Biology and Physiology
Adult dragons are massive, reptilian creatures with powerful muscles, thick scales, and large wings that enable them to fly. Their size varies by type, but they can range from 30 to 60 feet in length. Their scales are incredibly tough, providing significant protection against physical and magical attacks.

Intelligence and Behavior
Dragons are highly intelligent beings, often possessing a cunning and wisdom that surpasses many other creatures. They are capable of complex thought, strategy, and even magic. Dragons can be both solitary and social, depending on their alignment and personal preferences. They often have vast territories which they fiercely protect.

Lairs and Hoards
Adult dragons are known for their elaborate lairs, which are often located in remote, difficult-to-access areas like high mountains, deep forests, or beneath the sea. These lairs are typically filled with treasure hoards accumulated over centuries, including gold, gems, magical artifacts, and rare items.

Breath Weapons
Each type of dragon has a unique breath weapon, such as fire, ice, acid, lightning, or poison. This ability is one of their most feared and powerful attacks, capable of devastating entire armies or incinerating foes in an instant.

Magical Abilities
In addition to their physical prowess, many adult dragons possess inherent magical abilities. These can include spellcasting, shape-shifting, and other supernatural powers. Their magic often reflects their elemental nature and can be used for both combat and utility purposes.

Cultural Impact
Dragons hold a significant place in the mythology and culture of many fantasy worlds. They are often revered as gods, feared as monsters, or respected as wise and ancient beings. Their influence can be seen in the folklore, religious practices, and societal structures of various civilizations.

Ecological Role
Dragons play a crucial role in their ecosystems, often acting as apex predators. Their presence can influence the behavior and population of other creatures within their territory. Some dragons may even form symbiotic relationships with other species, offering protection in exchange for services or tribute.

Alignment and Morality
The alignment of a dragon greatly influences its behavior and interactions with other creatures. Chromatic dragons (e.g., red, blue, green) are typically evil, while metallic dragons (e.g., gold, silver, bronze) are usually good. This moral dichotomy shapes their roles as either villains or allies in many stories.

Lifespan and Aging
Dragons have incredibly long lifespans, often living for thousands of years. As they age, they grow more powerful and wise, but also more set in their ways. The oldest dragons, known as ancient or great wyrms, are nearly god-like in their strength and knowledge.

These elements make adult dragons formidable and fascinating creatures within any fantasy world, capable of being both a mighty challenge and a source of rich lore and adventure.

The most powerful and majestic of the metallic dragons, gold dragons are dedicated foes of evil.

A gold dragon has a sagacious face anointed with flexible spines that resemble whiskers. Its horns sweep back from its nose and brow, echoing twin frills that adorn its long neck. A gold dragon's sail-like wings start at its shoulders and trace down to the tip of its tail, letting it fly with a distinctive rippling motion as if swimming through the air. A gold dragon wyrmling has scales of dark yellow with metallic flecks. Those flecks grow larger as the dragon matures. As a gold dragon ages, its pupils fade until its eyes resemble pools of molten gold.

Devourer of Wealth.
Gold dragons can eat just about anything, but their preferred diet consists of pearls and gems. Thankfully, a gold dragon doesn't need to gorge itself on such wealth to feel satisfied. Gifts of treasure that it can consume are well received by a gold dragon, as long as they aren't bribes.

Reserved Shapeshifters.
Gold dragons are respected by the other metallic dragons for their wisdom and fairness, but they are the most aloof and grim of the good-aligned dragons. They value their privacy to the extent that they rarely fraternize with other dragons except their own mates and offspring.

Older gold dragons can assume animal and humanoid forms. Rarely does a gold dragon in disguise reveal its true form. In the guise of a peddler, it might regularly visit a town to catch up on local gossip, patronize honest businesses, and lend a helping hand in unseen ways. In the guise of an animal, the dragon might befriend a lost child, a wandering minstrel, or an innkeeper, serving as a companion for days or weeks on end.

Master Hoarders.
A gold dragon keeps its hoard in a well-guarded vault deep within its lair. Magical wards placed on the vault make it all but impossible to remove any treasures without the dragon knowing about it.

A Gold Dragon's Lair.
Gold dragons make their homes in out-of-the-way places, where they can do as they please without arousing suspicion or fear. Most dwell near idyllic lakes and rivers, mist-shrouded islands, cave complexes hidden behind sparkling waterfalls, or ancient ruins.

Metallic dragons are a remarkable and noble breed of true dragons. Their behavior and motivations set them apart from their chromatic dragon counterparts.

The Guardians of Goodness:
Metallic dragons are a beacon of virtue and benevolence in the draconic world. They view themselves as protectors of the balance, recognizing the importance of a harmonious coexistence between various races. They understand that each being has its place in the world, and they strive to ensure this harmony persists.

Noble Curiosity:
While metallic dragons share their chromatic kin's fascination with treasure, their motives are rooted in preserving history and safeguarding the world from dangerous artifacts. Each metallic dragon's hoard is a carefully curated collection of relics, historical artifacts, and magical items. They view these treasures as a means to pass down their own memories and experiences to future generations, thus enriching the world's collective knowledge. This unique approach makes them valuable repositories of wisdom.

Protectors of the Greater Good:
While metallic dragons are not inherently greedy, they are not always inclined to part with their cherished possessions. They may only relinquish items from their hoard if convinced that it serves a greater purpose or is essential to the well-being of the world. Convincing a metallic dragon to part with an item can be a complex task, and adventurers must find a way to align their cause with the dragon's sense of duty and preservation.

Solitary Shapeshifters:
One of the most intriguing aspects of metallic dragons is their ability to assume the forms of humanoids and beasts. This magical transformation allows them to immerse themselves in different cultures, making them well-versed in the ways of the world. Some metallic dragons embrace this opportunity, wandering among humanoid cities in disguise. These dragons take pleasure in experiencing local cultures, cuisine, and customs, and they often observe how smaller races live.

Custodians of Ancient Memories:
Metallic dragons possess incredibly long memories, and their opinions of humanoids are shaped by past interactions. They can recognize bloodlines by smell, enabling them to trace lineage and detect any connection to past encounters. This can lead to fascinating dynamics, as a metallic dragon may harbor goodwill towards descendants of individuals who once aided them, or conversely, they might hold grudges against those whose ancestors wronged them.

In your campaign, encounters with metallic dragons can be opportunities for moral dilemmas, quests for knowledge, or challenges of diplomacy. Whether your players seek to gain the favor of these guardians of goodness or unravel the secrets of their treasure hoards, the presence of metallic dragons promises a deep and enriching experience in the world you've created.