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Green dragons, also known as forest dragons or D. Chlorinous Nauseous Respiratorus to scholars,[1][8] were a variety of chromatic dragons known for their manipulative and self-serving nature.[9] They were considered master conspirators that reveled in corrupting lesser creatures.[2]

In some ways the green dragon is the most "dragon" of dragons. Pity that Tiamat gets credit for them.

Description[]

Green dragon anatomy - Richard Sardinha

A review of green dragon anatomy.

Green dragons were most notable for the large, waving crest or fin that started at the dragon's nose and ran the entire length of the dragon's body.[2][5] They also had exceptionally long, slender forked tongues.[11]

Green dragons' scales did not fully harden, granting them greater flexibility than others chromatic dragons.[12] They also had particularly long legs and elongated necks that allowed them to peer over treelines. Their wings often featured dappled patterns and became lighter the further away from the claw.[2] Green dragons had no actual ears, rather ear holes on either side of their head.[11]

They were not nearly as intelligent as other true dragons but were especially creative in their cruel manipulations.[9]

A dragon egg could be identified as belonging to a green by the greenish-white tinge seen when held in front of an intense white light, though it shared this trait with white dragons and any dragon breed with a gas or vapor breath weapon.[13]

Personality[]

These dragons were known to have very bad tempers and a tendency for evil behavior.[7] They loved intrigue and secrets. Green dragons put up a front of diplomacy and deceit when dealing with stronger foes, but they revealed their cruel and petty nature when intimidating lesser beings or when gaining the upper hand.[1][2][9] They especially enjoyed enslaving intelligent woodland beings.[12]

They delighted in stalking their enemies and listening in for any information they could gather before moving to attack.[2][9] On occasion however, they were known to attack outright without being provoked.[5][11][12]

Combat[]

Green dragon variant AFR

A green dragon causing immense destruction with its poison breath.

When hunting, green dragons stalked their prey for extended lengths of time, continuing for days on end, until they could execute a deadly ambush.[12] They reveled in the fear they inspired in lesser creatures, and always left at least one survivor whenever possible. Green dragons would take dominion over their victims, interrogating them for information, especially that regarding nearby treasures.[2][5]

If they get into a conflict with more powerful creatures,[5] or other dragons over territory, green dragons often feigned weakness to glean more information about their foes. Like when stalking their prey, they would wait as long as necessary―years or decades at a time―to find the right moment to strike out against an opponent.[2]

Green dragons' scales lent them a natural form of camouflage within the lush woodlands of the Realms.[1]

Breath Weapon[]

Beyond fighting with their massive jaws and claws, these dragons were capable of expelling a cone of poisonous chlorine gas.[4][7] They could utilize their unique breath weapon even while completely submerged underwater.[5]

According to the The Compleat Dragon-Hunter, chlorine breath of green dragons could not penetrate animal hides that had been treated with urine or vinegar.[14]

Society[]

Dragongazing

An unlucky adventurer comes face to face with a green dragon.

Green dragons were mostly solitary creatures,[12] but rarely worked together in pairs or small groups when an especially lucrative opportunity presented itself.[9]

Green dragons valued their territory,[11] They were extremely cunning and duplicitous foes, and loved double-crossing others.[2]

Amongst their own kind, green dragons displayed brazen rudeness and crass behavior. This was more evident among female green dragons than males.[9]

Habitat[]

These dragons were typically found to live near woodlands,[7] including jungles, bayous, and forests.[12][15] Their domains were often easy to spot, as a heavy fog that faintly smelled of poison lingered over their domain.[2]

Despite the density of the trees within,[16] some green dragons were known to haunt the Elven Woods and the Starwoods in Cormanthor,[17][18] Younger green dragons would remain within its forests until they grew to a certain age, after which they would seek out their own domain.[16]

Lair[]

The typical green dragon lair was located underground[7][15] and was a complex of caves and tunnels, with its main entrance hidden behind a waterfall. The preferred green dragon lair was a cave high up on a cliff, but such locations were usually hard to find and thus only home to the oldest and most powerful green dragons.[1] If necessary, green dragons would hide their lair behind thickets of magically-grown plant life.[11]

Within their lair, green dragons could command tangles of roots and vines to immobilize intruders, or compel barriers of tangled, thorny bushes to rapidly extended out as needed.[2]

Green dragon lairs occasionally developed what was referred to as 'chlorine haze', a buildup of residual chlorine gas. It lingered within their domain and remained ever-harmful to anyone vulnerable to its exposure.[19]

Hoard[]

Like all other evil dragons, green dragons enjoyed amassing more treasure for their hoard. Among material wealth, they preferred wood carvings, instruments, sculptures,[1] emeralds,[2] and beryls. On occasion, they adorned their treasure with rare plants that they cultivated within their own lair, creating truly unique and priceless pieces of art.[15]

Green dragons' true favorite possessions however, were the sentient beings they claimed as servants. Renowned personalities of the Realms―such as famous artists, adventurers, or even scholars―were considered by green dragons to be the most prized individuals to add to their collections.[2]

Religion[]

Green dragons sometimes served the dark Chultan demigod Eshowdow, and their appearance was considered a good omen by his followers.[20]

Reproduction[]

Green dragon Wyrmling

A green dragon wyrmling.

Female green dragons initiated courtship with males, a process that was reflective of the females' offensive and crass behavior. After impregnation however, the relationship between mated green dragons changed, and a strong bond was formed.[11][9] Incubation of green dragon eggs continued for about sixteen months, with the eggs being laid at about the four-month mark.[1]

The mated pair developed strong ties to each other and wholly dedicated themselves to newly-hatched wyrmlings.[9][11] Both the mother and father typically stayed close to their eggs while they were incubating. Green dragons were the only species of chromatic dragons known to sacrifice their own lives for their brood.[9][11]

The green wyrmling could be easily mistaken for a black dragon, due to their nearly black scales. As the wyrmling matured, its scales became steadily lighter in color until they reached the striking green shade of an adult.[2] The wyrmlings typically stayed with both parents until they reached young adulthood, at around 51 years of age. Once a green dragon set out on its own, the mated pair went their separate ways, and the bond they formed was broken.[9]

Lifecycle[]

Wherever a green dragon died, new and deadly plant life flourished in an area around its corpse. Especially poisonous plants grew and blossomed grew to abnormal sizes extraordinarily fast. These sites were often more connected to the Feywild than the surrounding terrain.[1]

Relationships[]

Ambitious Dragonborn

The rampage of a green dragon attracts a dragonborn admirer.

While green dragons typically exploited non-dragons with their schemes, they were not above moving against their own kind. They typically did not however scheme or plot against their own parents.[9]

They often accepted more servile creatures as their minions. Among those known to regularly serve green dragons were kobolds, goblins, ettercaps, orcs, yuan-ti, and ettins.[2]

Some green dragons held strong connections to the Feywild,[4] and some were even known to serve the malevolent archfey the Queen of Air and Darkness.[21]

Ecology[]

Appetite[]

Green dragons were omnivorous and ate just about whatever they could get ahold of,[12] including a variety of plants and living animals. They especially enjoyed consuming fey creatures like elves and sprites.[5]

According to the sage Elminster, their appetite could be discerned by the direction of their eye movement: lateral movement meant they craved vegetation, while a straight-on stare meant they desired meat.[22]

Green dragons, as with some other dragon breeds, were unable to chew their food. Hence, to aid digestion, they swallowed small stones, pieces of metal, and even coins, which went into a small second stomach like a bird's gizzard. These stomach stones ground down their food and were eventually expelled in waste.[23]

Uses[]

Certain poisonous roots found throughout the Realms had mildly psychoactive effects on green dragons when consumed. The effects of these roots exacerbated the already impudent behavior they demonstrated when socializing with their own kind.[9]

Armor made from the scales of green dragons offered the wearer protection against clouds of poisonous gas, such as that released by iron golems, or the spell cloudkill.[24]

One of the ways of creating a wand of stinking cloud was using a horn of an old green dragon.[25]

Notable Green Dragons[]

Old Gnawbone AFR variant

The famous ancient green dragon known as Old Gnawbones.

Rumors & Legends[]

Two Waterdhavian noble families―Houses Hothemer and Eirontalar―supposedly featured the likenesses of green dragons on their coats-of-arms.[62]

There existed a set of green dragon footprints in the Dun Hills, that resembled those made by a giant-sized rabbit.[63]

Some residents of Ausa Province in Kara-Tur received tattoos of green dragons upon their left arms.[64]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Bruce R. Cordell, et al. (November 2008). Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons. Edited by Michele Carter, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 37–38. ISBN 978-0-7869-4980-9.
  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 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  3. James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 168. ISBN 978-0786967292.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 79–81. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 74–75. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 67. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 33. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  8. Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
  9. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 20–21. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
  10. James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 978-0786967292.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 Andy Collins, James Wyatt, and Skip Williams (November 2003). Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 48–50. ISBN 0-7869-2884-0.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 67. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  13. Ed Greenwood (January 1996). Volo's Guide to the Dalelands. (TSR, Inc), p. 193. ISBN 0-7869-0406-2.
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  16. 16.0 16.1 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  17. Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 38. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
  18. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 11. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  19. Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 103. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  20. Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 81. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  21. Brandes Stoddard, Christopher Perkins (March 2021). “The Scrivener's Tale”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Candlekeep Mysteries (Wizards of the Coast), p. 187. ISBN 978-0-7869-6722-3.
  22. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  23. Gregg Sharp (June 1988). “The Ecology of the Red Dragon”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #134 (TSR, Inc.), p. 36.
  24. Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
  25. Andrew Coleman (June 2005). “Cutting Up the Dragon”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #332 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 56.
  26. Ed Greenwood (June 2013). “Eye on the Realms: The Dragon that Never Died”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #424 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 34–37.
  27. Erin Evans (February 2010). The God Catcher. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-5486-5.
  28. Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
  29. Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 55. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
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Connections[]

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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