Silver Dragon Ecology

My knees went weak as she walked into the gates. It had been over 40 years since we had tearfully departed on that cold night. A love long lost had returned as youthful and beautiful as ever. Here I am a withered and old man. I both feared and hoped she’d recognize me. Then she looked me in the eyes with those soul piercing turquoises and approached smiling. 40 years isn’t long I felt myself thinking. - Baron Thadius McKardly’s diary.

Introduction

When the dragons first discovered humanoids many disregarded them as ants or playthings to be used. Yu’llandar the powerful Silver Dragon instead looked at them with curiosity. He watched over a small group of elves carve their start in a forest and grew fond of their lust for life and beauty. He watched from afar with a love that was pure and chaste.

Silver Dragons like most dragons consider themselves the ultimate beings. They do so not with superiority or pride but just a calm sureness that only ever comes across as polite confidence. Silver Dragons are kind and value matters of the heart. If any dragon were to be encountered by the goodly folk it would be dangerous but only if it were Silver would it be a blessing.

Physiological Observations

With shinning silvering metallic scales, vibrant cobalt eyes and highlights, Silver Dragons are among the most beautiful creatures. They have regal sails standing tall starting at the head and ending at the end of their tail. Their eyes sparkle with wonderment, sincerity and kindness. When in battle they seem more at play then aggressive as they move around with a grace and confidence that seems unflappable.

They are most easily recognized by the head with their tall sails and stunning eyes. Their 2 horns are sharp and sturdy but almost useless as they extend from the back of the skull and gently slope downward, almost as if slicked back hair. Blue to Purple their eyes shine with curiosity and intelligence. Their faces are gently sloped down to the jaw giving them a shorter face then most dragons but fittingly seem to only accentuate their regal frill and beautiful horns. They also have 2 chin frills staring at the chin jutting forward and down and going all the way back to the end of the jaw. These chin frills resemble a well-groomed dwarvish beard at times. Females typically have smaller chin frills.

The silvering shining scales make most creatures wonder at their beauty. Then at ends of the sails, wing membranes and ears they turn to turquoise, purple or blue (the same as their eyes) in hue giving them a splash of color. Most dragons of other colors consider themselves the epitome of what a dragon should look like but do admit that Silvers are second.

In body structure they resemble lithe and graceful cats like most dragons. Despite their great size they seem to move with ease and grace. The Silver Dragons keep their wings always upwards when folded unlike other dragons who fold their wings against their bodies when at rest. Their long tails move about with ease behind them and are usually kept off of the ground unless at rest.

Despite their grace and beauty Silver Dragons are deadly creatures that are more than capable in battle. They can use their strong tails agilely and with great effect in bludgeoning foes. Their claws on each of their 4 legs are dangerous and sharp, able to slash open the hides of even other dragons. Their teeth and jaws are strong and easily can be used to bite. Most of all they can breathe 2 different breath weapons depending on the situation. They primarily use the element of cold in a wide cone that can freeze enemies and the like. The second is a cone of paralyzing gasses that not many creatures can withstand. They freely use both in battle.

Battle for a Silver Dragon usually is done by fly by breath attacks first ice then paralytic in nature. Those remaining can expect sudden onslaughts of claws, teeth, and mostly whipping tail upon the ground until their ready to lose their breath again. They favor using their tail and keeping a distance but can fight up close to devastating effect. Since they are raised to learn to fight by their parents some can be extremely tactically adept and dangerous fighters. Generations of Silvers hardened by fierce combat are common.

They are carnivores like most dragons and with the sharp brilliant white teeth to prove it. They do prefer their meat cold or even frozen. They usually just gently blow on a deer or another animal to freeze it and then eat the meat after a sufficient cooling. They will eat fallen enemies too as long as they are not fellow dragons.

Flight for them is just as easy as any other dragon. They need space to take off and land or some advantageous terrain like a cliff to properly take off. Once they are able to get going flight becomes easier and flapping to gain height seems effortless to them. They glide as much as possible to conserve energy but normally they’re not flying for long.

Silver Dragons can shapeshift into humanoids forms and prefer to live most of their lives among the lesser beings. Usually taking shape of a kind and helpful person like a sage or strange wanderer they keep their distance and just enjoy the lives of the humanoids. They can be noticed by the perceptive for always having silvery hair (often mistaken for grey hair) and bright youthful and blue eyes regardless of apparent age.

Their treasures are mostly of lost civilizations with relics and artifacts of the particular race they’ve become fascinated with. Most Silver dragons value humans for their ambition and lust for life with such a shorter lifespan. The least likely is that of the traditional and stoic dwarves.

They regularly visit their homes in high up caves or alcoves in the mountains to ensure their treasures are still in order but do not stay for long. Silvers tend to only visit their homes monthly and only for a few days. They open their homes and even their identity to their most trusted friends if they make many among the people they watch.

Their homes are typically in colder regions of the worlds but can be in warmer regions of the mountains reach high enough.

Silver Dragon culture is very different to many dragons. They are parts of clans that consist of many families making for large networks of Silver Dragons. They can number as many as 50 in a clan making for a terrifying force to draw ire from. These clans despite the loyalty of members are disjointed and non-active in human standards only meeting twice a decade. Silver Dragons don’t spend their time like most dragons is why this lack of urgency to meet. Silver Dragons spend most of their time as the mortals they watch as they live among them and learning from them.

When they do meet they generally socialize and sometimes find bonds among close friends catching up. These meetings last for many a ten day in order to properly catch up and socialize with fellow dragons. These meetings most of the time are purely for casual purposes but sometimes in need for pressing issues. Meetings of urgency are typically held outside of the regular schedules and are facilitated by any member if the need is dire. The most common reason is the looming threat to the safety of a member and that’s usually only if multiple enemy dragons are involved.

Silvers have a unique way of bonding in mating for dragons, there usually in their own affairs and estranged but they do have marriages. These are typically arranged and appointed with in the clan or sometimes in rare occasions as acts of good will between clans. These marriages are lose by most interpretations as they rarely live together and will only meet 1 or 2 times outside of meetings for mating purposes and to raise children. Of course there are exceptions to those norms that do live together and usually dwell among the lesser beings in the guises of husband and wife.

Clans are usually not concerned with problems of the land as a whole seeing lesser beings’ troubles as insignificant. Very rarely is a clan roused to action on behest of an outsider unless large scale issues are present that could directly threaten members. If a clan is unified in action they can be very powerful as a flight of Silver dragons could decimate any army.

Silver Dragon young are produced every 5 to 6 centuries. The parents are very loving and take great care in raising their children as any humanoid of goodly wheel would. Typically 3 to 6 eggs are produced and hatched after 10 months in cooler moist temperatures. In parent they are typically strict but fair. The children are taught everything from basic life skills, social decadence, fighting, and master of flight and mastery of their breath weapons. In around half a century the young children will be old enough to find homes of their own typically with the help of a clan member that will scout a suitable location for them in relative safety. After fully grown they do keep in contact with their parents though mostly only through the bi-decade meetings.

If anything were to happen to the parents during the time of raising young, the clan will assign surrogate parents for the young. Thankfully rare occasions but dire none the less.

Intra Specie Observations

It had been only a few years since I left my little hamlet on the hill. I couldn’t resist no matter how I tried, I wanted to see how Thadius had fared over the few winters. I had heard of an orc raid and hoped he still lived among the people. When I did return it became obvious a few years is a lot to a human as I looked into his soft eyes. I immediately recognized him and decided this time I wouldn’t hold back. Even if I had only but a blink of an eye with him it would be worth it. I’m sorry that it took too long to realize that. - Lady Thamia when returning after only 40 years

Silver Dragons take more interest than most other dragons in creatures below them. As with most dragons they consider themselves the ultimate beings. They are not above interacting with lesser creatures though and find the goodly ones fascinating. They study and watch civilizations under their territories with more than passing interest. They don’t normally like to make themselves known not desiring to interfere with the day to day lives and instead watch from outside or inside under disguise. Sometimes they make themselves known to a city or town and publicly show their allegiance if the town is a positive enough force.

They listen to stories and tales with great amusement. They are particularly interested in lost civilizations or tales of such and sometimes may venture for those very places to see for themselves. A Silver Dragon in an area is likely to know the complete and extensive history of a settlement near to them as they make it their business. Many adventurers have found useful information in seeking out the wisdom of a resident Silver Dragon.

As with other goodly dragons Silvers have no qualms destroying villages of orcs and goblins they find in their territories. However, unlike other goodly dragons they’ll not actively seek these settlements out and so only do so if they feel like brushing on their fighting skills. It’s not uncommon for evil communities to exist near a Silver’s territory if they are benign.

Although Silvers are largely fascinated by a settlement but can be very self-centered. They care not of taking a few livestock here and there as long as they’re not risking the lives of the lesser beings. Often times when things are lean for a settlement they may rebalance the livestock in the area to be more equal. The consider themselves for the most part not intervening even if they do from time to time.

Sometimes they’ll become close friends with members of a community and will often help those friends in need. It’s not uncommon for a dragon to have many friends and friendly faces known to them in a town. In fact they quite enjoy having such company. They rarely stay so open to the public for too long preferring a distance emotionally if they wish to keep their identities secret.

Usually if they feel they’ve become too close they’ll leave and distract themselves with other matters and return after 50 years or so. Sometimes this distance is not achieved and while not bad it’s a more dangerous prospect for a Silver. Many are taught this distance from experience as they’ll have to endure several lifespans of even the long lived elves and keeping that distance keeps things more guarded emotionally. Such close bonds are not looked down upon by other dragons but always advised by caution.

One such practice that is indeed taboo is the mingling of dragon and mortal romantically. These are rare occurrences as they are highly advised against and heavily chastised actions among the clans. Even though they are taboo these relationships do exist. The dragon typically will adopt the customs of such a practice by the race of their chosen partner. Children produced of such a union are often taken care of by the dragon parent in their cave as to avoid the suspicions or simply troubles a half dragon may bare in such a community.

In the clan the half dragons are accepted typically, although more xenophobic clans may reject such children. The networks of allied Silver dragons make for half silver dragons the most likely of a half dragon to succeed in life and often they thrive. Not much is done or can be done once this taboo is committed other than moral support when things inevitably end.

In the presence of other dragon kind Silver Dragons are often kind and talkative. They’ve been known to form lose friendships with other goodly dragons. When in the presence of evil dragons they give extreme caution and suspicion but are not quick to immediately expect a fight. Often times when negotiations of dragons of evil and good take place a Silver will represent the side of good.

Variants

Silver Dragons are technically a variant of their own from the group of Metalic Dragons but they can be in different categories based on heritage and their chosen interests.

Hardy Silvers – These silver Dragons are usually fascinated with dwarves or barbarian tribes. They are Patient even for dragon standards. They are usually very adept fighters and regularly practice on the many goblin, orc and even giant tribes that plague dwarven lands.
Versatile Silvers – Typically found in more diverse or humanoid lands they are the most knowledgeable clans of Silvers. It’s not uncommon for them to have great libraries and great hordes of powerful artifacts and devises. They have a thirst for knowledge and will gladly trade in such goods.
Graceful Silvers – Typically closer to elves and enjoy the lust for life that most elves have. They are very companionate and are the most prone to having maybe too close of ties to their chosen interests in mortal beings. These silvers are also more likely to be in wedded pairs as they enjoy being close to another.
Sharp Silvers – Found closer to gnomish and Halfling areas they love witty banter and comradery among folk. They also are more likely to be in wedded pairs as marriage is a big part of Halfling culture in some areas. They admire the smaller races for their ability to thrive in a world seemingly meant for people twice their size.

DM’s Toolbox

For Silver Dragons just like any other dragon it’s very important to remember that all dragons are individuals just like any PC. These are just templates upon Silver dragon culture. Silver dragons can be a good way to show how power and beauty can intersect into a friendly and deadly encounter. If you have a good party they can be powerful friend or source of information. Evil parties can have a real threat looming over their head if they step too far out of line.

As always thanks for reading!

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Fortuan's Ecologies

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