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Dragonspawn, also known as the spawn of Tiamat,[2] were a type of creatures descended from true dragons. They were the antithesis of the dragonborn of Bahamut.[3]

Description[]

Kobolds and urds were sometimes considered to be members of the dragonspawn group.[4]

While the mutant variants of dragonspawn were based on the five common chromatic dragons,[5] there were a few species bred from other kinds of chromatics.[6] Among those devoted to Tiamat, the birth of a spawn of Tiamat was considered a sign of their goddess's favor.[2]

Psychology[]

Spawn of Tiamat were deeply loyal to their goddess, as they were created with a predisposition to serve the Dark Lady.[5] They also shared her undying hatred of good dragonkind, and they disdained non-dragons of all sorts.[2]

They usually worked alongside of other creatures, whether in packs of their kind or with like-minded individuals of other races, particularly evil dragons.[2]

History[]

Redspawn berserker 3E

A deadly redspawn berserker.

The first breeds of dragonspawn were kobolds and urds, appearing around −24,500 DR.[4] According to the Parwiccan Cycle, the first mutant species of dragonspawn appeared in Toril during the first years of the Dragonfall War,[7] created by Tiamat to serve as her soldiers in that conflict.[8] They were opposed by the dragonborn created by the god Bahamut.[7]

The mutant variants reappeared on Toril in 1359 DR, after Bahamut regained his deific status and the Dragon Queen sought to destroy the bastions of her old rival. She sent an avatar to Castle Perilous, and with the help of her Vaasan cultists, began to create the spawn again.[9]

She also sent a few full-formed spawns as gifts to her Untheric followers. Her temples began to secretly breed more spawn and smuggled them out of the country to prevent discovery by the Mulhorandi occupation force, thus spreading the spawn across the lands of the Old Empires and beyond. A few spawn joined the Cult of the Dragon, although they only worked with them to further the Dragon Queen's agenda.[10]

Rumors of hobgoblin warbands and spawn massing around the Rathgaunt Hills in the southern Shaar became common over time, and many believed the reappearance of the spawn was an indication that a new battle of the Dragonfall War was about to start.[10]

In 1479 DR, taaldarax of Brimstone's xorvintaal used dragonspawn as their minions in the game.[11] Alasklerbanbastos also sent some spawn to bolster the threskelan army,[12] while other taaldarax gave the ash giants special magic orbs that enabled them to control dragonspawn so the giants could invade Tymanther.[13]

Dragonspawn were also common in the world of Abeir, and most were employed as servants by dragons. In Laerakond, they were numerous in the nation of Melabrauth.[14]

Ecology[]

Most spawn were born from normal dragons eggs, whether by the will of Tiamat or by an accident of chance,[2] although members of the Church of Tiamat knew how to artificially breed their own kinds of spawns and were able to create them at a more dependable frequency.[5] Some spawn of Tiamat were also capable of breeding true.[2]

Spawn rarely remained with their parents for long. They matured at a quicker rate than true dragons, reaching adulthood in only a few years.[2]

Species[]

There were many species of spawn of Tiamat.[2][1][6][15][16]

Redspawn
Several highly destructive dragonspawn descended from red dragons, including:
Redspawn arcaniss 3E

A redspawn arcaniss calls upon its fiery magic.

Blackspawn
Sly dragonspawn descended from black dragons, they preferred swampy habitats.
Blackspawn raider 3E

Blackspawn raiders preferred ambushes in the swamps.

Bluespawn
Desert-dwelling dragonspawn with an affinity for electricity. They were first hatched in the nests of blue dragons.
GreenspawnRazorfiend3e

A greenspawn razorfiend leaps from the water in ambush.

Greenspawn
Cunning and deadly dragonspawn of green dragon blood, the greenspawn normally lived in forests.
Whitespawn
Brutal and savage, the whitespawn lived in the same icy habitats as white dragons.
Purplespawn nightmare 4e

A purplespawn nightmare strangles an unlucky victim.

Other dragonspawn
Besides the species that descended from the main, most populous chromatic species, there were also dragonspawn descended from less well-known chromatic dragons.
Abeiran dragonspawn
Several strange species of dragonspawn were native to Abeir, and were said to be hybrid descendants of chromatic dragons and other species.

Appendix[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel (July 2006). Monster Manual IV. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 128–163. ISBN 0-7869-3920-6.
  3. Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel (July 2006). Monster Manual IV. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 128. ISBN 0-7869-3920-6.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 74. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Bruce R. Cordell, et al. (November 2008). Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 218–220. ISBN 978-0-7869-4980-9.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  8. Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  9. Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel (July 2006). Monster Manual IV. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 130. ISBN 0-7869-3920-6.
  11. Richard Lee Byers (May 2010). The Captive Flame. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 105–110. ISBN 0786953969.
  12. Richard Lee Byers (2010). Whisper of Venom. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 62–64. ISBN 0786955619.
  13. Richard Lee Byers (May 2010). The Captive Flame. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 225–230. ISBN 0786953969.
  14. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 210. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  15. 15.0 15.1  (July 2007). Monster Manual V. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 74. ISBN 0-7869-4115-4.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 105, 108. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  17. Owen K.C Stephens, Rodney Thompson (September 2006). Dragon Magic. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 118–119. ISBN 0-7869-3936-2.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Bruce R. Cordell, et al. (November 2008). Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 218–221. ISBN 978-0-7869-4980-9.
  19. Eytan Bernstein (2007-03-07). Dragons of Faerûn, Part 2: New Draconic Monsters (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Dragons of Faerûn. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-10-31. Retrieved on 2017-10-29.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 243. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.

Connections[]

Dragonspawn of Tiamat
Blackspawn: CorruptorStalker

Bluespawn: AmbusherBurrowerGodslayerStonegliderStormlizard
Greenspawn: LeaperRazorfiendSneakZealot
Redspawn: ArcanissBirtherDevastatorFirebelcher
Whitespawn: HordelingHunterIceskidder

Other Dragonspawn
FelljawHaraevorPurplespawn nightmare
The Family of Dragons

Metallic dragons: GoldSilverBronzeCopperBrassElectrumMercuryPlatinumSteel

Chromatic dragons: BlackBlueBrownGrayGreenOrangePinkPurpleRedSaltWhiteYellow
Gem dragons: AmethystBeljurilCrystalEmeraldObsidianSapphireTopazRuby
Neutral dragons: AmberJacinthMoonstonePearl
Lung dragons: Chiang lungLi lungLung wangPan lungShen lungT'ien lungTun mi lungYu lung
Ferrous dragons: • CobaltIron
Planar dragons: AdamantineAstralBattleBlightChaosEtherealHellfire wyrmHowlingMirageOceanusPyroclasticRadiantRustShadowStyxTarterian
Spelljamming dragons: Moon/lunarRadiantSun/solar
Epic dragons: ForcePrismaticTime
Catastrophic dragons: BlizzardEarthquakeVolcanic
Miscellaneous dragons: CobraDzalmusMistRattelyrSongVishap

Draconic transformations: AirAscendantBrainstealerHidecarved


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