THE VESSEL * Breath weapon: Line of Acid
* Habitat: Boggy Swamps
* Diet: Fish, mollusks, aquatic critters, some red meat from terrestrial animals
* Preferred Treasure: Coins
* Alignment: Chaotic Evil
* Notes:
Black dragons (a.k.a. "Skull Dragons") are the most vile tempered and cruel of all chromatic dragons. Physically, black dragons are most distinguished by their horns, which protrude from the sides of their heads and wrap around, projecting forward. A large frill adorns the upper part of the neck. They smell like rotting vegetation and foul water, or like the powerful acid they can breathe.
Black dragons are fierce hunters that will normally attack from the water. They will often prey on fish, crabs, birds, turtles, crocodiles, lizardfolk, chuuls, hydras, and green dragons that are smaller and younger than they are. Their enemies include green dragons and swamp landwyrms.
Black dragons are not noted as very good parents, relying more upon disguise and hiding to protect their eggs than upon guarding them personally. Black dragon eggs must be submerged in strong acid while incubating. Their wyrmlings (babies) are noted for their exceptional cruelty and their utterly insatiable appetites. They will eat almost anything organic they can kill, even plants. As a black dragon matures, its scales will very gradually grow lighter. The most ancient black dragons appear almost purple in color; hence the name of Cormyr's Purple Dragon knights stems from the legend of the great black dragon Thauglor, who once dominated the area encompassed by the present kingdom.
A black dragon typically lairs in a large cave or underground chamber next to a swamp or murky pond. Their lairs always have two entrances: one underwater through the adjacent swamp/pond, and one above-ground, disguised amidst the undergrowth.
In combat, black dragons prefer ambushes to straightforward fighting. They are vicious and ruthless adversaries, and their acidic bile can work its way under the heaviest armor with ease. Their only disadvantage is that their heavily wooded habitats tend to prevent them from flying very high in combat.
*****
Due to the way he was created and abandon a lot of what Hervey is like is taken from the Vessel. He isn't the most friendly creature in the world, not by a lot shot. He sees those around him in only a few categories: Those who are weak and not worth his time, those who are strong and are those that he feels the desire to be better then, and those who taste good. He has no friends to speak of, lives and hunts alone, and isn't one to seek out companionship.
He has skewed views on people as the first one that he'd ever encountered was the one that 'created' him and ultimately abandoned him while the second one treated him like he were a beast to be studied, to take notes on, and follow about as he tried to get used to the world.
