Dungeons Dragons Artists
May/090
What do the colors of the Tiamat Dungeons and Dragons character represent?
My dads an artist and needs to draw a picture of the draconic goddess Tiamat in the Dnd roleplaying game. I need to know what the colors of the five heads of the dragon represent. The colors include black blue green red and white.
As others have noted, the Goddess of Evil Dragons, Tiamat (a.k.a. Takhisis in the “Dragonlance” campaign setting) bears one head and neck of each of the Chromatic dragons upon a multi-colored/multi-shaded body.
(In previous versions of the D&D game, she used to rule the first player of Hell in the outer planes.)
In the current version of the game, some information has been left out of her description…so, with the hope that no one at WotC will take offense, let me give you the description from the 1st Edition AD&D Monster Manual:
With one head of each color, “these colors run the length of each neck and into the forepart of the body as stripes, gradually blending into three stripes of gray, blue-green, and purple over her back and hind quarters, and merging into a muddy dark brown tail. Her underbelly and legs are greenish white fading into her upper body colors.”
A major change to her appearance that has taken place between editions of the rules involves the redesign for the appearance of the five basic evil dragons themselves. Also, in the current version of the game, she has wings—previous versions of the game gave a listing for how fast she could fly, but wings were not spcifically noted (or drawn).
Something that might help with the creation of the art your father is planning, would be to take a look at the dragon images in the gallery for the v3.5 D&D Monster Manual. (I’ve included a link to it below.)
There is also an image available of Tiamat—as rendered by artists D. Cramer and J Easley—in the gallery for the 3rd Edition D&D Deities and Demigods. (I’ve also provided a link to that page below.)
Now… for what each head represents… (each of her heads traditionally has its own personality, by the way)…
“The known varieties of true dragons (as opposed to other creatures that have the dragon type) fall into two broad categories: chromatic and metallic. The chromatic dragons are black, blue, green, red, and white; they are all evil and extremely fierce. The metallic dragons are brass, bronze, copper, gold, and silver; they are all good, usually noble, and highly respected by the wise.”
We’ll look at them going from Tiamat’s left side, to her right, based on the current image in Deities & Demigods:
• 1st — the head of a Red dragon, the largest and most powerful of the basic evil dragons. Previous versions of the game included ’scientific names’ for each type of dragon, the Red was known as “Draco Conflagratio Horriblis” The Red dragon’s breath weapon is fire.
A note on their appearance in the current edition of the game (and I’ve included a link to the appropriate page of the D20 System Reference Document below) is:
“The small scales of a wyrmling red dragon are a bright glossy scarlet, making the dragon easily spotted by predators and hunters, so it stays underground and does not venture outside until it is more able to take care of itself. Toward the end of young age, the scales turn a deeper red, and the glossy texture is replaced by a smooth, dull finish. As the dragon grows older, the scales become large, thick, and as strong as metal. The neck frill and wings are an ash blue or purple-gray toward the edges, becoming darker with age. The pupils of a red dragon fade as it ages; the oldest red dragons have eyes that resemble molten lava orbs.”
• 2nd — the head of a Blue dragon, the second most powerful of the basic evil dragons. “Draco Electricus” (Electric Dragon). The Blue dragon’s breath weapon is an arcing bolt of electricity/lightning.
The notes on the appearance of Blue dragons:
“A blue dragon’s scales vary in color from an iridescent azure to a deep indigo, polished to a glossy finish by blowing desert sands. The size of its scales increases little as the dragon ages, although they do become thicker and harder. Its hide tends to hum and crackle faintly with built-up static electricity. These effects intensify when the dragon is angry or about to attack, giving off an odor of ozone and sand. Their vibrant color makes blue dragons easy to spot in barren desert surroundings.”
• 3rd — the head of a Green dragon, the ‘middle-child’ of the basic evil dragons. “Draco Chlorinous Nauseous Respiratorous” (Nauseating Chlorine Breathing Dragon). The Green dragon’s breath weapon is—in the current game—a cloud of corrisive gas. In previous versions, it was specifically chlorine gas.
Some notes on the appearance of Green dragons:
“A wyrmling green dragon’s scales are thin, very small, and a deep shade of green that appears nearly black. As the dragon ages, the scales grow larger and lighter, turning shades of forest, emerald, and olive green, which helps it blend in with its wooded surroundings.”
• 4th — the head of a Black dragon, the nigh-weakest of the basic evil dragons. “Draco Causticus Sputem” (Acid Spitting Dragon). The breath weapon of a Black dragon—though I could guess you know already—is a stream of acid.
A few notes on the appearance of black dragons:
“Black dragon are sometimes known as skull dragons because of their skeletal faces. Adding to the skeletal impression is the gradual deterioration of the hide around the base of the horn and the cheekbones. This deterioration increases with age and does not harm the dragon. On hatching, a black dragon’s scales are thin, small, and glossy. As the dragon ages, they become larger, thicker, and duller, helping it camouflage itself in swamps and marshes.”
• 5th — the head of a White dragon, the smallest and weakest of the basic evil dragons. (Though even then, “weak” can be a misleading label.) “Draco Rigidus Frigidus” (Freezing Solid Dragon). The breath weapon of a White dragon is a blast of cold, ice, and snow.
The notes on the appearance of White dragons:
“The scales of a wyrmling white dragon glisten like mirrors. As the dragon ages, the sheen disappears, and by very old age, scales of pale blue and light gray are mixed in with the white.”
— Hopefully, between the images and the galleries, and the bits of description that are readily available, your father will find enough to work with to produce a drawing that you’ll both be happy with.
Oh yes, before I forget—Several times above I used the phrase “basic evil dragons,” I refer to the standard five types of evil dragons from the Monster Manual. When one moves beyond that into the other books of monsters that have been published (7 so far from WotC alone), the number of types of evil dragons (and the good ones as well) increases rapidly.
GRZ 33 – Shadowmoor and 4E Magic Items
|
|
The Numbers Game Canvas Print / Canvas Art – Artist Charles Dobbs This is a beautiful stretched-canvas art print wrapped on 2.5″ thick stretcher bars. The print is professionally printed, assembled, and shipped within 2 – 3 business days from our production facility in North Carolina and arrives ready-to-hang on your wall. Fine Art America is home to more than 35,000 artists from all over the world who entrust us to fulfill their print orders online. We offer a … |
|
|
Art Poster Print – Dungeons And Dragons (1-Sheet) – Artist: unknown- Poster Size: 27 X 40 $23.97 unknown:Dungeons And Dragons (1-Sheet) 27 X 40 inches. High Quality Art Work. Direct4sale sells over 300,000 different art pieces. Browse our store for framed and unframed posters and shop for all your art needs at Direct4sale. This Dungeons And Dragons (1-Sheet) is made with High Quality Poster paper and is made for years of enjoyment. Note: This item is not available for express shipping…. |
|
|
Art Poster Print – Dungeons And Dragons (1-Sheet) – Artist: unknown- Poster Size: 27 X 40 $23.97 unknown:Dungeons And Dragons (1-Sheet) 27 X 40 inches. High Quality Art Work. ASuperShop sells over 300,000 different art pieces. Browse our store for framed and unframed posters and shop for all your art needs at ASuperShop. This Dungeons And Dragons (1-Sheet) is made with High Quality Poster paper and is made for years of enjoyment. Note: This item is not available for express shipping. Brand Ne… |
|
|
Blood of the Dragon $10.65 In the time of the ancient gods, dragons ruled the skies and kingdoms rose and fell at the end of a sword. Legendary quests beckoned with the promise of danger and glory, and only a brave few dared to answer the call. For honor and vengeance they ventured forth with steel and sorcery to combat the merciless legions of darkness. For it was said that those who answered the call were possessed o… |
|
|
Legends of Kitholan Vol. 1 $12.02 WINNER – BEST FANTASY ALBUM OF 2007 (Radio Rivendell Fantasy Awards). Every good gamemaster knows how valuable background music can be to his game. Whether to help introduce a new character, underscore travel and exploration, or add excitement to battles, music can be a powerful tool for enhancing your gaming experience. Dronolans Tower is committed to the creation of high-quality music suitable f… |
|
|
Journeys in Darkness Vol. 1 $13.95 WINNER – BEST INDEPENDENT ARTIST OF 2007 (Radio Rivendell Fantasy Awards). Following on the heels of the award-winning “Legends of Kitholan Vol. 1,” Dronolan’s Tower offers up another full-length album of gaming music, this time with a focus on classic ‘dungeon-crawling’ themes. The music takes listeners on a journey through the dark corners of a medieval fantasy world. Deep caverns, crumbling cas… |
|
|
Dungeons & Dragons: In Search of the Dungeon Master [VHS] $14.88 … |
|
|
City Confidential: Washington: Deadly Games In Little Washington $24.95 One teen’s twisted delusions dragged an entire town into his personal nightmare…. |
|
|
A Sound of Thunder/Dungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God $18.98 A SOUND OF THUNDER: In A SOUND OF THUNDER based on a short story by Ray Bradbury director Peter Hyams (END OF DAYS TIMECOP) creates a world where time travel is possible and life as we know it is threatened. In the year 2055 Charles Hatton’s (Ben Kingsley) company Time Safari will take anyone with a big enough wallet back 65 million years for the thrill of their lives: dinosaur hunting. Thanks to … |
|
|
Slaine: Moon Sow And Horned Lord Adventure Part 4 – The Way Of the Horned God (Pt. 4) $5.88 Welcome to Way of the Horned God, the fourth adventure in the Horned Lord and Moon Sow campaign for the Slaine roleplaying game. In this epic adventure, the heroes will need to free their tribe from fomorian tyranny, quest for the tribal treasures of the other three Tuatha de Danaan, unite the four Tribes of the Earth Goddess under a single High King, re-establish the religion of Carnun, the Horne… |
