Radiant Dragon
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Radiant Dragon can refer to one of two different dragons; a "Cosmic Dragon" from Spelljammer, or a "Planar Dragon" native to [Mount Celestia]].
Cosmic Dragon[edit | edit source]
Also known as Star Dragons and Celestial Dragons, Radiant Dragons are fucking enormous spacedwelling dragons with the innate ability to both travel through Wildspace and even breach Crystal Spheres to enter and exit the Phlogiston. They are so adapted for life in space that they don't even have legs, looking like giant snakes with dragon heads and wings, armored in glittering pearl-like shards of mica and gypsum - their name comes from the way that these scales shimmer in the starlight. Aside from their natural spacefaring abilities, these dragons wield a Breath Weapon of "force pulses" (like a Magic Missile on steroids) and a surprisingly potent arsenal of clerical spell-like abilities, which function in any sphere that has dragons in it.
A rarity amongst D&D dragons, star dragons can be found in any alignment, though they almost universally tend to be proud, haughty creatures, who view themselves as the ultimate in draconian development due to their sheer size. There exist radiant dragons who terrorize the spaceways, those who act in a beneficial fashion, and those who prefer to set themselves up as whimsical king-gods on small, distant worlds. Regardless of alignment, however, there are two constants: they are very big believers in revenge (there's a reason there's a giff saying that goes “Better to be slain by a star dragon quickly, before it has a chance to think about it") and they are of the firm belief that you do not fuck with their family. Seriously, if you see a baby celestial dragon out there in Wildspace, don't mess with it.
Despite their size, these dragons do possess both the ability to shapeshift into humanoid forms and an interest in humanoid society. They have a particular tendency to mimic the appearances of particularly notable adventurers and heroes, which can lead to some confusion when the original starts getting faced with unpaid bills or other troubles wracked up by the dragon. Some consider this flattering, even a great honor; after all, with their egos, everybody knows that you must be someone special if a radiant dragon feels you're worth imitating. Most consider it a bloody nuisance.
The origins of their native spelljamming abilities are a huge mystery, and of course this leads to natural speculation about the possible connection between these dragons and the mercane. The two most popular theories are that either the mercane make their Spelljammer Helms using the dragons in some fashion, or else they imbued the dragons with their abilities in exchange for some long-ago favor. Neither race is talking about the truth, and they don't seem to have much to say.
Like most dragons, radiant dragons favor scalykind races over most mammalian ones; humans, elves, halflings and so on are treated with typical haughtiness, whilst the tendency of dracons and lizardfolk to worship the radiant dragons is encouraged at every opportunity. They despise the illithid, neogi and beholders as "genetic failures that have not had the sense to die off", and of course this means all three aberrations come gunning for their heads whenever they feel they can take them.
Planar Dragon[edit | edit source]
The Radiant Dragon of Mount Celestia was invented in the 3rd edition iteration of the Draconomicon. Characterized by "liquid white gold" scales that shed magical radiance, they can exhale both blinding cones of brilliant light and lines of pulverizing force. Preferring the most sunlit spots to make their lairs in and assembling hoards of gems and shiny objects, they are fairly standard Lawful Good (planar) types; focused on promoting Order and Goodness as values and defeating Chaos and Evil.
The Dragons of Dungeons & Dragons | |
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Dragons | Albino Wyrm - Arcane Dragon - Aquatic Dragon - Brine Dragon - Catastrophic Dragon - Cerilian Dragon - Chromatic Dragon - Cloud Dragon - Cobra Dragon - Crimson Dragon - Deep Dragon - Dragonet - Epic Dragon - Faerie Dragon - Fang Dragon - Ferrous Dragon - Gem Dragon - Half-Dragon - Linnorm - Metallic Dragon - Minidragon - Mist Dragon - Moon Dragon - Obsidian Dragon - Oriental Dragon - Planar Dragon - Prismatic Dragon - Pseudodragon - Radiant Dragon - Red Hawk Dragon - Sand Dragon - Sea Wyrm - Shadow Dragon - Song Dragon - Stellar Dragon - Stone Dragon - Sun Dragon - Dragon Turtle |