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Necromantic Dragon (Evil), Draconis mortiferus
| Climate/Terrain: |
Warm and Temperate hills and mountains and underground |
| Organization: |
Wyrmling, very young, young, juvenile and young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); adult, mature adult, old, very old, ancient, wyrm or great wyrm: solitary, pair or family (1-2 and 2-5 offspring) |
| Challenge Rating: |
Wyrmling 3; very young 4; young 8; juvenile 10; young adult 12; adult 16; mature adult 18; old 20; very old 22; ancient 25; wyrm 27; great wyrm 30 |
| Treasure: |
Double Standard |
| Alignment: |
Always Neutral Evil |
| Advancement: |
Wyrmling 7-8 HD (Small); very young 10-11 HD (Medium-sized); young 13-14 HD (Medium-sized); juvenile 16-17 HD (Large); young adult 19-20 HD (Large); adult 22-23 HD (Huge); mature adult 25-26 HD (Huge); old 28-29 HD (Huge); very old 21-32 HD (Gargantuan); ancient 34-35 HD (Gargantuan); wyrm 37-38 HD (Gargantuan); great wyrm 40+ HD (Colossal) |
Necromantic dragons, or draconis mortiferus, are among the most sinister of dragons. They thrive on the death and suffering of other creatures and often have undead servants.
Upon hatching, the wyrmlings are very similar in appearance to that of a black dragon, being a glossy black with small scales. As the dragon ages, its scales become larger and thicker and acquires a sickly gray color with brown undertones. Once mature, the dragon's color resembles that of a rotting carcass. At this time, they develop a foul stench, smelling like rot and decay. Its hide seems decayed and its wings appear to be rotting flesh, although this is just an impression of its coloration.
Necromantic dragons prefer secluded lairs, with large chambers and passages. The lair stinks of death and foulness. They will not eat fresh meat and only dine on flesh if it has been rotting for some time. They have developed a taste for black onyxes.
Combat
Although they are adept at combat, the mortiferus prefer to use their undead servants for most fights, only entering the fight if the situation becomes one in which such servants can not handle. Undead servants created by the dragon tend to be stronger then those encounter elsewhere. Attempts to turn these undead are also harder to succeed at. Juvenile dragons will attempt to inflict opponents with diseases, often spreading several types among a group. Older dragons use their circle of death and finger of death abilities in attempt to slay opponents quickly. Although not an innate spell-like ability, the oldest dragons will usually learn hide life.
Breath Weapon (Su): The dragon's breath weapon is a cone of black fumes that drains the life energy of those caught within it. Creatures within the cone gain the number of negative levels as listed; the saving throw to remove the negative levels is listed as well. A successful Reflex save at the same DC reduces the number of negative levels by half. The dragon can use its breath weapon once every 1d4 rounds.
Ability Drain (Su): The bite of a necromantic dragon permanently drains the opponent of Strength, unless they succeed at a Fortitude save at the listed DC.
Detect Undead (Su): The mortiferus can sense the presence of undead at will.
Sway Undead (Su): The dragon can attempt to rebuke or command undead as a cleric of the listed caster level. The number of times per day is equal to 3 plus its Charisma modifier.
Desecrate (Su): Upon reaching a young age, the dragon begins radiating an aura that duplicates the effects of the desecrate spell. The ability can be negated or suppressed, however the dragon can start the ability again on its turn as a free action.
Necromancy Familiarity (Ex): Necromantic dragons have a racial bonus on all saving throws versus necromancy spells. The bonus increases as the dragon ages.
Spell-like Abilities: 4/day contagion and create undead; 3/day circle of death and finger of death; 2/day magic jar and wail of the banshee.
Immunities (Ex): The dragon is immune to sleep and paralysis effects.
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Age |
Size |
Hit Dice (hp) |
AC |
Attack Bonus |
Fort Save |
Ref Save |
Will Save |
Breath Weapon/Ability Drain (DC) |
Fear DC |
SR |
|
Wyrmling |
S |
6d12+12 (51 hp) |
16 (+1 size, +5 natural) |
+8 |
+7 |
+5 |
+7 |
1/1d3 (15) |
- |
- |
|
Very Young |
M |
9d12+27 (85 hp) |
18 (+8 natural) |
+11 |
+9 |
+6 |
+8 |
2/1d4 (17) |
- |
- |
|
Young |
M |
12d12+36 (114 hp) |
21 (+11 natural) |
+15 |
+11 |
+8 |
+11 |
2/1d4 (19) |
- |
- |
|
Juvenile |
L |
15d12+60 (157 hp) |
23 (-1 size, +14 natural) |
+18 |
+13 |
+9 |
+13 |
3/1d6 (21) |
- |
18 |
|
Young Adult |
L |
18d12+90 (207 hp) |
26 (-1 size, +17 natural) |
+23 |
+16 |
+11 |
+15 |
4/1d6 (24) |
23 |
20 |
|
Adult |
H |
21d12+105 (241 hp) |
28 (-2 size, +20 natural) |
+27 |
+17 |
+12 |
+17 |
4/1d8 (25) |
25 |
21 |
|
Mature Adult |
H |
24d12+144 (300 hp) |
31 (-2 size, +23 natural) |
+31 |
+20 |
+14 |
+19 |
5/1d8 (28) |
27 |
23 |
|
Old |
H |
27d12+189 (364 hp) |
34 (-2 size, +26 natural) |
+35 |
+22 |
+15 |
+21 |
6/1d8 (30) |
29 |
25 |
|
Very Old |
G |
30d12+240 (435 hp) |
34 (-4 size, +39 natural) |
+37 |
+25 |
+17 |
+23 |
6/2d4 (33) |
31 |
27 |
|
Ancient |
G |
33d12+297 (511 hp) |
38 (-4 size, +32 natural) |
+41 |
+27 |
+18 |
+25 |
7/2d4 (35) |
33 |
29 |
|
Wyrm |
G |
36d12+360 (594 hp) |
41 (-4 size, +35 natural) |
+45 |
+30 |
+20 |
+28 |
8/2d6 (38) |
36 |
31 |
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Great Wyrm |
C |
39d12+390 (643 hp) |
40 (-8 size, +38 natural) |
+45 |
+31 |
+21 |
+30 |
9/2d8 (39) |
38 |
32 |
|
Age |
Speed |
Str |
Dex |
Con |
Int |
Wis |
Cha |
Special Abilties |
Caster Level |
|
Wyrmling |
60 ft, fly 150 ft (average) |
13 |
10 |
15 |
11 |
15 |
14 |
Detect Undead, Necromancy Familiarity +1 |
- |
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Very Young |
60 ft, fly 150 ft (poor) |
15 |
10 |
17 |
13 |
15 |
14 |
- |
- |
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Young |
60 ft, fly 150 ft (poor) |
17 |
10 |
17 |
13 |
17 |
16 |
Desecrate, Necromancy Familiarity +2, Sway Undead |
1st |
|
Juvenile |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (poor) |
19 |
10 |
19 |
15 |
19 |
18 |
Contagion |
3rd |
|
Young Adult |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (poor) |
23 |
10 |
21 |
15 |
19 |
18 |
Damage Reduction 5/+1 |
5th |
|
Adult |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (poor) |
27 |
10 |
21 |
17 |
21 |
20 |
Create Undead, Circle of Death, Necromancy Familiarity +3 |
7th |
|
Mature Adult |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (poor) |
29 |
10 |
23 |
19 |
21 |
20 |
Damage Reduction 10/+2 |
9th |
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Old |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (poor) |
31 |
10 |
25 |
21 |
23 |
22 |
Magic Jar |
11th |
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Very Old |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (clumsy) |
33 |
10 |
27 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
Damage Reduction 15/+2, Necromancy Familiarity +4 |
13th |
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Ancient |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (clumsy) |
35 |
10 |
29 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
Finger of Death |
15th |
|
Wyrm |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (clumsy) |
37 |
10 |
31 |
25 |
27 |
26 |
Damage Reduction 20/+3 |
17th |
|
Great Wyrm |
60 ft, fly 200 ft (clumsy) |
39 |
10 |
31 |
27 |
29 |
28 |
Wail of the Banshee, Necromancy Familiarity +5 |
19th |
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