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ing with the creature is straightforward, since it comes to
eliminate threats directly rather than sending spies or grunt
troops first. That’s not to say such conflicts are easy—their
very lack of subtlety forces these dragons to remain vigilant
and in peak fighting form. The advantage of treating every
problem as a fight is that the dragon becomes very good at
fighting.
FORTRESS DRAKES
Flying dragons can cover vast stretches of land personally,
get an airborne view of their domains with ease, and outmaneuver
most foes that dare to move against them. Dragons
that swim with great ability have much the same advantages
in their own realm; a sea drake that rules an island chain
can use the same basic tactics to watch its kingdom as a
brass dragon that controls a desert with a dozen oases. These
dragons might have a well-protected and well-hidden lair
that serves as a safe place to sleep and store a hoard, but they
don’t rely on it for personal defense. They are confident that
no army can cut them off from an escape route, no foe can
corner them, and no circumstance can force them to face
battle unprepared. Indeed, such dragons often stay away
from strongholds so their movements won’t be hampered
in tight quarters.
But landbound dragons must think differently, especially
if they wish to defend a realm. If a forest landwyrm decides
to claim a woodland, it must build forts to protect the vital
areas, much as an elf king would. The landwyrm can’t
depend on being able to outmaneuver an army, since it’s
limited to running (or very slowly burrowing) and can be
cut off from other areas of its demesne. Nor can it spot an
oncoming enemy from the air, which means that it needs
scouts, and those scouts need strongholds. The landwyrm
might feel confident that it can defeat any enemy in battle,
but until it arrives, its subjects need walls to keep them
safe. However, a dragon-built fortress is not simply a big
castle with an extra room where it sleeps. Aware of their
own strengths and weaknesses, landbound dragons construct
fortifications to complement their abilities. If the
aforementioned forest landwyrm rules over a few towns of
gnomes, it likely has them build forts to maximize its abilities
as well as their own. In addition to traditional walls and
battlements, a typical forest redoubt has very long tunnels
just below the surface, allowing the landwyrm to burrow
upward to attack foes or dig downward to leave the fortress
in case of siege. Gnomes guard the tunnels, which are rigged
to be collapsed should a foe breach them. Further, the areas
around the fortress are carefully cultivated to include thick
sections of woods at a distance, allowing the landwyrm to
ambush forces that take cover to avoid missile weapons fired
from the battlements.
Dragon-designed fortresses have a few common elements
not seen in other strongholds. Each section of outer wall or
tower includes an area big enough for the dragon to access,
with a large shuttered portal through which it can use its
breath weapon. Generally, such breath-holes are designed to
give a good field of fire. Often, the fortresses include wedgeshaped
killing grounds exactly the size of the dragon’s breath
weapon. Major buildings are constructed around “fighting
halls”—passageways broad enough for the dragon to run
through, with low ceilings to prevent flying foes from avoiding
melee combat. Every smaller room is located off a fighting
hall, to ensure that no one can set up in a place the dragon
can’t reach. Large blocks of stone sit near all major doorways
so the dragon can seal off sections as needed, forcing invaders
to spend valuable time hooking up block and tackle rigs or
waste spell power bypassing such barriers.
Dragons are pragmatic when choosing forces to operate
their castles. Any creature smart and loyal enough to take
orders is considered; traditional enemies might work together
in the network of fortifications. A mountain landwyrm’s
castle might employ dwarves as craftsfolk, gray elves as
archers, giant eagles as scouts, hill giants as shock troops,
gargoyles as wall patrols, and stone giants as catapults and
other siege weapons. While these forces would never work
together voluntarily, none dare anger a mountain landwyrm
that has their territory firmly in its grip. Of course, the landwyrm
must choose capable commanders—perhaps dragons
or half-dragons—to lead the forces.
A fortress is never a dragon’s primary lair. By its nature, a
fortress must be accessible to many underling visitors. Even
flightless dragons prefer lairs that are difficult for others to
reach, and they often establish lairs in the densest forests,
highest mountains, or deepest caves. Any guardians chosen
to protect the primary lair are always a separate force from
those employed to man the fortress.
SCALED COWARDS
Despite their vast personal power and resilience, not all
dragons are willing to risk themselves in combat. Some
younger dragons, cowed by how little of their potential power
they have mastered, fear dying before they fully mature.
More rarely, older dragons decide they are too important to
take chances, and they shy away from even the slimmest possibility
of death. Most often, however, dragons are cowards
because of a character flaw common to their race. Ethereal
dragons, air and ice drakes, and hill, jungle, and plains landwyrms
are some of the more cowardly examples.
Other dragons are simply more cautious, which differs
from cowardice but results in similar tactics, at least early
in a conflict. Examples include amethyst dragons, ooze and
smoke drakes, and sunwyrms. These creatures might employ
the same techniques as their more fearsome kin, but they’re
more willing to take risks to achieve their goals. Craven
dragons flee any conflict that seems dangerous, even if doing
so means abandoning their plans, allies, and territory.
Cowardly dragons claim lands they can protect with
minimal effort. Defensive walls and towers are common, as
are large standing armies. These dragons might even prefer to
be the power behind the throne, establishing whole families
CHAPTER 5
DRACONIC
CAMPAIGNS
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