168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dungeons & Dragons has no shortage of iconic monsters associated with it. The Mind Flayer or 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the fearsome Beholder are natural standouts, alongside community favorites like the Mimic or Gelatinous Cube. Even with such strong contenders for the D&D monster throne, none can compete with the creature present in the name of the game itself: The dragon.

Multiple kinds of dragons are present in the game, most famously the Chromatic Dragon and the Metallic Dragon, each with sub-categories like Red Dragons or Gold Dragons. What even some experienced Dungeon Masters don't realize is that there is a third main category of dragon, and we're here to help you understand them. Introducing the rare and elusive Gem Dragon.

What Is A Gem Dragon?

The best way to understand what a Gem Dragon is specifically is to compare it to the other main kinds of dragon to highlight what it is not. 168澳洲幸运5🃏开奖网:Chromatic Dragons are almost always evil creatures, driven by cruelty and selfishness. Gem Dragons can show these behaviors, but don't always.

Metallic Dragons, on the other hand, are usually champions of good, directly or indirectly seeking to aid the mortal races or thwart the forces of evil. Gem Dragons might do these things, but it isn't in their nature as strongly as with Metallic Dragons.

Gem Dragons usually fall in the middle, mighty beings of neutrality. You can expect them to be the most solitary of dragon kind, more interested in♔ themselves and personal matters than causes on a larger scale.

Their scales are another distinguishing feature. While a Chromatic Dragon has scales resembling a color, and Metallic Dragon scales shine with the gleam of a metal like gold or silver, Gem Dragons have scales resembling precious stones like amethyst.

The Gem Dragons you might encounter would typically be of five main types. Amethyst, Crystal, Emerald, Sapphire, and Topaz Dragons ar🅰e considered the core set of Gem Dragons.

There are other varieties, like the Obsidian or Beljuril Dragons. There are other neutral dragons, with some debate as to whether they qualify as Gem Dragons or not. They include Amber,🌄 Jacinth, Moonstone, and Pearl Dragons.

What makes Gem Dragons most distinct from their cousins, however, is their psionic abilities. While other dragons might have access to magic, the Gem Dragon is the only variety with access to psychic powers.

Where Did Gem Dragons Come From?

While information about the origin of dragons has varied across the different editions of Dungeons & Dragons, there are certain things we do know. The key figures are usually Bahamut, Tiamat, and Sardior.

Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon, serves as the draconic deity of good and presides over Metallic Drago♊ns. Tiamat, the Scaled Tyrant, serve🎶s as the draconic deity of evil and presides over Chromatic Dragons.

Sardior, the Ruby Dragon, then naturally serves as the draconic deity of neutrality and presides over the Gem Dragons. Sardior receives far less atte෴ntion in official content than Bah🥂amut or Tiamat but is key to the Gem Dragon origin story.

Sardior is said to have resided in a massive floating castle known as the Ruby Palace. It was so large that when it 🐲was spotted, it was often mistaken for a small moon.

The information from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons in Fifth Edition is that Bahamut and Tiamat crafted Sardior together. They then each worked with 💧Sardꦜior to create their own children, the Metallic and Chromatic Dragons.

The story amongst dragonkind is that Sardior was destroyed, splintering apart, and the shattered remains of their consciousness then formed the various species of Gem Dragons.

What Are Amethyst Dragons?

Amethyst Dragons are considered to be among the mightiest of their kind b🅠ut are more interested in studying the fundamental forces of the universe than using their power to 𒉰engage in matters of conflict.

Masters of psionic power, they are especially adept at manipulating forces of gravity. So great is their control that they don't even need to rely on their wings for flight, able to psychically propel themselves through the air.

Typically, the breath weapon of a dragon would be a fan of flames, a beam of lightning, a spray of acid, or another elemental attack. This isn't the case with Gem Dragons, whose breath weapons are more unique.

For the Amethyst Dragon, theirs is known as Singularity Breath, creating a concentrated point of gravitational energy and then unleashing it.

Amethyst Dragons are especially studious, taking great time to ponder the stars, cosmic forces, and matters of philosophy and morality. They are known to provide counsel to those willing to accept it, their neutral nature allowing for impartiality.

One matter they are not impartial on is that of invading otherworldly forces, namely Aberrations. Any creature with origins in the Far Realm, like 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the mind-devouring Illithid, are the sworn foes of the Amethyst Dragon.

The exception to the rule of an Amethyst Dragons hatred for Abberations is the the flumph, a creature Amethyst Dragons are typically quite fond of. They remind them that nothing is absolute, even Aberrations, and serve as a grea𒐪t example of their neutrality.

As with almost all dragons, the Amethyst is prone to creating a horde of gathered wealth throughout its life. As well as material goods, they especially value arcane knowledge or works of art, 🍰even more so♕ if they are related to other planes of existence.

The lair of an Amethyst Dragon is usually an underground cavern network, ideally with pools and lakes providing at least on🧔e entrance only accessi🦄ble underwater. As always, a dragon is most dangerous in its own lair, so adventurers beware.

What Is A Crystal Dragon?

Although they favor isolation, Crystal Dragons are amongst the friendliest and most amenable of all dragon kind, not just🤡 Gem Dragons. With an i𒁏nherent connection to the Positive Plane, they are suffused with light and radiate life.

This connection to the Positive Plane makes Crystal Dragons naturally nurturing and optimistic. They often take in and care for the abandoned eggs of other dragons, regardless of their typing.

Crystal Dragons are born stargazers, spending a great deal of time tracking the movement of celestial bodies. They view these as omens of what is to come, with Crystal Dragons enjoying fortunetelling as a result.

Their treasure hordes will often contain gemstones that refract or reflect light, as well as anything related to their interests of stargazing and fortunetelling. They also appreciate magical items related to light, prophecy, and healing.

Crystal Dragons are so suffused with energy from the Positive Plane that they shine with it. They have been described beautifully as having starlight between their scales.

It should come as no surprise that their breath weapon is pure light, blasting would-⛄be attackers with radiant enerꦉgy while simultaneously healing themselves in the light of the same attack.

Crystal Dragons favor colder regions, often creating their own lairs rather than inhabiting a naturally formed one. They construct open-air palaces f✃r✨om snow and ice, using their natural tunneling ability to create tunnels beneath.

What Are Emerald Dragons?

Much like their Chromatic cousins they most closely resemble, the Green Dragon, Emerald Dragons are known to be manipulative and deceitful. They use their psionic abilities to trick and fool others, staying hidden while they gather information.

This behavior stems from the two strongest traits of the Emerald Dragon: they are both painfully shy and ravenously curious. They love to observe the behavior of others but𒁃 hate to be observed i🌺n return.

Natural people watchers, they are fascinated by the lives of other creatures, with a particular interest in their m🐽agical inclinations. While other Gem Dragons study things on a grand scale, Emeralds prefer to learn about small communities or even individuals.

Wildlife thrives wherever an Emerald Dragon makes their home, becoming especially hospitable for lizards. Giant lizards will oftenᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ migrate there, which might be a problem for the communities the Emerald Dragon likes to observe.

Emerald Dragons collect magic items that create illusions, better enabling them to stay hidden, but also prize collections of knowledge⛦. Books on history, the more local, the better, as well as the private journals of magic users are items they might prize.

Their breath weapon is a wave of pure psychic confusion, severely muddling the mind of anyone unlucky enou⛄gh to be struck by it, as well as giving them a severe dose of potent psionic damage.

Emerald Dragons prefer a warm location for their lair. They like to be hidden underground, so a network of caves and tunnels around a volcano is an especially prized pie𝐆ce of real estate in their eyes.

What Is A Sapphire Dragon?

Sapphire Dragons don't have the shyness of the Emerald or the friendly nature of the Crystal. Instead, they are deeply territorial, militant even, swiftly ♏dispatching intruders even while pla💞nning assaults against their foes.

Although warlike, they are not reckless. They are highly intelligent and prefer a strategic approach to conflict, taking the time to aဣssess and understand their enemy before enacting a carefully structured battle plan.

Much like the Amethyst Dragon, Sapphires are vehemently opposed to the forces of the Far Realm and will hunt them down. It isn't unusual to hear of a Sapphire Dragon dealing with a Beholder before adventurers get the chance.

Sapphire Dragons have an unusual fondness for spiders, often attracting Giant Spiders to reside in the area around their lair🧔. Since Sapphire Dr✅agons typically live underground, this can result in odd interactions with worshippers of Lolth.

For their hordes, Sapphire Dragons are especially fond of weapons and armor of historical or magical significance. This means their hordes are often a collection of some of the most powerful and dangerous relics to be found.

The breath weapon of a Sapphire Dragon is combined with their roar, unle🔜ashing a sonic scream forceful enough to cause severe harm and leave enemies incapacitated from the deafening deluge.

Sapphire Dragons make their lairs underground, tunneling increasingly elaborate maze-like structures riddled with defenses. They often ensure there is no entrance at all, sealing the lair completely each time they enter♎ or exit.

What Is A Topaz Dragon?

Topaz Dragons are linked to and suffused with the energy of the Negative Plane, charging them with necrotic energy and binding them to ☂the nature of decay and despair. As a result, they are often depressing and morbid creatures.

They shouldn't be confused as evil; they simply view destruction as a necessary and vital force. They often take it upon themselves to destroy old ruins or diseased vegetation, making room for something new.

Obsessed with the powers of death and entropy, Topaz Dragons often keep magic items of that nature in the hordes. They are especially interested in the Undead and will sometimes keep 𒀰them in the h✨ordes as curios.

The idea of a Topaz Dragon keeping a museum or zoo of Undead creatures as part of their horde is certainly macabre, but it could also be a highly memorable dungeon for your adventuring party to explore.

The breath weapon of a Topaz Dragon is a cone of yellow-tinged necrotic energy, sapping the life of anyone caught in it. Not only does it deal hefty necrotic damage, but it also weakens, making the dragon 🐽that much harder to fight.

Topaz Dragons make their lair anywhere the water slowly erodes the land. Sea cliffs or caves are preferred, but oddly, Topaz Dragons cannot stand the water. 🥃They loathe swimming and keep their aquatic adjacent lairs as dry as possible.

Do Gem Dragons Work Together?

Gem Dragons are typically solitary creatures, but that doesn't mean they never cooperate with each other. Unlike Chromatic Dragons, who view each other only as rivals, Gem Dragons can see the value in working together.

While Metallic Dragons might unite for any righteous cause that necessitates a union, Gem Dragons don't share the same unifying moral call to action. What they do have is a shared hatred of another type of creature - Aberrations.

Aberrations in D&D are creatures spawned from or touched by the Far Realm. If you think of them as D&D's answer to eldritch horror, then you're not far off the mark. Mind Flayers and Beholders are the most well-known examples.

Although Topaz and Crystal Dragons aren't described as taking regular specific actions against Aberrations, they revile them as much as the other Gem Dragons do.

Gem Dragons cannot stand these invading entities, with the Amethyst and Sapphire Dragons most prone to striking them down. If a Mind Flayer colony was especially tough to tackle, Amethyst and Sapphire Dragons might work together.

Emerald Dragons are less likely to engage Aberrations directly, but their skill for subterfuge makes them superb information gatherers. They will often collect intel and pass it along, usually to the🔯 militant Sapphire Dragons, setting them up for ♓success.