Imperial dragon

Imperial dragon

(Creature)

2E1E

Common

Dragon

Level

Varies

Alignment

Varies

Source: Bestiary 3, pg(s). 74–85

Type

Dragon
(Varies)

CR

Varies

Environment

Varies

Alignment

Varies

Images of imperial dragons

Source: Bestiary 3, pg(s). 92ff.

Ⅱ

Update needed This article should be updated to reflect canon changes noted in Tian Xia World Guide. Please help improve it if you can; the talk page might contain suggestions. This article has been tagged since 06:18, 20 February 2025 (UTC).

Imperial dragons, sometimes termed dragons of the celestial host, are a type of dragon and serpentine agents of cosmic balance native to Tian Xia. Like other true dragons, they grow in power as they age.

Appearance

Although they are true dragons, imperial dragons differ in appearance from other true dragons, possessing a long serpentine body. They lack wings but can fly gracefully through supernatural means. All imperial dragons have large horns with which they can gore prey and foes.

Abilities

Imperial dragons are generally considered to be the most likely of the true dragons to change their shape into a humanoid form. Imperial dragons' abilities are defined by one of two cycles of elements that underpin their magic:

• In the first, each element feeds the successive element (wood, fire, earth, metal, water, wood).
• In the second, each element counters its successive element (wood, earth, water, fire, metal, wood).

For example, underworld dragons' abilities are closely associated with fire. They correspond to feeding earth, being fed by wood, countering metal, and being countered by water.

Habitat and society

While some of Tian Xia's imperial dragons were born into their mature form, many were once a type of prototypical creature known as imugi. These draconic serpents transform into imperial dragons through a powerful ritual after caring for a koi fish egg for a millennium, and the residual power released by the ritual transforms the hatched koi into an imugi itself.

Imperial dragons are defenders of ancient lands and protectors of cosmic balance. They take a much more active role in humanoid societies than their kin, to such a degree that the kingdoms of Tian Xia are often known as the Dragon Empires. Imperial dragons are seen by humanoids as either benevolent guardians or vile threats depending on their type.

Religion

More than any other dragons, imperial dragons are closely tied to the religious beliefs of their native lands. Several deities of the Dragon Empires are often depicted in the form of a dragon, including General Susumu, Lady Nanbyo, and Shizuru.

On Golarion

Imperial dragons inhabited Tian Xia in the Age of Dragons, long before other races arose there, and were charged by the gods to safeguard the land in anticipation of humanity's arrival. Imperial dragons are deeply tied to the human cultures of Tian Xia, and many of the eastern gods may in fact be incredibly powerful dragons. The five imperial families of Minkai were blessed by the goddess Shizuru in her guise as a dragon, the nation of Quain relies on the powerful Celestial Dragon for guidance, and the empire of Xa Hoi is directly ruled by a dynasty of sovereign dragons. Imperial dragons are active in times of social upheaval; though they have been slow to react to the fall of Imperial Lung Wa, they are beginning to exert sweeping influence on the chaotic Dragon Empires.

The Tian people believe that imperial dragons are guardians of the zodiac, and each of the five species of imperial dragon is represented as a constellation.

Species

• Forest dragon, called dilungs, known for being chaotic evil. They breathe a cone of piercing rocks.
• Sea dragon, called jiaolungs, known for being chaotic good. Capable of breathing a cone of super-heated steam.
• Sky dragon, called tienlungs, known for being lawful good. They breathe a cone of primal electricity.
• Sovereign dragon, called lungwangs, known for being neutral. They are the most powerful of the imperial dragons, breathing a sonic blast cone.
• Underworld dragon, called futsanglungs, known for being lawful evil. This dragon species breathes a cone of fire that can turn granite to slag.

References

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