dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 2
DRAGON
ASPIRANTS
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commanders or visiting an enemy encampment under a
flag of truce, a dragon lord’s reputation can turn hostility
to indifference—a sign that enemy soldiers respect his
accomplishments.
DRAGON LORD LORE
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (local) can research
dragon lords to learn more about them. When a character
makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including
the information from lower DCs.
DC 10: Dragon lords are warlords who model their tactics
after those used by dragons.
DC 15: Dragon lords adhere to a philosophy that defeating
enemies without combat is just as desirable as overcoming
them on the field of battle.
DC 20: Dragon lords have such a presence in combat that
they can drive off veteran soldiers simply by intimidating
them, and a favorite tactic is to utterly crush a foe before
demoralizing its allies.
DC 30: Characters who achieve this level of success can
learn important details about a specific notable dragon lord,
the areas where he operates, and the kinds of activities he
undertakes.
Dragon lords are not hard to locate, especially since their
names and deeds are on the tongue of almost everyone who
meets them. Finding a dragon lord is usually as simple as
inquiring at military encampments or with mercenary bands,
especially those with a reputation for overrunning an opposing
force and sending enemies fleeing.
DRAGON LORDS IN THE GAME
A dragon lord can be a challenging inclusion in a goodaligned
campaign, but such a character should fit naturally
in games that feature a more ambiguous view of the nature
of good and evil. Players who wish to be party leaders or
command their own forces will likely find this prestige
class appealing, especially since dragon lords are usually
wrecking balls who can smash foes and send other enemies
packing. Most dragon lords have little difficulty accepting
other adventurers as equals (except for those who shy from
challenges or flee in fear), so they integrate well into diverse
parties, though sometimes they clash with paladins for the
same reason they clash with other dragon lords.
Adaptation
Dragon lords need very little adaptation to fit into other
campaign models. If the world does not have dragons in
abundance, just change the philosophy of this prestige class
so that it’s based on defeating enemies without necessarily
resorting to violence. Replace the draconic aura bonus feats
with simple fighter bonus feats to give the characters prowess
in combat without relying on dragons or draconic abilities.
Sample Encounter
A dragon lord makes a great foe but a difficult ally, especially
when a conflict of interest arises between one and the rest
of the adventuring party.
EL 9: The half-orc dragon lord Master Ghorkel leads a
band of mercenaries known as the White Talon. His troupe
remains camped outside a major settlement while quartermasters
purchase supplies, but the idle time makes Ghorkel
and his compatriots restless. At night, they engage in raids
on outlying buildings, staging hit-and-run attacks against
hapless citizens in a cruel game designed to cow their targets
into submission. One night, Ghorkel undertakes a raid
by himself, seeking to capture a young human woman he
encountered on a previous outing. Brutish and driven by
desire, Ghorkel stages his raid just as the adventuring party
approaches, giving them ample time to intervene and send
the bully back to his camp without his prize.
Master Ghorkel CR 9
Male half-orc fighter 6/dragon lord 3
NE Large humanoid
Init +0; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Listen –1, Spot –1
Aura draconic aura (presence)
Languages Common, Orc
AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 20
(armor +10)
Resist 25% chance to negate extra damage from sneak
attack or critical hit
hp 67 (9 HD)
Fort +9, Ref +3, Will +4
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee +1 greatsword +15/+10 (2d6+5/19–20) or
Melee dagger +13/+8 (1d4+4/19–20)
Base Atk +9; Grp +13
Atk Options Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Mounted Combat,
Power Attack
Special Actions reckless devotion, divide and conquer
Abilities Str 18, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 14
Feats Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Iron Will, Leadership,
Mounted Combat, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Intimidate),
Weapon Focus (greatsword)
Skills Intimidate +14*, Listen –1, Ride +3, Spot –1
* Ghorkel has a +1 bonus on Intimidate checks when he
projects his draconic aura.
Possessions +2 full plate of light fortification, +1 greatsword,
dagger, heavy warhorse
Draconic Aura (Presence) As a swift action, Ghorkel can
project an aura that grants him and all allies within 30
feet a +1 bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate
checks. The aura remains in effect until he dismisses it
(as a free action) or until he is killed or rendered
unconscious. See page 86 for details on draconic auras.
Reckless Devotion (Su) Once per day, Ghorkel can inspire
two allies, granting them 5 temporary hit points, a +1
bonus on melee attack and melee damage rolls, and a +1
bonus on saves. Cohorts or followers of Ghorkel gain
double the normal benefits. All benefits last for 3 rounds.
Divide and Conquer (Ex) Whenever Ghorkel is flanked by two
or more creatures, he gains a +2 bonus on damage rolls
against each flanker.