dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 4
DRACONIC
BEASTS
Illus. by C. Critchlow
fight. Once the spelleater has absorbed several spells and
enhanced its own capabilities, it goes after other creatures,
taking down the biggest threats first and then moving to
weaker foes. Additionally, if a foe reveals itself as a spellcaster
in the spelleater’s presence, the spelleater immediately attacks
that creature. All of the spelleater’s natural instincts demand
that it dispense with casters first, driving its combat tactics
above all else.
When faced with multiple spellcasters, a spelleater tries
to single out the most powerful (the one that appears to be
capable of dealing the most damage) and attack that target
first. This desire to eliminate spellcasters is so strong that the
creature occasionally ignores larger threats from noncasting
opponents in order to continue assaulting a spellcaster.
When clearly outmatched, a spelleater tries to fortify itself
with as many devoured spells as possible before fleeing to
plan another attack.
SAMPLE ENCOUNTER
Spelleaters are compelled to target spellcasters above all else
and seek to destroy them whenever possible, regardless of
the circumstances.
Bull in a China Shop (EL 14): A spurned wizard seeks
revenge on his former associates, striking a bargain with
a malevolent spelleater to settle an old score. While many
adventuring spellcasters roam the city, the wizard turns the
spelleater loose in a busy town square, hoping that it will
find and slay some of his former colleagues. The creature
starts charging through the crowded streets, boosting its
own abilities when spellcasters come to the city’s defense.
ECOLOGY
Spelleaters were created long ago by ancient dragon spellcasters
as a response to the rise of humanoid wizards throughout
the world. Fearing that these new, lesser spellcasters might
somehow drain the world of magic, the ancient dragons engineered
spelleaters to hunt down and kill wizards, sorcerers,
and other users of arcane magic.
Once turned loose, the
spelleaters proved to
be far more powerful
than the dragons
had imagined and
became a threat
even to them.
Most spelleaters
were destroyed by their dragon masters, but some survived
and went into hiding.
Spelleaters are intelligent creatures of the dragon type that
live in pocket communities far from the rest of the world.
Inside them burns a hunger to devour arcane spellcasters,
a desire that they sometimes barely keep at bay. Spelleaters
hide from dragons and humanoid civilizations, fearing not
only that they will be hunted and destroyed but also that an
exposure to magical energies might stoke the fires of their
hatred for spellcasters. They’re smart enough to avoid situations
that might invite armed response.
Spelleaters live in small family groups of 6 to 10 creatures,
with communal mates and shared child-rearing duties. Most
family groups produce young in consistent generations;
entire broods hatch within a few weeks of one another. Upon
reaching maturity, spelleaters venture out to find other young
members of their race, forming their own family groups. They
are highly protective of their families and quick to lash out
at any threats.
Environment: Spelleaters prefer to live in cool, moist
environments, preferably forests and grasslands on the edges
of frostfell areas. They love natural caves on frozen tundra,
which remain cool but also protect them from snow or ice on
the outside. Spelleaters can survive in almost any environment,
though they become highly agitated and hostile in hot,
arid locales. If exposed to desert climates for long periods of
time, spelleaters become almost bestial and seek to return to
a more comfortable location with all haste.
Typical Physical Characteristics: Spelleaters are massive
beasts, roughly as large as some young adult dragons and
weighing almost twice as much. Their thick, bony armor is
snug to their bodies, fitting together in overlapping plates.
Female spelleaters have armor with smoother curves and
flowing connections, whereas male spelleaters have armor
plates with abrupt angles and interlocking edges.
SOCIETY
Spelleaters have no overarching society and live in
small family groups. Extremely xenophobic,
they tend to be highly protective
of their families
and will fight even other
spelleaters that encroach
upon their homes. Spelleaters
consider themselves
dragons (though most true
dragons do not) and have inherited
some of the societal traits of
their creators. Most spelleaters believe
themselves to be superior to other
creatures—some feel this extends
even to dragons—and
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