Red Dragon Faction Template¶

Alignment: Chaotic Evil FR Range: 12 / 19 / 26 (Young, Adult, Ancient)

This template scales by dragon age. The FR is set at creation: pick FR 12 for a Young Red Dragon's lair, FR 19 for an Adult, FR 26 for an Ancient.

Faction Ratings¶

Faction Rating	Leader Formations	Core Formations	Support Formations*	Lair Areas*	Lair Features	Treasure
12	1	—	2	4	2	2 hoards (CR 11–16)
19	1	—	4	6	4	5 hoards (CR 11–16)
26	1	—	6	8	6	1 hoard (CR 17+) + Ancient Hoard rolls

* Baseline counts. All support formations and many lair areas come from the chosen theme. Some lair features in Step 5 also add lair areas (those tagged (new Lair Area)).

Step 1 — Choose Theme¶

Choose one theme at creation. Record it on the record sheet.

Volcano — a stronghold deep inside an active volcano, served by a sub-faction of kobolds bound to the dragon and his fires.
Mountain Tyrant — a stronghold high in a mountain peak or crag, served by a sub-faction of orcs who hold the lower halls and pay tribute.

Step 2 — Determine Formations¶

Use the Faction Ratings table for counts. Each formation type below occupies one row of the record sheet's Formations table.

Core Formations¶

The Red Dragon faction has no core formations. The dragon is solitary, and the rank and file are handled by the controlled sub-faction (see the chosen theme under Support, below). The dragon itself is the Leader Formation.

Support Formations¶

All support formations come from the chosen theme.

Volcanic Den FR 12 — Volcano theme

The dragon controls a FR 4 Kobold faction with the Lava theme as a sub-faction. Create the kobold faction on a separate record sheet; its formations are permanent and do not scale with the dragon's FR. The kobolds worship the dragon as their patron deity.

Also gain 2 support formation picks from the Volcano options below. Each pick adds one new formation row to the dragon's record sheet.

Magma Brood FR 19 — Volcano theme

Gain 2 additional Volcano support formation picks (4 total). The additional picks may select options already chosen.

Inferno Sovereign FR 26 — Volcano theme

Gain 2 additional Volcano support formation picks (6 total). The additional picks may select options already chosen.

Volcano Support Formation Options:

Salamander Coil (SCF): 1 Salamander and 4 Fire Snakes
Mephit Swarm (MSF): 4 Magma Mephits and 4 Steam Mephits
Magmin Pack (MNF): 8 Magmins
Fire Elemental (FEF): 1 Fire Elemental

Mountain Throne FR 12 — Mountain Tyrant theme

The dragon controls a FR 5 Orc faction as a sub-faction. The DM picks any Orc theme that fits the mountain — Wolf Riders for high crags and patrolled slopes, Ogre Brutes for cavernous strongholds, Goblin Lords for warrens beneath the dragon's perch. Create the orc faction on a separate record sheet; its formations are permanent and do not scale with the dragon's FR. The orcs swear fealty, or are terrorized into service.

Also gain 2 support formation picks from the Mountain Tyrant options below. Each pick adds one new formation row to the dragon's record sheet.

Crag Brood FR 19 — Mountain Tyrant theme

Gain 2 additional Mountain Tyrant support formation picks (4 total). The additional picks may select options already chosen.

Highland Tyrant FR 26 — Mountain Tyrant theme

Gain 2 additional Mountain Tyrant support formation picks (6 total). The additional picks may select options already chosen.

Mountain Tyrant Support Formation Options:

Manticore Pair (MCP): 2 Manticores
Wyvern Patrol (WVP): 2 Wyverns
Hill Giant Vassal (HGV): 1 Hill Giant and 4 Orcs
Stone Giant Sentinel (SGS): 1 Stone Giant
Berserker Honor Guard (BHG): 4 Berserkers

Leader Formation¶

Red Dragon FR 12 — base

Red Dragon Formation (RDF): 1 Red Dragon. The dragon's stat block depends on FR — Young Red Dragon at FR 12, Adult Red Dragon at FR 19, Ancient Red Dragon at FR 26.

Reference: MM — Young Red Dragon (CR 10), Adult Red Dragon (CR 17), Ancient Red Dragon (CR 24).

Step 3 — Record Treasure¶

Use the Faction Ratings table for the number and CR of hoards. Roll each on the DMG hoard tables and assign a roman numeral.

Ancient Hoard FR 26 — base

Beyond the listed Treasure hoards, the dragon has accumulated extraordinary items over centuries. Roll 5 times on Magic Item Table G, 3 times on Magic Item Table H, and 2 times on Magic Item Table I (DMG). Distribute the items throughout the hoard and lair as you see fit.

STOPPING POINT — If no lair is needed, the faction is ready for play.

Step 4 — Determine Lair Areas¶

Higher FRs include all lower-FR areas. Use the base areas plus your chosen theme's areas; ignore the other theme's entries.

Main Entrance FR 12 — base The visible entrance to the dragon's lair: a wide opening in the mountainside, scarred by claw and flame; the dragon enters by air, his minions by foot or by chase.

Dragon's Roost FR 12 — base The dragon's sleeping place: a high vaulted chamber with a sheer cliff or ledge for him to perch upon, the floor smoothed by his weight over decades.

Treasure Hoard FR 12 — base A glittering mound of accumulated gold, gems, and stolen artifacts: piled deep enough for the dragon to nest on, the metal still warm from contact with his body.

Magma Pool FR 12 — Volcano (may be duplicated) A pool of slowly flowing magma broken through the cavern floor: the air shimmers above it, the stone around the rim glassy and laced with orange cracks.

Vassal Hall FR 12 — Mountain Tyrant A ceremonial chamber where the dragon receives orc chieftains and accepts tribute: a stone throne carved into the back wall sized for the dragon, offerings piled at its base.

Forge Cavern FR 19 — Volcano A natural smithy where the dragon's followers work metal in the volcanic heat: a heavy stone anvil, blackened tongs and hammers, half-finished weapons and gear scattered.

Smoke Vent FR 19 — Volcano A shaft like a chimney venting volcanic gases to the surface: thick smoke and ash, the floor scorched, occasional bursts of flame from below.

Orc Levy Hall FR 19 — Mountain Tyrant A wide hall where the orc warband assembles when summoned for war: weapons racked along the walls, sleeping pads for waiting troops, a chief's seat near the dragon's approach.

Tribute Storeroom FR 19 — Mountain Tyrant A storeroom where the orcs deposit loot collected for the dragon: chests stacked deep, the doorway tall enough that the dragon can inspect the take himself.

Trophy Hall FR 26 — base A long gallery hung with the dragon's most cherished kills: knight's helms cracked open, banners scorched and pierced, the names of ancient rivals carved into the stone.

Deep Hoard Chamber FR 26 — base A secondary vault buried far below the main hoard, where the dragon keeps his most prized treasures separate from the showy pile above: the air is heavy, the silence heavier.

(Optional) Add one or two Exotic Areas from the Underground Lair: Exotic Areas table (see Random Tables document) — common picks for a dragon lair include a Bioluminescent Passage, a Deep Shaft, or a Dragon's Old Den.

Lair Environment¶

Fill the Lair / Terrain / Walls & Ceilings / Senses / Lighting row on the record sheet using the block for your chosen theme.

Volcano

Volcanic caverns and lava tubes inside an active volcano, the dragon sleeping atop molten gold.

Lair: volcanic caverns and lava tubes inside an active volcano
Terrain: active volcano, ash plains and sulfurous slopes around the cone
Walls & Ceilings: scorched basalt blackened by smoke, glowing cracks of fire running through the stone
Senses: sulfur, ash, intense heat, distant roar of magma, low rumble of the mountain
Lighting: dim — orange lava glow from below; bright near active flows; pitch dark in deeper passages

Mountain Tyrant

A stronghold high in a mountain crag, the dragon roosting above orc warbands who hold the lower halls.

Lair: mountain stronghold; high peak fortress or cavern complex inside a crag
Terrain: rocky slopes, broken cliffs, alpine ridges, paths winding up to the dragon's eyrie
Walls & Ceilings: cut and natural stone scored by claw, banners of orc clans hanging from the rafters
Senses: cold thin air, scent of orc and woodsmoke, distant horn calls echoing in the stone
Lighting: dim in the lower halls with braziers and torches; bright at the dragon's eyrie under open sky

Step 5 — Determine Lair Features¶

Pick 2 features per FR tier (2 at FR 12, 4 at FR 19, 6 at FR 26) from the Base Lair Features below. You may choose the same feature more than once. Then read your chosen theme's Additional Lair Features (G–J). Pre-loaded features do not count against the Lair Features count in the Faction Ratings table.

Base Lair Features (both themes)¶

A — Hidden Cache [Secret] Find: Investigation DC 18. Effect: a small alcove holding false treasure; useful as bait for traps.

B — Crumbling Stone Bridge [Hazard] Save: DEX DC 18. Effect: a 1-in-3 chance the bridge collapses on crossing; 50 ft fall — 5d6 bludgeoning, plus additional environmental damage if magma or jagged rock waits below.

Volcano — Additional Lair Features¶

G — Lava Pool Crossing [Trap] (new Lair Area) Save: DEX DC 18. Effect: fall into magma, 8d6 fire damage.

H — Salamanders [Guardian] ×2 Effect: coiled in or near the magma; alert via passive Perception 10. Reference: MM, Salamander (CR 4).

I — Lava Tube Chokepoint [Defense] (new Lair Area) Effect: a passage so narrow only one creature passes at a time; defenders behind the chokepoint have half cover and advantage on attacks against anyone passing through.

J — Magmin Crossing [Guardian] (new Lair Area) ×20 Effect: 20 Magmins encircling a chokepoint; alert via passive Perception 10. Reference: MM, Magmin (CR 1/2).

Mountain Tyrant — Additional Lair Features¶

G — Boulder Drop [Trap] Detect: Perception DC 14. Save: DEX DC 16. Effect: 4d6 bludgeoning; rocks dropped from above by orc lookouts.

H — Wyvern Roost [Guardian] Effect: a wyvern perched in a high alcove; alert via passive Perception 12. Reference: MM, Wyvern (CR 6).

I — Choke Point [Defense] (new Lair Area) Effect: a narrow mountain pass; defenders gain half cover and advantage on ranged attacks against anyone entering.

J — Stone Giants [Guardian] (new Lair Area) ×2 Effect: 2 Stone Giants in a guard chamber; alert via passive Perception 14. Reference: MM, Stone Giant (CR 7).

Step 6 — Generate the Map¶

Roll or choose a faction history and a faction goal from the Dragon Faction History and Dragon Faction Goals tables (see Random Tables document). Note both on the record sheet.
Drop 4d6 on the map sheet. Assign the highest die to the Main Entrance. Assign Dragon's Roost, Treasure Hoard, and your theme's FR 12 area to the remaining three dice in any order. Use each die's value for depth: 1–2 = Lower (L), 3–4 = Mid (M), 5–6 = Upper (U). Write the area name and depth letter next to each die.
Volcano: the theme's FR 12 area is the Magma Pool.
Mountain Tyrant: the theme's FR 12 area is the Vassal Hall.
(FR 19+) Drop 2 more d6 for your theme's two FR 19 areas, assigned in any order.
Volcano: Forge Cavern (Lower or Mid), Smoke Vent (Upper).
Mountain Tyrant: Orc Levy Hall and Tribute Storeroom (typically Mid or Lower, close to the orc occupation).
(FR 26+) Drop 2 more d6 for Trophy Hall and Deep Hoard Chamber. Deep Hoard Chamber is likely Lower; Trophy Hall is likely Mid.
If any lair areas remain — duplicate Magma Pools, optional exotic areas, or new areas added by features in Step 5 — drop a number of d6 equal to the remaining areas and assign them in any order.
Connect all areas with passages appropriate to your theme.
Volcano: lava tubes and natural caverns. The Treasure Hoard and Dragon's Roost are typically adjacent or co-located; the Magma Pool is typically deeper than the Dragon's Roost.
Mountain Tyrant: worked tunnels, switchback stairs, and natural cliff paths. The Dragon's Roost is at the top with open access to the sky; the orc-held halls and Tribute Storeroom are lower; the Treasure Hoard sits between, accessible only with the dragon's permission.
Assign Treasure hoards (by roman numeral) to lair areas on the map. Hoards are concentrated in the Treasure Hoard and (at FR 26) the Deep Hoard Chamber.
Assign Lair Features to lair areas on the map (mark each with its letter).
Assign Formations so that the dragon (RDF1) occupies the Dragon's Roost or Treasure Hoard, and support formations occupy the deeper or more dangerous areas. The sub-faction's formations are recorded on the sub-faction's record sheet, not this one.