make an omlet?
The dragon egg plays a small part in Rise of Tiamat at the 1st council meeting (at least according to the Council scorecard at least). Some factions want it destroyed, some want to keep it alive (as it is still a living creature).
The eggs aren't small however, being fully 3ft long and weighing a good 150lbs each iirc.
I'd like to see some input form others on this, I feel like with enough "training" it could be turned good. Dragons are pretty darn smart, don't think you could ever consider it a pet, more of a companion. I have a light cleric that maybe I would try to maybe why it's still a egg force "light" into the egg, try to use my powers of good to change the dragon before it's born. If I was a DMing and my players did something like that, I might change it from chaotic evil to chaotic neutral maybe. Definatly keep meat well stocked to feed it so it never feels it has to kill someone for food.
Edit: Also for flavor I think I would change the dragons face from a skull to a more normal type dragon face, to show players they had definatly impacted this dragon.
Black dragons are inherrently evil (by birth) - but yes, are capable of having any alignment in adulthood, although they rarely stray from their nature. With enough guidance, it is possible to "redeem" the hatchling dragon and transform it into a force of good - providing it is nurtured, and is willing to change. This would only happen if it respects its companions.
Keep in mind however, a hatchling dragon would most likely act like a toddler - a violent, extremely intelligent, and evil toddler (think Chucky), except as big as a large dog. It will demand instant gratification for its needs/desires, and throw violent fang and claw-filled tantrums when it doesn't get its every whim met.
It may want to destroy or kill something small and fluffy "for the fun of it", or take "shinies" belonging to others because it wanted it. From birth, it will lack a conscious, and so will act like a sociopathic (and potentially homicidal) toddler.
How you handle such behavior will dictate whether it grows to respect or resent its companions - which is the first crucial step in reforming it and teaching it morality.... and would make for excellent RP.
Being intelligent doesn't mean you can change it's nature. Smart dogs can learn to unlock gates.
Kalani wrote:
mellored wrote:
It could most definately be done. The 3.5 Book of Exalted Deeds has a good section on redeeming evil. I would use something to that effect when redeeming the sociopathic toddler that has fallen into the PCs midst.
It would not be easy however, as the creature will reason like a toddler (it is a baby after all, a very intelligent baby - but a baby none the less). Once it matures an age category, I would allow them to reason with it like a child. One more age category and it is an adult IIRC.
The big question is how to earn the respect of a toddler - one with the strength (and size) of a grown man, and one which would squish kitties until death just because they thought it was funny - or which would deliberately push you down the stairs to see if you could fly....
Dragons are innately curious IMO, so I would roleplay it much like I would a manevolent fairy mixed with a toddler.... Cruel, vicious and evil pranks and jests to test its environment mixed with violent tantrums when denied immediate gratification for anything it desires. It would think nothing of hurting (or killing) someone just because you didn't let them play with the "kitty" - which could be a human child btw.
Kalani wrote:
HermanTheWize wrote:
As I mentioned it previously, here is the relevant section from the book of exalted deeds on the topic of redeeming evil. Good portions of that book are system-proof, so make for a good reference regardless of game/edition.
Redeeming Evil (BoED, p8)Perhaps the greatest act of good one could ever hope to accomplish is the redemption of an evil soul. Bringing an evil character to see the error of her ways not only stops her from preying on innocent victims, but helps her as well, winning her a place in the blessed afterlife of the Upper Planes instead of an eternity of torment and damnation in the Lower. While acts of charity and healing might help a person’s body, redeeming an evil character helps her soul.
Holding a sword to a captured villain’s throat and shouting, “Worship Heironeous or die!” is not a means of redemption. Sword-point conversion might be a useful political tool, but it is almost entirely without impact on the souls of the “converts.” Worse, it stinks of evil, robbing the victim of the freedom to choose and echoing the use of torture to extract the desired behavior. True redemption is a much more difficult and involved process, but truly virtuous characters consider the reward worth the effort involved. The process of redemption is described in Chapter 2: Variant Rules.
Of course, good characters recognize that some creatures are utterly beyond redemption. Most creatures described in the Monster Manual as “always evil” are either completely irredeemable or so intimately tied to evil that they are almost entirely hopeless. Certainly demons and devils are best slain, or at least banished, and only a naïve fool would try to convert them. Evil dragons might not be entirely beyond salvation, but there is truly only the barest glimmer of hope.
On the other hand, a good character approaches every encounter with orcs, goblinoids, and even the thoroughly evil drow with heart and mind open to the possibility, however remote, that his opponents might some day be transformed into allies. Creatures that are “usually evil” can be redeemed. This is not to say that a good character’s first thought in an ambush should be, “How can I redeem these poor orcs?” However, if the ambushing orcs end up surrendering, there is ample opportunity to seek their redemption.
mellored wrote:
If the egg is hatched have the dragon develope the same alignment as it's "mother" figure.
draegn wrote:
draegn wrote:
HermanTheWize wrote:
mellored wrote:
mellored wrote:
Reply to Kalani Post #19:
Well hopefully the PCs at this point aren't low levels or forbid no class yet. You would definatly need some hardy adventures to test this method. One slip up means almost guarnteed death at low levels, or a dead dragon and a ruined plan. If there are a decent sized group of level 5+ adventures, they would be superior when it's born, and once it get older and then more "powerful", by that time the power diffrence agrument is hoepfully null. Some kids become stronger than their parent when they grow up, but at that point all the ideas of the parent are installed in the brain and the notion of I'm stronger and no longer listen isn't a factor, respect comes into play and so on.
HermanTheWize wrote:
Kalani wrote:
HermanTheWize wrote:
Yunru wrote:
MephistoXtheXred wrote:
I did add spoiler quotes. No idea how you got a version that lacked them (wierd). I also made certain not to reveal any information about the chamber itself other than the existance of the eggs, and how close they are to hatching - so that even if someone cheated and looked at the spoiler, they wouldn't learn much useful information - not even their exact location.
As this entire conversation really comes down to how the DM/players see the world, and how the DM decides to rule.....
I think I would allow it to happen. But I would treat it as an Evil creature that just happens to love and trust one specific person.... Kind of like if you Charm person one of the Orcs, they dont' really like the rest of your party.
Imagine a serial killer that wanders around with his mother..... still a sociopath, but not likely to act out on it while 'mommy' is around. The dragon understands that you don't want it to kill the peasants and eat them..... but cant' fathom why.
I would not bother with the charts..... depending on what and how the players handle it; make a ruling based on what would work best for the party and storyline. (I would still roll some dice, I just wouldn't care what the result was.)
Kalani wrote:
Kalani wrote:
Raising the dragon would become the 'campaign'. Would need fulltime pc attention. If this is what you wish go for it
Raise it up and call it Drizzt DuDragon.
Check my sig to find out what happened last time this was attempted.
mellored wrote:
ZHDarkstar wrote:
HermanTheWize wrote:
BRJN wrote:
Get a dark mage and a cleric of an evil god to use an dark ritual of transformation to get yourself a litter of draconians (dragonborn). Of course, your group will have to raise them, not sure if you are ready for that responsibility.
Rogue AT 3 can use the fancy Mage Hand,
with Wiz Illusionist 2 can use their fancy Cantrip thingy,
and go scare Townspeople with :
mellored wrote: