I am curious whether a hydra is a dragon or a snake I want to have a yuan-ti sorceress keep a hydra as a pet, but this would not be very likely if they are dragons and not snakes.
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The description says it's a reptile, using words like crocodilian and serpentine, then again the lore for hydras says they originate from dragon's blood, so .....
It's kinda both?
Certainly I can see it being appropriate for a yuan-ti theme adventure. :)
The official stat block only lists it as a "monstrosity", so officially it's neither snake nor dragon. If you want to dig deeper the flavor text talks about the origin of hydras:
At the dawn of time, Tiamat, the Queen of Evil Dragons, slew a rival dragon god named Lernaea and cast her blood across the multiverse. Each drop that fell upon a world spawned a multi-headed hydra consumed by a hunger as great as the fallen god’s hatred.
This might indicate that hydras are dragons if they have spawned from the blood of a dragon god. But really it's up to you as the DM, and you should feel comfy changing anything to fit the story you want to tell. Maybe your yuan-ti sorceress did some experiments on a young hydra making them more snakelike.
In the old Monster Manual III there was a creature called a Ssvaklor. The creature type was dragon, but it was the result of Yuan-ti performing rituals on dragon eggs and was allied to them. So no reason a hydra (or modified hydra) couldn't have also gone through similar situations to be under their control.
My totally not rules based answer: If they have legs that are dragons, if they do not have legs they are snakes. I have seen hydras depicted both ways. Also with and without fire-breathing and/or poison fangs.
My totally not rules based answer: If they have legs that are dragons, if they do not have legs they are snakes. I have seen hydras depicted both ways. Also with and without fire-breathing and/or poison fangs.
In the old Monster Manual III there was a creature called a Ssvaklor. The creature type was dragon, but it was the result of Yuan-ti performing rituals on dragon eggs and was allied to them. So no reason a hydra (or modified hydra) couldn't have also gone through similar situations to be under their control.
I have decided to give her the Hydra as a pet but not make it really like a guard or anything like that - just her pet. Though obviously it will protect its owner if it thinks she is in danger and being a Hydra, is still a dangerous enemy, but she isn't going to be calling on it to fight or anything - in the same way that real world people, would not call upon their families pet dog to fight, but the dog might fight to protect its pack.
Cheers
SocialFoxes
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I am curious whether a hydra is a dragon or a snake I want to have a yuan-ti sorceress keep a hydra as a pet, but this would not be very likely if they are dragons and not snakes.
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
What counts as a snake is up to the DM. I would rule they are snakes.
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D&D Beyond FoundersA snake is monster type beast, while dragons are their own unique monster type.
A hydra is a monstrosity though.
The description says it's a reptile, using words like crocodilian and serpentine, then again the lore for hydras says they originate from dragon's blood, so .....
It's kinda both?
Certainly I can see it being appropriate for a yuan-ti theme adventure. :)
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InsiderThe official stat block only lists it as a "monstrosity", so officially it's neither snake nor dragon. If you want to dig deeper the flavor text talks about the origin of hydras:
This might indicate that hydras are dragons if they have spawned from the blood of a dragon god. But really it's up to you as the DM, and you should feel comfy changing anything to fit the story you want to tell. Maybe your yuan-ti sorceress did some experiments on a young hydra making them more snakelike.
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In the old Monster Manual III there was a creature called a Ssvaklor. The creature type was dragon, but it was the result of Yuan-ti performing rituals on dragon eggs and was allied to them. So no reason a hydra (or modified hydra) couldn't have also gone through similar situations to be under their control.
My totally not rules based answer: If they have legs that are dragons, if they do not have legs they are snakes. I have seen hydras depicted both ways. Also with and without fire-breathing and/or poison fangs.
But maybe they're skinks instead :o
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Damn that's a deep cut. Well done!
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Hi guys,
Thank you for all your input.
I have decided to give her the Hydra as a pet but not make it really like a guard or anything like that - just her pet. Though obviously it will protect its owner if it thinks she is in danger and being a Hydra, is still a dangerous enemy, but she isn't going to be calling on it to fight or anything - in the same way that real world people, would not call upon their families pet dog to fight, but the dog might fight to protect its pack.
Cheers
SocialFoxes
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.