Still Not Done With PF1: Moon Drakon (Patreon)

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 "Swamp Serpents" or "River Serpents." 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.

Moon Drakon CR 13XP 25600Neutral Evil Huge Dragon (Shapechanger)Init +0; Senses Blindsight 10, Darkvision 120, Scent; Perception +21

DEFENSE AC 30, touch 12, flat-footed 26 (+4 Charisma, +18 Natural, -2 size)hp 157 (15d12+60);Fort +13, Ref +13, Will +15Damage reduction 15/silver, Immunity to mind-affecting effects, paralysis, polymorph, sleep

OFFENSE Speed 40ft.Melee Bite +20 (2d8+10), 2 Claw +20 (2d6+7), Crush +18 (2d8+3), Tail Slap Dragon +18 (2d6+10)Ranged Moonbeam +13 touch (1d6+7)(DC 21 Fort save or be blinded 1 round)Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 feet with bite, 20 feet with tail)Special AttacksLunacy Breath (Su) 60 ft cone of confusion, DC 21 Will save or be confused for 15 rounds (1 round/HD)Tail Lash (Ex) A moon drakon can make a number of extra attacks of opportunity per round equal to it's Intelligence bonus (normally +4). These additional attacks of opportunity must be taken using its tail, which has 20 feet reach. This ability counts as Combat Reflexes for purposes of prerequisites, and the drakon's HD count as fighter levels for purposes of prerequisites for feats that also have combat reflexes as a prerequisite.

STATISTICSStr 25, Dex 10, Con 19, Int 18, Wis 19, Cha 18Base Atk +15; CMB +24; CMD 34Feats Alertness, Celestial Guidance, Iron Will, Multiattack, Pin Down, Power Attack, Shrewd Tactician, Stand StillSkills Acrobatics +15, Diplomacy +22, Heal +22, Intimidate +22, Know Arcana +22, Know Local +22, Perception +21, Sense Motive +22, Spellcraft +22, Stealth +10Languages Common, Draconic, SylvanSQ Blindsight 10, Damage reduction 15/silver, Darkvision 120, Immunity to paralysis, sleep, scent; Revelation (Lunar Mystery) Form of the Beast (as beast shape IV, 1/day, 15 hours), Moonbeam (4/day), Moonlit Bridge (4/day), Moonlit Script, Prophetic Armor (included in AC)

ECOLOGY Environment Any wildernessOrganization Solitary, Clutch 2-3Treasure Standard x 3

Special QualitiesMoon-Touched (Ex): The mind of a moon drakon is constantly exposed to the supernatural influence of the moon, and their body constantly shifts in time with phases of the moon. This results in their natural immunity to both mind-affecting effects and polymorph, and their having the shapechanger subtype even when they don't have the Form of the Beast revelation from the Lunar Mystery.

(A moon drakon during a full moon, with bright scales and full silver orbs for eyes. Art by Петр Костюк.)

Moon drakons are long, lean, and lithe, with bodies that seem to coil and twist even when they aren't in motion. The coloration of moon drakons scales changes with the phases of the moon, from bright silver-white during a full moon to matte black at the new moon. The eyes of a drakon also perfectly mimic the phases of the moon in appearance, lacking any apparent pupil or iris. They have two long horns which they do not use in combat, but can often be found using to move tree branches or other impediments to their night-gazing our of their view.

The greatest desire of a moon drakon is to view and contemplate the night sky. These contemplations are much like meditation, but also a bit like a wizard studying a spellbook. While they refuse to ever say what what specific knowledge they gain from their observations, these dragon-kin are clear on the intellectual advantages of decades and centuries of learning from the night sky, and the moon in particular. The fact their minds are hardened against mind-affecting magics, and their breath can bring about confusion in others, there is clearly some link between their intellect and their moon-gazing.

Though moon drakons can live nearly anywhere, they seek lairs away from the clutter and sounds of settlements. They prefer places with clear, unobscured views of the night sky. These are often as far as possible from any source of nighttime lights, in dryer climates with few clouds, and at higher altitudes. If a moon drakon is found elsewhere, it has either been drawn there by some specific opportunity (such as a temple to a lunar deity, or a ruin containing moon rocks) or forced out of its preferred habitat.

Moon drakons and lunar dragons are fascinated with, and very annoyed by, each other. It's not usual for a young lunar dragon to befriend a moon drakon, but such relationships generally turn to bitter acrimony by the time the lunar dragon is an adult. Moon drakons are not just disinterested in civilizations and settlements, they consider any society that creates light at night to be both an annoyance, and so inferior that destroying them can't be seen as an act to be avoided.

Despite their apparent similarities, moon drakons and nocturne drakons are bitter enemies, each harboring an apparently innate hatred of the other. The bases of this hatred appears to be that moon drakon read meaning from the lights in the sky, and nocturn drakon read meaning from the black void between nighttime lights. One of the few times a moon drakon might be convinced to work with others is when it will result in the death of as many nocturn drakon as possible.