Orange Dragon [Sodium]

Hatchlings are a vivid, burning orange. With age the scales grow bigger and thicker, hardening almost like metal. Most keep their bold color, but some develop yellow or red blotches that blend perfectly with the jungle's endless blossoms.

An orange dragon picks whichever approach will frighten its prey more: a bellowed challenge or a surprise attack from cover. It is built for ambush, yet it inherited much of its red ancestors' urge to strike on sight, so a bold frontal assault is just as likely. It fights with claws and bite or with its breath, a silvery metallic stream that works much like a black dragon's acid.

A natural resistance to poison, backed by neutralize poison when needed, lets it stomach giant insects, fungus and foul, stagnant pools that would sicken other creatures.

These dragons live along rivers and lakeshores in hot, humid rain forests, and the wetter the land the better: damp ground slows the spread of fire and provides still pools to spit from. Superb swimmers but strictly air-breathers, they stay on land except when hunting in the water. They live alone except when mated, and both parents share equally in foraging, teaching the young and guarding the lair.

Orange dragons often take evil jungle creatures under their wing, offering protection in return for obedience and information. Black dragons do the same, so the two compete, but a black dragon usually backs away from its larger, stronger, more dangerous rival, either leaving or grudgingly accepting second place.

They speak their own language and the common tongue of evil dragons; 14% of hatchlings can communicate with any intelligent creature, rising 5% per age category.

Mostly carnivores, they eat jungle animals and fish but also relish tropical fruit. Elves and human tribesfolk are prized for the chase they provide before being caught and eaten. When nothing better is available they will grudgingly eat giant insects or fungus, and they can drink from rank, stagnant water, though they much prefer it fresh.

Ettercaps hunt hatchlings for their meat but leave older dragons alone. The orange dragon's true nemesis is the bronze dragon, which competes for the same tropical shores. Compared at the same age, the bronze is slightly larger, hardier and cleverer, and its lightning breath outranges the orange's. A well-planned ambush can cancel that edge, but most fair fights end with the bronze victorious.