I do not own this awesome depiction of the female draconian to the left or below. I wish I did. All credit to unknown artists and the producers of Reign of Dragons.
In the Forsaken Isles, there are more than a few types of dragons:
- Those that serve Tiamat, the Colored Dragons
- Those that serve the All Father, the Metallic Dragons
- Unaligned dragons
- Dragons that do not know they are dragons
For all intents and purposes, the metallic or colored nature of a dragon is not apparent. All dragons are large and frightening. Until they kill you or talk to you or leave you alone, you don't really know which type they are or who they serve. Just like snakes in our world, dragons can have a massive variety of color. Looking at them, there's no way of knowing, "Oh this one serves Tiamat and is an acid breather." Additionally, the presence of eldar dragons (all of whom serve Tiamat), further confound identification because they can shapeshift (most anyways), use magic, and dwarf contemporary dragons in size and power. The eldar consider these contemporary dragons, fallen... in the sense that they fell into Time's flow and hatched and now exist as Tehran creatures, capable of aligning with the All Father or Tiamat.
While all dragons have a breath weapon, not all breath weapons manifest as some kind of deadly <whatever> shooting out of the dragon's mouth. For example, Ynt'taris' breath weapon is a designated area (as big or small as the white patriarch wishes) that sucks all heat energy into Ynt'taris regardless of distance or time-space separation. Meanwhile, Alerius' breath weapon is a will-based expulsion of elemental fire from the plane of Fire. Contrast this to Crimson Burning's breath weapon which, in our world, acts like a laser of infinitely hot energy that can cut through anything... as a function of Crimson's will. Resistance to Crimson is also based on will, rather than heat.
Fallen dragons have basic breath weapons subject to the limitations of the world of Tehra. They are not will-based as the eldar's are. Their types are:
Sages have noted anecdotal stories of dragons having additional types such as:
While shapeshifting and speech are common in fallen dragons, they all share a strong sense of territory, a protective instinct for their own kind regardless of type, and an obsession with either treasure, power, or both. How the dragons express this obsession can vary from "I want more treasure" to "Kings bow before my might!"
Metallic fallen dragons believe that, by serving Creation's purpose in uplifting good folk, they can earn a place in Heaven. Colored fallen dragons believe that with enough treasure and power, Tiamat will grant them eldar powers in the afterlife. However, only Tiamat's religion proselytizes conversion of dragons to Tiamat. For Her paladins, it is the 3rd Rite and any type of dragon is a candidate. Jeri, Rojo's battle priestess, is an example of a gold dragon that converted. Through her conversion, Tiamat granted her clerical powers. Like any cleric, she studies and advances in her power as a function of faith. Teleris, formerly the shadow patriarch Cor'tanos, is the same... advancing as a mortal towards Ascension for the dominion of Shadow Dragons; this is Cor'tanos' bid to rekindle the all but extinct race of Shadow Dragons.
In the Forsaken Isles, there are more than a few types of dragons:
- Those that serve Tiamat, the Colored Dragons
- Those that serve the All Father, the Metallic Dragons
- Unaligned dragons
- Dragons that do not know they are dragons
For all intents and purposes, the metallic or colored nature of a dragon is not apparent. All dragons are large and frightening. Until they kill you or talk to you or leave you alone, you don't really know which type they are or who they serve. Just like snakes in our world, dragons can have a massive variety of color. Looking at them, there's no way of knowing, "Oh this one serves Tiamat and is an acid breather." Additionally, the presence of eldar dragons (all of whom serve Tiamat), further confound identification because they can shapeshift (most anyways), use magic, and dwarf contemporary dragons in size and power. The eldar consider these contemporary dragons, fallen... in the sense that they fell into Time's flow and hatched and now exist as Tehran creatures, capable of aligning with the All Father or Tiamat.
While all dragons have a breath weapon, not all breath weapons manifest as some kind of deadly <whatever> shooting out of the dragon's mouth. For example, Ynt'taris' breath weapon is a designated area (as big or small as the white patriarch wishes) that sucks all heat energy into Ynt'taris regardless of distance or time-space separation. Meanwhile, Alerius' breath weapon is a will-based expulsion of elemental fire from the plane of Fire. Contrast this to Crimson Burning's breath weapon which, in our world, acts like a laser of infinitely hot energy that can cut through anything... as a function of Crimson's will. Resistance to Crimson is also based on will, rather than heat.
Fallen dragons have basic breath weapons subject to the limitations of the world of Tehra. They are not will-based as the eldar's are. Their types are:
- Fire
- Ice
- Gas
- Acid
- Poison
- Electricity
Sages have noted anecdotal stories of dragons having additional types such as:
- Cause mutation
- Pestilence (ranging from something like the flu to hemorrhagic fever)
- Insects
- Warp reality around the target
- Shadow
- Drugs
- Chemical, such as rust or explode on contact with water, and so on
- Other magical type effects a mage might access
- Other divine effects a cleric might access
While shapeshifting and speech are common in fallen dragons, they all share a strong sense of territory, a protective instinct for their own kind regardless of type, and an obsession with either treasure, power, or both. How the dragons express this obsession can vary from "I want more treasure" to "Kings bow before my might!"
Metallic fallen dragons believe that, by serving Creation's purpose in uplifting good folk, they can earn a place in Heaven. Colored fallen dragons believe that with enough treasure and power, Tiamat will grant them eldar powers in the afterlife. However, only Tiamat's religion proselytizes conversion of dragons to Tiamat. For Her paladins, it is the 3rd Rite and any type of dragon is a candidate. Jeri, Rojo's battle priestess, is an example of a gold dragon that converted. Through her conversion, Tiamat granted her clerical powers. Like any cleric, she studies and advances in her power as a function of faith. Teleris, formerly the shadow patriarch Cor'tanos, is the same... advancing as a mortal towards Ascension for the dominion of Shadow Dragons; this is Cor'tanos' bid to rekindle the all but extinct race of Shadow Dragons.