Friday the 13th is considered unlucky by many people. But humans aren’t the only creatures who believe in bad omens. Dragons have their own superstitions, and some of them are downright ridiculous.
You might think a creature capable of consuming an entire village for lunch and of melting an otherwise impenetrable fortress would have little reason to worry about bad luck. You’d be wrong.
Dragons can live for centuries, and lounging around on piles of treasure affords them plenty of time to think. Combine this with their tendency to obsess over said treasure and those thoughts turn paranoid. Over time, dragons develop superstitions, blame unfortunate coincidences on mysterious forces, and pass along questionable advice to younger generations.
In this they’re no different from the typical human on Friday the 13th, who interprets every minor mishap and unexpected inconvenience as a portent of unavoidable doom.
Bad Omens Every Dragon Knows
A knight polishing his armor outside your lair.
According to dragon tradition, this is a sure sign of impending trouble. Particularly if the knight has brought a squire to take notes or an empty wagon. Some dragons refuse to leave their lairs for three days after witnessing this omen. The smart ones simply eat the knight, the squire, and the wagon.
A wizard offering a free consultation.
Nothing good has ever come from an anonymous wizard offering something for free. Especially when he insists his latest spell is almost perfected.
Superstitious dragons believe accepting such an offer invites seventy years of misfortune. More practical dragons believe it invites an explosion.
A dwarf asking about mining rights.
Dragons view this as an ancient warning of financial ruin, structural damage, and prolonged legal disputes. The traditional remedy is to place a gold coin beneath your pillow and sleep on it for three nights.
Unfortunately, dragon pillows are usually made of gold coins. Determining which coin is supposed to go beneath the pillow, and which coins actually constitute the pillow, can prove problematic.
A bard composing a song about you.
Among dragons, this is considered one of the worst possible omens. Songs about dragons have an unfortunate tendency to attract knights, adventurers, and other people determined to become famous.
If the bard has already composed a second verse, it’s probably too late. A band of heavily armed adventurers is likely on its way, singing along.
A raven landing on your treasure hoard.
Traditionally, this foretells betrayal by someone you trust. Dragons are advised to immediately count their treasure, refuse all visitors, and inspect the preparedness of the traps placed around their lairs.
If the raven is carrying a message from the tax collector, however, the situation is considerably worse.
The Problem with Black Cats
Humans believe a black cat crossing their path can bring bad luck. Dragons have a similar superstition, although their version is somewhat more complicated.
A black cat crossing a dragon’s path is considered the normal amount of unlucky. A black cat crossing a dragon’s flight path is considered catastrophic.
Nobody has satisfactorily explained how a cat can accomplish this.
How Dragons Ward Off Bad Luck
Fortunately, dragon tradition offers several ways to protect against misfortune.
Some dragons refuse to touch their treasure between midnight and sunrise, lest they accidentally disturb a lucky arrangement. Others take more elaborate precautions. One elderly dragon reportedly hired a goblin accountant to examine his treasure hoard for signs of impending financial misfortune.
The accountant assured him that everything was perfectly fine, yet seventeen gold coins were missing the following morning.
Naturally, the dragon immediately blamed a curse.
The accountant declined to comment.
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