History Main / TheDragOn

A person or monster TheHero has to get past to get at the BigBad. The BigBad's top enforcer, alot of the time, but not necessarily; he, she or it embodies a narrative trope: the penultimate challenge that the hero must face before confronting the Big Bad. This challenge will test their worthiness in some fundamental way.

A person or monster TheHero has to get past to get at the BigBad. The BigBad's top enforcer, usually, but not necessarily.

The term ''dragon'' for this role originates from analysis of folklore in which the hero fights dragons. These monsters are serve as obstacles to be overcome in order to fulfill the hero's quest. The dragon's role is described as such in "Literature/TheHeroWithAThousandFaces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell.

The BigBad's top enforcer, usually, but most importantly a person or monster TheHero has to get past to get at the BigBad.

The Dragon is an integral part of the FiveBadBand dynamic. If there's a QuirkyMinibossSquad, the Dragon is often the [[TheLeader unofficial leader.]] And he is almost always physically stronger than TheBrute.

Please note that effectively being the Big Bad's secretary, or constantly hanging around them is not enough to be a Dragon. This role is somebody the Big Bad can rely on ([[TheStarscream or thinks they can rely on]]) in a time of trouble to step up and beat the living heck out of TheHero, or [[NumberTwo maybe just take charge for a while, should the Big Bad not be around to do the job.]]

The term "dragon" originates from analysis of folklore in which the hero fights dragons. These monsters are obstacles to be overcome in order to fulfill the hero's quest. The dragon's role is described as such in "Literature/TheHeroWithAThousandFaces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell.

The term "dragon" originates from folklore where the hero fights dragons. The dragon's role is described as such in "Literature/TheHeroWithAThousandFaces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. These monsters are obstacles to be overcome in order to fulfill the hero's quest.

For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with DragonLady, who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'', which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with TheSavageDragon.

Other {{Good Counterpart}}s are NumberTwo, or TheHero in a BigGood vs Big Bad scenario. TheChampion may be The Dragon if they follow the BigBad, or may play a similar role to a straight Dragon for a nonvillainous character. See also: TheManBehindTheMan, HypercompetentSidekick, PsychoForHire, TheConsigliere.

->''"Lanius is savage. Savagely loyal, too, but only to me - he has no love for the Legion. But this has its uses. He has no attachment to his men, no compunction about battlefield losses. All he cares about is destroying the enemy. When another Legatus or Centurion fails to achieve results, I send Lanius to make things right. His first step is to beat the failed commander to death in front of his assembled troops."''
-->-- '''Caesar''' on his second-in-command Legate Lanius, ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''

The BigBad's top enforcer, or the EvilCounterpart of TheLancer in the FiveBadBand. Some Dragons are ferocious fighters who leave [[EvilPlan the heavy thinking]] to the boss. Others are smart, detail-oriented administrators who oversee the day-to-day running of the evil organization. Either way, defeating the Big Bad almost always requires TheHero to overcome the Dragon first. A common but by no means universal theme is to have the Dragon pose a physical challenge to the hero, while the Big Bad poses a mental or moral challenge.

The Dragon will occasionally commit a HeelFaceTurn when confronted by the heroes. If he does so, chances are very good that he will end up [[BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork killing the Big Bad]] when the heroes [[ThouShaltNotKill cannot bring themselves to do so]]; often by [[TakingYouWithMe joining the villain in death]] as a [[RedemptionEqualsDeath final act of redemption]]. If, instead, his HeelFaceTurn comes earlier in the series, he may redeem himself and join TheTeam.

{{Trope}}s related to Dragons:

The term "dragon" originates from folklore where the hero fights dragons or more often other kinds of monsters, described as such in "Literature/TheHeroWithAThousandFaces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. These monsters are obstacles to be overcome in order to fulfill the hero's quest. Note, however, that in folklore they are not necessarily (and hardly ever are) in the service of the true villain, whereas in accordance with this trope, they necessarily are.

The Dragon is an integral part of the FiveBadBand dynamic. If there's a QuirkyMinibossSquad, the Dragon is often the [[TheLeader unofficial leader.]] And he tends to be physically stronger than TheBrute.

The BigBad's top enforcer, this is the FiveBadBand's equivalent of TheLancer. Some Dragons are ferocious fighters who leave [[EvilPlan the heavy thinking]] to the boss. Others are smart, detail-oriented administrators who oversee the day-to-day running of the evil organization. Either way, defeating the Big Bad almost always requires TheHero to overcome the Dragon first. A common but by no means universal theme is to have the Dragon pose a physical challenge to the hero, while the Big Bad poses a mental or moral challenge.

The BigBad's top enforcer. Some Dragons are ferocious fighters who leave [[EvilPlan the heavy thinking]] to the boss. Others are smart, detail-oriented administrators who oversee the day-to-day running of the evil organization. Either way, defeating the Big Bad almost always requires TheHero to overcome the Dragon first. A common but by no means universal theme is to have the Dragon pose a physical challenge to the hero, while the Big Bad poses a mental or moral challenge.

The GoodCounterpart is NumberTwo or TheLancer, or TheHero in a BigGood vs Big Bad scenario. TheChampion may be The Dragon if they follow the BigBad, or may play a similar role to a straight Dragon for a nonvillainous character. See also: TheManBehindTheMan, HypercompetentSidekick, PsychoForHire, TheConsigliere.

-->-- '''Caesar''' on his second-in-command Legate Lanius, VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''

->''"Harry has a colleague, a monster of a man: Barry the Baptist. He got his name by drowning people for Hatchet. Barry makes sure the 'administrative' side of the business runs harmoniously."''
-->--'''Narrator''', ''Film/LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels''

The term "dragon" originates from folklore where the hero fights dragons or more often other kinds of monsters, described as such in "Literature/TheHeroWithAThousandFaces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. These monsters are obstacles to be overcome in the way of fulfilling the hero's quest. Note, however, that in folklore they are not necessarily (and hardly ever are) in the service of the true villain, whereas in accordance with this trope, they necessarily are.

The term "dragon" originates from folklore where the hero will often fight a ''genuine'' dragon before fighting the more intelligent but weaker Big Bad and described as such in "Literature/TheHeroWithAThousandFaces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. Hence, dragons (or stand-ins for them) are often portrayed as a Big Bad's second-in-command. Note, however, that in folklore the dragon is not necessarily in the service of the true villain, whereas in accordance with this trope, they necessarily are.

The Dragon is an integral part of the FiveBadBand dynamic. If there's a QuirkyMinibossSquad, the Dragon is often the [[TheLeader unofficial leader.]]

The heroic version of this trope is NumberTwo or TheLancer, or TheHero in a BigGood vs Big Bad scenario. TheChampion may be The Dragon if they follow the BigBad, or may play a similar role to a straight Dragon for a nonvillainous character. See also: TheManBehindTheMan, HypercompetentSidekick, PsychoForHire, TheConsigliere.

->''"Harry has a colleague, a monster of a man: Barry the Baptist. He got his name by drowning people for Hatchet. Barry makes sure the 'administrative' side of the business runs harmoniously."''\\
--'''Narrator''', ''Film/LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels''

->''"Harry has a colleague, [[EvilIsBigger a monster of a man]]: Barry the Baptist. He got his name by [[EnhancedInterrogationTechniques drowning people]] for Hatchet. Barry makes sure the 'administrative' side of the business runs harmoniously."''\\

->''"Hatchet Harry has a colleague, [[EvilIsBigger a monster of a man]]: Barry the Baptist. He got his name by [[EnhancedInterrogationTechniques drowning people]] for Hatchet. Barry makes sure 'the administrative side' of the business runs harmoniously."''\\

Now has it's own [[Quotes/TheDragon quote page]]

The heroic version of this trope is NumberTwo or TheLancer, or TheHero in a BigGood vs Big Bad scenario. TheChampion may be The Dragon if they follow the BigBad, or may play a similar role to a straight Dragon for a nonvillainous character. See also: TheManBehindTheMan, HypercompetentSidekick, PsychoForHire, TheConsigliere.

* TheDragon/{{History}}

* DragonInChief - When he is ''more'' dangerous than the Big Bad and the ''de facto'' main villain of the story. Like DragonWithAnAgenda, may be the ManBehindTheMan. Not to be confused with TheHeavy.
* DragonTheirFeet - When the BigBad is defeated or killed first. TheDragon may or may not show up afterwards to rescue or {{aveng|ingTheVillain}}e him, but he might just take his business elsewhere.

The heroic version of this trope is NumberTwo or TheLancer, or TheHero in a BigGood vs Big Bad scenario. TheChampion may be TheDragon if they follow the BigBad, or may play a similar role to a straight Dragon for a nonvillainous character. See also: TheManBehindTheMan, HypercompetentSidekick, PsychoForHire, TheConsigliere.

The Dragon is the BigBad's top enforcer. Some Dragons are ferocious fighters who leave [[EvilPlan the heavy thinking]] to the boss. Others are smart, detail-oriented administrators who oversee the day-to-day running of the evil organization. Either way, defeating the Big Bad almost always requires the hero to overcome the Dragon first. A common but by no means universal theme is to have the Dragon pose a physical challenge to the hero, while the Big Bad poses a mental or moral challenge.

For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with DragonLady, who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'', which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with TheSavageDragon. The heroic version of this trope is NumberTwo or TheLancer, or TheHero in a BigGood vs Big Bad scenario. See also: TheManBehindTheMan, HypercompetentSidekick, PsychoForHire, TheConsigliere.

The term "dragon" originates from folklore where the hero will often fight a ''genuine'' dragon before fighting the more intelligent but weaker Big Bad and described as such in "Literature/TheHeroWithAThousandFaces", a non-fiction comparison of various fantasy heroes written by Joseph Campbell. Hence, dragons (or stand-ins for them) are often portrayed as a Big Bad's second-in-command.

* BigBadDuumvirate - When he achieves equal footing with the Big Bad.