In order for a prospective Dragonlord to hatch their dragon egg, the egg must be kept in conditions that mirror the nest of its particular subtype of dragon:

• Copper. The egg must be coated in acid. This can be done with non-magical acid once a day, or by using spells such as Acid Splash once a day.

• Brass. The egg must be kept hot. Hot coals work, or keeping it in a smithy’s furnace, as does using spells such as Fire Bolt.

• Bronze. The egg must be exposed to the sky for 12 hours a day or suffused with electricity once a day. The Shocking Grasp spell could be used.

• Silver. These eggs must be kept cool and dark. Packing an egg in ice would work, or using a spell such as Ray of Frost once an hour.

• Gold. A gold egg must be kept hot, using the same methods as brass dragon eggs.

Dragon eggs are typically discovered in an inert state, capable of remaining dormant indefinitely. Once exposed to conditions resembling a dragon’s nest, an egg begins the hatching process, which takes 3d6 days. If the egg goes 24 hours without these conditions after hatching has begun, the process resets entirely. To bond with a dragon, a prospective Dragonlord must be present when the egg hatches. The newborn dragon must see the Dragonlord before any other living creature. At that moment, the Dragonlord must cast the Bond of the Dragonlord spell, or have it cast on their behalf, to forge the bond between rider and dragon.