Who or what in Thor's name is "the Dragon"? Does it refer to a specific sorcerer-king, Athas' irradiated sun, or something else? The index doesn't even list it in the Campaign Setting book.
but
Page 208, sidebar entitled secret history of Athas, in the Dark Sun Campaign Guide.
That is more than the sorcerer kings want you to know - so read it at peril to your life.
Even then, it will only tell you a little.
(Also, you could go grab some Dark Sun novels, which explore one possible story in Athas and in so doing describe one author's vision of these mysteries. Alternatively, you can DM up your own stories, for such is the magic of DnD)
Thanks guys!
Oh the possibilities for my future Dark Sun campaign.
Think it would be too nutty for, if my PC's get to Epic, that they could revive the Dust Kraken and fight the Dragon with its help? It's a long way off, given they'll start at level 2, but I like to gaze longingly at what my campaigns could someday culminate into.
The Dragon is the biggest baddy of all on Athas, and it's statted up in the Dark Sun Creature Catalog. The only canonical dragon on Athas, it's actually the Arch-Defiler, the monstrous humanoid who created defiling magic and caused the bloody genocidal wars that left Athas in its present state, transformed into a terrible dragon-like creature. This is a state that any master defiler can reach towards, hence the Dragon King epic destiny in the Dark Sun Campaign Setting.
Did that carry over to new Dark Sun?
In 2e, yeah, but if it doesn't specifically state that, I wouldn't say it's cannon for 4e.
Oh! So, basically the most terrifying thing imaginable. Gotcha.
Thanks guys!
Oh the possibilities for my future Dark Sun campaign.
Think it would be too nutty for, if my PC's get to Epic, that they could revive the Dust Kraken and fight the Dragon with its help? It's a long way off, given they'll start at level 2, but I like to gaze longingly at what my campaigns could someday culminate into.
The Dragon is a lvl 33 solo. So I don't think your players will get a chance to fight him any time soon. Its powerful enough to destroy entire cities if it wanted to.
You should have them face off against the Id Fiend if you have the Creature Catalogue(lvl 1 solo). I'm planning on replacing an encounter later on with one.
Edit: I have so many things planned if my players could get to Epic Tier. I'd write these ideas down but their useless without high level players.
The man named Borys is but one of many Champions that fought for the cause of the Cleansing Wars. Of the Champions that survived the wars and the subsequent rebellion against Rajaat's plan for humanity, all became sorcerer-kings except Borys, who - with the help of his fellow Champions - was turned into the creature now called the Dragon, and given the eternal task of keeping their former master locked away in an otherworldy prison.
No one knows who between the Dragon and Rajaat would be the ultimate baddy, where they out on the same playing field.
No one knows who between the Dragon and Rajaat would be the ultimate baddy, where they out on the same playing field.
Considering how the Sorcerer King's had to rally together to defeat him, i think Rajaat is probably on par with the Gods of other planes. Thats just me though.
Did that carry over to new Dark Sun?
In 2e, yeah, but if it doesn't specifically state that, I wouldn't say it's cannon for 4e.
Yeah. In the 4e campaign guide, on that page with the Secret History of Athas as well as on the Dragon's page in the creature catalogue, it gives a watered down (to my liking) story: primordials defeated the gods, that leftover vaccuum let Rajaat discover arcane magic and he taught his champions defiling, and they went on to imprison Rajaat and become the sorcerer-kings while only Borys became a dragon. No angsty ugly Rajaat, although I don't mind the lifeshaping Blue Age halflings
Oh! So, basically the most terrifying thing imaginable. Gotcha.
Think it would be too nutty for, if my PC's get to Epic, that they could revive the Dust Kraken and fight the Dragon with its help? It's a long way off, given they'll start at level 2, but I like to gaze longingly at what my campaigns could someday culminate into.
That is the direction my group of players has taken, locating/reviving Ul-Athra, the Dust Kraken, to help restore Athas the way it was in the past (Green Age basically). They have just reached 11th level and found the third part of the Crown of Dust. It looks like they will eventually meet The Dragon in Epic Tier. Still a long way to it, but they first need to recover 4 elemental relics of the past to help them in their effort. And they have brought upon them the unwanted eyes of Urik in the process.