Still Not Done With PF1: Iron 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.

Iron Drakon CR 11XP 12800Lawful Evil Large DragonInit +0; Senses Blindsense 60, Darkvision 120, Perception +21

DEFENSE

AC 24, touch 9, flat-footed 24 (+15 Natural, -1 size)hp 138 (12d12+60);Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +12Immunity to bludgeoning, fire, paralysis, tsleep

OFFENSESpeed 40ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 40 ft.Melee Bite +18 (2d8+10), 2 Claw +18 (1d8+7 plus disease)Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.Special Attacks Breath Weapon (Su) Cold Iron Shard Cloud; 60 ft. cone, Fortitude DC 21, on a failed save the target’s skeleton or exoskeleton turns into jagged shards of cold iron for 12 rounds. Whenever the target moves, it takes 1d6 points of cold iron piercing damage and is sickened for 1 round as metal spines stab into its flesh. This damage is subject to damage reduction, but it overcomes damage reduction as though it were a weapon of cold iron and magic. A creature affected by this attack can choose to remain motionless to avoid taking damage. Creatures with DR/cold iron or DR/cold iron and magic affected by this spell are nauseated instead of sickened. This spell has no effect on a creature that has neither a skeleton nor a hard carapace.Disease (Ex) Draconic Tetanus: Claw—injury; save Fort DC 21; onset immediate; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Dex damage and 1 Con drain. Each time a victim takes Dexterity damage from draconic tetanus, there is a 50% chance its jaw muscles and joints stiffen, preventing speech and the use of spells with verbal components for 24 hours; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

STATISTICS

Str 25, Dex 10, Con 21, Int 14, Wis 15, Cha 14Base Atk +12; CMB +20; CMD 30Feats Alertness, Improved Critical, Improved Vital Strike, Iron Will, Power Attack, Vital StrikeSkills Diplomacy +17, Heal +17, Knowledge (dungeineering) +17, Knowledge (engineering) +17, Perception +21, Sense Motive +21, Spellcraft +17, Swim +7Languages Common, Draconic, TerranSQ Blindsense 60, Darkvision 120, Immunity to bludgeoning, fire, paralysis, sleep; Revelation (Metal Mystery) iron constitution (added in), iron skin (1/day), rusting grasp (2/day), vision in iron (12 rounds/day); Vulnerability to cold

ECOLOGY

Environment Warm mountainsOrganization Solitary, Clutch 2-5Treasure Standard x 3

Iron drakons are most often found in mountains with rich deposits of heavy metals, especially iron, gold, and adamantine. Rather than seek to build hoards of worked materials and gods, these drakon see the unmined minerals beneath their territory as theirs to claim and protect. They sometimes are drawn to successful mining operations, and a big enough mine is one of the few things that will convince a clutch of iron drakons to work together to maintain possession of an area (which involves not just killing anyone who might try to operate the mine, but also any settlements or trade routes the iron drakons see as supporting the mine as a viable business). On rare occasions this can make the iron drakon allies of druids or fey who also wish to see the mining operations shut down, or drow and other underground civilizations that do not wish surface-dwellers to be digging down towards them.

(An iron drakon using its iron skin revelation. Art by Charles_Greg.)