| Spawn of Tiamat, Children of Bahamut |
by Keith Francis Strohm
illustrated by Andrew Goldhawk
from Dragon Magazine #260
Of the myriad creatures in the AD&D game, none captures the imagination like dragons. Winged beasts of incredible power, wise beings of ineffable wisdom, mythic monsters that strike fear into the hearts of heroes, dragons play many roles in a fantasy campaign. Yet even dragons have their luminaries known for their great power, extraordinary personality, or both.
The most notable of these unique dragons are noble Bahamut, the platinum dragon, and dreadful Tiamat, the chromatic dragon, demipowers locked in an eternal conflict. The multiverse, however, is an infinite battleground, and these demipowers command vast armies of creatures.
None, however, are more powerful or influential than the spawn of Tiamat and the children of Bahamut. These beings are descendants of the dragon gods - heirs of an ancient war for dominion of the multiverse. Each of these god-born creatures is a powerful and complex paragon of dragonkind.
In Your Campaign
A DM should not use these creatures as mere sword-fodder - though such a combat-oriented approach could indeed yield hours of fun. These are powerful and intelligent dragons, and a clever DM can use these traits to guide the players' characters into specific adventures.
For example, denizens of a specific demiplane could approach the PCs for help in dealing with the Ethereal Dragon during its time of hunger. Rather than simply attacking the dragon until it leaves the demiplane alone, the PCs might parley with the creature, perhaps exploring some of the nearby demiplanes (sparking a series of linked adventures) to find a less populous area on which An-Ur can dine.
Perhaps the PCs meet one of the good dragons in its polymorphed human or demihuman form. The disguised dragon might enlist the PCs' aid in stopping the dark plans of the Undead Dragon. In fact, having the PCs function as pawns to the grand designs of two or more god-spawned dragons is a sure way to mix intrigue and combat into a campaign.
A Note on Draconic Spellcasting
Since these unique dragons do not cast spells in the same manner as traditional Priests (i.e., they do not pray to specific deities), they are not subject to the same planar restrictions as Clerics who are removed from their deity's home plane of existence. However, DMs should feel free to modify draconic spellcasters in accordance with the dictates of their own campaign. For a deeper look at draconic spellcasting, refer to the Cult of the Dragon accessory.
The Monsters...