Red Dragon

Red Dragon
skill	14 (Adult); 11 (Young)
stamina	23 (Adult); 14 (Young)
Habitat	Caves, Dungeons, Hills, Wilderness,
Number Encountered	1
Type	Monster
Reaction	Hostile
Intelligence	High

For main article on Dragons, see Dragon

A Red Dragon was a species of fire-breathing dragon.

Description

The typical red dragon would rarely grow much larger than about 24 metres long, being the smallest of the dragon races, and their scales were a brilliant red. They are very similar to gold dragons, with short horns and spines around their head and down their back, although some were known to have very large or elaborately curved horns. The reason for this was unknown.

As with all dragons, their wingspan was easily that of their full length, and their tongue was not forked, which was a common misconception. However, their eyes were still dangerous to look into without permission, as they can easily hypnotise lesser creatures or crush their spirit.

The majority of red dragons could speak several languages, of both humanoid and animal races, and many Adults were apt to have some magical ability also.

Origins and Distribution

The red dragon was the smallest, weakest and most aggressive of the dragon races. Whilst the gold dragon was seen as the epitome of dragonkind; wise, benevolent and powerful; the red dragon was seen as its opposite - namely; impatient, spiteful and malevolent.

They preferred to inhabit small cave systems or abandoned dungeons in wild areas of the world, and would usually be encountered sprawled across the top of a large pile of treasure, for red dragons were the greediest and most paranoid of their kind when it came to hoarding. This made it even more difficult for a Conclave to be assembled, since it was almost impossible to drag a red dragon away from its hoard unless it was looking to augment it.

Special Abilities

A red dragon of Orb.

A red dragon had fire for its breath, using it in combat in the form of a highly accurate fireball that is extremely likely to hit any target up to 25 metres away.

Further Notes

• The presence of a Red Dragon in the Maze of Zagor in Firetop Mountain, particularly its weakness even relative to others, had long been a point of interest among scholars. It had been generally agreed that it was both a particularly young specimen and a sickly one also, given its confinement, hence the ability of the hero to defeat it with such ease.
• According to Return to the Pit, the Brimstone Dragon that once terrorized northern Gallantaria may have been "a particularly ancient red dragon".

Further Information in Canon

More information can be found at:^Source
The Fighting Fantasy 10th Anniversary Yearbook (pg88-90#)
Out of the Pit (Large) (pg41#, pg126)
Allansia (pg135)
Fighting Fantasy - The Introductory Role-playing Game (paraCover*)
Crypt of the Sorcerer (para11, para152*)
Armies of Death (para191, para316)
Siege of Sardath (para393)
Night Dragon (pg26, para23)
Knights of Doom (para244*)
Eye of the Dragon (para184#, para391)
Howl of the Werewolf (para41, para257)
Stormslayer (para31, pg338)
The Dungeon on Blood Island (para379#*)

Notes

# - denotes a reference with statistics
* - denotes a picture

Appendix

Gallery

A red dragon attacking a hot-air balloon.

A red dragon breathing flames.

Appearances

Adventures

• Assassins of Allansia (book) (presumably)
• Crypt of the Sorcerer
• The Dungeon on Blood Island (book)
• The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (AFF)
• The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (book)

Sourcebooks

• Out of the Pit

Video Games

• Deathtrap Dungeon (computer game)
• The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (Tin Man Games)

References