So, a bit of silly hypothetical:
A 21st level dragon is attacked by a rival, and, in the fight, is drained for 4 levels.
What is the result, mechanically, assuming they do not get Restoration?
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Hmm. I honestly don’t think this was thought through by the original writers.
If I were running a 2e game where this happened (and I think this issue is a reason why 3e Athas.org material was smart to separate level from metamorphosis stage), my thought would be that the additional spells per level, additional hit points/hit dice, additional psionics, and the ability to use psionic enchantments would be lost (until the dragon re-earned the XP to level back up), but the agelessness and physical metamorphosis would not reverse, and the dragon would not have to re-cast Defiler Metamorphosis I to regain the full abilities of 21st level dragon, only regain the needed XP.
The dragon metamorphosis is described as irreversible, and it wouldn’t be if a basic energy drain could undo it.
(Another option would be to give advanced beings immunity to level drain.)
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