Usually the challenge with good monsters is differentiating
them from one another—how this good agathion differs from that good lammasu…or
that good angel…or that foo manatee…or whatever.
That’s not a problem with silver dragons. The members of Draco nobilis argentum have always been shapechangers and meddlers. As far back as 1e a silver dragon,
Silvara (of course), was one of the tragic figures of the Dragonlance
setting. And when Dragon Magazine #146 introduced the new,
beefed-up 2e dragons, it was via a group of adventurers trading dragon-slaying
tips with a Sterling (again with the obvious names) and Hypatia, who were then
revealed to be silver dragons.
Pathfinder’s silver dragons have taken on a new role
courtesy of Mike McArtor’s work in Pathfinder
and Dragons Revisited: dragonkind’s
paladins. In DR, silver dragons are righteous and often religious warriors with
a yearning for restrictions, rituals, and mentors (oddly, from other
species—typically gold dragons or lawful good outsiders). Their craving for missions and mentors
means they have lots of excuses to mix it up with PCs, either as allies,
rivals, or even foes.
Why foes?
Because silver dragons tarnish easily. The heavy weight of responsibilities placed on them and their
constant struggle against evil sullies more than a few of their souls. And a
silver dragon that falls from grace falls far, often “degenerating into strange
creatures that resemble draconic crossbreeds,” according to DR. In other words, if you want your PCs to fight a metallic
dragon, silvers are the way to go, and don’t hold back on swapping out
abilities or adding templates.
Just as the best blackguards and death knights are former paladins, the
best dragon to fight your PCs might just be a silver with its scales and spirit
corroded unto dull, lifeless rot…
Craving the spiritual
security of strong restrictions and stronger penances, a silver dragon left
his lammasu mentor for a more stringent guide. Now he serves (and bears the marks of) a scourge-wielding
cavalier who may be a Knight of the Thorn’s Song…or who may be an erinyes
carefully leading the silver dragon down a lawful road that has no mercy or
light at its destination.
The Wight-King of
Lemoria stirs, and a council of silver dragons is eager to lead an army to
war. In their zeal, they aspire to
hold open the Bridge of Seven Spires for their soldiers to cross…and that means
thwarting a group of equally good-hearted (if far less noble) adventurers
recently charged with demolishing the bridge to hem in the Wight-King’s undead
hordes.
When the noble and
much-noted Argidox tarnished, it is said that even the chattiest brasses
fell silent in horror. Now the
ancient silver dragon has scales the color of rain-washed lead, and instead of control weather he wields plague storms and scouring winds (see Ultimate
Magic) instead.
—Pathfinder Bestiary
110-111
Back from the beach!
We now resume our regularly scheduled monsters…
Foo manatees... I bet you make a fantastic DM.
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