Dragonet

Those who reject the notion that Tiamat originally spawned evil dragonkind usually regard the common dragonet as the ancestral species of all dragons. The common dragonet once roamed the skies in vast flocks (they were truly common then), but hunters and more aggressive creatures have made them scarce. The female of the species is dull green in color, whereas the male is reddish brown, frequently with orange patches. Common dragonets have the same body form as regular dragons: a long neck and tail, two wings, four legs, and a serpentine body.

Common dragonets are fairly aggressive but rarely attack creatures larger than a human. However, they fight fiercely if they or their nests are threatened. Their preferred mode of attack is to spit a corrosive and flammable saliva – an evolutionary prelude to the better-known breath weapons.

Common dragonets seem to be at ease in many sorts of temperate environments, including hills, swamps, forests, and plains. They live to be 200 years at most, reproducing by laying eggs. Egg laying occurs once every decade for female dragonets. Few of these eggs hatch, however. A group of dragonets will fiercely defend their lairs and will aid other dragonets, but they are not capable of elaborate planning.

Common dragonets are no longer common, as their eggs are preyed upon so heavily by assorted creatures of the wild. The parents are easily distracted from their nests to chase off intruders, leaving the nests open to birds, rodents, and other assorted beasts.

The hide of the common dragonet can be made into corrosion-resistant leather armor, although this leather is difficult to work It is possible but difficult to gather the common dragonet's saliva. The amount of saliva from one spitting attack is about two pints.

Note: The dragonet originally appeared in this form in Dragon Magazine 158 for the AD&D game from TSR. Her use here is for the purposes of providing context for the campaign only.