Crystal dragon

Crystal dragons are primal dragons native to the Elemental Plane of Earth.¹^{[citation needed]}

Appearance

Crystal dragons have hides of colorful crystals and gemstones.² Some appear to have been carved from living crystal.³

Habitat and society

Crystal dragons are solitary creatures. They are basically benevolent but are incredibly vain about their appearance, and are quick to take offence at slights both real and imagined.²

They prefer to lair near deposits of precious minerals, and enjoy trading gems and metals for crafted items, especially magical ones. They often serve as self-appointed kings to nearby populations, who gain in security what they lose in freedom. A crystal dragon might occasionally challenge a nearby rival, but the resulting conflicts are usually fought by the two dragons personally—their vassals are not expected to get involved.³

Crystal dragons' domains often form into multiracial confederations comprised of several individual kingdoms, which are often home to races such as dwarves, janns, elemental scamps,⁴ oreads, and exiled jabalis.⁵ Crystal dragons are fiercely protective of their domains, and provide the people living within them with freedom from the slavery common within jabali society.⁶

Relations with the Peerless Empire, the large jabali empire on the Plane of Earth, are generally peaceful, as the jabalis are too busy with their war with ifrits⁷ to wish to antagonize the dragons.⁸

Abilities

As with all true dragons, crystal dragons gain in power as they age. They have formidable physical abilities, and as they age they gain spell-like abilities and sorcerous spellcasting.

The crystalline scales of older dragons can potentially reflect magical rays back upon the spellcaster. The very oldest dragons have scales of such scintillating colour that they can stun those who see them.

A crystal dragon's breath creates a cone of sonic energy that is less physically damaging than those of other dragons.¹^{[citation needed]}

Notable crystal dragons

See also: Category:Crystal dragon/Inhabitants

Caliclotherax⁹
Messentrel the Purple^{[citation needed]}
Shardizhad, a shopkeeper in the necropolis of Wati, Osirion¹⁰

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 2, 98–99. Paizo Inc., 2010
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Logan Bonner, et al. “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 2, 91. Paizo Inc., 2020
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Amber Stewart. “The Inner Sphere” in The Great Beyond, A Guide to the Multiverse, 17. Paizo Inc., 2009
↑ Paizo referred to elemental scamps as mephits until the publication of the Pathfinder Second Edition Bestiary, and began solely referring to them as scamps in Rage of Elements. See Bestiary pg. 150, Rage of Elements pg. 3, and Pathfinder Core Preview pgs. 2, 13. Their appearance also changed from small humanoids to small bat-like creatures.
↑ Paizo referred to jabalis as shaitan until the publication of Rage of Elements. See Rage of Elements pg. 3 and Pathfinder Core Preview pg. 2.
↑ John Compton, et al. “Plane of Earth” in Planes of Power, 22. Paizo Inc., 2016
↑ Paizo referred to ifrits as efreet and naaris as ifrits until the publication of Highhelm. See also Rage of Elements pg. 3 and Pathfinder Core Preview pgs. 2, 13, 18.
↑ Amber Stewart. “The Inner Sphere” in The Great Beyond, A Guide to the Multiverse, 18. Paizo Inc., 2009
↑ Kate Baker. Cavern of the Sundered Song, 13. Paizo Inc., 2022
↑ Logan Bonner, et al. “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 2, 93. Paizo Inc., 2020

[bestiary-2-first-edition-98-99-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary 2, 98–99. Paizo Inc., 2010

[bestiary-2-second-edition-91-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Logan Bonner, et al. “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 2, 91. Paizo Inc., 2020

[the-great-beyond-a-guide-to-the-multiverse-17-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Amber Stewart. “The Inner Sphere” in The Great Beyond, A Guide to the Multiverse, 17. Paizo Inc., 2009

[4] Paizo referred to elemental scamps as mephits until the publication of the Pathfinder Second Edition Bestiary, and began solely referring to them as scamps in Rage of Elements. See Bestiary pg. 150, Rage of Elements pg. 3, and Pathfinder Core Preview pgs. 2, 13. Their appearance also changed from small humanoids to small bat-like creatures.

[5] Paizo referred to jabalis as shaitan until the publication of Rage of Elements. See Rage of Elements pg. 3 and Pathfinder Core Preview pg. 2.

[planes-of-power-22-6] John Compton, et al. “Plane of Earth” in Planes of Power, 22. Paizo Inc., 2016

[7] Paizo referred to ifrits as efreet and naaris as ifrits until the publication of Highhelm. See also Rage of Elements pg. 3 and Pathfinder Core Preview pgs. 2, 13, 18.

[the-great-beyond-a-guide-to-the-multiverse-18-8] Amber Stewart. “The Inner Sphere” in The Great Beyond, A Guide to the Multiverse, 18. Paizo Inc., 2009

[cavern-of-the-sundered-song-13-9] Kate Baker. Cavern of the Sundered Song, 13. Paizo Inc., 2022

[bestiary-2-second-edition-93-10] Logan Bonner, et al. “Monsters A-Z” in Bestiary 2, 93. Paizo Inc., 2020

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