Orange Dragons are as likely to roar a defiant challenge as to attack from ambush, whichever they think will more terrify their intended victim.

At birth, an orange dragon’s scales are a blazing orange. As the dragon matures, the scales become larger and thick, hardening like metal. Most retain their bold orange color, some developing splotches of yellow or red, providing excellent camouflage amid the continually blooming rain forest flowers.

Orange dragons speak their own tongue and a language common to all evil dragons. Fourteen percent of hatchling orange dragons have an ability to communicate with any intelligent creature. The chance to possess this ability increases five percent per age category of the dragon.

Combat: An orange dragon attacks with its claw/claw/bite routine or with its breath weapon, a metallic silvery stream, similar to black dragon acid. Although well suited for ambush, they have much of their red ancestor’s impulse to attack on sight and are equally likely to attack boldly.

Breath Weapon/Special Abilities: An orange dragon's breath weapon is a 60' long stream of pure liquid sodium, five feet wide at the dragon's mouth. Sodium burns when exposed to air; the oily saliva of the dragon prevents premature ignition in the dragon's mouth. The sodium itself is stored in the digestive tract in a nearly solid state and is not liquefied until powerful gastric and esophageal contractions bring it up to the mouth.

The orange dragon is a crossbreed of yellow and red dragons. Its sodium breath weapon is a result of its yellow parent's sodium chloride (salt) processing ability and its red parent's fire ability. The combination allows masses of metallic sodium to be separated out from the salt.

Creatures hit by this sodium stream are drenched, and within two melee rounds the saliva evaporates and the sodium is exposed to the air, bursting into engulfing flame. Creatures saving vs. breath weapon suffer half damage.

Sodium explodes when it comes in contact with water, so if well-meaning comrades of the victims try to wash off the sodium before it ignites, it instead explodes. The resulting blast causes damage equal to the damage the original target(s) would have suffered when bursting into flame to everything within a 15' radius.

The only practical way to prevent a victim from catching fire sodium from contacting the air. (There is, of course, an element of risk in this procedure, should the sodium ignite - a 1 in 8 chance - as the oil is being poured.) All clothing and armor must be removed and carefully cleaned of sodium while still oil-covered, requiring 8+1d8 (9-16) turns. This can be hazardous if done while the orange dragon continues its attack.

A favorite attack mode of orange dragons is to expel a stream of sodium into a river or lake directly adjacent to a boatload of victims. There is a delay of one melee round because of the oily saliva mixed with the sodium. The resulting explosion causes full or half damage (depending on saving throw vs. crushing blow) to all boats and creatures within 15 feet, killing or incapacitating most or all involved, leaving them easy prey.

A volume of water (in cubic feet) equal to the possible hit points of damage inflicted must exist for the entire sodium stream to be exploded. If insufficient water is available, the damage is reduced proportionally. Orange dragons are aware of this and first use raise water to increase the effectiveness of a shrunken river or pond before spitting.

Orange dragons cast spells and use their magical abilities at 7th level, adjusted by their combat modifier. At birth, orange dragons suffer half-damage from poison, are immune to normal fires, and suffer half-damage from magical fire. As they age, they gain the following special powers:

Habitat/Society: Orange dragons are found along the riverbanks and lakeshores of steamy tropical rain forests. The wetter the better, both for limiting the spread of fire and providing pools of standing water for spitting. They are solitary creatures except when paired for mating and raising young. Both parents participate equally in foraging for food, teaching the young, and defending the lair.

Orange dragons often ally with evil jungle or rain forest dwelling creatures, providing protection in exchange for obedience and information. This practice puts them into competition with black dragons, but usually the black dragon avoids fighting with the stronger, larger and more dangerous orange and either leaves or grudgingly accepts a subordinate role.

Ecology: Orange dragons are excellent swimmers, but being exclusively air-breathers, they live on land other than when hunting for food in rivers or lakes.

Orange dragons are mostly meat eaters, feeding on rain forest creatures and fish, but enjoying tropical fruits as well. Elves and human tribesmen are appreciated for the sport they provide, until finally caught and devoured. If nothing is available, giant insects or fungus may be consumed (although with little enthusiasm) thanks to the dragon’s natural poison resistance and, if necessary, neutralize poison. For the same reason the orange dragon can drink from pools of reeking, stagnant water, although they much prefer fresh.

Ettercap prize the meat of Hatchling dragons but won’t attempt to catch larger ones. Orange dragons have a natural enemy in bronze dragons, who compete with them for food and living space in tropical forests and lakeshores. In a comparison of orange and bronze dragons of equivalent age, the bronze is slightly smarter, tougher, and larger, and its lightning weapon has a longer reach. Sometimes an orange dragon attacking from ambush can negate this advantage, but the majority of “even” battles result in victory for the bronze.