Bronze Dragon

(From 5th Edition Monster Manual - 2014):

Bronze dragons are coastal dwellers that feed primarily on aquatic plants and fish. They take the forms of friendly animals to observe other creatures of interest. They are also fascinated by warfare and eagerly join armies fighting for a just cause.

A ribbed and fluted crest defines the shape of a bronze dragon’s head. Curving horns extend out from the crest, echoed by spines on its lower jaw and chin. To help them swim, bronze dragons have webbed feet and smooth scales. A bronze wyrmling’s scales are yellow tinged with green; only as the dragon approaches adulthood does its color deepen to a darker, rich bronze tone. The pupils of a bronze dragon’s eyes fade as the dragon ages, until they resemble glowing green orbs.

Dragons of the Coast. Bronze dragons love to watch ships traveling up and down the coastlines near their lairs, sometimes taking the forms of dolphins or seagulls to inspect those ships and their crews more closely. A daring bronze dragon might slip aboard a ship in the guise of a bird or rat, inspecting the hold for treasure. If the dragon finds a worthy addition to its hoard, it barters with the ship’s captain for the item.

War Machines. Bronze dragons actively oppose tyranny, and many bronze dragons yearn to test their mettle by putting their size and strength to good use.

When a conflict unfolds near its lair, a bronze dragon ascertains the underlying cause, then offers its services to any side that fights for good. Once a bronze dragon commits to a cause, it remains a staunch ally.

Well-Organized Wealth. Bronze dragons loot sunken ships and also collect colorful coral and pearls from the reefs and seabeds near their lairs. When a bronze dragon pledges to help an army wage war against tyranny, it asks for nominal payment. If such a request is beyond its allies’ means, it might settle for a collection of old books on military history or a ceremonial item commemorating the alliance. A bronze dragon might also lay claim to a treasure held by the enemy that it feels would be safer under its protection.

A Bronze Dragon’s Lair

A bronze dragon lairs in coastal caves. It might salvage a wrecked ship, reconstruct it within the confines of its lair, and use it as a treasure vault or nest for its eggs.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

• The dragon creates fog as though it had cast the fog cloud spell. The fog lasts until initiative count 20 on the next round.

• A thunderclap originates at a point the dragon can see within 120 feet of it. Each creature within a 20-foot radius centered on that point must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or take 5 ((1d10)) thunder damage and be deafened until the end of its next turn.

Regional Effects

The region containing a legendary bronze dragon’s lair is warped by the dragon’s magic.

• Once per day, the dragon can alter the weather in a 6-mile radius centered on its lair. The dragon doesn’t need to be outdoors; otherwise the effect is identical to the control weather spell.

• Underwater plants within 6 miles of the dragon’s lair take on dazzlingly brilliant hues.

• Within its lair, the dragon can set illusory sounds, such as soft music and strange echoes, so that they can be heard in various parts of the lair.

If the dragon dies, changed weather reverts to normal, as described in the spell, and the other effects fade in (1d10) days.

(From Fizban's Treasury of Dragons - 2021):

Creating a Bronze Dragon

Use the Bronze Dragon Personality Traits and Bronze Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive bronze dragon characters, and use the Bronze Dragon Spellcasting table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon.

Bronze Dragon Personality Traits

d8 - Trait:

1 - The weakest creatures sometimes display the greatest courage. I respect all beings who risk their lives in defense of something greater than themselves.

2 - My payment is a matter of principle. Requiring even a small fee for my service allows those I help to preserve their dignity. It’s really for your benefit.

3 - I have no time for chitchat or insinuation. I get to the point and expect others to do the same.

4 - I respect law and order, but it’s no excuse for tyranny. Those who abuse power must be stripped of it, and soldiers have a responsibility to refuse immoral orders.

5 - I strive to treat foes honorably, but not at the expense of strategy. A quick death in combat is its own kind of courtesy.

6 - I trust my gut. I’d rather act on incomplete information than be hamstrung by indecision.

7 - I’m fascinated by other species’ military technology, especially magic armaments and siege engines—the bigger, the better!

8 - Conflict drives evolution. By sparking wars between nations, I contribute to the advancement of their civilizations. (And they pay me for it, too!)

Bronze Dragon Ideals

d6 - Ideal:

1 - Action. Passivity is shameful. We owe it to the world and ourselves to try to improve things, even if we can’t guarantee success. (Any)

2 - Analysis. When possible, dig into the root of a conflict before committing to end it, to ensure you aren’t fighting for the wrong side. (Any)

3 - Honor. I never lie outright, though I choose my words carefully. I will fight to the death rather than break my word or abandon a comrade. (Lawful)

4 - Discipline. Disorganization breeds defeat. I demand self-control from both myself and those who fight beside me. (Lawful)

5 - Guardianship. It’s the duty of the strong to protect the weak. (Good)

6 - Dominance. Anyone who opposes my will is either an underling to be punished or an enemy to be vanquished. (Evil)

Bronze Dragon Spellcasting

Age        Spell Save DC        Spells Known

Ancient        20                   beast sense, control water, detect thoughts, heroes’ feast,* speak with animals

(From 2nd Edition AD&D Monstrous Manual - 1991):

Bronze dragons are inquisitive and fond of humans and demi-humans. They enjoy polymorphing into small, friendly animals so they can unobtrusively observe humans and demi-humans, especially adventurers. Bronze dragons thrive on simple challenges such as riddles and harmless contests. They are fascinated by warfare and will eagerly join an army if the cause is just and the pay is good.

At birth, a bronze dragon’s scales are yellow tinged with green, showing only a hint of bronze. As the dragon approached adulthood, its color deepens slowly changing to a rich bronze tone that gets darker as the dragon ages. Dragons from the very old stage on develop a blue-black tint to the edges of their scales, similar to a patina on ancient bronze armor or statues.

Bronze dragons speak their own tongue, a tongue common to all good dragons, and 16% of hatchling bronze dragons have an ability to communicate with any intelligent creature. The chance to possess this ability increases 5% per age category of the dragon.

Combat: Bronze dragons dislike killing creatures with animal intelligence and would rather bribe them (perhaps with food), or force them away with repulsion. When confronted with intelligent opponents bronze dragons use their ESP ability to learn their opponents’ intentions. When attacking they blind their opponents with wall of fog, then charge. Or, if they are flying they will snatch opponents. When fighting under water, they use airy water to maintain the effectiveness of their breath weapons, and to keep away purely aquatic opponents. Against boats or ship they summon a storm or use their tail slap to smash the vessels’ hulls. If the dragon is inclined to be lenient, seafaring opponents might merely find themselves becalmed, fog bound, or with broken masts.

Breath Weapon/Special Abilities: A bronze dragon has two breath weapons: a stroke of lightning 100’ long and 5’ side or a cloud of repulsion gas 20’ long, 30’ wide, and 30’ high. Creatures caught in the gas must save vs. breath weapon or move away from the dragon for two minutes per age level of the dragon, plus 1-6 minutes. Creature caught in the lightning take damage, save vs. breath weapon for half. A bronze dragon casts its spells and uses its magical abilities at 8th level, plus its combat modifier.

At birth, bronze dragons have a water breathing ability, can speak with animals at will, and are immune to electricity. As they age, they gain the following additional powers:

Young: create food and water and polymorph self three times a day. (Each change in form lasts until the dragon chooses a different form. Reverting to the dragon’s normal form does not count as a change.) Juvenile: wall of fog once a day. Adult: ESP three times a day. Mature adult: airy water three times a day in a 10’ radius per age category of the dragon. Old: weather summoning once a day.

Habitat/Society: Bronze dragons like to be near deep fresh or salt water. They are good swimmers and often visit the depths to cool off or to hunt for pearls or treasure from sunken ships. They prefer caves that are accessible only from the water, but their lairs are always dry — they do not lay eggs, sleep, or store treasure under water.

Bronze dragons are fond of sea mammals, especially dolphins and whales. These animals provide the dragons with a wealth of information on shipwrecks, which the dragons love to plunder, and detail the haunts of large sharks. Bronze dragons detest pirates, disabling or destroying their ships.

Ecology: Bronze dragons eat aquatic plants and some varieties of seafood. They especially prize of shark meat. They also dine on an occasional pearl, and, like other dragons, can eat almost anything in a pinch. Evil, amphibious sea creatures (particularly sahuagin), who can invade their air filled lairs, are their greatest enemies.