1. Conquering the Weak
Lesser beings have no capacity for self rule. The only structure of life or governance that humanoids understand is the structure of oppression. It is our duty to rule them, not just as dragons, but as higher forms of life. Our dominance provides them with purpose; it helps them learn their place in the natural order. Humanoids cannot govern themselves, as this always leads to chaos and instability. Humanoids are grateful for our oppression, for it gives their lives order, stability, and better meaning than they could ever hope to achieve on their own.
As such, it is our duty as dragons to conquer every humanoid society in the world of Gaion. We were here long before these creatures and will be here long after, for it is our obligation as the strong to dominate the weak. The giants mistakenly believe themselves to be our equals, that they somehow share this divine right to rule Gaion. It is this erroneous belief that will be their undoing in this war.
2. Population Control
As dragons, humanoids will always be beneath us. Their love is an unreliable way to encourage submission, as it implies weakness of their draconic overlords. Fear is the only way to rule these subservient beings, even if some of my draconic brethren prefer benevolence over violence. They crave our strength, such as the strength of our teeth through their flesh, or our fire breath upon their homes. They admire and thank us, for our oppression is a gift. Without it, there is no structure, no purpose to live.
As such, if your meat slaves ever show the slightest hint of defiance, they must be made an example. Instead of killing them outright, force the meat slaves' brethren to watch as you draw every ounce of pain and scream of regret from your victims. This not only punishes your meat slaves appropriately by torture & execution, but it also reminds your other subservients of their place beneath your will, that there is no hope of freedom. The smart ones will understand their role in society and bend the knee, while the foolish ones will be served as the next meal for their draconic overlords. This leads the rest to fully understand that they are nothing but food to us, not much better than the dirt beneath our claws. They will understand that defiance will always bring pain & suffering, and you will understand that its better to be feared than loved.
Spell: Subjugate Lesser Beings
- Casting Time: 1 action
- Range: 30 ft (AoE with self as center)
- Components: Verbal, Somatic
- Duration: 5 minutes
You raise your hands and, with a commanding voice, demand the subjugation of all lesser beings within a 30 ft radius (unless specifically excluded). Beasts & sentient creatures with a challenge rating lesser than or equal to half your player level must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (disadvantage for non-sentients) or be subjugated by their new master. For the duration of the spell, the master can order each of his subservients (at the start of their turn) to perform an Action or Movement, or forgo an order and choose to approve or deny the subservient's chosen Action or Movement. If the subjugated creature disobeys and denies the master's order/completes a disapproved Action or Movement, they immediately provoke an opportunity attack from the master, regardless of where they are positioned relative to each other. Subjugated creatures can roll a Wisdom saving throw at the end of each turn while under the spell's effect, breaking it's hold upon success. Additionally, if the master orders his subservient to do some something they would likely never be willing to do (ex. killing themselves or attacking an ally), the subservient can make a Wisdom saving throw on the spot, separate from the saving throw they can make at the end of each turn.
At Higher Levels: When cast using higher spell slots, the spell can effect creatures with challenge ratings based on the following:
- 1st level spell slot: 1/2 of player level (round up)
- 2nd level spell slot: 2/3 of player level (round up)
- 3rd level spell slot: 3/4 of player level (round up)
- 4th level spell slot: Player level (excluding PCs)
- 5th level spell slot: Player level (including PCs)
3. Proper Treatment of Your Subjects
The benevolent Dragon Lords of my time seem to believe that the treatment of their subjects should be fair and respectful towards the balance of life. This belief is folly, and I have mauled the throats of my benevolent enemies who dared to hold this philosophy around me. Lesser beings are just that; lesser. They are animals for us to feed on, slaves to perform any work we command. There is no point to treat them fairly; those that prove useful may live with nothing but their continued living as a reward. Those that prove difficult will be consumed, destroyed and/or tortured as an example. Meat slaves should only be encouraged with negative reinforcement or punishment. Their pain is our pleasure, their submission our ascension. If we treat them as equals or as anything other than dirt beneath our claws, they will develop the false belief that they are. These beliefs must be burned away when discovered, along with their lives and any hope that they could be more than meat slaves. I have developed various tactics to best accomplish these goals:
- If you spot a glimmer of hope in any of your meat slave's spirits, destroy them immediately to ensure that this hope does not spread
- Individual defiance should be met with torture and execution by painful consumption or the roast of our breath
- Group defiance should be met with the above punishments and extended to the families and close allies of the defiant subservients
- Encourage efficient slave work by consuming or roasting the weakest members of the workforce, preferably at random or times of slow progress
- If the above methods do not completely deter subordination by your meat slaves, it is most efficient to burn down the entire civilization and conquer a new territory. Consider using the remains of the old society to house Dragonborn soldiers or to farm future meat slaves, should either become necessary
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