Post/Author/DateTime	Post
runestar 06-21-05, 11:04 AM	This idea has been floating about in my head for quite a while, and the consensus in the mature forums is that while it can be a potentially potent combination, the idiosyncracy behind this concept alone is more than enough to ground it. The dragon's love of treasure is instinctual, almost as base as breathing. Even the most LG of dragons has a hoard rivalling the GDP of a small nation. I have no idea what would compel a dragon to surrender its hoard. This would not simply be a one-off charity, but a sustained attempt at proverty. Clearly, some great incident or even greater power would be at work here. I probably won't actually be roleplaying this character anytime soon, but the concept just seems too cool to abandon at the moment, so I though it might be worth a more in-depth look. So what do you think are the possible driving motivating factors that might drive a dragon to take up a VOP? Some thoughts... Perhaps as penance for a past sin and if it repented long enough, a loved one might be brought back to life or some great wrong righted? Or maybe it thinks that the love of money is the root of all evil and in addition to abandoning its worldly possessions, it might go around and preaching the same to other dragons? Thoughts? Opinions?
Morka 06-22-05, 12:31 PM	Another idea: perhaps was he raised by good humanoids, probably in a temple. When I say "raised", I mean after his mother's death, his egg was brought (perhaps sold? good paradox) to the temple by some adventurers. However, this VOP dragon should be accused by other dragons to be against its own nature, and even persecuted by the clergy of Bahamut.
Myrdinn 06-22-05, 01:43 PM	i like the idea of being raised in a temple but what of his(?) parents were killed for their horde? That would give him an aversion to tresure. Or, maybe he dosn't like the effects tresure has on other dragons, he might think that anything that causes one dragon to kill another is definatly evil. Also, a dragon with a large horde can't leave the imeadiate area of his horde because they are afraid of it being stolen. And he thinks that its disgusting being virtually cavebound and the way they almost worship their gold.
Derren S. 06-23-05, 10:36 AM	The most sense would make a dragon ascendant who had to consume his hoard to begin his path to godhood and sees no use for collecting a new one.
Talinna 07-02-05, 03:58 PM	The Drac gives an example dragon (though i can't remember the type, but it is of metalic nature making it 'good') that has given up collecting much of a horde (not a full VOP but pretty close to) because the love of his life was killed at a very early age because of his greed. So now he walks among the humaniods and freely gives his treasures to those who are in better need of them. He still collects treasure like any dragon that he can not change about his personality, but he gives it away. Other dragons see him as being off his rocker, many of the people he helps think him to be an angle of sorts (the whole dragon taking on human form thing), but over all he is of no harm to himself or dragon society. ........................................ . Personal idea: You've got a Bronze dragon of young age that has chosen to take life up as a paladin. Something happens to where the dragon/paladin has an encounter of the divine and is told that it must give up it's horde and collecting or lose all favor of his god. (also attonement works in this too) ....................................... Another idea: Your dragon has just moved out on his own, but does not chose the most seclusive of caves/homes. In turn a nice adventureing party meaning no harm stumbles upon him, coming a little too close to his all presious horde, when said dragon attacks (defends his treasure) the party wizard happens to be of a nice high level and zaps him a good once or twice with a few nice spells that for the most part reprogram his memory and natural instenct. He now has a phoebia of gold, breaks out in a mad itch when near magical items and is a neat freak so can not stand piles of anything, oh he has also become a draconic druid and can only pollymorph into a squirl. (this would be uber fun to do to a red dragon)
obrysii 07-02-05, 08:39 PM	1. It's "hoard." A "horde" is an invading army. 2. One example I read (and therefore not my idea) on the Mature boards was: the dragon sees that the only true weakness of dragonkind is their greed. Naturally, by giving up such things, they can increase their own power and remove their one weakness, thereby making themselves the ideal and perfect creature.
blooddemon 07-03-05, 09:20 PM	Someone close to him has been subdued and kidnaped, he/she must give up all material belongings in order to get the significant other back. kinda works in a roundabout way.
bluelighter0 07-04-05, 01:31 AM	Someone close to him has been subdued and kidnaped, he/she must give up all material belongings in order to get the significant other back. kinda works in a roundabout way. Not a terrible idea, but that doesn't really signify the Vow of Poverty. The VOP should be a choice to give up all material possessions for an entirely unselfish reason. From an optimization perspective, you take the VOP for power. From a roleplay perspective, the character should take it with no desire to gain anything from it. So, the question remains: "Why would a dragon willfully give up treasure and gold?". I think the suggestions Myrdinn and Obrysii gave would probably work the best for a playable (and flavorful) character. Another thing to consider is the age demographic issue. Dragons, like any large and powerful predator, are by natural law scarce. And since a dragon continues to advance in power as it ages, it would stand to reason that most of the truly notable "people" your young Exalted dragon would know are pretty old and powerful. By the time they've gotten to that point in their lives, they will have amassed a lot of treasure. So your character could be opposed to what he feels is the greed and excess of the older generation, feeling like their hoards keep them tied down and make them weak. He could strive to set an example, to prove to his elders that the treasure doesn't make the dragon. If you do play this character, make sure you post on here how you played it, and how it worked out for you.