D&D Lore: Black Dragon - The Sinister Shadow of Cruelty (Lore)

[@jeremycarr6435]

Definitely my favorite of the Chromatics. Evil. Vile. Malice. Great job.

[@davidguest2388]

First video I’ve encountered of yours! Exactly what I was looking for, I’ll start watching ALL videos past and future. Thank you Riches and Liches!

[@RichesandLiches]

Thank you for watching, and the kind words. I appreciate the support!

[@r3cy]

I offer this comment as sacrifice for the inscrutable algorithm gods, may they bless this channel with their bounty.

[@majinsole8554]

I add to this offering for the insatiable. ~_~

[@AGS363]

I now see a campaign...the mid-level heroes believe that a hist into the den of a Black dragon will be the finale ... but this one is a collector of Imaskari artifacts! And now we go into the high levels....

[@ashb8036]

That was an excellent experience. I love that you used the environment and intrinsic power to provide a personality to its appearance. Variety and individuality add so much to the story. They are my favourite of the standard DnD categories. But, you added and developed it in a way that properly gives it character and meaning in a campaign. Exceptional.

[@RichesandLiches]

Thank you so much!

[@KS-PNW]

​@@RichesandLichesyou really do have a talent for fleshing out the various monsters. Transforms a stat block into a believable, 3 dimensional character. It's quite impressive, thanks for sharing it with all of us! 👍👍

[@onekill-762]

Holy #$%! - how is this channel not 100x larger?! Sub earned!

[@visionhawk4403]

I remember playing the Dragonlance campaigns and the Black Dragon, Khisanth, in the Ruins of Xak Tsaroth (in the book, he killed Riverwind and led Goldmoon to figuring out the blue crystal staff), had our DM frustrated. We were getting extremely good rolls so he had to make the dragon retreat because we almost killed him and because he's a big part of the plot later in that place. But reading that part of the book gave me new respect for the black dragons. I loved the Gully Dwarves in that area too.

[@mileonaslionclaw2525]

Oh man, and here I was hoping to bear witness to another awesome magic item like you did with the white dragons. Still, epic!

[@redfaux74]

I was impressed with the Black Dragon alone in this video. (And yet he did mention magical weapons) It seemed physically superior, potentially psionic (which always had a huge influence in my games) and intensively magical. It was using ALL of its surroundings to its advantage. The atmosphere itself? Plants? The "pets" (other monsters who will attack and guarantee the actual threat gets surprise)? The very darkness itself for defense as well as attacks? This takes Dragons to the place where I've always thought they should be in DnD games. Remember this is the Black, the 2nd lowest of the Chromatic kind. I've seen no other DnD KZbinr go into this detail in a video about ANY Dragon. And how much typical knowledge was read out of the monster manual? No, this was unique info. Mind sharpening home brew. After hearing this in a local tavern.... and THINKING I'm going to invade a Black Dragons home??? 😟 It's a big Nope here.

[@lunamaria1048]

I watch your videos weekly, but this video has found its way on my nightly playlist and I can't help but watch this as I unwind for bed, every night lol. Just so good! You made my least favorite dragon, my most favorite. Well played 😊

[@destonlee2838]

The parents of these terrors leave the eggs in composting piles of charnal, and whisper to them that they will never be a good egg. Which is why so few survive hatching; between the toxic parenting and foul incubation, most hatchling are predisposed to eat any egg, or attack any sibling near them upon hatch. Always fun to walk in on that with a party lvl 3 or so.

[@josephsorrendino4920]

One of the first "TPK" events I was involved in was a Black Dragon.

[@RichesandLiches]

Well don't leave me hanging! details please :)

[@hellzonefirebrigade3056]

Your videos are absolutely exceptional. Will definitely be recommending to other DnD fans

[@RichesandLiches]

Thank you soooo much... for watching, commenting and recommending. It gives me a lot of joy knowing people enjoy the work.

[@neverwinterfarms]

Excellent storyline.

[@gingerbreadcp9162]

I was listening to this episode while driving and really love all your ideas for the black dragon, so much additional flavor and creative ideas to flesh out an encounter with such a deadly foe!

[@songbird6414]

Currently working on a patron for a warlock multiclass I’m working on. Viyarthovix, known as Viola Blackwing in her human form, was challenged by my character as a dracolich. Finding his antics little more than amusing, she beheaded him, then brought his body back and just… sent him on his way, headless and forbidden from his home. Here trying to figure out her backstory a bit beyond just “ooh evil zombie dragon”, but man I think that actually fits quite well.

[@nikp3572]

Just became a patreon. Keep up the great book love your content as a forever DM myself

[@RichesandLiches]

Awesome, thank you! Your support is so appreciated... hit me up anytime with any homebrew or art needs!

[@charlesharrison4077]

11:50 so basically Anton Chigur…

[@juiceboxbzrk]

Didn't know this but it really helps solidify my decision to make a black dragonborne for my durge playthrough

[@Restributordevill]

You put so much effort into making these videos,they really deserve to be seen by wider audience. Great food for thought and fount of inspiration for storytelling!

[@RichesandLiches]

Thank you for such kind words. The YT Algorithm is a fickle god... some of my personal favorite videos have been not gotten traction while others have taken off... /shrug. But we are growing slowly but surely, so not complaints, especially when I know from comments like yours that at least someone is enjoying them! :) I choose to take a mug half full attitude!

[@brianjones5418]

For a second I forgot we were talking about dragons

[@cwesley2005]

Your channel is freaking awesome brother! Thank you so much!

[@RichesandLiches]

Thank you, comments like these are great inspiration on long editing nights! :)

[@disunsnogoot3319]

Great stuff. I will be looking to incorporate some of these ideas in my campaign

[@blairshort1098]

Coffee Dragon - Causes any water source nearby to become Cafeinated. Even mist. 😂

[@NamelessKing1597]

I like the ram horn look in some editions.

[@melorbode]

You do a great job!

[@MidKnightOTC]

I can imagine the black dragon getting along famously with the drow 🖤

[@arphod]

Try deep dragons.

[@BodyshotBets]

Awesome video brother! Just recently found your channel and I absolutly love the content!🙏🏼

[@Birdman_LIVE]

Excellent video as always. Question for using black dragons at the table - If a party were to engage with one, what level PCs would be appropriate?

[@RichesandLiches]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Take the following information with a healthy dash of "adjust to your table" which includes things such as party composition, their experience and the setting/scenario (i.e. is the dragon in its lair, or out in the open... and if so can the party mitigate the flight advantage, etc.) But all that said the typical challenge rating, assuming you are using a 5e ruleset would be along these lines: Wyrmling to Young - CR 4-6 Juvenile to Young Adult - CR 7-10 Adult - 11-14 Ancient - 18-20 Great Wyrm - 22+ Those challenge ratings are based on a party of 4 characters, but keep in mind the 5e CR system tends to lose accuracy the higher you go so my personal opinion is to lean into party power advantages but I tend to be a pretty "pro-party" GM. Best of luck, and I hope you will let us know how things turn out!

[@prestongarner8796]

Are you going to talk about the abyssal demons and demon lords of the abyss and that live in the abyss and how the demons fight in the blood war with the armies of the nine Hells and the devils that live there?

[@RichesandLiches]

Great question! and the answer is most definitely! I actually plan to cover each of the outer planes with a dedicated multi-volume series. As for the blood war, it too will get its own dedicated set of volumes!

[@Seefrenchy]

Thx man

[@prestongarner8796]

You know it be cool for an adventure party where they realize they’re not in the prime material plane of existence instead they’re in the abyss somewhere and realize they’re in an infinite swamp where it’s all nothing but swamp and it’s a abyssal layer and now the adventure party has to fight a black dragon demon lord, that conquered a layer of the abyss, and all of that layer is swamp due to the black dragons force of will so now they have to fight a demon lord, black dragon, and the adventure party is very surprised that black dragon could do that ascend to demon Lord status what will that adventure party do now could they fight a black dragon demon lord and could they get out of the abyss?

[@mrthor8273]

This was great, but none of the images were the black dragon from D&D with their forward swept horns.

[@RichesandLiches]

You are not wrong and you have my apologies. Thank you for watching and the feedback!

[@chriscatmen4999]

I thought the black dragon was suppose to have it horn forward/

[@richfisher7000]

You are not wrong. That's definitely one depiction. Unfortunately, after literally hours of attempts, I could not WILL my art to reflect this subtle nuance... apologies.

[@redfaux74]

He did mention that in the video. Most Blacks were unique because of breeding between species. Me personally I hate every kind of Dragon species being 99% the same as others. I'm a homebrew freak.

[@fapplejax5486]

Black dragons have had swept forward horns since 1st edition. Like a bull.

[@mrmackie-qp6lr]

Black dragons are one of those very very few in my opinion perfect enemy types not so powerful that they're going to kill everything not so weak and limited that they're not very good they have a nice range of abilities without being overpowered and they live in environments where adventurers would go as far as dragons go Blues are probably the best but Blues problems are there in deserts you're not going to see them too often

[@sygmarvexarion7891]

Ahem. Dragon of color.

[@Nox-eg3rq]

So they get tye n word pass

[@seaborgium919]

the book has two dracolich variants, green and blue, right? why does it not have black? because that makes absolute perfect sense

[@DJ-Hova]

Great video - party has just entered the Evermoors MUHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@andyh2783]

Would the channel be demonitized if the channel showed official Wizards art?? Didnt see an actual "skull" dragon in the vid. I love that design the most out of all the official chromatic looks

[@aaronmcpherson1297]

more dragons hehe

[@RichesandLiches]

Asgorath, coming this week!

[@angetalelbari2196]

Are you doing metallic dragons?

[@akhikhan9636]

My justice

[@akhikhan9636]

My black dragon is good

[@Solonari]

Early😮

[@AncientRylanor69]

🤣😨😎🥵😟😟

[@scottvulcano2599]

why is most of your art a failure of the black dragon? the major and only distinction is the forward-facing horns

[@RichesandLiches]

@scottvulcano2599 - You are correct and this video needs a remaster. I was unable to create the proper horns and at the time, was not proficient with photoshop. Thanks for the feedback