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Advanced Dungeons & Dragons	-	Dragon magazine	-	Dragon #146

FREQUENCY Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1 (15% of 2)
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVE: 12”/30” (MC: E)
HIT DICE: 5-7
% IN LAIR: 20%
TREASURE TYPE: E, 0
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 claws and 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/1-4/2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Major breath weapon,
spell use
SPECIAL DEFENSES: High intelligence,
detects hidden/invisible beings, fear
aura, saving-throw bonus with age
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: L (24? long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
CHANCE OF:
Speaking: 50%
Magic Use: 40%
Sleeping: 35%
LEVEL/XP VALUE: 5 HD: V/360 + 5 per hit
point; 6-7 HD: VI/625 + 6 per hit point

Sometimes seen along the coasts of the
Ice Wall Glacier, the great southern polar
cap of Krynn (the DRAGONLANCE®
world), the gray dragon vies with the
white dragon for being the smallest and
swiftest of all evil dragonkind. The gray
dragon, however,, is more intelligent than
the white dragon, and its thicker scales
give it better protection. This intelligence
is shown by the gray dragon?s greater
mastery of magic. Gray dragons gain a
first-level spell at each of the first two
stages of life, and a second-level spell at
the next two stages. At the adult and old
stages, they acquire one third-level spell
for each stage, and one fourth-level spell
each at very old and ancient ages.

Although a gray dragon can attack with
a claw/claw/bite routine like nearly all
other dragons, its main weapon of choice
is a paralyzing breath weapon of cold air
that may be employed three times per day.
This breath weapon comes out of the
dragon?s mouth in a cone, with a base
diameter of 2?, a length of 70?, and an end
diameter of 50?. When the dragon is airborne,
this power can bring about the
death of a flying opponent. Gray dragons
have been observed on a number of occasions
using this weapon against masses of
migrating birds, particularly waterfowl.

Because of their greater intelligence,
gray dragons recognize the importance of
immobilizing the opposition. They often
attack sled dogs or draft animals first
when assaulting a caravan or other large
group of traveling people. The craftiest
dragons have even been known to make
sneak attacks at night, staying only long
enough to steal the dog sleds, forcing the
travelers to go to the dragon?s welldefended
lair to retrieve them. This, of
course, enables the beast to spend a pleasant
time elegantly picking the interlopers
off one or a few at a time. Gray dragons
old enough to know fourth-level spells
favor dig, as it enables them to create
pitfalls for intruders without too much
work. They also favor creating a phantasmal
force illusion of the stolen dog sleds or
other booty in order to tempt intruders
into a booby-trapped area without risking
the loss of the real prizes.

Gray dragons are not known to have
joined the forces of the Queen of Darkness
during the War of the Lance. Instead, they
raid and kill any creatures that wander
into their territories, be they thanoi,
human barbarians, or even white dragons
and their riders from the White Dragonarmies.
This trait has not endeared them
to any being, and careless gray dragons
may find themselves hunted by forces of
both evil and good at the same time.

Gray dragons take + 1 hp/HD of damage
from attacks based on fire and electricity,
but take - 1 hp/HD damage from attacks
based on earth and water.

Created by: Gregory Detwiler
Illustration by Thomas Baxa