The Turquoise Dragon
The Turquoise Dragon
I
n the fabled Pasocada Basin of Anchôromé,
dragons are spoken of only in stories designed
to frighten children. For a century, the great
wyrms brought only destruction to a people
who deserved no such horror. When a new
breed makes itself known, will they greet it
with anything but fear and loathing?
About
This small supplement is the end result of an idea that
came from the mind of an adorable six year old girl who
said, "I think a dragon would be really beautiful if it was
made out of turquoise." Never one to let a good idea go to
waste (and taking advantage of a situation that will make
my daughter smile), I thought the turquoise dragon would
be a wonderful new dragon species to introduce to
Anchôromé.
Of course, like most products produced for the
Anchôromé Campaign, the turquoise dragon does not
need to be married to the setting. The background could
easily be adjusted to suit personal campaigns. The
creature is specifically designed for deserts such as those
found in southwestern America, but this too can be
adjusted.
In this small supplement, you will first find the history of
the turquoise dragon and an explanation as to why they
have remained unknown for so long. This is followed by
the creature's statistics in all of the standard dragon age
categories, and concludes with some adventure hooks
leading to encounters with the wyrm or wyrms.
Dragons in Anchôromé
In a world known for its majestic and oft terrible wyrms,
the continent of Anchôromé is surprisingly bereft of such
powerful creatures. Until the past century, the usual
breeds of rapacious chromatics, noble metallics and even
the enigmatic gem dragons were wholly unrepresented in
the stories of even the most ancient Azuposi elders.
Among all peoples, there is very little record of dragons
existing in Anchôromé. Perhaps this is due to its relative
isolation from Faerûn proper, or perhaps the dragons of
Faerûn fear the Mighty and Great spirits who lay claim to
the land. Much evidence points to the latter as dragons
still attack ships that approach the continent only scant
miles offshore. In only in the most unusual circumstances
have they come to ground.
Just over a century ago however, the world turned
upside down during the Spellplague, an event known to
the Azuposi as the Blue Breath of Change. For one
hundred years following, dragons from the world of Abeir
became agents of death and destruction to a people
unused to such devastation.
The greedy dragons saw nothing but new lands to
conquer and the Azuposi who occupied it were naught but
insects to them. Some of the great spirits, most notably
the Great Raven, appeared in mortal form to turn back the
flights which plagued the Pasocada Basin.
2
After years of war, the Great Raven and the armies of
Opallinoc destroyed the worst of the draconic menace - a
flight of over a dozen red dragons. After much destruction
(including the Azuposi pueblo city of Opallinoc) the
dragons were laid low at the Black Mesa during what came
to be known as the Battle of Burning Rock. Here,
thousands of lives were lost and to this day the coal rich
soil of the Black Mesa still smolders. The Black Mesa is
now known solely as the Burnt Mesa.
Elsewhere in Anchôromé there were also attacks but
none equally destructive. The humans of Fort Flame (and
later its dragonborn) destroyed at least three dragons who
threatened the growing town. There is also a unique “snail
dragon” named Kci Athussos hidden somewhere in the
northern wilds but this dragon is believed to be native to
Anchôromé. It’s appearance is utterly unconnected to the
twin world of Abeir.
The bird-folk of the northwest are no strangers to
dragons. Their very existence has been threatened
numerous times over many millennia by flights of wyrms.
Indirectly, the dragons who sought to destroy the
aarakocra are the very stock from which the turquoise
dragons arose.
A Historical Accounting
Although only the spirits have memory of their existence,
the turquoise dragons have long belonged to Anchôromé.
The great healing wyrms were here before the Azuposi
emerged from Shipapu under the guidance of the fabled
Little Bird and into the arms of Masauwu the Skeleton
Man.
War of the Ancient Ones
In times long past, beyond the histories spoken of by
elders and only hinted at by legend was the time of the
Ancient Ones.
A race of humans or proto-humans, the Ancient Ones
were slaves to the multiversal empire of the six-armed
beings known as spellweavers. The weavers taught the
Ancient Ones magic and the humans learned of true
power while elsewhere they had only just learned to
master fire. Growing in strength beyond what their
masters anticipated, the Ancient Ones eventually shook
the yoke of slavery.
Drunk with the power taken from their former masters,
the Ancient Ones sought to tame their lands and
subjugate or destroy even the Mighty Spirits who were the
soul of the land. The angry spirits resisted and the land still
recovers today from the legendary battles which ensued.
The reign of the Ancient Ones was not long, but the
mark they left was permanent. Monuments such as the
Bridge of the Ancients are attributed to these long-gone
despots, but so too is hidden magic that still curses the
land. The Azuposi fear of dark places and ancient ruins is
likely a racial memory ingrained so that they do not run
afoul of the dangerous enchantments left by these folk.
The Subjugation of Hli’Akwa
Among the greatest of the Mighty Spirits to come into
conflict with the Ancient Ones was the being known as
Hli’Akwa the Turquoise Man. This spirit’s connection to
magic appealed to the power hungry Ancient Ones and
they sought to break his will above all others.
With the powers that a subjugated Hli’Akwa could
muster, the Ancient Ones would be able to fortify
themselves for wars of conquest. In particular, they were
envious of the great flying glass cities of the bird-folk and
sought to conquer these grand treasures of the distant
northwest. Having already learned the bird-folk secrets of
glassteel, success would only require the strength of the
cowed Mighty Spirit.
The Ancient Ones had found success destroying or
enslaving hundreds of lesser spirits, but Hli'Akwa was the
spirit of magic, protection and healing. The greatest of
their sorcerers planned an elaborate trap using the
mystical might of a golden substance known as micha.
Micha is sacred to the spirits and even a Mighty Spirit as
powerful as Hli'Akwa was unable to resist the temptation
presented by the vast amount the sorcerers had gathered.
Using rituals of unmagic taken from the spellweavers,
the sorcerers managed to negate Hli'Akwa's greatest
abilities while still using their own to weaken the spirit's
formidable physical prowess in his earthly form. Though
the battle lasted three days and nights, Hli'Akwa knew that
Now, bathed in the magical waters, the eggs slowly
he could not prevail over the hubristic mortals.
began to change. At first a sandy-red crust engulfed each
of the eggs, making them look more like pillars of
Blue Micha of the Turquoise Man sandstone than a three foot high egg. Shortly afterward
Hli'Akwa, the Turquoise Man, Mighty Spirit of the cracks began to form, revealing a glowing blue light
Pasocada, the Blue Sun and Spirit of Magic made the beneath. When the sandstone crumbled away completely
decision that he would rather welcome oblivion than what remained was beautiful. The eggs now gleamed with
wallow in enslavement. With all that remained of his once potential and power.
limitless power, the spirit released his spark into the These were the eggs which would one day become the
mounds of micha that had been used to entrap him. The very first of the turquoise dragons, but still they were not
micha turned the color of pale blue and dissolved into the ready to hatch.
Dunobo Spring from which it had been taken. The Ancient
Ones cursed the spirit for his stubbornness and sacrifice. Children of Hli’Akwa
The waters of the Pasocada Basin turned pale blue until
While the dragon eggs lay dormant, the reign of the
the following season. It is said that the vast quantities of
Ancient Ones and Spellweavers were replaced with the
turquoise found in the Pasocada Basin today stem from
Azuposi and other folks of the Pasocada Basin. As the
Hli'Akwa's sacrifice as the enchanted waters of the basin
Azuposi discovered turquoise and began to use it in
crept into rock and stone. Where they settled, great veins
rituals, Hli’Akwa slowly began to reform. He grew in
of turquoise formed. This is the reason why the the
strength year after year until he once again joined the
Pasocada Basin is known to be so rich in the semiprecious
ranks of the Mighty Spirits.
stone.
The wiser, more cautious Turquoise Man eventually
Rock, stones and water were not the only parts of the
found the dormant eggs that contained portions of his
Pasocada Basin touched by Hli'Akwa's dissolution. South
divinity and breathed life into them. As the first wyrmling
of Shokogya where the river basin splits on its path to
crawled from its shell he decided to keep them hidden
Ukolo, the waters poured into a deep cavern where
from the ambitions of man; at least until they had grown
clutches of dragon eggs had remained untouched for ages.
wise and powerful so that no mere mortal could challenge
These unhatched dragons had been left behind from a
them.
past age when the dragon-birdfolk wars were at their
Now, with the first generation of dragons reaching the
height.
age of ancients, he has freed his children from their
underground caverns to make their own way in the land of
Anchôromé.

3

Turquoise Dragons
Without comparison, the turquoise dragons are one of the
most compassionate of the gem dragons. Bordering on
good in outlook, they find it very difficult to leave an
injured creature without care. This extends to all creatures
however, with little distinction made between a lost coyote
with a broken leg or a crying human baby left to the
elements.
For eight centuries, they have had to keep these
tendencies well hidden as they were commanded by the
divine spirit Hli'Akwa to remain unknown to mankind.
An Emerging Ally. The first generation of turquoise
dragons are just now reaching an ancient status and the
Mighty Spirit Hli'Akwa has finally agreed to let them
emerge from hiding. Like an overprotective father, the
Turquoise Man long believed his delicate children to be
vulnerable to the whims of greedy men and women.
As the first generation has grown into great power, he is
no longer as fearful and the Azuposi have as a whole show
themselves to be far less ambitious and cruel than their
Ancient One predecessors. No longer do these lovely
creatures need to remain hidden and already some have
been spotted by keen-eyed hunters and hermits.
Dragons of Protection and Healing. As a
semiprecious stone, the light blue mineral turquoise has
long been used in rituals of both protection and healing.
The Azuposi of the Pasocada Basin have know the stone's
innate powers though they are admittedly sometimes
exaggerated by charlatans. Hli'Akwa, who once willingly
dispersed his own divinity only grows stronger with its
every use.
The dragons for whom he is responsible have adopted
much the same role as the stone itself.
4
Capable of great healing powers and standing as a
bulwark against disease and harm, the turquoise dragons
will likely soon become a great boon to their human and
humanoid neighbors.
A Turquoise Dragon's Lair
Turquoise Dragon's once laired deep underground with
hidden entrances that were nearly impossible to find.
Since their recent emergence, they tend to remain in
sandstone caves, but often far closer to the surface. Many
of these dragons are experiencing the joys of flight for the
first time in their existence.
The caves are almost always made of sandstone,
typically of the sort where veins of the semiprecious stone
are known to be found.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the
dragon can't use the same effect two rounds in a row.
The ground that the dragon can see within 120 feet of it
transforms into a soft sandy substance which is difficult
to navigate. Any creature within 20 feet of the chosen
point must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw
of fall prone. The quicksand like substance is also
considered difficult terrain.
A small quake either causes large chunks of sandstone
to fall from the ceiling or explode from the ground in a
20 foot radius sphere centered on a point the dragon
chooses within 120 feet of it which it can see. The
localized quake continues until the dragon dismisses it
as an action, uses a lair action again, or dies. Any
creature in the area of the quake when it appears must
make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw taking 10 (3d6)
bludgeoning damage on failed save or half as much
damage on a successful one. A creature that ends its
turn in the area also takes 10 (3d6) bludgeoning
damage.
Sky blue light radiates from a point the dragon chooses
within 90 feet of it, filling a 15 foot radius sphere with
bright light and dim light for 60 feet beyond. The light
spreads around corners. A creature that uses eyes to
see within the area of bright light must make a DC 15
Constitution saving throw or gain the Blinded condition.
Regional Effects
The region containing a turquoise dragon's lair is altered
by its magic, which creates one or more of the following
effects.
Within 6 miles of the lair, the land almost conspires to
protect individuals from injury. A soft bush will appear
when a person falls, rocks crumble rather than trip, and
thorned shrubs become soft. In effect, all bludgeoning,
piercing or slashing damage due to environmental
mishap is lessened by 1 point per hit die.
Water sources within one mile of a turquoise dragon's
lair are supernaturally purified. Poisonous waters
become nonexistent.
If the dragon dies, all effects fade over 1d10 days.
5
6
7
 Hooks
The following scenarios can be expanded in order to
introduce turquoise dragons into your campaign.
The Sly Ones (Wyrmlings)
The coyotlweres are notorious thieves who are utterly
without conscience. Having discovered a clutch of
turquoise dragon eggs, a small band of the creatures did
not expect them to hatch while in their possession but that
is exactly what did happen.
Now three wyrmlings have bonded to the reluctant
thieves and are bringing unwanted attention. While the
coyotlwere care nothing for the newborn dragons, the
wyrmlings are too persistent to abandon and too powerful
to kill.
How could a band of outsiders play into such an ironic
and bizarre scenario?
Caged in the Canyon (Young)
A wasting disease plagues the Long Canyon giants of
Cochili. One of the giants was healed of his pain by a
wandering young turquoise dragon who had observed the
giant’s ills from a distance.
Though dimwitted, the giant understood the dragon’s
power and in return for its kindness, it knocked the dragon
unconscious and keeps it locked up underground with
bound claws so that it cannot escape.
Sick giants are brought before the dragon each day who
breathes its soothing breath upon the ailing creatures.
Unfortunately, the disease is not cured by the healing
breath but it offers relief nevertheless.
Could the giants be convinced to release their prisoner
in exchange for a true cure?
Alliances to be Forged (Adult)
It is no secret that dragons have brought nothing but
death to the Azuposi, yet none have ever seen the
luminous blue wyrms attempt to harm mankind. These
new arrivals are an enigma to the Azuposi of Michaca and
two rather large specimens are known to lair only a two
day walk from the great City of Gold itself.
The sunwatchers are wary of such creatures, but some
priests have communed with the Mighty Spirit Hli’Akwa
and the Turquoise Man. He implores the skeptical Azuposi
not to succumb to their fears.
Perhaps some type of alliance could be forged if both
the dragons and the Azuposi could prove their good
intentions to one another?
Credits
So much of this book is the result of great concepts and
ideas from past authors and ideas from earlier editions.
There are many here to thank.
Author
Jon Hild
Cover Art
Image by fortuna777 of Shutterstock
Additional Art
Interior art can all be found in Pixabay.com or
Shutterstock.com.
Legal
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast,
Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s
Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide,
D&D Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast
product names, and their respective logos are trademarks
of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All
characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of
Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the
copyright laws of the United States of America. Any
reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or
artwork contained herein is prohibited without the
express written permission of Wizards of the Coast. ©2018
Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-
0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-
Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro
Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex,
UB11 1ET, UK. This work contains material that is copyright
Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such material
is used with permission under the Community Content
Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.

Hail the Ruby Dragon (Ancient)

Sardior is the great Ruby Dragon and lord of all gem
dragons. When a new species of gem dragons makes itself
known on Toril, the paragon moves his Ruby Palace to the
skies above Anchorome to investigate.
Will Sardior’s appearance cause conflict with the
Turquoise Man? Will the dragons turn from their creator
and sit at the side of the lord of gem dragons? Perhaps an
agreement can be reached and Sardior will invite one of
the most ancient turquoise dragons to sit by his side?
Negotiations in such a circumstance could prevent a war
between the spirits of Anchôromé and the powerful
wyrms.