Black dragons are less vain than other chromatic dragons, but they are especially sadistic: they enjoy torturing creatures they see as beneath them.[6]
Description
Appearance
Aside from their black scales, which turn from glossy to dull as they age, black dragons are distinguished by their skull-like faces, with deep eye sockets and broad nasal openings; the face gets more skeletal with age, as the flesh around its horns and cheekbones recedes.[2] Even their blood is deep purplish-black.[7]
Fan art of Vox Machina trying to pursue Umbrasyl, by Lap Pun Cheung.[art 2]
The outward appearance of Umbrasyl, an ancient black dragon, was not described in much specific detail during his appearances, aside from having a thick hide[8] and a horned face.[9]
Abilities
Lairs
Black dragon lairs have pools of murky, greenish-brackish acid.[15] Seemingly from these pools can emerge clouds of biting, stinging insects,[16] and the pools themselves can animate and reach out for nearby enemies.[17] Black dragons can also conjure magical darkness in their lairs.[18]
Known Black Dragons
- Umbrasyl the Hope-Devourer: Ancient black dragon, member of the Chroma Conclave, slain by Vox Machina and Shale.
- Guuthal the Ever-Fed: Previously an ancient black dragon, then a dracolich, active during the Age of Arcanum.
- Oracs: Previously an ancient black dragon, now a dracolich. Lives in the ruins of Ghor Veles, from which he extends his power into the Miskath Strand.
- Thardraxxus: An inhabitant of the Rootgarden Marsh (east of Mooren Lake), allied with the sentient manawort mushrooms there.[19]
History
Background
- → See Guuthal's biography
- → See Oracs's biography
The Campaign of Vox Machina
Umbrasyl joined the Chroma Conclave and participated in the initial attacks on Emon (destroying the only evidence recovered from the Ruins of Vos’sykriss, just brought back from Visa Isle[20]) and presumably Draconia. He then took over Westruun, making short work of the Shields of the Plain, made his lair on Gatshadow Mountain, and when the Herd of Storms under Kevdak opportunistically moved into the fallen city,[21] Umbrasyl tasked the Herd with extracting treasure from the city.
Vox Machina deposed Kevdak, installed Zanror as the new leader, and persuaded what remained of the Herd to help kill Umbrasyl. Umbrasyl escaped an initial ambush by Vox Machina, the Herd of Storms, and Noja, but was subsequently slain in his lair by Vox Machina and Shale, with Grog Strongjaw landing the killing blow.
Fan art of Grog slamming the Bloodaxe into Umbrasyl's head, by Viktor Engholm.[art 3]
Following his death, Umbrasyl's acidic and magical blood, and the spirits of the goliaths he killed in the ambush, had lasting effects on Gatshadow.[22]
Campaign Two: The Mighty Nein
"The Ruined Sliver" (2x104)
The Mighty Nein found several undead followers of Oracs who had been displaced to Rumblecusp, but destroyed them without learning anything useful.
Trivia
One of the Vestiges of Divergence, the Armor of the Valiant Soul, is largely crafted from black dragon scales.[23]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., pp. 87–88.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 89.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 88.
- ↑ See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 87.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 86.
- ↑ See "In the Belly of the Beast" (1x54) at 30:33.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55).
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 52:44.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 27:43.
- ↑ See "In the Belly of the Beast" (1x54) at 3:25:07. Colorful description at 3:54:11.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 2:27:27.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 2:27:55.
- ↑ See "In the Belly of the Beast" (1x54) at 2:54:13.
- ↑ See "In the Belly of the Beast" (1x54) at 3:18:27.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 2:15:47. See also at 1:56:12.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 2:36:54.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 3:04:52.
- ↑ See "Umbrasyl" (1x55) at 3:36:29.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 43.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 97.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 58.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 64. See also p. 73.
- ↑ See Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 111.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Umbrasyl, an ancient black dragon, facing Grog, by Jet (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Vox Machina trying to pursue Umbrasyl, by Lap Pun Cheung (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Grog slamming the Bloodaxe into Umbrasyl's head, by Viktor Engholm (source). Used with permission.
