Serpentine Dragon

While classified as true dragons, Serpentine dragons possess unique physical characteristics. They have elongated, serpentine bodies and lack wings, yet they can fly through supernatural means. All serpentine dragons feature prominent horns, either used for combat or purely for display.  

Types

• Forest Dragons, which are considered to be Chaotic Evil and breathe a cone of crushing rocks, are related to Hill Giants.
• Sea Dragons, which are considered to be Chaotic Good and breathe a cone of superheated steam, are related to Storm Giants.
• Sky Dragons, which are considered to be Lawful Good and breathe a cone of thrashing wind, are related to Cloud Giants.
• Sovereign Dragons, The most powerful of the Serpentine Dragons, breathing a cone of starlight, are related to Stellar Giants.
• Volcanic Dragons, which are considered to be Lawful Evil and breathe a cone of fire, are related to Fire Giants.
• Glacial Dragons, which are considered to be Chaotic Evil and breathe a cone of cold, are related to Frost Giants.
• Cliff Dragons, which are considered to be Neutral and breathe a cone of piercing rocks, are related to Stone Giants.

 

Draconic Abilities

Serpentine dragons possess the typical draconic abilities: breath weapons, spellcasting, and other supernatural feats. They also share the ability of other true dragons to magically transform into humanoid forms, though this is considered more common among serpentine dragons. Their magical abilities are intricately linked to the ordning of True Giants: hill, frost, fire, stone, storm, cloud, and stellar. This connection influences their strengths and nature, but doesn't dictate them.  

Death

When a Serpentine Dragon reaches a certain age, which is estimated to be 1,200 years plus the echo of their soul's strength, they approach their time death.  

Unlike the True Dragons, the Serpentine Dragons are whispered to have no true end, however even they are not untouched by the passage of time. Where lesser dragons fade into legend, the Serpentine pass into something stranger - a state the sages call the Twilight sleep.   It is said that the life of a Serpentine Dragon is not measured in years or centuries, but in the luster of their soul, a brilliance reflected in the sharpness of their gaze, the clarity of their speech, and above all, in the luminous quality of their Chi, or inner breath. Scholars believe that this radiance is most closely tied to the dragon’s presence.

— Death Cycle as recorded in Reproductive Variance of the Dragonkin appendices

    Though the Twilight Sleep is a solitary journey, few Serpentine Dragons walk it alone. In the quiet years after crossing the 12^th hundred year, some dragons call upon mortals, not as servants or supplicants, but as witnesses of the end. These chosen few walk beside the fading dragons, ensuring that their legacy, wisdom, and essence are not lost to time.  

The Dragons are said to choose their companion carefully, some of them are bards, who soothes the dragon's passage, or retell its untold story of magnficence or a cleric, to ease the ache of ancient bones and soothe the mind from aeons of memory. I had the pleasure to witness, Dandelion, the Keatisi, who was invited to one last duel.   I, myself, was invited a wizard, to help preserve its arcanum, but an Arasilian Monk came and got there first.

— Death Cycle as recorded in Reproductive Variance of the Dragonkin appendices

The History of the Serpentine Dragons is quite tragic, for they stood with the Giants in Era of Reign of Dragons, when they had objected to the extermination of the Giants.   For this act, the Draconic Pantheon, had punished those dragons, took their wings and changed them to 'lesser forms', for they can die of old age, unlike True Dragons and for that, they are few if any who still venerate the pantheon, maybe for the exception of Lendys, Chronepsis and Tamara.