Dragons

Dragons are an ancient race of very powerful and magical creatures. The most powerful dragons had power equal to that of gods.

Dragons once had complete dominion over all the lands of Pettylin, and perhaps the entire world. Their dominion ended when they were defeated in a great and terrible war by an alliance of humanoids, led by either giants and/or hobgoblins. Following this defeat, they mostly seemed to have faded away into legend, for reasons unknown - it is not clear whether they were all killed, magically banished, forced into a magical slumber, or retreated to strongholds to rebuild their strength over the course of ensuing millennia.

Until recently, they were dimly remembered only in legends.

Dragons grew more powerful as they aged.

During the time of their dominion, they created servitor reptilian races to serve them. How they created such races is unknown. These servitor races were known as the Cold Ones. Races of the Cold Ones were thought to include kobolds, Yuan-Ti, Dragonborn, lizardmen, and more.

Some of the surviving races of the Cold Ones, such as kobolds and the society of Yuan-Ti known as the Drake, appear to worship the dragons as gods.

The young green dragon Rearden'Ed explained to Dr. Koppel Schleppen that dragons, when they are born, are reincarnated dragons who existed long ago, although may not share all memories.

Recently, the dragons have begun to reemerge in the lands of Pettylin, and appear to be seeking to awaken more of their kind, assemble their Cold Ones servitors into a mighty army, annihilate humanoid civilization, and reestablish complete draconic dominion over all lands.

Known dragons include Rand'Ayn, Rearden'Hen, and Rearden'Ed, as well as a number of smaller, unnamed dragons.

They do practice arcane magic, but their magic is strange, more ancient, more primitive, and less refined than the magic mastered by the humanoid races in the millennia since the disappearance of the dragons.

Dragons speak Draconic.

Dr. Koppel Schleppen is a scholar of dragons, amongst other subjects.

Finian, captain of the kingsguard for King Uhtred of Bebbanburgh, has a tattoo of a great silver dragon, although he refuses to speak of dragons.

Bodyparts of dragons are known to have powerful, and sometimes magical, properties. Dragonblood is also known to have potent, mystical properties, and is a necessary component of certain powerful potions, such as the potion to arrest the transformation of humanoids into Yuan-Ti.

The mighty Kuronian warrior Solveig Eriksdottir has a shield made of dragonskin, and some other trophies from dragons slain by the adventurers.

The druid Serini similarly wears armor made of dragonskin.

Dr. Koppel Schleppen has collected some internal organs and other bodyparts from dragons.