Iron Dragon

Iron dragons are the most powerful type of ferrous dragon, easily on par with red dragons. They are powerfully built, with short limbs and wide wings, and a heavy, shovel-shaped head. They have large plates, almost like shark fins or axe blades, on their heads and running down their necks and backs.

When first hatched, their scales are matte black, but as they age they become shinier and more metallic. The gleam turns into silver highlights until eventually the dragon’s scales look like moonlight reflecting on a rippling pool. Ancient iron dragons begin to get dark reddish splotches and streaks on their wings, as if they were rusting.

Knowledge-Seekers. Iron dragons travel more than nearly any other type of dragon, as they constantly seek to expand their own understanding of the world. They often travel in humanoid form, as that makes it much easier for them to get by. While they are insatiably curious, their travels have another purpose: iron dragons believe that dragons (of any breed) are destined to be the true rulers of the world, and iron dragons believe that they need to learn more about the world and the power and lifestyle of humanoids in order for dragons to be able to take their rightful place as rulers.

A humanoid or other intelligent creature that enters an iron dragon's lair is usually captured rather than killed, so that the dragon can interrogate it and learn what it knows. It may let the humanoid go afterwards, or it may eat it, depending on how useful the humanoid was, how it treated the dragon (they aren't above letting people flatter them), and how hungry the dragon is.

The Power of Iron. Iron dragons are representative of the sheer strength and durability of iron and are immovably stubborn. Once an iron dragon makes up its mind, very little, besides strongly compelling evidence, will change it.

Mountains and Mines. Iron dragons enjoy eating raw iron ore (they are less fond of forged iron, and strongly dislike the taste of steel). They scrape what ore they can out of their mountain and underground lairs, and are fiercely competitive with dwarfs and other mining creatures. They are content to bully them miners of their iron ore rather than kill them and take it from their corpses.

Iron dragons and red dragons will attack each other on sight. Iron dragons usually get the best of these fights. The two breeds are matched evenly in physical combat, but iron dragons are smarter and immune to the red dragons' breath weapon, while the super-heated sparks that make up the irons' breath are both fire and lightning, which means that red dragons aren't entirely immune.