Month of the Dragon: Iconic Red Dragons

In addition to the 10 facts about each type of dragon, I’m crafting three unique draconic NPCs for each type. Each NPC will have a bit of personality and history, a lair description, a unique ability, and a hoard.

Crassius the Golden
Young Red Dragon

• Age: 76 years
• Bio: Greedy and ambitious beyond reason even for a red dragon, Crassius has a special hatred for gold dragons. Taking a cue from their mimic pets, Crassius has begun having their scales encased in gold to better reflect their treasure hoard.
• Alternative Characterization: Crassius believes that if they imitate the characteristics of a gold dragon, their scales will turn gold over time.
• Lair: Crassius controls a dwarven mine, having brought the dwarves there under its control. The dwarves mine gold for the dragon and assist the dragon with their ongoing vanity project.
• Unique Ability: Golden Camouflage. Crassius has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks in their treasure room.
• Hoard: A set of dwarven plate, approximately 4,000 gp in coins, a golden replica of Crassius worth 1000 gp, and 5 gems (each worth 100 gp).

Smokethroat
Adult Red Dragon

• Age: 121 years
• Bio: Smokethroat suffered a magical injury as a wyrmling that has left them unable to breath fire with the strength of other dragons their age. They are ill-tempered and aloof, rarely leaving their treasure hoard for more than a few moments. Smokethroat sends out kobold minions to find and kidnap travelers that might have knowledge of healing in the hopes of repairing the injury that hampers their fire breathing.
• Alternative Characterization: Smokethroat has actually learned a great deal about healing from captured travelers, and their kobold followers show the fruits of their research. Travelers that have passed through Smokethroat’s lair and lived often report an inquisitive creature shockingly careful of and concerned for the kobolds.
• Lair: Smokethroat lives in a long-dormant volcano overlooking a mountain pass with numerous hidden entrances into the tunnels leading to their den deep within.
• Unique Ability: Smoke Breath. The dragon exhales fire and smoke in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking 56 (16d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Additionally, smoke fills a 30-foot cube centered on Smokethroat, and attack rolls and Perception checks in this area are at disadvantage until the smoke clears. The smoke dissipates on its on at the start of Smokethroat’s next turn.
• Hoard: A scarab of protection, 200,000 gp in coins, a scroll of greater restoration, and a collection of gems and jewelry with a total value of 5,000 gp.

Eldfjall
Ancient Red Dragon

• Age: 5,000 years
• Bio: Eldfjall was born in the heart of an active volcano, their parents nowhere to be found. The dragon was raised by lizardfolk that served their parents, and over the centuries, the lizardfolk of the volcano began to worship Eldfjall as a god. Prideful and calculating, Eldfjall obsesses over two goals. The first is the amassing of their hoard. The second is the destruction of the fire giant clan that has lived on within their domain despite the dragon’s best efforts. Due to their great age, when Eldfjall flies into battle, the air around the dragon begins to sizzle.
• Alternative Characterization: Eldfjall is grateful to the lizardfolk that protected them as a child, viewing later generations of lizardfolk as their children to protect in turn. Eldfjall seeks magic items with which to arm the lizardfolk so that together they can eliminate the fire giants posing a threat to them.
• Lair: Eldfjall still lives on the volcano from which they entered the world. They spend much of their time sleeping in a high and massive hotspring, accessible only from the air or from the dragon’s lair.
• Unique Ability: Scorching Aura. A creature that touches Eldfjall or hits them with a melee attack while within 10 feet of them takes 11 (2d10) fire damage. Any nonmagical weapon made of metal or wood that hits Eldfjall begins to melt. After dealing damage the weapon takes a permanent and cumulative -1 penalty to damage rolls. If its penalty drops to -5, the weapon is destroyed. Nonmagical ammunition that is made of metal or wood that hits Eldfjall is destroyed after dealing damage.
• Hoard: A horn of Valhalla (iron), an efreeti chain, two sets of +1 armor, 322,000 gp in coins, a tome containing information on the location of two legendary magical items or three very rare magical items (worth 5,000 gp), and a collection of gems with a total value of 20,000 gp.