A look at the Cold-Drake

[Er-Murazor]

This was an old thread I managed to save from the ancient Middle-Earth Online Forums (circa 2003) before it got mangled into Lord of the Rings Online. The hardcore Tolkien discussions by fans on that forum were a thing of beauty to behold because almost everything many of us warned about ended up happening. What started off as a potential sand-box version of Middle-Earth quickly turned into "the next biggest thing", aka Theme Park style MMO's. Anyway, hope this comes in handy for players and Loremasters alike to think about....

Ok...

we havent had a good dragon discussion in a while on these boards. I figured I would contribute some of my (supposed) knowledge on the subject. So, ya wanna kill a cold-drake, eh? Better be prepared for a long trek where it is really cold.

Drakes live, by the end of the 3rd Age, mostly in the Grey Mountains and/or Withered Heath. The number of mountains in the area allows for ample cave dwelling as well as food (mountain goats, stray orcs, foolish humans and the occasional dwarf) and water. Mating shouldn't be too much of a hassle for either a bachelor or bachelorette dragon. God forbid if you should happen to come to the area during mating season. We'll assume that cold-drakes (or at least this one in particular) lack wings to fly.

Assuming you survive the trek to the Ered Mithrim, you have to worry about approaching the lair of a dragon. They have ears that could probably hear a rat sneeze at a thousand paces. They can smell you and know your species almost instantly (unless you happen to be a Hobbit), unless of course you come across the most shut-in dragon of all time. Finally, they might have whiskers like those of a cat that can feel vibration.

If you actually make it to where you can actually get into a fight with a dragon, then you have to worry about actually hurting them. Dragonscales are probably harder than steel. There is truly only one type of full plate armor in Tolkien's world...and its covering Dragons. You're better off somehow tricking and/or outwitting them than trying to penetrate the hide of a Dragon.

Now, we definitely want to look at what a cold-drake brings to a fight in terms of melee. Thankfully, they lack the fire-breath their more powerful cousins employ (its how they get their name: cold-drake = no breath weapon). That in and of itself constitutes a massive saving grace to any would-be dragon hunters. Not having to worry about being roasted to well-done status means that the manner in which you die will not be that kind of gruesome (but, suffice to say, it will be gruesome nonetheless).

Lacking breath, they can, however, spit water at you. Don't laugh. They might lack the bellows to fry you, but imagine the high-powered stream of water squirting out of a drake's mouth. Imagine a short-lived burst from a fireman's hose. It should be enough to knock you down. I would imagine they could also add a little stomach digestive acid to the mix (a barf cocktail) that is just caustic enough to really sting. Its also probably septic.

Now we come down to the main weapons on the drake: foreclaws. With its massive forepaws, a drake can filet one of its fellow armoured dragons. One hit from these babies and they'll be carrying your remains home in a bag.

Next is the massive bite of a drake. Razor sharp fangs and jaw muscles that would make a crocodile weap with envy mean that you should avoid the hungry maw of a drake as much as possible. Mildly acidic and septic spittle also means that it could hock a loogie at you that would end your adventuring career quickly.

In all probability, the drake will have some form of horns and/or bony protrusions on its head. Think of what ram and deer do in mating season. Now think of what would happen to your character if they got in the way of a head-butt.

Lastly in the melee category is the tail. Might be spiny/barbed. It can either be bashed against the wall/ground to knock you down from the shockwave or you could be really unlucky and be on the recieving end of a line drive out to center field.

Of couse, no drake worth its hoard is going to be totally about melee combat. On contraire, mon frere. Ensorclement is a fun activity for the these overgrown iguanas. Forgetfullness-spells are fun ways to mess up the lives of would-be slayers. Desolation-spells are a nifty way of marking your territory on the environment around your lair. Lets never forget the wonderful Confusion-spells that dragons weave into their words to unravel the mind of the incautious.

Now, we need to briefly touch on the one thing that every player really wants: a dragon's hoard. Before you run diving into piles of coins like Scrooge MacDuck...lets think for a moment just how a dragon got their bed of loot moved. They can't pick up coins in their claws. They usually don't have servants, though I suppose they could save one or two wretches to move things into certain positions before they become midnight snacks. That really leaves only two options. A dragon will have to swallow his hoard and either regurgitate it into a pile...or...well....*ahem*.... pass it. The first option means the coins are probably nice and shiny from being cleaned by first rate polish. However, I do seem to remember something about dragon's reek. Don't eat brown gold folks!

[Glorelendil]

Funny how much Dungeons and Dragons colors folks' impressions of what combat looks like, huh?

[Er-Murazor]

Funny how much Dungeons and Dragons colors folks' impressions of what combat looks like, huh?

Heh, D&D dragons tend to be run as wimps when run by most DM's I've known. A dragon should be a formidable opponent for even the best prepared party if done right....

[Glorelendil]

Funny how much Dungeons and Dragons colors folks' impressions of what combat looks like, huh?

Heh, D&D dragons tend to be run as wimps when run by most DM's I've known. A dragon should be a formidable opponent for even the best prepared party if done right....

Like the 16 HP dragon?

But I meant more the notion that a dragon gets multiple attacks with bite, tail, 2 x claws, etc. Plus breath.

[Er-Murazor]

But I meant more the notion that a dragon gets multiple attacks with bite, tail, 2 x claws, etc. Plus breath.

Well, to be fair, I'd bet they based that on Smaug's boast to Bilbo than anything in mythology that I can think of offhand......

[Terisonen]

You don't have to think only of mechanics of play when thinking of Dragon in Middle Earth. For they are the impersonation of Greed: whenever riches grow up, inevitably Dragons appears. Killing a Dragon is really a feat more about righteousness of mind than physical prowess. You can say the same about Balrog; they are impersonnation of Fate: whoever battling them is sure to die.

[Glorelendil]

And I'm not sure I buy the bit about eating the treasure and then ejecting it from various orifices. Unless maybe that was meant entirely tongue-in-cheek?

[Corvo]

The bit about spurting water? Do we have something in Tolkien about it?

[Terisonen]

Moving gold by controlled gust of wind by his wings?

[Glorelendil]

Moving gold by controlled gust of wind by his wings?

If he can eat gold it means he can pick it up. If he can pick it up he can put it down. In, say, a cart. That he can fly with.

Or have orcs load the cart for the promise of not being eaten.