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172GRAY DRAGONGRAY DRAGONS ARE THE MOST RAPACIOUS, venal, andbrutish of all the chromatics. Their fierce love of thehunt drives them even more than their fondness forgold. They prefer to pursue humanoids or other intelligentcreatures, or prey that is dangerous enough tobe a match for the dragon’s own ability. Some graydragons are so enamored of the hunt that they eagerlywork as mercenaries to track down fugitives (such asadventurers who have looted the keep of the dragon’semployer).This dragon’s oversized mouth is a sea of fangs,and fanglike horns also protrude from its lower jaw,giving it a “beard” of fangs. Its body is armored withbony plates that rise into projecting spurs at limbjoints, and its tail ends in twin, scythelike blades ofbone. Its wide, long wings give the dragon commandof the sky, from where it can look down on fleeingprey.Gray Dragon LoreA character knows the following information with asuccessful Nature check.DC 15: Gray dragons prefer badlands, scrubland,dry prairies, and other flatland terrain, where theycan see potential quarry from miles around as theyride the thermals. Their eyesight is supernaturallyacute, allowing them to distinguish a small herd ofwild horses from a group of mounted humanoids at aheight of miles.DC 20: A gray dragon’s breath weapon is a causticooze that dissolves flesh on contact and for some timethereafter. The ooze becomes sticky on contact withair, hampering and burning the dragon’s prey.Elder and ancient gray dragons have a specialaffinity with stone. They can exude a stony essencethat petrifies foes that have been immobilized bytheir claw or breath weapon attack. An ancient graydragon’s spikes have an elemental resonance that petrifiesnot only the dragon’s primary targets, but alsonearby creatures. This attack can leave a literal fieldof stone in its wake.DC 25: While away from its lair on an extendedhunt, a gray dragon establishes an outpost lair whereit sleeps, feeds, and stores booty. Such an outpost isaccessible only from the air and is not guarded, butthe gray dragon returns to it each night after hunting.Gray dragons habitually leave their permanentlairs abandoned for long periods. During its absence,a gray dragon seals its home lair off from both casualand determined exploration. The inmost areas ofthe lair are sealed with tons of stone in the form ofboulders, limestone slabs, and even petrified victims.Medusas or giants defend the outlying chambers.These creatures do not necessarily serve the grayCHAPTER 4 | New Monstersdragon but have agreed to share the lair complex formutual protection. Sometimes a greedy or powerseekingguardian attempts to hijack an absent graydragon’s hoard.DC 30: Gray dragons do not lay their eggs in theirpermanent lairs but distribute them widely in outpostlairs. Hatching in such harsh conditions cullsthe weak from the breed. From the moment theyhatch, gray dragon wyrmlings are capable of flightand hunting. Those that manage to survive their firstmonths prove themselves tough enough to enjoy along life.DC 35: Originally gray dragons (then called fangdragons) were brutish creatures with no particularelemental power. It is said that a powerful entity,possibly Tiamat or her intermediaries, chose severalunhatched gray dragon eggs to receive special treatment.Placed in a nest lined with cockatrice feathers,infused with medusa blood, and brooded over by aYoung Gray DragonLevel 5 Solo SoldierLarge natural magical beast (dragon) XP 1,000Initiative +6 Senses Perception +10; darkvisionAura of Terror (Fear) aura 5; any enemy within the aura takes a –2penalty to saving throws.HP 325; Bloodied 162; see also bloodied breathAC 23; Fortitude 22, Reflex 21, Will 21Resist 15 acidSaving Throws +5Speed 8, fly 6, overland flight 12Action Points 2m Claw (standard; at-will)Reach 2; +10 vs. AC; 1d8 + 5 damage, and the target isimmobilized and takes ongoing 5 damage (save ends both).m Tail Lash (standard; at-will)Reach 2; +10 vs. AC; 1d6 + 5 damage, and the target takesongoing 5 damage (save ends).M Slicing Fury (standard; at-will)The dragon makes a claw attack against one target and a taillash attack against another target.M Warding Tail (immediate reaction, when an enemy misses thedragon with a melee attack; at-will)The dragon makes a tail lash attack against the triggeringenemy.C Breath Weapon (standard; recharge ⚄ ⚅) ✦ AcidClose blast 5; +9 vs. Fortitude; 1d10 + 3 acid damage, and thetarget is pushed 2 squares. The target also takes ongoing 5 aciddamage and is immobilized (save ends both).C Bloodied Breath (free, when first bloodied; encounter) ✦ AcidThe dragon’s breath weapon recharges, and the dragon uses itimmediately.C Frightful Presence (standard; encounter) ✦ FearClose burst 5; targets enemies; +8 vs. Will; the target is stunneduntil the end of the dragon’s next turn. Aftereffect: The targettakes a –2 penalty to attack rolls (save ends).Alignment Evil Languages Common, DraconicSkills Arcana +9, Intimidate +8Str 20 (+7) Dex 15 (+4) Wis 16 (+5)Con 17 (+5) Int 14 (+4) Cha 13 (+3)EVA WIDERMANN