dragon-magic-oef

Black Dragon
Sinister black dragons, masters of
death and decay, sometimes learn
how to use their natural abilities
to corrupt and destroy the lives
of creatures that stray into their
domain. Black dragons of this kind
wallow in the rot of the swamp,
experimenting with their natural
magical ability to produce foul
toxins and clouds of poison. Many
black dragons that follow this path
take human form and walk among
the people of a town or village,
spreading their corruption with
malicious glee. Additionally, these
monsters can become notorious
assassins, accepting huge bribes and
offerings to slip into the court of a
powerful noble or ruler and dispose
of him with subtle poisons. By twisting
their own energies in this way,
the dragons permanently alter their
connection to magic, producing a
bloodline of dragons that share these
sinister abilities.
Stinking Cloud (Sp): Once per day,
a juvenile or older black dragon can use stinking cloud as a
spell-like ability. This replaces the dragon’s normal darkness
spell-like ability.
Subtle Taint (Sp): Once per day, an adult or older black
dragon can taint up to 1 gallon of water or other liquid with
a simple touch. This ability makes any liquid poisonous (the
equivalent of arsenic; see DMG 296) for 1 hour. Any liquidbased
magic item (such as a potion) must succeed on a Will
save (DC equal to that of the dragon’s frightful presence)
or become poisonous, though this doesn’t eliminate the
item’s normal effect. Liquids tainted in this way appear and
taste the same as before, giving no indication that they are
poisoned until consumed. This replaces the black dragon’s
normal corrupt water spell-like ability, and is the equivalent
of a 2nd-level spell.
Cloudkill (Sp): Twice per day, an ancient or older black
dragon can use cloudkill as a spell-like ability. This replaces
the dragon’s normal insect plague spell-like ability.
Black Dragon Variant Special Abilities
Age
Ability
Juvenile Stinking cloud
Adult Subtle taint
Ancient Cloudkill
A black dragon with a variant special ability can be a nasty surprise
dragon of similar age, but when the brass dragon comes
with allies, the tables can turn quickly. One family of blue
dragons, constantly hounded and driven out of their lairs
by groups of brass dragons, was forced to evolve to properly
defend their homes. They have honed their innate connection
to electricity and can summon powerful storms capable of
knocking entire flights of dragons out of the sky. Moreover,
blue dragons of this lineage engage in more active assaults
against their enemies, sneaking up to attack their homes at
inopportune times. These blue dragons are masterful tacticians
and usually seek to pick off a group of brass dragons
one at a time, eliminating them slowly but deliberately to
weaken their numerical advantage.
Invisibility (Sp): Once per day, an adult or older blue
dragon can use invisibility as a spell-like ability. This replaces
the dragon’s normal ventriloquism spell-like ability.
Confusion (Sp): Once per day, an old or older blue dragon
can use confusion as a spell-like ability. This replaces the
dragon’s normal hallucinatory terrain spell-like ability.
Call Lightning Storm (Sp): Once per day, an ancient or
older dragon can use call lightning storm as a spell-like ability;
treat this as if it were a spell cast during a thunderstorm or
similarly adverse weather. This replaces the dragon’s normal
veil spell-like ability.
Illus. by L. Parrillo
CHAPTER 4
DRACONIC
BEASTS
Blue Dragon
One of the only true threats to a blue dragon in its natural
environment is the presence of a group of brass dragons. In
a one-on-one fight, a blue dragon will usually defeat a brass
Blue Dragon Variant Special Abilities
Age
Ability
Adult Invisibility
Old
Confusion
Ancient Call lightning storm
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