Chimera (Dungeons & Dragons) 4949491 221427144 2008-06-24T13:18:38Z Giganthrax 7353492 /* Gorgimera */ Expanded. {{Infobox D&D creature |name=Chimera |alignment=[[Alignment (role-playing games)#Chaotic evil|Chaotic evil]] |type=[[Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)|Magical beast]] |subtype= |source= |first= |mythical=[[Chimera (mythology)|Chimera]] |based= |wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/war_drums_gallery/Chimera.jpg |OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersBtoC.html#chimera }} In the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[fantasy]] [[roleplaying game]], the '''chimera''' is a large [[Magical Beast (Dungeons & Dragons)|magical beast]] that appears to be an amalgam of several different creatures. A chimera is usually [[Alignment (role-playing games)#Chaotic evil|chaotic evil]] in alignment. ==Creative origins== The chimera is based on the [[Chimera (mythology)|chimera]] of Greek mythology as found in the [[Iliad]] by [[Homer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/rgfdfaq/sources.html |title=Literary Sources of D&D |accessdate=2007-02-23 |last=DeVarque |first=Aardy}}</ref> ==Physical description== A chimera has the hindquarters of a goat, the forequarters of a lion, and a set of dragon wings. The beast has three heads: a horned goat, a lioness, and a [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragon]]. The dragon head can be black, blue, green, red, or white, and has a breath weapon appropriate to the color. They rarely mate; their creation is the result of "a dark mystery better left unexplained", according to the Second Edition [[Monstrous Manual]]. ==Society and Ecology== The chimera, being a hybrid, combines the preferences of the lion, the goat, and the dragon in its habitat, society and ecology. The dragonish part of its nature gives the chimera a distinct preference for caves as lairs. The dragon and lion parts seem to war with one another, for some chimerae are dragon-like in their preference for solitude, while others live in small prides. Even if they mate, offspring are rare. The monster is an omnivore. The goat head will browse on the toughest plants and shrubs and will derive nutrition from the most barren vegetation while the lion and dragon heads can only be satisfied with flesh. The chimera hunts once every three or four days, using its strength and limited intelligence to gain an advantage over those it preys on. Having a voracious appetite, it sometimes roams over territories as large as twenty square miles. Being chaotic evil in nature, the chimera enjoys preying upon men, elves, dwarves, and halflings. It will even gladly attack other monsters in its search for food. Anyone entering its territory becomes prey, and will be treated accordingly. The chimera cannot resist attacking groups of travelers or monsters for another reason: its dragon nature craves the treasure that its prey might be carrying. Although it has no earthly use for it, the chimera will gather the coins of its fallen foe into a heap and roost on it like a dragon. Its hoard is nothing like that of a true dragon, however, and consists mainly of copper and silver coins, with perhaps some jewelry and a few magical items. The chimera fills the role of both omnivore and a top predator in its ecosystem. It is very adaptable. During times when its prey is scarce or non-existent, the chimera can make do with a vegetarian diet. ==Gorgimera== The gorgimera is a variant of the chimera, with the hindquarters (and third head) of a [[Gorgon (Dungeons & Dragons)|gorgon]] instead of a goat. Its gorgon head likewise has a gorgon's breath weapon. The gorgon's head can see into both the Astral and Ethereal planes, and its breath weapon extends therein. Like its relative the chimera, the gorgimera can also speak a limited form of the language of red dragons. ==Chimeras in Eberron== In the [[Eberron]] [[campaign setting]], the chimera is the heraldic beast of the dragonmarked [[Dragonmarked house#House Deneith|House Deneith]]. ==Footnotes== <references/> ==References== *[[David "Zeb" Cook|Cook, David]], et al. ''Monstrous Compendium Volume One'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], [[1989]]). *[[Greenwood, Ed]]. ''The Ecology of the Chimera.'' [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] #94 (TSR, [[1985]]). *[[Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' (TSR, [[1977]]). *Stewart, Doug, ed. ''[[Monster Manual|Monstrous Manual]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], [[1994]]). *[[Skip Williams|Williams, Skip]], [[Jonathan Tweet]], and [[Monte Cook]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], [[2000]]). *Dungeons & Dragons set (1974) *D&D Basic Set (1977) *D&D Expert Set (1981) *D&D Expert Set (1983) *Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991) *D&D Miniatures: War Drums set #45 (2006) {{D&D creatures}} [[Category:Dungeons & Dragons creatures from folklore and mythology]] [[Category:Dungeons & Dragons magical beasts]] [[Category:Dungeons & Dragons standard creatures]] {{D&D-stub}}