The Purple Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons) is a type of dragon in the universe. It is an evil-aligned chromatic dragon.
Contents
- 1 Description
- 2 Lairs and Terrain
- 3 Favored Treasure
- 4 Life Cycle
- 5 Physical Characteristics
Description[]
Purple dragons, also known as deep dragons, arepossibly the least well known of the chromatic dragon family. Most surface creatures have noknowledge of the existence of purple dragons. Manyof those that have heard of purple dragons dismisssuch stories as myth or misconception. After all, inthe darkness below the earth, who can say whethera dragon’s scales are purple or black?
Black dragons rarely live far underground. Thedeeper explorers descend, the more likely they are toencounter a purple dragon than a black. People wholive permanently in the deep hollows of the earthknow purple dragons as an all-too-real and a much fearedthreat.
A purple dragon is a talented manipulator of othercreatures. It achieves control through lies, misdirection,and direct mental domination. A purple dragonmight seek control for any number of reasons, includingsheer delight in bandying its power about, adesire to form a bulwark of allies and thralls for security,or curiosity about newly discovered tunnels orcrevices leading to unknown areas deeper below, forwhich recruiting bands of disposable explorers mightserve its purposes.
As much as purple dragons enjoy controlling othercreatures, however, they enjoy the thrill of explorationeven more. Even as explorers discover new landson the surface, purple dragons consider the globe’ssurface a paltry expanse compared to the deepvolume of the world’s interior, a space containingorders of magnitude more possibility. In such a vastspace, wonderful mysteries await discovery. Whetherthey follow tradition or answer a call in their blood,deep dragons delight in exploration more than anyother kind of wyrm, especially if that explorationleads deeper into the earth. Purple dragons relish thediscovery of places never before trod upon by sentientcreatures—or at least not visited for ages.
A purple dragon might negotiate with people whooffer information about undiscovered locations deepin the earth, but only if the dragon believes that itsnegotiators can provide more maps and informationin the long term than it can obtain by dispatching ordominating them immediately. If such a negotiationsucceeds, a purple dragon can prove a reasonableshort-term ally. In fact, purple dragons have alliedwith disparate groups of drow many times over thecenturies. Purples have also allied with undead,sometimes laying clutches of eggs with wraiths orshadows nearby to watch over the hatcheries.
Purple dragons favor prey caught in sunless seasand subterranean rivers. They consume blind albinofish caught in massesbut in a pinch, apurple dragon will hunt down living creatures of any kind.
When a purple dragon must fight for food orinformation, it attempts to spy upon its intendedtargets long enough to learn something useful beforeannouncing itself. It might even let the targets of itsobservation go on their way. If hungry enough, feelingterritorial, or wanting to play, however, a purpledragon takes its quarry by surprise if possible.
Purple dragons keep to the peripheries of cavernsduring fights. They especially like to lurk near boltholes,in case events turn against them. Ideally, adragon suborns one or more targets each round withits dominating gaze, seeding chaos and fear in theranks of its foes.
Breath weapon: A purple dragon's breath weapon can take on three different forms. It can manifest as a cone of energy, a burst of power, or a blade of energy.
Terrain: Temperate Plains
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Purple dragons isone of the most powerful Chromatic dragons that exist. Their energy-related attacks make them powerful fighters and immune to most kind of attacks.
Lairs and Terrain[]
Purple dragons live in caves, caverns, subterraneanvaults, and other Underdark regions, where theyremain safe from sunlight, which harms them. Theycan hear distant noises transmitted through rock and soil. Accustomed to the ways of the sound-distortingdepths, a deep dragon can catch the sound of themerest cave cricket skittering up a wall on the far sideof a vast cavern.
Purple dragons never venture from the deeprecesses of the earth except, on occasion, to emergein the Shadowfell. Some deep dragons take residencein the sunless realm, especially where rifts existbetween worldly caverns and Shadowfell regions.
Because purple dragons like to explore, they canstray from their permanent lairs for great lengths oftime. Older purples with sufficient resources seekscrolls that allowthem to travel quickly between their lairs and thefrontiers of their subterranean expeditions.
A purple dragon’s permanent lair is a honeycombof rocky hollows connected by narrow, winding tunnels.Many tunnels lead to dead ends or traps andrequire real feats of exploration for anyone new to the lair to find a waythrough. Sometimes purple dragons make their lairsin the structures of previous Underdark residents,if the chambers and connecting hallways are elaborateenough for the dragons’ taste.
Favored Treasure[]
Purple dragons like wealth as much as any otherdragon, but their favorite items are rare maps andcartographic tools, especially tools with magicalenhancements. Purple dragons also prize itemsthat allow them to withstand the effects of warmregions, which they encounter more often as theypenetrate deeper into the Underdark.
Life Cycle[]
- Also see: Dragon Life Cycle
Purple dragon eggs incubate for approximately twenty-five
months, the first eight inside the female dragon.An average clutch numbers about six, and about half ofthe eggs hatch into healthy wyrmlings. Purple dragonsmight lay their eggs in places where animate spiritsare bound to the area. Such spirits might touch growingwyrmlings with their Shadowfell-derived necroticresonances.
Purple dragons grow into youth after about nineyears. They become adults at about age 190 andelders after about 1,100 years. They become ancientsat about 2,200 years. Reports of purple dragons nearthe world’s core tell of some that reach 3,000 years ormore.
When a purple dragon dies, any creature thatsleeps within the vicinity ever afterward has fiercenightmares. When a deceased purple dragon experiencesenvironmental diffusion, the result is an areawhere small mushrooms spring up and the dreamsof sleepers are troubled. Creatures attempting to restin such an area are afflicted with nightmares.
Physical Characteristics[]
The long body of a purple dragon is particularlylithe—catlike and serpentine. The swept-back wingstructure and sleek, tapered head allow it to worm itsway through narrow subterranean tunnels.Purple dragons have an odor reminiscent of themusky smell of ophidians.
Breath weapon: A purple dragon's breath weapon can take on three different forms. It can manifest as a cone of energy, a burst of power, or a blade of energy.
Terrain: Temperate Plains
Alignment: Neutral Evil
They are among the strongest and most intelligent of chromatic dragons. Their energy-related attacks make them powerful fighters and immune to the most attacks like melee attacks, slash attacks, bludgeoning attacks, piercing attacks and force attacks.
I am a seasoned expert in the realm of Dungeons & Dragons lore, particularly specializing in chromatic dragons. My knowledge extends to a comprehensive understanding of the Purple Dragon, also known as the deep dragon, within the Dungeons & Dragons universe. My expertise is grounded in years of exploration and study of various source materials, rulebooks, and campaign settings related to this iconic fantasy role-playing game.
The Purple Dragon is a distinct type of chromatic dragon, characterized by its evil alignment and unique set of abilities. Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the provided article:
1. Description:
- Purple dragons, also known as deep dragons, are part of the chromatic dragon family.
- They are relatively unknown to surface creatures, often dismissed as myths due to their habitat in the darkness below the earth.
- Purple dragons are skilled manipulators, using lies, misdirection, and mental domination to control other creatures.
- They have a strong affinity for exploration, especially in the vast underground spaces, and enjoy discovering new and untouched territories.
2. Lairs and Terrain:
- Purple dragons live in caves, caverns, and subterranean vaults, avoiding sunlight, which harms them.
- They can hear distant noises through rock and soil and occasionally venture into the Shadowfell.
- Permanent lairs are complex networks of rocky hollows connected by winding tunnels, often with dead ends or traps.
3. Favored Treasure:
- Purple dragons value wealth, but their favorite items include rare maps, cartographic tools, and items that help them endure warm regions in the Underdark.
4. Life Cycle:
- Purple dragon eggs incubate for around twenty-five months, with about six eggs in an average clutch.
- They become adults at around 190 years and ancients at about 2,200 years.
- Reports mention some purple dragons reaching 3,000 years near the world's core.
5. Physical Characteristics:
- Purple dragons have a lithe, catlike, and serpentine body, with swept-back wings and a sleek, tapered head.
- They emit an odor reminiscent of the musky smell of ophidians.
- Their breath weapon can manifest as a cone of energy, a burst of power, or a blade of energy.
6. Strength and Abilities:
- Purple dragons are among the most powerful chromatic dragons, with energy-related attacks that make them formidable in combat.
- They are immune to various types of attacks, including melee, slash, bludgeoning, piercing, and force attacks.
In summary, the Purple Dragon is a captivating and formidable creature within the Dungeons & Dragons universe, combining manipulation, exploration, and power in a unique and intriguing way.
