Radiance Dragon
by RobinWhat I know from a variety of Canon and Fanon sources;
1 ) Dracologists use Dragon souls from their correspnding alignment based Draconic Planes surrounding their center Plane where the great one resides.
2) Dragons hate Dracologists for their dragon soul drainings and hunt them down. They have however made an agreement with Jaggar von Drachenfels when he forced the Lawful Immortal Star dragon to submission and allowing him to take its power, and hence learning about the Dragon Souls, that Lawful Dracomancers will hence one try to reduce the number of Dracomancer specific spells (as from Gaz Glantri and GKoM with Dragon Souls as source), . This reduced the amount of Lawful Dracologists killed hence on.
Jaggar Defeats Diamond
999 AC The current High Master of Dracology, the Prince of Aalban, Jaggar von Drachenfels, decided again to test the highest powers of Dracology to see if they could grant him Immortality. He transformed into the Star Dragon and was immediately challenged by Diamond. For the surprise of other Lesser Rulers, however, the clever Glantrian wizard was able to defeat the former Thelvaenir and became the Star Dragon himself. Jaggar discovered also the truth behind his power: Dracology only allowed the High Master to attain Rulership over Dragons, not Immortality itself. Therefore, remembering the fate of Lord McDougall and fearing the consequences that his ambitions could have both on him, and on the draconic order, he withdrew his claim on the Rulership of all lawful Dragons, in exchange for which he earned the Great One’s absolution.
It’s even possible that Diamond has lost the duel with Jaggar to purposedly revert to Dragon Guardian status; that would be his first stage to become again a mortal Dragon, something he’d want to do to earn again the Star Dragon position, this time using the Cerimony of Sublimation. If he succeeds, he’ll be the first Dragon Ruler to reunite both ways (ascension through the draconic Cerimony and ascension through Immortal Paths), and in fact Diamond’s cosmic destiny could well be that to reunite the two draconic factions (the Renegades and those faithful to the Great One). If this is the case, perhaps he could have even inspired by the Draedens or by the Old Ones themselves.
The truth is that Diamond willingly lost the battle against Jaggar; he saw great potential in the Aalbanese Prince, and wanted to let him understand what the consequence of his victory would have been. For the same reason, keeping Jaggar as the head of the Secret Craft is a benefit in the eyes of Diamond—as long as he’s the High Master, no one else will try to challenge again the draconic order. Otherwise, who knows what could happen? Perhaps even a new great war between humans and Dragons, and the coming of a new Dragonlord.
Jaggar now refrains from abusing Dracology in order to spare the Dragon Souls. He presently works on a project to reform the Secret Craft of Dracology to further goodwill toward Dragonkind rather than the misuse of draconic power. Becouse of this, lawful Dragons have become more respectful of the High Master and his disciples. The same does not hold true for chaotic Dragons, and as a result of the reform proposal there is great dissension among the three aligned branches of Dracology.
The number of Dracologists is declining rapidly, especially in the Chaotic line, but less amongst the Lawful ones.
Current Number of Dracologists (1016 AC)--------------------- 1000 AC
25 Lawful---5 Gold----2 Crystal---12 Saphire-----6 Ruby----------126 Lawful
15 Neutral--2 Blue----3 Jade-------7 White-------3 Onyx-----------167 Neutral
9 Chaotic---3 Black----2 Red-------1 Amber-------3 Green---------376 ChaoticThe current High Master (1021 AC):
5th circle Lawful “Star Dragon” Prinz Jaggar von Drachenfels of Aalban, Count of Ritterburg, warden of the Marches, Viceroy of Nordling.
There are no Dragon High Masters from the other alignments, as yet.
Other well known Dracologists are:
3rd circle Lawful Gold Dragon Marquis Lord Eachainn McDougall of Dunvegan
2nd circle Neutral White Dragon Fraulein Helgar von Drachenfels
2nd circle Chaotic Black Dragon Viscount Sire Ezechiel Naramis of Nathrat
2nd circle Neutral Bleu Dragon Etheriam alias Sir Miguelito Belcadiz
2nd circle Neutral Bleu Dragon Countess Lady Aliana Nyraviel of Soth-Kabree
1st circle Neutral Jade Dragon Lord Ambassador Sire Galadin of Alfheim (in Exile)
3) Several other mages discovered the usage of Dragon souls as an alternative/extra/different/augmented powersource for magical research/spells. Barimoor is one of them.
4) Barimoor is assumed to have discovered the Radiance. It is assumed he used Dragon Souls as an energysource to gain access to the radiance and becoming Immortal (so no crystal like radiance mages do).
5) this fusion of Dragon Souls, Radiance and immortality seeking HUMANS. enabled them to take on the shape of a grey dragon (the same species all dragon colors evolved from loooooonggggg ago), with its natural abilities, yet its breath weapon increased to be usable every 3rd round with all Dragon hp as normal, added with the Mages hp as extra as amount of damage given.
6) This fusion also added the mage HP to the Dragon form, making it really formidable. The difference between a Radiance and a Gray Dragon is that Gray Dragons are extinct, and Radiance Dragons ara Mage and Dragon Soul in fusion. Adding extra Hp, and the mages spell capabilities to the Dragon's natural spell list (The spell roll in the table given here directs to the movable spell table as by Canon AC10-TSR9211-D&D-Mystara-Bestiary of Dragons and Giants, use that accordingly.)In effect of spellcasting The mage keeps his/hers own spellcasting limitations yet is added by a few Dragon spellspowers.
7) The fusion with the Radiance, reverted the Dragon Soul to its original shape...a Gray Dragon, and during this reversion the Radiance tainted Mage is able to enter the fusion and become part of it. The mage is no longer able to become truly Immortal as it is a fusion between two souls, of which one is fully supressed and without free will. The mage is able to advance in level, yet at a 1000% more xp required as normal.
8) The dragon Shapeshifting does enable the mage to resume its original form again, yet does NOT enable to take the Dragon's original elven shape or any other. The mage is not tied to the Dragonic circles, and does not further change shape. If it does, the Dragon soul is finally released, capturing the spellless Human soul in Limbo, transported it back to the Prime, which is transformed by the Great One or another Dragon Ruler into a Pocket Dragon to Atone for its crime of Soul capture.
9) Soul capture and use has been done in Nithia, and the Dungeon 9 adventure The Djinni's Ring by Vincent Garcia in Ylaruam,(maps and expansion suggestions here) reveals some hints to this. It makes it very reasonable Barimoor has this knowledge and a version of the mentioned book, enabling him to do as suggested in the link.
From my research on Mystara dragons here a part of my as of yet unfinished MMMC Dragons
Radiance Dragons are Always Huge (as Large and younger do not exist as the Dragon is shaped along the well experienced (level 30+ mage) in attempting Immortality. (simple rule; level mage originally-13=HD Dragonform)
Contrary to the bewlieve, Radiance Dragons are NOT Immortal, they live long, and are very powerful, with all the mages spells and such added to the already powerful and now augmented Grey Dragon body created from a Dragon Soul.
One can assume, the essence and thoughts of adragon soul will be able to emerge in critical moments, and deviate from the now immortal assumed to be mage in Grey dragon form