Blade Dragon
From Monsterbook
This dragon is slender with scales the color of cold iron and narrow wings that taper to a fine edge. It has sharp, sabre-like horns and teeth. It's extremely long tail ends in a halberd-like blade which dances about, poised to strike.
YOUNG ADULT BLADE DRAGON (CR 10)
- Always N Large dragon
- Init +2; Senses blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 120 ft., low-light; Listen +22, Spot +22
- Languages: common, draconic, dwarvish
- AC 35, touch 11, flat-footed 33
- (-1 size, +2 Dex, +16 natural, +4 armor, +4 shield) mage armor and shield pre-cast
- hp 161 (17 HD); half-damage from slashing weapons
- Immune: sleep and paralysis
- SR 19
- Fort +13, Ref +12, Will +12
- Speed 50 ft., fly 150 ft. (average)
- Melee bite +22 (2d6+5), 2 claws +20 (1d8+2), 2 wings +20 (1d8+2), and tail +20 (2d6+7, crit 19-20) keen edge pre-cast on tail
- Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft., 10 ft. with bite
- Base Atk +17; Grp +26
- Special Actions breath attack 5d8 (DC 21)
- Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th)
- 3/day--keen edge, mage armor, shield, spiritual weapon
- Abilities Str 21, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 14
- SQ frightful presence (DC 20)
- Feats alertness, blind-fight, combat expertise, flyby attack, improved disarm, multiattack
- Skills Appraise 10 (+12), Bluff 10 (+12), Concentration 15 (+17), Craft (weaponsmith) 20 (+22), Diplomacy 10 (+12), Intimidate 15 (+17), Knowledge (dungeoneering) 10 (+12), Knowledge (geography) 10 (+12), Listen 20 (+22), Sense Motive 20 (+22), Spot 20 (+22).
Breath Weapon (Su): 80 ft. line of force blades. Reflex save (DC 21) for half damage. affects ethereal.
Frightful Presence (Ex): 150 ft. range, DC 20.
The blade dragon is a true dragon although it does not relate well with it's chromatic or metallic cousins. It's armored scales are honed to a razor sharp point, it's wings have a blade-like edge to them, and it's tail ends in a large, heavy, chopping blade (damage from a blade dragon's wing and tail attacks inflict slashing damage--also, their tails inflict damage as if they were one size category larger). They are slightly weaker than most of the other true dragons, although more agile and maneuverable. They are also less inclined to magic, gaining no spell-casting abilities except for their spell-like abilities.
Blade dragons collect treasure hordes, although they have an extraordinary fondness for blades of all types. A long-established lair will have axes, swords, and blades of all types. Cheaper blades are sometimes gnawed on like an old toy, while fine blades--particularly magical--are cherished and polished.
Strategies and Tactics
When possible a blade dragon will pre-cast mage armor and shield plus keen edge on it's own tail. Although capable fighters, the blade dragon really prefers not to get hit at all.
At range: It will cast multiple spiritual weapon's allowing them to fight in his place, keeping his distance and using his breath attack.
At medium range: If not defending his lair and treasure, the blade dragon will take flight, continuing to use his breath attack and spiritual weapon ability (animate blades if a Wyrm or greater). If unable to fly, it will cast mage's sword followed by blade barrier trying to keep part of his enemies away from him on the far side of the barrier.
If forced into melee it will try to disarm any fighters that wield non-slashing weapons with at least one of it's attacks each round.
Adventure Hooks
A dwarven weaponsmith has been trading for years with a blade dragon. Recently one of his apprentices accidentally included an adamantine bastard sword that was supposed to be for a visiting noble. The blade dragon has refused to return the blade and has killed the last group sent to bargain for it's return.
A blade dragon has learned of a cargo ship carrying weapons to a military outpost. He forces the ship aground on a desert island and keeps returning each day to carry off as many blades as he can.
A blade dragon and an elven noble are comparing their collections of swords. The PCs are called as judges to determine which of them has the finest blades; And neither of the collectors are good losers.
Ecology and Society
Blade dragons are reclusive, avoiding other dragons, usually even their own kind. Because of this they rarely mate, and when the male feels it is time to produce offspring, it will seek out a female and usually must bribe her with some kind of treasure.
Blade dragons have a love/hate relationship with dwarves since they produce such fine steel weapons. This can lead to healthy trade sometimes; or more likely jealousy, theft, or all-out war. Blade dragon lairs are usually underground, preferably in a dry area that is less prone to rust.
Blade Dragon Lore
Knowledge (Arcana)
DC 15: That is definitely a dragon. This result reveals all dragon traits.
DC 20: This dragon has dangerous, sword-like natural weapons, particularly it's tail.
DC 25: These dragons love rare blades for their treasure hordes.
Blade Dragons by Age
Base Attack/ Fort Ref Will Breath Fear Age Size HD (hp) ST DX CN IN WS CH Grapple Save Save Save Weapon DC Wyrmling S 5(32) 11 14 11 10 11 10 +5/+1 +4 +6 +4 1d8/12 -- Very young M 8(60) 13 14 13 10 11 10 +8/+9 +7 +8 +6 2d8/14 -- Young M 11(82) 15 14 13 12 13 12 +11/+13 +8 +9 +8 3d8/16 -- Juvenile L 14(119) 17 14 15 14 15 14 +14/+21 +11 +11 +10 4d8/19 -- Young adult L 17(161) 21 14 17 14 15 14 +17/+26 +13 +12 +12 5d8/21 20 Adult H 20(210) 25 14 19 16 17 16 +20/+35 +16 +14 +14 6d8/24 23 Mature adult H 23(241) 27 14 19 16 17 16 +23/+39 +17 +15 +15 7d8/25 24 Old H 26(299) 29 14 21 18 19 18 +26/+43 +20 +17 +18 8d8/28 27 Very old H 29(333) 31 14 21 18 19 18 +29/+47 +21 +18 +19 9d8/29 28 Ancient G 32(400) 33 14 23 20 21 20 +32/+55 +24 +20 +22 10d8/32 31 Wyrm G 35(472) 35 14 25 20 21 20 +35/+59 +26 +21 +23 11d8/34 32 Great wyrm G 38(513) 37 14 25 22 23 22 +38/+63 +28 +23 +26 12d8/36 35
Blade Dragon Abilities by Age
Age Speed Armor Class (+2 Dex) Special Abilities SR CL Wyrmling 50, fly 100 (avg) 17 (+1 size, +4 natural) Half-damage from slashing -- - Very young 50, fly 150 (avg) 19 (+7 natural) shield 3/day -- 2 Young 50, fly 150 (avg) 22 (+10 natural) mage armor 3/day -- 3 Juvenile 50, fly 150 (avg) 24 (-1 size, +13 natural) spiritual weapon 3/day -- 4 Young adult 50, fly 150 (avg) 27 (-1 size, +16 natural) keen edge 3/day 19 5 Adult 50, fly 150 (avg) 29 (-2 size, +19 natural) DR 5/magic 21 6 Mature adult 50, fly 150 (avg) 32 (-2 size, +22 natural) mage's sword 1/day 22 7 Old 50, fly 150 (avg) 35 (-2 size, +25 natural) DR 10/magic 24 8 Very old 50, fly 150 (avg) 38 (-2 size, +28 natural) blade barrier 1/day 25 9 Ancient 50, fly 150 (avg) 39 (-4 size, +31 natural) DR 15/magic 27 10 Wyrm 50, fly 150 (avg) 42 (-4 size, +34 natural) animate blades 1/day 28 11 Great wyrm 50, fly 150 (avg) 45 (-4 size, +37 natural) DR 20/magic 30 12
Challenge Rating: Wyrmling 3; very young 4; young 5; juvenile 8; young adult 10; adult 12; mature adult 15; old 17; very old 18; ancient 20; wyrm 21; great wyrm 23.
Breath Weapon (Su): A blade dragon can breathe a line of swirling force blades similar to those created by a blade barrier spell every 1d4 rounds. The damage from the breath is a magical force effect and so is not reduced by damage reduction, although a successful reflex save will reduce the damage by half.
Animate Blades (Sp): A blade dragon can cause all blades in a 60 ft. radius to animate and attack it's wielder. Unattended blades will spring to life but just dance about, only attacking any creature that passes through it's space. A creature in possession of a blade can attempt a Will save (DC 21) to maintain control of the blade, otherwise it continues to make a single attack against it's owner each round for four rounds, then falls to the ground. For purposes of this spell, a blade counts as any melee weapon that deals slashing damage. The animated blade attacks using the blade dragon's base attack plus charisma bonus and inflicts normal weapon damage. The save DC is Charisma-based.
