Dragon Honor? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragon Honor? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RabidAngel
07-08-03, 12:21 PM I was curious: if an evil dragon makes an agreement (i.e., "I will let you pass unharmed for half the treasure you carry when you return"), is there a code of honor that dragons typically abide by in the Realms, which would bind them to their word?

It is a topic I have not seen covered in FR lore thus far, although it may exist. I was interested in hearing other takes on this.
Masakado
07-08-03, 12:28 PM It's probably an alignment issue. Lawful dragons, whether good or evil, can probably be counted on to keep their word of honor.

Red Dragons (Chaotic Evil) are thoroughly ruthless, so it's hard to say whether or not they'll honor their word, although there was an instance in the novel Azure Bonds where Alias engaged the Red Dragon, Mist, in a ritual contest of threats & feints in which Mist lost & offered her services to Alias.

Something of this nature will probably be better covered in the new Draconomicon due to be released this November

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/176680000
Aelreth
07-08-03, 07:01 PM Actually I think red dragons would keep their word but they never BOTHER to give anyone their word.
RabidAngel
07-09-03, 11:40 AM So the thought is that a LE Blue - despite being cruel and mischevious - would keep his word, if he ever actually gave it?
Acererak
07-09-03, 11:46 AM IMO that's correct. With the caveat that he would try to word the agreement so that he can turn it to his advantage.

So in the first example he'd let the party pass unharmed, but when they returned he'd try to kill them and take all their treasure. :smirk:
GoodOlWillickers
07-09-03, 04:46 PM I think it's really a question of how you play your dragons and what the dragon's motivations are. This assumes you're only talking about evil dragons.

If the dragon has some reason to want a character dead, he'll probably kill him unless he has some good reason why he shouldn't.

If you're playing traditional dragons, it'll probably keep its word. In a lot of the mythology I've heard, dragons may have been destructive but they were usually good for their word.

If you're playing it by alignment, this isn't black and white either. A chaotic evil wouldn't attack a character he just made a deal with unless there was a good reason for it. If all chaotic evil dragons always attacked people who made deals with them, nobody would ever bother making deals with them.

Peace
-Will
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/willspalace
Acererak
07-09-03, 05:19 PM Originally posted by GoodOlWillickers
If you're playing it by alignment, this isn't black and white either. A chaotic evil wouldn't attack a character he just made a deal with unless there was a good reason for it. If all chaotic evil dragons always attacked people who made deals with them, nobody would ever bother making deals with them.

True, but if a CE red was (reasonably) sure the party was holding out or had more to offer, and it could take them, it would make the deal and then very happily kill the party and take their stuff.

Dragons ain't stupid, but chaotic is chaotic. A deal means nothing to a red if it can improve its own wealth or standing by breaking it.
Maskanodel
07-09-03, 05:40 PM The best example of evil dragons not being entirely evil would probably be Old Snarl. Klauth is Chaotic Evil, but he does nice stuff (when he feels like it). Heres what it says on the Wizards site:

He often obeys strange whims that lead him to acts of kindness or aid to creatures he doesn't think can harm him.

You can read all about Klauth here. (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20030226wn)
Thrudjelmer
07-09-03, 09:38 PM Klauth is weird...

...like me! I like him. :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RabidAngel 07-08-03, 12:21 PM	I was curious: if an evil dragon makes an agreement (i.e., "I will let you pass unharmed for half the treasure you carry when you return"), is there a code of honor that dragons typically abide by in the Realms, which would bind them to their word? It is a topic I have not seen covered in FR lore thus far, although it may exist. I was interested in hearing other takes on this.
Masakado 07-08-03, 12:28 PM	It's probably an alignment issue. Lawful dragons, whether good or evil, can probably be counted on to keep their word of honor. Red Dragons (Chaotic Evil) are thoroughly ruthless, so it's hard to say whether or not they'll honor their word, although there was an instance in the novel Azure Bonds where Alias engaged the Red Dragon, Mist, in a ritual contest of threats & feints in which Mist lost & offered her services to Alias. Something of this nature will probably be better covered in the new Draconomicon due to be released this November http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/176680000
Aelreth 07-08-03, 07:01 PM	Actually I think red dragons would keep their word but they never BOTHER to give anyone their word.
RabidAngel 07-09-03, 11:40 AM	So the thought is that a LE Blue - despite being cruel and mischevious - would keep his word, if he ever actually gave it?
Acererak 07-09-03, 11:46 AM	IMO that's correct. With the caveat that he would try to word the agreement so that he can turn it to his advantage. So in the first example he'd let the party pass unharmed, but when they returned he'd try to kill them and take all their treasure. :smirk:
GoodOlWillickers 07-09-03, 04:46 PM	I think it's really a question of how you play your dragons and what the dragon's motivations are. This assumes you're only talking about evil dragons. If the dragon has some reason to want a character dead, he'll probably kill him unless he has some good reason why he shouldn't. If you're playing traditional dragons, it'll probably keep its word. In a lot of the mythology I've heard, dragons may have been destructive but they were usually good for their word. If you're playing it by alignment, this isn't black and white either. A chaotic evil wouldn't attack a character he just made a deal with unless there was a good reason for it. If all chaotic evil dragons always attacked people who made deals with them, nobody would ever bother making deals with them. Peace -Will http://www.angelfire.com/md2/willspalace
Acererak 07-09-03, 05:19 PM	Originally posted by GoodOlWillickers If you're playing it by alignment, this isn't black and white either. A chaotic evil wouldn't attack a character he just made a deal with unless there was a good reason for it. If all chaotic evil dragons always attacked people who made deals with them, nobody would ever bother making deals with them. True, but if a CE red was (reasonably) sure the party was holding out or had more to offer, and it could take them, it would make the deal and then very happily kill the party and take their stuff. Dragons ain't stupid, but chaotic is chaotic. A deal means nothing to a red if it can improve its own wealth or standing by breaking it.
Maskanodel 07-09-03, 05:40 PM	The best example of evil dragons not being entirely evil would probably be Old Snarl. Klauth is Chaotic Evil, but he does nice stuff (when he feels like it). Heres what it says on the Wizards site: He often obeys strange whims that lead him to acts of kindness or aid to creatures he doesn't think can harm him. You can read all about Klauth here. (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20030226wn)
Thrudjelmer 07-09-03, 09:38 PM	Klauth is weird... ...like me! I like him. :D