| Climate/Terrain: | Any healthy, clean, isolated, non-civilized natural setting |
| Frequency: | Very Rare |
| Organization: | 25% Solitary, 75% Clan |
| Activity Cycle: | Any |
| Diet: | Special |
| Intelligence: | Exceptional (15-16) |
| Treasure: | Special - See Table 1 |
| Alignment: | Neutral Neutral |
| No. Appearing: | 1 or 2-12 |
| AC: | -2 (base) |
| Movement: | 9", FL 36", JP 3", SW 12" |
| HD: | 14 (base) |
| THAC0: | 8 (at 14 HD) |
| # Attacks: | 3 + specials |
| Damage/Attack: | 1-8/1-8/5-30 (5D6) |
| Special Attacks: | Special - See Below |
| Special Defense: | Variable - See Below |
| Magic Resistance: | Variable - See Table 1 |
| Size: | G (40' base) |
| Morale: | Elite (15-16) [Fanatical (17) with any clan member present] |
| XP Value: | Variable - See Table 1 |
Table 1: Abilities By Age Category
| Age | Body Length (ft) | Tail Length (ft) | AC | Breath Weapon | Spells M/D | MR% | Treasure Type | XP Value |
| 01 | 2-12 | 3-12 | 1 | 2D8+1 | NIL/NIL | NIL | NIL | 2500 |
| 02 | 12-23 | 12-21 | 0 | 4D8+2 | NIL/NIL | NIL | NIL | 5000 |
| 03 | 23-42 | 21-30 | -1 | 6D8+3 | NIL/NIL | NIL | NIL | 7500 |
| 04 | 42-61 | 30-49 | -2 | 8D8+4 | 1 | NIL | 1/2H | 10000 |
| 05 | 61-80 | 49-68 | -3 | 10D8+5 | 11 | 20 | H | 12500 |
| 06 | 80-99 | 68-87 | -4 | 12D8+6 | 111 | 25 | H | 15000 |
| 07 | 99-118 | 87-106 | -5 | 14D8+7 | 211/1 | 30 | H, R | 17500 |
| 08 | 118-137 | 106-125 | -6 | 16D8+8 | 221/11 | 35 | Hx2, R | 20000 |
| 09 | 137-156 | 125-144 | -7 | 18D8+9 | 222/21 | 40 | Hx2, R | 21500 |
| 10 | 156-165 | 144-153 | -8 | 20D8+10 | 2221/22 | 45 | Hx2, R | 23000 |
| 11 | 165-174 | 153-162 | -9 | 22D8+11 | 2222/221 | 50 | Hx3, R | 24500 |
| 12 | 174-179 | 162-167 | -10 | 24D8+12 | 22221/222 | 55 | Hx3, R | 26000 |
This dragon species description is to be used in conjunction with the Monstrous Manual rules on chromatic dragons.
General
Gray dragons are always true neutral in alignment. Gray dragons are intelligent, even tempered and easy-going. Some often times overlook transgressions that would send a standard dragon into a rage. Typically their attitudes fall into two categories:
1. A non-involvement mind set, they are aloof, uninterested, non-confrontational (except when life, treasure hoard or clan is threatened).
2. Clan Quest: If a member of a clan they may, from time to time, embark upon an almost fanatical clan quest to promote the various concept, politics and philosophies. A few of these are listed:
a. "Balancing the alignment-driven extremes in the world". Often this may take the form of targeting or destroying or removing powerful persons/powers/beings/creatures whose alignment is considered too extreme, i.e. any alignment that does not contain at least one neutral component.
b. A militant pro-nature reasoning with little or no concern for anything else.
c. Blood Oath; very simply, chromatic dragon genocide. The goal is the destruction/domination of all non-gray dragons in the area and/or region.
When gray dragons hatch their scales are light gray in color. As they age their scales darken in shade especially in the areas along the length of their backs and spines. This assumes a deep, dark (almost black) charcoal gray. From a distance and when the dragon is still, grays look as if they have been sculpted from stone as does a statue. Sometimes, if the setting is right, they have been known to pretend to be statues.
Gray dragons do not have their own language; rather, they can communicate with other grays by means of limited, line of sight telepathy. All grays have this ability, which is gained at birth. In some cases this ability may extend to the communication with any intelligent creature. 28% of hatchling gray dragons have this extended ability. And the chance to possess this ability increases 5% per age category of the dragon. Gray dragons do speak the languages of both good and evil dragon kind. 25% of all grays know at least one other true language.
Combat
Gray dragons combat intelligently. When fighting with clan members or other grays for a common purpose they melee with near perfectly executed group plans. Their dragon-to-dragon telepathy aids them in this purpose, allowing them to fight with perfect timing while maintaining in an utterly cool, non revealing, silence.
They rarely succumb to panic or hatred in the heat of battle. They will avoid a fight and tactically or strategically withdraw in order to fight another day. Gray dragons try to envision every situation with open-mindedness and a myriad of options, even unconventional ones.
Breath Weapon / Special Abilities
Gray dragons typically have three breath weapon types:
Table 2: Third Breath Type
| D20 | Dragon Type | Type | Cone Dimensions | Notes |
| 1 | Brass | Sleep Cloud | 70' x 5' x 20' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 2 | Brass | Heat | 50' x 40' x 20' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 3 | Bronze | Lightening | 100' x 5' | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 4 | Bronze | Repulsion Cloud | 20' x 30' x 30' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 5 | Black | Acid | 60' x 5' | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 6 | Blue | Lightening | 100' x 5' | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 7 | Gold | Fire | 90' x 5' x 30' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 8 | Gold | Chlorine Gas | 50' x 40' x 30' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 9 | Green | Chlorine Gas | 50' x 40' x 30' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 10 | Red | Fire | 90' x 5' x 30' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 11 | Silver | Cold | 80' x 5' x 30' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 12 | Silver | Paralysis Cloud | 50' x 40' x 30' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 13 | Copper | Slow Gas | 30' x 20' x 20' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 14 | Copper | Acid | 70' x 5' x 20' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 15 | White | Cone of Frost | 70' x 5' x 25' high | As per Monstrous Manual. |
| 16 | Platinum | Cone of Cold | 8" x 3" | As per Monster Manual. |
| 17 | Platinum | Gaseous Vapor | 8" x 3" | As per Monster Manual. Save or assume gaseous form for 6 turns. |
| 18 | Platinum | Sonic Vibration | 8" x 3" | As per Monster Manual. Save or receive 75 points of disintegration damage. |
| 19-20 | None gained | - | - |
A gray dragon may use its breath weapon once per 3 rounds regardless of which breath was used last.
Amongst abilities gained (see Table 1), grays cast magic spells (both wizard and priest), innately and at will, at a level equal to 2 + dragon's age category. The Priest spells used are always of the Druid variety. These spells are obtained in the following manner; a 4th level dragon obtains a first level mage spell, his next age category [5th] will give him a second 1st level mage spell and one second level mage spell. So a Young Adult gray will have a total of two first level and one second level mage spells.
During a dragon's development the Wizard/Priest[Druid] spell ability is rolled randomly. If this duplicates (or can potentially duplicate) a previously rolled magic spell or a special ability [Table 3], then the determination of the spell is re-rolled. Gray dragons, if they have the option, tend to diversify their powers rather than specialize.
Because of the homogenous nature of the gray dragonkind they obtain certain advantages when combating other non-gray dragons. +4 on saves versus all dragons breath weapons, 1/4 damage when successfully saved, 1/2 damage if failed. They are immune to normal fire, cold and electricity.
Table 3: Special Abilities, By Age Category
| Age Level | Category | Special Ability | # of Activations or Duration |
| 01 | Hatchling | Water Breath | Continuous |
| 02 | Very Young | Speak with Animals | Continuous |
| 03 | Young | Entangle | Twice/day |
| 04 | Juvenile | Neutralize Poison | Twice/day |
| 05 | Young Adult | Know Alignment | Continuous |
| 06 | Adult | Detect Lie | Continuous |
| 07 | Mature Adult | Quest | Once/day |
| 08 | Old | Teleport Without Error | Twice/day |
| 09 | Very Old | ESP | Continuous |
| 10 | Venerable | Non-Detection | Continuous |
| 11 | Wyrm | Hallucinatory Terrain | Once/day |
| 12 | Great Wyrm | Mind Blank | Once/day |
All special abilities gained at various age categories are usable as per Table 3. They function at the minimum level required for casting or at the age category or the dragon, whichever is greater.
Gray dragons have the ability to use magic items befitting to the following classes: Fighter, Mage and Druid. These items must be of practical type, size and appropriate for manipulation in order to be used them. To be determined by GM.
In addition to their normal detection of magic, gray dragons can also (at the same range) detect psionic energy and psionic-like activities.
Habitat / Society
Gray dragons can live anywhere but they prefer any healthy, clean, isolated, non-civilized natural setting. Their lairs are secluded and are usually underground and surrounded by stone.
Gray dragons are the result of a successful mating between two chromatic-type dragons of differing color. Gray dragons may also be produced (50% of the time) when a gray and chromatic-type mate. Grays have no qualms about mating with non-grays. Non-grays consider mating with a gray scandalous, disgraceful and shameful. When there is a mating between a gray and a color-type there is a 50% chance that their will be eventual alignment shift (towards NN in only one axis) in the color dragon.
Gray dragons rarely fight each other. If there is a potential dispute between two grays they will usually avoid confrontation and disassociate from one another other. Grays tolerate each other more, they need the protection of fellow gray dragons to ward off their worse enemy, most of chromatic dragon-kind.
This particular dragon sub-species typically has stronger species ties (with other grays) and as a result form larger clans. From 2-12 may be members of the same clan. Clan-bound gray dragons in general tend to avoid association with members from other gray clans as well as non-aligned grays.
Gray dragons of the same clan tend to live with relative closeness of each other (but not always). Gray dragons have the ability to perform a Clan (or Family) Call: If a clan member (or a direct gray dragon relative) is within 100 miles performs an audible trumpet call, there is a 20% chance at any given time one or more (1D4) gray dragons may make an appearance in 1-100 rounds. The nature of the call is both audible and telepathic. It is not limited to LOS and is able to penetrate miles of solid rock.
Ecology
Gray dragons can eat almost anything. However they usually sustain themselves upon herd animals or schools of fish. They also enjoy eating massive amounts of solid granite from time to time.
Though they typically avoid associations with humans and humanoids, gray dragons sometimes associate with druids.
Additional Information
The existence of the gray dragon type supports the popular theory that the current chromatic subspecies originated from common ancestors long ago. A Summary of Common Dragon Abilities from Monstrous Manual could go here.
Table 4: Standard Species Abilities
| Age Level | Age Category | Age (Years) | Hit Die Modifier |
| 01 | Hatchling | 0-5 | -6 |
| 02 | Very Young | 6-15 | -4 |
| 03 | Young | 16-25 | -2 |
| 04 | Juvenile | 26-50 | Nil |
| 05 | Young Adult | 51-100 | +1 |
| 06 | Adult | 101-200 | |
| 07 | Mature Adult | 201-400 | |
| 08 | Old | 401-600 | |
| 09 | Very Old | 601-800 | |
| 10 | Venerable | 801-1000 | |
| 11 | Wyrm | 1001-1200 | |
| 12 | Great Wyrm | 1200+ |
In essence, very little. The Party has heard rumor of "dragon cities" very, very far away (SWW of orc cities, buried deep in the jungle/mountains). Are they truly occupied by dragons or is that merely an appelation? Do dragons in general follow the same rules here? Who knows. The Party has heard of the standard dragon color-types but does it mean that all red dragons breath fire? Don't know. And then the gem-based types as well. More may exist but the Party knows not.
Michael Babriecki adds: "Prior to Eternal Day 721 - If Gray Dragons could be persuaded to, they would be perfect enemies of the Old Empire."
Site Map | 6 September 99
copyright © 2001 by Michael Moran Alterio, Michael Babriecki, Harry Ching, Stephen Martin, and Donald R. Parrish III (all rights reserved)