Brief Description of Red Dragons
The most covetous of the true dragons, red dragons tirelessly seek to increase their treasure hoards. They are exceptionally vain, even for dragons, and their conceit is reflected in their proud bearing and their disdain for other creatures.
The odor of sulfur and pumice surrounds a red dragon, whose swept-back horns and spinal frill define its silhouette. Its beaked snout vents smoke at all times, and its eyes dance with flame when it is angry. Its wings are the longest of any chromatic dragon, and have a blue-black tint along the trailing edge that resembles metal burned blue by fire.
The scales of a red dragon wyrmling are a bright glossy scarlet, turning a dull, deeper red and becoming as thick and strong as metal as the dragon ages. Its pupils also fade as it ages, and the oldest red dragons have eyes that resemble molten lava orbs.
The Masters of Mountains. Red dragons favor mountainous regions, badlands, and other areas where they can perch high and keep a watchful eye over their territory. This choice of habitat often leads to clashes with the hill-dwelling copper dragons.
Proud and Dominating. When provoked, red dragons are known to fly into a destructive frenzy, acting on impulse and causing widespread devastation. Such ferocity and vindictiveness have made them the archetypical embodiment of evil dragons in many cultures.
Among dragonkind, none are as haughty as the red dragon. They view themselves as royalty and rulers, believing that Tiamat chose them to lead in her name. As a result, red dragons consider everything and everyone in the world as subjects to their command.
Position and Minions. Red dragons fiercely guard their territory and generally keep to themselves, but they still crave information about events beyond their domain. They often rely on lesser creatures, such as informants, messengers, and spies, to bring them news. However, they are most interested in anything that might improve their position over other red dragons.
When they need servants, red dragons demand loyalty from chaotic evil humanoids. If such allegiance isn't forthcoming, they take over the tribe and become its lord after killing its leaders. The creatures serving a red dragon live in constant fear of being roasted alive for displeasing the dragon. They spend most of their time ingratiating themselves to the dragon in an attempt to survive.
Compulsive Collectors. Red dragons prize wealth above all else, and their hoards are the stuff of legend. They covet anything of value and can quickly assess the worth of an item down to a single copper piece. In particular, red dragons take great delight in showcasing treasures taken from powerful foes to demonstrate their superiority.
A red dragon knows every item in its hoard and its location. Even the slightest discrepancy is likely to trigger its wrath, leading it to hunt down and kill the thief or go on a rampage and destroy towns and villages until it is appeased.
