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==Neutral Dragons== The last of the gem-based dragons to appear under TSR, the Neutral Dragons are perhaps better described as the "Lesser Gemstone Dragons", since they are strongly associated with the Neutral alignments, like "true" Gem Dragons, but they are non-psionic and are associated with semi-precious stones. ===Amber Dragon=== [[File:Amber dragon MCAV3.jpg|thumb|250px|right]] Denizens of the deep forest, amber dragons are "neutral" in the sense a force of nature is neutral; they just do what they like and don't give a shit about anyone else. Uniquely amongst dragons, they actually disdain material possessions, and so neither form hoards nor establish permanent lairs. Feeding on coniferous tree sap, they are territorial, but don't seek to actively protect nature as a driving goal. Still, they're apparently close enough to the balance for nature to reward them, given that all amber dragons can cast [[druid]]ic spells. Their breath weapon is a conical gout of scalding hot tree sap, which rapidly solidifies into amber when exposed to cooler air. Aside from being innate druidic casters, amber dragons also have the innate ability to magnetize people, can Shape Change like a 7th level druid 3/day, and Blink 1/day per 2 age categories. Amber dragons have a distinctively "prow-like" triangular horn on their snouts; their teeth are too small to use for their primary food, or even to bite, so they gouge at trees with their horn and then lick up the sap that spills from the wounds. Their claws are particularly long and sharp, though, making formidable defensive tools. This was the last of the Neutral Dragons to appear, debuting in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume 3. {{clear}} ===Jacinth Dragon=== [[File:Jacinth dragon MCAV1.jpg|thumb|200px|right]] Distinguished by their shimmering, flame-bright orange hides, jacinth dragons are amongst the rarest of all gem dragons, something not helped by their natural preference for isolationism. Amongst the smallest of the dragons, to the point it negatively impacts on their fearful aura, they are nonetheless very magically powerful - their innate spellcasting ability gives them the combined spells and caster level of both a [[wizard]] ''[[Mystic Theurge|and]]'' a [[cleric]]. They can't shapeshift, but they can Blink, as per a 10th level caster, 6 times a day. Their scintillating hides have a hypnotic effect, which means that if a jacinth launches a betrayal-based surprise attack, it gets a bonus to the Surprise roll equal to the number of rounds it spent in a peaceful encounter beforehand. Furthermore, on a sunny day, spending more than two rounds looking straight at a jacinth dragon forces a creature to save vs. spells or be blinded for 5d6 rounds. Add in the ability to essentially hypnotize people at will, with a cumulative 10% chance per round spent listening to a jacinth dragon talking that they will affect any listener as per a Suggestion spell, and these are amongst the nastiest [[diplomancer]]s in the dragon family. The jacinth's breath weapon is a conical blast of scalding hot air, so intense that it burns flesh and can set things on fire. This was one of the original trio of Neutral Dragons, debuting in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume 1. {{clear}} ===Jade Dragon=== [[File:Jade dragon MCAV1.jpg|thumb|200px|right]] Described as an "oriental cousin" to the Emerald Dragon, jade dragons have the traditional "[[oriental dragon]]" body-structure - a wingless, four-limbed serpent with somewhat leonic facial features. Smaller and weaker than emerald dragons, and lacking their psionic powers, they possess the spellcasting ability of a [[Mystic Theurge|multiclassed wizard/cleric]] and retain the deadly sonic shriek of their relatives. They can also hypnotize others simply by talking, much like the jacinth dragon, although with less aptitude. They also share the jacinth's inability to shapeshift without preparing spells in advance, and their ability to blink. Living in deep forests, jade dragons favor jade and rare woods as the basis for their hoards. They strictly refuse to eat other sapient creatures, only consuming vegetation and animals, but are also quite antisocial. This was one of the original trio of Neutral Dragons, debuting in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume 1. {{clear}} ===Moonstone Dragon=== [[File:Moonstone dragon MCAV4.jpg|thumb|250px|right]] The largest of the lesser gem dragons, moonstone dragons normally dwell in the [[Plane of Faerie]] and the [[Plane of Dreams]], or at least on the [[Ethereal Plane]], very rarely coming to the material world. Interested predominantly in the affairs of the [[fey]] over that of humans, [[Mystic Theurge|they have access to both wizardly and priestly spells]] (something that seems to be a running theme for Neutral Dragons), although restricted in what they can wield. They can use [[wizard]]ly [[Enchanter|enchantment/charm]] and [[Illusionist|illusion]] spells, [[Shadow Magic|alteration spells of dim light and shadow]], and spells of dreams and dreaming, as well as [[Cleric|priestly]] spells from the spheres of all, healing, [[Necromancer|necromancy]] (good only), and [[Diviner|divination]]. These mystical dragons have an aura of awe rather than the standard aura of fear, which causes victims who fall prey to simply stand there and watch the dragon in awe, with all memories fading after the dragon flees. Which is easy for them to do, as they can become ethereal at will, unless bound in chains forged from gold. Their breath weapon is a billowing conical cloud of light motes, which nullifies magic and forces the victims to sleep whilst dulling their memories of meeting the moonstone dragon. They're known to be capable of breaching the damage resistance of almost any creature, but are vulnerable to elemental attacks and burn from exposure to sunlight or artificial light in much the same way as a vampire. Little is known of moonstone dragons, but they may spend much of their time in the Ethereal Plane, or perhaps in lunar regions. Their existence is connected somehow with faerie settings; some guard these lands. In the most remote woodlands, persons attending the celebrations of a faerie court under a full moon might, in the morning, half-remember a chance encounter with one. The dragons usually shun the material world, but may try to influence it indirectly through agents. Humans have encountered moonstone dragons in their dreams. Apparently, these creatures can enter a dreamscape at will. There, they speak the dreamer’s language, and may offer guidance or advice on matters concerning faeries, shadow, lunar matters, healing, and the like. Their hoards are reputed to lie in faerie mounds or in secret woodland caverns. These have no copper or gold, but an equal value of silver or platinum pieces. Small beads of pure mithral are found instead of gems. Moonstone dragons are thought to subsist on moonbeams and faerie nectar. They are not carnivorous, nor do they often kill. Among the legends of moonstone dragons are the following: Their tears are drops of mithral, from which the elves fashion chain mail; when one dies, it vanishes in a shower of moonbeams; when one dies well, its heart turns into a lump of purest adamantite. Further, it is said, if the dragon slays a creature unjustly, it turns into a pillar of sand, and its spirit is utterly destroyed. Debuting in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume 2, this was the second-last Neutral Dragon to debut. Incredibly, after being forgotten for decades, Moonstone Dragons resurfaced in [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]], in [[Fizban's Treasury of Dragons]]. Whilst WotC noted that they could be used as an example of the [[Archfey]] patron for a [[Warlock]], they're also a fully fleshed out monster in the book as well and in fact there's a lot of easter eggs to their original lore, so somebody clearly liked these guys! The new 5e moonstone dragon sports opalescent scales and ruffs of emerald-green fur running down their chins, chests, backs, and tails. They also sport a scythe-curved horn on the back of the skull that, combined with the curving spike on the tip of their nose, makes their head look a lot like an old cartoon silhoutte of a crescent moon. They're native to the [[Feywild]], although they also enjoy exploring the [[Ethereal Plane]] and the [[Plane of Dreams]], and their lairs often feature portals linking two or more of the Material, Ethereal, Faerie and Dream Planes. Like the [[Faerie Dragon]]s they might be distantly related to, they are fundamentally gentle, curious creatures with a strong streak of playfulness and impetuousness. Youngsters are highly mischievous, and they can grow up to be pompous and ill-behaved, but the best of them become renowned as wise teachers and storytellers, often forming integral parts of Feywild communities or even mortal communities that reside near fey crossings. Especially because moonstone dragons like to project themselves either astrally or through dreams to inspire artists and poets, encourage great thinkers, spur on adventurers, and give guidance to those in need. Like their old-school counterparts, these moonstone dragons prefer silver, platinum and mithral to gold and copper. However, they also have a very [[fey]]-like tendency to prefer more intangible or ephemeral treasures; a song sung from the heart, a lock of a loved one’s hair, or a painting of a favorite place. A story of happy times fondly remembered is more precious to a moonstone dragon than a sack of gold. {{clear}} ===Pearl Dragon=== [[File:Pearl dragon MCAV1.jpg|thumb|200px|right]] The wingless sea-dwelling pearl dragon is a creature content with the simple life, seeking to avoid trouble and feed on fish whilst gathering its beloved pearls. Unusually for an oceanic dragon, it has no innate water-breathing ability, and instead simply has an enormous capacity for holding its breath - over an hour at a time. They are quasi-nomadic, moving on as they deplete pearl beds in their territory, but because of their need to meticulously take every single piece from one lair to the other, transferring lairs takes a pretty damn long time, as you might expect. Aside from their ability to breathe clouds of steam, hypnotize others through speech like a jade dragon, and Blink six time per day, pearl dragons have no real innate magic, although like most of their lesser gem dragon kindred they have access to the spellcasting abilities of a [[Mystic Theurge|multiclassed]] [[wizard]]/[[cleric]]. This was one of the original trio of Neutral Dragons, debuting in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume 1.
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