Hit Point Press
Izona
Dandelion dragons travel to other planes of existence as easily as they float on the breeze.
How the Dandelion Dragon Told Time
Once, dandelion dragons were timekeepers. The flow of time in the fey realm is notoriously inconsistent with time in other planes of existence. Before there were any dandelion dragons on the Material Plane, a young mage named Bremenia cast a spell with a time limit to travel the fey realm for scholarly research. However, the erratic passage of time confused her, and she missed the deadline to return home.
Having lost track of time entirely, Bremenia wandered the fey realm in search of a doorway back to the Material Plane. These doorways were only active at specific times. Whenever she encountered a resident of the fey realm, Bremenia asked them where the nearest doorway was, what time it opened, and what time of day it was now. Each one gave a different answer.
Exhausted, Bremenia sat against a sturdy tree and prepared to spend what she could only assume was the night in the fey realm. Just as she was making camp, Bremenia spotted something that looked like a floating yellow flower flutter in her peripheral vision appear and vanish. She waited for it to return and saw that it was a tiny dandelion-like dragon.
The creature blinked at Bremenia inquisitively and flew around her camp. As she observed it, Bremenia noticed that the yellow flower on its head became fluffy seeds that shed and regrew in a regular pattern, like a clock counting the hours. She befriended the dandelion dragon, and it became her companion and timekeeper, providing her with the regularity she needed to track time. The dandelion dragon led Bremenia to a doorway and helped her enter at the right time. When Bremenia went through and returned home at last, the dandelion dragon came with her. The dragon retained the ability to enter and exit the fey realm, returning one day with dozens of members of its blooming, much to Bremenia’s delight.
Dandelion dragons have adjusted to life on the Material Plane and now shed their seeds with the unpredictable winds instead of a precise schedule. Still, children on the Material Plane often watch dandelion dragons on a breezy day and wait for their seeds to blow away. They say that the number of gusts it takes to scatter their seeds corresponds to the time in the fey realm.
Caption
Fig. 1 Dandelion dragons deliver small messages for their humanoid friends.
Physiology
Dandelion dragons have long hind legs, short front legs, and claws on all four limbs used to perch upright and hold on to small items. The antennae on their heads are used to smell and taste, and the feelers that stem from their backs help them sense whether a surface is structurally sound enough to land on.
Most dandelion dragons live between 10 and 13 years and can weigh up to 16 ounces. They are typically 3 to 4 inches long, though some as large as 6 inches have been recorded. A single bright yellow flower blooms on the back of a dandelion dragon’s head before producing seeds that are fluffy and white. Young dandelion dragons mature 5 years after hatching, when it produces its first batch of seeds.
Dandelion dragons rely on the wind to carry their seeds once they are ripe, which become itchy if left on their bodies for too long. If the wind is too gentle, they will rub their heads against sturdy branches to dislodge the seeds and alleviate their discomfort. If there are humanoids nearby, dandelion dragons will approach them for help.
Dandelion dragons can drift seamlessly between planes using their innate magic. They are popular among merchants and trade guilds who do business with residents of other planes.
Habitat
Dandelion dragons make their homes in open tundras, shrublands, grassy alpine slopes, and woodlands. Some even live in deserts and scrublands alongside succulent dragons.
They prefer to live communally in trees or on rocky ledges. Areas with full sun are ideal, but they can survive in all but the coldest climates. Of all floral dragons, they are the most likely to live in humanoid settlements.
Dandelion dragons are highly social and live in large bloomings. It’s not uncommon for one to go out in search of food and come home to find another dandelion dragon that has taken residence in its home. If a new dragon joins the blooming, it is expected to contribute by finding food.
While they are not territorial toward their own kind, dandelion dragons become wary when larger dragons come too close to their homes and will attack or vacate the area if they feel threatened. They are only comfortable sharing their immediate territory with dragons of a similar size or particularly gentle dragons like magnolia dragons.
Dandelion dragons are often found in the company of vespons. They frolic together in good weather and have been observed grooming each other.
Izora
I saw a blooming of dandelion dragons split up to deliver messages to different locations. It hasn’t been long since I left home, but I’m sure my family would like to hear about my adventures so far.
I wrote a note to let them know I’m doing well and that I’ll be back to visit. I carefully attached it to the leg of a dandelion dragon. I hope it, and the message, arrive safely.
Behavior
Dandelion dragons are lively and fickle. They are friendly creatures and enjoy the company of other floral dragons, but they rarely linger in one place for too long. A dandelion dragon’s diet consists primarily of seeds and shoots.
Caption
Fig. 2 A dandelion dragon hides from a larkspur dragon.
Dandelion dragons are noncommittal and have a brief period of fertility, lasting only a few days in the spring. During this time, they mate with several other dandelion dragons in succession. After mating, their regular cycle of growing and shedding seeds slows, and fertilized seeds are released gradually over the season. These fertilized seeds take root in the soil. There, they grow quickly, resembling true dandelions until the wyrmlings separate from their roots and fly away. Contrary to their social preferences, wyrmlings are independent from the moment they fully emerge from the ground. Outside of their mating season, unfertilized seeds do not grow into wyrmlings and simply float away.
Dandelion dragons are prey for wild rabbits and turkeys as well as other floral dragons; larkspur dragons in particular have a taste for them. Dandelion dragons only bite when threatened, leaving behind a small but irritating itchy rash. These dragons are more likely to flee than fight unless they have the support of many other dandelion dragons. Rhododendron dragons don’t hunt dandelion dragons, but many have become overly excited and playfully chased a dandelion dragon back to its home, only to be set upon by the dandelion’s blooming.
Dandelion dragons have an excellent sense of direction and will deliver small messages for humanoids. Since the dragons are a prey species, cautious humanoids make several copies of their message and send them with different dragons, lest any be eaten along the way.
Personality Traits
Dandelion Dragon Personality Traits
| d8 | Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I spend all my time daydreaming and often don’t notice when a gust of wind has carried me off. |
| 2 | I have no sense of direction, and I always get horribly lost. |
| 3 | I like to perform somersaults and other aerial tricks when I float. |
| 4 | I am mischievous, and misdelivering messages entertains me. |
| 5 | I love nothing more than coming home to my nest and finding a new friend who wants to move in with me. |
| 6 | Whenever I get bored of the Material Plane, I simply travel to the fey realm, and vice versa. |
| 7 | I rely on the company of my blooming and get terribly anxious when I’m alone. |
| 8 | I would fly for days on end if I didn’t need to sleep. |
Izora
Dandelion dragons are nothing but food for large predators like the larkspur dragon. I saw a blooming of dandelion dragons land and hide in the bushes until a larkspur dragon had passed. They waited until it was long gone before taking flight again.
These dragons are so adorable; it’s saddening to think of them as prey. I suppose that’s just the natural order of things.
Motivations
Dandelion Dragon Motivations
| d6 | Motivation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Humanoids have entrusted me with their messages, and I can’t let them down. |
| 2 | My nest must be as welcoming as possible so I can invite even more friends to live with me. |
| 3 | I want to explore planes of existence beyond the fey realm and the Material Plane. |
| 4 | I must find a way to protect myself and other dandelion dragons from predators—forever. |
| 5 | I want to learn to communicate with humanoids so I can deliver messages even if I lose the written note. |
| 6 | I became lost among the planes as my antennae were damaged. I need to regain my sense of direction. |
Adventure Hooks
Here are ways to include dandelion dragons in your game.
| d4 | Adventure Hook |
|---|---|
| 1 | A jilted archfey has cut off communications from their spiteful ex-lover by blocking the travel of all dandelion dragons between the Material Plane and the fey realm. |
| 2 | Bandits captured a blooming of dandelion dragons to use the messages they were carrying as blackmail material against the elite. They are training the dragons to bring messages to them instead of the intended recipients. |
| 3 | Strong winds carried off a blooming of dandelion dragons. They are very far from home and languishing in an inhospitably cold climate. They need help finding a new place to roost. |
| 4 | A dandelion dragon was separated from its blooming and hasn’t been able to find others of its kind. |
Izora
I have yet to see a solitary dandelion dragon; they seem to like company. I saw a group floating together in the same pattern for a while and took some time just to watch.
They didn’t seem bothered that I was observing them. They floated for a while and then all took off in the same direction. There’s a decent chance they’re living together.
Caption
Fig. 3 Dandelion dragons float together in large bloomings.
