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Subraces

Dragons have far more subraces than other races of Cimmeria. There are so many subraces of dragons that they are split into categories for discussion rather than discussed individually. The two most powerful types of dragons are chromatic and metallic. These two varieties ruled Cimmeria during the Dragon Hegemony. Planar dragons encapsulate other intelligent dragons outside of the chromatic and metallic. Animalistic refers to draconic variants that are unable to speak. Finally, dragons are able to interbreed with many other species creating numerous hybrids throughout Cimmeria.

Chromatic: Chromatic dragons have four legs, wings, and a tail. They are malevolently intelligent, but the scale of their schemes varies between the different colors. All chromatic dragons grow to enormous size which matches the proportions of their vile plans. The largest are red dragons which breathe fire. Next are blue dragons that breathe electricity. Green and black are slightly smaller than blue and both breathe acid. The smallest are white dragons that breathe ice.

The greatest of the red dragons, Invernix, led the chromatic and metallic dragons in forming the Dragon Hegemony. Invernix insisted that his cousins oppress the mortals. This hostile attitude did not require much encouragement. Chromatic dragons see mortals as toys for their amusement or food. Breaking a mortal is of no concern to a chromatic dragon as their are always more to take the place of their discarded play thing.

Metallic: Metallic dragons are physically very similar to chromatic dragons. Their main physical difference are long barbels on the sides of their faces that oscillate based on the emotions of the dragon. The greatest of the metallic dragons are gold, followed closely by silver. Bronze dragons are next in size. Bronze and copper dragons are the smallest of the metallics, but they are still massive in size.

Metallic dragons have two types of breath weapons each, an elemental onslaught and a non-lethal poisonous gas. Gold dragons breathe fire and weakening gas. Silver dragons breathe ice and paralyzing gas. Bronze dragons breathe lightning and fear-inducing gas. Brass dragons breathe fire and sleeping gas. Copper dragons breathe acid and a muscle-relaxant gas that slows enemies’ movement. Metallic dragons elect their breath weapon based on whether they wish to destroy or incapacitate their targets.

Metallic dragons saw their role as that of benevolent dictators during the Dragon Hegemony. In their mind mortals were too stupid and shortsighted to make decisions for themselves. They needed the guidance of immortal leaders like the metallic dragons. Well-meaning restrictions on people’s lives aggravated the Cimmerians. Additionally metallic dragons introduced harsh taxes as they still had an bottomless hunger for more treasure. Thus while metallic dragons had good intentions in their rule over Cimmeria, they were almost universally hated by their subjects.

Planar: While other four-legged, winged, elemental breathing dragons exist, they live outside of Cimmeria. These dragons are from other planes of existence. Styx dragons guard the Underworld alongside Cerberus. Shadow dragons live in the Shadow Plane. Numerous dragons live in the elemental planes of air, earth, fire, and water. Other dragons of every imaginable kind exist in other cultures and planes outside of the Olympians’ influence.

Animalistic: Some dragons are only as intelligent as the average dog. These dragons are smaller than metallic, chromatic, and planar varieties, usually only growing as big as a horse. They also lack some of the physical characteristics of the larger varieties. Wyverns have no forelegs. Some wyverns have no breath weapon, but they do have a poisonous scorpion tail. Drakes have no wings. Many drakes lack a breath weapon. Hydras also have no wings, but their well-known ability to regenerate their heads frightens many of the bravest heroes.

Many animalistic dragons are partially domesticated. Drakes are commonly used as guard dogs by aristocrats. The most accomplished knights dream of a wyvern mount. Kobolds are also known to keep hydras as a tamed hazard. The kobolds feed the hydra and if their tribe is attacked they unleash the hydra on their foes. Returning the hydra to its enclosure after defending the tribe is a difficult prospect. Sometimes hydras go on a rampage and eat as many kobolds as they save.

Hybrid: Dragons have the capacity to interbreed with nearly any other creature. Half-bears, half-humans, half-giants, half-faeries, and half-demons, all are possible draconic crosses. The most famous cross was dragovinians. They were divine, vampire, dragon humanoids which ruled Xoria and threatened Cimmeria for thirty years. Bavastatner created many half-breeds within his Shacklack Desert kingdom to improve his subjects survivability in the desert. Another famous dragon cross is chimera monsters, a mix of all sorts of animals with lions, snakes, goats, and dragons featuring most prominently. Many other sorts of hybrids can be found in hidden corners across Cimmeria.