Dragons are not the conventional beasts of folklore, bound to a singular reptilian form. They are manifestations of primal spirits, entities of raw power and insatiable hunger that embed themselves within a diverse range of unsuspecting creatures, though they show a marked preference for carnivores.

When these spirits infect a host, a terrible transformation occurs. The creature mutates, growing in size and strength, its form twisting into something new and terrible. Fish become leviathans of the deep, birds turn into titanic sky-terrors, and wolves morph into hulking, fanged monstrosities. No vertebrate is immune to this corruption.

Yet, these creatures share more than just their spirits' transformative touch. They are all driven by ravenous hunger and greed, traits imparted by the spirit at the heart of the dragon. Their vast appetites drive them to claim territories as their own, hunting and devouring all within their self-proclaimed domain.

And all of this would be bad enough if the beast were still an unintelligent brute. But the spirit within them will lend the creature a dangerous intellect, equal to and even greater than most adventurers who must face it. While the spirit does not keep its memories between bodies, they are still terribly clever foes, and as they extend the lifespan of the creature they infest, they have time to gain wisdom in addition to intelligence.

Dragons present a unique challenge to adventurers. They are not mere beasts to be vanquished, but a force of nature to be reckoned with. Each one is a unique and terrible creature, born of a primal spirit and a corrupted host. The very mention of the word 'dragon' evokes not just fear, but a sense of awe and wonder at the strange and terrible creatures they have become. Those who face them must be prepared to confront not just a powerful adversary, but the very essence of greed and hunger incarnate.

Scholars believe there to be 144 dragon spirits in the Realms. These spirits are immortal; whenever a dragon is slain, the spirit survives, and seeks out a new host. It takes a decade or more for a dragon to reach full size, but this means that it is impossible to wipe dragons out; all that can be done is to purchase a brief respite against them.