself doesn’t actually know the origin of the Library; they just found it, abandoned.
Frankly, what *I* would probably do is scrap the idea that it has anything to do with dragons. I love the idea of a mysterious library that has exits into a number of different towns and in which you always seem to stumble upon a useful but disturbing piece of secret information, with a mysterious librarian… only to have the adventurers who use it eventually discover that the Library of the Court of Shadows and that the librarian is Hektula.
A fascinating twist you propose by the end. Thank you.
Fantastic details, kudos & thanks!
If you weren’t writing lore for the pre-existing dragons of D&D, how would you do dragons differently? Would you have different varieties of dragons, or would there be just one kind of dragon?
It would depend on the setting. Setting aside metallic/chromatic, Eberron was designed with the idea that dragons are numerous enough to have civilization—again, they play the role of the Vorlons in Babylon Five rather than Smaug in Middle Earth. How I’d design dragons elsewhere would depend on the stories I wanted to tell with them.
What do you personally think is the reason why dragons have avoided Sarlona, even before the Inspired came into power?