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Drakons

Drakons are a sub-species of dragons, similar in many ways to wyverns and drakes, but generally larger, smarter, and more powerful than other lesser dragons. Unlike true dragons, drakons are not innate spellcasters and are flightless, lacking wings. This often causes them to be called "serpents," such as "Fire Serpents" or "River Serpents"--though such naming conventions are never applied to the squatter lava drakons. Drakons grow to full size and maturity very quickly, generally within two years, and can live for 2-3 centuries, but never reach the heights of power of ancient true dragons.

Drakons are closely tied to a specific concept or power, often related to their natural territory. That related power gives drakons revelations similar to those of oracles (and using their HD as their effective oracle level for the power of such revelations). A drakon's stat block lists both the mystery its revelation or revelations come from, and one or more specific revelations. However, like feats, the listed revelations are just typical examples--individual drakons of the same species might well have different revelations from the same mystery.

All drakons written to-date are listed on the Paying-Patron-Exclusive Pathfinder Monster-Article Index.

LAVA DRAKON

Among the most minor of drakonkind, lava drakons are thought to possibly be a bloodline formed from more powerful drakons mating with imperial underworld dragons, magma dragons or possible even tor linnorms. Unlike the relationships between most dragons and drakons, underworld and magma dragons and tor linnorms seem to have a fondness for lava drakons, who in turn respect and wish to please the more powerful dragons and serve them if possible. Lava drakons are also sometimes found in the company of lava drakes, who treat lava drakon as equals despite generally exceeding them in raw power. This social nature also extends to lava drakon themselves, as they are one of the few drakonkin who often form communities of their own kind.

Lava Drakon CR 6XP 2400Neutral Evil Medium Dragon (fire)Init 0; Senses Darkvision, Scent, Tremorsense (60 ft.); Perception +13

DEFENSE AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+7 Natural)hp 66 (7d12+21);Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +5Immunity to fire, paralysis, sleep

OFFENSE Speed 40ft., swim 40ft.Melee Bite Dragon +11 (1d8+6), 2 Claw +11 (1d6+4)Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.Special AttacksBreath Weapon DC 16, 4d6 fire 50ft cone (reset in 1d4 rounds)Ash Cloud (Su) DC 16, 1d6 fire/round, 7 rounds (Volcano Mystery)Erupt (Su) DC 16, 3d6 fire/piercing, 2/day (Volcano Mystery)

STATISTICSStr 19, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 12Base Atk +7; CMB +11 (+13 to sunder); CMD 21 (23 vs sunder)Feats Improved Sunder, Lunge, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception) +2Skills Climb +14, Intimidate +11, Know Geography +11, Know Nature +1, Perception +13, Sense Motive +7, Survival +10, Swim +14Languages Common, DraconicSQ Congeal; Darkvision (60 ft.), Scent, Tremorsense 60 ft.; Immunity to fire, paralysis, sleep, Revelation (Volcano Mystery) ash cloud, erupt, lava walk

ECOLOGY Environment Mountains, UndergroundOrganization Solitary, Clutch 2-6Treasure Standard x 3

Special Qualities Congeal (Ex) When a lava drakon is hit with cold damage, they are slowed (as the spell) for 1d4 rounds and any bleed effect on them ends.

Tactics: Lava drakons are fairly straightforward in combat. They use their ash cloud revelation to gain cover, and try to ensure melee combatants must be within the cloud to reach the drakon. Maintaining the ash cloud is the lava drakon's priority unless it has already proven ineffectual. Lava drakons use their breath weapon anytime its available they can hit 3 or more targets, or no target is within melee range. The erupt revelation is used anytime the drakon is surrounded, or faces multiple adjacent foes and cannot take a full attack action (such as when slowed from a cold effect). Lava drakons prefer to remain near laval flows, and use the molten rock rivers to swim away when overmatched.

(Dragons of the earth or fire subtype often describe lava drakons as 'cute,' and/or 'chonky.' Some artwork copyright Felipe da Silva Faria, used with permission.)