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GULGOLDEEP IN THE SWAMPS OF A MARSHY ISTHMUS the sizeof a small continent, a self-proclaimed god who callsherself the Lizard Queen demands worship from thenative lizardfolk and tribute from all others.This ponderous beast is unlike any black dragonknown to adventurers or sages. Others of her kindare sinuous and slender, with low-slung bodies, butGulgol is a massive, corpulent creature. Leatheryflesh bulges between scales that never grew sufficientlyto cover her astonishing bulk. It hangs in rollsfrom her tail, from her neck, and beneath her squinting,porcine eyes. She breathes heavily with exertion,her legs bent beneath her heavy body, and her voice isa deep rasp punctuated by sharp inhalations.Do not mistake her corpulence and pumpingbreath for a sign of weakness, or assume that herinherent laziness makes her an easy target. Thosewho do rarely survive to appreciate the magnitude oftheir error.GulgolLevel 20 Solo BruteElder black dragonHuge natural magical beast (aquatic, dragon) XP 14,000Initiative +13 Senses Perception +18; darkvisionHP 1,190; Bloodied 595; see also bloodied breathAC 38; Fortitude 35, Reflex 28, Will 35Resist 25 acidSaving Throws +5Speed 8, fly 8 (hover), overland flight 16, swim 9Action Points 2m Bite (standard; at-will) ✦ AcidReach 3; +23 vs. AC; 5d6 + 6 damage, and ongoing 10 aciddamage (save ends).m Claw (standard; at-will)Reach 3; +23 vs. AC; 5d6 + 6 damage.M Double Attack (standard; at-will)Gulgol makes two claw attacks.M Tail Slash (immediate reaction, when an enemy misses Gulgolwith a melee attack; at-will)Gulgol attacks the triggering enemy; reach 3; +23 vs. AC; 3d12+ 6 damage, and the target is pushed 2 squares.C Breath Weapon (standard; recharge ⚄ ⚅) ✦ AcidClose blast 5; +21 vs. Reflex; 4d10 + 9 acid damage, and thetarget takes ongoing 20 acid damage and a –4 penalty to AC(save ends both).C Bloodied Breath (free, when first bloodied; encounter) ✦ AcidGulgol’s breath weapon recharges, and the dragon uses itimmediately.C Fog of Obedience (standard; recharge ⚃ ⚄ ⚅) ✦ CharmClose burst 2; +21 vs. Will; on its next turn, the target mustmake a melee or ranged basic attack against the last creatureto attack Gulgol. If no creature attacked Gulgol in the previousround, the target instead loses its standard action. Miss: Thetarget is dazed until the end of Gulgol’s next turn.C Frightful Presence (standard; encounter) ✦ FearClose burst 5; targets enemies; +21 vs. Will; the target isstunned until the end of Gulgol’s next turn. Aftereffect: Thetarget takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls (save ends).C Vitriolic Spray (standard; recharge ⚄ ⚅) ✦ AcidClose blast 5; +21 vs. Reflex; 3d10 + 9 acid damage, and thetarget is blinded until the end of Gulgol’s next turn (on a criticalhit, save ends instead). Miss: Half damage, and the target is notblinded.Alignment EvilLanguages Common, Draconic, Elven,Giant, PrimordialSkills Intimidate +20, Nature +18Str 22 (+16) Dex 17 (+13) Wis 17 (+13)Con 28 (+19) Int 18 (+14) Cha 21 (+15)Gulgol LoreA character knows the following information with asuccessful Arcana or History check.DC 15: Gulgol is a great black dragon that dwellsin the depths of the Fenreach. Gulgol has dwelt in theswamp for several centuries. She eventually grew todominance over the rest of her clutch, and rumor hasit she consumed her siblings.DC 20: The swamp’s lizardfolk and other tribesconsider Gulgol a god, serving her fanatically. Communitiesof the swamp must send her tribute or beraided by her followers, and travelers who grow lostin the Fenreach must choose whether to be enslavedor eaten, unless they are rich enough to buy theirfreedom. She insists on being addressed as “QueenGulgol” or “Your Majesty.” Anything less is an insult,and those who offend Gulgol become her next meal.DC 25: Gulgol’s zealous followers include a covenof bog hags—named Zunuris, Ilbotha, and Shenvush—and their servitor trolls; a tribe of savage humans andtheir clutch of semitrained fen hydras; and a tribe ofblackscale lizardfolk whose name translates looselyTHE FENREACHThe distant Fenreach is an isthmus that connects twogreat landmasses. It is nearly the size of a small continentand is covered by deep swamp and marshy forest. Severalrivers run through it, allowing merchant vessels to travelacross the Fenreach rather than circumnavigating thecontinents, but these waterways are tricky, hidden, andimpassable without the services of native guides whoseservices do not come cheap. The humanoid inhabitants ofthe Fenreach dwell in small villages built on hummocks,or in trading stations constructed in the wrecks of ships.Life here is hard: sweltering, vermin-ridden, waterlogged,and beset by hunger and plague. Further, thepeople here must deal constantly with lizardfolk, yuanti,hideous reptiles, and even undead. And worse thanthem all, spoken of only in hushed whispers and bedtimetales meant to frighten children, is Queen Gulgol, selfproclaimedgod of the swamp and all who dwell within.A character knows this information with a successfulDC 20 History or Nature check.238CHAPTER 4 | New Monsters